Chains are Broken

In church this past Sunday my daughter was worshipping with us (legs dancing, arms waving) as we sang these words...

Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

It is truly incredible that the Lord is using my 6 month old to teach and encourage me and no doubly using her as a witness to others around us.

As I watched her I was reminded of what Jesus did for us on the cross. How God sacrificed His son to break the chains of sin and death and set our hearts free. And I was brought to tears as I watched my daughter worship with that truth. The Lord has broken her chains and she was free to dance and worship Her king.

What a beautiful thing it is to watch her. And what truly blesses my heart is this- She doesn't understand words. We haven't told her to worship. She just does. Her childlike faith is something we can all learn from. To ignore the world and let the Holy Spirit lead our hearts.

Amelia Grace, the Lord has a plan for your life. It is no mistake you are here and I'm so excited to watch you grow in your faith and lead others to Christ.

Waiting on God's Plans

"For 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

I have been a mom for 6 months today! (Though I could argue for another 9 months because even before that sweet girl was here I loved her and worried just the same.)

In these past 6 months I have learned so much. I have grown spiritually in a way I could never have imagined. I have fallen more in love with my husband. I have slept less than any other 6 month period of my life. I have worried about someone more than any other person in my life. I have gained perspective on what truly matters in life. I have learned what it means to be truly selfless (if you need a lessen in this a baby will surely do the trick). Most of all I have experienced more happiness and pure joy than ever before.

For those who don't know, Luke and I spent 2 years battling infertility. We watched as many of our close friends and family got pregnant and had their beautiful babies. The Lord really used those two years to grow me. I always knew that God had a plan for that journey and a plan for the child that I prayed for constantly.

Looking back now, I am thankful for that journey. I am thankful for how He used that time to draw me to Him. To a deeper faith and trust in an all knowing, faithful God. He knew His plans to bless us with Amelia, but He also knew the perfect timing.

I'm not sure what struggles you are enduring today, but know that God is in control. And I don't say that lightly or without sympathy, as there were times I felt like I was in the pits of despair and that my prayers would never be answered. But remember that life doesn't stand still while you are waiting for an answer to prayer, and maybe He has something to teach you in the meantime.

"While I'm Waiting" by John Waller

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait

And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it's not easy no, but faithfully I will wait
Yes, I will wait

The Living Word

"Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path."

Psalm 119:105

My almost 6 month old daughter has decided the only way she likes to sleep is on her stomach. Oy. I know the experts say once they can roll over its okay to let them sleep on their stomachs, but boy oh boy do I worry about her. Sometimes I wait til she's sound asleep, then flip her back onto her back, but within minutes she rolls right back onto her stomach. This has led to sleepless nights for me. I lay there wide awake worrying she is going to put her face down and stop breathing (#firsttimemomproblems). It has become so bad that I wake up almost every hour (unintentional) just to put my hand on her back and make sure she is breathing. Last night I actually woke her up doing this. Oops. 

This can't continue!!

Lo and behold I open up the book I'm reading today (Prayer Warrior Mom- highly recommended) and the chapter today is about praying and memorizing scripture. This scripture stood out...

"He will cover you with feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge."

Psalm 91:4

We pray for Amelia every night before bed, but I'm so excited to start praying scripture over her. To claim the promises of God's word for protection as she sleeps. His word is living and powerful. My goal is to memorize scripture, particularly scriptures claiming His promises, to recite as I lay awake at night worrying about my daughter. Matthew 6:27 says "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?". So my hope is not only to make better use of these awake hours by reciting scripture, but that meditating on His word will bring me comfort and peace and a better nights sleep knowing the Lord has His hand on Amelia.

Break my heart for what breaks yours...

Rocking my daughter to sleep one morning I started praying... Lord help me... Lord give me... Lord... break me... for my sins. Lord break me for the lost. Lord break me for the hurts and needs of the world. Lord break me of my desires and give me the desires of YOUR heart...

This week I have indeed been broken. For a few things that I won't get into detail over, but I feel God nudging me and expressing to me His will for me to be broken and desperate in prayer for these needs. For relationships to be healed and restored. For the unbelievers I've chosen to pray for. For those around me who are overwhelmed by death, sickness, hurts, fears. 

