Angelica Grace Designs Blog

Friday, May 30, 2008

PRAYER & THE SMALL THINGS

It's amazing how the small things in life really do mean so very much. I looked at this little vintage bottle on my mantle today in the den and thought a lot about what a reminder it is. So tiny - so little - in such a LARGE BIG world. So tattered - so torn - so fragile - so vintage and old - but yet so beautiful too. While reflecting, I took some time to listen to a great sermon this morning regarding prayer on my computer. It can be found HERE should you wish to listen to it as well. We have several things on our plate right now that involve continual prayer. As a very impatient person, (Brent will be the first to confirm this about me), I lots of times have a difficulty with waiting out God's answers revolving my prayers. Sometimes my prayers get answered, other times they do not. In the end though, I'm always faithful that God heard me and has a master plan in mind - his plan - more often than not - it isn't my plan. While listening to this sermon this morning, I've once again been reminded in life that "if God withheld it, for me it wasn't good." If you find yourself feeling unheard when speaking with God recently or you feel as though your prayers have gone unanswered, just know that he does hear you. Sometimes prayers are "strategically delayed" by God. I love how this pastor giving the sermon worded that. "strategically" delayed. He says they are strategically delayed to display God's glory. To dispense God's grace. It all makes sense most of the time. As humans we just need to give it time to actually "make the sense." For me, that is the hardest part. I'm impatient. So very impatient. Sometimes I'm convinced that God stalls and waits when answering things in my life just so he can sit back and laugh at me while I twitch, go into convulsions, yell/scream, etc. in my continual moments of ignorance and impatience. I know I must reflect the ramblings of a complete idiot at times. A spoiled, impatient, and rambling nutcase.

In the end, I found the following verse to be so very profound and ironically when I heard the pastor mention it within the sermon, I went to highlight it in my bible and I had already previously highlighted it sometime ago. I must have done it back at a time when God was still trying to teach and instill patience in me. It reads: PSALMS 34:10 - Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will never lack any good thing.As we all know, trusting God in life requires patience. Something I definitely need more of. As Kenidi flipped through my bible with me on the floor today, I noticed a tremendous amount of sunlight shining through right atop the pages. I had to grab my camera. So, today and always, I'm looking for the light and trusting God in all things - big or small.

PROVERBS 31:30 - Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
In his grip always, Angie Seaman

8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Angie.

A quick note to say I looked at your blog a few minutes ago. Thx for sharing the scripture. It's a reminder to me - very impatient me, although I've come a looooooooooong way. Your note was encouragement to a personal issue I've been going thru for months. No one knows except the Lord and my best friend. I cannot tell you how I've been ripped apart but you know, I don't feel the pain as intense as before...instead, I feel the holy spirit's peace. Sure, I have my times just as recently as this week where I rant/rave in my prayer, yet, our Father gently leads me back and shows me He is working, and that it's in HIS time.

Have a wonderful weekend!

5/30/2008 3:28 PM  
Blogger Angie Seaman said...

Thanks for letting me know this. Sometimes I feel as though I ramble on my blog just as I do in real life to God. I never know what is going to come out when I sit down half the time and begin pecking those keys on the keyboard. I pray others will find the topic of prayer and God's strategically delayed answers as helpful as you and I did. I truly appreciate you taking the time to let me know that my ramblings went somewhere. It's moments like these when I walk away from the computer feeling goofy or asking myself what in the world I just wrote. A lot of times I'll sense myself feeling the need to go and delete a post I just wrote but in the end, I realize its the enemy trying to talk me out of sharing the glory of God with others as well as using these instances to grow with God in my own life. Again, thank you for posting your story and your need for this today. I'm right there with you.
Hugs, Angie Seaman

