This week our family had an appointment we have been dreading. We have been putting it off as long as we could. The history of the past told us that surgery would be in the future for our baby girl. Her daddy remembers the pain all too well because he was born without cartilage in his knees. His love for all sports had to come to a halt at the young age of 13. He underwent major knee surgery and had part of his femur removed to repair the broken knee. He was on crutches for almost 2 years with 6 different casts of all colors and physical therapy daily to build back the muscle he had lost. The doctor told him he would never play sports again, or I should rephrase that to say he “should” never play sports again. He told him if he risked it and played and had one bad hit to the knee it could cause him to be disabled for life. That’s a hard blow for a young boy who loved his sports. That same love and passion lives on in our almost 12 year old daughter. We have watched her since she was three years old be able to use her God given talent to play her sports. It’s been nothing short of amazing to see someone that has never been taught have natural skills and abilities that can only come from above.

Over the past few months we have watched her develop that same pain in her knees. It’s been painful for her and painful for us knowing what could lie ahead. I remember studying a couple of years ago about the power of prayer and asking The Lord to break us free from all of the sin and strongholds that have been passed down from one generation to the next. I don’t know about you, but if my Lord can stop my sin, strongholds and even my genetic flaws from passing on to my children you better believe I am going to petition before Him and ask Him to stop it with me. I continue to pray that prayer over my babies, and I witnessed our God answering that prayer this very week. As we sat in the doctor’s office watching this Pediatric Orthopedic doctor run a series of tests on our Ashley we heard him say some amazing words, “This has nothing to do with her cartilage. She’s in good shape there. She needs to keep playing her game. Sitting it out in front of a tube will only make it worse.”  You guys, I was so relieved. She does have exercises and stretches that she is going to have to do in order to strengthen her muscles to train them how to work correctly, but there is nothing genetically wrong with her knees. PRAISE THE LORD!

Please do not underestimate the power in prayer to our most POWERFUL God! There is nothing more than He wants to do for us than break off the ties that bind us and holds us back from becoming the men and women he designed us to be. I LOVE these words in Isaiah that Jesus himself spoke, “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.”
Isaiah 61:1-4

We are His children that he bestows beauty upon. We are called oaks of righteousness, those who love him and seek to please Him. We are a planting for the display of His splendor…others will know we belong to Him because of our fruits. We have the opportunity to rebuild and restore! Let’s get to rebuilding!  Loved ones that you will never meet on this earth could be with you in eternity by the way you rebuild and pass down the love of our God to the next generation. It’s a big deal! We should be on our knees more seeking for our freedom and the freedom of all. Be blessed sweet friends, we have a God who LOVES us!  #truth #gloryup #mygameHisglory