Ok…So I finally finished this post that I began on December 14, 2011 today on August 3, 2012. Wow…what a ride. I think the spring was just as eventful as the fall!! I’ll explain later…on to the post!
The lessons that we have learned through the pregnancy with Nathanael and his arrival are plentiful. To begin this post I want to share the founding principle that is the bedrock of our trust relationship with our Abba Father…God is Faithful!! Yes, He certainly is!
This past Sunday was our second Sunday back at church since Nathanael’s birth. Yes, I put him in the nursery!! I know you Mom’s are wondering. We are blessed with some great volunteer’s in our children’s ministry who LOVE babies! That always puts a Mom’s heart at ease. After a stirring message on God’s faithfulness, our worship team began to lead us in a song by Matt Redman called “Never Once”. As I looked at the words and sung them my heart within me leaped. This was our journey over the past months! Quickly my hands were lifted in praise to my God and tears poured down my face and I proclaimed the Lord’s faithfulness to us. I had no idea but Tony was apparently having the same experience. I tear up just thinking about it. I want to share with you the words to this song and then I will share several scenes that flashed through my eyes as I sang that song.
Never Once
Verse 1
Standing on this mountain top
looking just how far we’ve come
knowing that for every step
you were with us
Verse 2
Kneeling on this battle ground
seeing just how much you’ve done
knowing every victory
was your power in us
Chorus
Never Once did we ever walk alone
Never once did you leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Pre-Chorus
Scares and struggles on the way
but with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts will say…
Never Once did we ever walk alone
Never once did you leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Bridge
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we walk alone
Carried by your constant Grace
Held within Your perfect Peace
Never Once, NO, we never walk alone
Every step we are breathing in Your Grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Some scenes that flashed…
1. September of 2009 – The morning I was ready to deal with my fears of having children after God had spent the previous 8 months growing my level of trust in Him. He was so kind and gentle with me and Oh, sweet freedom from those fears came rushing in like the ocean tide as God spoke truth to my heart.
2. The look on Tony’s face and the tears that gathered in his eyes when I told him I had dealt with my fears and I was truly ready to have children.
3. The calmness I sensed all through the year of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 knowing that we were desiring a family but God’s timing had not arrived yet.
4. Laying out on the beach in Mexico with a good friend sharing with her how I found freedom and deep down inside knowing I probably was already pregnant.
5. The sweetness of the day I crossed the finish line of the Albany marathon in early March of 2011 knowing I was almost 5 weeks pregnant and no one else knew but me and God! I hope this was the first of many long runs together!
6. The strength and comfort of Tony’s embrace and the tears in his eyes when I shared the news with him. And the fantastic dinner we had at our favorite Italian restaurant.
7. On the day Nathanael was born, leaving the house that morning saying Good Bye to our sweet Schnauzer, Nissi a.k.a “The Niss-Piece”.
8. Sitting anxiously in the doctor’s office WAITING!!
9. The walk from the doctor’s office to the hospital with my “face set like flint” on the Lord and His faithfulness.
10. The scary walk from the prep room to the O.R. (yes, you walk that route…no wheel chair!)
11. The look on Tony’s face when we heard Nathanael cry for the first time and knew he was ok! I still love that cry!!
I learned that my God is so faithful and kind to me. He cares about us, has made a huge investment in us and our freedom, and desires that we experience His life flowing through us daily.
Oh, God is faithful!! Thank you, Jesus!!!
Dana