MY DAUGHTERS PRAYER

*The font has gone all wonky on me. Sorry about that:)
Ok...I need a shower. I have 500 projects I need to finish or start on but I need to get this story blogged because I want to always remember it.

Last Wednesday, my Daddy had to go into the hospital for a heart procedure. My brother had picked me up the night before and drove the rest of the way in to my parents house. It was late when we got there and even later when we finally got to sleep. We also had to get up early so what I am trying to get at is~We didn't sleep much the night before.

Well, let's back up to Monday when we experienced a 5.8 earthquake here in the DC area. Freaaaakkkkyyyy!!

Anyway, I was fine Monday about the earthquake. Honestly, we were driving back from IKEA and didn't even feel it. We heard it on the radio but people were standing all over the place as we were driving through town and when we got home there were pictures knocked over and the cabinets were open in the kitchen.

That's the back story. Let's move forward.

My Daddy had to have tests before his surgery so we were there pretty much all day long. My brother & I went down to grab a bite to eat for breakfast while waiting. That's when it all started.

You see we were having some great discussions as we usually do and all of a sudden I thought to myself, "What if we had another earthquake?" I could feel myself getting tense as we sat there talking. Then my brother casually, out of the blue, says, "Do you feel that? I feel a tremor or something." Y'all~~y'all. Oh, y'all, I almost wet my pants.

My brother didn't say anything about it but I probably went as white as a sheet and I jumped up and grabbed my purse. I don't know where I thought I was going but I was going to be ready.

We walked around for a minute and then we headed back up to the Cardiac waiting room. I could feel myself getting more panicky by the second and I knew if I didn't calm down it might get a wee bit ugly. So I did what I always do when I need some help I started praying. (by this time my brother had my ipod on and was oblivious to the hot mess that was sitting beside him:)

Anyway, after a few very, long minutes, I knew I was going to need some help. I got on my phone and started texting Mike.

This is what I sent and the response:

Me: Pray for me I feel a panic attack coming on. Seriously

Michael: Your going to be o.k.

Me: I really feel like I am going to have one. I'm all hot & I feel sick.

Michael: It's going to be alright.

Me: I'm really freaking here.Please pray.

Michael: O.k.

After that text exchange I started feeling better. I was able to feel myself relaxing and able to be calm.

Imagine my surprise when I got a text from Mike later saying that he had been outside for the last couple of hours. I questioned him about the texts and he said they weren't from him. They were from Shelby. I cried. Because those texts from my daughter was exactly what I needed to hear. When I looked back on them I realized they weren't Mike's style of text but I didn't pick up on it at the time. I just knew someone was praying for me.

The next day, when I got home, I asked the girls about the texts and they said they stopped what they were doing and prayed for me. I don't know about you but I am crying just
thinking about it.

I love them so much and I'm so glad that they saw that prayer was important right then. Jesus heard their prayers and answered them. I made sure they knew what He did because of their prayers.

Lord, may my girls always see the importance of prayer in their lives and how much of an impact it has on people around them. Allow them to stand in the gap for others and become fervent prayer warriors. Amen

DON'T FAINT OR NOTHING

Two posts in two days.

Incredible!!!

Try not to get use to it:~)

I had to share something before I forgot.

I read lots of Easter posts the week before Easter and I loved all of them.

Most were proclaiming Christ's loving sacrifice for us and I am so thankful that He gave himself willingly for me~a dirty, rotten, pile of rags sinner.

When I read this post I knew that I had to share it with others~My Charming Kids.

Plain spoken gospel.

WOW.....I lied!

I told you I would be back and I meant to be back sooner.

Ahh, well, let's start afresh, shall we?

Since my last post I had my 36th birthday.

I can't believe I am sliding down the hill to... to....

Oh my, I can't even type it:~)

My husband took me to our favorite restaurant.

The non-chain restaurant, you know, the kind where the waiters have the little thing that they scrape the bread crumbs off of the REAL tablecloth, where there is live jazz, and the chef comes to your table to see if you are enjoying your meal.

Awesome.

We also had the one year anniversary of Mike's accident which was on the same day as my birthday so I guess it was a double celebration.

I spent the days leading up to April 9th reflecting on what has happened over the last year. I'll be honest I was REAL emotional all week.

The girls and I drove down the road that the accident the Tuesday before the 9th and all I could do was cry and praise the Lord that He did not choose to take Mike that day.

I know that He sustained us then like He does every day. When I think about the days in the hospital I know that He was there and He sent others.

