To My Oldest....I Want You To Know...

To my oldest son,

I know it's not always easy being the oldest. Your younger brothers look up to you and that's a big responsibility, but I want you to know that you're doing a great job!

I want you to know that I love your unique sense of style, please don't ever change to please the world.

I want you to know that I love how inquisitive you are. Keep asking questions, that's how you learn!

I want you to know that I appreciate your adventurous and fast paced personality.

I want you to know that I often learn life lessons from you.

I want you to know that I ask the most of you because I trust you.

I want you to know that it's ok to fail.

I want you to know that your sensitive spirit is a gift from God. As you grow you will become more and more sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

I want you to know that I love how you are just like your daddy and how you look up to him and want to be just like him.

I want you to know that I'm amazed at how observant you are. You can tell when a complete stranger is having a bad day when others don't notice and that is a gift also.

I want you to know that I notice every time you hold a door open for others.

I want you to know that I love your sense of humor and that laugh of yours.

I want you to know I think it's awesome that you mastered back flips on the trampoline and didn't give up.

I want you to know all these things but more than anything I want you to know Jesus.

Son, please know that He loves you and laid down His life for you.
I want you to know that you are holy, redeemed, and loved with an everlasting love.
Everyone in this world will fail you at some point but your Savior never will!
Trust Him, learn to depend on Him in every area of your life. Guard your heart and shield your mind so you will remain pure in this impure world.
Be a bold and mighty warrior who fights battles on your knees.

I want you to know that you are His and He gave you to us as a gift and what a special gift you are.
I love you Trent and I love being your mom.

Standing in the Gap

If you have ever witnessed a great play or drama, you realize there is more to it than what you see on the stage. There are many people working behind the curtain whether it's moving props, wardrobe, or lighting. The play would be nothing great without the behind the scenes work. Intercessory prayer could be viewed as behind the scenes work as well. Intercessors enter their prayer closets to pray and plead on the behalf of others. They pray expecting the Lord to do a mighty work, to save, to heal, to deliver because He and only He can do these things.

Sometimes I think we view prayer as if blowing on a dandelion and watching the wind carry it off not sure where all those pieces are going. We pray hoping God will hear us and answer, but we don't necessarily expect to see those answers.

No, no, no, our prayers are much more precious and much more valuable to God than we could ever imagine. Revelation 5:8 says "The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Imagine that! Our prayers in golden bowls! They are tangible and never in vain.  He hears each one and answers each one and keeps them because they are so precious to Him.

I believe God is looking for faithful intercessors. What is an intercessor?
The dictionary says that an intercessor is a person who intervenes on behalf of another, especially by prayer.

We see many examples of intercessory prayer in the Bible. Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites many times, Esther fasted and interceded on behalf of her people, Daniel interceded in prayer and fasted on behalf of the people. There are many more examples of this. Jesus Christ is our intercessor. (Romans 8:34)

Samuel said in 1 Samuel 12:23
"As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you."

Ezekiel 22:30 talks about the Lord looking for someone to stand in the gap but could find no one.

I recently had the privilege to stand in the gap for a dear friend who was too weak and too tired to pray for herself. We all know what that's like. There are times we just don't know what or even how to pray. This dear friend was facing a mountain that caused her anxiety and fear. Myself and others fasted, prayed, and stood in the gap for her and let me tell you God performed a miracle. God heard our prayers and intercession and did something beyond what we could ever think or imagine!

Who has the Lord called you to stand in the gap for? Whatever burdens your heart.....PRAY, for your spouse....PRAY, for your children.....PRAY, for the lost....PRAY, for the sick....PRAY, for the drug addict....PRAY, for the abused and neglected children around the world...PRAY, for our nation....PRAY, for the missonaries......PRAY.
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY and never give up!
Stand in the gap! Intercede and watch God work!

The picture above is our "Answered Prayer" board that I got for Christmas. Look at everything God has done so far!! These note cards contain miraculous healings, the long awaited birth of a miracle baby, salvations, and plenty more answered prayers! NOTHING is too difficult nor impossible for our God. It's time to seek the Lord, it's time to pray and fast, it's time to intercede!

Hiding Among the Stuff

Most kids love playing hide and seek. I can often hear my boys quietly giggling while I'm searching for them. There is something so exciting about being found while your hiding.

We adults hide too but often we hide so we won't be found. There was a man in scripture who hid hoping he wouldn't be found.

In 1 Samuel 10, Saul hid from the people among the "stuff" or the "baggage". Saul had done nothing wrong so what or who was he hiding from? We know that the great prophet Samuel had anointed him to be king over Israel and he was a new and changed man, yet he hid.

When everyone was anticipating the announcement of their king, their king couldn't be found. They sought the Lord and the Lord revealed that Saul was hiding among the "stuff".

Saul knew the calling on his life. His purpose had been revealed and now it was time to be displayed as king among the people and he hid. He hid from his calling, he hid from his purpose. He hid among "the stuff" or "the baggage."

Did he fear this responsibility was just too much for him to handle?  Did he fear people would boo when his name was announced? Did he feel unworthy? I don't know what caused him to hide, but I know he's not the only adult who has hidden among the stuff.

We too hide from our purpose either by feeling we are unworthy or feeling like there must be something better. We hide in the stuff of fear, past failures, unworthiness etc...

Just like Saul, we cannot hide from the Lord. He has a specific purpose and calling for each of us and He is the one who equips us. So we can step out and step up with confidence knowing that He who began a good work in us will most definitely finish it!

We are to be displays of His splendor. If something is on display it is clearly seen. When we are displays of His splendor, Jesus Christ will be clearly seen. I don't want to see my Savior face to face and Him show me all the things I was "supposed" to do but never did because I was hiding among the stuff. I want Him to show me the things I did out of love and obedience to Him walking in faith not fear.

It was Saul's appointed time for his calling. Is it your appointed time to step into God's perfect will for your life? If so, leave the "stuff" behind and pursue Him and the plans He has specifically for you. Maybe it's not your appointed time yet. Maybe He is preparing you for the work He has for you. Will you step out in confidence when He says "it's time" or will He find you hiding among the stuff?

We are always going to feel incapable of whatever God call us to do because He doesn't call us to do anything that can be accomplished in our own power.

Instead of making excuses and running from our calling, may we boldly embrace the purpose He created us for. Let's stop hiding and stand up tall out of the stuff and be displays of HIS splendor.