Tulsa
Tulsa
Let me first say that THERE IS NO VACATION, JOB, MATERIAL OBJECT, RELATIONSHIP, SPORT TEAM, HOBBY OR WHATEVER YOU THINK IS AMAZING... THAT WILL EVER, EVER TRUMP THE HOLY SPIRIT. NOTHING! NOTHING WILL EVER BEAT LETTING YOUR STEPS BE DIRECTED AND PLANNED OUT BY GOD!NOTHING!
And after this trip, I just want to scream out to all people that do not have a relationship with GOD..."just FOLLOW HIM ALREADY!!!!!! stop saying no and just ask God to be your Lord and Saviour because I dare you to put anything up against the Holy Spirit. I dare you to give Him a shot. I dare you to get to know Him. Because I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. That is who I choose to trust. Because I no longer live but Christ lives in me............my life is a crazy, amazing adventure.
With that said let me share how mom and I ended up in Tulsa.
Like millions of you, Friday was spent laying on the floor praying, reading updates, and praying some more. Some where around 9 pm I started looking up info for Little Rock and plane flights. At the time I think I was just looking. I knew that I did not have the money, end of the month for this teacher, and I really don't know why I started looking up travel info. Stayed up really late and really struggled with going to sleep. And my tender Father said, "Caroline, I designed this world on time zones. I have heard your prayers....but others still have hours before bed time...sleep, somebody will always be up praying". I woke up at 6 am with a very heavy desire that I needed to get up and drive to Tulsa to prayer walk the hospital. But I could not afford it right now. So I got up, had my quiet time, read the updates and the Holy Spirit just kept getting stronger and stronger to the point that I felt like I was running because in my mind I already knew there just wasn't a chance I could make it there.
At 9am I called my mom and explained to her my crazy idea that God wanted me to go there and pray on sight, within sight.That I did not want to go to be a burden and if I never even saw Kelly and the family that it would be ok. I would just pray....then I said that I was not going because I did not have the money. Without hesitation my beautiful, wonderful, prayer warrior mother said.."I'll take you!" Then she told my extremely giving, tender-hearted dad and he said "do it" without hesitation. "Gas, food, hotel...we will cover it all!" I can hardly write this without crying because I love my parents so much. Never once do they question me when I need to do the Lords work. No matter how crazy it is they are always cheering me on and saying "what do you need, how can we help". Oh how I ask God to bless them indeed! They are my very best friends!
So I jumped in the shower, drove to Sanger to pick up mom, and we jumped on 35 headed north. 20 minutes into the trip the back tire lost a whole thread thing but we were able to get off at the next exit...where a Goodyear tire place was...that just so happened to not have a line......PRAISE GOD! At first I was feeling like satan was starting to attack us to keep us home but I think now it was all about timing. We Praise Him for full protection over us!
We did not get to Tulsa until 5pm and found out right away that Kelly had not arrived yet. We were able to chat for a few minutes with the darling couple that had brought a gift for them. Now Kelly and I had not met till yesterday. We tried to get together this summer while I was in Arkansas but it just didn't play out. We had emailed and would text back and forth but no face to face time. So I sent her a text once we got there to ask if she had arrived. She said "just got here" and I said "oh good". No idea that mom and I were there. While we waited for her to come up I started losing it....well maybe i was already crazy before that but I could hardly believe that I was going to get to hug on her and talk with her! When I rounded the corner her face lit up and I just walked straight into her arms. So good to hug a dear friend..a heart friend /soul sister..for the first time you know. We, as bloggers, share our souls with many and pray for many and form this Body of Christ really that is beyond church walls. I think my mom said it best...." I think this (the blog communities out pour of love) will be what heaven in like......being met at the pearly gates by many that we might not have known in person but knew their hearts....seeing all the people you touched for the very first time". I like that. I like that the blog world is such a beautiful picture of an ACTIVELY GROWING BODY OF CHRIST!
Anyway, we left the families alone while mom and I parted ways to prayer walk. Just walking and praying for not only Harper but many of the other very very tiny babies and their families in the hospital. When we were finished we were able to go and just sit with Kelly and Scott and both sets of parents for a very long time. J-O-Y DOWN IN MY HEART...DEEP DEEP DOWN IN MY HEART! Oh I just loved the quality time with them. They are all so wonderful and shared one God story after another. Martin/Stamps family......we love you and we thank you for just letting us sit with you for so long like we were family. There was no doubt lingering in that waiting room about who God is. You all love deeply and trust deeply and we went to bless but I think we received a great blessing. OH GOD IS GOOD! There was a moment when I was talking to Kelly that I became very aware that God was fully present. His love was written all over your faces. I praise Him for allowing us to walk in and feel like we had known you forever! Thank you for welcoming us in! love you!
this pictures is of the hospital in Tulsa from our hotel room...left side of pic
mom and I taking pictures of ourselves at dinner after being at the hospital. I am so glad we took these because we could hardly stop boasting in the Lord! What joy we received from being there. What joy it was to pray over every nurse and doctor and visitor that was there! Glad we were able to capture the moment!
mom and I taking pictures of ourselves at dinner after being at the hospital. I am so glad we took these because we could hardly stop boasting in the Lord! What joy we received from being there. What joy it was to pray over every nurse and doctor and visitor that was there! Glad we were able to capture the moment!It is always and WILL ALWAYS be an honor to pray for you out there. I don't take it lightly and I don't care if we have never met before.......I love you so much! I love how God asks us to do the "what seems impossible" sometimes. BUT WHAT I LOVE MOST IS OBEYING HIM AND THEN WATCHING HOW HE PROVIDES IN EVERY WAY SO THE JOB CAN BE DONE! I love how He is getting all the Glory He deserves right now from so many across the country! I love that Father is using Baby Harper to already bring people before Him in prayer. I love that He has heard our ten thousand cries and is answering prayers for Harper right and left! And I love that because of this family and baby girl many will be saved!
Father, where ever you lead I will go. You continue to surprise me and I continue to fall in love with You all over again. I love doing Your work! Thank you for granting me the privilege of spending time with that precious family. Thank you for my parents that just give out of the abundance of love and joy they have for You. Thank you for my precious talks with my mom on the road and my dad keeping us up to date on baby news! Thank you for letting me hug my sweet friend Kelly. We put all our trust and hope in You and You alone! To You be all the Glory and Honor and Praise!