Have you ever had a time when you didn't know what to focus your prayer time on? Truth be told, if the walls of my prayer room could talk, they would tell you I've been known to look around, swing my feet (I'm a short person), push up my bottom lip and tryyyyy to feel spiritual while my mind produces little more than what one could wipe off of a brand new whiteboard.
Well, today I was having one of those mornings, so I asked the Holy Spirit to do what the bible says He can do, and guide me in what I should be praying about. With my bible, journal and pen ready, I sat in my rocking chair and just began to praise the Lord.
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Kaleb- aka "Baby Buns" Graves
SOURCE: ARKELL & DANA'S BABY BUN/FACEBOOK
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True to His promise, He led me to open up my journal to the very first page and read. There, following the morning pleasantries and salutations to Jesus, was a list of people to pray for, with the first person being "Baby Kaleb". Maybe you don't know who Baby Kaleb is. If you don't, you probably aren't on Facebook, don't have a YouTube account, don't watch Rachel Ray or the six o'clock news! This little chubby bundle of joy was born in October 2015 at just twenty four weeks and since then has grown by leaps and bounds before the world's eyes while enduring a series of critical surgeries due to his premature birth.
Although I reread the prayer for Baby Kaleb from my March 28th entry , the Holy Spirit also led me to pray for his mother. During this prayer, He began to weigh on my heart the burden that she has had to endure and opened my eyes to the determination and strength that she possesses through Him and how I can truly learn from her.
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Dana and Kaleb Graves
SOURCE: ARKELL & DANA'S BABY BUN/FACEBOOK
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God is so awesome in that He has blessed me to know Kaleb's mother personally before she became a Youtube sensation with her pregnancy announcement. We live in the same neighborhood and attend the same church. Her oldest son is a delight to talk with (if you like comic books and paleontology- and I do) and her husband is one of the coolest guys you'd ever meet. So, it is my extreme pleasure to introduce you to today's lesson, Mrs. Dana Griffin-Graves!
I wanted you to meet this awesome woman of God because sometimes the stories and lessons of the bible don't seem applicable to us because, well... because they're old. We can think that the saints of yesteryear had it much easier since they were physically closer to Jesus and didn't have nearly as much"stuff" to deal with as we do. But if that's going to be our mindset, we should look around all the more and make note of when Jesus is truly manifesting Himself right in front of us in someone else's life!
The bible says in Revelation 12: 11, that "They overcame him (It is speaking of satan,the enemy, and no, I will not apply the rule of capitalization to his name because he is not worthy.) by the Blood of the Lamb and by their testimony and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die." As educators who are Believers, our lives are on public display even more than a regular person. What we say, how we say it, how we deal with situations and attacks from the enemy; these are the things make us living testimonies and are also the things that are being watched, dissected and critiqued by our students, coworkers and every member of the general public that graces the halls of our schools. My pastor always tell us we may be "the only bible some people will ever read" and to live "like we're the sixty-seventh book!"
Well, Dana is very much a walking sixty-seventh book as she overcomes daily obstacles by her testimony of Jesus and the power of His blood; some of which I'd like to share with you. It is my desire that as you learn the pieces of her story, you will apply the strength of her testimony to your thoughts and actions while preparing for this upcoming school year just as you would if this were one of Jesus' parables. While I don't have a mountain to sit on, a boat to teach out of or a vineyard to walk through, just keep scrolling down because He IS real and so is His presence in His people!
Dana held on to a promise from God for seventeen years! At the age of forty one with multiple miscarriages under her belt, one adoption and the thoughts that "It's too late now", she found out last fall that she was already five months pregnant! In those seventeen years, she and her husband were still fruitful and multiplied their love by tirelessly pouring themselves into the lives of others with countless service projects and volunteer events. The testimony of how they waited, is one that shows fruitful patience.
Lesson 1: God will fulfill His promises for you so prepare to receive it.
Persist in prayer this year for the things that seem impossible to attain yet you believe are God's will for you; an additional degree or endorsement, financial stability, better health, different position, better relationships etc. Know that God operates in His own timing, but stand on His faithfulness and wait faithfully and productively. Whatever you're waiting on, prepare for it by seeking God's wisdom on how to best receive His blessing.
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| SOURCE: divinewalls.com |
If you have the time, scroll through Dana's Facebook page created by her sister to capture not only Kaleb's birth and NICU journey, but support. There has been no hesitation on her or her husband's part to ask family, friends, our church, and the general public for their prayers. Their response to many of the people who send their well wishes and prayers is that each one gives them both just a little more strength, a little more faith, and a little more encouragement exactly when they need it.
Lesson 2: Lay your pride and fear aside and ask others for prayer.
This school year, do not be afraid or hesitant to ask a coworker or family member that you trust to join you in prayer or pray for you. It doesn't mean that you can't get a prayer through on your own, but that you desire more of His presence manifesting in your situation. Request that your church place you and your school on their weekly prayer list and pray that God surround you with people who will truly bombard heaven on your behalf. Liberty and the fullness of joy come from His presence and His presence is guaranteed where His Believers are gathered together seeking Him.
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| SOURCE: cambraza.blogspot.com |
Dana is surrounded by her loving husband, parents, siblings, hospital support staff, coworkers and church family. Her role of wife and mother has never been put on hold. She continues to work, stand with her husband, support their oldest son, volunteer in the community and travel about thirty miles each way to the hospital on a daily basis to see her baby! How does she do it? More than likely she follows the first part of Lesson 2 and then asks for help.
Lesson 3: You can't do it all on your own.
I know for a fact that I need help with everything that I do because without God, I am nothing and pretty much clueless. It is not a sign of weakness if you ask for help. Realize that if your load seems too heavy for you to bear alone, God could be teaching you about how to truly depend on Him and grow from the spiritual connections made with those He places in your paths. Pray this year for God to send you spiritual and physical support for every assignment He has for you.
I have always admired Dana even before she began this journey. She is very
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| SOURCE: tonyevans.org |
down to earth in expressing her love of God and people and continues to do so even now as she exalts God during times when she is afraid, perplexed, tired or hurt. Because Dana is candidly sharing her journey with the world, people are able to witness firsthand how the psalmists, prophets and apostles of the bible could praise God in, through and on the other side of their trials and tribulations. People around the world and those closest to her are realizing just how tangible God truly can be in our greatest times of need.
Lesson 4: Give God all of the glory.
The true distance of an educator's influence is very difficult to measure. However, Jesus empowers us to influence people eternally as we live out His Great Commission. His Spirit leads and guides us everyday to live holy and praise Him in all things. When a student is difficult, give God the same amount of praise for Him building your patience as you would for Him providing you with an unexpected check or three snow days! Your constant reference to God teaching you, providing for you, favoring you, empowering you, encouraging you and even disciplining you lets people see real time faith in action, the bible come to life and a intimate relationship with Jesus as life's ultimate goal.
So as we take a lesson from Mrs. Dana Griffin-Graves and the "book" from her life on how to live and love for Christ, may we stand firm on the same three thoughts that should cement itself in the heart and mind of any reader concluding their journey through any of His original sixty six books:
God is real and good.
With Him, nothing is impossible.
He will never leave or forsake His own.
Walk proudly, boldly and wisely in the ways of God this school year. No matter what, trust God and project and reflect Jesus in everything you do!
The Lord is with you and you are loved,
Toni
