Veggie Tales Nana

Just finished Facetiming with my daughter, Mandy, and granddaughters Lydia, Molly, and Isabella.  Lydia, 5, and Molly,3, wanted to sing a new song for me  Love it, of course.  Mandy gave me a little background, explaining how Lydia and Molly learned a new song, called Barbara Manatee.  Well, Mandy proceeded to tell the girls "you know whose name really is Barbara?  Your nana!" Without skipping a beat, Lydia starts singing, "Barbara Nanatee..."  Hilarious.   

Evidently, I am a famous Veggie Tales character.  

Miracles

I believe in miracles... not luck or happenstance, or even coincidence. But true, honest to goodness miracles. Brought about by prayers and the faith of a secret prayer warrior, perhaps even someone I have never met. In the past two months, I have personally experienced two miracles. Events with no other explanation other than God answering prayer and holding me in His loving Hands.

First, my youngest daughter, Becky, announced she is pregnant, expecting our next grandchild in February. Notwithstanding that conception is a miracle by itself....this news was even more awe-inspiring because Becky had leukemia at the age of 12--and her little body was exposed to 3 years of chemotherapy and radiation. And by all rights, her reproductive system was probably too scarred to conceive. Yet, the child God gave me, is now carrying her first child.

Then, last week I was driving to an appointment in Asheville, it was raining, I had a migraine, and traffic was horrible.  No, I was not texting, on the phone, or otherwise distracted. I changed lanes to the left, but didn't see the vehicle in my blind spot.  He swerved, but I felt the impact as our vehicles side-swiped each other...my driver's side to his passenger front door.  Shaking, I pulled into the next available parking lot, he followed, and we both got out of our cars--me apologizing and crying, and him looking frustrated and irritated, even though we were thankful we avoided oncoming traffic. We then each looked at our cars...not a single scratch.  Not even a brush, a chip, rubbed area on tires...nothing. There was no damage. We were incredulous. We both kept saying "I felt the impact." No damage, no accident, nothing. We hugged, in the rain, thanking Jesus out loud. Then we both went about our day, continuing our normal daily lives, but we were both forever changed by this brief event.

How many times do I tell someone I will keep them in my prayers, but I only give it a lukewarm effort? How often do I forget to follow through with my prayers until weeks later when I see that person again? And yes, I know God hears them regardless of how imperfect my prayers. He knows the needs, the desires, I get that. 

But, what if my one imperfect prayer could result in a miracle?

Thank you, secret prayer warriors.

Thank you God

We serve an awesome God!

At the center of it all?

Little kingdoms, big kingdoms   Is Christ at the center of all?  Why do we do the things we do?  Why do we help who we help?  Are my prayers right focused?  How can I, with my human heart and my human tendency toward sin hope to keep myself focused on Christ?  Centered on Christ?  How do I block out that human tendency, that human-ness.  My relationships are flawed.  My thinking is flawed.  My intentions are flawed.  Heck, even my prayers are flawed.  Because I am flawed.

It is so hard to stay focused, to push away the selfishness that is me.  To differentiate between what I think is living for Christ, and what is REALLY living for Christ.  I judge others, am alternately too hard or too lenient on my own behavior and intentions, and I really feel I just am not doing enough to further His kingdom and His wishes on this earth.

Prayers are needed...much.