God is good! One of the benefits of trials is that you get the Joy of seeing God more clearly than you may have before. This is true of us today. We have just come home from a blessed week of vacation and it was a great time for us both to relax, love each other better and more intently, and to focus upon God. In one of our conversations from the week a great truth was discovered about prayer. One of the reasons we pray more during a trial is that we feel the need because it is pressing in on us. But we are no less needy at any point in our life and should always desperately anticipate God to do great things and to come through for us, for we need him to. Our church, Treasuring Christ Church, is about to embark upon a focused time of prayer called "Desperate Anticipation" and it dawned upon us that this is exactly how we feel (and how we should always feel).
We are asking all of you that know us and are following us through this time, to join us for a day of interceding prayer and fasting. We are asking this of you but not expecting this of you. Join us as you can and desire. We are going in for an Amnio on Monday morning at 10 am and this will tell us so much about what we are facing. We will find out finally what we are having and it will also serve to tell us if there are any trisomy or genetic issues. We believe that it would bring God great glory to show his power off before us and the medical world that has given us little hope.
So we are asking God to heal our baby and we are fasting that His glory would be made known in this. We fast because we are desperate for God. We want to show him with the hunger of our bodies , not just that we want a healthy baby but that we are desperate for his presence and his power to be made known here. We are also asking God to help us and you that know us long for his coming more as a result of this trial. I want to thank you in advance for serving us with your prayers and joining us on Monday August 4th for this concentration on God. We love you all and are so thankful for the body!
Dan
Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava,
that we might humble ourselves before our God
to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones,
and all our possessions.
—EZRA 8 : 2 1
"Or who has first given to Him
that it might be paid back to Him again?
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever. Amen."
—ROMANS 1 1 : 3 5 - 3 6
I will be fasting and praying on your behalf tomorrow, monday the 4th. I love you all. God is awesome and He is able! Praise Him!
Posted by: Amber Greenlees | August 03, 2008 at 10:11 PM
We live near a church that has bells that ring every 15 minutes. Every time I hear them tomorrow I will say a prayer for you guys!
Posted by: Sandra Peoples | August 03, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Adam and I will be praying with you here. Thanking God for what He's about to do! Love you guys- Sara
Posted by: Sara Wulbecker Hess | August 03, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Hey Yall! Know that I love you and miss you guys so much. I keep up with your blog daily and will be pleading for God's Glory with you on Monday, even from all the way on this side of the ocean!! Wish i could be there just to give you big big hugs right now. Allison
Posted by: Allison | August 03, 2008 at 03:18 PM
Chappell Family,
We are praying for you regularly. Mac and I will be doing battle on our knees as a family for you.. especially tomorrow. I am sitting here with tears as I read your Prayer of Hannah article. I have been amazed and encouraged by your faith and strength that you have found in God's Grace. With tons of prayer going in your behalf,
Dawn and Mac Gunnels
Posted by: Gunnels | August 03, 2008 at 02:45 PM
love you both...
nicole
Posted by: nicole wilson | August 02, 2008 at 11:22 AM
You will definintly be in my prayers. Big hugs!!
Posted by: Zsera | August 02, 2008 at 11:10 AM