We had so many prayers going up in our behalf and we felt them. We had many visitors and calls. We had people give to us in amazing ways. God provided as only He can and He used His people to do it.

And I would love to put here that I had the best attitude in the world during this ordeal but the truth is there were many moments of doubt, anger, self~pity, fear, anxiety, and more.

I remember asking my sister to bring me a Bible and I read it some but not everyday. I remember praying some but some days I could hardly put two words together to tell the Lord how I was feeling.

I remember feeling helpless to ease my husband's pain. I knew that I could do nothing for him but ask people to pray and pray myself.

I remember him try to move from the bed to the wheelchair and seeing him just cry because he could not physically do what they were asking him to do.

I remember visitors coming in and asking how we were doing and just verbally vomiting all the frustration on them~they took it all and smiled. (I don't think any of them hold it against me~they all still speak to me:~)

I remember the calls from my friends back home and doing the same to them.

I look back and feel sorry for all of them because they surely felt just as helpless as I did. They could not do anything to help the situation but pray.

And I know that they did because that is how we made it.

God answered prayers and I know that He has used that accident for His glory.

Life is hard but the Rock is harder.

The Solid Rock.

LIFE ABUNDANTLY

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they might
have LIFE and have it ABUNDANTLY. John 10:10"

Life. Abundantly.

Abundant-(1)very plentiful, more than sufficient; ample (2)well-supplied; rich in something

We can have life so abundantly if we truly believe the words of Christ.

I am so thankful that Christ spoke these words for me to know that I can have an abundant life.

A life rich in family and friends. A life abundant in grace and mercy. A life that is more sufficient than I could ever imagine.

As this Christmas day comes to a close I know that my life is abundant.

Christ is sufficient. He knows what I need and He well-supplies everything I need. He is plentiful in all things.

He doesn't withhold His love or His mercy. He is abundant in grace.

He PROMISES it!!

And you can believe it.

MESSAGE:

JESUS
IS THE
ONLY
REASON
FOR THE
SEASON!
Merry Christmas!!!!
Love, The Noodles

GRACE, GRACE, GOD'S GRACE

Thank you, Lord for your grace and going the final mile so I would not be lost.


Were It Not For Grace - Larnelle Harris

Time measured out my days
Life carried me along
In my soul I yearned to follow God
But knew I'd never be so strong
I looked hard at this world
To learn how heaven could be gained
Just to end where I began
Where human effort is all in vain
Chorus
Were it not for grace
I can tell you where I'd be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me
I know how that would go
The battles I would face
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace
So here is all my praise
Expressed with all my heart
Offered to the Friend who took my place
And ran a course I could not start
And when He saw in full
Just how much His would cost
He still went the final mile between me and heaven
So I would not be lost
Repeat Chorus
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace

WHY WOULD HE CHOOSE TO COME HERE?

Please go and read this post from last year.

Grace In a Manger

It will make you think.

TODAY

Today is the National Day of Remembrance for pregnancy and infant loss.

Angie has a post about it and I was going to write something here about our loss.

But I can't. Without crying.

So~

Lost 4th child Nov. 12, 2007 to miscarriage

Lost 5th child April 14, 2008 to miscarriage

"In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me." Psalm 120:1 (ESV)

PAIL AND PRAISE

Remember our plumbing problem?

It is solved and here is how it went down.

At around 7 o'clock after hitting the snooze bar and trying to get a few more zzz's, Trevor and I were jarred out of bed by a lot of banging. I thought Mike was having a fight with his electric razor in the bathroom.

Nope it was the "plumber". I use this term loosely because he is not a licensed plumber from a company that specializes in plumbing. He is an older gentlemen that seems to have nothing better to do than wake up a family at 7 on a Sunday morning.

When I went to open the door he stuck the plug of an extension cord in my face and said, "Find a place to plug this in, will ya?" What?? No good morning??? I was still trying to figure out what he was doing here when he clearly said on Thursday he would be back Monday or Tuesday. Maybe he was feeling guilty about leaving a family of 5 in the lurch on a holiday weekend with them having to resort to drastic measures (revert back to link at top of post:~)

He proceeded to climb under the house with all his tools and start sawing and hacking away. We proceeded to try and get ready for church the best way we could without the aid of a shower. We were ready in record time but the plumber was clearly not in any hurry to be done. We sat in the living room~all 5 of us~ watching CBS Sunday morning and keeping an eye on the clock that was inching closer and closer to Sunday School time.

