power of prayer

By the time we pulled into Seeds of Greatness Wednesday evening with a fussy baby and a very cranky 2 year old, we both felt exhausted and uneasy about the task at hand.  Matt's plan was to show the DVD and speak for the hour service, and I had to find a way to manage both irritated girls through the service on my own.  "Lord, I'm not sure we can do this," I prayed heading in, trying hard to set my mind on getting through the task ahead.

And then we got out of the car, and Seeds of Greatness reminded us again of what the community of Christ is supposed to be, and why we like being there so much.

By the time we made it to the door, we'd been hugged 10 times, all our stuff was being carried by someone else, and we were glad we came.  Before long, Matt was welcomed on stage, and the girls in I were in a beautiful office surrounded by toys and snacks, watching Matt on tv from a padded chair while I fed Sofie.

But what we really needed (and didn't even know it) Wednesday night was still to come.  Matt had a blast preaching and God spoke through him in such a powerful way that even I was moved, though I hear him preach all the time.  The girls and I joined him, he did a benediction and he was finished.  It was 8:30, everyone was anxious to head home, I'm sure.  But no one left, and no one would, until they had shared back.

After some encouraging and Godly wisdom words from Pastors Jerome and Lisa, the whole congregation, several hundred people, came around us and spent good time praying for us, all aloud, as is done in Haiti.  "Come around them, be gentle with this young little family, and just love them and lift them up."

Coming out of all the changes and travel of the past weeks, Monday and Tuesday in the hospital, and really, a HUGE year in Haiti, suddenly it all caught up with us.

I can't think of anything this body of believers could have given us that would have been more encouraging, nourishing or beautiful.  As everyone prayed for my little ones, for my dear husband and for my weary self, I felt the Lord standing in the crowd, just holding us, being gentle, and loving us as well, listening to the prayers of His people and responding.

Once again, we intended to bless and were far more blessed ourselves, instead.  Thank you Seeds of Greatness, for being His Body and family.

Matt, his dad and brother went golfing yesterday, and once he got home, we headed to Uncle Don and Aunt Brenda's house, swam all afternoon and evening, ate an awesome steak dinner on the porch and spent the evening by the pool around a campfire roasting marshmallows and talking.

Lily started to get sick yesterday morning and by midnight was bawling, coughing and stuffy...we'll see what today holds...but glad to know Who holds it.

Thanks for all your prayers.  We're not sure why so many of you love and care for us like you do, but we thank the Lord for you ALL the time and continue to be overwhelmingly grateful.