"For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." Song of Solomon 2:11,12
(I used this same Scripture passage in mysecond-to-the-last post, but I just love it so much, I decided to use it again!)
Spring has sprung here, but today, it is quite chilly and windy. The sun is out, though, and I have the door open and can feel the freshness of spring in the air! Oh, how I do praise God for allowing us to see another springtime! So many beautiful flowers are blooming, and I am so thankful He gives me eyesight to see them. He is so faithful and good! I love taking drives and seeing all the trees and plants coming to life again, after a long, hard winter.
"And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, 'Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.' And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them."
Mark 10:13-16 (KJV)
Jesus truly has a special place in His heart for little children.
They are beyond precious to Him.
His eyes are upon them from the moment of their conception, and they are on His mind long before they are even conceived.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)
"For it was You who formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb."
Psalm 139:13 (Berean Study Bible)
Can you believe one whole year has gone by since my niece, Kristen, gave birth to her precious baby boy, Eli?
I don't know when a year has passed so quickly!
To all of the new subscribers here, I say a hearty "Welcome!" and I would like to explain about Kristen and Eli.
Shortly after finding out she was expecting a baby, Kristen collapsed in the Emergency Room and was found to have a blood clot in her lung.
It was a long, hard road for her, and many of you dear readers helped to pray her through so many times.
We are SO grateful for all of your faithful prayers, and this is the amazing result of God answering them!
Remember this day?
Kristen and Baby Eli, shortly after he was born
What a sweet, precious, little bundle of joy!
A perfectly healthy angel, sent straight from Heaven to bless the lives of everyone around him.
God is so good.
Recently, the little fellow celebrated one full year of life.
Isn't he just adorable?
I know I may be just a bit biased, but even though, he is just a living dollbaby!
Eli on his first birthday!
What a smilestone!
It is just so hard to imagine that he could already be a year old!
He is such a happy, healthy little guy, and is surely a miracle, in so many ways.
Every day I pray that God will bless him and keep him healthy and safe.
He is surely one prayed-for little boy, and I hope one day I can explain to him about all of the precious people who prayed for him even before he was born.
God truly does answer prayer, dear friends.
Eli is living proof!
Whatever you are going through ~ nothing is too hard for Him.
Things could have turned out far different for Kristen and Eli, and I have no doubt in my mind that it was because of the earnest prayers that went up on their behalf that all is well with them today.
Every time I think of little Eli and God's faithfulness to him and our family,
I am reminded once again that no matter how dark things look, God never loses control, and nothing is impossible for Him.
I leave you with five of my favorite Scriptures to cling to in such times of distress and also a special song dedicated to sweet, little Eli.
I hope they will encourage you.
Stay tuned for an upcoming Inner Views interview with none other than Eli's mommy herself sometime in the near future!
I can't wait to share her thoughts with you here!
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me?"
Jeremiah 32:27 (KJV)
"And Jesus looking upon them said, 'With men, it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."
Mark 10:27 (King James 2000 Bible)
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
"Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6 (Berean Study Bible)
"The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."
Psalm 9:9 (ESV)
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."
I Timothy 6:17
(KJV)
Today, I thought I'd lighten up the subject matter a bit and write a fun post, instead.
I love learning more about the bloggers I follow and thought perhaps you may enjoy that, too!
So, here are a few of my favorite things.
#1. My dear, old, trusted Bible.
Its cover is tattered and torn, the pages are well-marked and highlighted from over 31 years of use, the hours we've spent together are many, and I wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world. It is still the Bible I regularly read, and my most precious earthly possession.
#2. Spending time with Jesus.
One of my favorite things to do is pray, and one of my favorite places to pray is outside overlooking the river. It invites me to get real quiet before Him—still enough to clearly hear His voice. I love to pray out there at night, too. Even though I can't see the river, I know it is there. I can hear it gently flowing, its calming movement mixing with other sounds of the night. Speaking of the river, we have been enjoying getting acquainted with the goose family that has been gracing us with visits this spring and summer. There's a mama, a papa, and six little babies.
It is fun to watch them grow. Each time they drop by for a visit and bread or crackers, they are a little bit bigger. They haven't stopped by for several days, but we've spotted them visiting other spots in the neighborhood while we are out and about on our daily walks.
#3. Walking through life with the dearest man and sweetest boy.
