Wisdom

Please pray for the people of Haiti.

I can't quit thinking about the orphans. I want to bring them home with me.

My heart is weak.

He listens

Its funny how God works. How He speaks to us. What he teaches us, and how. Sometimes in my daily walk with Him I try too hard to figure out my assignment for the day. Try to hard to listen to my direction. When really, I just need to be still. Just listen. I find that normally when I receive a "clear" teaching is when I usually have my mind on a different track then the one I was originally focused on. Its not that I think He doesn't listen, nor that I am suppose to know just everything He has planned. That is the wonderful thing about having faith in Him. He surprises us constantly. With the most perfect plan. At the most perfect time. He does listen. Constantly.

Lately my heart has been heavy. It seems that there is so much going on in my little world with those around me. My thoughts seem so caught up about those close to me, those I don't even know, and those so far away. My heart is heavy to help. Heavy to pray for each and every soul on my list. I find myself questioning "Why," "Why now," Why to them?" I can't help it. I can't help but tear up. I can't help but get frustrated with the "whys." Hard times like these make moments of blessings and thanksgiving seem foggy. How selfish is that? I'll admit it. That is just selfish of me.

I am quickly reminded how truly blessed I am. I think about how selfish I have been this past year. How selfish my thoughts and writings have come across. I may have had a total broken heart, but I'm alive. I lost a lot in a house fire, but I have a family that survived. I questioned everything. Prayed constantly. My timing and God's timing were far from the same path. I contemplate my feelings from this past year and all that has happened, and I never thought a year later I would truly thank my perfect Lord for all he has done. He has blessed me with a wonderful understanding of His love, of the true meaning of love in general, the value of a strong family, and poured blessings upon me through wonderful people and friends. He has taught me the total power of prayer, and the strength behind it. The undying love that he has for me. He has never once left me, nor forsaken me, just as he has promised. He is a God of Grace and Mercy. A God of patients and justice. I can't even begin to explain the countless lessons and the strength He has provided my heart. He has PROMISED to make my path, to plan MY life, and for me to NOT worry, to only trust. He yanked precious things from my life to straighten me out, to draw me nearer and closer to Him. I see that. I see how all the bricks fit so closely together. I am truly thankful.

I've climbed mountains this year. I have witnessed God's mighty power work over my heart. I truly believe he can do anything. No prayer is ever too big, or too long. He hears them all. But the key we fight is the response. It might not always meet ours, in fact it usually doesn't. Sometimes our desires and His are really quite different. But isn't it funny how everything works out perfectly? Isn't it funny how when we look back and we are able to see how all the pieces fit perfectly together, how that one thing makes perfect sense to lead to the next? He's a perfect God. With a perfect plan for each of us. He loves us.

Tonight I remind myself of His love. I've spent the day with a confused heart. I feel like anymore I am constantly adding something to my prayer list. I pray constantly for those I know in the hospital. For Mary Drake, a 16 year old beautiful girl, that was in a horrible car wreck, and by God's grace alone, with no medical reasoning at all, she is alive and currently recovering in Little Rock. I pray for a very special person's grandmother that is very ill in the hospital and is just waiting for Jesus to take her home. I pray for God to provide him strength, for clear understanding and comfort to him and his family. I am thankful for the doctor's knowledge and their hands that are constantly trying to physically heal her. I constantly think and pray for the children in orphanages around the world. For the precious faces that are without families, those on the streets without food and shelter. Lately my heart has been heavy around the holiday for those families that celebrated without loved ones near. Holidays are so special and so traditional, therefore not having those special people around makes it so much harder. My heart goes to those people; my heart is weak for them. I pray for the men and women fighting for my life around the world right now. That God will put each under his wing, and if it is in His will, and His will alone, they will return safely to their families. I pray for my best friend, that God will pour out crystal clear direction and amazing strength. I praise Him for her talent and faithful friendship. I pray for the little kids I keep, that God will work wonders in their little hearts and lives. I am truly thankful for how he uses each little child to touch my life. The list goes on and on... With knowing the ability behind the power of prayer now makes my heart so heavy to not forget a situation. Not to forget others.

