Believing for all things great and small

Yesterday I heard a song that is one of my favorites (and yes, it just happens to be from a Gaither Homecoming video. . . what's wrong with that?) It was such an awesome reminder of why I say things like "no morning sickness, in the name of Jesus," or "I lay claim to a peaceful, calm temperament for my child." It's just a very cool way to illustrate the power God has and how some people forget that. I know many of the people who log on to read this blog and I know that lots of you have been touched in miraculous ways by my God. What I don't know (and I am guilty of doing this too) is why we, after having experienced the power of God in our lives, don't think He'll be able to take care of other things.



One day, four men brought a crippled man to Jesus

Still and lifeless, he lay upon his bed

He had not moved since he was just a baby

Still he longed to become a normal man


Now we don’t know much about the men that carried

The corners of his tattered bed that day

But if we may create an illustration

We’ll see what these men might have had to say


Suppose that first man said, “I hate to doubt it

For Jesus touched my eyes when I was blind

He made me see and there’s no doubt about it

But this man’s needs are more serious than mine”


Suppose that second man said, “No need to bother

This man’s condition will remain the same

Though Jesus touched my hand when it was withered

I don’t believe He can heal a man so lame”


Suppose that third man said, “I hate to question

But no one here is more skeptical than me

Though Jesus cleansed me when I was a leper

This helpless man will never walk, you see”


Then every eye was turned to the fourth man

To see how he might criticize and doubt

But all three men were startled with amazement

When that fourth man stopped and said his name out loud


He said, “My name is Lazarus, could I testify?

My name is Lazarus, it feels good to be alive

When I in chains of death was bound

This man named Jesus called me out.

If you think your little problem is too big for Him to solve

Take it from the one who’s heard the mighty voice of God

A living testimony of His death-defying touch, my name is Lazarus”



Seriously! Can you imagine complaining about a problem being too big for our God and then meeting Lazarus? I am learning more about faith during this pregnancy than I have in a long while. I'm learning to say, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, "I believe my God can, I believe my God will, but even if He doesn't, I will still praise Him." I'm learning that no worry is too small to carry to God in prayer. Most of all, I'm learning to praise God for everything. I know some people think it's overkill when I say "hallelujah" or "praise God" because I've found a good parking space or I got out of work a few minutes early, but why not? I once heard a pastor remind us that EVERY good thing is a gift from God and we all know that finding a good parking space at Wal-Mart is a good thing, right? So why not praise God for the parking spaces, the evenings of rest, the recognition at work, the baby growing inside!?

I cannot begin to describe how thankful I am for this little miracle inside me. When I do try to express it, I realize that the greatest thanks I could give is to dedicate my son or daughter, even at this early stage, to God and commit to raising him/her under a heavy cover of prayer. After all, when we get these gifts from God, it's a lot like being given bakeware (I have a point, stick with me. . . or non-stick with me). When you're given the gift of bakeware, it's pretty much a given that you're going to use it and using it suggests the potential of being able to bless others with what you've created. So take the gifts God has given you, infuse them with love and use them to bless others around you!