Lord, I'm Amazed by You

I haven't been a fan of the word amazing or its variations for some time now. Maybe its not so much the word itself that makes me cringe, but the way its over-used in today's society. One of the reasons I'm enjoying this particular season of The Bachelor is because I haven't heard "OMG, he's so amaaaaazing." about 80 bajillion times. (Please don't let my Bachelor reference discredit the true content of this post. Please.) I just feel like it should be reserved for things that are truly amazing; things that are so rare, so uncommon that they truly leave you in awe.

Over the last few weeks a line from a Philips, Craig & Dean song has been playing over and over in my mind. It says, "Lord, I'm amazed by You. Lord, I'm amazed by You. Lord, I'm amazed by You and how You love me."

You see, about 3 weeks ago a friend of mine went in to see her OB for a regular check-up on Friday. She was about to be 33 weeks on Monday and when her doctor had a hard time finding their baby girl's heart beat they sent her in to the hospital in a frenzy. Realizing the baby's heart rate was dangerously low they decided to deliver sweet little Delaney 8 weeks early. In the delivery they discovered her cord had gotten wrapped around her neck twice, between her legs and then back up and around her head and her amniotic fluid was almost 100% depleted. Had my friend not gone in for her appointment, if she had had to cancel for some reason or hadn't scheduled for that day in the first place, little Delaney would be in heaven right now. Not only was the realization that she needed to be born and the perfect timing of it all such a miracle, but aside from her tiny size - born at just over 3 pounds - you wouldn't know she had been born so early. She started breathing on her own less than 24 hours after delivery and now, 3 weeks later is up to almost 5 pounds and nursing from her mommy! I just keep thinking God knew she needed to be strong because she was going to be born earlier than expected. He gave her the lungs to breathe on her own much earlier than any NICU nurse or doctor would have predicted. She's quite the feisty little lady and such a fighter!

And then there's a friend of my husband's whose marriage was on its way to divorce. Unimaginable damage had been done and papers had been served. I know just in finding out about the separation Drew and I had started praying for this couple and are certain their families and friends were too. Just about 10 days ago the husband made public that he had given his will over to God and wants to spend the rest of his life proving to his wife she's worth fighting for! I don't know the details of where the 2 stand now, but I know this: God has already worked a miracle in changing the heart of this man!

And last Wednesday as I sat in an ultrasound room and saw our newest addition on the screen (which looked a lot like a kidney bean) I was amazed by it's heart. Even at just a little over 7 weeks gestation I could clearly see the different chambers of the heart working. I was truly amazed at the handiwork of God. By the way, you all will get to meet that little "kidney bean" in October.

God is the author and protecter of life. He can restore your marriage, your faith, and your family, and most importantly He loves you. He's always at work on your behalf.  It won't always be easy, but it'll always be worth it. Each of those stories I mentioned didn't come without some measure of fear, doubt and insecurity: Delaney's parents were terrified on the way to the hospital not sure of the outcome, our friends were heartbroken over the damaged relationship and marriage, and as you all know losing our  baby last fall was devastating to Drew and I. But God's always working.

"God can do anything you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!" Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)