Hallelujah

We went to see my grandparents for Easter Sunday. They have a beautiful home in the country. They have a barn next to there house. My sister thought it would be great fun to take my picture out by the barn. I was not sure, but she told me I would be glad I did. So, late that afternoon we got our stuff and walked out to the barn. The grass hadn't been cut because it would be cut for hay when it was ready. We had to walk in what felt like a mile of waist high grass. It was so hard to even see my next step. I was tired and really sick of it.  I wanted to go back to the house. I was behind my sister with her camera. She was so excited so I  just kept following her. Finally, we got to the barn. I turned around to look back and really could not believe my big prego self had made it. It overwhelmed me as I looked back at that grass. It was so tall. How did I get through it. I was so glad to be to the barn. I could not help thinking of what I have been walking through with this pregnancy. I have had trouble seeing where to step. Somedays I want to go back to life as it was. Yet, I keep pressing on to what He has. Knowing that He has a plan and this is part of it. I can't get that song out of my head "Walk by Faith" by Jeremy Camp. He talks about walking by faith even when you can not see,  because this broken road prepares Your will for me. The song ends with hallelujah, I will walk by faith. Somewhere between being told the news of fluid being on Wards brain and now, I have found what it means to walk by faith even when I can not see. Somehow, I have found peace in a place that looked as if peace did not exist. I know that the somehow is my Jesus. My savior without whom I would be nothing. When I looked at the pictures my sister took it hit me... as I looked at myself I realized the Lord has led me to this place of hallelujah!

HEBREWS 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Wondrous Works

I was thinking this morning about the first time I knew the Lord answered my prayer. I was in 6th grade. I was a new Christian but, I had a strong belief in prayer. There was a red headed girl in my class. She looked like such fun. I just knew she would be a great friend. I asked the Lord for her friendship. I don't know how long it was, but that same year she and I became close friends. Courtney was my first answered prayer. We are still friends to this day. The answered prayer does not end there. It is a picture of the Lord's faithfulness only He can paint. Around that same year we had a speaker in our weekly chapel at my Christian school. She spoke on the importance of praying Gods word. She said she had prayed Ps 1:1-3 for her husband. She said she had prayed for a Christian husband for years. She said the Lord answered her prayers. That was all she had to tell me. I wanted one of those Christian husbands she talked about. I started to pray Ps 1:1-3. I prayed for that Christian husband over the next 12 years.   Courtney was the reason I met my husband Brian. So, when I think of answered prayer I can't help but, think back to my 6th grade prayer being answered. What would it be like if I had not asked the Lord for what my heart desired? I will never know. I do know the power of praying scripture is strong. When I read PS 1:1-3 I know that Brian is every word of those 3 verses. I now pray that same scripture for my 2 boys and soon to be 3 boys. This past week Will my oldest son came home with his scripture memory verse for school. I got an email from his teacher saying he would really need to work on this because this is there big verse for the year. Do you know what verse it was? ¹ Blessed is the man 
   who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, 
or stand in the path of sinners  
   or sit in the seat of scornful; 
² but his delight is in the law of the LORD, 
   and in His law he meditates day and night. 
³ He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, 
   That bring forth it's fruit in season 
and whose leaf does not wither— 
   whatever he does he shall prospers. Psalms 1:1-3

      When I looked at his homework study sheet I was so excited. The scripture I had prayed for his daddy he would now learn. I grabbed Will up. I said "Will, I have to tell you these are the verses I have prayed for your dad. Even before we met each other. Every word in these 3 verses are who your dad is." He just laughed. I turned around to see what he was looking at. His daddy was smiling and pointing to himself behind me in the kitchen!  Brian knows the power from praying scripture. Those 6th grade prayers are still bearing fruit to this day. I have had so much comfort in my bible over these past weeks. I have sticky tabs in my bible. Any verse I pray for what we are going through and for Ward I mark it with a blue sticky tab. If you open my bible you will see it is covered with blue tabs. I still believe in praying scripture and I know He hears.

