News...

"But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness." Psalm 69:13

The Lord heard our prayers and the prayers of our friends and families. He brought us through the hardest time of my life, grew Regan and I closer, and increased our reliance on the One true Miracle worker.

We are overcome with emotion and joy and so excited to share some news...

I will share the story very soon...

So excited to be specifically praying for Baby Ellis growing in my belly!

Much Love-
Al

at the beach

I have been at the beach with Regan and his family!

A lot to catch up on.

Will post more when I get caught up!

Praying-

Much Love-
Al

Friends...

My Bird, one of my best friends, sent this to me last night...


My dear, In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love.

 In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.

 In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm.

 I realized, through it all, that…

 In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.

 And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.

In the midst of the storm, My God is My Peace.

Patiently Praying-

Much Love- Al

God's Answer

was no...

I am spotting.

patiently praying-

much love-
al

Encouragement

A birthday celebration.
The end of school and the beginning of summer.
Another IUI procedure.
And now waiting.

There has been a lot keep me busy and away from blogging.

This however, is bringing me encouragement today.

June 6, 2012
God is Working on Your Behalf
By Samantha Reed
"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

An ultimatum from my boss left me no choice but to head into unemployment. I'll never forget the day she asked me to lead an initiative that went against God's Word.

Staying at my job would deny my faith. Leaving would challenge it. Fears clamored. If I quit, I'd be broke. I had no husband, no savings, no additional source of provision.

Day after day I pleaded with God to intervene, to change my boss's mind. But it didn't happen. She made her decision, which solidified mine: I turned in my two weeks notice.

That was my first step into my journey of joblessness. My mind raced with fears: would I be able to pay rent, find a new job, hold onto hope? Day by day, my financial, spiritual and emotional accounts were depleted. I couldn't see beyond my raw emotions and dreary situation.

God nudged me to send my resume to a ministry. A place I knew rarely hired. Somewhere I didn't know if my gifts could even be used. I doubted they'd accept my application, and pushed aside the thought to apply.

If only I had lifted my eyes away from the despair, I might have realized God was working on my behalf, much like He did for Naomi in the book of Ruth.

You see, at the same time soil churned, seeds nestled underground, and crops waved in the wind, Naomi needed God to intervene. She lamented to her widowed daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth:

"Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— would you wait until they grew up?"(Ruth 1:12b-13a NIV)

Perceived destitution left her feeling desperate. Can you feel it in this widow's words? Then Naomi told them, "'Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me?'" (vs. 11a)


It would take time for Naomi to look beyond her dire circumstances and see the divine intervention waiting on her. God had plans of redemption that involved Ruth, the very person Naomi tried to push away. Yet she was so engulfed by her emotions and circumstances, she couldn't fathom how God might provide.


"Call me not Naomi [pleasant]; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me." (vs. 20b AMP)


Perhaps your current situation is bitter and dismal. Maybe your journey has been long. You can't see how God is working things out. You don't have the energy to apply for one more job, so you turn down the lead a friend sends you. Your marriage is on the verge of collapse anyhow, so you opt to cancel your counseling appointment. Life in general is bleak, so you withdraw rather than join your sister for dinner.


If you are weary; if the road is too difficult; if you feel destitute financially, emotionally, spiritually; don't miss this—


"So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning." (vs. 22 NIV, emphasis added)


Naomi's journey was hard and long. Yet her first step began at the same time soil churned, seeds nestled underground, crops waved in the wind. And when she arrived at her place of redemption, the harvest was beginning; a harvest that was gleaned by Ruth, the very one she had pushed away.


It was in that field that Ruth caught Boaz's attention. Boaz, who was Naomi's kinsmen redeemer, unceremoniously provided above and beyond for both women for the rest of their lives.


Well before I turned in my two weeks notice, the Lord was tilling the heart of my would-be new employer to hire an assistant. He faithfully watered that seed as I was searching for a job. And a new position was created shortly after I applied.


Looking back now, I wish I had chosen to believe and looked expectantly for His faithfulness instead of torturing myself with worry and fear.


Though unseen, God is divinely intervening. If you are walking in what feels like a desperate and destitute place, might I encourage you? Look to the Lord instead of your circumstances today. He's working on your behalf.

Dear Lord, You are faithful. Please direct my thoughts and my steps. Take what doesn't belong—fear, doubt, unbelief—and replace them with hope, trust and joy as I focus on You instead of my circumstances. Thank You for working on my behalf. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Lord, help me to be a Ruth though I can relate more to Naomi (or Mara).


Patiently Praying-


Much Love-
Al

Comforting Words

" I wish I was there to just hold you..."

It was simply those words that she left on my voicemail that meant more than anything else.

No matter how old, the thought of just being able to sit and be held by mom is something that I will forever cherish. It is those times, that she rest in knowing that I know the truth, and knows that words can't heal the pain. And she offers to just be present...

No matter what distance there is between us, my moms willingness to be present fills the gap.

So thankful for her as we navigate this journey together.

Patiently Praying-

Much Love-
Al

Picking up the pieces...

"When you and I let down those walls of fear and trust God for the greater good, we'll find a measure of healing and restoration just as Joseph did. Instead, we often want to cling to the pain. That kind of thinking only keeps us in the pit and allows our wounds and fears to fester and grow. God has so much more for us.

What was meant for evil in your life, God wants to use for your good.

The Lord wants to bring you and me out of the pit and place us in His palace. The choice is ours. We can focus on our bad experience and miss the joy that can be ours. Or, like Joseph, we can take the risk, venture out, forgive those who hurt us and truly believe that God has a greater good in His plans for our future."

I can definitely admit, that Saturday and Sunday, I was choosing to cling to the pain... to dwell in the suffering. There was something strangely comforting about allowing myself to be really sad, angry, and frustrated. Honestly, I allowed myself to wallow in the sadness, to cry...a lot, and to just be plain pissed off at the situation. But like my devotion said today, the choice is ours. If we risk to believe that God has a greater good and wants more for us, then we have to choose to move forward.

I am making attempts to pick up the pieces of my heart. To allow God to restore me. To remind myself that God is my source of Hope. I am choosing to trust that He allowed this to happen for a greater good, and trust me, that is REALLY hard to do. The pain is extremely deep and really raw. I am reminding myself to believe He has a plan for us to have a family. I am begging to not doubt.

It is a step by step process. A lot of times, I don't feel like I can even lift one foot to move forward...

And then I am reminded...that the Lord will carry me. The Holy Spirit will pray on my behalf...and I can just be.

"One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. 

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. 

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. 

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, 

other times there was one only. 

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, 

when I was suffering from anguish, 

sorrow or defeat, 

I could see only one set of footprints, 

so I said to the Lord, 

“ You promised me Lord, 

that if I followed you, 

you would walk with me always. 

But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life 

there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. 

Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, 

“ The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, 

my child, is when I carried you.”

--Author Mary Stevenson--

Praying-

Much Love-

Al