Called For His Purpose

My 15 year old asked if she could contribute to the blog. I hope you enjoy what she wanted to share.

​In life we have many purposes. Little purposes or major purposes, we all have a purpose. We spend our entire lives learning about different purposes and trying to find our own in this world. Purpose. It’s such a powerful thing. It let’s us know why we even exist.

​It’s safe to say that you have faced many purposes in your lifetime already. May it be doing your dishes or getting a career, you have found a purpose for doing those activities. Another purpose in this life for you is your calling to be a mom. This, my friend, was no accident. In fact, you were called by God to be a mother.

​Being a parent has got to be a hard, tiring job. I see how hard my mother works to raise me and make sure I find my purpose within Christ. Being called to be a mother is such a beautiful thing. God literally gifts you one, or more, of His people and says to raise them to be like my Son. THAT is an amazing purpose for this life. 

​There is no need to worry about failing this job. When keeping God in the middle of everything, things will work out. Yes, it might storm for a while, but its only a season and the reward will be worth it in the end.

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Your Love Never Fails:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoezWBPGRAc

The 'In' Crowd

Included. We all want to fit in or belong somewhere. We want friends we can trust; a place where we can feel safe to “be ourselves”. This past week, I watched as my son played at the park with two of his friends. They laughed, they played tag, they climbed things, and they ran around. However, it didn’t immediately start off that way. There were three of them, and you know the saying, “two’s company, but three's a crowd”. Unfortunately it looked like it was going to be one of those times where two of the friends delighted in their friendship, while the other one felt left out.

Instead of jumping in right away, I prayed that God would intervene and help them all to play together. God answered that prayer in the most beautiful way. When one of the boys tried to cling to the other, the boy who was being clung to simply refused to leave anyone out. Although he was “chosen” as the favorite, he refused to play the part. He just kept playing with everyone. 

I remember having a talk with his mom a while back, and commenting on how her son is always so inclusive of everyone. Her response was shocking, but great. She said, “He better include everybody! If he doesn’t, we leave and go home. We don’t tolerate that kind of behavior in our house.” How beautiful!

This playground incident reminded me of a passage in Romans when Paul was passionately arguing the case for circumcision of the heart versus circumcision of the flesh. As you may know, this was a heated topic back in that day. It was approximately 57 years after Christ’s death and resurrection, and people needed to know: Did Gentiles have to become Jews first (obeying the law and becoming circumcised) to become Christians? The questions at stake: who is “in” and who is “out”?

To get clarity on this issue, I read a commentary in which the author said that circumcision of the flesh was intended to be an outward expression of inward change, but it had become what he termed an “identity maker—a way to determine who was ‘in’ and who was ‘out’”.  

He went further to say that in our sin nature “there is something inside us that is not bothered when others are excluded, that wants others to be excluded—that feels more special when we’re on the inside and somebody else is not…”.

I want to challenge each of us as moms to recognize when we feel this way and pray that God would make us sensitive to the Holy Spirit so that we can recognize when we are excluding people, and then seek to do something about it. For example, when you arrive at the park with a group of moms and your kids, but there is a mom who came by herself who seems friendly, do you include her or ignore her? Can she join in on the conversation or is she left to herself and her own thoughts?

Our kids are watching.  God’s word declares that he does not play favorites (Romans 2:11). Let’s model Christ’s example and seek to include rather than exclude. Let’s teach our children to do the same.

Prayer:

God it feels wonderful to be included—to know that there is a place or a group of friends with whom we “belong”. Lord, it is so easy to get comfortable in our little group of friends and be so content with that group that we are hesitant to invite others into our circle. Yet you desire that we love you with our whole heart, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In fact, you said all the other laws hang on those two laws. Help us to remember that—to love you and to love people. Help us love on your people and be a friend to the those in need. Help us to model you, and please help our kids to pick up on our example. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Challenge:

Next time you are at the park, zoo, play station, jump zone, pool, etc. with some of your friends, ask the Holy Spirit to help you be sensitive to another mom in need of a friend. Then, show yourself friendly! :)

LET IT GO!