Finally we knew we weren't going to make Sunday School we set our sights on the 10 o'clock start for worship. I convinced Mike that we could either miss church all together or one of us could go and take the kids. He was a trooper and headed to church.

I sucked up my disappointment and ate some ice cream as a consolation prize while waiting on the plumber to finish. He came in about 15 minutes later and said, "I'm done. Sorry I left you a mess." I, unaware of exactly how big a mess he was talking about, said, "Oh that's okay!!"

Yeah~all was good until I went in the bathroom and OH! MY! WORD! Changed out of my church clothes, got out the cleaners, went and got the mop and bucket, and the IPOD!! Me and Jesus met right there in the bathroom while on my hand and knees on the floor scrubbing that NASTY tub.

It was sweet. It was uplifting. It was just what I needed.

It doesn't matter where you meet with Him, just do it. You won't be disappointed. He'll show up every time!!!

"I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O Lord, I will sing praises"~~Psalm 101:1

IT HIT HOME

Yesterday we had a "guest" preacher at our church. He is a member of our church so he really isn't a guest. Our Pastor and his team were on a staff retreat.

Anyway~one thing that Dr. Pic said that really hit home to me was this, "I think the greatest sin is the sin of self sufficiency."

Oh my!! I am so guilty of self sufficiency at times~~ everything is going good~~Sweet Jesus gets put on the back burner. What a horrible thing to do to Him. Lord, forgive me.

I want more of Jesus ALL the time not just when things are a mess and there's nothing I can do. I want more when my kids are acting like they should and we get a good report from my husband's doctor. I want more when there is money in the bank not just when there is $5 to live on til the next paycheck.

Lord, please remind me of this wonderful message daily!! I want more of You all the time.

DO WE TRUST HIM???

I have been thinking and reading about trust and how we can trust God even when things are not going right in our lives. WE CAN TRUST HIM!! He has not abandoned us. He has not forgotten us. He is there and we can trust Him~~we REALLY can.

Even when we are angry, frustrated, raging against our circumstances, filled with uncertainty, positively numb, unable to express anything at all~~He is right there, never changing, never faltering, never surprised, never withholding His love from us. He is right there holding us in His loving arms like a mother holds her child. He loves us so much and He knows our wounded hearts.

I love Him more today than I did before April 9, 2008. Praise His Holy Name!!

Here is a link to a video I watched today. It is worth looking at. If you want to read about their story click here.

Yesterday Trevor had to go to training to be a junior counselor at music camp. What fun he will have week after next when he is practicing with the Jazz Band and Show Band. They have a recital on the last of camp to show off what they have been working all week. It is always a wonderful performance.

One of the things I love about Abby is her sense of style. She is rockin' these shoes!!

Those long, slim fingers belong to Shelby. They will be perfect to play the piano with. Hopefully, her dream will match mine:~)
If not this is what she has to look forward to~~~~~



JUST KIDDING:~)

PRAYER

There have been many, many people that have asked over the past month if there was anything they could do for us. And~really~ there wasn't a whole lot that could be done. Family was taking care of the kids, Mike was in the hospital and I was with him around the clock.

People came to visit and as they were leaving they slipped money in my hand. Those gifts were appreciated and I ate with that money til the last day Mike was in the hospital. Mike and I would cry after people left because they were so generous and thoughtful.

BUT~~ I believe prayer was what sustained us for that 3 week hospital stay. We know there were hundreds of people sending up prayers in our behalf. WE FELT EACH ONE!!! There were times we were too tired to pray, too busy to pray, too stressed to pray, too sad to pray~~ but we knew we were being lifted up. The Lord was answering the prayers of His people and He still is.

Mike and I are extremely thankful for every prayer uttered for us during this difficult time. We are fully aware that without the prayers of saints we would not have been able to endure these past weeks AND the weeks ahead would look bleak and foreboding.

We are trusting and leaning on Jesus and feeling the support of His people. He in His infinite wisdom allowed this to come into our lives and we are stretching and growing because of it. We will endure~not on our own strength but on His. We are weak~~I am talking limp as a dishrag. It is overwhelming at times. He is strong and nothing overwhelms Him. We will endure because of Him.

IT"S GOOD FRIDAY ALREADY!!!!!!!

Golly, gee! It has been crazy around here!!!! We have celebrated a birthday, had family in town, went on an overnight trip, started soccer, had a snow storm, had a huge rain storm, and I think I could go on and on.

