Wednesdays of Wonder - His Kingdom is Come(fort)

I'm reading (more than) a few books right now.  One in particular, Simply Jesus by N.T. Wright, is compelling.  It's not an easy read, but a very good one if you are striving to understand and take seriously Who Jesus is and what He came to do in our world.

Wright makes (more than) a few good points.  I think I've found something quotable in every chapter thus far and I'm only halfway through!  (I'm trying to finish it because the ladies at the church library would like their book back.....)

When I read the following passage this morning, it struck me why I do these posts.  These lines, from Chapter 11, page 141, frame it all,

But suppose, just suppose...there were a god like Israel's God.  Suppose this God did after all make the world.  And suppose he were to claim, at long last, his sovereign rights over that world, not to destroy it... or merely to 'intervene' in it from time to time...but to fill it with his glory, to allow it to enter a new mode in which it would reflect his love, his generosity, his desire to make it over anew...

Perhaps these stories (of Jesus)...are...the sort of things that might just be characteristic of the new creation, of the fulfilled time, of what happens when heaven and earth come together....Because if they did, it might mean that a living God really had established his sovereign rule on earth as in heaven and was intending to let this rule grow...putting an end to the fantasy of human sovereignty, of being the master's of one's own fate and captain of one's own soul....(emphasis mine).

This book is both enlightening and challenging - forcing me to look beyond the simple explanations of the Gospel, in order so the Lord can have His rightful place in my heart and life.  It reiterates for the point of life: living for who God is, what He wants and letting Him do it. The way God does things, the way He demonstrates His rule, is not the way we would.  We'd bang a gong when a quiet whisper gets more attention.  The Lord works through complete strangers to bring us the kind of comfort we need, at just the right time. 

The experience my Dad had a few weeks ago, on Mother's Day, highlights the principle: on earth as it is in heaven!  The Lord is as interested in our healing as His glory, because our healing is a demonstration of His glory.  It shows the world His Kingdom has indeed come!

We are to be witnesses that the Kingdom has indeed come, whatever form it takes; so we can continue to live in the hope, excitement and expectation of seeing the final fulfillment of it.  We have faith to know that even when we can't see with our eyes, we can see with our hearts.

That was the experience my Dad had on Mother's Day, just a few weeks back.  The way God shows up is never the way we expect.  That's because He is God and we are not.

Sanctuary at my Dad's church

Enjoy today's post - courtesy of my Dad - David Wakefield.  It has encouraged me and hopefully will you too!

At our Mother's Day service during the pastoral prayer, I felt, more than saw, a presence to my right.  I had my eyes closed but could feel the presence sitting right next to me.  I could tell the presence was looking forward, towards someone a couple of rows ahead.  As I prayed, the presence remained. I opened my eyes but the presence was not there so I closed them and the presence was there.

After our communion, I noticed a woman a couple of rows in front of me really weeping.  

Following the service, I approached her and told her about the presence I felt, thinking the presence was looking at her.  She responded with, "Oh, I just know that was my mother, who died a year ago"

That is our God - nothing confusing about it.  The Holy Spirit Himself sat right beside my Dad and made sure he knew it, so my Dad could comfort someone in need.  He sent Himself to be with the woman, for comfort, for healing.  He will do the same for you.  Maybe He already has....

Wednesday of Wonder - No Broken Bones?!?!

I'm so thankful for this post!  I've had a lot of "life" going on, sort of a continuation from Saturday (read about it here).  Due to the enormous deluge of rain we've had in Texas the last couple of days which we so desperately need, we've been dealing with drainage and flooding issues at our house, including up and into first floor!

It seems God's blessings are going to drown us!

Not really.  We are fine and He continues to speak and act and work in our situation.  Not in dramatic ways, but through His still, small, quiet (and patient) voice, guiding us to resolution of our issues.

Yesterday, in the book Take Another Look at Guidance, Bob Mumford challenged me with these words: The life of dependence (on God) is humbling, and to deal with self-sufficiency, God keeps us in a slight state of crisis most of the time.

More than noted - that sentence is double-underlined and starred.  It may go on my wall above my computer.  It is a sacred truth and is working itself out in my life as well as the life of my friend Kathryn Smith. Kathryn is a b.e.l.i.e.v.e.r.  This woman is razor's edge smart and successful both in her personal, professional and spiritual life.  She is my best friend's mentor and I've sat at her feet to learn as well.  She loves the Lord and is of constant use to Him because she keeps surrender in the forefront of her mind.

I asked her if she would provide me a #WOW post because I knew she had some.  The one she wrote up below is the most recent.  It is a challenging reminder to me to operate not as the world does, but as Christ - to have His mind about my circumstances and to receive what He has to say, rather than listen to what everyone else is telling me.

It happened just 2 or 3 weeks ago!  You will be hearing from her again because she has more to share.  But until then, you will see she is an example of Isaiah 26:3, You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

Now, onto this week's WONDER-filled testimony!  

We live in a fallen world.  Calamity comes to the Christian and non-Christian alike; however, as Christians we live differently.  We don’t live fearing the unknown, but we live with a hope and an assurance that when the trials of life do come (and they will), our God will be faithful to take care of us; to deliver us from or through the circumstance.  It’s important for us to find scripture(s) to stand on, scripture(s) to believe.  These are promises from God and God doesn’t break his promises.  When the trials and bad reports come, rather than reacting in fear, we stand in faith and reject the predicted bad outcome.  This isn't denial.  We live recognizing from the natural world we have a bad circumstance, but from the supernatural we have a Deliverer!  When we go quickly to the Word to see what He says, we can deal with from a faith-filled kingdom perspective.  

A scripture I stand on for my family comes from Psalm 34:17-20, "When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken."

Recently my 11 year old daughter was leaning on a table at school.  She says she was just leaning.  She denies the possibility that she was putting her full weight on the table trying a gymnastics maneuver.  The top of the table was not secured to its base.  The tabletop came up and smacked her in the face, slightly chipping her front tooth.  She fell with her full weight on her right thumb.  The tabletop came down on top of her back.  She screamed out of shock and pain.  She was hysterical and taken to the school nurse. The school called to tell me that I needed to come pick her up, that she may have a broken thumb.  Later I was told that the school counselor covered her with a blanket and held her to keep her from going into shock.  By the time I arrived, 3 members of the school administration and the headmaster’s wife were there to greet me.  They advised that her thumb looked dislocated and probably broken.  It was swollen and causing my daughter much pain.    