One of the most precious blessings of my life is getting to share each day with Kevin and Zach.
This is what we see on our walks together.
The serenity of the mountains and the river draws me in, and it is not at all unusual for the praise in me to well up and burst forth in the form of, "How Great Thou Art!" Yes, I have been known to sing it as we walk, and there may or may not have been people around. God has done SO much more for me than I will ever deserve. How can I keep from singing?
#4. Recently, dear, sweet Zach spent his own money and surprised me with a Wonder Bible!
I was so deeply touched by his thoughtfulness and generosity. Zach is so precious. I will never, ever, ever stop praising God for sending Zach to us right when He did and for allowing Kevin and me to finally have a child of our own and to be Zach's parents. This Wonder Bible is downright amazing. It has already proven to be such a blessing to me, and I love to listen to it as I am going to sleep. What a sweet and perfect gift! Thank you, dear Zach, from the bottom of my heart!
I cannot say enough good things about this stuff! I had tried it several years ago, and then I got slack and stopped ordering it. I didn't realize how much it was helping me until I stopped taking it.
Recently, I started back on it, and boy, can I tell a difference!! It keeps my hunger at bay and helps to regulate my sugar levels, but the best part of it is that it gives me energy and just makes me feel better.
Kevin and I love the pink drink so much, we became ambassadors! So if you would like to try some,
we would be ever so grateful for your support! Just click HERE to place an order! Better yet, I hope you will consider becoming an ambassador, too! The discounts are worth it! If you're interested, please drop us an email.
Since I am trying so hard to lose weight, (you can read about it here where I share about facing obesity head-on), along with taking Plexus Slim Pink Drink every day, I am closely monitoring my carb intake. This means I had to pretty much totally give up honey. 😢 BUT, never fear! THM Gentle Sweet is an answer to my sweet cravings. I started using it a few months ago, and it has become my new go-to sweetener. It is healthy, too, (NO aspartame~it is Stevia-based), and the flavor is amazing with no bitter aftertaste. Hooray!
Okay, I am sure by now, you are wondering about its name—Therma-Lou. Well, that, my friends, is a long story, and I wanted to catch you before you start storming Google with questions like, "Where can I buy Therma-Lou?" Let me explain.
My goal is to take water with me wherever I go so I can keep up with my water drinking commitment throughout the day. I am forever forgetting "her" and calling out things like, "Zach, would you mind grabbing my drink-thermos-water-thing on your way to the car?" So, we decided it was time this little beauty be given a name all her own. Barney Fife and his girlfriend, Thelma Lou, came to mind, and I got this bright idea to alter her name just a bit, replacing the "L" with an "R" and name our water bottle in her honor. So, there, you have it! The ever faithful, Miss Therma-Lou!
(Just in case you want to try to find one like it, and should you happen to get strange, blank stares if you approach a store employee and ask for "Therma-Lou," I wanted to share a picture of the name brand shown on the bottom.)
If you've been reading here for very long at all, you probably already know that I love coffee! I am always on the search for great-tasting, rich, bold-flavored coffee that packs a powerful punch. And, there is this certain quality that I look for in a coffee taste—I hardly know how to describe it, but it has to leave a certain strong coffee aftertaste. Does that make sense?
I have mentioned The Spice Merchant's coffee here before so you may remember how crazy I am about it.
(Get it, Jamaican Me Crazy? Never mind. 😂) This coffee is out of this world.
Today, I also wanted to mention another coffee company that we were just recently introduced to. Let me just tell you that I've been drinking this coffee every day, and it is amazing! Oh, the aroma!
When you open the bag, you can't just take a quick, little sniff. You have to inhale—deeply—and linger. The scent is wonderful, but only a small glimpse of the flavor to come! And don't you just love the name?
I love to support Christian businesses, and when it means there is coffee involved, I'm all in! By the way, the owner's mama just happens to be one of our favorite singers in all the world, too. She is none other than sweet Karen Peck Gooch of Karen Peck & New River! So, why not stop by and visit Matt Gooch at Solid Ground Coffee, & show him some loving support? (Have you ever heard him play the guitar? All I can say is, wow! He is super-talented!)
