Answered Prayer—A Double Blessing!

January 15, 2015 by 20 Comments

10923243_10152956712373232_4454384483570747389_n“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine . . . to him be glory . . . for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Isn’t it just like God to answer our long-time prayers and deepest desires with a double blessing?

That’s exactly what he’s done where our daughter Kristin and son-in-law Shawn are concerned. Many of you have stood with us in prayer for a long time now (thank you!), asking God to bless them with a baby. And when God answered, he answered in a big way—with twin boys!

Last fall my “Prisoner of Hope” post featured this scripture from Zechariah 9:12: “Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.” And then God did it. As our family—his prisoners of hope—returned to him time and again with our cries for mercy, he did it. He gave twice as much as we dreamed. How we thank him! How we praise him!

So allow me now to introduce our grandsons—Isaiah Dean (held by Kristin) and James Logan (held by Shawn). They are without a doubt two of the most beautiful gifts our family has ever been given. Their middle names are family names, but their first names were chosen because of scriptures dear to Kristin’s and Shawn’s hearts (Isaiah 41:10 and 40:28-31 and James 1:12 and 1:17).

The long wait is over. God has answered our prayers. Rejoice with us, won’t you? And be encouraged for any wait you may be enduring. The blessing is on the way! 

“. . .weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

*When has God blessed you beyond your wildest dreams?

*Photos courtesy of Kristin and Shawn. The one below was taken when the twins were almost a week old and finally together again after being in separate isolettes since their birth. Isaiah is getting his first good look at his brother. I may be prejudiced, but is this cute or what?!

IMG_1005

Filed Under: Above and Beyond, blessing, celebrate, family, Gift, hope, perseverance, praise, surprise, thanks, unfailing, wait

Waiting for the Right Time

January 12, 2015 by 8 Comments

8432582097_3140344f10_z

(Don’t miss some exciting personal news at the end of this post!)

“The day for building your walls will come, the day for extending your boundaries.” Micah 7:11

Are you waiting to move forward or grow in some way? Does it seem like it’s never going to happen?

Some of us may be waiting until our children are older so we can go back to school and pursue a new career while others may be waiting until a time of caregiving is passed so we can move forward with our plans and dreams. Still others maybe waiting until present financial obligations are met before branching out with a new venture or interest. Personally, I’m waiting on God’s will and perfect timing regarding publication of my book so I can move forward with that project. All kinds of scenarios find us waiting for the right time for our dreams to unfold.

The Old Testament prophet Micah’s words to the nation of Israel in the scripture above offer us encouragement and hope today as well. He assured them that a time of building their walls and extending their boundaries would indeed come. And the same can be true for us. Just because a goal or dream is not coming to pass on the timetable we hoped for doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause. Instead of giving up, it may be that we just need to trust God and wait for the right time to move forward.

So what can we do as we wait for God’s perfect timing? The specifics can be different for each situation, but certain general actions can help us in almost any waiting situation. Here are a few that can help:

1. We can pray regularly for our hearts’ desires, asking God to bring them about at just the right time, in just the right way.

2. We can recruit others to join us in prayer about the matter. The prayer support of others is always a comfort and a help.

3. We can take some steps to be ready to move forward when the time is right. Maybe we can do some research, take a class, hone our skills, network, save some money, tie up some loose ends, or give attention to any number of things that could help put us in the best position possible when the right time comes.

4. We can faithfully carry out our present responsibilities and learn the life lessons God has for us in our current season. We can be at peace, knowing we are doing what we’re supposed to be doing in this stage of our lives.

5. We can look forward in faith to the day when extending our boundaries will come but can also be open and alert to any change of plans that God may lead us to.

Whatever strategies we employ, let’s be encouraged by the scripture above. Let’s not lose heart, but instead, let’s trust God. He will grow us and extend our boundaries at just the right time, in just the right way!

“But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands;” Psalm 31:14-15a

*When have you had to wait to extend your boundaries? Are you currently in a waiting season?

*Important personal news: God has heard our cries for mercy—our daughter Kristin and son-in-law Shawn are now the parents of beautiful twin boys! And yes, that means I am now a grandma! Woohoo!! The entire family is so incredibly grateful for this double blessing from God after such a long wait. Little Isaiah and James are truly gifts from Him. Thanks to each of you who have prayed for this day with us! More to come in a future post and also find more info on my Facebook page!