While I was concerned, I didn’t lose peace.  I started praying and remembering my confession of faith from Psalm 34: no broken bones in my household.  I made a pediatrician appointment for that evening.  In the meantime, I reached out to a friend who had a wonderful suggestion that I let one of the gymnastics coaches take a look at the thumb because they are used to looking at hand and finger injuries.  The experienced Eastern European coach looked at it, said it was dislocated and asked if I want her to fix it.  Naively, I said yes, so the coach worked the thumb back into place.  This was very good because this action immediately reduced the pain.  She also thought that the first joint of the thumb might have a little fracture.

The pediatrician saw us at 8:00 pm and said, “It is a bad sprain.  Fortunately the thumb is not dislocated.  Take a pain reliever, put it on ice, and come back in a few days at a convenient time for the x-ray, as that department is closed for the day.  I’m pretty sure there is a little fracture in that first joint.  A fracture is the same thing as a break.  If there is a fracture, then we will need to talk about next steps based upon the x-ray results.” 

 

I knew the thumb had previously been dislocated, but that God ordered our steps and the gymnastics coach was used by the Lord.  The doctor put my daughter’s hand in a temporary splint.  Deep down, I believed the coach’s and doctor’s assessment was right, that there was a little fracture in the thumb at the time of the injury, but I also believed that God was healing the thumb and that it would prove out to only be a sprain and no break.  

I also had a sense not to hurry in the next morning.  There was a miracle in the works.  During this time, I did not confess a break.  I knew I was standing on the promise of Psalm 34.  I took my daughter to church on Wednesday night for our pastor to pray.  Our pastor agreed with the prayers that had been offered for healing.  The thumb continued to get better. 

Friday morning I took my daughter in for the confirmation x-ray.  That’s exactly what it was - a confirmation!  The x-ray proved that there was no fracture.  

If we had received that broken thumb, that's what we would have had; then we would be faced with an entirely different summer of life with an injury.  Instead, now there will be no disruption to the summer.  It will not just getting by, but the best the Lord has for us.  

Instead of receiving what comes to us in the natural, we trusted God’s Word and gave him room to do His supernatural work that He is fully capable to give, or rather we needed room to cooperate with His will. 

To God be the glory, Amen!

Wednesday of Wonder - The Circular Sign

Today is about the bold God we know and serve.  It is about a God who wants to demonstrate what is possible to people who are seeking Him with their whole heart.  It's a story from my friend Leslie, who is seeking the Lord with her whole heart.  She loves Him and wants to love Him even more.  She wants Him to do miraculous things in her life, even if those things don't seem very big to anyone else.

They are big to her and to God.

2 Chronicles 16:9 drives home the point:The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Not only is the Lord looking for those whose hearts on set on Him, His hands are as work as well.  He is daily creating wonders to demonstrate to His children how to follow.  Those wonders match up with His word because He promises us we will experience things far above and away then the miracles of old.  We are in the Age of Miracles.

These miracles don't get reported on the news but they happen.  They are stories waiting to be told, by the Author of our Faith.  Jesus doesn't mess around when people are reaching to Him.  He also doesn't leave us as He finds us.  (Read more about that here.)

Yet, the time is short, friends.  The wonders won't last forever.  He leaves it up to us to choose to believe in Him, and to live life on His terms.  Until we do, something will be missing.  He holds the keys to death and hell; life and heaven in His hands.  Ask Him to unlock life for you, so you can really live it, as my friend is.  Ask for your sign, your wonder, even if you struggle.  He will show you the right path to find Him!

Now, onto today's WONDER-filled post....


This all happened after I'd recently joined my current church. I had never had a home church until I found this one. 

It wasn't a megachurch, but not a small country one either.  The members are organized into community groups, versus the traditional Bible study or Sunday School classes. The community groups facilitate church wide studies and encourage service work along with fellowship. My group decided we would not do the church wide study, selecting instead The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.  (You can read more about it here.)

The book is based on the legend of Honi. who lived a generation before Christ, a Jerusalem seer who drew a circle and wouldn't leave it until the Lord answered his prayer for rain.  Batterson builds on this premise - that God answers big bold prayers when we stay faithful to them...and to Him.  We stand in our own circle of faith, trusting only God to come through.

The Circle Maker was only the 3rd study I had ever done. I remember thinking how cool this concept was and how much fun it was going to be. 

However, being new to the church and to the Christian faith, I struggled with God.  I wondered if He was really there.  I still struggle.  

But in the middle of that study, I took my daughter to the pool one afternoon.  As she played, I sat at a table under cover playing some silly games on my phone.  A short time later, a gentleman  sat down at my table to do the same. We made some small talk and after awhile, he got up to leave.  

I heard him say something like, "Oh my God!  There is a circle rainbow around the sun!"

At first I didn't really get it but he got my attention, telling me, "You have got to see this!"

When I stepped out from under the cover, I looked up at the sun and I could see it.  There was a circle rainbow around the sun!  A complete circle! 

souvenirpixels.com/photo-blog/rainbow-sun.html

In that moment I realized God is good all the time and He was affirming this.  And He was doing it in a way that took my breathe away.  I felt he had done that just for me. 

I walked away amazed by what I had seen.  God showed His presence in a manner I could understand and He meets me in a space which is best for me. 

I learned to draw circles around my prayers in my Bible study, but what I learned from my circle rainbow is that God is wondrous!  He does wondrous things all the time and all I have to do is open my eyes and look!  He is in front of me all the time!  

If I will take the time to be still with my eyes wide open, I will see that God is good all the time indeed!

Wednesdays of Wonder - Can You Be Specific in Prayer?

I'm going to be honest, I still struggle with being specific in prayer, even with breakthroughs.  I've written about expecting (big) things from God (read it here).  Yet, I still struggle in/with prayer.  It is a mystery but at the same time, it's reality.  It's how we commune and communicate with the Lord.  There is no right or wrong way to do it, except in fear.  Not fear-of-the-Lord-type fear, but being afraid to ask for what you need.  After all, Jesus taught us to pray for what we need.  He depended on the provision of His Heavenly Father and wanted us to as well, which is why we pray the Lord's prayer!

As many prayers as I've prayed, just as many have been answered, including very specific ones.  I can still get all head-tripped-up about it though.  Of course, that's what I realize (again), prayer is much more about the vulnerability of our hearts and the openness of our hands.

