9.11.11

I still remember exactly where I was when I got the news. Do you?

Hard to believe it's been 10 yrs.

Here's a tribute video the media department at my church put together for 9/11. It was too good so I have to share!

Cambodia 2011!!

 

Very exciting news...I'm going back to Cambodia!!

I will be sending out a support letter like the picture soon. If you would like to be included, please comment to let me know. I will be mailing and emailing this letter. I'm hoping for a HUGE group of supporters. I need prayer warriors and financial support. I'm very excited about this opportunity. And cannot wait to share it with you. 

Just to go back for a moment, read these blog entries from 2008. God really showed me A LOT! And I know he has even more in store for me this year. Praise Him!
Post Cambodia
Home Sweet Home

Go before me Lord.

I work at a church. I love my job. I love my church. I'm in the ministry and I'm blessed.

Every other week we have campus staff meeting. In these meetings we get updates about whats going on in all the different ministry areas and then we break up and pray in groups.

Now, I will be brutally honest. I have a hard time with prayer time. I literally view this time as sharing requests or praises that are on your heart so we can pray about them. I do not view the time as an opportunity to share everything going on in your life lately. I know this sounds mean but hey it's who I am. This is probably why I get frustrated in groups when prayer sharing time takes 45 minutes to an hour.

But in staff meetings it's a different story. We go around and share whats on our hearts. And I love how authentic we can be. And then one person prays for the group. That is my kind of prayer time-efficient! I know what you are thinking..."Wow, you have no compassion, no love, what a hateful person you are." But that's not true. I am a compassionate person. I do have some serious love for others. I just enjoy an efficient group prayer time!

Anyway, the whole reason I am writing this post is because this past week one of the people made a statement as he prayed for us over and over. And it really stuck with me. With every request, he prayed for God to go before us. Just sit on that for a second.

"Go before me Lord." What a profound statement. I've started praying that now too. And knowing that my Lord is going before me makes everything better.

Prayers

This morning in my quiet time I was reminded of how important praying is. What's funny is I've actually been wrestling with that lately. God always has a funny way of telling me things. So, first let me say that I do love praying with the God, I talk to him often. I have a struggle with what to pray about. Because some things, I think He already knows that, no need for me to mention it.

But the power of pray is huge. Just recently, I had been praying for a friend's pregnancy. And at her next appointment God performed a miracle. He totally answered our prayers, she was completely healed. You see, that was a reminder to me that prayer works.

The Bible tells us to "pray without ceasing." It also says "submit your requests to God, with thanksgiving." I actually read once that "prayer is the key to God's heart." I definitely want that key!

So, think about what/who you want to lift up to the Lord and do it. Keep a prayer journal if you can. It's very encouraging to look back over days, weeks, months and see all that God has done!

Prayer requests...

This morning in my quiet time, the Lord reminded me to "be still and know that [He] is God". I know the power of prayer is huge, so I thought I would post some prayer requests on here. I would love it, if you could take a moment each day or once a week for the next 3 weeks to pray for me, Baby Walkup, and Greg. Please comment and let me know if your praying, even if I don't personally know you I would still love your prayers and i'd like to thank you :)

-I start progressing towards labor (they won't induce me before 10/2 unless i'm atleast 1 cm dilated-and i'd like to schedule with a doctor i know that week)
-Or that I go into labor on my own and don't have to be induced-God knows ths baby's birthday already!
-I can get some sleep over the next 3 weeks (haven't been sleeping much which is making me pretty irritable)
-That this baby will be healthy, a good eater, good sleeper, etc
-That Greg and I will lean on the Lord to prepare us for the baby
-Patience for me, I keep thinking 3 weeks isnt far at all but thats making it go slower
-Comfort for me when my body is very much in pain
-Safe delivery (if possible no c-section)
-That this experience has made my marriage stronger and we can rely on each other in the weeks to come

Thank you all so much! I'm excited for this new chapter to begin!

Ps-here's a picture of me from this past week...


Be sure to go to my blog and vote if you think Baby Walkup is gonna be a girl or boy :)

Some 2009 Encouragement for my blog readers!

Hey my faithful blog readers,
I got this video in my email today and thought it was so encouraging. So I wanted to share with you. As the new year begins, I'd like to know how I can best pray for you. Send me an email at rwalkup520@gmail.com and tell me what your requests are and I will pray for you daily! Don't forget to read my other blog Letters to my Papa God

Much love and many blessings-
RW

Praying for you!

I have had my blog readers on my heart lately. I feel the need to write to tell you I am praying for each of you. I wanted to ask...

What can I specifically pray for you or praise God about?

I'm so thankful for you reading my life story.

Love-RW

Never let go because rescue is coming...

But where is it? That's my question today! My heart is literally broken. I just feel as if I'm in a bad dream. I want to wake up, I want everything to be different. But it's not! I know we are supposed to consider it pure joy when we endure trials and tribulations because that develops perseverance and character. Seriously, I don't know if we can take much more. I have listened to these two David Crowder songs over and over this evening and I want to know when is the rescue coming? I do trust in the Lord and my trust is the Lord. But I just hurt so much for the Tucker family. I just saw and felt Brooks moving in Ashly's womb. I know God will never let go, we just have to stand firm.

I guess I should start over and tell those of you who don't know whats happened. My friend Ashly (from work) was a week out from her due date. She went for her checkup yesterday and the doctors couldn't find a heartbeat. It was determined that he had gone to be with the Lord. So starting at 8pm last night she was induced into labor and at 8am this morning the shell of Brooks arrived. It was a very hard day at the hospital. Lots of tears shed, lots of love surrounding, and lots of people their to support them.

Well, the day is over. I'm home now-left with this feeling of sadness. I want to do so much for them but I know they must be alone right now. Please lift them to the Lord. This is such a hard time. With God, we will get through it, I don't know what people do without Jesus.

Here is a video that has been encouraging to me tonight... (below it, I have the words to the "Rescue is Coming" song I referenced)

Rescue is Coming
David Crowder

There’s a darkness in my skin
My cover’s wearing thin, I believe
I’d love to start again, go back to innocent
And never leave

Don’t give up now
A break in the clouds
We could be found
There’s nothing wrong with me
It’s just that I believe things could get better
And there’s nothing wrong with love
I think it’s just enough to believe

Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming
Rescue is coming

And there’s nothing wrong with you
And nothing left to do
But believe something bigger
And there’s nothing wrong with love
I know it’s just enough to believe

Don’t give up now
A break in the clouds
We will be found
Rescue is coming now

The Power of a Praying Woman

Over the past month I have been reading this book  The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian.  And it has been life-changing.  I never realized how important it is to pray for yourself.  And also how strong the power of prayer is! Here's one of my most favorite quotes from the book: "I have come to know that God can smooth my path, calm the storms, keep me and all I care about safe, and even make my way simple when I ask Him to carry the complexities of life for me.  But these things don't just happen, not without prayer." Isn't that an amazing truth to hear.  Anyway-I just thought I would write about that truth today and leave you with my scripture that I memorized this month.

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remains in me.  I am the vine, and you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.  Apart from me you can so nothing. If you remain in me and my words in you-ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you."  John 15:4,5,7