O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Psalm 71:17

I still see Your face

I know He created me and knows everything about me. Yet, when he gives me what I need, when I need it, I am blown away. I am such a people person. A few weeks back the Lord sent me a new friend. Her name is Shannon. Prior to speaking with her or meeting her, I felt an instant connection with her as I was reading her blog. In July she will go to Uganda on a mission trip. She will be going to a hospital there that takes care of babies that have hydrocephalus [a condition in which fluid accumulates in the brain]. There is a tribe in Uganda that believes babies born with hydrocephalus are cursed. The people think the only way to break the curse is to throw these babies in the river and kill them. The hospital in Uganda can do surgery for the babies. Yet, many babies are still being killed. So, when I was reading her blog I knew I had to tell her my story. So, I emailed her. After several emails and a lot of crying and rejoicing for me, she came to pray over me at my house. This beautiful new friend of mine. A total stranger weeks back was at my side whispering prayers to our Jesus. She along with Brian and I are asking and believing the Lord is healing Ward. Some moments I feel as if I am feeling around in the dark. Just looking for some bit of light. These times have been short lived. I just continue to call out to Him and I see His face. I see His face in my new friend, I see His face in a letter in the mail. I see His face in an email from a friend to share her story about her baby. A baby who had issues at birth. I see His face at the play ground as I talk to a mom who has had a baby with a heart condition. A mom who helps me remember God is faithful. I see His face as I ask in prayer for another mother to talk to. A mom who has had a child who has hydrocephalus. I see His face as I PICK UP THE PHONE and the answer to my prayers is the mother I asked the Lord to send. So, just when I start to look He is there. He always is! The Lord has sent me comfort through believers. I see His face as we went back to the doctor to be told more fluid is on Wards brain. I am believing God for something beyond words. I am TRUSTING in Him with the out come of Ward. I am believing my worry is finished and I pressing on toward what He has. Today I called out to Him and told Him my heart. I know and I trust Him and I look to Him alone. I still see His face!

I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

A friend of mine sent me this picture when she was in Florida. I love how you can see the glow of the sun under the clouds. The ocean is rough and the sky is gray but, the light of the sun is still seen. Just the way my Jesus has been as we walk through this time.

Sprinkles

Sprinkles are what taste so good on top of my cup cake. Yet, over the past week's the Lord has given a new meaning of sprinkles to me! The road I am on has been painful and seams long. Yet, those sprinkles have been so sweet in this valley I walk through. Through out my life I have been blessed with many Christian friends who love our Lord Jesus. I have had the chance to pray for them and them for me. Yet, the day came when my heart was in a million pieces. Those sprinkles God had given me over the years showed up. My head was covered in sprinkles daily. I could feel them as I would open my eyes at 6 a.m. I could feel those sweet sprinkles in an email or a text to say I am praying. I could feel them grab me and whisper sweet prayers over me and this unborn baby boy. I could feel the sprinkles of prayers from Honduras. I could feel them when the day was long and the quiet of the night was so tough.  Week's have crept by since we found out the news of our unborn baby, Ward. The Lord has given me such comfort in these sprinkles. The many faithful Christians all around me, willing to pray for a friend in need. I feel blessed! This morning a teacher in carpool touched my hand and said "Kim I am praying for your baby." As I drove away I just thanked the Lord for my morning sprinkle!!!

More than a Healer

We have been praying constantly for the Lord to heal our baby, Ward. We have other more specific prayers but, we continue to ask for healing of the fluid on his brain. The other morning I was up praying and I had such a sense that the Lord was covering me with His feathers. Like the verse in Psalms 91:4 He shall cover you with His feathers; And under His wing you shall take refuge; I have prayed that verse before but, never felt as though I was covered by Him. I realized that yes, we have been asking the Lord to heal Ward. Yet, the Lord is meeting need's I did not know I had. I have felt such protection from Him. I am seeing Jesus in a different way. The needs he meets are unnumbered. The care He takes of His children is unexplainable. [Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Ps 34:8] I am just thankful He covered me that morning. I started to think of the names of Jesus. Below is a list of the names of Jesus. Who is He to you today?