I like this image because when I think about prayer (rather than just stew in my own understanding), this is how we should pray: with open hands, kneeing before the Father and Our King, knowing He will give us wonderful gifts.

Sometimes He says "No."  Sometimes He says "Wait," but I think more often than not, He says, "Yes."  Yet, I'm still surprised when He does!  (See my above comment about head-trips.)

I'm learning to expect and I'm learning to receive.  I continue to practice Hebrews 4:16: So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. (MSG)

This week's post is about exactly that - walking right up to Christ, in the power of His Righteousness, and being specific.  Flenold Turner, a friend of my dear friend Janice Wright, prayed for something - a job - and very specifically.  You know the cool thing?  The Lord answered his prayers exactly.  If only the whole Body of Christ would pray like that....I can only imagine we would see even more miracles and wonders!

Let's dream big, dear friends.  Let's pray big, bold prayers, like Flenold did, because our same Lord is bigger, greater and infinitely loving.  He delights in us, sings over us and is a warrior Mighty to save us. (Zep 3:17)  We can rely on Him to answer our prayers, so let's start receiving what He wants to give, rather then trying to grasp it by any other means.

Flenold is a fantastic musician, who loves the Lord.  He was applying for a new teaching job several years ago.  

He wanted to be in God's will, and as he was applying at various schools to be a band teacher, he boldly asked the Lord, "Show me your choice by the interviewer praying with me during the interview."

Turner interviewed for a position in two or three Christian schools and none of the interviewers prayed with him.  It was then he heard about an opening at Faith West Academy in Katy,Texas, and called for an appointment. As he was ushered into the office, the principal said, 

"Let's pray together before we talk."

He had his answer from God, before the job was even offered!! 

When he took the position of Band Teacher there at Faith West, about six years ago, there were 5 members in the band, playing mostly wood-wind instruments. Today the band has grown to over 50 young people, playing various musical instruments and even marching at football games. Flenold has had numerous opportunities to share his faith and not only has “grown” the band, but has helped many young people grow in their Christian faith. 

Flenold was specific in his prayer.....and God certainly answered specifically!!

Wednesdays of Wonder - A Little Child Shall Hear

Last week when I was working on this series, my oldest daughter, Natalie (who is 10) came in.  I was trying to do some work before school (like now).  I told her what I was writing and she went to take her shower.  After she got ready, she came back in and asked me if I would put her story up as one of my posts.

At first I was dubious, I hate to admit.  Her experience wasn't exactly what I would classify as WONDER-filled.  I thought that because, frankly, what she experienced happens to me all the time.  God downloads stuff into me all day, if I'm listening.  I didn't think it was THAT big of a deal.

But she did.

Quickly I realized my hesitation was all because of pride.  I wasn't seeing her experience from her perspective.  It was huge to her, that she prayed and God answered her with something so remarkably clear.  It proved to her God's love and care and that HE DOES SPEAK TO US.  My ego got the better of me because I'd forgotten it is special to hear from God.  It is remarkable and WONDER-filled!  I wasn't any better than the Disciples who lived everyday with Jesus and then tried to shoo away the little children because they didn't think they were important.  In Mark 10, Jesus said,

"Let the little children come to Me.  Don't stop them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them. (Mark 10:14-16)

Well, Jesus made it clear, children and child-like faith ARE important.  My choice was plain and simple: Either go by my own thoughts about this series, or trust in my great God who clearly, obviously loves my children.  Do I trust myself or trust God? 

It's a seminal question we must answer in a thousand different situations.  God does test us, not to punish us, but to reveal what is in our hearts.  He wants to conform us into the image of His Son.  Sometimes that means facing ourselves in the mirror.  So, if Jesus loved, accepted and blessed children, the Lord showed me I must to do the same.

(And never mind the miracle of God speaking to my child!  That alone, by itself, with nothing else, is worthy of eternal praise.  The eyes and ears of her heart are tuned to Him - Hallelujah!)

I am deeply humbled and honored today to share with you my daughter's WONDER-ful experience in hearing from God.  She received His direction in a difficult situation, one that has major implications for the rest of her life.  Now, onto Natalie's own words - enjoy today's post!

So, I was praying the night before about how I could love my friend.  I'd been struggling with her actions because they weren't very nice.  When I woke up, I told my Mama what I'd been praying about.  And she suggested that I could pray to God in the shower to see if He would answer me about how to love my friend.

 I went and did as she told me and when I was in the shower, I asked God to help me love my friend and how to be a good neighbor.  And a verse came to me,

Love your neighbor as you would love yourself.  

We looked that up and it's Matthew 22:39.  I thought, "Hey!  That will show me how to love my friend, like I would love myself and not treat her badly!"

I went and told my Mama and she said, "Praise the Lord, you got an answer from God!"  That helped me love my friend, so I would know how to treat her and choose my actions carefully towards her.  It has stayed with me.  Because of that, we have a more happy and fun friendship.

That is my Wednesday of Wonder!

Wednesdays of Wonder - Cutting It Off at the Root

When I approached my Bible Study leader - Ann Pouns - about this #WOW series, I expected she would know of something to contribute.  I did not expect it to be her story, and something so recent.  She's been teaching Bible Study for 20+ years and many of her own experiences come from those times.  She is real, authentic and full of joy for our Savior.

To imagine she had anything left over to give to the Lord was out-of-bounds.  But when I asked her last week, she pointed me to lesson I'd missed (and hadn't listened to yet!).  She said,

What He did in me that day was a miracle.

The story, told at the end of the lesson on cutting rejection off at the root, is truly awe-inspiring because it was the release she found after letting go off a 56 year old secret.  She'd never revealed it publicly, but there came a day, 3 years ago, the Lord told her it was time to give it up so He could finally pull out rejection she'd carried for so long by the last, little root.  She'd already done so much work towards it, there was just one final hill to conquer: facing the emotional cost of her abuse and understanding what was taken from her.

The result of clearing that final spiritual cholesterol in her veins?  Joy.  Over and abounding Joy.  She walks in a flow that is authoritative but conciously humble.  You can just feel this woman knows and loves Christ in a way that is very rare.  She is the embodiment of the believer described in Psalm 1:2-3,

His delight is in the Lord's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.  He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.

Before I describe the incredible vision she witness after praying forgiveness over her abusers, let me leave you with something she said,

It can't get healed until it is released.  Shame makes you hide.  Shame is a terrible thing.

Please enjoy this freedom-soaked story by Ann as this week's WONDER-filled Wednesday entry. 

