Recently, I discovered a treasure trove of great content for the blog in a journal I filled when Anna was 7-8 and Laura was on the way, and Susie was still a baby. I wrote up six interesting pages where I was trying to express who I am and what motivates me. This kind of journaling can be very therapeutic for us as moms. I thought it might bless others to be able to share in my thoughts from these early years…the growing list of posts can be found here.
Here I am
Waiting for the warmth of spring
Colors soft yellow and green
bright skies and warm dark earth.
Plant me-I’ll take root
Water me-I’ll bear fruit
Shine on me-I’ll shine for you
Speak to me-I’ll sing to you.
I want to be your delight
I want to be like a baby in your arms
I want to see you smile at my song
I just long to draw closer to you.
I feel a baby move inside of me
I wonder who this little one will be
On the day that I give birth
May your glory come to earth
As the beauty of your power is displayed
In the face of a child you have made.
When the flowers of spring appear
I will wait to whisper in your ear
And praise you for the greatness of your plan
I will praise and worship you and pray
For your glory to fill our house that day.
Laura’s Peaceful Home Birth
Laura’s home birth was so precious. She was actually born at a moment when no one was paying attention except Anna who was in the birth pool with me. Here are some sweet photos and video from the hour Laura was born and a few pictures from her first week of life.
Oh Lord I come to you and pray that Anna’s heart would be so fervent for you. Open her eyes to see you, give her ears to hear. Let her be hungry for your word and thirsty for more of your presence.
Help me to be full of wisdom to show her your path. Help me to teach her what YOU want her to know.
Help her to read very well soon.
I will trust you to show me how to help her. Give her a strong desire to learn. Let her mind be strong to grasp the things that will help her to be fluent in her reading. Let her develop a great love for reading even now.
Help me to devote myself to prepare her to serve and follow you in the calling that you have for her.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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As I read my prayer from 15 years ago I remember feeling God impressing upon me to NOT raise her to reflect the teaching of the current culture or the standardized path that so many were pressuring me to take. I saw an anointing upon her, and I felt so strongly not to try to conform to the ways of the world in raising her, to block out the well-meaning voices of concerned relatives and friends because this child was chosen to do things in this world that a person with a standardized education could never have the time or creativity to do. “Let her be an artist,” God spoke to my heart. “Let her major in the Arts now”, my heart demanded.
If there were two things I knew about my call to raise Anna, they were: Empower her in creativity and plant the most beautiful seeds of Art and God’s word into the garden of her heart. It was obvious that she was an artist and a storyteller and she assured me that she didn’t need to learn to read to become an artist. I assured her that God would not have put the Bible in written form if He wasn’t going to give her the power to read it.
The Arts, Travel, History of Fashion, and the Bible became her entire curriculum throughout her homeschooling years from age 6 to 15. At 15 she wanted to add singing and songwriting to the plan and I hired Christine Dente to be her coach. At age 17 she completed the writing of an audio musical about the life of Jesus. It was her senior project, bringing forth all of her learning from her childhood. That year I didn’t require any other schoolwork — “Just write your musical” — and she did!
Learn what has become of her talents, her hunger for God’s word, her thirst for His presence and her devotion to serve Jesus and follow His calling to reveal His heart to this world… see how He answered the prayers of a discouraged mother who sought God’s will and not the world’s for one little girl. Anna’s faith is beautiful, free, passionate, and alive. She is a bright light in the darkness and brings me so much joy.
I have a meeting coming up with a very powerful and influential person. And He’s taking requests from anyone seeking His assistance.
Yes, this morning, I’ll be spending an entire hour with the King of Kings, the One who created the universe, and I’ll be bringing to Him all the cares of this world, all my dreams, ideas, struggles, heartaches and gratitude. We will be talking about His plans for the future of this City, State, County and Planet I call home.
He’s asked me to get a few things done for Him, but I think He invites me to these frequent meetings because He has come to see me as a treasured daughter, rather than just a business partner. It’s not all about His power and authority, it’s a lot about His compassion and love as well. He has a beautiful dream for the world, and was so happy to share that dream with me.
He’s asked me to take on the role of Ambassador, representing His Kingdom of Heaven, during my stay on Earth. Such an honor!
I’ll be getting my resources, instructions and an “all-access pass” to all the specific locations that He would like to send me to, so I can take care of some business for Him here and there.
He has some pretty big ideas, and is getting ready to launch a few new projects that are going to transform the culture. He is also unveiling His newest production, and has given me an insight into what’s happening behind the scenes.
It’s been such an honor to be invited into the Throne Room of the Creator, and I’m just so humbled to have His ear. He always listens so well and never hesitates to tell me what’s on His mind.
What’s been really great lately is how He has been introducing me to some of His team members and is letting me study along side some of His best instructors as I get ready for my next assignment.
He let me know that I am always welcome to bring friends with me when I visit. I can also bring requests from any of my friends and loved ones who don’t have time or courage to show up in person. But He keeps reminding me that I need to let me fellow humans know that His office is open, yet so few come! He is expecting your company soon. He had an open door policy, just walk in with Jesus and you are good to go. Once you have a seat, He will tell you all about His plans! So exciting!
If you have any requests, I’m happy to present them next time I go for a visit. But just remember, you don’t need me to bring your requests to the King… but if a lot of us are asking about a matter and a few of us agree on things that need to be done on Earth, He’s really supportive!
