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What are you most afraid of?
I've been reflecting on this question a lot these days, especially as I head into a season where I'll be facing my biggest fear in a new (and somewhat terrifying!) way!
More to come on a new, very exciting "only God project" later this week...
But today I'd like to introduce you to a She Speaks friend, Jessica Kirkland. Jessica's testimony of pressing through her fear during her pregnancy with triplets, and how God is now redeeming her story is so inspiring and faith-building.
(She's recently launched Christian Apps 4 Kids. The Sounds of Night is a beautifully illustrated children's book that teaches that God is our protector from the things we fear. Awesome!)
Here's Jessica....
Tomorrow Had Come by Jessica Kirkland
“For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7
In every season of life, the Enemy would whisper the lie that I would “never make it” to the next. I believed it. Time and time again, I thought his words held power. As a young child, I never thought I would live to see my school years. Once I entered school, I never thought I would live to see the next day, next grade, or milestone in life. I listened to a very real enemy, even though I didn’t want to. Even though I came from a strong, Christian family, I felt powerless to stop the lies. Fear gripped me, stole from me, and taunted every careful step I took.
I gave my heart to Christ at six years old, yet fear still held me tight. Though I had renewed hope, the whispers and lies continued to flow and drown out truth through every season. When, I heard the words that burned a hole straight through, I was nose-to-nose with what appeared to be the sum of all my fears.
“Mrs. Kirkland, you have congestive heart failure. If your babies are born now, they will probably not live or be severely impaired.”
I was twenty-six weeks pregnant with triplets. In the beginning, I had been pregnant with quads, but had lost one child at 14 weeks. I never imagined we might all go meet Jesus on the same day. I mourned the thought of my husband walking through life alone. I grieved for the children that would either die, be disabled on this earth, or grow up motherless. And I burned with anger, not just because of the oxygen mask strapped to my face as I struggled for breath and life, but for twenty-five years of allowing Satan to tell me that I would never make it to tomorrow.
Tomorrow had come.
As nurses whirled around me, I prayed Acts 17:25 out loud, “…You give life and breath to everything, and satisfy every need.” I pleaded with the God I personally knew through a relationship with His Son, Jesus. I knew He had a plan for my life that was good according to Jeremiah 29:11. In my humanity, I struggled with the thought that death might be His plan for us on that day.
Today, we are parents to three healthy five-year-olds. You would never know they were born nine weeks premature. The joy that Satan has stolen from me in 30 years, through a spirit of fear, is great. I imagine if you strung each lying sentence end-to-end, they might wrap the globe. Yet, I have promised to tell others of God’s miracles in my life and do my part in setting captives free. Tomorrow had come, but so had Jesus, and it is He who has defeated the grave. ~ Jessica
“For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7
Jessica Kirkland lives in Southeast Texas with her husband, Robb, and five-year-old triplets. She is an author and speaker whose greatest passion in life is to see young families grow deeper in their walk with God. Jessica's newest adventure includes launching Christian Apps 4 Kids, which seeks to draw kids closer to Christ one app at a time. A recent release is a book app that addresses fear and scary nighttime sounds called The Sounds of Night, designed for kids ages 2-8. It is currently available on iPad, iPhone and all Android devices. When Jessica isn't writing, you can find her cheering her boys on at the soccer field, or watching her little girl at the dance studio.
To find out more about her current writing projects, connect with her at: http://www.christianapps4kids.com/ or on her personal blog: http://www.jessicakirkland.com/
To purchase The Sounds of Night at iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-sounds-of-night/id456046823?mt=8
To purchase The Sounds of Night in the Android Market: https://market.android.com/details?id=pro.roar.thesoundsofnight&feature=search_result
What a great resource, Jessica! Thanks for sharing your gifts with us!
And I'd love to hear from you, dear friends! What are you most afraid of? How is God bringing you through these fears? Any tips you've learned along the way? Share with us please!
Have a wonderful, courageous Wednesday! I thank God for you!
2 comments:
There is not much I fear...snakes, spiders and growing old. That's pretty much it. Those, however, are major fears. I keep telling my husband to just quietly shoot me when I turn 60 so I don't have to grow old and sick. He doesn't seem to find that too amusing for some reason.
WOW! Cindy, this struck such a powerful cord with me because of the fear based lifestyle (from childhood) that I led for so long and that I still, through God's Spirit, have to battle at times. I shared a message this morning after reading your question, "What are you afraid of?" and after reading Jessica's powerful testimony!! PRAISE GOD! I mentioned you both and your link. Would love if you'd come read it.
I love and miss our connections.
http://www.lisashawshares.com/2011/09/what-are-you-most-afraid-of.html
Love you friend and I'm PRAYING FOR YOU as you continue to love and obey God and be such an incredible influence for Christ online!
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