Christie Berry

Those of you that made it this weekend, wasn't it great! Boy, am I tired! But the blessing of being allowed to spend a few hours doing God's work is worth all the tired in the world! What an honor it was to be in the presence of the Almighty while he molded, shaped, answered, loved and blessed those that came to the workshop this weekend!

I am so honored that He has trusted me enough to be His hands in the doing. I am honored that He has entrusted me with the precious hearts and souls of His creation. I am humbled by the stories He has written on each of your hearts and that He has granted me the blessing of hearing them! Wow, God just blows me away!

You are so loved by the Creator! He not only loved you, but He died for you. He not only trusted that you could fulfill a great mission, He has given you one of the greatest missions there is! You are the vessel He will use to bring Glory to Himself through the special child He placed in your life and your home! He didn’t just throw the child there, hoping you would figure it out along the way, He stood at the ready to answer your questions, heal your hurts, guide your hand, carry you, and make provision as you travel this difficult journey! Be honored that you have been chosen!

I know that many well meaning people say this, "God only gives special children to special people!" But, as a special mom, I have found that there really is a reason for God's allowing a special need in my child. Let me share my story. Maybe you can see how God used my youngest special child to bring salvation to my husband!

Our first born was only 3 when his daddy went to Iraq to fight in the war. Far from his understanding was this fact that daddy was fighting for his freedom, that the country was safe, or that there was danger. He only understood that daddy was gone.

Until that year, I had been living a back-slider's life. My husband was an atheist, my child born into sin, and I was forsaking what I knew to be Truth. Up to that point, my husband didn't want any more children and I wanted another. At least, I knew better than to "accidentally" get pregnant.

I was attending a local college and during the spring semester I was in a daily class with several Christians that would talk to me after class each day. We talked about the word, God, lifestyles, well, you get the picture. God knew exactly what I needed to turn back to Him and He orchestrated it beautifully, as only He can! I rededicated my life back to Him and found a church to attend. I also began to pray for my husband's safety and salvation! Along with these supplications, I included my heart's desire, to have another child. The prayer went something like: You know my heart in this desire Lord, if you want us to have another child you will change my husband's heart.

In April he returned from the war. We discussed children and having surgery to stop future pregnancies. He decided that surgery wasn't an option. He also decided that we should wait before making the decision about future pregnancies. Hmmm? Was God at work here, or what?

By June, he had decided that we could try to have another child! Yippee!! Boy, did God get the Glory on that one! At the end of June the Holy Spirit told me that I would conceive a girl child! Wow! What an awesome revelation! Not only did God change my husband's heart, He also told me we would have a girl! Whooopppie!!! I couldn't stop telling everyone what God had done!

In September we conceived and by October I was bleeding. I went to the doc and he told me it was just a zygote and that I was probably trying to abort! (What do they know?) I just absolutely refused to believe it! I knew God told me that we would have a girl! I knew God changed my husband's heart! I knew that He wouldn't do all of that to allow my baby to die before the doctor even considered her a baby! So I went to God! I reminded Him of all he had done so far. The bleeding stopped!

In November God's Spirit talked to me again. This time it was different. With the most peaceful feeling and the calmest voice in my heart He told me that there would be a problem at birth and that it would be instrumental in the salvation of my husband. I shared this with only one friend and then waited. The rest of the pregnancy was normal.

My due date was early June. When I hadn't even began to show signs of giving birth, the docs just told me to walk and wait. I was two weeks late when I began to feel bad. I told the doc and his recommendation was to rest. But, he made provision for me to come in early Monday morning, if I hadn't had the baby yet, to be induced.

So there I was Monday morning in the hospital, hoping to see my girl soon! During the labor, her heart stopped. It actually stopped several times and finally the doc was called and they determined that emergency surgery was necessary. Shelly was born with her lungs full of tarry stool and was not well at all. Her lungs collapsed when they removed the stool and a chest tube was inserted. She had several 'spells' as the nurses called them and she was air-evacuated to a hospital 90 miles away to receive special care.

I was remembering what the Holy Spirit had told me. I remembered the peace, the joy, the move of God on my husband's heart. I knew that it would all be ok!

My friend that I told about the problem at birth came to the hospital to pray with me. My son was on my husband's lap and they sat in the rocking chair adjacent to my bed. My friend, my mom, and several others from our church came in and stood around my bed to pray. My husband didn't move, but stayed in the room with us quietly while we prayed. Now this may sound like nothing to you, but to me, Wow! He had never remained in a room where people had prayed, Never!

For the next 7 years, I watched God use our little girl to wrap up the heart of my husband! And the week before Mother's day, it was our little girl that he was protecting from demonic influence when he decided that he needed God's Salvation! He prayed for salvation on the floor of our living room while our little girl rejoiced and played!

God is truly awesome! He knows what we need in our lives. He knows how to equip us for the mission He sends us out on. He prepares the path for our journey. He loves us and keeps us safe, even in the midst of terrible storms in our life. Get close to Him! Let Him hold you tight and keep you as you walk the special journey He planned for you. You are special. He died for you and he has chosen you for this unique and awesome calling.