Words have power. Written words provide proof. You can read them, and reread them whenever you want. They can speak life to someone who needs encouragement. They can speak death to someone who is being deceived. The choice lies within you. How is it that you want people to remember you? Encourager...that is the gift that God has laid on my heart. To use my written, spoken, and/or sung words to lift people up. To be one link in their road to healing, restoration, joy. I have been without those things, and I claim them to be mine again. If you want me to seek God on a prayer for a specific situation...that is why I am here. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to pray God's Word of Life over you.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Oh April!

I am not sure what this month of April has done to me...but I am sorry to say it has not done good things for my blog. If the enemy can't keep you from ever knowing Christ...he will keep you busy. I have been so busy with things I can't even list...because I honestly can't remember. It has mostly been non-sense. That is how I know...I need to start fighting for my passion to write. I haven't lost it...just haven't been making time for it.

I pray that May will be a much better time for me. Less rain. More beautiful days. Happier attitudes. And more God-filled days of writing!!

I am currently preparing for a women's retreat that our church is offering in a few weeks. I am giving a testimony to God's faithfulness and goodness to me. I am anxious...in a good way...to speak and sing to the women that God directs. If any of you are feeling called to come and hear of God's protection over his daughter (that would be me) I would love to give you the details. Email me...comment...call. I know that God is going to heal some people of some emotional brokenness that day. If you think it may be you...it will be worth your effort to come....because the women of the Salt Church have been praying for you! =)

One Day Women's Conference
Saturday, May 14th 10am-4pm
Refreshments, catered lunch, fellowship, worship, laughter, and probably tears (from me for sure...Haha!)...all provided at no cost to you!
Come to the Salt Church and revive your walk with God!

Love...Vanes

Friday, April 29, 2011

A name of power!

So...I have to take a break in my prego journey for this post. I was at church this past Thursday night for a special speaker. During worship we were singing...and as soon as I said the name 'Jesus' my mind raced with all of the things that He is to me. As soon as I sat down I started to write them all down. This is my list...and I would love for you all to add to it. Tell me what He is to you!

Power.
Grace.
Forgiveness.
Self-less.
Mercy.
Righteous.
Perfect.
Healer.
Sacrifice.
Unconditional love.
Truth.
Creator.
King.
Alpha.
Omega.
Intoxicating.
Sweet.
Meek.
Gentle.
Spirit.
Mindful.
Considerate.
Gentleman.
Life.
Consistent.
Warrior.
Strength.
Living.
Worship.
Trinity.
Active.
Intelligent.
All-knowing.
All-powerful.
Soverign.
Savior.
Lord.
Father.
Friend.
Glorious.
Faithful.
Author.
Prayer.
Conversation.
Compassion.
Answer.
Vision.

What thoughts run through your mind about Jesus? What does that name of power mean to you?
 I pray that it means Savior...to you. I pray that it means Lord over your life. If it doesn't...I write this to reach out to you. I pray that you will seek Him. I pray that you will search for Him, and follow His voice. If you want to know how to do this...I would absolutely be delighted to pray for you. He has given me some of those traits that I listed. One of them...warrior. I am a warrior of prayer. And I love....love....LOVE to use the gifts that God has entrusted me with.

You can not possibly comprehend unconditional love if you don't believe in the name of Jesus. And it is worth fighting for! The enemy says wait. The enemy says you aren't good enough. The enemy says you don't fit in. The enemy says you are unworthy, unusable.

But I serve a God that sees me through the blood of His son....Jesus. I serve a God that knows that He doesn't create anyone unworthy or unusable for His Kingdom. Come as you are...and see the power of the name of Jesus. I love you, because God created you!

Monday, April 18, 2011

My Journey Through 7 Pregnancies-Part One

Okay...so this is post one of...I am not sure how many. How is that for details? Haha! I know that God wants me to share these stories...but I am wordy. (Shocker!) And I am not sure anyone can handle that many words in just one day. So, keep coming back if you are touched by it. If you know someone else who has gone through similar pain...and they are struggling...send them this way. I have them in mind while I am writing this. God longs for healing. God longs for restored dreams. God longs for you all to find Him forever faithful. God longs for peace in your circumstance.

