He Carries the Little Lambs

“He will feed his flock like a shepherd.  He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.  He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.”

-Isaiah 40:11

My sweet little one was feeling under the weather last night.  As I sat in the rocking chair snuggling her close to my chest, I recited this verse and remembered all the times God has proved these words to be true.  My daughter, Sydnee, spent her first days fighting for her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  Being hospitalized in a separate city, I could not even be there to hold her.  What a comfort knowing that Jesus himself was carrying her in his arms, holding her close to his heart. 

 

A separate time, when Sydnee was three months old, she was hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.  She spent eight days sedated and on a ventilator, fighting for her life.  After days of negative reports and seeing her continue to get worse instead of better, I felt I had been completely drained of any hope.    I sat in our hospital room, watching all of the sick children get wheeled past our door in their hospital beds with their scared and grieving parents trailing behind, and I cried out to God asking Him for a word of hope.  I opened my Bible to Isaiah 40:11, and as I clung to this promise my heart caught sight of a little glimpse of hope.  A few good friends of mine came to visit that day and they helped me grab hold of my hope again.  We talked about this verse and the picture it gave us of Jesus, carrying the little lamb in his arms while gently leading the mama sheep, assuring her that He had her baby.  Clinging to His promise and picturing Sydnee as his little lamb is what gave me the strength and hope to persevere and remain strong for my little girl. 

Being a mom is so hard, especially when our children are struggling or in pain.  God knows how hard it is, and He knows the pain we feel as parents when we see our children suffer.  He knows that better than anyone.  I believe this is why in the second part of the verse, He promises to gently lead the mother sheep with their young.  To all the mamas out there, may He gently lead you today in trust, confidence, strength, and perseverance.  He’s got your baby in His arms.  May you find rest in that.

Our Great God and Healer,

We come to you as women and as mothers who care deeply for the children you have entrusted to us.  Father, our hearts are heavy with concern for our children and their well-being.  May we not forget that you are carrying our children and you love them even more than we do.  Father, help us to affirm our trust in you, in your unfailing love and goodness.  Gently lead us as we work to trust you more.  Lord, please bring healing and comfort to all the children and families who sit and fight in the NICU’s and PICU’s today.  Rise up with healing in your wings, O Lord.  Bring amazing peace and rest to all the mommies and daddies out there who stand fighting alongside their children.  Thank you for your promises and your unfailing love.  I love you, Lord.  I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Through Faith in His Name: The Great Multitude Daily Devotional

Through Faith in His Name: The Great Multitude Daily Devotional

One of my devotionals came out in The Great Multitude today. :-)

Strengthen My Heart

“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

-Psalm 31:24 NKJV

 Our hearts are so incredibly fragile.  It is hard and scary to put ourselves out there with the chance of our hearts being broken, and in fear we can go through endless human attempts to protect our own hearts.  We can build walls and never allow our hearts to be vulnerable to pain.  We may even find a way to numb the pain, and in the world we live in today there are numerous methods to do so.  But God knew how fragile our hearts were when he made them.  The fact is He never desired a heart of stone in any of us.  He designed our hearts knowing that in their softness, they would be the very part of us that longed for a connection with our Creator.  His word tells us not to be afraid, but to be of good courage. Then He promises to strengthen our hearts as we put all our hope in Him.  Notice that the promise isn’t that our hearts will never be broken, but that He will be the one to pick up the pieces and strengthen our hearts.  Furthermore, His peace will guard our hearts as we live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

What is He calling you to do today?  Is it time to take a chance on love or a new relationship?  Perhaps He is calling you to step out in faith and begin a new journey.  Or is He asking you to quit masking your pain and put your hope in Him?  Whatever it is, may we be of good courage and not miss out on the abundant living He has for us. 

Lord, my Awesome God,

Thank you for your word today.  Please forgive me for trying to protect my own heart.  That’s your job, not mine.  Lord, it is so incredibly scary to put my heart out there.  I am afraid it will be broken, but I trust you.  I desire a strong heart, not a heart of stone.  Strengthen my heart and give me the courage I need to walk the path you have set before me.  Thank you for walking this journey with me.  I trust you, Lord, and I love you.  I pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Sunday Story: The Account

Her life on earth was over, and as she entered the Kingdom of Heaven it was time for her to give an account for her life. The Lord took her by the hand and led her over to a giant unending bookshelf. He pointed to a section of books on the bookshelf held up by two bookends. He explained to her that this section was her life, one bookend signifying her birth and the other her death. Each story was composed of the experiences and journeys she traveled through her life, and each season of life was divided by its own set of bookends.

