Mysterious Prayer...From Where the Blessing Comes

Prayer is such a beautiful gift from the Lord to us. Over the years, my beliefs and view point of prayer has changed, experienced a metamorphosis of sorts, and matured, I hope.
While traveling through Pennsylvania on furlough in the U.S. this past summer, I heard a beautiful song on the Christian radio which speaks of the mystery and beauty of prayer.

The song, by artist Laura Story, was new to me. Not living in the U.S., I don’t really know how “old” the song really is, but to me it was new. The first time I heard it, I was moved to tears. As the hot, salty droplets ran down my face, I thought of how many times I have begged God to take away a difficult situation, only to have His answer be a gentle “No”. I thought of all the times when a healing, a desired resolution, or hoped-for outcome I had prayed for never came to pass, and how by having to walk those difficult roads with the Lord rather than by-pass them, a quiet strength grew inside me that was born out of the struggle. I contemplated how my relationship with the Lord has deepened for having had to walk hand-in-hand with Him through deep waters rather than having stayed in the shallow, calm water’s edge of superficial prayer and cold religious ritual.

I used to pray for things to work out the way I saw best…to my advantage humanly speaking. But, really, as a daughter of the King, that guarantee is already mine in Christ Jesus according to Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to His purpose.” (NIV) Where I get in trouble is when I think I know exactly what way is the best for me, or thinking the only outcome that is for my “good” must look like what I have conjured up in my tiny little brain…forgetting it is only God who sees the past, present, and future of not only my life but the whole Gospel Story which He is working out in this groaning world.

So as I try to “grow up” into the Faith, I now pray for courage to entreat God for His perfect will, despite what affect that might have on my comfort, my reputation, my dreams, or my life. I think I still have a long way to go in fully understanding this mysterious, beautiful communication of my heart to God’s, and His heart back to mine, but I do hope that as my prayers go up like sweet incense before His Throne, that He smiles more and more with the thought that maybe, just maybe, I might finally be getting His Heart for prayer…for myself, my family, and my world.

I have included the words to the penetrating song by Laura Story titled Blessings. I hope you are blessed!




Blessings
By
Laura Story


We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for your mighty hand to ease our suffering

And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if Your blessings come thru raindrops?
What if What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if the trails of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
And we doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

‘Cause what if Your blessings come thru raindrops?
What if What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You are near?
What if the trails of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win, we know
That pain reminds this heart, this is not our home…

What is my greatest disappointment or the aching of this life,
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy?
What if the trials of this life…the rain, the storms, the hardest nights…
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Where is the path..or, better said Who is the Path?

We read a devotional thought once which reminded us of how sovereign our Lord is and how intimately involved He is in our lives. The book titled, Traveling Light by Max Lucado, was referencing the passage in Matthew 28:20 “…I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The excerpt from the book says… “A man [was] on an African safari deep in the jungle. The guide before him had a machete and was whacking away the tall weeds and thick underbrush. The traveler, wearied and hot, asked in frustration, ‘Where are we? Do you know where you are taking me? Where is the path?!’ The seasoned guide …replied, ‘I am the path.’ We ask God the same questions, don’t we?... And He, like the guide, doesn’t tell us…If He did, would we understand?...No, like the traveler, we are unacquainted with this jungle. So rather than give us an answer, JESUS gives us a far greater gift. He gives us HIMSELF.”

Some days, through this journey of my mom struggling with breast cancer, I have wanted answers from God, maybe even assurances of a particular outcome. This analogy of the man on safari was good for me to read, because truly, I want JESUS more than I want answers to my petitions. The presence of Christ in my life is the one thing I cannot do without.

I wondered if maybe some of you dear friends might be blessed to be reminded of the fact that the whole point of prayer is that we just don’t get the things of God…we get God, Himself!!!

Our hearts cannot adequately express how precious you are to us. To know you stand alongside us, often times holding us up when we need extra support in the battle for the Kingdom, is a great treasure and blessing. You are a gift to us directly from the hand of God; He uses you as His provision for us at times like this. As our family walks this road of breast cancer with my mom, we are thankful to have you praying with us, each of you is precious to us! Thank you for standing before the Throne of our God on our behalf!

What do you Crave?

The needle sharp claws dig into my hand as I try to handle the little fuzz ball with care. The medicine dropper seems as large as a baseball bat in the miniature mouth of the newborn kitten. Meows rise and fall in pitch and intensity as the belly of this little babe goes from empty to plump and full. Over the next few minutes, the cries turn to purrs and soon all six furry kittens are peacefully sleeping.

Three weeks ago our cat, Yamaranguila, gave birth to six adorable kittens. One week ago the momma cat disappeared, never to return to her group of helpless babies. So, armed with medicine droppers filled with warm milk, we have taken over as “the momma cat” for these six orphaned kittens.

As I was slowing squeezing drops of milk into one of the tiny calicos, I took note of how desperately the kitten stretched its neck out to reach the dropper and devour the milk. The calico wiggled and squirmed, trying to keep hold of the dropper even as I tried to pull it out of its mouth in order to fill it with more milk. I continued filling the dropper and she continued emptying it of its nourishing contents, until warm milk was trickling down its little chin, soaking the knee of my jeans. Belly full, she nestled down inside the cardboard box and fell asleep.

I pondered how this small creature was yearning, craving the feeling of a satisfied tummy. She would not rest until she had drunk fully and deeply, then completely content, the calico rested. I then thought of myself…what do I crave, what do I long for...with what do I yearn to be filled?

To be honest, some days I crave chocolate! Other days I yearn for a quiet place to which to retreat. But, deep down inside, truly what I most long to be filled with is my Savior’s presence! I crave Jesus! I want His Spirit to so in-fill me that His character and words spill over and run down my chin! I want my appetite to be satisfied by His truth and grace. Then, with my spiritual tummy full and bulging, I want to rest in the warmth of His love. I don’t want to be a kitten…I just want to be like one…a relatively small creature, dependent on Someone bigger, who finds her contentment in One place…the Presence of my Lord.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;” -Ps 34:8
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”-Ps 119:103

Crave Jesus today! Ask Him to fill you up then rest in His love.
ps- Anybody want a kitty?

Ministry among the Honduran Military

In the Fall of 2010, Valerie was invited to create and teach an ESL class for a group of 34 Honduran military officers. Through the class, contacts were created and doors were opened for sharing of the Gospel and ministry to these men who are in training for leadership roles within their nation. Of the 34 officers who participated in the 8 week intensive language class, 18 of the officers earned their diplomas.

Two Boys in our Foundation Casa de Luz children's ministry program

Valerie assisting two of our young boys who participate in our children's ministry program through Foundation Casa de Luz. Ed and Valerie are board members for, and missionaries serving with, Foundation Casa de Luz, a foundation dedicated to helping families and communities be stronger, healthier, and Christ-centered.

Last year, with the help of friends in several states in the U.S., we were able to assist a baby girl named Jenesis Valeria to receive much needed medical care. Jenesis was diagnosed with Spina Bifida and was in need of several exams and assistance from a pediatric neurosurgeon. Thanks to several families who gave genersously, Jenesis received the care she needed and continues to grow and has begun to explore her environment by crawling. We are still praying she will be able to walk before her second birthday. Thank you to those of you who made a real difference in the life of a real little girl with very real medical needs.

The Family Christmas 2010

We are blessed to have two biological sons, one adorable adopted daughter, 4 daughters of our heart.

Christmas 2010