Answered Prayers

“That overwhelming feeling you get when you’ve seen the hand of God at work and no words are adequate enough to express your gratitude, your worship then becomes a speechless moment of awe.”

I’m in the middle of my devotion and prayer time this morning. It’s okay that I’m writing because I asked God if I could pause and express my thankfulness with pen and paper, He said it was fine :-). I certainly do not feel I adequately do so, but here goes once again.

.

I am at home right now and not working. A stay at home mom can be a full time job, more so when your kids are younger. My kids, however, are older and in school all day. Therefore, this leaves me with quite bit of time on my hands. Sometimes this can be dangerous for the mind. Yes, this week in particular has been one big roller coaster.

This past Monday I said goodbye to my parents as they headed to the airport to the far away continent of Africa. I have done this countless times…. you know, said goodbye.  Why does it never get easier? This time was probably the hardest. I cannot and will not ever be alone again after they leave.  As I shut the door and turned back into the house, I thought my heart would break in two. I should have taken my husband’s offer of staying home with me! With their leaving, and our constant battle of still trying to settle in here (we moved states 9 months ago), and now complete boredom, I felt doomed.  

 I know much of my feelings rested on our lack of community and church family that normally surrounds us. Moving has been hard, or maybe I should stay settling in has been hard. I know our plans are not always God’s plans. He brings us through circumstances and seasons in order to grow us, and make us dependent on Him.  If our situation was any different we may not have drawn close to Him. If I look at each difficult time in this way, it brings more understanding and the ability to grow from hardship and trials.

The one burden I have been carrying, which in a way, has made everything else seem like mountains. Isn’t that always the case? You get upset over one thing but usually it’s because you are already in turmoil over something else and all other things only exacerbate it.  I have to stop there and thank my husband. I believe God brought a little light to my despair this week through my husband. Thank you Jesus for a godly man in my life who stands with me in prayer.  This burden I carry is still something heavy on my shoulders. I’m not sure why it’s still there and why God hasn’t answered my prayer regarding it. I should say he hasn’t answered the way I want him to answer. I know He’s working and in the end, maybe not till heaven, I will see why he led us through this. 

Here is where I wanted to begin writing, or what caused my urge to express and that is the awe that I found myself in. Over dinner last night we discussed this burden of ours (it’s really the family’s). I have prayed so fervently for our children’s understanding, so much so, that I felt this would be the final straw if it didn’t go well. Can you believe that while our discussion went on and we got through it, I never once thought to thank the Lord. I didn’t even think…Hello!! This is something I’ve prayed for and God has answered clearly!  It couldn’t have gone better and the relief I felt was immense. The fog of the week seems to have lifted and once again I felt motivated to keep going.  I love God’s “pick me ups”. Red Bull has nothing on God!  And so, it closes another chapter.  The story is not over, by any means, and once again we are on a search for what God has for us.  It reminds me of 2 Corinthians 4:8-9; “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” Yep, that about sums it up. So here I stand, undefeated, with more power to go forward in what God has for us.

I read a post the other day about waiting. Waiting is hard, especially when your deep desire is to serve God with such overwhelming passion, and nothing seems to be at your doorstep. I have to stop here and say that there is something at my doorstep. It may not be what I have envisioned but for today, it’s what God has laid there, for me to minister to and show Christ’s love. This, my friends, is my family. Sharing family devotions last night and talking about church and where God wants us, praying together, seeing God answer, it was priceless.

My prayer and encouragement for you is several areas. I pray you are able to see and hear from the Lord the answer to a prayer that is burdening your heart today. He is here, he hears, he listens and most of all he loves. He loves us with unconditional love. He loves your children too and be encouraged, he hears your prayers for them. May you also remember that you are Christ’s servant in whatever you are doing in this season of life. Whatever God has placed at your doorstep, may you serve as if you were serving Christ himself and then be willing to follow wherever He leads.  

