Our Jessica has asked
for a Sweet 16 Princess Ball for her upcoming birthday party. Jessica
rarely asks for much and has had some of the simplest birthday parties over the
years so over the weekend I set about trying to make some plans from her specific requests.
I began searching
for a dress online - something beautiful yet affordable. Very quickly the dream
started feeling out of reach. I whispered a prayer to the Lord - expressing my
desire to make this a beautiful occasion to celebrate Jessica, asking for His
provisions and His guidance. I quickly felt prompted to post my search for a
dress to a Facebook group I have recently joined – our local "Buy
Nothing Project" (a gift economy community - no exchange of money
allowed).
Within minutes of
posting a request to find or borrow a dress, a woman contacted me. She has
connections to the "pageant" community and will make sure that
Jessica has a dress to wear. In addition to that, she wants to help every girl
attending to have one too! How cool is that?! I was immediately overcome with
gratitude and a reminder that our Heavenly Father loves to give good gifts to
His children - above and beyond what we can ever imagine!
This woman's
generosity made me feel like we had just won a grand prize! But in fact, we
haven't won anything because we didn't enter a competition. It’s better than
that! We are gracious recipients of someone else's generosity. That’s what
makes us all “winners”!
It started me
thinking about how God often uses community to meet our needs. I also began pondering why we don't come to Him with more specific requests for our needs and
our wants?
We don't hesitate
to enter our names in contests for prizes and free giveaways. Or at least I
don't. Sometimes I win. Sometimes I don't. But I keep trying. If I'm
"lucky" enough, I might actually win a "BIG ONE" someday.
My husband and I
attended a recent charity event where some pretty amazing door and
raffle prizes were being given away - a weekend trip to the mountains, $100
gift cards, and expensive wine and dine packages. All you had to do was have a
"winning ticket".
When it came time
to announce the winners, everyone had their tickets out, checking their
numbers. Some folks were whispering, "Pick me. Pick me. Pick me!"
while others were already saying, "It won't matter. I never win
anyway." Winners whooped and hollered! It was great fun, especially for
the winners.
Sometimes I think
we approach God like a raffle contest. We come to Him and enter our prayer
request into the draw. We whisper, "Pick me, pick me" hoping we might
be lucky enough for Him to draw our winning number. Or we're already saying
"I'm never lucky but it doesn't hurt to try. There's always next
time." If He answers our request, we act like the unsuspecting surprise
winner instead of an expectant and gracious child who trusted that their needs were going to be met.
But Mark 11:24
says, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours."
So why don't we ask
in faith, believing that we are going to receive the answer? Why do we hesitate
to express a specific need or desire? I believe it all boils down to fear and
false beliefs. We need HIS truth to answer the lies of fear.
- Fear: the answer will be no. Truth: It's not about luck. It's about HIS blessings! God is a giver! He is more than enough. He loves to give good gifts and bless His children. Stop saying, "I won't be the lucky winner anyway!" You are a winner because you are His child. God has an unlimited supply of healthy bodies, peace for troubled hearts, college scholarships, financial provisions, and even ball gowns.... You fill in the blank. What do you need? What are some wants?
- Fear: what others may think of us. Truth: People will always judge. But God's forgiveness, grace, and mercy are all that matters. I am worthy to receive answers to my prayers because of Jesus.
- Fear: Expressing need makes me feel vulnerable. Receiving makes me feel at the mercy of the giver. Truth: Community matters. We were created in and for community. We need one another. We honor God when we give to others in His Name. In order to be blessed by the act of giving, there must also be a recipient. Sometimes I'm the giver. Sometimes I'm the receiver. We need to learn how to give and receive equally with grace.
- Lie: It doesn't feel very spiritual. It's more honorable to ask for others not myself. Spiritual Truth: He doesn't play favorites. He's my Heavenly Daddy. It's His delight to listen, answer, and provide for you and me too.
My next "bold" ask is more of a desire than a need. However, I'm going to ask Him anyway for an all-expenses paid trip to Israel
for me and my husband within the next year to commemorate his 50th Birthday
and our 10th Anniversary.
What’s your specific ask?
Let’s believe together and celebrate His faithfulness when we
receive the answers!
Speaking of home, our girls are growing and changing every day as children do. Life with each of them is so much fun. We are proud of each of them in her own special way. Jeanna is 12 and in 7th grade this year. She had straight A’s her first term and is working hard to maintain her 4.0 gpa. She is playing her violin in the orchestra for the 4th year in a row and is getting very good on it. She just wrapped up her first volleyball season on her school team and seemed to enjoy it. She attends a couple of different girls/youth groups and has quite the social calendar. Whenever she’s not otherwise booked, I hire her to help me out babysitting her sisters. (Such a relief to be able to get out the door without 5+ extra bodies all the time.).jpg)
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Molly turns 5 in a couple weeks and is in preschool this year. She comes and visits about once a week or so. She is very precocious and a ball of energy (like Haley and Hannah Mae). We have some very precious quiet tender moments with her as well. She especially likes to come with us on special family outings and we do our best to include her in them as much as possible. She’s a great little story-teller and especially loves to help “wash the dishes” (…or anyone close by) with the sprayer.
And then there’s Hannah Mae who is now 19 months old, busy as can be and into everything!!! We are a gated community around here with no less than 4 gates up around the house, door knob covers on every door and door locks on every cupboard. It’s a good thing I have so many extra sets of eyes and hands as they certainly help me keep an eye on her and keep her from too much mischief. She is talking lots and putting a couple words together at a time now. Her/our biggest achievement has been that I am finally able to put her to bed awake and she gets herself to sleep without having to be held or rocked. Though we’re going through some minor withdrawals (Paul more so than me…), it does feel very good not to have her attached to me so much!.jpg)
We are so thankful for my Mom & Dad living a mile away from us now. Mom is Jessica’s personal care assistant on weekday afternoons, helping Jessica with her homework, bathing, and “chores”. This is a huge help and benefit to all of us. Couldn’t ask for a caregiver who loves Jessica more or who is easier to work with! Next best thing to mom or dad is always “Mimi”! All of us love having her here every day. Mom is a hard worker and always on the go.
Marriage and family is a delight for Paul and I and our 5 girls together. Paul spoils me rotten (and I try to spoil him back…) Paul surprised me last weekend with a wonderful “second” honeymoon as we escaped to the Salish Lodge and Spa overlooking the beautiful Snoqualmie Falls. He took care of all the details including child-care arrangements and even packed their bags. It was an amazing heavenly 36 hours alone together in the most romantic atmosphere ever. I am so-o-o blessed!
