Sometimes God Speaks.

I know I've posted before about how I feel lonely since we've moved to the middle of nowhere in North Dakota. Usually, I can go about my day, and stuff that feeling deep down where I don't have to deal with it. But at night, when I can't sleep, it's harder to ignore.

I suffer from insomnia many nights, and when I do, I like to pray. It helps me to focus and resolve any issues in my own mind that might be keeping me from sleep. Last night was one of those nights. I couldn't sleep, and I was praying for my friends, and praying that I would find more IRL friends who believe the way I do about things. Because while I have a lot of wonderful friends online, I don't have that many where I live. And I feel lonely.

So I was telling God about how isolated I feel, living in the middle of a wheat field. I was watching the snow fall, and thinking about how I won't be able to go anywhere for a few days because of it. I was complaining to Him that I don't feel "at home" in our church; I don't agree with some of the theology and I can't stand the style of service; I always feel depressed after a Sunday service. I was having a hard time putting into words how I feel, and finally I gave up. I told God that I know He knows how I feel and what I need even better than I know. I asked Him to speak to me. I've heard His voice before, several times. I waited and listened, but didn't hear anything this time.

And then... I felt that I needed to turn on the radio, despite the fact that it was near midnight, and everyone else in the house was asleep. I got out my ipod and earbuds, and turned on the TuneIn Radio app, which is set to my favorite Christian station in Houston. And this was the song that was playing:

Sometimes God speaks audibly. And sometimes He speaks through the Bible. And sometimes He uses a song. I just need to learn to listen better. And I need to hold on to the promise that He is always with me, and I'm never alone.

Hubby's having surgery.

My Hubby is in surgery at this very moment.  He's having some of the vertebrae in his neck fused, in an attempt to make them quit compressing his disks and pinching his nerves.  He's had a lot of pain lately, so I really hope this works.  Please be praying for him, if you're so inclined.

The girls and I will go visit him when I get the phone call from the doctor in a few hours.  In the meantime, I wish I could go back to bed, but the girls are especially loud this morning, so I guess I'll just have to go to bed early tonight.  So sleepy...

Working on a new pattern...

I'm working on writing down the pattern for lace fingerless mitts that I'm making for my sisters for Christmas. I've got it written down, and now I'm knitting a set, using the pattern as I've written it, to make sure that I've got it right. I'm glad, because I've already found two glaring errors. So off I go now, to fix my mistakes, and hopefully I'll be ready to publish soon!

In the meantime, I'm also working on Princess's poncho, and planning a sweater for a new niece, who will hopefully not be arriving until February. She's been trying to come early, so I'd appreciate prayers for my sister Sara, and her baby Evellyn. Thanks!

God really does answer prayer.

I know, some people don't believe that. Some say it, but don't mean it. Some people pray without expecting God to actually listen to them. To you, I say, He is listening. And He is speaking; you just need to learn to listen to Him.

♥

The other night, I was in bed, tossing and turning, trying to get to sleep. But my back hurt. I have had back issues since I was a teenager, but this was more than just the usual. I had a sharp pain in the center of my back; it reminded me very much of when I had had a rib out of place. When it had happened before, it had gotten progressively worse, until I could hardly move. I finally went to the chiropractor. And it had taken several treatment before it was all better. Now, on Friday night, after the chiropractor was closed for the weekend, I was in terrible pain. I knew I was going to be driving all day Sunday, and wouldn't be able to visit a chiropractor in Kansas without paying the exorbitant first-visit fee. So I talked to my Abba, my heavenly Daddy who loves His little girl and wants the best for her(me). I told Him about the pain, where it was, how it felt, how I didn't want to have to deal with it all week...and by the time I finished describing the pain, it was gone. I wanted to laugh out loud, but Hubby was sleeping and I didn't want to wake him. God had answered my prayer before I was done praying it! Psalm 139:4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.

♥

Yesterday, I started driving at 5:30 in the morning, so it was still dark, and I was in a part of the city I don't know well. And I saw a sign that said "Interstate closed at ______"... There was a major accident and they had closed the highway at that spot. I prayed that the accident would be cleared away and the highway reopened by the time I got to that spot. And I think God chuckled to Himself and said "I have a better idea." When I reached the place where the highway was closed I saw the flashing lights ahead. And then I noticed a little white car in front of me had pulled off the highway just before the accident. And I heard the inaudible voice of the Lord: "Follow." So I did. I followed the white car through a construction zone and back onto the highway a few miles from where we had left it. God had answered my prayer, but not in the way I had expected. Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My says," declares the Lord.

♥

Add to that the fact that I had slept a total of about 30 minutes the night before our trip, then drove almost 12 hours in a row, and our safe arrival in Kansas was nothing short of a miracle. ☺

Started another prayer shawl.

This morning, my pastor announced that his wife Laura has cancer. What a shock. She's young, and healthy, but she found out this week that she has colon cancer. Not what you expect to hear in a Sunday morning sermon. At the end of the service, we sang an awesome worship song; some of the lyrics are:

So I'll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned,
In awe of the One who gave it all.
I'll stand, my soul, Lord, to You surrendered;
All I am is Yours.

I couldn't sing; I was crying too hard. I was reminded of my mother-in-law, who passed away about a year and a half ago, from cancer. I don't even know Laura very well, but I still felt like we were about to lose another family member. So I cried for Laura, as I attempted to pray and to worship. And, again like before, I felt God speaking to me. He told me, "Make a shawl for her."

So this afternoon, I again searched through patterns, and I debated with my myself over which color of yarn I should use. In the end, I decided to design my own pattern, using an easy lace pattern that I have memorized. And I decided to use the same yarn I had used for Rebekah and Allyson's shawl; the variegated blue recycled cotton. I've only knitted a few inches on the "Laura shawl", so I won't post pics yet. But I will after I get it about halfway done. And I intend to put the pattern on my other blog, which I'm still working on. I want to have a separate blog, just for my original designs; when it's ready, I'll link to it here.

To anyone who reads this, if you believe in the power of prayer, I'd like to ask you to join me in praying for Laura. I'll be praying with each stitch of this shawl.

Thanks for praying!

Rebekah is home from the hospital! She is still on bedrest, and will be for the next 6 weeks or so, but at least she's at home. Please keep her in your prayers.

I am working on the shawl, and am about 4/5 of the way done. Another week or so ought to do it. I'll make sure to post pics of the finished project before I send it to her.

I'll post more later this afternoon if I get time. I can't let today pass without posting about the Tea Party protests.

Prayers, please!

I'm keeping busy. I've had to set my spinning aside, to work on my "Rebekah and Allyson Shawl". Rebekah is in the hospital now; she lives in a small town and has been airlifted to a city nearby that has a NICU. So far, Allyson is inside where she belongs. I'd like to ask anyone who reads this, if you are they "praying type" to pray for Rebekah and Allyson. During her previous pregnancy, Rebekah was in labor off and on for 6 weeks. She was on bed rest, and in the hospital, for much of that time. But Emma was born full-term. Rebekah was ready, a week earlier, for Emma to be born, but I told her, "I'm sorry, but I prayed for her to be born full-term." Emma was born, a week later, after the 37 week mark.

Rebekah is 30 weeks pregnant. It would be alright if Allyson is born 4 weeks from now, but I'm praying for a full-term baby. I'm asking my friends to agree with me in prayer. Actually, I'm praying that whatever is causing the preterm labor would be healed. That the labor would stop, and wouldn't start again until it's time. Who wants to pray with me for that miracle?

I mentioned I'm working on the shawl. It's almost 4 feet long. So just a little over a foot to go. I sure hope she likes it when it's done.