Hello friends. Thank you SO MUCH for your wonderful comments and encouragement to us as a family. We have been carried by God's amazing peace every step of these last few weeks and are so blessed to have so many people praying and believing with us.
As we head towards our 36th week of pregnancy, we are getting ready to go to Cape Town in preparation for our precious Zac's birth. We drive on Wednesday with our girls and then go for all the scans, meet the doctors & specialists and hopefully get a rundown of the hospital where Zac will be born.
Brett and I can sense that we are in the last stretch of the pregnancy now and these last few weeks are a time of leaning into Jesus. There is so much we cannot control. There is so much we cannot predict. The journey to Cape Town feels like Jesus asking us to walk on the water. When my mind begins to contemplate the size of the waves, my heart reminds me of the certainty of the One on whom our eyes are fixed upon. Walking on water was a breeze for Him, so if that is what He asks of us, certainly it isn't as impossible as it would seem ;0)
The closer we get to Zac coming, the more we are asked if we are "prepared" for all scenarios, whether good or bad. I understand the heart behind this question, but I'm not always certain on how to answer. Here is my attempt to express our hearts as the time draws closer.
If it is a question of whether we are prepared for the worst case scenario, then our answer is how does anyone ever prepare themselves for defeat when cultivating a heart of faith in the certainty of God's overcoming work on the cross for our son. No. We have not prepared ourselves to grieve. I don't think anyone can prepare to grieve until you are in that situation. If it is a question of whether we are prepared for the possibility of surgery, then we can firmly answer that we have placed ourselves in the wisest place to have Zac's birth - in Cape Town where an exceptional team of Doctors and Surgeons have been preparing themselves in the event that they can possibly do anything to help Zac. I have been monitored closely ever since the diagnosis. First and foremost, our hope is set in Jesus Christ and what He is able to do - heal completely and to the uttermost. How He does this miracle is up to Him. Our work is simply to believe. Our heart remains steadfast that we would rather Jesus Himself restore Zac's heart than him having to go through multiple surgeries. Even now the doctors have no certainties on what can be done, BUT OUR JESUS DOES!!! That is a great comfort to us when we contemplate all we have been told by doctors.
When we pray, think about and talk about or to Zac, we celebrate the life of God in him and the beautiful destiny he already has in Christ. There has been much joy in between the tears that have flowed as we have walked this weighty road. We are in no way ignorant about the seriousness of Zac's heart condition, but when given the news I realized that I had only 2 choices. I could either walk seized in fear and stress for the remainder of my pregnancy, which would be such a stressful environment for my son or I could open my heart to the peace that Jesus offers all who have need. I can honestly testify that His peace has been a place of joy, comfort and strength to me. His peace has allowed me to see what is possible for those who seek Him - that there is always hope. It has allowed Brett, the girls and I to celebrate Zac and enjoy him growing as a member of our family. God's peace has been our anchor.
Are we nervous? I heard Brett answer this so well the other day. Just like any athlete who trains and prepares himself for a race, on race day he faces the nervousness of waiting to see what the outcome will be. As much as he has prepared, he will only know the full experience once in the race. This is so true of where we are at. We have done and are continuing to do all that we have heard our Father teach us on how to tackle each day. Come Zac's birth in the next few weeks, we know that He will be standing in that delivery room with us. Love Himself will be with us as we get ready for the last leg of the race.
All our love,
Brett and Janine
If it is a question of whether we are prepared for the worst case scenario, then our answer is how does anyone ever prepare themselves for defeat when cultivating a heart of faith in the certainty of God's overcoming work on the cross for our son. No. We have not prepared ourselves to grieve. I don't think anyone can prepare to grieve until you are in that situation. If it is a question of whether we are prepared for the possibility of surgery, then we can firmly answer that we have placed ourselves in the wisest place to have Zac's birth - in Cape Town where an exceptional team of Doctors and Surgeons have been preparing themselves in the event that they can possibly do anything to help Zac. I have been monitored closely ever since the diagnosis. First and foremost, our hope is set in Jesus Christ and what He is able to do - heal completely and to the uttermost. How He does this miracle is up to Him. Our work is simply to believe. Our heart remains steadfast that we would rather Jesus Himself restore Zac's heart than him having to go through multiple surgeries. Even now the doctors have no certainties on what can be done, BUT OUR JESUS DOES!!! That is a great comfort to us when we contemplate all we have been told by doctors.
When we pray, think about and talk about or to Zac, we celebrate the life of God in him and the beautiful destiny he already has in Christ. There has been much joy in between the tears that have flowed as we have walked this weighty road. We are in no way ignorant about the seriousness of Zac's heart condition, but when given the news I realized that I had only 2 choices. I could either walk seized in fear and stress for the remainder of my pregnancy, which would be such a stressful environment for my son or I could open my heart to the peace that Jesus offers all who have need. I can honestly testify that His peace has been a place of joy, comfort and strength to me. His peace has allowed me to see what is possible for those who seek Him - that there is always hope. It has allowed Brett, the girls and I to celebrate Zac and enjoy him growing as a member of our family. God's peace has been our anchor.
Are we nervous? I heard Brett answer this so well the other day. Just like any athlete who trains and prepares himself for a race, on race day he faces the nervousness of waiting to see what the outcome will be. As much as he has prepared, he will only know the full experience once in the race. This is so true of where we are at. We have done and are continuing to do all that we have heard our Father teach us on how to tackle each day. Come Zac's birth in the next few weeks, we know that He will be standing in that delivery room with us. Love Himself will be with us as we get ready for the last leg of the race.
All our love,
Brett and Janine
Comments
It's morning here in Brazil and had already decided to shut down the computer. But seeing this new blog post could not resist the curiosity to read what was written.
I wonder what you are feeling. Certainly you should not prepare to be sad. "Just to cda bad days." Always be ready to celebrate, because the owner of your life, you are always near. Walking in faith.
There's a song that says in Brazil. "Every time my faith is proven. You give me a chance to grow a little more The mountains and valleys, deserts and seas atraveso lead me closer to you My tests are no bigger than my God .. and will not stop I walk. If you do not open the sea before me, God will make me walk on water.
Breaking into faith. My life will put its power. Flourish in faith. Each day I'll win the supernatural. I will fight and win. I plant and harvest. Every day I live to break faith. "
Flourish in the faith. When flourish in faith, the name of which is greater than all the problems, is glorified. Do not take your eyes off the Lord. Keep looking at the sky, not the mountains. "For our help cometh from the Lord," Hallelujah! Start celebrating. It will be a great celebration of praise to God.
Whatever you do, flourish in the faith.
I remember the persevering faith of their little girl with the case of the hamster. I'll never forget it. It flourished in the faith, his gaze was not placed in the power of the waves, but the Lord can do all things.
Solomon says: "As imginei in my mind, so it is."
Understanding God's greatness and beauty of life that God gave him. See God breathed life into the nostrils of Zac. Can you see?
In love and grace always wonderful Jesus our hope.
Let him hug for me!
Do you understand what I said?
God bless
Tracy
Watching you as you walk on the water with Precious Jesus has been awe inspiring! I am wholly convinced that our sweet boy will be born at his appointed time, happy and whole!! I CANNOT wait to hold our little Zac in my arms! I love you so very much!
All my love xx
Love always,
Mom
In Christ
Isaiah 41:10
In Christ
Isaiah 41:10
~Kim
One of my friends wrote a book about an experience trusting God with her son, Jud, that I just know would speak to your heart. It's called Eyes That See and her name is Christina Levasheff. It's available on amazon, I can't recommend it enough.