I have loved you with an everlasting love

My daughter is at the forefront of my thoughts today, as she usually is. Our children are never far from our thoughts. In my prayer time this morning I was given this passage and I rewrote for my beautiful daughter. My prayer is for her to  realize what a wonderful, beautiful, talented, gifted, tenacious, confident, tender and sweet young lady she is and that she has captured my heart forever. I feel my love so strong for her that it's hard to imagine that God can and does love her more.

Psalms 119:13-18

For you created my daughter's in most being, you knit my daughter together in my womb.
She praises you because she is fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful.
My daughter knows that full well.
Her frame was not hidden from you.
When she was made in that secret place. When she was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my daughter's unformed body. All the days ordained for my daughter were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious are your thoughts of her, oh God!
How vast are the sum of them! Were she to count them, they would outnumber the grains of said.
When she is awake, she is still with you.

I love you from the depths of heart my precious daughter. -Mom, Dad  and God

When life's a little fuzzy

Sometimes we only see a snapshot of our life. We see a polaroid here and a polaroid there. In those snapshots the background may seem a bit fuzzy. It can be hard to make out where it was taken, who that is standing behind you, or where that strange chair came from that your loved one is sitting in.  A snapshot captures a moment, a frame of our lives that we may not fully understand. We may squint our eyes and stare the photo down, trying to grasp the full picture. All the while, God says, "trust me, my child." "Trust in the Lord." Psalms 37:3. I hear Him say, "You have a snapshot but dear one I have the whole photo album and it's clear to me as a bright sunny day." God knows, God sees, and God holds each moment in his hands. He reassures us when he was speaking to Joshua through Moses in Deut  31:8, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do  not be discouraged." He wants us to trust him. I love Psalms 125:1. "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion which cannot be shaken but endures forever." As I sit here today reaffirming my trust in the Lord, in the midst of something I never dreamed would be apart of my life, I recall the song sang by Natalie Grant "I will not be moved." That's right, I will not be moved nor shaken. In the Message it says in Col 1:23 I will "stay grounded and steady in the bond of trust." I'm thankful God is giving me the ability to trust him even though I only see the snapshot today. I'm holding on with all my might, grounded and firm.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

God is holding you in his hands and I'm holding you in my  heart.

Sometimes in life, ok many times in life, we go through situations and circumstances that we don't always fully understand. I know God always has a plan and He holds each of my family members in His hand. He is God, of course and He is sovereign. To some, accepting God is in control of everything does not always come easy. To me, it is a comfort. It's a comfort to know God creates all things, he holds all things in the palm of his hand but He also takes away, allows trials and pain. Through it all He never leaves us or forsakes us. He wraps his arms around us and holds us closer than ever before.
Eric and I traveled a road this past week that had never been traveled by us before. It was very painful and hard. On Wednesday last week we had a positive pregnancy test! Shocker, I know! Surprise! We weren't even sure what to do with that news. We kept to ourselves that night as we barely slept talking over what all was in store. Wow! Another baby! Really? At our age? Ok, we aren't that old but still! There was laughter and there were tears.
I couldn't remember too many symptoms with my past two children but I was pretty sure cramping wasn't one of them but as I read a little I saw it could be normal. I was also spotting a little too. By the  next morning I was very worried and so I told my mom who had seen a GYN earlier and recommended her. I called and was able to get in Friday. I couldn't figure out if something was truly going wrong or if it was my nerves!! I was so nervous and anxious!! It seem Friday would never come. And then it came too fast. The doctor's words, "a highly likely abnormal pregnancy.  We can't seem to find the baby on the ultrasound." It could be ectopic or possible uterine miscarriage. Our hearts sank. It seemed we barely had enough time to soak in what was going on. It became more painful and more bleeding as the day went on. Saturday night I was in the ER with severe pain. For those few who knew and were praying, God was there. Thankfully, I did not have an ectopic but was in the  midst of a miscarriage. With not having much time to wrap our minds around the word "baby", it was my life that was of most worry. I felt sorry for Eric, mom, dad, and the kids as I knew they were worried and concerned. I was in good hands though. The doctor was wonderful and God was carrying me every step. I had told the Lord, no matter, no matter, I love you. His peace has been overwhelming. We must know God has His best for us and for this one who will never blossom here on earth but is blossoming in heaven. Many of you, I know, have been through this and can understand. Now I too, can understand and I tell myself and trust God that all things...ALL things work together for the good of those who love Him. Oh how I love Him!

