A Prayer for Audrey's family

Today I am posting, "Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone." I know many of you know the song but it holds such a special place in my heart. It was a year ago this week that I sang it with two of my closest friends at the funeral of our friends daughter, Audrey. She was almost 3 years old. (She died in a very similar was as Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter. )

As shocked as our church family was at this tragedy, it could not compare to the grief these parents, Sarah and Bryan have suffered. I do not even begin to try to imagine what they have been going through this year. We have been praying and trying to offer support for them. But their faith in God has been a testimony to all of us.

I am posting this today, because I know that many of you who visit here on Saturday are praying women of faith. I ask that you pray for Bryan, Sarah and their daughters Caroline and Mary Claire. They need all the prayers we can lift up to the heavens for them.

On Sunday after church we will have a special prayer time for this family to encourage them and to let them know they are not alone. Would you join us to pray this Sunday and all week for them?



For More Musical Inspiration... Visit Amy at Signs, Miracles and Wonders.

Audrey's Song

This is a song and video that some of you may have seen. It is about Audrey Caroline. Her mother is Angie Smith, wife of Todd Smith of the group Selah This is a story that I'm sure most of you know, so I won't try to tell it again. But I will tell you why this song means so much to me. It seems this year God has been speaking to me about life, how truly precious it is and how fragile the youngest among us are. Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile have heard me tell the story of our friend who lost their daughter in November, her name was Audrey too. Then Jackson passed away . My cousin, who I love dearly had an ectopic pregnancy two weeks ago and lost her baby. And a very dear friend of mine was told that they will not be able to give birth to a baby conceived by she and her husband.

My heart has been breaking for all these families and yet I know God is in control and He loves them all. He hold the lives of the smallest baby, still yet to be born and he hold each and every one of us. I am overwhelmed beyond any words I can bring to mind for the gift of my daughter. And because of her, I am that much more aware of the pain only a mother can imagine at the loss of a child and that is why this sweet song pulls at my heart. I continue to pray for those who have lost a child and for those who suffer and grieve for the loss of the child they had always hoped to carry and will not be able to do so.

For more inspirational songs and music visit Amy's blog for Then Sings My Soul...

A Prayer

Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, O Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me.

My thoughts and prayers are still very much with the Chapmans and my friends who lost their sweet Audrey back in November. I read this Psalm and see that even David questioned God and asked Him..."are you still there?"
But the last two verses are what gives me peace and comfort. As a Christ follower I do trust His unfailing love and KNOW that HE wants good for us. I am still trusting Him to comfort those who hurt, for parents who don't understand why their child is no longer on this earth and for brothers and sisters who miss their sister.

Dear God give comfort and peace in the midst of this storm. Grant these families moments of joy and glimpses of your grace. Allow them to witness the good and purpose in this tragedy. Lord, give them hope. And most of all, strength to make it through one more day. amen

Prayer for the Chapman Family

I am asking you to pray for the family of Steven Curtis Chapman. His youngest daughter was killed yesterday. My heart aches for this family and for thier son who was driving the car that hit little Maria Sue. Our circle of friends experienced a tragedy similar to this in November. I would ask that when you pray for the Chapman family, please pray for all families who have lost children in tragic accidents and the pain this latest story will bring back to their hearts.

Finding the words

I find myself searching for the right thing to say. I know you have been there too. You are in a situation that is unthinkable, unimaginable and you are trying to find the words to say when in reality, words will NEVER be enough.

In the past year we have been to more funerals than I can begin to number to you. In fact I was at a funeral when I got word that our good friends daughter had been killed in a tragic accident. This week would have been her third birthday, and her parents are mourning that she is not here to celebrate. I can not begin to know how they feel, I just know my heart hurts for them. As I was thinking of them and praying for God to continue to heal their hearts, God gave them a glimpse of His grace. Easter Sunday, as we were closing a joyous service at church, I looked and coming down the aisle was one of their other little girls. She was walking with her Mommy to tell everyone she has asked Jesus to be in her heart. I was standing on stage with her Daddy, as we were preparing to sing. He quickly went down to be with them and the rest of us were in tears as we rejoiced in God's grace. For a family who has spent so much time talking about heaven and who they would greet when they got there, a little girl asked Jesus in her heart and is assured to see her little sister again in Glory.

So, I rejoice with them in this wonderful decision made by a young girl, but my heart aches for them as they continue to grieve.

Then last night we got word from my sister that her sweet 6 year old neighbor, Jackson is dying. We have been praying for him since his diagnosis in Dec. 2006 of a inoperable brain tumor. He is in the final stages now and will not live much longer. I sat at the foot of my daughter's bed last night and wept and prayed as she slept. I thanked God for her, and asked that He would protect her and then I just prayed for Jackson and for our friends and ask for comfort for them all. Our friends have the hope and knowledge that they will one day see their little girl again, but I don't know that Jackson's parents have that same assurance, I don't know if they are Christ followers.

So, when words are not enough, when it is too painful to try to understand...all I can think to do is pray and trust that when I need the words, God will just speak to me and through me.