Learning Together

From Amie's Desk

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

Today I am writing in support of the miraculous power of prayer. Today I am writing in support of precious Sadie Mae and those who love her. They are ordinary people called to an extraordinary task and so far, by the grace of God, they are doing fantastic work. In this past year, my family and I have added another branch to Sadie's prayer tree by committing to pray for her and her family on a regular basis. I can pray for Sadie on a regular basis because so many people have prayed for me on a regular basis. On our own, we fall short and even fall flat, but with God's help and by His providence, together we can accomplish great things! We give Sadie (and her siblings) a place to grow, serve, and belong; in turn, Sadie and her siblings continue to teach us what it looks like to grow, serve, and belong. 

The path of blessing is a two-way street and sometimes it takes a long while to get things figured out. We never really get things squared away because human life is a dynamic process where the variables are always changing and being modified. The process of change commits us to being life-long learners and disciples, but that is a good thing. As we learn and grow, mature and change, we hopefully recognize more and more our tremendous need for Christ and His grace. He is the vine and we are His branches. As we abide in Him, the harvest will come and we will bear much fruit.

I write today in the confident hope the best is yet ahead for Sadie and her family. God has gifts for them and for each of us that will be unwrapped as we loyally wait upon Him. Sadie is a gift and I can't wait to see the gifts that God will choose to unwrap through her and in her as her story and journey unfolds. She is a marvel and masterpiece and He has plans for her which are yet to be unveiled.

As I think about Sadie and other people with disabilities I know, I am encouraged to forgo shortsightedness. God has plans for people that go far beyond what we can see or imagine in any given moment and He beckons us to keep believing in spite of potholes and pressures, tensions and tiredness. He is faithful beyond everyday stresses though sometimes we have difficulty distinguishing light amid fog.

I believe prayers prayed for me long ago are yet being answered in my life right now. He is using me as His humble work of art! I pray believing for Sadie as God paints into her life, and I invite you to join me.

We've come this far by faith...yet we've only just begun...

Pass it on...

Able

From Amie's Desk

"Lord Jehovah is compassionate and cherishing; He is patient and His grace is abundant.(Psalm 103:8)

Father, 

I praise You now for Your compassionate grace. I thank You for Your patience with us while we find it hard to be patient with ourselves. It is a lengthy,winding, path we travel and often the road between where we are and where we would like to be does seem to be forever long.

It takes patience to heal. 

It takes patience to grieve.

It takes patience to plan

It takes patience to wait.

Lord, guard us from impatience as we turn our hearts and eyes upon You: again, again, again, again; 

As the child who stumbles frequently in learning to walk, so we are with You. We need much love and long-suffering as we journey in places known and unknown. Every day brings with it a measure of uncertainty; thank You for being a secure place and refuge. I praise You because we don't have to be embarrassed before You. You are with us in our peace and with us in our preoccupation, We don't need to hide from the One who is our hiding place, 

You grant us the freedom to be who we are where we are and the overwhelming ability to encounter obstacles as the necessity arises. Help us, dear Jesus, to remember that even tall mountains only need to be scaled one grace-filled moment at a time. Give us wisdom to know if a hug is needed when words will not suffice.

May we love You and serve You in all that we do. May our every breath, thought, word, and deed bring You glory. 

We worship You again today because of who You are. 

Gifted

From Amie's Desk

"You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head."

Father, 

I praise You today for crutches and wheelchairs, beds and buses. I am grateful You never lose track of where we are and what we need.  You know when we can rise to praise You and when we need to rest. Things which sometimes catch us by surprise are not surprises to You. You watch over us so well; You restore our strength from day to day and  guide us along right paths for the honor of Your name. May You get the glory for all You do and allow. Thank You for establishing a history of faithfulness with each one of us. Thank You, Lord, for markers all along our path and memories of Your abiding to sustain us when we are scared and fretful, wondering and waiting.

Thank You, Lord for the gift of Your peace which passes all understanding. Thank You, Lord, for the gift of breath, and smiles, and laughs, and hearts that feel, share, connect. Thank You Lord for the absence of awkwardness when Your reassuring Presence is made known. There is incomparable quality to friendships where You are Center and King.

Thank You Lord for all the times You've carried us and helped us along when we have needed tangible strength or solid evidence of Your watch-care. Your providence in each of our lives is beyond measure .

Forgive us when we fail to recognize You for who You are.

Thank You for the blessings You crown us with and for Your Spirit who surrounds us. Thank you for answered prayers, whispered prayers, and  intimate conversations with You alone as a specific and unique audience. 

Thank You for hearing our hearts and numbering our heartbeats.

Because of You, all will be well.

Because we know You, it already is.

You make it well with our souls.

You give the resources and to You belongs the final word.  

Splendid

From Amie's Desk

Lord, right now I want to thank You for the song, How Great Thou Art. You have used it to minister to me in the past; today, you used it to minister to me again. Thank You, Lord, for always calling the focus back to You. Thank You, Lord, for not leaving us alone. Lord, our service to You here on earth is just a foretaste of all that is coming ahead. Strengthen our hearts; prepare us to meet you, whenever our turn arises. Help us to remember You are coming soon and this life is about a lot more than just accumulation of stuff...stuff and nonsense.

I want to celebrate Your coming even now; Maranatha...our Lord is coming.  Help me to look forward to seeing You and sharing in Your forever presence. Help me to remember that when I die to this world, I will have only begun to really live. 

The third verse of How Great Thou Art  is wonderful because it mentions all that God does for us through giving us salvation in Christ. God did not spare His own Son, but He willingly gave Him up for us all. Christ has been our burden-bearer so that we can experience love relationship again with the Father. We no longer struggle against the penalty of death because we know the Gracious Lord of Life.

The final verse of How Great Thou Art is wonderful because it mentions the joy and freedom of completed worship. I fumble a lot in worship here, but I'm not gonna fumble once I'm there:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home- what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!

I'm gonna bow...

I'm gonna bow...perhaps on my hands and knees....perhaps with my face to the floor...I could cry just thinking about it...

Bowing...

Humble adoration

Proclaiming

How great it will be...

How gracious and majestic and great Thou art...

Great...indeed!