I think we may already have used today’s bible verse for something last week, but even so, we’re using it again this week. It’s Isaiah 40:29-31. Pretty appropriate, huh?
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
~ Isaiah 40:29-31
I was awakened yesterday morning early when I received the below text from a dear friend who has had a rough several months with some tough choices on her plate. Don’t be fooled. She knows who Jesus is. She, EXACTLY like all of us, is a sinner. She’s no more of a sinner than me. No less than you. We ALL fall short of the glory of God. But her choices have been weighing heavily on her now for months and months. She’s in a relationship that she knows isn’t sanctioned by Jesus. Maybe this sounds familiar to you. It was about 4:30 am her time when I received the below text:
“Good morning doll! I hope this text doesn’t turn into a long one. I woke up this morning feeling like God’s tapping on my shoulder. I think something happened within me when you had the baby. A post you made..you said ‘He is yours!’ Your faith has renewed my faith. I’m clearing up the nonsense in my life so that I can live a life to serve Him. Thanks my friend. Even from afar, you’ve touched me”.
I read this text and replied immediately, asking if she was awake enough to chat and I called her. And we cried together. We talked through the past 2 weeks. I explained the peace that surpasses ALL understanding that I’ve felt through this entire time. There’s ONLY one way that peace is possible. Jesus.
I know what choices lie ahead for my friend, M. I know she has a living situation she needs to change. I volunteered myself and a bunch of my friends locally (you can all thank me later! HA!) to help with that process. I think we ALL know how hard it can be to KNOW what the right thing is to do and just not be able to pull the trigger. The unknown is hard, but manageable if we let Jesus take the wheel. If we try to control it all ourselves, no wonder we’re worried! We’re a mitigated disaster! HA!
But let’s look at Isaiah 40: Those who hope in the Lord will RENEW. THEIR. STRENGTH. M, this is what awaits you with Jesus. You can soar on wings like eagles. You can run and not grow weary (and you and I both know how we feel about “running” in general!). You can walk and not be faint. GOD is how you get the strength to do all of this. JESUS is how you get renewed every day.
As it’s Monday, we’ve got 10 people to pray for, so let’s do this thing:
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
~ Isaiah 40:29-31
I was awakened yesterday morning early when I received the below text from a dear friend who has had a rough several months with some tough choices on her plate. Don’t be fooled. She knows who Jesus is. She, EXACTLY like all of us, is a sinner. She’s no more of a sinner than me. No less than you. We ALL fall short of the glory of God. But her choices have been weighing heavily on her now for months and months. She’s in a relationship that she knows isn’t sanctioned by Jesus. Maybe this sounds familiar to you. It was about 4:30 am her time when I received the below text:
“Good morning doll! I hope this text doesn’t turn into a long one. I woke up this morning feeling like God’s tapping on my shoulder. I think something happened within me when you had the baby. A post you made..you said ‘He is yours!’ Your faith has renewed my faith. I’m clearing up the nonsense in my life so that I can live a life to serve Him. Thanks my friend. Even from afar, you’ve touched me”.
I read this text and replied immediately, asking if she was awake enough to chat and I called her. And we cried together. We talked through the past 2 weeks. I explained the peace that surpasses ALL understanding that I’ve felt through this entire time. There’s ONLY one way that peace is possible. Jesus.
I know what choices lie ahead for my friend, M. I know she has a living situation she needs to change. I volunteered myself and a bunch of my friends locally (you can all thank me later! HA!) to help with that process. I think we ALL know how hard it can be to KNOW what the right thing is to do and just not be able to pull the trigger. The unknown is hard, but manageable if we let Jesus take the wheel. If we try to control it all ourselves, no wonder we’re worried! We’re a mitigated disaster! HA!
But let’s look at Isaiah 40: Those who hope in the Lord will RENEW. THEIR. STRENGTH. M, this is what awaits you with Jesus. You can soar on wings like eagles. You can run and not grow weary (and you and I both know how we feel about “running” in general!). You can walk and not be faint. GOD is how you get the strength to do all of this. JESUS is how you get renewed every day.
As it’s Monday, we’ve got 10 people to pray for, so let’s do this thing:
- For my friend M, that she will find truth in Isaiah 40:29-31, that she will use the resources and support system You have provided to her to change her situation and get “right with God”. I pray for her peace and her commitment to making the hard choice to change her circumstance. I pray specifically for a new job opportunity to reveal itself to her.
- For the remaining babies in NICU this morning – that you will heal whatever miniature body parts aren’t functioning properly that are keeping them away from their homes and their families.
- For the families of the babies in NICU, that you, too, will find the peace that surpasses understanding, especially the families of KJ and JJ whom we met and prayed with during our time in NICU.
- For the doctors who will be reviewing baby Isaiah’s test results and relaying that information to us this week, that they will be granted the gift of “delivery” so that we are able to receive the information clearly and concisely, with contagious and endless hope for the future.
- For John Finn and his son David, that they’ll together find peace as they work through some of the special needs 21-year-old David has.
- For all of us sinners, EVERY single one of us, who has broken God’s commandments, that you would forgive us for our sins and if we are stuck in a recurring sin, that you would use Isaiah if necessary to help us know that we, too, can be renewed and restored only through YOU!
- For our new friends across this country, especially Mark L in Texas who has volunteered to make a monthly donation to the Tesori Family Foundation FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE to help other families in need.
- For me and Paul, and the board of the Tesori Family Foundation, that we will be good stewards of YOUR money and that we will have a true heart for giving and give willingly and without reservation.
- For EVERYONE who has reached out to us to share their stories or to tell us they are praying for us, that they will know we are reading every single one and know how moved we are that they are using some of their prayers on our sweet boy.
- For me and for Paul, and for all blended families dealing with situations that may challenge that unique family structure, that we will remember that Alexis at the sweet, innocent age of 8, shouldn’t be left behind as we navigate the sometimes windy road that is a beautiful child with some unique needs.
Lastly, and this is key… please understand: I have not changed my friend M. I am just a vessel, heck, I’m just the earthy mother to the vessel, that God is using to change lives! Isaiah literally means “Salvation of The Lord”. We knew that when we chose his name. That’s no accident. God is using our precious miracle to change the hearts of those that know him.
Stay tuned for an Isaiah update later today! He has several appointments today and we should have some information to share! Also, please continue to keep the prayer requests coming so I can keep a running list of who we are needing to pray for! You can do it right through the Contact Us page of this website…
GO. GET. RENEWED!!!!!
Hello from our little cuddlebug! “Hey lady, you got that milk stuff handy?”