God is so sweet, He brought some circumstances in my life that reminded me of this situation.  The Holy Spirit brought these things into remembrance.  While I had a great marriage, I knew, because of repeated sexual abuse I'd experienced as a child, I knew I could be even more vulnerable and even more intimate with my husband.  The issues was I knew it wasn't all that I could give. 

One day I was at my friend's house after a prayer meeting.  God had used me to set women free for years, but not me.  I'd never told her in the 20 years we'd been praying together I'd been molested as a child and she sweetly asked, "Uh, have we prayed about this before?"

No, we hadn't.

Peggy and I walked together through this process.  I forgave the perpetrators, for what they did to me. Then I remembered all the hurts, all the shame, all the fears, all the unworthiness - the loss of a childhood; the loss of innocence and I forgave them for all of those hurts.

When I reached forgiving them for the long-term effects their abuse had on my life, I couldn't get them out; I had a lump in my throat.  I began to wail and wail.  I thought it was a minute or two, but Peggy said it was 15 minutes long and I just...let go.  At the end of that time, I went back through and forgave them all over again for those long term effects.  

I then had to repent because I had judged them.  I hated them, I was bitter and had murder, anger in my heart.  I had to repent of every bit of that.  Then I prayed for them and blessed them.  I put myself at the foot of the Cross and let His water and blood wash away all that defilement.

Then Peggy, she spoke to the fear: the fear of intimacy and losing control.  She spoke to the little girl who hid behind her mother.  This abuse was the reason why I was so shy.  She spoke to her, telling her it was now safe to come out.

And she came out!

When Jesus said 'It is Finished," it is finished!  He gave me a vision as Peggy was praying, it was as real to me as I'm standing here today.  I saw a box, an oak wooden keepsake box with a little scroll work right there at the keyhole.  And God allowed me to see His Hand.

I have seen God the Hand of God!  It is the kindest, sweetest, fluffiest, most beautiful hand you've ever seen and it's strong.

In His huge hand, He had a tiny black key.  He put this key in the lock and as soon as He turned it to the right, the lid popped open and out came all this smoke.  And I'm thinking, "God, what is that?  What is that?!?"

I didn't figure it out till a few days later, but when I was hurt, my soul was locked and I remember being free as a little girl.  And I remember not being free.  But when He unlocked it, He unlocked the part of my soul that had been locked for FIFTY-SIX YEARS.

I came out - my personality came out.  He rejuvenated me.  He restored my youth.  He poured a love out for my husband - an insatiable love.  It was so sweet.  All of a sudden I know the difference between being vulnerable and not being vulnerable.  That allowing myself to be vulnerable led to intimacy.  I have decided God wants us to experience this intimacy because that's how intimately He wants us to be with Him!

It has changed my walk with God because I understand intimacy now.

He also gave me this tingly feeling, there was sensitivity on every part of my body.  It was like I was born again!  This last for months - I knew if I laid hands on the sick, they would recover.  That's how intimate it was!

Forgiveness brings forth faith, which leads to miracles.  It leads to signs, wonders and freedom.  But probably most importantly, it brings forth a deeper, longer, higher, closer walk with the Holy Spirit, a tangible relationship with the Most High God.

If you are struggling with shame, guilt and fear, that is not what God wants you to carry around.  He is willing to heal you.  He will give you the desire to deal with your circumstances - no matter whether they happened yesterday or 100 years ago.  Jesus is in the business of healing His people.  Take Him up on the offer, like Ann did, and find the kind of intimacy with the Lord that will change you for eternity. 

Wednesday of Wonder - What You Give to Others, He will Give to You

Prayer is one of those things, that really starts with God.  We are in the middle of it, but it's beginning and end is the heart of the Father.  The Lord holds a plan and creates a desire in us to ask Him for that plan to come to fruition.  We are stirred to desire something, stirred by the redemptive plan of Our All-Knowing, Almighty.

When we desire to His will, we will express that desire in intercession for others.  It goes back to the Lord to complete the cycle.  It is an eternal, blessed circle of hope and healing that always brings glory to Him, Who so well deserves it.  God gives us the desires of our heart when our hearts are given over to Him. Psalm 37:3-7a in the NIV says it this way,

Trust in the Lord and do good;dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the Lord,     and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret... (emphasis mine)

When we delight in God, when we seek Him with our whole heart, doing good to bring others before Him in prayer, He will take our burdens and give us good gifts.  Sometimes in the process of doing good for others, we are given a gift as well.  You can call it a reward or blessing.  Either way, all good and perfect gifts come from the Father (James 1:7)

I experienced this circle of prayer and blessing just last week.  It was unexpected but welcome healing.  You see, my sweet husband got me a pedometer for my birthday a couple of weeks back.  Part of the package was a wrist band to hold it.  I wore it twice, then stopped.  A day or so later, I noticed a rash on arm where the wristband was, all the way around.  It didn't itch or bother me.  It was pretty minor and I sent a picture of it to my husband.  

It was like this for a few days, until I woke up and it was itching.  I put calamine lotion on it and that kept the itch at bay.  But the very next day, nothing would help the itch.  In fact, the itch woke me up in the middle of the night, driving me crazy!

I slathered on the lotion, took Advil and nothing.  Crazy itchiness.  It was awful.  But here is where the WONDER-ful part comes in.  I was driving to swim at the gym I belong to and the itching reminded me of something a friend of mine, going through chemotherapy, is dealing with.  Except her rash is 10x worse.  But still, what she was going through was up close and personal like never before.  I thought, "Maybe this is the Lord's way of keeping her in front of me to pray for her relief and comfort." So, I started to pray.  

The instant I spoke her name out, the itching stopped completely.

For hours nothing - no itch, no pain, no nothing.  If it wasn't on my wrist, I wouldn't have even noticed it was there.  Later that afternoon, after telling a couple of friends about my experience, it started to itch again, but I just started praying for my friend and it would stop.  It went on like this all day and into the next.

I still have the rash, it is running its course and looks horrible.  But any itch has abated as I employed my intercessor technique through the weekend. It is definitely going away.  My friend was constantly being lifted up before the Father, to the praise of His Name!  I'm confident the Lord accomplished His purposes in both of our lives, although her rash didn't instantly get better.  However, this week, she has a rest from chemo to recover and things are settling down.  It is clear God is answering prayers in her situation....and in mine!

