A couple of years ago I had an experience that profoundly impacted my prayer life. I was speaking at a retreat where I knew only a few people...yet I was wanting the Lord to somehow bond our hearts in the short period of time we had together. I asked the leaders of the retreat (who are 2 of my dear friends) would you mind sending me the names of people as they sign up...I am going to pray for them daily leading up to the retreat as well as after. At the time of planning the retreat we were expecting a small number (a little round table is what I imagined) By the time the retreat arrived I was praying by name for nearly 200.
One day as I was praying...I felt frustrated. I had a lot to do...Benjamin was a baby and was not really sleeping well...Payton was not napping...and it felt like in a moment of peace I had better things to do than rattle off hundreds of names of people I did not know. I said this aloud to the Lord and then just sat there irritated. In that moment of irritated silence I heard in my heart...
"Becky, How do you feel when someone walks up to you to talk to you about your children."
"Lord, you know I could talk for hours about my boys."
"Becky, what do you think of their names."
"Lord...you know Tony and I spent more time pouring over the choosing of those names than we have spent pouring over anything. We love those names...they represent our boys."
"Becky- I know the details of those lives...sometimes I just want to hear their names."
All of the sudden what had felt like a burden made my heart light. I could hardly wait to call out names before Him...realizing the profound joy He felt as a parent just hearing their name. I say it changed me because all of the sudden...I did not need a request from a person...just their name. The lady at Sonic, the greeter at Walmart, the telemarketer...all God's children...all given to me in my day that I might bring them before Him.
I type all of this because this weekend I am going to have a lot of time alone with the Lord. I can write some of the details of it after I return. But as I was thinking abut my time...about wanting it to be about more than just interceding for those close to me. (you would be embaressed about how long I could pray never mentioning anyone else but myself) I thought of you...I don't write for a huge audience...but perhaps...if you have read this far the Lord brought you here today.
I would love it if you wanted to send me an email with your name, or the name of someone you would like lifted before the Lord this weekend. You can attach a request or you can know the Lord knows it...either way I will bring it before Him. I look forward to recording some of my experience next week. Regardless of whether I hear from you or not..know you are deeply loved...that at the mention of your name your Heavenly Father's heart swells.
My email is tony-----and------becky at hotmail.com Remove the dashes and the space and you've got it.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
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7 comments:
Becky, one of these days I need some time with you just to let you know how MUCH the Lord uses you when you don't even know the details of those moments. For me, one of those moments was JUST NOW as I read your blog. The tears are flowing, just knowing that God is speaking to me through you...I will email details to you, and would absolutely be humbled to know I was on your prayer list. :) Love you, friend.
Oh Becky,
I just finished reading the blog of a dear friend of mine Lexi, who is a daughter of the Lord. Her precious 2 year old boy, Caden, is struggling with stage 4 neuroblastoma. He has had several rounds of chemo, but on Wed. Dec. 19th, he will be going in for the largest of them all. He will be going under chemo for 96 hours straight, before being given a stem cell transplant! Please pray for them this weekend.
I feel like God led me to your blog tonight for this very reason! Caden Seth is his name, which means "God's warrior." His parent's strongly feel like this name was chosen for him for a reason.
If you'd like, go to my blog page and click on the link titled Caden's Update. There, you can read more about their family's journey.
Thank you so much for your attentiveness to the spirit's calling on your life. You truely are an inspiration to me and others.
Hi Becky! I'm not sure if you will remember me or not, but I found your blog through Sam's blog. I was a member of his small group until my husband and I moved to Australia in August. I also attended the retreat you spoke at and sat at your table. I think I have to agree with your friend, Chelsea, that that Lord works through you in amazing ways. I felt it when you spoke at the retreat and just now reading your blog. Since I saw you at the retreat, I have been diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Although not life-threatening, I have been in constant pain for two years. I was just now thinking about how alone I am feeling not knowing many people in Australia and how isolating my disorder is. I sometimes wonder if I'll have any friends after awhile because of canceling on friends when I'm in too much pain, or not keeping in touch because I don't have anything to say but how much pain I am in. The thought that someone half way around the world that I only know a little bit may have thought about me and actually wants to pray for me is amazing! You have no idea what a gift you just gave me! The Lord has used you to touch my heart and let me know that I am not alone and can never be alone with Him by my side. Thank you so much! I only hope that my prayers for you will somehow touch your life the same way you have touched mine. Thank you for being a willing instrument of God!!! With much love-Sarah Holman
I am a blogger, and found you through Emily, whom I found through Andrea, whom I found totaly randomaly. I do know I will be reading yours often. Thanks for the inspiration.
Peter and Paul had to travel to tell their stories of the Great Love of our Father by word of mouth. Now today, 2000 some years later, we have the ability to connect with other believers and unbelievers with a few pushes of a button. I did love your story of how God looks at each one of us as His child. It is really important this time of the year.
Thank you for your post, and I would love to know that I have a sister known only by the spirit praying for me and my family, (if you look at our blog, you will see in just a short time we will be adding to our family.) and know that I will be praying for you and yours.
God Bless.
Maura
The funny thing is, I started reading your blog before the weekend, but got interrupted before the part where you asked for prayers! The 4 people who responded made it in time! I wonder if God sometimes interrupts us for some reason. Just a thought! I love you, Becky, and I'm so happy we are keeping in touch. You are such an inspiration to me. I saw your brother at church yesterday and mentioned how I love reading your blog. His face just lit up at the mention of your name! I love that! My prayer is that I can raise a family like your parents. I pray my kids love each other as much as you and your siblings. What a blessing that would be. Don't get me wrong, I love my siblings. But you guys just seem extremely close to each other. I just love that! As you know, right now we just have the one child. I guess I'm jumping the gun a little bit, but hoping to have one more, IVF or not.
Rambling now! Hope you had an awesome weekend.
Love you!
Thanks for your encouraging post, Becky! It touches my heart to know that I was one of those names that you prayed over before that retreat and I was so blessed to meet you and hear you speak that weekend. knowing you, even in a small way, has made such an impact in my life. thanks for being you!
I LOVED that retreat! God's words spoken thru you were SO POWERFUL! Thank you for inspiring so many of us!
You are a treasured friend and have such an amazing gift of speaking God's truth in a powerful way!
Hope we can connect live sometime soon!
Love you!
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