A New Life

Last Sunday our oldest confessed Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was baptized.

I just have to pause here for a moment. Praise the Lord! There is nothing better- nothing has brought us more joy than watching as she has grown in her faith and taken this step in her walk with God. Happy, happy day and we know that the angels are rejoicing with us!

While our church family saw the baptism for themselves, I had a glimpse of what was going on behind the scenes as Naomi prepared for the baptism. She may have been excited about being baptized, but she was also nervous about being in front of and speaking before a large group of people. This is not the first time we have seen this with her so we had made plans for just such a situation.

Drew walked her through the whole process and then eased her fears with humor. When her nerves cropped up again, we encouraged her to focus on Drew- to look at him and speak as though he was the only one in the room. And in the moment when Naomi needed to repeat her confession of faith, Drew bent down so they could be at eye level with each other.

She did wonderful when the time came and I know part of that came from the calm, strength and encouragement of her father. And as I watched the relationship between Drew and Naomi, I saw a glimpse of the relationship we each can have with God if we will only look to and keep our eyes on Him.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, 

“I will rescue him; I will protect him, 

for he acknowledges my name. 

He will call on me, and I will answer him; 

I will be with him in trouble, 

I will deliver him and honor him. 

With long life I will satisfy him 

and show him my salvation.” 

Psalm 91:14-16

A relationship where we are:

    Met where we are- on our level.

Offered hope, encouragement, strength and guidance.

Experience mutual love and perfect joy.

All resulting in absolute trust and unparalleled peace.

Lord,
We have prayed and prayed for this young girl and her relationship with you, and now as we celebrate this decision she has made, I will pray again- for we know this is not the end but the beginning of a whole new story..... the story of her new life with You. 

I thank you Lord for her decision. I thank you for her keen mind and tender heart which recognized the problem and sought answers. I thank you for all of those who have spoke into her life and taught her through word and example more about You, Your love and a life lived for You. 

Now Lord I pray for her as she starts her new life in You. I pray for her to remain rooted in You, always- ALWAYS- keeping her eyes focused on You, knowing that You are where her identity, strength, comfort and peace will be found. I pray that as she has found that in Drew, she will come to know and trust the same in regards to You. 

I pray that You will give us wisdom as we help her to grow more in her faith and her relationship with You, and that no matter where we may call home, You will help place others- adults and friends- who help her along that path as well.

Protect her tender heart for it is the source of her compassion. Guide her in the ways to use her strength of will so that it helps her to stand confidently in You.

Thank you Lord for loving her and pursuing her. Thank you Lord for giving her to us.

Nothing is Impossible

I have come to love my thirty minute drives to and from church. So often, particularly when I am alone, I find myself mulling over a verse I read earlier or I will spend the time in prayer. I don’t manage to solve the world’s problems, but along the way, God helps me to find understanding and peace regarding my place, my job in the midst of “the world’s problems.” Yesterday was one such day.

Yesterday I felt compelled to pray. My mind was heavy with the many requests I knew of- individuals struggling with persistent health issues, new and unexpected stages of life, surgeries, despair, addiction, lack of faith and more. My heart ached as I considered all the ways sin and its stain was affecting the lives of those near and dear to me. As I prayed, I noticed a theme. I would find myself uncertain of even what to ask for because every possibility I considered seemed impossible…..  but that’s the beauty of prayer. When things appear impossible to us, we can take our concerns and troubles, worries and doubts to the One for whom nothing- absolutely NOTHING- is impossible.

Nothing is impossible for the One who created the heavens and the earth.
Nothing is impossible for the One who made the sun stand still.
Nothing is impossible for the One who preserved- without singe or smell- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace.
Nothing is impossible for the One who knew the Samaritan Woman’s whole life story.
And absolutely nothing is impossible for the One who conquered death.

Gabriel, the archangel, declared this very thing to Mary when she questioned how she, a virgin, could give birth to a son. (Luke 1:37) And in Matthew 19, Jesus himself stated, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (verse 26)

I don’t know all that weighs on your heart and mind today. I don’t know what you are personally going through or what those you love may be going through, but I do know the One who is able.

I know the One who has brought peace and joy in the midst of pain and loss.
I know the One who has healed what seemed untreatable.
I know the One who holds the answer when medical personnel run out of options.
I know the One who claims victory over every addiction and every sin that bind us.
I know the One who loved us and sacrificed everything for us, even those who still deny Him.

And because I know the One who is able, I know He can do the impossible in your life today. “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14) I cannot promise it will always be the answer we are looking for, but it will always be for our eternal good. If we can humble ourselves and acknowledge as Job did, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2)

Through You
Blind eyes are opened
Strongholds are broken
I am living by faith
Nothing is impossible!

(Nothing is Impossible- Planetshakers)