The antique coffee canister in the photo is a cherished, long-ago gift that Kevin bought for me during one of our times antiquing. I love the way it looks, but I mostly love it because Kevin bought it for me. The pretty mug was another gift from my niece, Kristen—yes, this mug was actually intended for me!
I love the mug so much. It has become my favorite, and I think of Kristen every day when I use it.
As you can see, I love to combine some of my favorite things and pray outside by the river while sipping a cup of fresh-made coffee. The words on the mug say it all!
Oh, my, I love my Keurig so much! Kevin and Zach bought it for my birthday last year, and I can't begin to say how much I enjoy using it each day! It gets a workout and keeps on brewing!
When it comes to coffee taste quality, there is no substitute for buying whole coffee beans and grinding them fresh. In order to ensure the best quality of freshness, I usually only grind enough coffee beans to last for about 2-3 days at a time. This little appliance is a gem!
It is the perfect size and so easy to use! After I grind the beans, I store the grounds in the antique coffee tin. It just makes me smile. I love making coffee for Kevin and Zach, too. They like flavored creamers and enjoy trying different ones. I stick to a limited amount of 1/2 & 1/2 in mine. There is only ONE gram of carbs in 2 Tablespoons of the Walmart brand! YEAH! I feel like a professional barista whipping up a coffee treat for each of us every afternoon! Those little things in life mean a lot everything.
#13. Old canning jars.
We've been collecting old, antique jars for many years. As you can see, we love to make daily use of them and not just keep them for display. Since we have started an intense minimizing journey, possessions that earn the right to stay in our home have to meet one of three requirements—we have to either need, use, or enjoy them. We got rid of a lot of our old jars, but we held on to certain special ones, and we are finding ways to bring new life to them. You may have noticed that we store our THM Gentle Sweet in an old, blue canning jar. I simply cut the label off the plastic bag and taped it inside the jar, to identify the contents. We use old, blue canning jars to store several things inside our kitchen cupboards and outside, too, including a way to display pretty marbles.
Oh, my! I wish there was a "sniff here" button on your computer screen!! Kevin and I recently celebrated our 30th year anniversary! YES, I said 30 years!! Oh, God has been SO good to us. We praise Him from the bottom of our hearts. Kevin spoiled me and was so kind and thoughtful, as always. This McCall's candle was one of my anniversary gifts, and I have been enjoying it ever since. The fragrance of this one is "State Fair," and I can't even describe how wonderful it smells. It permeates throughout the whole room and is just amazing.
#15. Primitives, Antiques, & Homespun Decor
During our minimizing, we have let go of about 90% of our possessions and moved to a much smaller living space, but we have chosen to keep the things that fill our home with comfort and a sense of peace and add value to our everyday lives. Things like this darling "Homespun" box dear Zach recently bought for me.
Isn't it just adorable? The word "homespun" caught his eye and made him think of Homespun Devotions, and he, of course, is well acquainted with my weakness for quilts and anything primitive or old-looking.
#16. Dad's old banjo & bluegrass music.
Some of my sweetest childhood memories have to do with the times my dear Daddy took out his five-string banjo and played for us. Many a family get-together was centered around music, and from my earliest childhood memories, I can recall singing that high lonesome sound Vince Gill sings about. So many who were in those gatherings have been called home to Heaven, and the void they left behind will never be filled. I could easily burst into tears each time I hear certain songs or a banjo playing. When I was in 8th grade, Mom and Dad bought me my first guitar, and through the years Dad taught me to play. I have always wanted to learn to play the banjo, too, but like Dad always said, "If you can't learn the roll, you just can't play the banjo." Though Dad patiently tried many times, I just couldn't get it so I would listen to him play and back him up on the guitar. I miss singing with him and Mom more than I could ever put into words. Dad didn't own many earthly possessions when he died. I cherish the few things he left behind, but this banjo means more to me than anything else. Each one of the memories attached to this old banjo means the world to me. I'll close this post with a few of the songs we used to sing and play together.
I think one of the reasons we love Blind Pig & The Acorn so much is because they remind us of Mom and Dad and other family members and the precious times we used to have singing and playing music together. They sing a lot of our favorite songs, and they are SO talented!
We felt like we had lost a personal friend when Pap passed away not too long ago.
"I will praise Thee: for Thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation."
Psalm 118:21
(KJV)
As many of you know, we started out the year 2017 with some very troubling news.
