Ethan

http://www.ethanpowell.com/

This is a little boy who has been heavy on my heart for the last couple of weeks. Kevin has a cousin who keeps a list of children who are sick on their blog to get the word out for prayer. Their own Max was an example of how the Lord is still the God of Miracles. I have been praying for several of these children. Some are children of the Kingdom now. I have shed some tears over all of them, but for some reason this little Ethan has weighed heavy on my heart, to the point of weeping. I don't know this boy or his parents, but the Lord, on several occasions, has put their suffering upon my heart and I literally felt that this was my own son. Some might say "Jenni, quit checking on those blogs, you are going to make yourself crazy," but I am thankful to feel! The other day in the car while we were traveling, Alexis was watching "Little Mermaid" in the backseat and when the "scary" part came on, she put her fingers in her ears, closed her eyes, and said "tell me when it's over!" I think I have done that all my life!! "Lord, I can't bear it, tell me when it's over. I am going to build the walls up around my heart, and you can tell me when it is over!" What I have realized is that I was becoming numb to the "groaning" around me. Sure, I know it is there, but if I keep my eyes shut, and my fingers in my ears, it won't effect me! But I have to be AFFECTED!!!! God is waiting on me to MOVE! He has given me the Spirit "not of fear, but of Power, and of love, and of a sound mind." I have to release that Power in prayer, and in the Gifts that He has given. I need to pray for His "Kingdom to come" in the life of this child and into the lives of those who are "groaning" for the Lord. There is much suffering surrounding me, and God wants me to see this, and feel it in the depths. I have worried for too long over the small things: you know, "getting it right", that I have neglected to pray for the Kingdom to break open into the lives around me--those who suffer, those who don't know the Lord, those who know Him, but don't grasp His Power through the Spirit. I can't sit and wait for the Lord to come, I have to MOVE, praying boldly, letting Him use my gifts to bring about the Kingdom. Will that always result in a "miracle" on earth? NO, but the true miracle is overcoming death! My job is to believe in His power and that a miracle can and will happen, but His word is the ultimate and final word. And Praise God, that His Kingdom will come whether that is in this life or in physical death! I just want to quit sitting comfortably and idlely in my pew any longer, and be used by the Spirit in ways that bring about the Kingdom of God!

Anyway, I am sorry for the sermonette, but my heart was heavy and I let the Lord lead me.