Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

Last week at some point my mom asked that I incorporate Psalm 139 into the blog because it made her think of her grandbaby. She also added that because she doesn't have facebook I should do this - I'm not sure where the connection is, but as the good daughter I am, I said I would be glad to.

Then this morning I was on facebook (so maybe the 2 are connected after all) and a friend had posted a blog of one of HER friends, asking that anyone who prays take a moment, read the blog, and pray for her friend's 9 month old son who is hospitalized and not doing very well. As I read that person's blog, catching bits and pieces of their son's 9 month struggle with heart problems, I kept thinking back to the verses that my mom asked me to share. So it seemed fitting that today I would incorporate the two.

Psalm 139 (highlighted verses were especially applicable for my mom)
O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake,
I am still with you.

If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.

Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?

I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

When I used to ask expectant parents if they preferred a boy or girl and their response would be "It doesn't matter as long as its healthy" I would think "well, that's a bit closed minded wouldn't they love their baby no matter what?" But now I've learned that it isn't a matter of whether or not they would love their baby - it was the deep love they had for their baby already that caused them to want a healthy baby. It wasn't because they didn't want the "hassle" of a sick baby, it as that they loved their baby so much they didn't want their baby to be in any sort of pain. My prayers go out to this little baby Stellan, his parents, and his doctors. God has Stellan's days planned and numbered, and has since before he was even conceived, so I just pray for their peace and his comfort as God's will - whatever it may be - is done.

My prayers also extend for the health of my own growing baby. May my baby grow strong, and may I make the best choices as far as how to care for my own body (thus his/hers) so that organs and tissues and other body forms may come along properly. Surely I will love whatever child God blesses me with - I already do - but I pray that my child would be free from pain and suffering.

And one last prayer (request) for today: My cousin, Jesse Poplawski, is serving a tour in Afghanistan right now. Jesse was a soldier the day he was born- growing up Jesse was always wearing camoflauge, always talking Army games and exploring. He is loving having the opportunity to do exactly what he's always felt he was called to do - but that doesn't change the challenges and dangers that he faces every day. The past 3-4 days I've thought about him more than usual. I wasn't sure why, but I knew that if I was thinking of him I should be praying for him. This morning I received an email from my aunt that the danger is heating up a bit, and as Jesse is faithfully doing his job, he has asked for as much prayer as possible. So - if any of you pray, if you could add my cousin to your prayers I would appreciate it - he would appreciate it.

Happy Monday to you! (as happy as a Monday can be)