My niece, Kristen, who was expecting a baby, had a blood clot that had traveled into her lung,
and she had collapsed at the Emergency Room.
What followed were many months of me asking you, dear friends, to lift her and her little unborn baby in prayer.
You were faithful to pray.
And, GOD!
He was faithful to answer in such a miraculous way.
The result ended up being one of the major highlights of the year, when on July 5th, one super-special little man, named Eli, made his grand entrance into our family and lives.
(You can see his very first picture and read about that happy day, by clicking HERE.)
It is hard to believe that over five months have passed since little Eli's arrival,
and, now, he is enjoying his very first Christmas!
Isn't he just a little doll?
I keep saying he just gets cuter by the day!
Oh, friends!
We are SO grateful to God for this precious little bundle of joy,
and each time I think of him, I am constantly reminded of the amazing miracle God performed,
in answer to all of our prayers.
Things could have turned out so differently, and I never, ever take what God did for us for granted.
He is such a dear baby, and oh, the brightness he brings into this world!
Today, he decided he would try to get out of his chair, while no one was looking!
(Or so, he thought...)
This is what happened when he realized he was caught red-handed!!!!
Oh, my word!
That face!!
He is downright hilarious and has such a personality!!!
What a dollbaby!
We will never cease praising God for the way He intervened on behalf of this little guy and his Mommy.
She still has some residual health concerns, but, thankfully, for the most part, all is well, praise God!
He is so faithful!!
I've never done book reviews on this blog in the past, but when someone reached out to me recently and asked if I would review a book called, "Jesus Loves You!", I couldn't refuse.
Any way that I can spread the message of His love...well, that is a-okay with me!
So, I got the book in the mail, and I just had a chance to sit down and read it tonight.
This is my honest review, and I received no compensation.
At first glance, I thought this book would be geared towards very young children and could be used as an introduction to who Jesus is and His love for them.
However, when I got into the reading of the book, I realized that the writer refers to events that happen much later in life and are more of a mature nature.
There are references to asking a girl to dance, a "first romantic kiss", a painful relationship break-up, a "co-worker who you thought was totally cute", and marriage to "that cute co-worker".
The author also refers to aging parents.
My personal opinion is that the book may not be age-appropriate for small children.
Small children cannot relate to the seasons of adolescence, adulthood, and old age,
and I don't think they would, at that point, find the content relevant.
The intention of the message of the book is that Jesus loves us so much, and He remains with us all throughout life.
Through the good times, the bad times, and all times in between, He is there,
steadfast and unmovable.
The book is written in a very basic way, and I think young children could understand the words, but the intended message would definitely be best received by those who have experienced life, firsthand, and who have already walked through the stages mentioned.
The illustrations are simplistic, but colorful, bright, and attractive.
It is 13 pages long and is a quick read.
All in all, I would most recommend this book to older teenagers and adults who are learning about Jesus for the first time.
In closing, I wanted to share one of my new favorite Christmas songs.
I think this is the first year I remember hearing this song, and oh, my, as I listened to the choir singing it at church the other night, I was so moved.
The message just makes me cry.
It is so beautiful.
I hope you can listen to this version by "4 Him" I found on youtube.
I hope all of you are enjoying this wonderful Christmas season!!
I love and appreciate each one of you dear readers, and I am praying for each one of you as I type these words. MerryChristmas!!!
"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward."
Psalm 127:3
(KJV)
In my last post, I shared two of the many times God has laid a heaviness upon my heart to pray,
even though I wasn't sure for whom or what I was praying.
One of the times I mentioned was the night before I found out my niece, Kristen,
who was expecting a baby boy, collapsed in the ER from a blood clot in her lung.
Many of you have followed Kristen's journey, and you have fervently prayed for her and her precious baby, and you are already aware that last month, God answered our many prayers!
Little Eli was born, perfectly healthy and beautiful and just amazing,
and his sweet Mommy came through the C-section delivery just fine.
Oh, how we have praised our dear Lord for this amazing answer to prayer!!!
He is SO worthy of all praise, and He has proven, once again, that there is nothing too hard for Him.
Recently, little Eli and his grateful family celebrated his ONE-MONTH BIRTHDAY!!!!
Isn't he just a living doll????
What a little sweetheart!!