As we laid down for bed tonight, I was nursing my daughter, while laying down next to my oldest son. I had promised to lay down with him for a few minutes and trying to be a mommy of my word, I took my nursing newborn with me. It was feeding time :) This gave me some time to think.

I sat and pondered my day, thinking about the kind of mom I am, wondering how my boys will remember me when I am gone. And it happened. I am sure it has happened to you plenty of times, as a mom. The thoughts of being a failure flooded my mind. 

Within the quietness of my heart I began asking for forgiveness for the way I lost my temper earlier in the day and the words I spoke without love to my kids as well. But I have had to train my brain in order to do this. To let the condemnation roll of my back that the enemy wants to hold me down with. To take my heart and thoughts heavenly and allow the Holy Spirit to refresh me as the Lord forgives me of my shortcomings of the day. 

It is so important to do this. The enemy wants to hold us back and paralyze us. Satan's goal is to make us feel like a failure so that we are of no use to Jesus. Don't allow him to do this. Call out to to Jesus when you sense this happening. Ask for forgiveness, let it go,  and then move forward. The Holy Spirit wants to come to your aid. Ask Him for help. He longs to put words of hope into your mind and remind you that you have been forgiven.

How do you handle those crazy thoughts that come into your mind daily?

Remember you have a HUGE job as you lead the next generation for Christ, and the enemy wants to push pause on the ministry going on within your family. Don't allow him to do it. Look at what His word says....
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Philippians 4:8

It's happened again. A leap of faith. Trusting in His sovereignty over my feelings. The Lord has asked me to let go of my fear of the unknown and believe His plan is greater! This time it is enrolling my son in public education for the 2013-14 school year. 

God again is asking me to choose the road NONE of my closest friends have pioneered:)  Last time it was HIM asking me to submit, trust and homeschool. What a blessing that was. For two years I watched my son learn and grow. The Holy Spirit walked alongside me equipping me to do the work He placed before me. Such sweet memories!

But in THIS season He again is asking me to hold His hand and let go of fear. Fear of the unknown can hold us captive of doing great things with God. 

The Lord gave us  scripture, people and circumstances to encourage our decision. So we move forward with great hope of ministry opportunities, with the Seawell Family, at our new school. 

I will keep you posted on our future adventures as we love the lost and seek to be a city on a hill. 

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

—Matthew 5:14–16

People Watching

Proverbs 24: 3, 4

“By wisdom a house is built,

and through understanding it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled

with rare and beautiful treasures.”

I’m thinking this post would be better as a confessional.  I haven’t mentioned what our “little” family project is this summer right?  We are  completely remodeling the home we just bought.  I mean a complete redo.  Holding back nothing.  We have put in all new electricity, plumbing, and an air system. We have redone the ceilings, taken out walls, and rebuilt walls. We are putting in windows, floors and cabinets.

As exciting, romantic and maybe even inspiring as you may THINK this sounds, it’s hard work!!  There has been a lot of stress.

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And the confessional part…here it is, as much as we have wanted to act like Christ, we haven’t acted liked Christ every step of the way.  We have prayed and tried to reflect Him, but we are so trapped in this humanness.

We have found ourselves having to ask forgiveness for being unkind and short tempered.  We have misunderstood and not listened to each other.  Personally, I’ve felt like a failure as I have given in to the demands of the moment.  

Each night as a family we fall in to bed utterly exhausted not thinking we will make it another day.  As we drift to sleep we thank the Lord for the amazing gift of our new home and beg forgiveness for falling short, asking for His strength and patience to make it through the next day as we try to rebuild a home from the inside out.

One of the contract workers pulled my husband aside this week to tell him his impression of our family.  His observations were of a family working together.  Honoring one another, working hard, and loving each other.  We were so appreciative of the Lord’s faithfulness to cover our failures and sinfulness. 