In the midst of dwelling on this today, I was at the point of finally being distracted by something else, by His word. In Bible Study, He taught me. Crystal clear. Our memory verse for this week was Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God." Just what I needed to hear. Be anxious in NOTHING but in EVERYTHING by prayer.

I just smiled. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for speaking to me. Thank you for all your blessings, for all your teachings. Thank you for your love that endures forever.

I am truly thankful. So thankful that He listens to little old me.

Power of Prayer for Mr. Phil

I pray for you.

I pray for your healing and peace.

Your comfort.

I pray for the doctors.

I pray for their knowledge and wisdom.

Their focus.

I pray for your wife.

I pray for her strength and her understanding.

Her guidance.

I pray for your only daughter.

I pray she is reminded constantly of your love for her and she is given strength to get through.

Her comfort.

I praise God for you.

I pray that God's Holy power and strength take over your health.

I am so thankful for Mr. Phil.

I pray for him.

I say a strong prayer for a very very special man. A very close family friend. An awesome man. A man who is so sick and is so unworthy of it. He loves life, and his family and friends. Please pray for Mr. Phil. He needs our prayers and his family does too.

Thank you

PRAYER

Greetings with a bit of a heavy heart.. I feel like I just need to inform you right now.

My original plan for tonight's post was going to be displaying my art and goodies that are in the store right now. Instead, I feel like I have been lead in to TOTALLY different and much much more important topic.

For those of you that know me well, know that I have a strong desire to adapt a child from overseas one day. I feel our soul purpose is to glorify God in all we do, reach to others, and serve our Lord. Providing a child with food, a clean lifestyle, clothes, a roof over their head, and endless love is one way that would truly bless our purpose on earth. Maybe that is a total personal opinion, and I'll claim it! But if you really start doing your homework on the number of children on the streets in these countries all over the world, I think you would be truly amazed. The numbers are unbelievably high. Its breath taking and breaks my heart. It is so easy to get caught up in our little world and everyday life, and we suddenly assume everyone else is like us. When really, we are beyond fortunate. Clean water, heat/air, fresh food, power, medicine are just to name a very few. Needless to say, taking a small child from a lifestyle that doesn't have these things, and providing them with it. Do you know the impact you would be making? It makes me kind of speechless thinking about.

Because of this passion I have, I have found several blogs on families that have either adopted a child from overseas, trying to, would like to, or are in the process of it. Tonight before I attempted posting my art, there was a particular blog that caught my eye. "The Lord Mighty in Battle" caught my eye (this is one of the families I follow). The title was "Urgent Prayer Needed," since their posts usually consist of their precious little girl or about other adoption stories, I quickly clicked on it. I read the small post and then clicked the links to the other blogs they had posted. I read them both, and sobbed. I can't explain the emotions I had or how the stories touched me.

My request now, is for you to please pray. To my understanding two families went over to bring their children home and have encountered some problems. One child with health concerns and the other with a postpone court day. I can't imagine the emotions and heartache these families are going through. To leave their home thinking next time they walk in your door, better yet back in the US, that they will be embracing their new child. Now being so close and to face issues that might not fulfill that last thought, brings me totally lost for words and thoughts. I can't imagine and my heart aches for them.

Nothing is set in stone and decisions have not been made. But with the power of a prayer and the strength of the Lord, these families still can walk in their door with their little one. Please lift these families up. Pray for their comfort, strength, understanding. Pray for the children and the people working to make it possible for these children to come home. This is huge and your prayer can truly make a difference.

"I will put my trust in him" Hebrews 2:13

"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." Hebrews 3:4

"Never will I leave you; never will forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

"Everything is possible for him who believes." Mark 9:23

"We live by faith, not by sight" 2 Corinthians 5:7

If you are interested in any of these families you can go under the blogs (because I have yet learned how to link a blog to a blog, ha) I follow and click on "The Lord Mighty in Battle" and it was the latest post, "Urgent Prayer Needed." They all have amazing stories. Please Pray. And while you are at it, pray for the families that are going through this process, for the children that are still on the streets with no current potential parents, and for the safety and health of the children in these countries.

You are a blessing as well. Be thankful.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Kenlie