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.

Ike

We have it easy here, not even any rain yet, but our family and friends are fighting the storm. It is sad to see the place we have vacationed on the Weather Channel and see it in ruins. Breaks my heart.

My sister, Lisa, is having a tough time now with the worst of the storm hitting them. They have lost power and we pray the the strong winds don't do too much damage.

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...

Stupid things parents say

As a parent I totally find myself saying things that just sound plain stupid. I know you know what I mean. This totally reminds me of one of those moments. Enjoy!

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.

Revival

Remember when we would have a week long revival at church? Some preacher from far away would come to town and everyone would get all excited and invite everyone they knew to come to church. We were going to save the world. Now I know when we think of revival, we all picture white tents and someone at the front of the stage preachin' about Hell and death. We would go every night that week and when it was over, we were on a mountain high. Many people came to the Lord. But those week long revivals are gone... where did they go?

I've been thinking about this as we have been praying for at least two years at our church specifically on Sunday nights for revival to break out. We had been stuck spiritually in a huge rut. But God has worked in a way that none of us ever imagined (that is how He usually works by the way) our stuck church has been un-stuck. He picked up our giant church, turned it over and began to shake, and shake, and shake. We lost a lot of members. People who were faithful to serve and give. But God kept shaking and now it is done. The remnant are changed. The revival we have so desperately prayed for... it has begun. Not in away that anyone expected. It started in our hearts. We are being changed one heart and one life at a time.

This revival that I am watching is coming with tears and openness and love. It is about freedom. Freedom to worship in a way that many people never dreamed they could worship. I see hands lifted to God, hands that are lifted because they want to touch the hem of the Savior. I see eyes looking heavenward because the things of this earth don't matter when you truly seek the face of the creator who loves you. I see hearts changed. I see lives being transformed. I see... God.

My achey breaky heart...

So... on Monday morning I thought I was having a heart attack. Yes, you read that right. I was laying in bed, minding my own business and BAMMM excruciating pain, shortness of breath, pain radiating up my neck and down my arm and around my back. I could hardly breath. It was scary to say the least. It lasted about four minutes and then it subsided. I was like, "what the heck was that"? My husband was very scared and I was trying to act like, "oh that is not big deal, I'm sure it was nothing?. HA! I was really scared. So, we called the doctor and went in. I know you are thinking... You are supposed to go to the hospital, but it was not hurting anymore. But on the way to the doctor it started again. So, we got there did an EKG and all the tests. It turns out that I have Pericarditis. Two weeks ago I had a mean virus...remember my post? Well, apparently, sometimes a virus will settle in and around your heart, cause inflammation and pain. Did you know that? Well I watch enough "HOUSE" to know it can happen. Now I'm on a strong anti-inflammatory for a few weeks to see if that does the job. I have some pain that comes and goes.

Now, not to be mellow dramatic, but when I was sitting on the couch waiting to go to the doctor, I thought, God, this seems silly. But if I am really having a heart issue, you must have a real good reason for it. So I began to pray and this was my prayer, "God, if you want me to be sick, OK, if you want me to be well, OK. I know you will use me in either case. Help me be used by you in all I do, whether in sickness or health. Help me use my life to bring others closer to You".

Now, I know what you are thinking, "that is a prayer we should pray everyday". You are correct, so, did you? Did you pray it today or yesterday? Are you willing to take whatever comes, in whatever form it takes and allow God to use you? It is tough to say those words and I hope in my heart I can continue to pray it today, tomorrow and for all the other days that God allows me to have a voice to pray.

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.