This observation is not to give us a license to live in sin. Rather, this is a reminder that people are always watching us.  We are not living behind closed doors.  People are constantly taking notice of our behavior, both the good and the bad.

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We aren’t finished with our home renovations nor is the finish line in sight. Neither is the Lord finished with me!!  He is patiently loving me.  Patiently wanting me to submit my will to His.  He actually never misses a thing I say or do.  He never stops watching over me.  He never stops watching out for me.  I am grateful our Heavenly Father is a "People Watcher!" 

Names Mean Something

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…” Proverbs 22:1a

When you went through the process of choosing a name for your baby, you thought it through, prayed, looked in books, maybe considered names in your family, and so on.  I remember when we were choosing a name for our second child, we didn’t know if baby was going to be a boy or girl until SHE was born.  The name was in front of us over and over, like God was using anything and everything to point out to us what her name was to be – at times it was hilarious. 

Then when we knew it had to be “Jordan” I asked the Lord what that name meant and why He wanted it to be hers.  I pray over her the words I believe God wants her to live – like the Jordan River, for her to be the way people come to the other side, to come to know God in the Promised Land.  Sometimes I pray over her the scripture verses I wrote in my pregnancy journal.  With our son Matthew I pray what his name means, “Gift of God.”  I tell them these things and pray they remember all their lives what their names mean. 

What does your child’s name mean?  Why did you choose that name?  Take a minute and go back to that sweet time of choosing.  Maybe for some it was just a cool name you liked.  Well then choose scripture to pray over your child.  Speak them into your child’s life so he/she can hear them in his/her head. 

“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9

Let us know what your child’s name means and/or why you chose it in the comment section below.

Who's on First? Who's on Second?

Tired. Let’s face it, as moms we are often tired by the time the clock reaches 3:00 p.m., but we brew a cup of coffee and push through to dinner time, bathtime, and finally bedtime for the kids. After a long day of teaching, disciplining, redirecting, playing, cooking, cleaning, and mediating disagreements between siblings, we are often exhausted.

I wish I could say that this blog post is about to offer you some new, profound information on how to be a phenomenal wife, but…it’s not. I simply want to remind you of some things that you already know, but may need to hear again.

For starters, your ultimate hubby is your Father in heaven. Absolutely nothing can replace time well-spent with him. He is your life-line, your source of strength, your peace in the midst of the toys, laundry, etc. He is the one who teaches you how to love.

Secondly, as easy as it is to get this one twisted (by putting our kids next)…your second ministry is to your husband.  A very close friend of mine once confided in me that she knew her mom loved her and her siblings, but she wasn’t so sure about whether her mom loved her dad…even though they were still married. I know that this uncertainty with regards to her parents caused her great anxiety when she was growing up. She said, “A happy marriage leads to happy kids, but not the other way around.” Our kids need to see us love on our husbands. This brings them an incredible amount of security.

Wives, you are a mom, BUT don’t forget that you are also a wife. Your husband needs to know that you esteem him, that you love him, that you value him, that you have time for him. He desires you. You are still his wife, and as much as he loves his children…they do not complete him the way you do. Take delight in your role as a wife...you, your hubby, and your kids will reap the benefits. :)

“Let the wife see that she respects her husband, that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and honors him exceedingly.” Ephesians 5:33 (Amplified Version)

Ladies, that may seem like a tall order, but a love like that does not go unnoticed. A love like that is seen, felt, and totally worth imitating.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you are right and true. Thank you for giving us your love, and for giving us your word that instructs us on how to love our husbands. Please help us to follow you in all things. Help us to set a godly example in our marriages…one that our children can follow. May you get all the glory in our lives now and always.   In Jesus’ name, Amen.

P.S. 

 I also want to note that their may be some single moms reading this, and you have a very important job.I was raised by a single mom (primarily).  By God's great grace you are acting as both mom and dad. My prayers are with you as well. YOU are doing a fabulous job, and your service does not go unnoticed. 

