It feels as though it has been forever since I have last written, even though it's only been five days. Thank you so much for your birthday wishes. Despite it being a difficult and challenging week, there were some definite joys as well. I have a great family and great friends who certainly made me feel celebrated this week.
This morning at church our pastor preached from Hebrews 12. It's a book and a chapter with which I am pretty familiar. To be honest, this morning I was just tired... tired from it being an emotionally challenging week, tired from being on an overnight with our 6th grade students from Wednesday-Friday, tired from a busy (yet fun) weekend. Don't get me wrong... I enjoy going to church and I love our church. It was just one of those mornings where I felt like I could have really used some extra sleep.
Thankfully I was there. Because God had something to say to me.
Our pastor made all kinds of great points from this passage from Hebrews, but ultimately, what hit me was a verse I have read over tons of times, but it never really affected me until today:
Consider him who endured such great opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. - Hebrews 12:3
Truthfully, there have been numerous times over the last year that I have indeed grown weary and started to lose heart. Who am I kidding. There have been times I have felt flat out defeated. But this verse reminded me of something...
The "him" in this verse is the same one who in the garden of Gethsemane said, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (Matthew 26:38)
It's the same "him" who, as he hung on the cross cried out, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
Jesus has been there.
He has been there. The author and perfecter of our faith... He knows what it is to be overwhelmed with sorrow. He knows what it is to feel forsaken.
We can trust Him.
Sometimes I have thought that if God really knew how it felt to lose a child, then maybe He wouldn't have let Isaac die... maybe he would have provided a ram in the thicket and spared him instead, just like He did for Abraham.
Guess what? He does know.
The more this process is being worked out, the more I know I need to trust Him. And the truths of which I was reminded today really validated that. When life feels like it's spinning out of control, or the pain is just too deep... consider Him. He has been there. He knows.
There's a dear woman who e-mailed me last week. On Thursday, she had her 20 week ultrasound, and it was discovered that her sweet daughter has a form of dwarfism. She was sent to a maternal fetal medicine group on Friday to confirm the diagnosis. Not only was her daughter's diagnosis confirmed, but she and her husband were told that their daughter has a lethal form of dwarfism and will not live long after birth. This brave momma has resolved to give her daughter every chance at life, and plans to carry her to term.
I had the honor of talking with her for a while on the phone today, and as I listened to what she was saying and the questions she was asking, my heart just continued to break for her. I remember so clearly the day we had an ultrasound and found out about Isaac's anomalies... and the day we were at Children's being told that Isaac wasn't going to live. It was just total chaos in my head as everything just started to unravel. This same dear woman is in the thick of that right now... wondering how to even answer people who ask about her pregnancy, how she is going to be able to say goodbye to her daughter, and wondering what her daughter's birthday will even be like. It is just so hard, and it hurts so badly.
Would you please pray for her? By my estimation, she is due at the very beginning of August. Would you please pray that she and her husband would consider Him and that God would be their calm in the midst of a frightening storm. That He would allow them both to enjoy their time with their daughter while she's in her momma's womb. And that He would perhaps perform a miracle and heal this dear little girl.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Consider Him
Posted at 4:56 PM
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23 comments:
Heberews is a favorite book of mine in the New Testament. Great insight!
I will pray for this mother and for you as well.
Did you know according to google reader, you have over 1,100 daily readers?!
hey Stacy.
I love that Jesus knows.
The revelation that nothing I face or have faced is outside his scope of experience has been the only thing keeping me sane at times.
He knows. My Jesus knows what it's like to be me and face what I face. The depth of His experience on earth is something I think I will discover over my whole lifetime.
He's pretty incredible!
Thank you for this post, I love the reminder xxx
I will be keeping her in my prayers...and you and Spencer as always.
I needed to read this tonight so thank you for posting it. Also, your calculations are correct. Baby Megan is due August 2nd. Thanks again for chatting with me tonight somehow, some way it helped ease the pain just a little.
You know I am praying!
Praying for you and for baby Megan's mom. Having this blog family is such a special part of my life. I love being able to pray for others and read other's stories.
Stacy, you are such an inspiration to so many. Thank you!
I'll pray for her!
Praying for you Stacy without ceasing and now will be praying for your friend who I'm sure you are being a blessing to, sharing with and praying with.