*Flickr photo by Andrew Bartram (WarboysSnapper), Creative Commons License

Filed Under: dream, goal, hope, time, vision, wait, Word of God

Realistic December Wedding Planning

December 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment

2926585439_b5c2e16d2c_z*Here’s a special December encore presentation since many of you were not mothers of the bride at this time last year. Hope it helps!

December wedding planning has a different set of rules, Mother of the Bride. And if you break them, sweet friend, you risk not only your sanity but probably a merry Christmas season as well.

A couple of weeks ago I urged you to give yourself a break with time management by saying no to some responsibilities and extra tasks and also by asking for help. But in December the guidelines change slightly. You certainly don’t want to ask anyone for help. Everyone is already overloaded with holiday tasks and events. And from what I hear, it’s not a good time to call on Santa’s elves either.

Saying no to some of your routine responsibilities is still a good idea, though, and if anyone dares to ask you, a mother of the bride, to take on an extra task during the holiday season, not only should they be blasted with a resounding are you crazy, they should also be sentenced to fifty lashes with a peppermint stick.

The main rule, though, for realistic December wedding planning, MOB, is postpone. Yes, postpone any and all wedding planning possible until January arrives. Remembering to live life apart from an all things wedding approach is always good advice but never more so than during the holidays. The holidays should be enjoyed—by you, by the bride and the groom, and by all those living life with you.

If certain tasks must be attended to—like securing a vendor or making a payment on time—do it as quickly as possible and get back to focusing on the special times to be enjoyed during the holidays. Be realistic, MOB, and grant yourself the grace December wedding planning rules afford. You won’t regret it.

*What wedding planning-free activities do you look forward to the most this month?

*Be sure to throw your name in the hat for my “Playing Santa Again” Giveaway on my home page. Deadline to enter is 6 p.m. CST this Wednesday.

*Flickr photo by paperladyinvites, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: advice, focus, holidays, joy, Mother of the Bride, preparation, wait

Holding On To Faith

March 3, 2014 by 6 Comments

1865482908_20b890274b_z

When tragedy strikes or disappointment pays us repeated visits, when waiting is our portion and seems to have no end, what happens to our faith in God then?

Do we crack under the pressure of a painful trial and turn away from God or do we lift our eyes once more to him? Are we faithful to declare our trust again, even though our hearts are bruised and battered?

Sometimes continuing to trust and believe is a struggle—sometimes all we can do is hold on by our fingertips. We all face times—and if we haven’t yet, we someday will—when our hurt and disappointment are so great that hanging on to our faith becomes a sheer act of will. We don’t feel like believing, but we choose to believe God anyway. Based on the truth of his Word and his past faithfulness, we choose to hold on to our faith in him.

Our daughter and son-in-law have had their faith tested again and again the past several years as they’ve endured what seems to be an unending wait to become parents. They’ve chosen—and we’ve chosen, too, as we hurt along with them—to hold on to our faith, to continue to trust God and his perfect plan. Time and again, we’ve all had to ask do we trust God 100 percent?

Is your faith being tested now? Are you feeling bruised and battered? If you’re at a painful crossroads and trying to decide whether to walk away or lift your eyes and heart to God again, I pray that he will give you the strength to choose faith again. I pray that you will trust him 100 percent. He hurts with you. He waits with you. He’ll carry you through.

“. . . let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” Hebrews 4:14b

*How has God carried you through when you’ve chosen to trust in him?

*Flickr Photo by Joseph Ma. Rosell, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: disappointment, faith, family, fighter, grief, trust, wait

Midweek Morsel: Parched No More

February 27, 2014 by 2 Comments

Heart Spring

“He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs;” Psalm 107:35

We’ve all experienced dry times—seasons of drought—at some point or other in our lives. Whether a drought of the earth where every living thing cries out for the relief of life-giving water or a spiritual drought when we feel forgotten by God and long for a special touch from Him, we’ve all known desert days . . . desert weeks . . . desert years . . . and have cried out for relief.

Are you walking through a desert time right now? Be encouraged. We have a God who can turn deserts into pools of water and parched ground into flowing springs. You will not be crying out for relief forever. At just the right time—in God’s perfect time—you will be parched no more. Flowing springs will be your portion. Hang on, friend.

“‘I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Jeremiah 31:25

*How do you cope when you find yourself in a desert place?

*You might also like to read The Blessing is on the Way.

*The current issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out Feb. 3rd. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

*My photo

Filed Under: blessing, faith, help, hope, provision, refresh, spring, unfailing, wait
« Previous Page
Next Page »