The Name above all names... The names of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is... Advocate (1 John 2:1) Jesus Christ is... Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18) Jesus Christ is... Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13) Jesus Christ is... Amen (Rev. 3:14) Jesus Christ is... Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1) Jesus Christ is... Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2) Jesus Christ is... Author of Life (Acts 3:15) Jesus Christ is... Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2) Jesus Christ is... Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10) Jesus Christ is... Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13) Jesus Christ is... Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15) Jesus Christ is... .Bread of God (John 6:33) Jesus Christ is... Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48) Jesus Christ is... Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15) Jesus Christ is... Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7) Jesus Christ is... Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20) Jesus Christ is... Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) Jesus Christ is... Christ (1 John 2:22) Jesus Christ is... Creator (John 1:3) Jesus Christ is... Deliverer (Rom. 11:26) Jesus Christ is... Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20) Jesus Christ is... Gate (John 10:9) Jesus Christ is... Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11) Jesus Christ is... Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5) Jesus Christ is... Faith and True Witness (Rev. 3:14) Jesus Christ is... First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13) Jesus Christ is... Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5) Jesus Christ is... Firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15) Jesus Christ is... Gate (John 10:9) Jesus Christ is... God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5) Jesus Christ is... Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14) Jesus Christ is... Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) Jesus Christ is... Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14) Jesus Christ is... Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23) Jesus Christ is... Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2) Jesus Christ is... High Priest (Heb. 2:17) Jesus Christ is... Holy and True (Rev. 3:7) Jesus Christ is... Holy One (Acts 3:14) Jesus Christ is... Hope (1 Tim. 1:1) Jesus Christ is... Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27) Jesus Christ is... Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69) Jesus Christ is... I Am (John 8:58) Jesus Christ is... Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4) Jesus Christ is... Immanuel (Mt. 1:23) Jesus Christ is... Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42) Jesus Christ is... King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17) Jesus Christ is... King of Israel (John 1:49) Jesus Christ is... King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11) Jesus Christ is... King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16) Jesus Christ is... King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3) Jesus Christ is... Lamb (Rev. 13:8) Jesus Christ is... Lamb of God (John 1:29) Jesus Christ is... Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19) Jesus Christ is... Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) Jesus Christ is... Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4) Jesus Christ is... Light of the World (John 8:12) Jesus Christ is... Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5) Jesus Christ is... Living One (Rev. 1:18) Jesus Christ is... Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4) Jesus Christ is... Lord (2 Pet. 2:20) Jesus Christ is... Lord of All (Acts 10:36) Jesus Christ is... Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8) Jesus Christ is... Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16) Jesus Christ is... Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48) Jesus Christ is... Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15) Jesus Christ is... Mighty God (Isa. 9:6) Jesus Christ is... Morning Star (Rev. 22:16) Jesus Christ is... Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16) Jesus Christ is... Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9) Jesus Christ is... Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13) Jesus Christ is... Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30) Jesus Christ is... Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2) Jesus Christ is... Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3) Jesus Christ is... Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30) Jesus Christ is... Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30) Jesus Christ is... Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) Jesus Christ is... Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24) Jesus Christ is... Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6) Jesus Christ is... Prophet (Acts 3:22) Jesus Christ is... Rabbi (Mt. 26:25) Jesus Christ is... Resurrection and Life (John 11:25) Jesus Christ is... Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5) Jesus Christ is... Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1) Jesus Christ is... Rock (1 Cor. 10:4) Jesus Christ is... Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16) Jesus Christ is... Ruler of God’s Creation (Rev. 3:14) Jesus Christ is... Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5) Jesus Christ is... Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20) Jesus Christ is... Son of David (Lk. 18:39) Jesus Christ is... Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14) Jesus Christ is... Son of Man (Mt. 8:20) Jesus Christ is... Son of the Most High God (Lk. 1:32) Jesus Christ is... Source of Eternal Salvation for believers (Heb. 5:9) Jesus Christ is... The One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5) Jesus Christ is... The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11) Jesus Christ is... True Bread (John 6:32) Jesus Christ is... True Light (John 1:9) Jesus Christ is... True Vine (John 15:1) Jesus Christ is... Truth (John 1:14; 14:6) Jesus Christ is... Way (John 14:6) Jesus Christ is... Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24) Jesus Christ is... Word (John 1:1) Jesus Christ is... Word of God (Rev. 19:13)