From the Mouth of Babes

  I am a mother now. I have a beautiful, precious, and joyous growing girl. She has brought about sooooo many changes in my life. One of my favorites is the ability to understand and relate to the Lord in a whole new way. I see Him in a way I never could have understood before I became a mother. I see and experience new truths because of Evelyn. 

  I want to share with you one of the traits I have already seen exhibited in my sweet baby girl. She IS a Prayer Warrior. She talks to God and already has been for quite some time.    

  I know, you might be thinking....Stef, there is no way to know that for sure. She is just babbling. She doesn't form actual words yet. However....

  I have had a few specific times with Evelyn that I have already seen her talking to the Lord. In both instances she was pretty silent until someone started praying. As soon as the prayers began, she became animated and began talking up a storm. You'll just have to take my word for it, but if you had been in the room at that moment you would have seen the change in Evie and wondered if she might possibly be talking to the Lord along with the adult praying. Is that even possible??

Well, it says in Psalm 8:2 that “from the mouths of children and babies come songs of praise to you. They sing of your power to silence your enemies who were seeking revenge.” I think we, myself included, can so easily discount what babies are saying. We can't understand them. The words sound like babble. They are learning to talk, but surely they aren't actually holding conversations or praying? That's crazy talk!

However, the Word of God literally says "from the mouths of children and babies come songs of praise to you. They sing of your power to silence your enemies who were seeking revenge.”

Let us not discount the words of those sweet littles. There is so much power in our words, babies included. Let us believe the words of 1 Timothy 4:12 that declare "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." Let us believe this right down to those tiny babes, because, out of the mouth of babes comes strength!!!!! 

Music Monday // Reckless Love

  Yesterday at church we sang this powerful song, Reckless Love. It was not the first time I have heard it, but reading the lyrics as we sang along, made it all the more meaningful. All the more beautiful.

  Pastor John's sermon was titled "Reaching." If one of us had the cure to cancer, we would NOT be keeping it to ourselves. We would be telling medical personnel, who can get it to all those in need. We would be telling EVERYONE we knew who was affected by it. We would not keep that information to ourselves. As believers, we have a cure that is Better than cancer. It has an eternal impact that covers every disease, every problem, every hurt, every lie, every broken relationship, all pain, and so much more...

  Are we reaching out to others with our knowledge? Am I reaching? I know so many people who have not yet grabbed a hold of this cure. Yet, am I sharing it with them? I am all about building a relationship with someone before having some serious, heart searching conversations. However, do I wait too long? Do I let fear get in the way? Am I truly listening to the Holy Spirit's guidance?

  I know the answer is not what I would like it to be. I am human and I fail so many times. I ignore God's voice more often that I would like to admit. Yet listening to this song yesterday I was encouraged.

  With tears streaming down my face I was thinking of some very specific people who are missing out on the Father's love. They are missing out on the cure. They may have never found it desirable, applicable to their lives, or they may have walked away from it. No matter the reason, if you have not yet experienced the Father's deep, deep, reckless love for you, you are on my heart. I am thinking of you when I hear this song and I am lifting your name up to the Father. May you know the Father's reckless love. May every doubt and every hurt be washed away. May this song speak to you in a way that you aren't expecting. May you be in awe of the Father's love.

  Thank you for taking the time to hear my heart. I am sorry for every time I have ignored my Father speaking to me. Thankfully, as the lyrics say, this reckless love "fights 'til I'm found." This mean Jesus is not limited by my mistakes, or yours. He "fights 'til I'm found," til you are found, til we are all found. He is reckless and never ending!!!!! He wants to tear down every wall you and I have built up. He wants to tear down every lie you and I have been believing and replace it with truth!

Reckless Love

Cory Asbury

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me

You have been so, so good to me

Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me

You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me

You have been so, so good to me

When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me

You have been so, so kind to me

And oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

And I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

(x4)

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

And I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

*Click the song title for a link to the song*

Give Me Faith

   I have a song to share with you today. It is on my labor playlist to listen to during the whole labor experience. :-) Today this song just took on a whole new meaning as I left my OB appointment.

  I am 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant with my first child. I am positive that my baby had been head down for quite a while. (I could be wrong though). However, today it was discovered that my baby is head up. After the midwife checked I was sent over to get a sonogram which confirmed this to be true. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a doctor to discuss the option of trying to turn baby around. If that does not work the next option is that I will have to have a c-section.

 This is not a horrible option, I know. Baby is strong and healthy. Baby's heart is great. Baby is just not in the correct labor position.

  I was planning on a natural birth. I wanted to stay out of the hospital. I definitely wanted to avoid a c-section. This is still a possibility, but the options are a little scary. I could start freaking out. I could be mad at God (for not following my plans). I could be nervous about what could be to come.

  However, I choose to sit and trust in Him. I am asking Him for His faith and His strength. I am choosing to trust in His protection over baby and myself. Thus, the song "Give Me Faith" is really resonating with me today.

  I am thinking I am not the only one who needs to hear this song today. I am not the only one facing something scary. If this song is for you, may the words really reach out and comfort you in this time. Let us ask the one who holds all things in His hand to give us faith to trust in Him through the unknown. He will truly never EVER fail us!!!

Give Me Faith

Elevation Worship

I need you to soften my heart

And break me apart

I need you to open my eyes

To see that You're shaping my life

All I am, I surrender

Give me faith to trust what you say

That you're good and your love is great

I'm broken inside, I give you my life

I need you to soften my heart

And break me apart

I need you to pierce through the dark

And cleanse every part of me

All I am, I surrender

Give me faith to trust what you say

That you're good and your love is great

I'm broken inside, I give you my life

'Cause I may be weak

But Your spirit strong in me

My flesh may fail

My God you never will 

I may be weak

But Your spirit strong in me

My flesh may fail

My God you never will

Give me faith to trust what you say

That you're good and your love is great

I'm broken inside, I give you my life

Give me faith to trust what you say

That you're good and your love is great

I'm broken inside, I give you my life

'Cause I may be weak

But Your spirit strong in me

My flesh may fail

My God you never will 

I may be weak

But Your spirit strong in me

My flesh may fail

My God you never will