Wednesday, December 21, 2016 5:46 pm
God, day after day & prayer after prayer, this week I have asked You to provide an opportunity for ministry. I’ve asked You to use me as Your vessel. For some reason, I was picturing a moment where You would give me a word to speak… that it would have profound meaning for the time and the person that You would have me share it with. I should have known that whatever image I had conjured up in my head would be completely different than what You would later play out – because that’s just the beauty of Your plan. That tonight wouldn’t just be about preaching a message and handing out coffee. That it wouldn’t just be about praying over sick children and their parents. I don’t think that I could have ever imagined that the words I spoke to the parents waiting outside that hospital would ring so true, this very night. But You prepared me, Lord. Without me even knowing it. It makes so much sense why You led me to begin a devotional on mourning and dancing. Thank you, Father, for the words you gave me to speak to those people tonight!
(“Whatever your needs and circumstances are, we may not know them. We may not understand what you’re going through but God sent us here to let you know that you’re not alone. Jesus has felt our suffering and comforts us in times of suffering. ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer… Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.’ God sent us here to help you carry your burdens and to rejoice with you when you rejoice and mourn with you when you mourn. So whatever you need, we are here to pray with you.”)
Thank You that you chose me to pray over the 3 women waiting for their babies in intensive care. Even though it wasn’t easy, thank You for allowing me to hold these women as they mourned over the news that 2 of their babies had passed away just minutes after those prayers. God, I don’t understand it all, but I know that You bring redemption. I pray that You are with the mothers and families of the children lost. I pray that they not lose faith in this time, but that they cling tight to Your word & Your truth. Allow them to mourn; and when the time comes, allow them to dance without reservation! Remind them that You work all things for the good of those who love you. Help them not to lose faith by looking at their circumstance, and help them to keep their eyes fixed on You – knowing that Your promises still remain true.
I pray that You wrap Your loving arms around these women and allow them to find peace in your embrace. God, I praise You for Your goodness and faithfulness no matter the circumstance! I love you, Father. I ask this all in Jesus’ name, amen.
Today we visited a hospital where mothers & fathers, aunts & uncles, brothers & sisters, grandparents, all waited outside to hear that their children would be ok. No waiting room with vending machines or protection from the cold winds. Just pieces of cardboard to protect from the weather and bags at their side because only the Lord knows how many hours, days, or weeks they’d be waiting.
Each member of our team delivered a short word of encouragement and then we prayed with the people there. I prayed with 3 women who were waiting for their babies in intensive care then moved on to pray for a few more people. By the time we finished prayer and passing out coffee and cookies, one of the women came out to tell us that one of the babies had passed away. As I was the one who prayed for them, I accompanied Roger (our ministry host & the pastor) inside to see the mother. When we arrived we found out that not just one baby, but two of them had passed.
This situation is not about me at all. However, when I said that we were there to rejoice with them and mourn with them – whatever they needed – I meant it. I just didn’t realize it would play out this very night. See, God put it on my heart about a week ago to begin a devotional called Mourning & Dancing. I kept wondering why now… I haven’t experienced the loss of a loved one recently and prayed that it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. He was preparing me and I didn’t even know it. I prayed that He would allow moments of opportunity for ministry. I thought it would be through a word He would give me or randomly at a mall or coffee shop, just sharing His love with a stranger. But His plans usually flip our expectations upside down. I should have known. It was that very morning that God spoke to me about not being disconnected when others mourn and being able to weep when others weep. It was His love, His arms that embraced those women as I held them tonight.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. -Romans 12:12-15
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. -2 Cor 1:3-7
The purpose of this blog is not to solicit donations but I do have to let you all know, I am in need of support! If you have thought or prayed about donating, please consider doing so this holiday season. I am already past my deadline of $13,000 by November 30th. The deadline has been extended until December 30th but I also have the full amount of $15,651 due a month later on January 31st. Patiently waiting and trusting in the Lord. Thanks for all your support, love, and prayers!!
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