He pointed to a section of books that seemed to be very bright and colorful, but also stained and tattered. He said, “This season was your favorite wasn’t it?” Puzzled, she looked closer to see that this season was labeled, “Motherhood.” She nodded her head in agreement, and a smile crossed her face as she considered how many wonderful stories could be found in each book.

God picked up one of the books and they began reviewing the story within. This was the story of her first daughter’s birth. She told God that it was one of the happiest days of her life, and like two friends chatting over coffee they discussed all that happened that day. New revelations of God’s providence came to her as He explained why the event happened the way it did and why He allowed five months of bed rest leading up to that day. As they closed that book she knew without a shadow of a doubt that that day was purposed by God to grow her in her faith and to teach her one of her most important lessons in life.

Then, skimming the shelf with his finger, He stopped a few books down. As He picked it up she noticed that this book appeared to be tear-stained. He picked it up and started reading it. This was the story of her youngest daughter being ill and hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the young and fragile age of 3 months. Parainfluenza had led her tiny baby into respiratory failure, and she spent a week and a half sedated and on a breathing machine. This story was quite familiar to this mother, and she recalled how uncertain she was while she was in the midst of the trial, yet reading it back with God it seemed so certain that He knew exactly what He was doing by allowing it. This specific situation is what God used to deliver her from her biggest fears regarding her children. Then, He grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly as He read the part where she and her husband gathered around their daughter’s hospital bed numerous times with family, church friends and pastors and cried out to Him, Jehovah Rapha. A new kind of peace passed over her as they closed that book and moved on to the next.

After reading countless stories together, they came to a story that stuck out as quite insignificant. Just as she was opening her mouth to ask why they were reading it, God began explaining,
“This day may seem insignificant to you. It was just an ordinary day at home with your children, and you were busy sweeping up cheerios, wiping runny noses, and balancing your work and your job as mom. This day is actually quite significant. It answers the question, were you faithful with little? Were you faithful with the little time you had with your kids that day? Did you put down your cell phone and pay attention to their giggles when you felt the Holy Spirit prompting you to? Were your words kind and peace-loving? Were you quick to listen and slow to become angry? When your husband came home from work that evening, were you loving, gentle, and patient, or did you unload on him because your day was hectic and you got nothing done? See, it was your actions in the most seemingly insignificant times that can answer the most significant questions about you.”

With His gentle and unfailing love and grace they sat together and worked through the answers to those questions. Moving on passed the bookend into her next season of life, she realized how quickly that season passed her by, but she smiled at the thought that her legacy of faith would live on because of that season.

Baby Steps

My youngest daughter Sydnee, age 1, started walking a few weeks ago. I was so excited when she took her first steps across our living room. For months I have been walking around holding her hand and trying to build her skill and confidence. As I held her hand, I assured her that I had her and was going to help her. I let her gain the skills and balance she needed and never let go. Finally, she was ready to take the step. One day she stood up on her own and took her first wobbly step. Realizing she had what it took to do it, she made her way across the room. As she walked toward me I stood jumping and cheering her on to keep walking. She was doing the very thing I had been teaching her to do and telling her she could do for months now. Now, she still prefers to walk while holding my hand. She prefers knowing that I am there to catch her if she falls, but every now and then she steps out in faith, and when she does, I cheer as she walks toward me.

God has called me to step out of the boat and walk on the waves toward Him to achieve the dream he has placed in my heart. As I walk toward Him with each wobbly first step, I am reminded of my walk with Sydnee and how excited I was for those first steps. He has been holding my hand, telling me that I can do this and teaching me the skills I need in my daily walk with Him. Each little step of faith I take may be wobbly, and sometimes I get freaked out and just want to sit down and let Him pick me up, but He stands before me calling me forward. As I walk toward Him with my eyes fixed on Him I can hear Him cheering me on, “You’re doing it! You’re doing it! Good job! Keep coming! I have been telling you your whole life that you can do this, and I am so proud of you. Keep coming! I’ve got you! I’m right here if you fall.”