Wednesday, August 19, 2009

{vErY gOoD}









Alright....so I apologize for not getting an update of the walk up sooner. Life called and I am still trying to learn how to organize it all! There is still hope for me yet though. I believe! : )


The walk itself was such a blessing! For those of you lost, let me get you up to speed.

Forever In Our Hearts Remeberance Walk There...that should do it. : )


It was a cool morning, there was a real sense of His presence all over the place! It was such an honor to be there to help set a stage where these families babies could be remembered, and Jesus would be magnified. I actually imagined an onlooker seeing and hearing all that went on that day and they so must have scratched their heads at us "Christians" praising God and thanking Him for who He is, but yet little lives are no longer with us?! How does that work? How burdened with jealousy I am for them to know this same God. Yes the Lord giveth and yes He taketh away...but He gives way more then He takes. Heaven will be the clearest indication of that!


These families had a very lovely event to show off their boys. I am humbled to be a part of it. It was a holy day, and yet a sad one. Sad with fresh hurt. My dear friend Amy , the photographer for Now I lay Me Down to Sleep (the same that took Macsen's pictures), was about 11 weeks pregnant and found out the Thursday before the walk on Saturday that there was no longer a heartbeat. Clearly that is sad for anyone, but particularly here because she is the very one that started this walk. (Let that soak in for just a second...) She was given this dream and called by God to make this a thing to help families and to show compassion and love for these dear people hurting from something she has seen far more then most. And now God has made it that she can identify even more with them. With us.


The amazing thing was being up in front of this large crowd of people with her as she spoke with such raw pain. Many there had no clue about this new and private pain she was enduring. Those of us that did stood in awe. She spoke clearly and strongly to each family, and as the words from the paper poured off of her lips it was all you could do to not hear the words being spoken about these families boys, and picture the broken hearts of Amy and her husband John, who was also there.


God's ways are not our ways, huh? And yet....He is still good. Very good.


The day utterly delivered. There was closure, hugs, warm conversations, testimonies being shared, kids running all over the place, and $1800 raised for The Greatest Blessing.



Yes He is good. Very good.



Over the last 20 months of walking this rocky journey of mourning my only boy I have learned much. I have learned that God can not be predicted, but can easily be praised in spite of what comes our way. I have learned that no does not mean all bad. In fact, there is a lot of good that comes from no. A lot.


I have learned that having this loss in my heart has opened my spiritual eyes in ways that nothing else could have. One of the most profound truths God showed me in his word can be found in the book of Ecclesiastes, seventh chapter titled: WISDOM


It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of every man;
the living should take this to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter,
because a sad face is good for the heart.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

-Ecclesiastes 7:2-4


What that says is that when hurt comes...wisdom is not far behind it.
There is nothing wiser then getting infatuated with our Home. Heaven.
Obsessing over it is wisdom.


So as many of us continue this journey of gleaning faith through this fog of mourning, my prayer is that much wisdom is shed from the Father for each of us. That we would actually embrace this place in our lives for all He desires it to reveal to those who are watching. Including our sweet little ones watching from Heaven.


He is good. Very good.

Monday, August 10, 2009

{cOuNt DoWn}


The count down has certainly begun for the remembrance walk this weekend. Whew....it will be nice to be in the throws of it, I must say! Those of us involved in pulling it together, and certainly the dear families who's babies are being honored would so appreciate your participation, however you are able! Participating at the actual event, praying for it's success and smoothness, or by simply placing a financial gift/donation. (Paypal button is on left sidebar for your convenience.) We all have a role to play in anything done with the aim of glorifying our God.
This walk will most definitely do that!

You know, most of you do not know all that is involved behind the creation and delivery of each and every box that I serve to these families. Each box has a number of things that need to be done just to "prepare it" . But then there is the art of it. I leave each one to be created at the leading of the Holy Spirit. Prophetic art really! The items within the box take no less time attention to detail to find and place within the box. I never would have dreamed it would be what it is nearly 16 months from the first one that I hand delivered. It is complicated though....I very much want this ministry to flower and grow, but I also know too well how time consuming these boxes are. Each one takes at least 2 hours to fashion. That is not including the shopping/hunting time that goes into the materials and gifts within. I never want these to be rushed or "punched out" as to lose their uniqueness and charm. All of that to say though the money brought in for this fundraiser is going directly to The Greatest Blessing - HUGELY important element to keeping this ministry going. I paid for them out of my own pocket for a time, and would have continued had I a Donald Trump account (lol) but I also know God wants to share this with His people including them in the process, however that may be. Like I said we all have a part to play in glorifying God. You included! : ) I do thank you for supporting this ministry and for believing in God through me. Humbling place He has called me to. Truly.

