Category Archives: Testimony

The Blessing of a Prayer Journal

sweetjourneyI had a prayer journal that I used off and on throughout the years but more off than on. Three years ago, that all changed. Before my mom’s book Sweet Journey was published, she taught the study to us girls plus a few others. When studying the section on prayer journals, Mom challenged us to use one. I purchased a journal and happily began it.

My very first entry in that journal is dated 3-17 [2011]: Babies for (and then a list of couples desiring to have babies). Every couple except one has had a child since that prayer request was written in my prayer journal! Imagine the joy I felt when I received a card from one of those friends, and I stared with wonder at the ultrasound picture of their baby. Praise Jesus!

I love paging through my journal and seeing the many requests the Lord has answered. They are tangible and vivid!

God delights in giving us good gifts. Sometimes the answer is exactly what we want, but sometimes it isn’t. God is still good. He sees the entire picture that our finite minds can’t see.

In addition to a specific section of prayer requests, I have a daily section. For example, on Mondays, part of my list includes: Anna [I try to pray for a family member each day], direction for upcoming week, Titus2, and then a mom who would like to be expecting, another one who is, and a couple’s salvation, among other items. I have been richly blessed by using my prayer journal.

For you ladies out there, I suggest you pick up a copy of Sweet Journey. It’s a perfect individual study or a mother/daughter study. I learned so much from Sweet Journey (and I grew up in an incredible home) that I’m still applying to my life daily three years later.

Joyfully His,
Sarah

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“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Phillipians 4:6-7

A Dramatic Heart-Change Testimony About Children

I hope you’ve had a blessed week! Recently, our friends, Dave and Liz, came to visit. But, this time, it wasn’t just Dave and Liz. We were delighted to meet Anna, their new little girl, for whom we’ve prayed. Liz’s testimony is one of God’s faithfulness, mercy, and overwhelming goodness. Read below. — Sarah

The new Anna with Anna Maxwell
The new Anna with Anna Maxwell

From Liz:

My husband and I were married in 2000 at the age of twenty-two and twenty-three. We loved the Lord, and we were excited to begin the journey of our lives together with Him.

I’m not sure how it happened, but one year turned to three, three years turned to five, and before long I really believed that I didn’t want to have children. One day I actually said out loud to the Lord, “Lord, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I want to have children.”

It’s heartbreaking to think that those words came from my lips and that I could be so selfish, all the while thinking we were doing so much good for God. My heart was in bondage to fear and distrust, and I didn’t even realize it!

Then, one morning in 2007, we were praying with a group of friends. We were asking God to bring back the value of life in our nation and praying for the ending of abortion. Suddenly, I felt the strong, yet kind, conviction of the Lord on my heart. How could I pray this prayer and yet keep my heart closed to the Lord about having our own family? Once again I spoke out loud. “Lord, I’m so sorry for saying that I didn’t want to have children. Please forgive me!”

Now, although I fully believed that God forgave me, I didn’t feel any different. I mean, I didn’t all of the sudden have strong feelings when I was around babies or get emotional when I thought about being pregnant. It was more dry road obedience. If God wanted me to have children, I’d do it out of obedience, but I didn’t feel excited about it.

Then, in 2009, I was introduced to the Duggar family who have a large number of children. It was the joy of the Lord that I saw in their family that drew me in. There was so much love and joy! Then, like an arrow of truth to my heart, I got it. Children are a BLESSING from God. A BLESSING! A GIFT! A JOY!

It was like in one moment, clarity came. All those years, I had not believed the truth of God’s Word that children are a blessing. I believed that children were hard work, a testing and trying part of life. I believed that God gave children to teach parents about sacrifice and self-denial. There may be some truth in those thoughts, but God is a good God, and He gives good gifts. Children are good gifts from God! It’s a way that He desires to bless us, and there I was saying, “No, thanks God, I don’t want your blessings.” Oh how thankful I am for forgiveness and restoration!

In 2011 we found out we were expecting our first baby! However, our excitement turned to sorrow only seven weeks later as we lost the baby in a miscarriage. I really didn’t know if that would be the end of the story. I didn’t know if God would give us that blessing that I had held at arm’s length for so long. Thankfully, He did.

On October 29, 2013 we welcomed our sweet Anna Victoria into the world, and every time I look at her, I’m thankful that God changed my heart and gave me this precious gift! May the Lord’s name be praised, and may He continue to turn the hearts of the fathers and mothers back to the children.

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Mary and Baby Anna
The Maxwell Ladies with Liz and Anna
The Maxwell Ladies with Liz and Anna
Dave, Liz, and Anna
Dave, Liz, and Anna

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14