Tag: Family

Everything in Its Place

Published on by Susan Jill ReamLeave a comment

Hi Girlies,

It’s been awhile.  So much to do and life takes over.  Know that you never leave my heart and I love you deeply.

My post this month, on The Glorious Table, is up.  I thought I’d share it here with you.  Your Nana is far from perfect. This writing is a vulnerable peek into some messes I waded through in my younger years.

I pray God uses the messes of my life to be a message to you and all those who desire to live godly.

The Christian mother has boundless opportunities to use her gifts and abilities. But how is she to know what God wants her to do with all the opportunities to serve Jesus and others in our busy and fast-paced world?

It’s enticing to choose admirable opportunities to serve, even though it might mean neglecting our God-given appointments. For example, as I raised my children, I allowed myself to be pulled in every direction imaginable. I was a wife, mom, teacher, counselor, pastor’s wife, friend, employee, leader, and more. I remember feeling confused about how to order my life. My home of origin had lacked order and been dysfunctional, and as a result, I often felt aimless as an adult, like a boat without a rudder.

I look back and think, Girl! What were you thinking? You didn’t have a clue.”

You can read the rest at The Glorious Table

picture credits: https://pixabay.com/en/baby-caucasian-child-daughter-20607/

The Miracle of Answered Prayer

Published on by Susan Jill Ream11 Comments

Christian based letters to my Grandgirls

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Hello my sweet Grandgirls,

This writing is about some miracles God has performed in my life. Miracles happen when God steps in and does what only He can do.  God has answered my prayers, so many times and so specific that I know that I know that I know, He did it.

When God answers prayer in a big and miraculous way, it touches our lives and we are never the same.

Prayer Miracles

I was 15 years old when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. My life was changed, and I was not who I once was. I was a new creation. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops.  It didn’t take long to learn that nobody, in my world, wanted to know or hear about Him. Not only were they not interested, but many took offense when told them.

I did not understand their reactions. Why wouldn’t everyone want to know the good news about the one who created them and loved them so much? What caused this revulsion when I spoke the name of Jesus?

As I grew as a child of God, my understanding of the enemy’s tricks opened my eyes. He was the enemy of God and of God’s kids and it is him who causes blindness and revulsion toward God’s son. It was then I knew I needed to talk less and pray more for those I loved, those who turned deaf ears to the message of God’s love and Jesus sacrifice. In my prayers I asked God to open doors of communication and He did! My family began to initiate and ask questions about my faith. There is power in going to our Father, in prayer, because he hears and longs to answer our prayers of faith.

Prayers for Family

I experienced a deep peace and joy for the first time in my young life. My family didn’t get it. In fact, some gave me a rough time. They made fun of me and called me a religious fanatic. As the tears burned my eyes, they laughed. My greatest grief, though, was that they didn’t get it.  I wanted them to know Jesus; they needed him just as much as I did.

I’ve shared the miracle of provision for College, with most of you, right? God made a way for me to attend a Christian College.  A group of people from my Church promised to give money each month to make my first year possible.  Talk about humbling!!  Carried away by the love of God, I also carried the weight of leaving my family. Who would be Jesus to my family?

Once at college, I continued to pray consistently and urgently. I was no longer at home, there was no more opportunity to share God’s love.

After being at college life a few months, I began receiving letters from my Dad. He was telling me some amazing happenings. He told me the plumber, carpenter, the insurance man and an old friend were telling him about personal faith in Jesus Christ.

It was miraculous! These people were being sent by God to tell my family the good news. I have no doubt about it. You see, in all of my life, before I heard about Jesus, no one had ever shared the story of salvation.  It was like Christians were coming from everywhere and into my parent’s lives. Only God could do this.

Prayers for my Son

danielThen there’s the story all of you know. The story about my handsome boy, your Dad and your Uncle Daniel, who went through a crazy time of rebellion. I thought my mother’s heart would break. I cried out to God repeatedly and asked God to send believers into Daniels life. Once again, the answer was mind blowing.

Dan told me that believers were everywhere. Christians shared their faith with him at work, at appointments, in restaurants, and in the most unexpected places. These children of God were holding out hope to my one and only son. I have known no one who was so chased by God. It was another miraculous answer to prayer that led to your Dad and Uncle surrendering to God’s will. Though he still struggles, God’s pursuit of his heart continues.

Prayers for my Daughter

Renee-Papa

Your Mom and Aunt Renee was so opposite to her brother. She was a quiet, introvert as a child. She was trusting and naïve.  As a teen I worried because she was interested in the bad boy types. I prayed and asked God to help me guide her.

One night, Papa and I went to a concert at a Christian Conference Center. We sat across from a Doctor and his wife.  As the Doctor talked, he pointed toward the banquet table at a handsome young man with a beautiful smile. The doctor beamed saying, “That’s my son.” As he continued to brag on his son, I sent prayers up to God. I prayed, “God, please give Renee a young man like this one. She doesn’t know what a ‘good guy’ looks like.”  

A year later Renee met a young man who came to our Church as the leader of the college-aged youth group. Soon, he showed an interest in Renee and began to hang out with our family. One thing he liked to do was cook for the family. One night as he was doing his thing, I asked him about his family. He told me his Dad was a Doctor and his mom, a nurse. He told me they spent a lot of time, in the summer, at a Christian Conference ground near their house. The bells went off!!  Oh, my goodness, this was the young man the Doctor had bragged about. Here he was – right before me. God did not send me someone ‘like’ David, he sent David! I looked at David and said, “David, I don’t know what role you will take in my daughter’s life, but I know God sent you.” I then revealed how God sent him to Renee as a direct answer to my prayer.

David married Renee two years later. David loves your Mom/Aunt Renee consistently, and he is a stabilizing force in her life.  She needed that – God supplied it. Only God!

Prayers for my Youngest

christy

This writing would not be complete without mentioning your Mom and Aunt Christy. This, my youngest child, has possessed a heart for God from the time she was little.  We did not experience the struggles with her we had with her siblings.

I prayed for Christy as I watched her make hard choices. As a teen, Christy was committed to her faith and loved her friends from youth group. They hung out at our house and called me mom. But one summer, while she worked on staff at Lake Ann, her friends and boyfriend turned from following God to partying and indulging in sin. When she confronted them, the whole youth group turned on her. She lost her friends overnight. It broke her heart, but she did not budge from her convictions.

Though she too, was strong willed, she took her orders from God and followed in His footprints.

I share these miracles of answered prayer, within our family because I want you to know how specifically and lovingly God has blessed our lives.

You girls are blessed to be born into a family where God is actively at work. You have a family that pulls together to speak into your lives and to love you well.  It’s rare these days girls!

May these words give you a reason to pause and offer thanksgiving to the God who answers miraculous prayers and bestows blessings on our family.

I love you forever and always,

 Nana