I love seeing the testimony of His Word made real, like from Psalm 103:3-5,

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.  He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.  He fills my life with good things.  My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! (NLT)

What a WONDER-ful God in Heaven we have, so concerned with every little details of our lives, big and small.  Thank you Jesus, for suffering everything for us on the Cross, so we can believe in Your healing resurrection power!

Wednesdays of Wonder - The Generosity of God

If a person has a desperate need but never says it out loud, does God still hear?

Absolutely.

While, the Lord does not often clue me in on how He hears, when He hears or How He will respond, I know enough of Him to say He always does.  Sometimes the answers are obvious and other times, the Lord works in mysterious ways; ways so mysterious, we can never untangle the connections to get back to the root of the answer.

Except that the root is always Providence.

I love that name for God, even if it sounds old-timey.  It comes from the Latin providentia.  It essentially means seeing AND meeting the need in advance.  Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology defines God and His foreseeing provision as such, 

God not only looks ahead and attempts to make provision for his goals, but infallibly accomplishes what he sets out to do... Providence, then, is the sovereign, divine superintendence of all things, guiding them toward their divinely predetermined end in a way that is consistent with their created nature, all to the glory and praise of God.1

Today's wonder-filled story is about an unspoken need and God meeting it.  He knew what was needed and provided abundantly above all expected.  It is because of His love for us, His children, He does that.  It is because He IS love He provides for us.  We are the apple of His eye and when we seek Him first, everything else will be added to us (Matt 6:33).

If you need something today, ask God for it.  It doesn't matter if it is money, healing, forgiveness, grace, wisdom, freedom.  Whatever it is, He wants to give it.  This isn't prosperity gospel.  This is going to the Source of all things, seeking Him above all else.  When we do that, He has promised to give. The boundaries of His love, I am confident, are much more than we can reach! (Eph 3:20)

Now onto Darly's story.....

Darly lives in Olympia, WA.  She has suffered, been through horrible things.  But now that she is free in Jesus, she works for justice for those in situations like she used to be.** However, Darly has had a difficult time financially.  Her church told her to let them know when she needs help, but she has been hesitant to do so.  A few weeks ago, she needed to pay her medicine but didn't have the funds.  Her pastor at Hidden Creek Community Church, Tim Heffer, has been preaching a series on Grace, Gratitude and Generosity.  So, after listening to his sermons, she writes, 

I had made (God) a promise to ask for help if I could not pay for my meds.

She did tell one of her friends her predicament. They both were working at the church food bank and her friend told her,

I only have a bunch of ones in my purse. It's the end of the month. But let's see what we can do.

A few hours later, after finishing work, Darly's friend called her over to discreetly give her the money. She opened her wallet and a shocked look came over her face; then tears came to her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Darly asked.

Her friend's voice was wobbly with tears when she said, "There are no ones in here."

Darly replied "Ok, that's ok, " (Not perceiving what the tears were about.)

"No," she said as she fanned out a number of bills. "They are all FIVES!"

Darly's friend explained she KNEW they were all ones because she had just counted them.  Yet, by the same power that raised Christ from the dead, the Holy Spirit made sure Darly's blessing wasn't just a little bit.  He supernaturally changed the currency of the bills!  It met her need, right where she was and then some.

Your takeaway from this is that God can handle all all your needs, spoken and unspoken.  Bring them to Him for He is a God of wonders and miracles.  Let Him show you what He can do for you today!

**You can read about the organization Darly works with, the the Justice and Mercy Foundation, on their website: http://tjamf.org.

Wednesdays of Wonder - The Very Breath of God

In Genesis, a few days after the Creation of the Universe, the Lord made a human, in the image of the Trinity.  He took the earth and formed, sculpted and perfected the very first human - Adam.  He spoke the animals into being, but made humanity with His own hands.

To cement this first precious life, He breathed His breath into his lungs.  Adam lungs inflated, not with oxygen or atmosphere, but the Holy Spirit.  (Genesis 2:7)

Adam wasn't alive because he could breath air.  He was alive because he was filled with Ruach Elohim Who had given Him pneuma, the ancient Greek word for soul, spirit, breath or wind.  It is the source of continued, blessed life.  That's what Adam got. 

We receive it as well when we place our faith in Jesus.  In John 20:21, Jesus demonstrated this with His Disciples after the His resurrection. 

Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.  After saying this, He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit...'

We live because He lives in us.  We move and have our being because He breathed His Spirit into us.  Beyond that, He affords us the opportunity to life in fullness with Him, with the chance to invite that same Spirit to overflow out of us and into others. 

Our encounter today reminds us of the power of God, not only in His being, but in His breath.  It is a beautiful, incredible portrait of how He encounters us when we least expect it, and especially when we ask for Him too! It's from my friend Shelley Einarsson.  Let the Holy Spirit breath life into you today!  

I was attending a prayer retreat in February 2014 to have an opportunity to see The Lord more clearly.  The setting was incredible.  It was a precious country house with a lovely pond in front of the house.  I spent much time on the front porch, looking at God’s amazing wonders.  He was present!  The Lord was in this place!

On my final day, I was preparing for my last prayer session.  I sat in a small room on a folding chair praying, breathing, and meditating.  I wanted to hear what The Lord wanted me to know.  I wanted His truth revealed to me and the lies to be washed away.  I breathed in “God the Father” and breathed out “Shelley”; I breathed in “Jesus the Son” and breathed out “Shelley”; I breathed in “The Holy Spirit” and breathed out “Shelley”.  Lastly, I breathed in “faith” and breathed out “Shelley”.   

I was breathing softly, nearly silently. However, from the back of my right ear I heard a breath.  It was loud and gentle, but very clear.  I looked around the room; I was the only one in the room.   

I ignored the sound as my imagination, or others breathing loud, or the wind.  I closed my eyes and began breathing again.  I heard it again.  I opened my eyes and looked around again.  Nobody.  I ran out of the room and saw a woman standing far across the house.  I asked her if she was breathing loudly but she wasn't.  I told her the story and again disregarded it as my imagination.

I went back into the room and into breathing.  (I was not going to let fear distract me.  I knew that I was to hear from God.)  So I blanked out my mind and I heard the sound again.  Surely, I was hearing things.  This couldn’t be God, could it?   

Fear or the thought of the unknown took over again and I ran out of the room.  The first lady, still across the room, assured me it wasn’t her and we found an obvious conclusion to the sound: 4 ladies in the other room praying.