Prayers for your family and to hers, continue to cling to Him,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22
I will pray for her just as so many of us prayed and continue to pray for you and your family.
Today I went to church for the first time in weeks and only a week after having my 5th miscarriage. I thanked God today for my trials and tribulations because I know that He never forsakes me or leaves me. This pain I have endured so many times only brings me closer to Him (and after several years of his own searching my husband too). I am a new believer (a little over a year) so I'm slowly working my way through the bible I have not read all of Hebrews but I know from some readings that the book has touched me many times especially chapter 6: 13-15 where God promised Abraham to "multiply him" and after he "patiently endured, he obtained the promise". I know as a grieving mother (from miscarriage) that I do not like it when people say "someday you'll have your baby" or "your time will come" but I know in my heart they are right because God will give me what He promises. While it might not be as I see it, or ask for it, He will provide. God always provides!
Thank you for being such a prayer warrior for so many other women and asking us to pray for others. I know I often have trouble cramming my own needs into prayer because I'm always lifting others up so if she needs us, we are here.
God Bless You and Spencer.
This is such a sad story and the family are most definately in my thoughts!
I amso humbled - always - how scriptures touches your heart, journey and Isaac's life :) xxx.
Thinking of you and praying everyday.
Now I will include this mom in my prayers as well.
thank you for sharing this with us. And we do hope you will update us when you can.
your friend
Very good advice, thanks. Thinking of you.
Thank-you so much for pointing me to Christ, you are such a testimony to HIM!!! Praying for Megan and her momma!
Such beautiful truth in your words, Stacy...thank you...and I will certainly pray for the family you mentioned.
I will definitely pray for her and her husband during this horribly difficult time. I'm sure the fact that you are there for her to reach out to is also a great source of comfort.
I hope this doesn't sound too wierd, but several months ago, I was "blog to blogging" you know, where you go from one blog you know to another to another to another. And I found yours. I loved your letters to your sweet son and at the time didn't think to save your address to my bookmarks. I've thought of you several times and wondered how you were doing. Even though i couldn't even remember your name, you've been lifted up in prayer. Here's praying that healing (not forgetting) be yours and your family's. :)
Someone told me at the funeral home with my son, that noone knows better what you are going through than God. He watched his son suffer and die on that cross. Sometimes that helps me know he truly understands my pain, maybe that can help you.
I have sporadically visited your blog for the past several months. I don't comment mostly because I have no words. I cannot imagine your pain. I cannot figure out what to say. But as I have prayed for you over the past several days I feel like I should say this.
I care about you. I pray for you. Whenever the Lord brings you to my mind, I life you to His throne.
That is all I have. May He bring comfort to your heart.
Saw this on a site and if you haven't seen it thought you might like.....Love....
Dear Mr. Hallmark,
I am writing to you from heaven, and though it must
appear
A rather strange idea, I see everything from here.
I just popped in to visit, your stores to find a card
A card of love for my mother, as these days for her are
hard.
There must be some mistake I thought, every card you
could imagine
Except I could not find a card, from a child who lives
in heaven.
She is still a mother too, no matter where I reside
I had to leave, she understands, but oh the tears
she’s cried.
I thought that if I wrote you, that you would come to
know
That though I live in heaven now, I still love my
mother so.
She talks with me, and dreams with me; we still share
laughter too,
Memories our way of speaking now, would you see what
you could do?
My mother carries me in her heart, her tears she hides
from sight.
She thinks of ways to honor me, sometimes far into the
night
She plants flowers in my garden, there my living
memory dwells
She still buys me gifts, and writes to me as well.
So you see Mr. Hallmark, though I no longer live on
earth
I must find a way, to remind her of her wondrous worth
She needs to be honored, and remembered too
Just as the children of earth will do.
Thank you Mr. Hallmark, I know you’ll do your best
I have done all I can do; to you I’ll leave the rest.
Find a way to tell her, how much she means to me
Until I can do it for myself, when she joins me in
eternity.
Stacy, as a fellow NC nestie with Amber, wanted to let you and your blog readers know that another NC Nestie has created a blog to support Amber & her daughter Megan Grace that you wrote about. The blog is www.formegangrace.blogspot.com Thanks! Hope you are having a good day & that all our prayers are helping you have smooth days until spring break!
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