Also, MORE GREAT NEWS!!!!
Kristen had a CT Scan yesterday, and guess what, dear friends??
The blood clot in her lung is GONE, praise God,
and she was able to go off the blood-thinning shots!!!!
We cannot praise God enough for the amazing miracles He has performed!!!
Precious Eli and his Mommy, Kristen
Every time I think of all God has brought these two through,
my heart just fills to overflowing with praise to the God Who can do anything!!!!
Praise His wonderful name!!!
Kristen, so graciously gave permission for me to share some photos of the little birthday guy
and their sweet dog, Harley!
Be still, my heart!!
This is SO adorable!
Such a happy, little guy!
Have you ever seen anything so cute??
So many times, I have to break down and cry as I praise the dear Lord for the mercy He has extended to my dear family and me.
How we praise Him for the precious, dear, sweet gift of baby Eli, now one month old!!!
I just wanted to share an update on him for all of you prayer warriors who have helped to
pray us through!!
So many times, I have come here, so heavy-hearted and desperate for God's help,
and I have asked you, dear friends, to pray.
So many times, in answer to my plea, you have taken our burdens as your own,
and you have bombarded Heaven for my family and loved ones and me,
and you have reached the throne of God and touched His heart on our behalf.
It gives me so much joy to share the results of the prayers YOU have prayed!!!
I want to encourage you today.
Whatever you need can be found in the Source of all of our strength.
God is still alive and well, and He is still listening for the prayers and cries of His children.
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers..."
I Peter 3:12
I am now working on a post that will be entitled "According to your faith",
where I, once again, delve into the subject of prayer.
I hope to share it with you soon....we have had a lot going on in our family and lives,
and there hasn't been a lot of time for blogging lately.
God knows when the time is right for a particular post,
so, stay tuned!!
May He bless each one of you, meet all of your current needs,
and keep each one of your hearts turned towards Him.
I love and appreciate each one of you,
I cherish each comment you leave here,
and I am praying for every, single person who will ever read these words.
"Pray without ceasing."
I Thessalonians 5:17
(KJV)
Before I begin this post, I wanted to ask you to please pray for the family of a young woman who was killed in a one-car traffic accident.
Her little 2-year old son was in the back, unhurt.
I can't imagine the pain in the hearts of this family, and I know they would greatly appreciate your prayers during this sad time.
***************************************** This is the amazing, beautiful view outside the home of our nephew, David, and his wife, Stacie. I could literally sit and take in this view for hours. My eyes...and heart...are drawn to the far, distant hills, and to the God Who created them.
Those of you who have been reading Homespun Devotions for a while,
know that a little over five years ago, God called my mother home to Heaven.
Losing her, and Dad, nearly twelve years before her, has been beyond hard.
I will miss them forever.
Anyone who has lost their parent(s) can attest that there is nothing on earth that can fill that kind of void.
We never had much in the way of money or worldly wealth while I was growing up.
But, even though we struggled, financially, Mom and Dad possessed and passed on something to me that is greater than any monetary treasure they could have ever bestowed.
Mom and Dad taught me how to pray.
Prayer was observed as the first resource in our home.
Through their example, and by means of their normal behavior,
Mom and Dad never made prayer their last resort.
If one of us or another loved one was sick, we prayed.
If we were broke, we prayed.
If we needed food, we prayed.
If the car wouldn't start, we prayed.
When Dad's prospective employer was hesitant about hiring him, due to his health problems,
we prayed.
During the treacherous Ohio blizzard of 1978, we prayed.
If we couldn't pay a bill, we prayed.
We prayed about everything.
We went to hospitals and nursing homes, and we prayed...for people who were sick, lonely, and depressed.
We rarely missed Wednesday night "prayer meeting".
We gathered together in our living room, at the end of each day,
and we all three prayed an individual prayer out loud around our family altar.
I learned, early on, that circumstances were often rearranged when we would pray.
Mountains that seemed to be immovable were brought low and conquered.
It didn't take me long to realize that, within the life of a Christian,
prayer is not just a tool, it is a weapon that, when properly wielded,
will absolutely turn the tide.
Mom and Dad's prayerful influence and daily, consistent encouragement to pray
has had a lasting, permanent effect upon the person, wife, and mother I have become.
Prayer is an integral part of who I am.