More Creations

I have made this bag for someone for Christmas so I can't say for who or much about it but I couldn't wait to post a picture because, honestly, I'm a tad proud of myself. I don't sew but am trying to teach myself and well, this is my first bag and it turned out great! It is quilted with handles and an elastic and button closure.

I also have been seeing these cute mug cozies and I couldn't resist making one for myself. My coffee cools off way too fast. Not sure yet if they work but they are still cute and match my purple mugs!

Stories

I’m so thankful for God’s word. Not only for encouragement and direction but for the stories God had written down for us.  You know he chose carefully those that he would want his children to read and learn from. Stories of other’s mistakes and decisions and their consequences. Stories we can read and learn from so we do not make the same mistakes. As Beth Moore (sorry, still studying one of her great studies) said “we want to learn from the classroom and not on a field trip.” 1 Corinthians 6:10 states “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” What is so interesting is that many (maybe all) that had make bad choices were always given a second chance and some many chances. Yet, for certain ones these moments of opportunity to make it right still did not matter. Daniel 5:22 you “have not humbled yourself though you knew all of this.” I have cried over those who I know that they know and yet still choose not to serve Him. The bible states it will be worse for those who know and still do not acknowledge Him. Today is the day of salvation. We are not promised tomorrow or even our next breath. My hearts cry is for those who are lost to seize the opportunity, the second chance and fall into the arms of Jesus.

Security

These next two posts are ones I have written exactly a week apart.  I am still working through the Daniel study by Beth Moore and throughout the study some things stick with me or give me ah-ha moments more than others. So here goes…

As I sit down for my devotions this morning (the day after election day), I knew that no matter what I read in God’s word, it would relate to the past couple of days. I know that not every ear hears and not every eye sees (regarding spiritual matters) or this would be a Garden of Eden. My thought was, God your word is so clear, it seems so simple. Page after page, your truth cries out so loud and clear.

In my study, I began to read about the word security. King Neb (so much easier to write over and over than Nebuchadnezzar) started out in chapter 4 “I Neb was at home in my palace, contented…” The word contented in Aramaic means “at rest or at ease.” I thought what a day to feel the need to be secure! Beth stated, “The human need for security is deeper and wider than anything the oceans of this earth can fill. Until our world’s quake and things start to shatter, we have no idea what lasts.” She references Psalms 62:1-2. Where do I find my rest today? Yes, in my Lord. It’s as if I have my very own castle surrounded by impenetrable stone. I typed this out and realized that is what it translates in the Message too.  God is my fortress. He is also my peace. In a world that can make our hearts so overwhelmed and restless, we can depend on God who turns it into peace and security. May we not try to look for it anywhere else but in God alone. I have peace and security, not the worlds but God’s.  My heart then turns toward those who do not have this peace. So many lost, and deceived by the one that is here only to “steal, kill, and destroy.”  How their hearts must be so anxious and fearful.  I pray today (as I often do) for an open door, a divine appointment to share His peace today.

 If you do not know the Lord, I pray He is revealed to you. All you need to do is believe in your heart that Jesus is God’s son and he came to this earth, died on a cross for our sins and rose again. He now sits at the right hand of God in Heaven awaiting the moment to return to this earth and take us home for eternity. May you know that hope and peace today. God loves you and desires more than anything that He become your peace.

He is the calm in the chaos, a shelter in the storm and a fortress in the fury.

Psalms 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”