We have a birthday today! Trevor is 17 today. He has to work ALL day. A bummer. We are planning a little surprise for him. Shh!!

Hopefully I will get back to blogging regularly. It's sad when you look at your own blog and think, "I wish I would blog something:~)"

Good Friday--remember the sacrifice Jesus made for you and renew your commitment to be a living sacrifice for Him. He deserves our EVERY praise.

REFLECTION

Today was a good day for reflection. It is real dark here and dreary. I have three hours on Tuesday mornings to myself and I usually do my Bible study in the car.

I was reading Matthew 5~The Sermon on the Mount because our pastor is doing a sermon series about this chapter on Sunday nights. He asked us to read it each week and ask ourselves a couple questions~

• What is the Lord trying to teach me?

• Why did You lay this on Pastor Gladson's heart?

I have read that chapter before. I have had that chapter preached to me before.

Today it was like Jesus was sitting in the seat beside me talking to me. I am so honored to be able to hold the words of my dear Savior in my hands.

I have been weighted down by some things recently and I felt a huge weight just lift off my shoulders as I sought to get closer to Jesus through the sermon He spoke.

Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall.
When I am sad, to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, my Friend in trials sore;
I go to Him for blessings, and He gives them over and o’er.
He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest’s golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, and true to Him I’ll be;
O how could I this Friend deny, when He’s so true to me?
Following Him I know I’m right, He watches o’er me day and night;
Following Him by day and night, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better Friend;
I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when life’s fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a Friend, beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy, He’s my Friend.

---

MY CONVICTIONS ARE MY OWN

I have been thinking a lot about writing this post. Probably too much. After I read a post about it at one of my favorite blogs, I felt like the Lord was nudging me to write it. I have typed it up on Word and left it there to see if the nudging would go away.

It hasn’t.

Mike and I made a decision that we would let the Lord decide the size of our family~ a “quiverfull family”. Some of my family and friends know this but most don’t.

I have felt the Holy Spirit prompting since I read a book by Vickie and Jayme Farris, “A Mom like you”. My former pastor’s wife lent me the book and I read it twice before giving it back. That was almost 6 years ago. Mike thought I was crazy and said, “No”.

I said, “Okay!!” I felt like I had been absolved from having to worry about it. Mike was the head of our household right? And if he said no that was what I had to live with. Still, the Holy Spirit kept bringing it to my mind.

When we moved so Mike could go to college for pastoral training I thought that I wouldn’t be bothered by this anymore. The Lord knew we had no extra money. He also knew we had no health insurance and we would ‘unwise’ to have a baby at this time.

Mike had not changed his mind either. UNTIL~ he had a professor at the college that talked about letting the Lord decide the size of your family. He came home and we talked about it. Still he wasn’t fully convinced. I was more convinced but not sold on the idea.

We mulled over it for a long time, reading scripture, praying about it, talking about it, and reading about it.

Needless to say, in March of 2006, I threw my BC pills away.

I know that the Lord opens and closes the womb because I have evidence in my own life. I know that whether we have 5 more, no more, or adopt, God is in control of our family size.

I know that some people get defensive when this is discussed. I am only telling our story and feel you should really seek the Lord on this decision. I know that I was thinking selfishly before the Holy Spirit convicted me on this subject.

I kept thinking that I wanted to be done with raising children. In fact, in my early twenties I had told people that if I didn’t get pregnant before I turned 25 I didn’t want anymore.

My girls were born when I was 27 and 29 respectively. I am sure the Lord chuckled at that one.

We lost a baby this past November and I know how real that heartache is. If we have more or not we know that our hearts are ‘quiverfull’ and that we are allowing God to have His will with the size of our family.

AT A LOSS FOR WORDS!!

*Update~if you want to read more in depth notes from Deeper Still go to Boomama and she will direct you where you need to go. Keep on keepin' on, sistas!!!

Now, if you know me in real life, you know that it must be something big, right? I have been trying for 4 days to write a post about this and I have just now been able to sit here and do it. I have been at a loss for words that would do this past weekend justice. I have made a feeble attempt but here goes~~~~~

I went to Deeper Still The Event Friday and Saturday with my good friend Debbie.

IT WAS AWESOME!!!

I received a rhema (that is "word" in Greek)

I didn't want to leave!!! The music was great. We got to see Mandisa, live and rocking the house. Well, we were at the Curb Center at Belmont University but she rocked it!! Also, the praise band was great and Anthony Evans is awesome.

Let's see how many times I can use the words awesome and great in this post.

