This past year I have come full circle in prayer. I never knew how intimate my talks with God would be! I believe we have to claim victory as part of prayer.
Be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart."
~ ps 27:14
I did not have the opportunity to pray for this young life, but I do get to rejoice in His Almighty Works...
Take heart and have good courage.....
rcd from email of a co-worker
I don't normally send stuff like this out, but this is such an amazing miracle that happened in my home church that I have to share it with others. When you get a chance please read and enjoy the awesome power of God and what prayer can do ! ~joewSubject: Destiny Grace
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
In a real sense, every baby born is a miracle, and someone wiser than me has observed that every baby born is a sign that God has NOT given up on the world!
Yet, among such miracles and signs of God's love and grace, Destiny Grace's short life has offered especially potent evidence of the same.
Destiny's health was in crisis by the time she was born the afternoon of January 26. Her heart rate had been falling and as soon as she was born, the professionals at Elk General Hospital did all they could to get her breathing and her heart beating. To no avail, it seemed.
Word went out to family and church that Joe and Teresa had lost their baby girl and Bethany's prayer chain was started.
When Destiny's mother, Teresa, awoke from anesthesia a couple of hours later, (husband & father) Joe M was holding their baby girl and Teresa knew by the look on his face that something was wrong. Joe told Teresa that their baby was dead.
Teresa said she didn't believe it, that their baby wasn't dead. Joe gave her to Teresa to hold. Teresa says that she felt breath and a heartbeat. And then she heard a squeak. Still recovering from the anesthetic, Teresa gave their baby back to Joe and quickly, having overheard the conversation, a nurse came and took the baby from Joe.
But nobody else knew about that, yet. I got to the hospital to offer support and sympathy (between 6:30 and 7 p.m.), and waited and visited with the rest of Teresa's and Joe's family. About half an hour after I got there, Joe came into the room with the amazing news that their girl was breathing and had a steady heartbeat!
He invited Jessica, Zachary & Tyler to come and see their baby sister before she was transferred to SB Memorial Hospital for further tests and evaluation. Each of the children got a polaroid picture of
their little sister.
On Friday (27th), while Teresa was recuperating at Elk General, Joe and a sister-in-law who is a nurse went over to SB Memorial to see the baby. The baby girl has continued to breathe steadily and to have a regular heartbeat.
Today (28th), Teresa was released from the hospital and, of course, she was going with Joe from there to SB to see Destiny Grace (who, by the way, weighed 6 pounds, 3.9 ounces, and was 19.5 inches long). Today, Joe said that Destiny had had a couple of seizures, but that they seemed to have stopped. The doctors and specialists want to do some more tests to assess Destiny's physical and mental condition. There are some questions that just cannot yet be answered.
But whatever the future holds, we have been granted a glimpse of a power that is greater than death. We have been given reason to hope in the face of whatever may come.. An awesome power, an irrepressable force of life has brushed by and blessed our lives..
I hope that all of us will ponder this miraculous turn of events in our hearts. (Because many live all their lives without so close an experience with the power of God!) Let us thank God for His Awesome, Amazing, goodness at work in the life of the M family, and the Bethany Church family!
And I urge that we all continue to pray for the life and health of Destiny Grace, for Teresa and Joe and the rest of their family as they wait for test results and as they wait to bring Destiny home.
Thanks for your part in the caring and praying ministries of Bethany Church. Never doubt that your prayers can make a difference! The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16)
With appreciation,
Pastor Tim
part II :
January 31st Destiny Grace is now resting in the Everlasting Arms of God. Just because her time here on earth was very short and a fight, does not mean the mystery of Destiny Grace is finished. To fight the stack of whys, I see things visually...
The Heavenly Father was there with Destiny Grace as she made her entrance. He was there cheering her on as she fought to surface and breathe. He grabed her tightly to Himself as she slipped through that veil between earth and into eternity. It is a very serious reminder that life is a gift and it is fragile.
Earthly hearts are so weak yet as this small bundle of girl passed through our lives, the Heavenly Father is still here with us as our hearts break. He promised and He delivers.
'I the Eternal God is your Refuge and underneath are My Everlasting Arms. (deut 33:27) I am He who will substain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will hold you up and I will rescue you. (Isa 46:4) Wait on Me; be of Good Courage because I will strengthen your heart. (ps 27:14)'
In my own words Destiny means 'a path taken'. Grace can mean lovely or it can mean the pardon God has given us to take. {Swindol mentions that Grace is one sided ... a simple reminder that I can't do this life on my own. I must lean on Him}.
Our Heavenly Father designed life to be an adventure and a mystery that He unfolds. Even when huge voids rip into our faith, He is there holding me tightly unto Himself. What an awesome assurance to hear His heart beat for me...
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