Because of the invitation the Lord extended, our courage to say 'yes', our faith in His ability to keep us, and His grace and strength to see us through, I was able to accomplish something I never thought possible. Give. Birth. Naturally. And in MY home no less! With God ALL things are possible. And I can't wait to see what He has planned for us!
Things I learned:
1. The Lord extends invitations to us everyday. Some days they're big. Some days they're small. But they all lead us to intimacy with the Father and His will done for our lives.
2. We have to have the courage to say 'yes'. God wants to use you to accomplish great and mighty things, but He can't do it without your yes. You have free will, but what amazing things will you miss out on if you say no??
3. You have to trust that He will keep you. Don't back down when things don't go exactly the way everybody thinks they should. God loves you and will keep you! Take a risk for Him!
4. He will give you grace and strength to see it through to completion if you stand fast in Him. If He brings you to it, He will see you through it.
One of my prayers lately has been for God to break my heart for what breaks His. To give me the eyes to see people the way He sees them and to love them the way He does. Basically, just to have His heart and love for those hurting, suffering, and seeking anything of meaning in this life. I have also been telling God that I am an empty vessel open and willing to be used by Him.
If I am being completely honest there are a few things I didn't expect...
For one, I didn't expect to have to make good on my promise so soon. Two, I didn't expect to have to die (to self, sometimes daily) and how truly hard that would be. Even if it meant doing something I am excited about but still having to give up something in return. And finally, as we humans are so notorious for doing, I think I completely underestimated what God has planned for me.
I've grown quite accustom to this life and I'm more than a little apprehensive about change, but I feel like I am standing on the edge of a precipice. I have the choice to stay safely on the ledge loving my life, refusing change, and trying to peer into the future God has prepared for me, but never being able to see it clearly. Or...I can let go of everything I have ever known and dive unabated into what God has created me to be and destined me to do. Yes, it will be an unknown and maybe a little bit scary at times, but I also know it will be exciting, exhilarating, and all together glorious! I have a feeling one of my frequent sayings will be, "You can't make this stuff up!".
I have made my decision. Have you?
They won the victory over him because of the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life so much that they refused to give it up.
-Revelation 12:11 (God's Word Translation)
I leave you with two songs of inspiration...
Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the one's forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Hosanna by Hillsong United
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause As I go from nothing to
Eternity
