A Magnolia's Heart Beats

I’m back! I have been stalking hanging around the hospital, anticipating the birth of and then holding Ethan and spending time with family. I love my new nephew. I have really been spotty on commenting on everyone’s blogs but life is returning to normal and I’ll be back to normal starting tomorrow! I cannot wait! I’ve missed all ya’ll! Now, on to Thankful Thursday!

Oh, the joys of Thankful Thursday!

Iris chose Peace as the theme for Thankful Thursday.

“There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” ~ Psalm 4:6-8 (ESV ~ emphasis Iris')

I am so thankful for God's peace. I have finally felt some peace tonight from a very hectic week. A flurry of emotions has sent me craving God's peace, the gift He promises us.

This week I want to focus on one thing that has brought me peace. For the last 10 years, I have prayed that God would allow Jennifer, my beloved sister, to be able to have children. My prayer has been that she would be fertile and that whomever God chose as her husband also would be. I was not, so this was something that really tugged at my heart strings to pray for her specifically about, primarily because we are so much alike in the other health problems we have faced.

"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him." Although this was Hannah's prayer in I Samuel 1:27, I have praised God and made it my own. Yesterday God gave me the peace that passes all understanding in fulfilling my heart's desire.

I'm a bona-fide Aunt! Ethan Randall Johnson was born 8/19/2008, 9:33 a.m., 7 lbs., 15 oz., 20 1/4" long. He's simply a miracle and is peace personafied.

God has filled me with peace this week, peace that Jenn's C-Section would be overseen by God, peace that Ethan would be born healthy, and peace that God would help me deal with some anxiety issues surrounding the birth event.

I am so thankful, so awed that God has chosen to bless us with this miracle of life. A tiny bundle of joy just brings peace to my heart when I think of him and of Him.

When I focus on my own problems and the things of this world and people in this world who really make the fruit of peace and patience hard to bear, I am crippled inside. When I focus on God and the miracles He provides, the calmness and serenity of knowing that He truly has us in His hand, that He truly loves us and has *everything* under control, the things of this world grow dim and I just feel the true definition of peace, as Iris said, "from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions."

Abba God, I thank you so much that You are my true Father, that You will truly keep me in perfect peace and will deliver me from disquieting and oppressive emotions. Thank You for holding me in the palm of Your precious hand, for sending Your Son to bridge the gap between us, and for loving me. Thank You for having a perfect plan for my life, and for giving me the peace that passes all understanding when it was *so* not the plan I had for me. Thank You for the health of Jenn Jenn and Ethan. I am reminded of when she was born and that You truly are the giver of life. Thank You for Jennifer and her husband Nathan. Thank You for answering my prayer for the fertility of my sister and her husband, for giving me peace all these years that no matter what, You were ultimately going to impart Your good and perfect will for her. I praise You for the peace of having this prayer answered. I can lie down and sleep in peace tonight because I know You are here among us through Your Holy Spirit, not in some far off galaxy where You are unreachable. Thank You for Thankful Thursday, Lord. Please bless Iris for hosting this meme each week, Father. You know how much this has meant to me, how I can pour out my heart in gratitude to You and hopefully encourage others to do the same. Please keep me in Your will and in Your peace. Pull me back when anxiety in the form of my earthly father or in the form of emotions from the pain of the past threaten to suck me under. I know You are always willing to draw me back and I pray my arms are always outstretched, ready to take Your hand when I go astray. Thank you for friends who understand where I've been and do not judge me for my tears. Most of all, Lord, bless the child You have given to Jenn and Nathan, and help him to grow up to be a man after Your own heart. In Jesus' name I pray..."

I will sleep far better tonight, wrapped in the arms of God's peace and love.

It is my heartfelt desire that you'll visit Iris' site and join in on Thankful Thursday. It is a blessing, indeed!