So, here goes....
Just a few short months after my husband and I eloped on April 18th, 2001 (Yes...our 10th anniversary is TODAY)...we decided to try to have a baby. We conceived very quickly after making our decision. As soon as the positive test came back...we called our doctor. Her secretary said a postive test is always a positive...so we started to share our news. Some of the reactions of our friends and family were priceless. Jumping up and down and screaming. Some...not so much. =/

If my memory is correct...we found out in the beginning of the week that I was pregnant...and by the end I had miscarried. It was too short of a time span to have any testing done to try to figure out the why. And they don't do much until you have lost 3 babies. =( For those people that have never experienced a loss like this...you are blessed. What you may not understand is that from the moment we found out we were going to have a baby...we had already gotten excited. When the life was gone...it felt as though God 'took' the baby from the only two people that had already learned to love him/her. You don't have to understand it...but believe it. Love is instant when it comes to your child. It doesn't take nine months. It takes two little pink lines on a pregnancy test.

Crushed. I was absolutely crushed. So many emotions. All of those people I had told of our good news...and news like that travels FAST...now I had to tell them otherwise. I hated every second of that. I was shocked at how many insensitive people didn't understand that I was a mother in grief. They didn't see me as a mother because I had never held my baby. I think that most people just assume that when they get pregnant...everything will just be fine. Well...that innocent thought pattern was tainted for me. I knew otherwise...and I was about to let it rule me.

So that is part one in my journey. It has to get much worse to get better. I don't even agree with myself in how I used to feel towards my losses. It is just the honesty of what I was dealing with. You see, God knew that I would be able to reach out to people through my writing. He knew that He could use me to aid in the healing of others. So I know that I went through a lot of pain...to show that He is victorious. If this post touches you because of a disappointment you have faced...or are facing...I would love to pray for you. It doesn't have to be about children. Our innocence can be tainted by circumstance in anything. Bitterness and anger can set in. Those are not of God...and they need to be put aside. For we are new creations in Christ. He died for our healing. Take advantage of His suffering for your situation. He did it for YOU my dear friend!

Comment below or give me your email address...and I would love to be a link to your process.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Coming soon!

God is taking me down a road that I haven't visited for a while. It is a bit scary...but I trust Him. How could I not? I was reading yesterday about a woman's journey with infertility. I know...I know. You can see the pictures of my four children. Yes...I gave birth to them all. (I won't go into those details. Lol!) What you don't see is the heartache that came before them.

I have a LOT going on today. Poop in the tub. Vomitting mucus on the beds. Fevers. Medicine. Disappointment. Sadness. So, I will be back to tell you more. Just wanted to assure you that I am still here...hearing from God...and writing about it. I will share it as soon as I can. It could help the road to healing for someone that crosses this path.

Say a prayer for this household if you think of it. We could use it. =) Thanks!

Friday, April 8, 2011

It has been too long

Hey all. I am glad to be back. We had some major issues with our computer and had to get it fixed, which was not cheap. But...as I said, I am so glad to be back. I have missed writing! I didn't want to wait any longer...but I do have to make it kind of quick. I have a little boy who had a fever and was throwing up in the middle of the night. I think that my kids got together last night and mapped out a plan of who was going to wake up every 30 minutes. With four of them...they kept me going until 4am. So, if I don't make much sense...please forgive me. =) Pray that they all take a nap at the same time today...so that I can.
God has been helping me to reveal the plots of satan lately. How about you? If you are going through trials...are you seeing the deceiver? Are you learning to fight him off? Are you gaining knowledge on how he has been getting to you...so that you can beat him at his game?

 I pray that you are. I pray that you aren't just taking it...like that is how it has to be. I pray that you are getting stronger everyday. I pray that you are relying on God for your strength. I pray that you are gaining wisdom on how to be a more effective faith-filled child of the King.

On another note...I am really excited for God to give me the opportunity to sing my newest song..."Stronger". I get choked up each time I sing it to Him...because I know what He brought me through. I can't wait to give my testimony of God's constant protection over my life.

Pray that God will work out the details for our church's first women's retreat. I know it is going to be powerful. I am so thankful that I get to be a small part of it. If anyone is interested in details on the retreat....you are all welcome to come. God has already sparked an excitement in those of us that are planning it. I feel anxious...in a good way...because I can't wait for God to work in the lives of the Godly women I am surrounded by.