It is woven through so many fibers of my being that, it seems,
I hardly know when I stop praying and when I start up again.
God and I are having a conversation the biggest part of the time,
and prayer keeps me in close proximity to Him.
We seldom stop communicating....and even when we do stop talking,
it is there, in the back of my mind.
Always flowing...ongoing.
My prayer life is a precious thing to me, and I say that, not with haughtiness or boastfulness,
but with much love and respect for Jesus in my heart.
Now that I am married, thankfully to a man who also loves to pray,
Kevin and I endeavor to make our home a house of prayer.
In addition to individual prayers, we believe it is vitally important to have regular family worship...
the three of us...together....like Mom, Dad, and I used to do.
A lot of "stuff" comes to the surface during those times of all three of us listening to each other
pray out loud.
One of my greatest desires, as a mother, has always been to ingrain a quality of prayer into the fiber of Zach.
The other night, it hit me how automatic prayer has become in our lives as a family.
Kevin had to work, and Zach and I were on our way to Bible Study.
We started listening to the radio, and all of a sudden I felt a strong sense of needing to pray.
So, I asked Zach if he minded, and, bless his heart, this boy who loves to pray about as much as his Mama, quickly turned the radio off.
He was all in.
We prayed...and prayed...and prayed...nearly the whole 40-45 minutes there.
If he needed to add something, he would pipe up and start praying,
and I would stop, then I would resume again when he was done, etc.
This is something that is happening more often, as Zach grows and matures.
I can't put into words how precious those times are to me.
Not only to have that beyond-dear time with this boy in prayer,
but to be reminded, once again, what a habitual and instinctive force prayer has become in our lives.
There is no way to measure the value and power of effectually and fervently
wielding the weapon of prayer.
If video doesn't load, click here. Written by Charles & Ira Louvin
In the posts found here, here, and here, I have been talking about spiritual warfare and how important it is to memorize the Word of God, so our Sword stays steadily sharpened.
Prayer is also a vital component of God's strategy for us to win the ongoing battles in this spiritual war.
When the Apostle Paul wrote instructions concerning our need to put on the whole armor of God
in Ephesians 6:11-18, he put strong emphasis upon prayer, after he had named off several individual pieces of armor that we should put on.
In verse 18 he says this,
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints..."
Jesus spent much time in prayer when He was on the earth,
even spending all night in prayer and rising very early so He could be alone to pray.
Wouldn't you have loved to hear some of the heart-wrenched prayers He prayed?
Every, single one of His prayers were fervent, and they were effectual.
I have no doubt.
Jesus Christ realized how valuable it was for Him to stay connected to His Father at all times.
Therefore, He took the necessary time to make sure He fit that communion into His day,
even if it meant giving up sleep, comfort, and ease.
It was just that important to Him.
Shouldn't it be to us?
"And He (Jesus) spake a parable unto them to this end,
that men ought always to pray, and not to faint..."
Luke 18:1
We've probably all seen the plaque at some point throughout life.
"Prayer Changes Things"
If I remember correctly, I think the first time I saw it was on my prayer-warrior Papaw's living room wall.
Papaw prayed more than anyone I have ever personally known.
Each morning, he rose early, in order to find time to spend interceding to God for his family,
the congregation he pastored, and the many needs presented to him by others.
Seeing that plaque on his wall is a vague memory, but the message stuck.
When my sister, Sandi, called and told me my niece, Kristen, who was expecting a baby and also suffering from a blood clot in her arm, had driven herself to the ER and collapsed after getting there, then found out a blood clot was in her lung, I'll admit that not just a "normal" fear, but full-blown terror gripped my heart.
And, what was astonishing to me, at the time, was that the night before this phone call, I had felt an overpowering, pressing burden to pray.
I remember telling Kevin and Zach that I needed to pray, and it needed to be NOW.
I didn't even know who or what exactly I was praying for.
I just knew that someone needed help that only God could provide, and it was imperative that I fervently pray.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
James 5:16
Not that I am in any imaginable way righteous.
It is only through the precious blood of Christ that I have been redeemed.
It is HIS righteousness working in me that opens the opportunity for me to approach Him in prayer.
Kristen's situation was not the first time I had felt an overwhelming burden to fervently pray, even though I didn't know for whom or what I was to pray.