At that moment, the 4 ladies walked out and I asked them if they were breathing heavy.  I had to get to the bottom of this sound!!  They had not however, they were praying for The Holy Spirit to enter this house and breathe His breath over the house and in the house.   

We stood amazed and told them what I had just experienced!  They assured me it was The Holy Spirit’s breath flowing in the room and He gave that gift to me.  He wanted me to hear Him and let me know that He was indeed present.

While I'd been praying, I asked for all of my physical, natural senses to come alive with Him.  I was welcoming The Holy Spirit.  I thanked God.  I asked for His presence and He immediately delivered.  

I doubted initially but immediately confessed my doubt.   I praised Him for showing up in a mighty way.  His breath!!  All of the ladies praised God & thanked Him for showing himself.  They all encouraged me to receive what The Lord did for me and I did!!  I will forever be changed because of Him and for Him!!  The presence of Ruach Elohim!  I couldn’t explain it away.  It was real!   

He revealed himself to me in the very way that I asked; through my bodily senses.  I will never be the same!  I am blessed!  I know God, I have known God, and I received His sweet gentle breath of Him knowing me!

PRAISE GOD!

Wednesdays of Wonder - What is God Sovereign Over?

A few years back, a good friend of mine asking me to pray with her for something "small." She couldn't find her work badge to get back into her office building.  So, we prayed together and on the way back to work, she found it!  She called me and we were both giddy with excitement at the wonder of God.

I've never forgotten it because the experience (still) speaks volumes to my heart about how Our Heavenly Father operates.  He cares about everything.  Throughout the years, I've wondered if the Lord really cared about the minor details of my life, things that probably didn't have much to do with His Kingdom expansion.

I don't believe in coincidences anymore.

He has proven to me His power knows no bounds.  He is the kind of God Who cares about our quality of life, here and now and works for us. He wants us to display His glory in every circumstance - regardless of "the size."  Our rugged (often annoying) cat Romeo is a good example.  Last January, he was lost for 3 weeks.  But he was found!  It was a "small" miracle for many reasons.  It increased my faith and spoke so loudly to my older girls. They saw God care about a cat being returned to two little girls who desperately missed him, when no one else thought it was possible. 

He wants us to be witnesses to His wonder, friends!

Why does He care?  The simple answer is: because He can.  He loves us!  Plus, He is sovereign over every thing and He cares about what we care about.  He is not an absentee Dad who packed up and left for greener pastures.  No, He is in the mix with us each moment of every day - working things out for His Children to have the best possible life here on Earth.  (Roman 8:28).  We might not always agree with when or how He answers, but if we look back, we see His way is always best.

He.Is.Sovereign.  It's right there in the word: He REIGNS.

He wants to prove it, we just have to try to believe it.  Two of my sweet prayer partners shared their testimonies with me about this aspect of the Lord; how He rules over everything - people, animals, situations and even appliances or electronics!  Marvel in the Wonder!

In Jesus' Name: The Dryer, Janice Wright

One day I was packing to leave town for a few days, so I washed my tennis shoes.  Later that day, though they were still wet.  So, I decided to put them in the dryer.  I heard them banging around, and then suddenly, the dryer made some dreadful sounds and stopped.  I rearranged the shoes and put some towels in with them.  But the dryer wouldn't do anything: spin or heat....nothing!!  I had to leave, so I just put the shoes in a bag and went.
 
I got home several days later.  I attempted to start the dryer but still nothing happened.  That's when I remembered God answer my Mother's prayers.  She trusted Him for all sorts of things most people would think absurd!  God always answered her in miraculous ways.  Knowing I was a believer in the same God she worshiped, by faith, I laid my hands on that dryer and prayed outloud, "In the name of Jesus, I believe and trust this dryer to be repaired and work perfectly!!"  I knew I needed to test it out, and prove I believed God could fix my dryer.  I put a load of clothes in the washer.  I began praising the Lord for His faithfulness, His care, His love, and for answering prayer.  After the wash cycle was complete, I put those wet clothes in that dryer and pushed the start button.  It began spinning......then after a few seconds, I opened the door to see if it was heating.  It worked perfectly! Praise the Lord!!!  

All this happened several months ago and the miraculous dryer is still working!!!

In Jesus' Name: The Digital Camera, Anita Oblitas

Last week, visiting colleges in California with our daughter; we had just come off the boat from San Francisco in the Sausalito bay. I saw an entertainer and was trying to take a picture of him playing the guitar with his dog.  Because of low battery and evening light, my camera failed to take a picture.  I had tried several times and it failed each time.  

I lowered the camera and sadly explained to him I was sorry that my camera wasn't working. Then out of nowhere, he closed his eyes, raised his hand and shouted "In the name of Jesus, fix this camera!" 

I was so shocked.  I don't remember what else he said but it was something about blessing.  Immediately, two shots fired off and even though I had the camera held only at waist high, the shots took two pictures of him!  The picture to the right is the instant he spoke out the command for the camera to work! 

Perhaps I happened to have had my finger on the button --I don't know-- but what is most amazing is I have never before been able to get a picture of a subject without looking directly through the lens (and I have tried many times to surreptitiously get one of my children). After he prayed, he explained he always prays about everything even when things don't work.  I took several other photos of him after that and talked about his talented dog "Diamond".  

 

Here is the second picture I got, perfectly focused, of him performing.  His dog Diamond has his own Facebook page, which you can check out here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diamond-Dog-Sausalito/242481909170535

Wednesdays of Wonder - Hearing the Voice of God

Today's #WOW moment is brought to you by my father.  Yes, my Heavenly Father, but also my earthly father.  He is a great Dad. I've written about him a lot because when you witness the transformation when your Dad chases hard after God, it doesn't fail to inspire you to do the same.  My Dad's walk with Christ has many twists and turns, but I think, if I can speak for him, he would definitely say it's been up to God's faithfulness, not his own.

I relate to that.

I've mentioned this before but it's worth re-telling: my Dad has heard the audible voice of God. I'm not talking about "hearing from God," those impressions you get, a sudden down-load of knowledge that you know isn't from you.  

I usually get those reading the Bible or in fellowship with other believers.  I get moments of clarity hearing a particularly profound message.  In my humble opinion, you know you've received some divine wisdom when it meets 3 criteria: (a) it lines up with God's Word, (b) it is relevant to your circumstances and (c) is probably uncomfortable.