JUST CHILL

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: 

You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak,

 and slow to get angry.

 -James 1:19

This morning a friend of mine sent this encouragement my way. Such simple truth and great wisdom with two words....JUST CHILL. This blog really ministered to my heart in this crazy season I am walking through. I pray you are uplifted as you read it too! Remember that we, as moms, set the temperature in our home and how we handle things. It is ...contagious. Our little ones will catch on and replicate how we handle conflict and crazy. Enjoy the blog by clicking here.

 

Uncovering My Child's Gifts & Talents

Each one has his own 

gift from God,

 one in this manner

 and another in that. 

- 1 Corinthians 7:7

It encourages me constantly. It sits on my windowsill. I change it daily. I share it with others. I received it as a gift. I would love to give it to another mom someday. What is it, you ask?

"The Power of  a Praying Parent" 

Daily Flip Calendar by Stormie Omartian 

This week it focused on discovering my child's gifts and talents. 

Here are a few of the days I was especially encouraged by....and I pray you are to.

July 15 

July 18th

July 20th

Just for A Smile!

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”  Proverbs 15: 13

God is so good about providing laughter and even a smile.  Nothing real spiritual, no theology, no lesson to be learned, just life.  Just for a smile.

         This week, my man-child, our 15-year-old daughter and I were driving when this moment of laughter erupted.  Our daughter was telling us about what appears to be a new Christian based movie.  Its arrival in the theaters coincides with her birthday by a couple of days.

         The conversation began while my son was driving. I was riding in the back seat as I heard the banter begin…

“I could take my friends to the movies two days after my birthday.  It wouldn’t be my ‘real’ birthday party, but it would be like another party for my birthday week.”

“What are you talking about? You aren’t going to celebrate your birthday for a week anyways!”

Then I pop in, “There really isn’t any such thing as a birthday week.”

That really woke my daughter up,  “WHAT??  You’ve told me my whole life we have our birthdays for a week!”

To which the man-child responded, “Well, I’m just saying, at college, people don’t even acknowledge your birthday and they certainly don’t give you a birthday week.”

“What does college have to do with it?  I’m only going to be 16.  I’m not going to college, it will be my birthday week!”

Truthfully the conversation went on another few minutes before our daughter was almost in tears recounting her older sisters birthday at the beginning of the summer and how SHE had a birthday week. 

Misunderstandings can be quite comical or they can lead to disappointment, hurt and frustration.  This week as you face a misunderstanding, rather than taking it personal, take it for what it is, “a missed understanding.” And if nothing else, just take the smile.

(P.S.  Her birthday isn’t until October.  Just take the smile!)

Be Careful

“I want to live my life and party,” my son sang as he worked around the house.  It was a catchy little tune that he had heard on a kids movie he had recently seen. He just kept singing it over and over, those same words. Then he got the other kids singing it with him.

You know how it is when you’re kids are being loud saying the same thing over and over again It just becomes too much. You need them to be quiet!  Well, this was not the case here. The noise wasn’t bothering me.  It was those words. Hearing my kids say them over and over again. I just couldn’t take it and apparently neither could my husband. He told my son to stop singing that song, life isn’t a party.

My son, 9 years old, was totally confused as to why we would be bothered by him singing that song.  As expected he asked why and this opened a door to what I felt was a great teaching moment. My husband began by explaining to my son that God’s purpose for our lives was not that it would be spent partying.  The bible tells us to work and take care of our family.  We are to have responsibilities and follow God wherever He leads. He also explained to him that when he keeps repeating those words over and over again to himself it will become a belief or an expectaion. And that belief or expectation is contrary to the life that God wants for him therefore it is sin. He might as well be walking around singing “I want to live my life in sin.”

“Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.”  Deuteronomy 11:16

Deuteronomy 11 starts with Moses telling the Israelites, “Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of The Lord your God.”  Then later in verse 8 there is a very important word, therefore.  “Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today...” He has given the command, then in verse 16 the warning to the ones who have seen and experienced the discipline of The Lord, and then He gives the how to:

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.   Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Just like the Israelite’s children, our children have not seen and experienced the discipline of the Lord and because of that we need to be very careful, for our children’s sake, to obey the commands of The Lord.  We are what our children see.

To some it may seem a little extreme to stop our son from singing those words but not to us who have seen and experienced the destruction that comes with a belief and expectation that life is a party.  My husband and I have seen and experienced that devastation.  We want instead to fix God’s word in our minds and hearts and teach them to our children.  We want to live out a life of obedience to The Lord that our kids can see everyday. We want to lead them always toward The Lord.

So I leave you with the Lord’s warning to the Israelites, “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.”

Weakness. Friend or Foe?

"But he said to me, "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my  weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

My daughter woke up looking somewhat weary and tired; weak.  You see she is a ballerina.  This summer she is training at a very challenging Ballet school.  Her body hurts, her emotions frayed, and spirit engaged in warfare. As she slowly made her way to our family room,  I asked her if she felt weak today.  She looked at me with a defeated expression and answered "yes".  I replied, "Great!" and proceeded to read her the verses above.

According to God, weakness is our friend.  According to the World, weakness is our foe.  It can be difficult to recognize and admit our weakness let alone our children's.  I know for myself, I just want weakness to leave me alone, to leave my daughter alone.  However, when we see the true identity of weakness as our friend and something to be embraced, we understand God's power in and through us.  It's so important to help our teenagers see this truth.  As they do, they feel secure in God's love and plan for their lives. They grow each day into the person we have been praying and continue to pray they become for Christ's glory and their good.

My prayer for us today as godly moms is that we will recognize weakness as our friend and do the same for our children.  That we would allow the Lord to work in and through weakness so that we can fulfill the two greatest commandments to love God and love others.

What's Important "Here"?

Yesterday, I attended a funeral. Funerals always prompt me to reflect upon my own life. I ask myself questions such as:

- Am I doing what God intended for me to do?

- Am I making the right decisions when it comes to my daughter?

- Am I focusing on daily tasks more than things eternal?

As Christians, wives, mommies, employees or whatever role God has placed you in, we should focus on things Godly things. Things like:

- God's word : Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

- Love: Mark 12:30-31 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

- Serving: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

- Teaching: Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

- Hope: John 11:25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

Challenge: Reflect upon your life today. Ask yourself: What are some things I could do differently? Do I need to re-prioritize things in my life?

The Comparison Game

You know how the game works. No one officially read you the “rules” or told you how to play. It is almost instinctive. You watch, you wait, you critique, you compare…your children, yourself, your husband, etc. The sin of comparison is one of the sneakiest problems that we face as women and as moms.

We are constantly comparing our bodies, our homes, our children, our recipes, etc. There is this desire in our hearts that masquerades itself as perfection, but really is a part of us that seeks glory and honor for ourselves. We want people to notice us. We want our children to stand out as “the best”.

We were made to sharpen or encourage one another. God’s word makes it clear that we are to use our gifts to edify each other; not make someone else feel inferior. We also should not shake our fist at God, wondering why he gave us the life we have, while someone else seems to have something different or better.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and a place for competition: sports, spelling bees, brain brawls, karate, gymnastics, board games, etc. However, when we take this competitive attitude and forge it into our everyday relationships, we are bound for trouble. We either may other people feel inadequate or we make ourselves feel inadequate.

Lysa Terkeurst references this feeling in her “Unglued Devotional”. She explains her own feelings of inadequacy as she compared herself with another mom:

            “I gathered the restaurant bags, sighed, and crammed them into the overstuffed trash can. A friend had sent me a recipe that day that involved peeling and chopping and simmering. I imagined her trash can full of fresh veggie peelings and other things that proved her kitchen produced way more homemade goodness than mine.”