One other time, in particular, that will be forever embedded into my memory happened on the night of April 30th, 2016.
I remember telling Kevin and Zach that a burden that I could not seem to shake was upon me to pray.
I didn't have a clue who needed help or what was happening, but I knew, without a doubt, that someone desperately needed my prayers, and I should not procrastinate.
I remember that even after I prayed, I could not seem to find relief, and there was this nagging sense of needing to continue to pray.
It just wouldn't let up.
What I didn't know until my sister-in-law called was that just a few, short hours after the crushing heaviness in my spirit, a demonic-controlled, maniacal man, (animal seems more appropriate), would enter the apartment of my dear niece, Victoria, and she would die an agonizingly brutal and painful death, at his cruel and murderous hand.
I can't tell you the number of times I have wondered why my earnest prayers were not enough to protect Victoria or spare her life that night.
At some point in my wondering, God showed me that my prayers WERE heard, and that they were answered, too.
Our Lord was there, incredibly near to her during those final hours.
He was with her...comforting her, as she lay bleeding and dying, and He never left her side.
I will never know how many ways He answered my prayers that night.
Maybe, He lessened the intensity or duration of her agonizing death.
Perhaps, He shielded her from worse...if such a thing exists.
As I prayed, I did not know the reason for the heaviness in my spirit, but the Spirit of God knew,
and as I entered into that time of prayer, He carried my burden to the throne of grace in an intelligible way that God completely understood.
Later, it all became clear, and I found out who had needed that prayer.
He knew all along.
In these two situations, as in many, many other times throughout life, I have learned to trust that sense of burden that comes over me.
I have learned to drop whatever I am doing and fall to my knees when I feel that compelling call.
I have learned the meaning of Romans 8:26,
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
This kind of praying is not easy...
not knowing who or what we are praying for,
not even knowing why we are praying,
yet feeling such an intense burden for prayer.
Does anyone else ever feel the temptation to not put forth the energy and effort required for such intercession?
It is a temptation to which even the very disciples of Jesus Christ were not immune.
Jesus faced the most challenging, excruciating night of His life, and He needed support.
Not just moral support, but earnest prayerful support.
When He asked the three men in His inmost inner circle to pray for/with Him,
He came back a little while later only to find them asleep.
They could not seem to muster the stamina required to shake off their drowsiness and intercede on behalf of the One who would soon lay down His life for them.
As a result, Jesus lacked support when He needed it most. And, as a result, they lacked the necessary personal fortitude to remain faithful to their profession of faith when faced with the threat of persecution.
Sometimes, it would be easier to succumb to the pleasantry of letting someone else do the heavy lifting when it comes to entering into intercessory prayer.
But, I have learned to pay attention...to take heed...when I feel an inward prompting to pray.
I have learned that there is always good reason behind a nudge from the Holy Spirit.
I have learned that if I fail to pray, something, or more importantly, someone, could suffer for my disobedience and negligence.
Mom used to often tell me that "prayer is a long-range weapon".
It reaches as far as it needs to, and even when I cannot be there in person to show support,
I can pray...even when I don't know exactly who needs those prayers.
God is always listening for the prayers of His people.
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers..."
I Peter 3:12
He invites us to approach His throne when we are in need.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16
There are times a special burden for prayer is placed upon the heart of a burden-bearer.
When we feel called to such a task, it is of vital importance that we push through the temptation to ignore such a call, regardless of personal cost.
So much is riding on our faithfulness.
God help us to rise to the challenge and be the prayer warriors that He and our loved ones need us to be!
We may never know or realize the scope of the effectiveness of our prayers on earth,
but I am deeply comforted by the vision John saw and described in Revelation 8:3,4,
"And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand."
Your prayers and intercessions count, my friend!
They are being carried to the throne of God by the hands of angels!
Don't ever give up on producing your cause before God through the channel of prayer.
"Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob."
Isaiah 41:21
May we ever be mindful of those God-sent urges to pray.
May we press through our weariness, fatigue, and temptation to give up, and
"He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles."
Job 5:9
(KJV)
I just want to praise God and report that Kristen and baby Eli are doing very well!!!!!
Oh, this little guy is so precious, and he just grows cuter and sweeter day by day!!
What a blessing from God!
(To read first post about Baby Eli's entrance into this world, click HERE!!)
