I know that the Lord asked me to share about our struggles right now, but when I happen upon someone else's suffering... someone hurting with such thankfulness to the Lord... I'm ashamed. I've said it before, and I'll say it again... things could be so much worse. Today I read Kate's blog about her precious boy, Noah and found myself reading previous posts to know more... the pain a mother must feel in watching her child hurt... I hope I never have to know that kind of hurt. But what really struck my heart was their "Thankful Things" on each post, and how in the midst of their struggles, they are determined to praise God.
And then, after signing up to be notified of her posts, I received a notification and with tears read her post from today. Again... amazing. I know the Lord wanted me to share about our financial struggles... but it seems so insignificant at times... at others... it consumes us. Yet, my children are healthy... I am not at the hospital bedside crying out for my sick child.
But then I realized... everyone has pain. Whatever it may be, to those who are experiencing it, it can be paralyzing at times even. And just as one man's junk is another man's treasure... pain and struggles could be thought of in a similar way... but when it comes to pain... it's hard... it hurts... and it's real. It doesn't really matter what another person thinks about it... it doesn't matter if someone else has it "worse"... when you're in the "thick of it"... it consumes you... covers you... until all you can do is...
Cry out...
So for those of you who are going through struggles of your own and need to know someone is praying... please share your prayer request (either by leaving it in the comments or by posting it on your blog), and then share the link to this post for others to do the same (you can use the "linkie" to the right if you'd like). No request is too insignificant... no pain too light... and no struggle too easy... please share, whatever it is.
I am listening to every word... I hear every cry...
We are homeschoolers...or should I say were. And active bloggers here on this site...and my daughter & I loved reading your posts. Now we are parents in a big home full of horrible silence. Our govermnet is no longer a free place. Our children where taken for NO reason...and now we can't pray with them, talk about God etc...we almost lost our son a few weeks ago as the foster"dad" tried to drown him in the pool and flung him all around the house. We were not allowed to see him for two weeks after this. We can not even get a court date! We had one but we also had 12 witnesses to vouch for our parenting skills etc. We were refused access to the Judge and tolds to wait for another court date in 30 days. If we do not get a court date in September it will then be put off another 30 datys. Please pray for our family. thank you...Jeanne
I, too, struggle, thinking that my trials seem so small in the face of others. We lost our house, my husband decided to change churches, we are in debt because of medical bills with no insurance. BUT, we have hope in Jesus. The other day I was feeling sorry for myself and I was reminded that this is not my home. I am a citizen of Heaven and I need to act like one here on earth. I appreciate your posts.
Jenn
I so appreciate the encouragment that you provide in your blogs. All of us struggle with so many things daily and we sometimes forget that someone is always struggling differently than us. It is so comforting to know there are people out there that do care about their fellow christian brothers and sisters.
My husband and I have just recently launched a ministry in our community for hurting women. We are needing much prayer for direction and for God to send the women he would have for us to show him to them I have a blog about it here:
http://blog.myspace.com/darinlovesvera
I would especially appreciate it if you would hold me up in prayer as I follow Jesus in this: I also have 3 children that I am home with and they are a handful to say the least.. I need prayer for balancing everything, the pressure is great at times to keep up with everything, but I know with the Lord's help I can do anything he prepares me to do.. thank you so much.... Blessings to you and your family....
I love you're post about clutter and how to get rid of it! Clutter is one of the mountains in my life. So is anger and bitterness. However, if you need encouragement in your financial mountain climb, please let me know. We have successfully climbed that mountain. We're climbing it again because of a bad mistake we made, but this time it seems like more of a hill. (We payed off 14,000 dollars worth of debt in a little over a year using Dave Ramsey's system--and we only made 29,000 dollars combined at that time. Then we stayed debt free when I quit my job to raise our children, and at that point we lived debt free on less than 24,000 a year!) This mountain, no matter how big it is, is not too big for God!
Wow, thanks for posting this, I really need to hear this right now! We are going through some financial stuff to the point where we're discussing bankruptcy and we don't even know if we'll be able to keep our house or not. However, it's not like we don't have any options if we end up losing it. Sometimes it is so hard to remember that with all the running around we're doing trying to "fix" things, God is in total control. He will give us what we need, even if we don't realize at the time that we need it, or even if it doesn't make sense. I have to constantly remind myself that God never gives us what we can't handle, and that in those moments where I feel like I just can't do it, that's when He is right there, waiting for us to cry out to Him. Please pray for us, that through the chaos, we will be able to hear HIS voice, and follow HIS lead, and not just what we think we should do. May His will be done, and may the Lord give us the grace and boldness to accept His will and follow His lead. Thanks, Amy, for posting this, and I will be praying for those that comment here as well. I am always so blessed by your blog. (((Hugs)))
Lisa
It really is amazing how that when we take our eyes off of our selves and our own problems, how we see there is the need for prayer in the lives of so many others. This is a wonderful song, and I thank God for the way that you minister on here. Be blessed. Oh and yes, please pray for me and my family
. There is also an elderly lady in my church, her husband has cancer and it looks as if the doctors have given up and say He will die very soon. She says he is in tremendous pain. She has asked for prayer in "that if it is God's will to take him now that he will go in his sleep with no pain." Please pray for her, Her name is Sister Helen.Thank you again.
Stacy
Love your post and how very true that there is nothing to big or too small for our Great and Awesome God!
I am dealing with what I believe to be hyperthyroidism. Whether it is caused by an autoimmune disease or is a postpartum reaction is yet to be determined. I have my good days and I have my bad days, but God is faithful through them all.
Please pray for strength daily (I have 5 under age of 6) and for wisdom in finding answers and for peace in times of fear.
I enjoy reading your posts. You are so real and I believe I can relate so much with you. I 'only' have 4 children but they are good children. My dh is terrific and he is also self employed as a contractor so our winters are a bit lean but we've made it through them. Although with more debt then the year before it seems. Debt is one of our biggest struggles right now. We are now being accountable to a friend who is willing to walk us through some of this. I have taken on an evening job so that we don't have to have a sitter and hopefully be able to pay off some of this debt. Although this keeps me up late at night and we do homeschool and haven't started yet due to no time or energy to get a routine/schedule down yet. I've struggled with my weight for so long and am really ready to get it off but it just doesn't leave. God is good and I have a great family who is healthy. Thanks for listening and we are praying for your family, too. Lisa lkanagy@excite.com
I love this post. I try to convey that a lot to other women. Although I am far from perfect I too am just another mom striving to do things right on a daily basis.
I have always been one to look for that silver lining in all things. Maybe because I have been through so much in my life the only way I got through life was to look for the good that came out of the bad.
Anyway I just had to share I enjoyed this post very much!
Hugs to you,
Love,
Brenda
Amy,
Thank you for this wonderful post and the chance to lift each other up in prayer. My prayer request is for my husband's salvation. May God open his eyes and speak truth to his heart. May he have a growing hunger and desire to know Jesus.
I have also been desiring to have more children. This is a long story and it would take a miracle from God. I am praying that if this is God's will for us that He would make a way.
Ruth
and a woman seeking the Lord's Will (daily), a wife (striving to keep the romance alive), a "Smamma" (Step- mother) of one and a homeschooling mom of seven (I was never going to have children), who starts every day over (after messing SOME thing up the day before), knowing God's grace is overflowing (just like my laundry), and so thankful He's blessed me more than I'll ever deserve.
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•Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Our Pain