            “A little thread of guilt wrapped around my heart”

            “Sometimes I feel guiltier for what I’m not than thankful for what I am.”

Mom, have you ever felt that way? Lysa goes on to explain that she was asked by her daughter to speak at a bible study that night. Many showed up, and many were saved right there in the yogurt shop. She states, all of this occurred from “a woman whose trash can was filled with take-out bags and who isn’t the greatest cook, but a woman who wants to learn to be more thankful for what I am than guilty for what I am not.”

So, do you homeschool or do your kids go to school? Public or private? Do you cook or do you order out? Organic or not? Do you read music? Do you play sports? Is your Kindergartener reading yet? When did your child start talking? When did your child start walking? Do your kids play sports? Do you have a scheduled “quiet time” at your house? Is your house clean? Do your kids have a schedule of chores? Where do you buy your clothes? Do you do a load of laundry every day? 

Feeling the pressure yet? We are called to help, encourage, sharpen, and support each other. Ladies, we have so many things we can share with and learn from each other. The competition game has got to stop. Let’s delight in our strengths, let’s help each other in our weakness. Let’s stop bragging, comparing, back-biting, being jealous, etc. Let’s reap the benefits of a family of Christ, and may our children follow our example and do the same.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you so much for making us so wonderfully unique and complex. You made us in your image, and our diversity reflects that. May we delight in the different gifts you have given each of us and our children. May we use our gifts and talents to glorify you and not ourselves. May we not pridefully puff ourselves up or sadly beat ourselves down. Thank you that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Challenge: Call, text, email, or Facebook another mom friend today. Let them know how much you appreciate the way God has made them. As much as possible, be specific.

Challenge 2: What are some of the gifts God has given you? How can you use these gifts for his glory?

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  Psalm 139:13-14

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:1

Dedication

I prayed for this child, 

and the Lord has granted me 

what I asked of him.  So now 

I give him to the Lord. 

For his whole life 

he will be given 

over to the Lord.” 

And he worshiped the Lord there. 

- 1 Samuel 1:27-28

It is so important to remember to be praying for our little ones daily! I love the story of Hannah and her diligence to pray for her son Samuel. Dedicating him over to the Lord. That is so the desire of my heart, and my hope is to remember to do that daily! 

This printout gives us the opportunity to be more specific as we pray for our kids! I have had this for a few years and it has moved homes with us and been posted in different places as a reminder. 

Print. Share. Enjoy!

Modern Day Miracle

 For where two or three 

gather in my name, 

there am I with them. 

- Matthew 18:20

A few days after we got back from our vacation my boys came down with the stomach bug. It came on quickly in the morning and before I knew it, both boys had a bucket beside them and daddy out to get the sick necessities. You know those simple comfort foods that make everything better... Gatorade, popsicles, and chicken soup with noodle cut outs of our favorite character. 

I was mentally trying to figure out HOW I could function with a newborn (nursing constantly - going through a grown spurt) and two kids throwing up all day. So I tried not to panic and sent out a text, asking my close friends to pray. I received text messages back with encouraging words telling me they would pray. It was then that I noticed my boys had stopped throwing up. IMMEDIATELY.

Yep it was then that I saw it. A modern day miracle. My boys had been healed. Call me crazy but I DO believe Jesus still does miracles today. Even though we can't physically see Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit is still at work right in front of us! We must have faith, ask and believe. 

 IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: Sometimes the Lord answers what we pray for (like this) and other times we must rest in His sovereignty.

This allowed me the opportunity to share how God did a great work right in front of us. Our family talked of how Jesus healed when He was here on earth and how it's still happening today too.  I told them how I had asked for prayer and how the Lord showed up on our behalf, because of our friends praying. There is power in prayer. We experienced that this week.

Stand in the GAP today. Send out a text/email, to a friend, asking how you can pray for them. The Lord wants to use you to do a modern day miracle too!!