How did this come about?

Dear friends,

As some of you may know, David and I recently felt challenged to participate in a Daniel fast, which is a 21-day partial fast.  Our desire was to grow closer to God and be challenged spiritually during this time.  During this time we began reading The Circle Maker (by Mark Batterson), which has caused us to rethink what we pray for and how we pray.  I don’t know that any of you have read the book, so allow me to summarize some of the key points.  One of the main ideas is “praying circles around Jericho”.  The author uses Jericho as symbolism for the things in our lives that God has promised us. The Israelites marched circles around Jericho day after day.  As a result of their complete obedience, God’s promise was delivered.  The following passage is a great summary of this idea, as well as the concept of “praising through”:

“Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites.  No one went out and no one came in.  Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands.” God speaks in the past tense, not the future tense.  He doesn’t say, “I will deliver.”  God says, “I have delivered.”  The significance is this: The battle was won before the battle even began.  God had already given them the city.  All they had to do was circle it.  As I read this story, I felt as though the Spirit of God said to my spirit, “Stop praying for it and start praising me for it...Prayer has the power to resurrect dead dreams and give them new life - eternal life.  I’m not sure what promise God has put on your heart.  I don’t know what dream you’re holding on to or what miracle you’re holding out for, but I offer this exhortation: Keep circling Jericho.  And don’t just pray through; praise through.” (Page 37)  

I also feel that this next part is important to share as well - “Before you write this off as some ‘name it, claim it’ scheme, let me remind you that God cannot be bribed or blackmailed.  God doesn’t do miracles to satisfy our selfish whims.  God does miracles for one reason and one reason alone: to spell His glory.  We just happen to be the beneficiaries.”

During our time of fasting, baby Jordyn was born and we began praying regularly for her to be healed.  At the time when we learned that she would likely not survive, David and I  increased our fervency of prayer and both individually felt the call to join with others in prayer.  Regretfully, we admit that we were not obedient to the Lord’s call and that several days later baby Jordyn passed away.  We have mourned her loss and have asked forgiveness from God for our failure to act when called.  How I wish we would have responded differently and said “Lord, here I am, send me.”  We will never know if the outcome would have been different, but I recognize that we missed a vital opportunity to connect with other believers in lifting up that child to God.

So, what is the purpose of sharing this story of our recent growth?  Well, we have also been crying out for other prayers to be answered during this time and feel that God is once again providing an opportunity to gather as believers and lift up these prayers together.  We have been praying for Barrett Delmez (Brett and Jessica Delmez’s son, due in July) and have been convicted to demonstrate our faith to God that He has the ability to heal Barrett completely.  If you are not familiar with the situation they are facing, Barrett has kidney problems and they are not functioning.  Jessica also has little to no amniotic fluid, meaning Barrett’s lungs are not developing as they should.  It sounds like if he survives, he will need a kidney transplant, which would be a very long and difficult process.

As close friends of ours, we have been aware of their situation for awhile now and have been praying and praying.  I have found it difficult to know what to pray for or how to pray, especially given the outcome that Dennis and Kelly Sander have had to endure.  I struggle with not praying “God, whatever your will is and however this ends...”  I love what the author of The Circle Maker writes: “We lose faith in the God who gave us the big dream and settle for a small dream that we can accomplish without His help.  We go after dreams that don’t require divine intervention.  We go after dreams that don’t require prayer.  And the God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can imagine is supplanted by a god who fits within the logical constraints...Nothing honors God more than a big dream that is way beyond our ability to accomplish.  Why?  Because there is no way we can take credit for it.  And nothing is better for our spiritual development than a big dream because it keeps us on our knees in raw dependence on God.”  (Page 43)

I’ve never considered myself “good” at prayer; I’ve struggled with when to pray, how to pray, what to pray for - the list goes on.  However, during our recent time of fasting, as well as reading this book and the challenges we have faced as a couple and as a church, I have found myself praying more than ever before.  The other night I was awake in the middle of the night and felt God call me to get out of bed and on my knees (something I have never done before) and pray for Barrett.  I say this not to draw attention to myself, but rather to emphasize that there is a huge need to pray for this child and that there is a call for us to gather together in prayer.  

God has placed a number of passages on our hearts that we would love to share with you, the first being Matthew 18:18-20:  “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”  A second passage is that of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8.  Finally, we have been reflecting on the story of the leper who said “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said.

This is what we are asking, in fact pleading, from you:

1. Pray that Barrett would be completely healed; specifically this means asking God to make his kidneys and lungs work as they should.  (...if two of you agree on earth about anything...)
2. Pray together every day as a family or at least as a couple (“where two are gathered in my name...”).  We want to be persistent in asking God to heal Barrett.
3. Join us in fasting from food on Wednesdays until dinner.  
4. Prepare dinner for the Delmez family on rotating Wednesdays (I’ll make a schedule depending on who feels called to be a part of this); if possible take it and eat it with them, but at least take time to pray with them.
5. Join together in prayer on Sunday mornings (I’ll let you know what time and in what room - this would likely be between services.  I believe there is already a prayer group on Sunday mornings, so we would likely join that.)

David and I have agreed to doing these things.  We will be taking them dinner and eating and praying together this Wednesday, the 18th.  Unfortunately we will be out of town on Sunday, so we will be unavailable to lead anything this weekend between services (but if anybody else wants to volunteer I’d love it!).  We are committed to do this through Barrett’s birth.  We desire to see God’s glory revealed and magnified through this miracle, drawing us all closer to Him in the process.  Please join us as we march around the life of this little baby in faith and prayer that God will do something miraculous.