My daughter, Amelia, is proof of the power of prayer. Two years ago today I was broken and on my knees, not knowing if I would get the opportunity to carry a child. I am so grateful for the prayer warriors in my life who prayed constantly. The Lord answers prayer. He delights in our prayers. He calls us to pray. And I don't for a second discount the hurts, fears, and brokenness around me (I have been there), but please don't forget the power of prayer. The power of the one who takes our hurts upon His own shoulders. Nothing is too big for our God. And might I challenge you to be a prayer warrior for someone around you today..

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness

Whose love is mighty and so much stronger

The king of glory, the king above all kings

 

Who brings our chaos back in order

Who makes the orphan a son and daughter

The king of glory, the king above all kings

This is amazing grace

This is unfailing love

That you would take my place

That you would bear my cross

You would lay down your life

That I would be set free

Jesus, I sing for

All that you've done for me

(Bethel Live- This is Amazing Grace)

Gaining Perspective

In case you're wondering, writing this blog is not easy for me. Correction: I love writing this blog- sharing it is hard for me. A million questions bombard me the second I hit "share". What do people think? Am I overstepping? Over sharing? But it comes down to this....

For the sake of the world burn like a fire in me

Light a flame in my soul for every eye to see

For the sake of the world burn like a fire in me

For every knee to bow down

For every heart to believe

For every voice to cry out

Burn like a fire in me

For every tongue to confess

You alone are the king

You are the hope of the world

Burn like a fire in me

(Bethel Live- For the Sake of the World)

The other day I got really down on myself. Am I pretty enough? Wealthy enough? Am I a good mom? I'm a horrible cook... I don't read enough... I could go on. So I turn on worship music (the song above comes on) and dance around with my beautiful daughter and I can't help but gain a little perspective. We are here for two reasons- to give glory to our Savior and to be disciples. So for the sake of the world, I will continue to write. And if one person is encouraged, I count this a win. 

Lord, for the sake of the world, burn like a fire in ME! For the sake of my daughter, burn like a fire in ME! For the sake of the lost, burn like a fire in ME! For the sake of bringing you glory, burn like a fire in ME!

What are you living for today?

The Power of a Solid Prayer Life

The other day I started thinking: if I had to pick one thing in my spiritual life to better, what would it be? The answer is my prayer life. I find all too often that my prayers are full of wants and needs, and often increase when things in my life are array. Don't get me wrong, God loves when we come to Him with our needs. In fact, Philippians 4:6 puts it very well.... "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." God doesn't see us as needy children, but is delighted by our willingness to ask and trust that He will meet our needs. However, look at that same verse but in a different translation... "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." In the first translation it is easy to skip over "with thanksgiving". In the second translation it is very clear.

I recently came across a blog that featured a bible study on prayer. The pastor who wrote it gave a fantastic "outline" on how to pray. I know it seems silly, but it very much enhanced my prayer life. It's called the ACTS method...
A- adoration: Tell the Lord how much you love Him. You don't do it nearly enough.
C- confession: Be restored to righteousness. James 5:16 "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
T- thanksgiving: Thank him for past blessings and in advance for future ones.
S- supplication: NOW you are ready to ask another favor!

(Credit where credit is due: gracethrufaith.com- a bible study by Jack Kelly)

The two I need to work on the most are adoration- taking unhurried time to praise Him, honor Him and love on Him- and confession- I'll be the first to admit I'm human and constantly fall short of the glory of God. But the beauty is this: 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

A few other thoughts:
- Our pastor recently encouraged us to make a list of 5-10 unbelievers and to pick a few to pray for DAILY! (Wow! To think I haven't been doing this just breaks my heart. After all we are here as disciples.)
- Pray for those "challenging" people in your life. There is no better way to change how you feel about a person than by praying for them.
- Pray with others. Matthew 18:19-20 "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

I've chosen to enhance my prayer life by incorporating the ACTS method, and by praying daily with my husband and daughter! Praying with Amelia has been such a blessing to me and I am so thankful for a husband who leads our family! (And sweet side note: While praying together as a family, Luke lays his hand on my arm. The other night, Amelia laid her hand against Luke's hand. Heart. Melting. Blessed!!)