That's Messed Up

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16, NLT)

Last month, I wrote a blog post entitled, "Clean it Up."

Since that post, there has been a tug at my heart to explore another side of "Clean it Up". 

I've been wondering, have you ever seen someone (friend/family{church family or biological family} /pastor/worship leader/their spouse or kids/neighbor/someone at Walmart or on Facebook) carrying a burden that is just too heavy? Has this burden made them accidentally bump into something or someone, making the matter worse? 

Have you seen their huge mess that they have to correct when they are already in a hurry and already have a growing list of things to get done while they are running short on time?

Please, stop what you are doing, run to that person, and I hold them tight. Please listen to them wail for a moment (Hey, we've all needed to wail at one time or another.) Then, tell them, "Everything will be ok, I will help you clean this up."

If you need help helping them, make a few calls/send a few texts…get some help! Work together to clean up the mess, it will only take a few minutes since others are working together.

Help gives hope!

Pray with and for the person, stay in prayer covenant with them until fruit manifests, show them how when we are in hurry and make a big mess, God holds us when we need Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8), and He shows us proper perspective. (Colossians 3:1-4) 

Be the person who rushes in when you hear something has gone wrong and then do everything you can to make everything ok. (Ecclesiastes 4:9) And in doing so, God is blessed as He watches His children love and help one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Galatians 6:2, 1 John 4:7, 1 Peter 2:21, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:32)

Clean that mess with your whole heart unto Him! (Colossians 3:23, Matthew 6:3, Matthew 6:16) Bear the burdens of someone else's mess and give them hope. (Proverbs 22:9, Matthew 10:42) It will bless the LORD! (Psalm 103:1)

We are not alone. Oh…the enemy would love for us to think we are. (John 10:10) Don't believe that lie. (Deuteronomy 31:6, Numbers 23:29, John 8:44) 

Please don't take this as a license to rescue. Stay out of the ditch on both sides! Please take this as "For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all it's various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part (with power adapted to its need) is working properly (in all its functions), grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16, AMP)

Father, I pray for eyes to see and ears to hear, for myself and every reader. We thank You, love has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost! (Romans 5:5) I pray we are not so consumed with our own lives that we miss an opportunity to give the least of these a drink of water, in the name of Jesus. (Matthew 25:40) Thank You for supernaturally downloading love, charity, generosity, and love-love-love in our hearts! By faith, we receive a passion for the lost and we receive a passion to help others…in and out of Your kingdom…when we feel like it…and when we don't…when we think the other person deserves it…but especially when we don't think they deserve it. In the name of Jesus, I will be more like You! In the name of Jesus, I will be more like You and operate like You in everything I think, say, and do!

Promises-Promises

You can ask anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. (John 14:13, NLT)

A couple weeks ago, we celebrated Mikea's tenth birthday. She is the cute little red head, giving the dolphin commands! 

As I was listening to my husband, Mike, pray a special birthday prayer over her, I remembered a time when specialists told us, "You cannot conceive without medical intervention. With medical intervention, your chances of conceiving are extremely low. You have a better chance of flying to Vegas and hitting the jackpot than you do of conceiving and bringing home a healthy baby."

My response was, "You do what you are trained to do and I will do what I'm trained to do."

Thank God for medical science. I'm thankful for doctors, nurses, hospitals, and their procedures; however, that is only part of the story. My story, and your story (if you are a born again believer), does not stop with what statistics record and/or what specialist say. 

Mike and I agreed to go through one round of in vitro fertilization. For me, IVF was not only a medical procedure involving months of treatment as well as 103 shots (yes, I counted), but a closer walk with God and understanding His great love. 

To make a long story short God showed me great and mighty things I didn't know. (Jeremiah 33:3) IVF was a daily walk…at times, it was a moment by moment walk. 

To name just a few:

On one occasion while discussing IVF with a friend, I said, "We are going through infertility." God quickened my spirit, spoke to my heart and said, "Are you pursuing infertility or fertility?" I immediately corrected my vocabulary and from that point forward said, "We are going through fertility treatments." 

I believe, it is critical to insure our mouth lines up with God's promises. (Matthew 12:37)

On another occasion, the specialist told us we were "Indeed pregnant but there is a problem. It appears you have a tubal pregnancy and we will have to go in and remove it." Every other day, for weeks, I had to get blood drawn. Every other day, for weeks I was told, "Your blood counts are abnormal, you need to prepare yourself for removing the pregnancy." 

Every day I leaned on God's promises. I trusted what He said when He said, "I can ask anything in His name, and He will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father." I asked God to correct my blood counts. I knew that I knew that I knew, He had brought me that far and I knew He would complete what He started. (Jeremiah 1:12)

At thirteen weeks in my pregnancy, my blood tests corrected. At thirty eight weeks in my pregnancy, I delivered our beautiful little promise from God, Mikea Faith Fulton! 

The following year, God hastened His Word and performed it as we learned we would have double for our trouble (without medical intervention)…yes, Gracie was on her way! (Isaiah 61:7)

As I look at my girls, I thank God for them (Philemon 1:4). They are constant reminders of the wonderful goodness of God!

We love to hear from you! Do you want prayer agreement? Let us know and we will agree in prayer with you. (Matthew 18:19)