But hearing the audible voice of God isn't the usual way we "hear" from Him.  It's even pretty unusual in Scripture.  There are certain people that "hear it" more often - say the Prophets.  But normally, for us anyway, His Written Word is the biggest source of His Voice.  The Word made Flesh and then documented by pen and paper.  

My point is - hearing God speak to you, out-loud, isn't the norm.  Not saying it doesn't happen, I've had it happen to me - once.  But my Dad must have some open channel, something in him that is so receptive; his ears tuned to a different frequency because he's heard God THREE TIMES.

The first time, my Dad was on the side of the road, changing a flat tire.  He heard a voice tell him, It's going to be ok.

The second time was similar - another message of assurance, with similar wording.  This third time is extremely close to my heart.  This word came 15 months ago, during an especially trying time in my life.  (The original post can be found here):

Two weeks before the girls and I (at 9 months pregnant) came to the States to get our visas of stay for living in Italy; my Dad was in bed, about to fall asleep.  He heard a female voice say, "I'm coming home."  (The other 2 times have been a male voice, so this was definitely "different.")

Initially, he thought it was his mother telling him HE was the one going home - literally to Heaven, so he needed to settle his affairs!  But over the next couple of weeks, he worked it out.  The message was one (again of comfort) about Ella being born in the States.  He heard the message 6 weeks prior to her birth but he knew she would be ok; even though my youngest was born with lungs not quite ready to breathe air.

She spent 8 days in the NICU at Texas Women's and is today, more than vibrant.  It might have been a different story had she been born in Italy, and while I know the Lord could have healed her there as He did here, it would have been much more difficult for us to bear as a family.  

Once my Dad heard that voice, all of his worry over us was wiped away.  When I asked my Dad if I could share that story, this is what he said, 

HE IS There and WILL HEAR YOU, sometimes even letting you know He is working, most times with His more important agenda.

Not every one of us will hear directly from our Abba Father, as much as we might wish and want to.  But if this story teaches me anything, it is that it is possible for God to speak directly to you.  We don't choose the method or medium because He is not a God Who will be boxed in, labeled or limited.  He is a God of infinite reach, infinite comfort and unending love for His children.  A Father's heart is always pointed in the direction of his kids, no matter where they are or what they are doing. 

I hope you hear the whisper of His Spirit in and around you today.  Listen close.

Wednesdays of Wonder - It's Almost Too Good To Be True News

Man, I just read what my friend Jeannie wrote to me for this week's post.  Her story of encountering Jesus and put Him in His rightful place in her life has completely knocked me back a few pegs.  How often have I gone about my day, taking for granted the place and position of Jesus, My Lord and Savior?

I know I've forgotten Christ's rightful place....even today!  I always need a renewal, a reset to orient myself the right way to Jesus. So, I want to share this WONDER-full witness of my friend because it not only changed her life, it will change yours.  It will set you back on course if you've gotten off track or it will keep you going in the right direction.

If you have ever struggled with how Jesus fits into the picture, don't worry.  We all have.  We all have had to come to terms with the difference between a religion and a relationship as well as the discomfort of the Cross.  The Cross is hard to take because we don't feel it should be necessary.  We know we are unworthy, but we don't feel like we should be.

I love that the Holy Spirit downloaded the revelation to her IN.THE.SHOWER.  God does not wait till we are in Church or comfortable.  He comes in the middle of our everyday affairs because knowledge like she received can not wait!

When Jesus enters our atmosphere, we know for sure we are not worthy.  But He doesn't leave us that way.  Read on in Jeannie's story and you, too, will know the hope she has found!

God brought a friend into my life and one of the things I noticed the most about her was how she talked so candidly about her Jesus. I knew God and I were cool. I was also very aware of the Holy Spirits' presence in my life. I believed by faith everything that The Word says about Jesus: who He is, what He did, and that He is alive and coming back again. 

One day, I confessed an issue I had concerning Jesus. It revolved mostly around the crucifixion. I was uncomfortable hearing the gruesome details about it, especially during Easter. I came from an abusive background with a lot of pain and suffering and while I knew the importance of the sacrificial death of Jesus I didn't want to focus on that part, but get to the Good News about the power of His resurrection. 
 
I also confessed that when the movie Passion Of The Christ came out, I'd seen it by myself.  I did not think I would have the same emotional reaction that others were having and thought that they would find that odd.  My friend told me that she had gone to get popcorn right before the crucifixion scene of the movie and was offering it to others when she got back!  Knowing that, I didn't feel so bad.  She prayed for me right then and there I would receive a greater revelation of who Jesus is personally in my own life. 

Later that same day my sister from Virginia (who I don't talk to very often) called me. I can't remember why but she told me every morning when she goes out to her car, before she gets in, she looks straight up to heaven and gives God a kiss and says, "Good morning God!"  Then, she said, she looks to her left (because Jesus is on the right side of God) and tells Him the same, and also gives Him a kiss. Of course, she would then look to her right and do the same thing with the Holy Spirit. I thought this was strange and didn't waste any time telling my husband and my friend later that day.
 
The very next day, when I was in the shower, I had an unction to tell Jesus I was sorry I hadn't paid Him very much attention. Still in the shower, He told me that, "It is OK.  I am the hardest one!" and then had a vision of God on the throne.  Jesus was sitting next to Him but it was on my right side. I suddenly realized my right side was actually the left side of God and said, 

"Oh no, I've had you (Jesus) in the wrong place all of this time!" 

While this was the literal wrong place that I saw, I believe what it represented religion vs. relationship.  My take away from this is: for a lot of people Jesus is the hardest one to get to know because of the price He personally paid for each of us. While by faith we received this gift and we were changed forever in our spirit man, we still have to renew our minds to be able to accept this fact on a daily basis. It is hard to believe we are worthy not only of His sacrifice, but His constant intercession on our behalf; along with our place of power and authority there with Him.

Even though Jesus is God incarnate, our Savior and Lord, and deserves our reverence, we can still have a very personal relationship with Him. He calls us Family and Friend.

Now this is almost too good to be true news!!  

Maybe we all should start looking up to the right hand of God, which is our left, each day and saying good morning Jesus and giving Him a kiss and then as a popular song says: keep our eyes on Him and all that He is, so the cares of this world will grow strangely dim.