I’m not exactly sure why He is so faithful to answer our petitions and attend to our cries… I think it’s because when it really comes down to it, He’s so much more than a King. He’s a loving, caring, and protective Daddy, who wants to have a strong relationship with His children. He just loves us.
My daily prayer requests, you can join me in these prayers for the next 40 days.
Sunday: FAITH in the world. Prayer for Spiritual Leaders, Missionaries, Christian Influencers, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, Churches, and for many young people to be called to serve faithfully and have opportunities to become faithful leaders. Blessing, wisdom, power, anointing, fresh filling of God’s Spirit, healing, gifting, purity, cleansing, repentance, truth, focus, and deep humility among those who serve.
Monday: Education/Culture of Childhood: Leaders in Education, Education Reform, Homeschooling movement, Schools, Universities, Student Outreach, Child Development, Ministries that reach children, adoption, orphans, child trafficking, poverty, modern child slavery, children struggling with health, cancer, hospitalized, and for more children to be raised in homes full of grace, peace and love. Blessings, strength, peace, wisdom, revelation, open doors and encouragement for those faithfully serving children in truth and love.
Tuesday: Arts & Entertainment: Jesus Followers to become leaders in the Media, Arts & Entertainment, Music, Film, Social Media, Local, National and International touching lives through the Arts. For Leaders of Arts & Entertainment to be come Jesus Followers and transform their work into a message that brings glory to God. For those faithfully seeking Jesus and His Heart in this field to be blessed with open doors and to be protected from pride, lies, temptation and evil.
Wednesday: Science & Medicine: God’s wisdom, mercy, understanding and faith to be upon leaders in the field of Science, Research, Medicine, Healing. For Spirit led, Biblically sound, faith-filled men and women to become local, national and international leaders in these fields. For blessing upon good, honest, generous and wise leaders who know truth and already serve in this field that they would have the loudest voices and the greatest respect.
Thursday: Family: Families and multigenerational blessing upon the homes in our community, state, nation and world. Beauty for ashes, reconciliation, healing of relationships, strong marriages, faithful holy fathers, joyful mothers, teens who follow Jesus with their hearts, minds, bodies, souls and spirits and love others as they love themselves. Anointing on grandparents to pour God’s wisdom, live, beauty, forgiveness experience, and care into the lives of their children and grandchildren and to have open doors to do so. Young men and women to be faithful to Jesus in their relationships and for phones to become useful tools, and not little gods in their lives, for new marriages built on the rock, new babies, new mentors, open wombs, and healing for infertility, for many successful adoptions, for children to be free from trafficking and foster care to be placed in living families. For kids and teens and family members with deep trauma, abuse and addictions yo be set free and filled with peace. For my children to become leaders in the nations influencing the world through missions, faith, entertainment, music, science, family, government, education, public service, prayer, relationships and revival.
Friday: Community and Public Service: Lands, Nations, Governments, Military, Public Service, Community Leadership, War, Elections, Civil Unrest, Government Leaders, Branches of Government, Laws, Politics and the News industry that tells the stories. Freedom for those in prison unjustly. Just Judges. Truth in leadership. A deep awakening to truth, justice, wisdom, humility, and Faith in the leadership of the nations, states, cities and towns. For leaders to become like Jesus, to know Him, to have revelations of truth, and seek Him first and seek His ways, for those who follow Jesus to rise up and lead nations, states, cities, and towns.
Saturday: Revival: Revival of faith, worship, prayer, repentance, spiritual gifts, humility, holiness, eternal vision and the glory of God upon our homes, churches, neighborhoods, towns, cities, states, nations and most of all our individual hearts. Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven! Come quickly Lord Jesus! Amen
Over these years Josh and I have traveled to several countries. During our time in each one we would feel called to sing and pray over the land and the people. These books each represent the counties we have traveled to and have committed to intercede for. The Lord had called us, His Bride, His Children, to pray for all the nations, and this is just one little idea for how to do it. Creating a book of prayer and blessings for each place we pray for.
I feel so strongly that these prayers are heard and answered and God is working in the world through the release of our prayers, supplications, decrees, songs and words of blessings over land and people.
God has given the earth to humans, it is ours to care for, protect, and nurture like a garden. Humanity fails and blames God.
But… in fervent prayer for the lands, the nations, the people, the governments, the church, the religious leaders, the sick, the bound, the suffering ones, the lost… we bring forth blessing, light, deliverance, power and healing on earth.
“The heavens belong to the Lord but the EARTH He has given to the children of men.” Psalm 115:16
I want so much to be a good and faithful servant and leader in all the authority God has given me… over my family, and over these places in the Earth where I have a calling and where I have authority to bring the blessings of the Kingdom of God down to Earth. Through prayer God releases power. Power of angel armies, power to bless, power to heal, power to bring deliverance and salvation! Prayer brings light into the darkness.
If you say you are part of God’s family, I just want to encourage you to take your authority in prayer and supplication over your family and over the land you have walked upon to pray… “Your Kingdom Come! Your Will Be Done, on Earth as it is in Heaven!”
Being an active member of the Kingdom of God is a great honor, joy, blessing and a great responsibility. To whom much is given, much is required. Don’t squander your role in your family or your role in God’s family.