As the week unfolds I ask for your prayers in pulling all the technicalities into place and organizing the actual day. That I would allow the Holy Spirit to move through me and would honestly be anxious for nothing! NOTHING!

So here we go....five days left.
God be with us!
(Oh yeah....you ALWAYS ARE! ;) Thank you Jesus)

Thursday, August 6, 2009

{wHeN i GrOw Up}




Being a soldier for the Lord Jesus is nothing like what this world portrays a "soldier" to be. Standing in faith for our "invisible" King is often times looked at as being desperate, overly compassionate, a crutch (love that one...not) and weak. According to God's economy...nothing could be further from the truth!
The season I am currently in requires a great deal of trust and faith. Some of you know, some not....that my husband and I were estranged for 13 months and seeking divorce not ironically a few short months after our son, Macsen went Home to be free and happy. May I first say-PRAYER WORKS....keep praying for those you love people, and that which you wish God to redeem. His will isn't always in line with having it go as we pray or think it should go, but occasionally, if we are lining up with His will it does. There was nothing that was leading me to think that restoration was even possible. No glimmer, no hope, no life there at all....But in my spirit, deep in my heart God nestled a belief, that something bigger and better was going to occur in my life and in my marriage, all I needed to do was pray without ceasing, believe god for big things and live life as though those things had already been manifested.
Peter is often remembered as being the one that made a real schmuck of himself by denying Jesus more then once. He loved Jesus, yes. But then denied Him 3 times? How often we too are guilty of that same thing! Often....
But when I grow up......I want to be like Peter.
He spoke honesty from his heart, even when it was doubt.
He heard the Holy Spirit in him and spoke and moved accordingly- first.
He believed God for big things....he too walked on water.
He stirred praise and worship from the other disciples.
He stood fast and defended his Lord....alone as everyone else fled.
He died and ended his life in a honorable and glorifying way to his Master....King Jesus. Whom Which he was clearly a servant to.
As a child I was always most drawn to Peter and his way. ( My memories are extremely vivid of the movie Jesus of Nazareth which i watched in the zillions of times! : ) His raucous attitude and piercing honesty struck me as appealing, relatable and lovable. I assume the same was true of God. He was like a kid, in that he wanted to just jump in, speak up, and defend...
I love that.
Jesus clearly loved that.
***sigh***
When I grow up......I want to be like Peter.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

{hEbReWs 11:6}

God is moving! He is alive and well and longing for us to believe Him for big things! Jesus help me to do that very thing! To have faith and belief in you and in the miracles I know that you are capable of, and so longing to reveal to us all!
And without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6
What is God longing for you to believe Him for? Does it look impossible by human standards? If so....you are on the right track in stepping out in faith and believing King Jesus for it's reality!
There is so much to tell about my own current journey with Him. A marriage that was literally on the precipice of ending is now, with the grace and mercy of the King, healing, restoring and hopeful that with HIM all things are possible! Believing that He is bringing this covenant to heights that we have never dreamed. Boy does that take faith to do! Jesus is helping me cling to it though. To cling to his biggness!
There is also a great deal of favor being poured out on this ministry. With God's help and guidance there is no telling where it is going to lead. I am along for the ride though, that's for sure! Thank you ALL of you that have been faithful to lift me, this ministry, and my marriage and family to the Lord. He has heard our cries and is at work. Praise God!
I am in need of those of you that have received anything involving this ministry. I need from you your testimonies about how you have been blessed by this ministry. I have a few projects (one that is really exciting for me!)in the works that involve having the voices of those out there that have been touched by The Greatest Blessing.
Please send the below information to:
  • your name, and babies name (if applies)
  • what was received (possibly a picture of box and how you display it in your home)
  • picture of baby (if applies)
  • comments and feedback you would like to share

If there is any of the above that you do not have, or do not wish to share, that is alright. But as much as possible would be a real benefit to me as I am looking to best convey this ministry and the heart of God through it!

Let me encourage you to believe God for much....it pleases Him to have us see Him for all He is, and all He can do! He is a God of miracles.....let's take Him up on that!

God bless you!