 

Scripture References:

• Hebrews 1:3 - The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
• Romans 8:34, 35 - Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
• Revelation 3:21 - To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 
• John 15:13-15 - Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
• Hebrews 2:11-12 - Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” 
• Colossians 3:1 - Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Wednesdays of Wonder - He Hears The Heart's Cry

I have a very good friend named Jolynne.  I don't get to see her much as we live 2 1/2 hours apart.  Our relationship first began from my own heart's cry for a friend.  I asked the Lord to give me a friend who knew what I was going through when Sophia was in treatment.  A week or so later, we met.  Carolyn Dodson, the sweet Child Life Specialist, put us together.  Jolynne's daughter, Anna Grace, was finishing her 6 week course of radiation, while Sophia was starting. 

God saw my need and answered with a woman I could not only share life with, but share faith.  He's continued to show up for both of us since that day.  And lately, Jolynne has really needed Him to.

Anna Grace, like my Sophia, is healed of cancer.  There is no trace of it left in her body.  She is 3 1/2 years out from diagnosis and finally free of a lot of the side effects of her treatment.

But it hasn't been easy.  Jolynne has had other personal traumas and is dealing with her own set of side effects.  It's been rough for close to the last year.  When she sent me a text last Monday, February 24th, 2014, we both realized God is very interested in her own healing.  She graciously gave me permission to share this incredible story.

She was missing her Dad that night, who recently died after a terrible battle with Leukemia.  She was cleaning the kitchen - which for a Mom - is a good place to be in deep thought. 

Her thoughts were on her Dad.  She was wrestling with whether or not he really understood at the end.  He was in so much pain; she didn't know if he'd trusted in Jesus before he passed.  She so desperately wanted him to be with the Father, to have gotten that ultimate healing.  But she didn't know and anyone can tell you, that looming uncertainty - the not knowing - is a special kind of torture.

Out of the blue, sweet Anna Grace, walks up and hands her this drawing.

Jolynne asked Anna when she drew this and what did she mean by it.  Anna, in the matter of fact way of a child said, "Just now.  You know, He is."  Then she skipped away while Jolynne stood there in amazement.

A few minutes later, Anna comes back and hands Jolynne this 2nd and 3rd picture:

But Anna - or the Holy Spirit - wasn't done showing Jolynne the answer to her heart's cries.  She comes back with a 4th page:

That is a picture of Psalm 91:4.  That is the psalm Jolynne prays over her family all the time.

She prays that psalm silently.  Not with the kids, not in front of her kids.  It's her very personal, private psalm she uses to talk to God in her heart.  Yet, here it is, drawn in a child's hand, complete with wings and eggs resting in the nest.

Jolynne ended her text to me with this note:

He is just so good.  He heard our heart's cry.  Just amazing.  Hug Friend!

This is what Wednesdays of Wonder is all about; the miraculous and unexplainable.  But it isn't unexplainable because, in Anna Grace's words, Jesus listens.  He cares.  And He shows up - clearly, abundantly so - for the broken-hearted.  He comforts them in ways we could never ask for or imagine.  He pours out His love and asks us to just stand there with our hands open to receive it.

Please share this incredible true story with someone who might need it.  Or share it with everyone. We all need to know and be reminded of the heart, power, and grace of our Savior!

Wednesdays of Wonder - The Baby Sees Angels

This is a new series on this blog.  It's been awhile since I've started something like this but it's not a new idea.  I know a lot of pretty incredible, deeply faithful people who've experienced God in ways that are without a doubt real, even if they leave us with the hair on the back of our necks standing up.  I've been wanting to document some of their experiences for some time, for the legacy they leave.

With this idea in mind, I posted on my Facebook page yesterday: When God breaks into your reality, the experience is not going to leave you confused. He is the God of clarity & order, not contradiction. It's going to line up with His Word, You may not be able to process it all at once but when you encounter The Lord, your deepest heart of hearts is healed.  He works at that level.

This is a weary world.  There is no better time to share the news the Good News: God is real and He is real in the Person of Jesus Christ.  We must, as a Church, share what we know, even if it doesn't always make sense in the natural.  It is the most important message, we as Christians, carry into this weary world each day.

There is so much bad news out there.  Let's turn the tide and show people God isn't dead and He cares - more than we can ever imagine.  If you have an undeniable encounter with the Lord, please share.  (Email me at amysvogel@hotmail.com) Angels not required, even though we seem to experience that a lot in this house!  It can be about anything that lines up with the power of the Holy Spirit, an experience you know without a doubt it is God breaking into your reality.  That is Who I want to glorify here, always! 

He is called Wonderful Counselor.  So, let us share in His wonder!

I've written before about the two experiences of angelic encounters when Sophia was in treatment.  I thought those were miraculous and I couldn't explain it.  But this is a whole other level.

Last fall, one of my prayer group leaders prayed over the baby - Ella Grace.  She was having some separation anxiety when she was in a particular area of the house, which was/is not typical of her.  It was more than annoying, it was getting me a little worried.  She would just wail if Dave or I put her down and walked away just a few steps.  So, my leader prayed this part of Psalm 91 over her:

For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.  They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against the stone.

It was very sweet and I left feeling like something got done for us, spiritually-speaking.  It did, Ella stopped her wailing that night.  However, little did I know when Leslie prayed for the angels to show up, they would never leave.

It started off small - before she was really verbal, she would stare off into the dark corner of her room and smile. Then, a few months later, she started waving to the open hallway.  Then she started "chatting" with "someone" right at her door frame.  Once she started making the sound for "birdie" ("DEE-DEE"), she started pointing at that same spot in the hallway, right out her bedroom.

No one else around.  And certainly not directed at me or Dave.

The last time she's really done it was nearly two weeks ago, when we were Indiana to say goodbye to Mable, Dave's grandmother.  She hit fussy for nap time right as the memorial service started, so I took her to the infant room of the church to rock her.  It dawned on me this was the room in which Dave's grandmother worked.  I was rocking her precious baby great-granddaughter in what was probably the chair she rocked countless babies in. It was a poignant moment and I took the chance then to say goodbye to my dear friend Mable.

Ella was drifting off to sleep when all of a sudden she perked up, looked over my right shoulder (as usual) and said "BIRDIE!!"  She smiled, waved, gave me a kiss and dropped off to sleep.

I know the line between Heaven and Earth was extremely thin in that moment.  I will never forget just how close to the Divine we were.  Ella seems to be aware more than most of us, fulfilling the words of Jesus (quoting Psalm 8) in Matthew 21:15-16,

You have prepared praise from the mouths of children and nursing infants.

God breaks in.  Hope is confirmed.  Love is poured out.  Glory to God. Amen.