Pray for us please
by adustyframe ~ February 14th, 2007I struggled with posting this.
My sister said I should. She said it seems like you all care to know how to pray and that you do pray.
I know you do! I’ve felt your prayers.
I just do not want to come across as whining or sounding “needy”.
These past 2 weeks have brought us one trial after another. My son and I have been too sick to attend church for 3 Sundays in a row. I don’t think I’ve ever missed 3 Sundays before.
I currently have whatever he had on Sunday and I’m feeling quite awful.
Our car was not running for over a week. I finally just got that back on Monday night.
Each day brought something worse. Each day I felt like “I CANNOT take ONE more thing.” Then the next day brought more.
My husband is very discouraged and needing to trust God (He’s not.)
My store has continued to be beyond slow. I did paperwork last night to see where things sit.
The store sold $1000 less in January than last January. So far, we’re $1000 behind where we were this time last February.
I cannot explain what is going on or why?
I have spent time in prayer trusting and being confident that God is going to care for us. But having faith is a battle too. It’s almost minute by minute right now. I have faith and am at peace, then BAM! I’m struggling.
Sunday night, when I got the email that I was nominated for the Honoring my Covenant post, I began to wonder if this blog is the reason that I am in this battle? Not that my words are so great, but that God’s truth and working in our life is being shared.
I have realized these past 2 weeks are a spiritual battle, but I didn’t know why? My first reaction to the thought that perhaps this blog was causing the battle, was to say “Alright then! I won’t be blogging anymore.” This was a brief thought, I don’t really mean that.
My Pastor called to check on us on Monday and I shared with them my thoughts. He has read here before and knows that I am sharing our story in this fashion.
He said, “You absolutely know that if God is using you because of your blog that you cannot stop no matter what you’re going through.”
I know that! I know that the devil doesn’t like anyone sharing God’s truth and I am not about to let him win.
I wonder why he doesn’t give up and just leave us alone?!
Please just pray for me. I need to decide some specific things in regard to my business.
I don’t know if I can keep my employees, but I also don’t see how I can homeschool and also do all the work at the store. My store is not a “one woman show” anymore.
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that homeschooling is God’s will so I know he will make a way for it to all work out.
All the things that we need, God knows. I just need strength and peace to not quit.
Pastor said people at church are starting to worry about us. He said that he told them, “No they are not alright. They are sick and they are going through one thing after another. You need to pray for them!”
Yes! That about sums it up. Please just pray that God will part these clouds and that I will be faithful.
Do you remember how Moses needed his men to hold up his arms in the battle? That’s what I’m asking you to do for me. Pray for me and help hold me up in this battle.
Thanks! I appreciate you all so much!
I thank you too for the Valentine e-cards and comments. You’re sweet to think of us today.
February 14th, 2007 at 7:25 am
I’m praying for you, your son and husband!
February 14th, 2007 at 7:46 am
Praying for you and your family today.
February 14th, 2007 at 8:17 am
Praying for you. Since I don’t know the kind of store can’t really help there except is there a way to have a tie-in with another local business(s) that might get more people in? I know how tough it is to keep the wage earner and homeschool balls in the air at the same time. A book you and your son might share that could help lighten the load is “Mama’s Bank Account”–it would be a read aloud. It is awesome. Also, could any of your Church members come help you out by giving you a chance to go to sleep for a while? That’s something people forget. When you are alone with a child you can’t always really rest–not when you haven’t yet been able to “cast” your troubles upon His water [so very, very hard to do]. I will take time to pray tonight and will send a request to my friends on the prayer team at our former Church to give you more prayer coverage as well as for your husband. No names given. Remember, sharing your faith IS the best way to put off the devil and to guide your son! With love and prayers, your never-seen friend at hopewellmomschool–Lisa
February 14th, 2007 at 10:18 am
I will continue to pray for your family. Thank you for giving us specifics. You do not sound “whiny” or “needy” at all. I hope that this Valentine’s Day you feel wrapped in the Father’s love.
February 14th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I’m definately praying! As difficult as it may be, the fact that having faith is a minute by minute battle for you is better than coasting on your own and forgetting how much you need the Lord minute by minute, which is what so many people do, when times are not tough! Every single one of us needs Him every minute. He is faithful! God is true! He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Keep seeking! Abide in Christ and allow Him to work through you. He will provide. He will do it! Rest in Him…
February 14th, 2007 at 10:51 am
I will most certainly be praying for you! I had to go to Montana last week, and I had the same “one thing after another” (I’ll email it to you privately perhaps…). God is faithful, no matter what!