We cannot stop praising Him for this amazing miracle.
Isn't he just adorable?????
And the look on the faces of his dear, sweet parents just melt my heart!!!
Have you ever seen anything so precious in your entire life?
This is one loved and cherished little baby boy!!!!!
I tell you, I look back over the last several months and all of the worry and fear and trauma my dear niece has endured, and I just feel like I could never, in a million years, praise God enough! The outcome is exactly what we prayed for and believed God to provide.
"Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
And their eyes were opened..."
Matthew 9:29-30
We would still appreciate your continued prayers that God will keep them both safe and well
and not allow any more blood clots or complications.
Our family is so appreciative of every prayer you have prayed and ways you have reached out to us during this awful trial.
We love each one of you so much and praise God to have such an amazing support system.
May He bless each one of you abundantly!!!
Dear friends, I do not know what you may be going through today or what type of heartache
you may be called upon to bear, but I just want to encourage you.
God is still on the throne.
He still loves you.
Your life may not be void of problems, trials, sorrow, hurt, and disappointment,
but He is WITH you, through it all.
We live in a fallen world.
We suffer.
We are betrayed.
We cry.
We question God and ask Him why.
We struggle, because even in our most doubt-filled moments, we still know and believe that He has the power to prevent hard things from coming into our lives, and that is one of the main causes of our confusion and disillusionment.
We believe that God is in control, and He has the ability to stop bad things from touching our lives,
so why in the world doesn't He do that?
Why does He permit such?
I do not, nor do I claim to, have the answers.
I ask the same questions more often than I care to admit.
I don't know the mind of God.
His thoughts are so far above mine, that the two cannot, nor will they ever, be reconciled.
But, this I do know.
God never promised we would not go through difficult things, but He did promise to go through them with us.
And, He does.
Even when it doesn't feel like it.
Even when we cannot sense His presence.
Even when things seem to only get worse when we pray.
He is there.
"...lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Matthew 28:20
I do not know why my dear niece had to go through the anguish she has endured,
but I do know this.
When I look at this picture, I see the end result of her suffering.
A perfectly-formed, completely healthy, happy, contented, precious baby boy
who makes this face when his Mommy kisses his nose!
"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."
Psalm 30:5
Oh, PRAISE GOD!!!!!
There is a beginning and an end to every trial, my friend.
Your morning will come.
The end result will be beautiful.
God is now working on your behalf.
Even though this season my be beyond difficult, this too shall pass.
Please keep encouraged, always, and let me know how I can pray for you.
I want you to know that as I compose this post, I am praying for every, single person who will ever read these words.
You are loved.
Don't ever forget it.
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And, in case you haven't noticed in the upper right sidebar,
I also wanted to let you know that the goal has been met for the Cooper family to pay off the remainder of Megan's funeral expenses!!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to each one who made this happen!
The family would like to share this message with you.
"We, the family of Josh and Megan Cooper. would like to thank EVERYONE who helped in any way with Megan's funeral expenses. There are no words in our hearts that can express how thankful and blessed we are for everything that everyone has done for us through this time of sorrow. We truly appreciate the many prayers for the family, especially for Josh and little Sierra, the acts of kindness and sympathy, food, flowers, donations, cards, visits, phone calls, and kind words spoken to our family. We truly appreciate it very much!! May God bless each and every one of you."
The Family of Josh and Megan Cooper
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And, speaking of prayer, I now leave you with a very special picture and story, followed by a beautiful song sung by my all-time favorite singer, Ricky Skaggs.
I first heard him sing on Moon Mullins' bluegrass program when I was 14.
You just remember moments like that.
Mom and I were parked in front of Dad's work, listening to the radio while waiting to pick Dad up,
when this voice came on the radio.
It was the kind of voice that just makes you stop and pay attention.
From that moment until this, he has been, and will always remain, my favorite.
Several years later, Kevin and I fulfilled a lifelong dream when we went to Nashville for our honeymoon.
While there, Ricky Skaggs was filming a "Hee Haw" episode, and we were so blessed to be able to attend as members of the live audience.
After the show, he was kind enough to stop and talk to us and give Kevin time to take this picture.
The day Kevin and I met my musical hero, Ricky Skaggs
Let Ricky's song remind you that somebody's prayin' for YOU!!