Priscilla Shirer talked about David knowing who he was and whose he was. I am telling you right now the Holy Spirit met us right there Friday night! I could have jumped out of my seat and ran the aisles!! She was giving us words that God wanted us to hear.

Beth Moore talked about cooperating with God, returning to whole-hearted obedience, and having the courage to see the fulfillment of God's promise to you. Again, she brought us the Word of God. I could have shouted that place down.

Kay Arthur talked about being at a crossroads and using David as an example of having many crossroads in his life. She, also, brought us the the Word of God. Again, the Spirit was evident when she spoke.

I don't want to even try to post all the notes I took and all the things that God has given me to "chew" on. I got some meat from these ladies this weekend and I will chewing for awhile to actually swallow it all.

Two things that really impressed me this weekend was:
1) they did not promote their books. In fact, it was said that to hear from the Lord don't read their books you need to read your Bible.
2)we had a question and answers session. One of the ladies in the crowd asked how to get her husband to speak her love language. Kay Arthur said just start speaking his and he will be so full and overflowing that he will want to start speaking yours. She also said have s*x with him. She said, "Ladies. our bodies are not our own!!" People, that is from Scripture! Nowadays women don't want to hear that but it is the truth. When you are married your body belongs to your spouse. That is not popular thinking but it is Biblical thinking.

Oh yeah, one more thing, my pretend BFF Lisa Whelchel was there. That was an added treat. She doesn't know it but we are BFF in my pretend world.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to got this weekend. Thanks to Mike for doing without me for a whole Saturday and doing it lovingly. Thanks to Debbie for getting the tickets and being excited with me.

AMY IS VICTORIOUS TODAY!

Yesterday, Amy Wilhoite went home to be with the Lord. She has had the ultimate healing.

I am sad on one hand, but rejoicing on the other. She was suffering so much and she had fought a good fight.

Please pray for her husband, Brandon and baby Gary.

LOOK AT US, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS TOGETHER. LOOK AT US, AFTER ALL THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW TRUE LOVE CAN BE, THEN JUST LOOK AT US.


Today is our 16th wedding anniversary. When I look back over our years together I can only say that the Lord has been the tie that has bound us together.

We were both 18 when we got married and people thought we were too young. I am sure they thought it wouldn't last. I know of at least one person that said it was a mistake. Her marriage ended years ago.

I told my friend on the phone last night that I am thankful that the Lord knew what kind of husband I would need because I was so young I didn't have a clue.

We are going out to celebrate tomorrow evening. I am so in love with my husband I am busting at the seams. Thank you, Lord for your gift in my life. You deserve all the praise for this marriage.

Ecc. 4:9-12 It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society: If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up. And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed? And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily broken.

IMPROMPTU LUNCH DATE

Trev wanted to go to church with a friend of his yesterday so we left an hour early for church and took him to church. No big deal it was just a little out of the way and we got breakfast before we headed to our church.

After church we went to pick him up and his friend's mom met us at the car and said, "I hope you don't have any plans for lunch because I just picked up lunch for everybody and heading to my house." We said okay and we were on our way.

Have you ever come away from a situation and said "That was a total God-thing!!" Going to their house and spending the afternoon was a Total God-thing! I talked with friend's mom about how God has worked in their lives. I picked her brain about a mentoring/discipleship ministry that she does. She challenged me spiritually, she encouraged me spiritually. She was a breath of fresh God air!

She loves the Lord. She loves spending time with Him. She lives what she knows and she shares what God has taught her. She was not harsh or judgmental, she just shared her life. She even brought out old journals and shared from them what she had been through in the past couple of years.

Mike and her husband had a good time of fellowship, also. The kids had fun, too! It was just a relaxing, growing experience for me. I was challenged in a few areas that I need to focus on and she just gave me oodles to think about.

Loved every minute of our visit yesterday. There is nothing like a God-thing!!

A Place for Quiet TIme

Over on Beth Moore's blog she asks about a favorite place to spend time with the Lord. She tells about her patio and how she loves to sit and have her quiet time there. My favorite spot to have my quiet time is my dining room table.

I love to spread my books out and write in my notebook! I love fresh, clean pages and how I love to write on them. I love to use great pens that write smoothly and writing as much as I want. When I get up in the morning I open all the shades in the kitchen and living room. I love the morning light streaming in.

Where do you like to spend your quiet time with the Lord? What motivates you to seek a closer relationship with Him? Leave a comment and share.