I don’t remember how old your son is, but perhaps video school might be an option. I have friends who thought they’d “never” do video school until the mom was diagnosed with cancer. Now, she’s recovered from the cancer, and back to “normal” but they’ve found a blessing in continuing with 1-2 video school subjects (for their teens). If you have a back room at your store, maybe you could take your son with and do video school. It’s certainly a lot more work then being able to just homeschool, but there may be an element of compromise (on methods, not convictions) during this season.
You’re loved and cared about! We’ll pray for you at church tonight. I asked for prayer for you a few weeks ago, and people even followed up and asked how you were doing the next time we met! They’ll all be honored to pray with your family.
jodi
February 14th, 2007 at 11:10 am
I wanted to also caution you not to equate “peace” with “faith”. You said in your post “I have faith and am at peace, then BAM! I’m struggling.”
Faith is the substance of things hoped for….evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1). The heart is decietful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). Lack of an emotion of peace does NOT NOT NOT mean lack of faith. It kinda seems as though the enemy is luring you to look to your emotions to determine if you are faithful and trusting the Lord, and when your decietful emotions do not show evidence of peace, the enemy is causing you to doubt.
The thing that soooo greatly blesses me about your blog is that your faith remains during the times your emotions are at unrest. Discouragement comes, things look hopeless from our point of view, money is tight (sometimes absent), you get sick, physically weary…yet your strength in Christ remains. Your faith in the One who died for you has built a foundation that cannot be moved, no matter what “storm of emotions” and doubts are thrown your way.
The night before Jesus died, even He pleaded with the Father to remove the struggle. He was so stressed he was sweating blood! (and if you’ve never read the medical explanation for this, google “Jesus crucifiction from a medical viewpoint”). Stress does NOT equate lack of faith. It’s when we are weak that He is strong. Never forget that in the moments you aren’t “enough”, Christ is more then enough. He always has been. He’s not about to walk away from you now.
My favorite scripture is Isaiah 54:4-8.
4 “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame.
Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
5 For your Maker is your husband—
the LORD Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
he is called the God of all the earth.
6 The LORD will call you back
as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,
only to be rejected,” says your God.
7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
8 In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,”
says the LORD your Redeemer.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Prayers going up from Northern Wisconsin.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
I just prayed for you and your family. The Lord will keep those whose mind is set on Him in perfect peace. I prayed that He would give you that peace and knowledge that you and your whole situation are in the palm of His Hand. ((((Hugs))))
February 14th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. Thank you as well for the verses. I am paying attention to the things you’ve said and I appreciate you a lot.
February 14th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Hi Lizzie, I noticed you weren’t posting as much and figured something was up. I’ve been worrried about you. December-January was our month of illnesses and tests of faith in our household. Dealing with one problem after another while feeling under the weather can certainly sap your spirits. Please know that you are being prayed for.
February 14th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Pickles,I feel so honored that you noticed I wasn’t posting as much.
Thank you for praying for us.
February 15th, 2007 at 4:13 am
Hi Lizzie~~Lifting you up in prayer right now. Last fall I went through a rough time with my oldest daughter making unwise choices (nothing like you are going through). These are the verses that God gave to me thorough reading His word: I Chron. 20:15 “Do not be afraid nor dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3 And this quote from Corrie TanBoom: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Hope this helps.
February 15th, 2007 at 4:14 am
I didn’t post that at 4:13 am~~I am asleep at that time! It was 8:13~~I live in New Jersey.
February 15th, 2007 at 5:22 am
Dear God, I ask that You open Lizzie’s eyes today so she may see You all around her, so that she may see Your purposes and Your grace and Your mercy in tangible ways. I love You, Ame
February 15th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Thank you again ladies for your encouragement and prayers.
Robin–the time on this blog is way off! I need to figure out how to fix that.
February 16th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Lizzie – I’ve been out of the blogging loop this week, but you have been on my heart and in my prayers. THANK YOU for posting how things are going. Please know that we don’t see it as whiny. We are called to confess and pray for one another.
James 5:7-8
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
He is bringing about a precious fruit in your life. It will be OH so worth it. I have learned through the dark times in my own life that the coming of the Lord is not just referring to the physical return of Christ. The coming also refers to Jesus made manifest in us. He is tenderly nurturing us as a bridegroom cherishes his bride. When the dross that has bubbled up from fiery experiences is skimmed off the top of the refiner’s pot, and the reflection of his light and glory reflect in the resulting purity and holiness, it takes our breath away. (Ephesians 5:25-27, Zechariah 13:9, Psalm 66)
And along the way, He is using you to feed others and encourage us to partake more fully of the life of Christ. Your sacrifice is precious in his sight. And in our sight.
James 5:10-11 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (Emphasis mine.)
The Lord feels so tenderly toward you.
Heartfelt prayer going up for you.