i didn't know i needed it

there are moments in life when you don't know what you need until you have it. i had one of those moments recently as one of my dearest friends blessed me in an unexpected way.

i sent what could be called an S.O.S. text to some of my closest friends and asked them to pray. mind you, i've texted this group many times before and they always rally so it wasn't odd for me to send a message like this. but this time, i didn't know how to put it into words. i just knew i had reached a new level of overwhelmed and needed their prayers and support more than ever. i knew they would pray. their track record is perfect.

but there's no way i could have anticipated the way they rallied to check in on me, encourage me, and remind me how much they care for me. it almost brings a girl to tears. almost.

fast forward to two days after that text. i answered a knock at my door (expecting my neighbor) and had a friendly man hand me these...

...to say i was surprised is an understatement.

the smile on my face was instant and lasted all day. you see, it wasn't my birthday, valentine's day, or even a friendly housewarming bouquet from my parents. it was a hug from my friend who would have been at my door in an instant if she wasn't busy moving her life across the country.

her thoughtfulness and timeliness blew me away. i was surprised, but not surprised at the same time. this is so very like her.

so while i didn't know i needed this little bouquet pick me up, it was exactly what i needed after all. kat, thank you for being a faithful friend who loves me well. i treasure you.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

prayers for gran

:: fall 2011 ::

:: christmas 2011 ::

 :: christmas 2012 ::

:: christmas day 2012 ::

y'all...i'm writing to ask you to join me in praying for my sweet gran. she's an independent go-getter who doesn't slow down (at least i know i come by it honestly). and until a month ago, she was driving the elderly to church. um, yes. you heard me. but now she's grounded and no driving for her.

gran had a seizure days before christmas and subsequently found out that she has a stage 4 brain tumor. she's now battling for her life. she's undergoing chemo and radiation for the next few weeks, but her spirits are up and so far no nausea. please pray that both of these things continue. she is an encouragement and example to so many and we brinkleys love her dearly.

thanks in advance for your prayers.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

every day and every milestone

i can't take credit for this, but it was too good not to share. in fact, i immediately emailed my coworkers with this little nugget. hope it encourages and convicts you as it did me.

Our prayer for your family is that every day and every milestone would convince you that Jesus is worthy of devotion and discipleship.  May your milestones lead you to remember Him and be thankful.  Journeys always have delays and difficulties and sometimes can be downright hard and discouraging.  May the Lord give you eyes to see His wonders along the way and a heart to believe that the journey is good and the destination will be spectacular.

stay faithful in the journey.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

a timely word

i skipped out on Bible study tonight (gasp, i know). put me on the naughty list if you must, but as i was doing my homework that i failed to do (i skipped bc i didn't do my homework and i wanted some "Jesus time" to get caught up), God smacked me between the eyes with a timely word of Truth for a very dear friend of mine. that's no coincidence. God is in the business of orchestrating moments like this ALL THE TIME. all we have to do is be open to His voice and obedient when we hear it.

don't mis-hear me and think that i'm hyper-spiritualizing my desire to skip on Bible study and have some Jesus time to myself tonight, but DO hear me saying that it's okay to do that and, in my case tonight, the Lord did it for a reason. i needed this time to slip away, undistracted, and hear His Truth not only for my life, but also for my friend's life.

you see, tomorrow is a really big day for her family and i can't be there. my heart is aching. i literally might not sleep tonight. i'm battling my own desire to storm in and take God's role in her life. to fix everything. i keep telling myself that the Lord will fight for her. He will work all things for her good. He's got this. i mean, He's God after all, right? anyway, as i was reading tonight, here's what i came across...

"Alas, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am too young." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. "They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:6-8, 19)

um, yeah. about that. i promptly picked up my phone and shot a few texts with those verses. God will not let her be overcome. He will rescue her. He will give her the words to speak. He is with her. He is for her. what comfort in the face of such daunting days ahead!! i pray she believes God to hold true to His promises and i pray that He will flood her with His peace and a quiet confidence in His hand at work in her life.

and tomorrow will be a day that i, too, have to rest in His plan for her family. i will fight for her in prayer, but ultimately, the battle is the Lord's. and He will work all things for her good. according to His plan. not hers or mine. 

soli deo gloria.

bekah

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

big day

please remember to pray for my friends Brad and Jenny Lotz. today is a big day in their battle for little Brody. they'll find out today if they get to keep him forever or if the Lord has a different plan in store.


please continue to pray for the Lord's will to prevail and the best situation for Brody to come to fruition. and pray for Brad and Jenny to have the strength and grace to weather whatever the outcome is. i'm praying that, no matter what, the Lord receives some crazy glory through this whole process, but selfishly i'm praying that Brad and Jenny get to keep Brody. 


Brad and Jenny, i love you and will call you as soon as i get off the ship and have connection to the world again.


thanks for fighting with me in prayer for my dear friends.


bekah


live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.

battle

"wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." -psalm 27:14

"the righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. the LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." -psalm 34:17-18

"the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." -james 5:16b

"in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. and He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." -romans 8:26-27

* * * * * *

this is just a quick post to ask each of you reading this to take 2 minutes and stop to pray for two very dear friends of mine, Brad and Jenny, who are fighting an uphill battle right now. they are in the process of adopting a precious little boy named Brody, but his birth father's family has decided to fight for custody. Brody's birth mom wants Brad and Jenny to have him because she knows it's best for him, but his dad has recently come forward and wants to fight for custody.


Brad and Jenny adore this little boy and i want so badly for them to keep him forever. God has been faithful in providing for them throughout this entire adoption process and His timing is perfect. it's not ours, but it's perfect. He has a plan for this little boy and for Brad and Jenny. and He wants all the glory no matter what the outcome. i just pray it's for them to be a unified family very soon.


please please please join me in praying for them.

• pray for the birth father to have a change of heart towards Brad and Jenny
• pray that he would see the Lord in Brad and Jenny
• pray for Brad and Jenny to be strengthened by the Lord and encouraged by His sovereign control each day
• pray for the birth mother to remain strong in her conviction to give Brody to Brad and Jenny
• pray for the birth mother to be encouraged and see the Lord's hand at work
• pray for the Lord's favor over the paperwork and technicalities that Brad and Jenny will be battling as they fight for their son
• pray for the authorities that are handling this case, that they might have wisdom and discernment to know what's best

here are some pics of this precious family. please please keep them in your prayers.

live unashamedly :: laugh uncontrollably :: love unconditionally.