5/30/2008 3:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Angie , It's me again , but I had to tell you that this last post touched my heart and blessed my soul more than you will ever know . It was about 4 years ago that I was very, very sick and had to retire on disability after being in the medical field over 16 years . I like you am very impatient and want answers " Right Now " but through this 4 year period and multiple surgeries God has taught me that " ALL things " are answered and handled in " HIS TIME " !! I still suffer everyday with chronic pain but with God's help I get up everyday and get dressed and fix my hair and put on my make -up , sometimes my neighbors say " Debbie , you just don't look like you have all the health problems that you do " and my answers is , it's only through the love and grace of God and my precious family . Also , I have to give credit to , my Granddaughter , Bailee , there are too many days to count that I just wanted to give up but I would get her pictures and hold them in my arms and look at that " beautiful contagious smile " and think how she just " keeps fighting , never complianing " and therfore she has helped her Mee Mee to do my best to be like her !!

Today is one of my bad days but when I read your blog and then saw my sweet girls pictures below that post , I said , o.k. God , I know I can do this , and the I ask HIM for strength for today and realized again that tomorrow will take care of itself !!

Now , I would like to say " thanks " to you for touching my life today and for sharing with me a verse I claim often " Be still and KNOW that I am God ", so for the rest of today, I-plan to " just be still " !

In the Love of Christ ,

Debbie Kibby , Bailee & Brooklyn's Mee Mee

5/30/2008 4:30 PM  
Blogger Angie Seaman said...

Oh you are so very welcome Debbie. I can totally relate to what you said about seeing pictures of Bailee and knowing that you must go on. So many times I want to whine and cry about something that is tough in life or something that isn't going my way. Then, God shares another moment of "Kenidi" and her day to day struggles with us. At times I find myself feeling so selfish and thinking, "And I thought I had life rough." As I watched Kenidi's preschool class in action on stage yesterday...I was overwhelmed inside with emotion for many reasons. However, a big reason was because there were 13 special needs children up there laughing and smiling and having a great time - despite the hand they've been dealt in life. They were truly making the best of that moment and I many times feel that as healthy adults, we all should be forced to take lessons from these kids. They could all teach us a thing or two. I'm sure of it.

So, just know that you aren't alone. You are right though, we just all need to take today and everyday to be "still" and rely on our glorius God.

Thanks for your notes. I love it when you guys post. Give Bailee and Brooklyn huge hugs for me.
XOXOXO, Angie

5/30/2008 4:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Angie,
Awesome post. Much appreciated. There is a blog out there about an awesome family who had a baby born much too early and who wasn't supposed to make it...you should read the blog. Their verse for their son is also Ps. 34:10. In fact the moment he was born they put a stuffed lion in his incubator.. so sweet. His mom even taped the bible verse on the outside of his incubator..
check it out if you ever have time:
www.prayforkyle.com
Rachel M.

5/30/2008 6:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Ang, it’s Kathy (Payton’s mom!) in Tennessee. Thank you for this posting today. I go into your site several times a day - to read about the Seaman’s, share the pictures of Brennen and Kenidi with Dominick and Payton & to listen to your great music. I keep the kitchen computer on nearly continuously and keep the music from your site quietly playing in the background. But this afternoon, I was meant to visit the site for the reminder that God is GREAT!

I have had so much on my plate the last 2 ½ years, not only everything Payton had going on but a mountain of other issues. I have sometimes been screaming at the top of my lungs for help from God (because, I too, am a very impatient person) because I could not figure out why . . . why I have been tested to such this extent. Early on, my faith waivered, quite a bit actually but as time goes by, my faith continues to grow and grow. Your posting today reminds me to keep my faith, even when I feel the world is against me because God is listening to me.

I also want to take this time to thank you for reaching out to me during this time with Payton. You will probably never know how much it has meant to me. (This is probably way too much information but . . .) When we left Greenwood last year it was with a huge cloud surrounding us due to some personal/business issues—so much judgment was passed on us by people who were aware of our situation. I have literally come back into town to visit my mom in the dark of the night, stayed out of public places and left before I could’ve ran into anyone I knew because so much judgment was passed . . . . When you called me in March after hearing about Payton, I knew you did not think bad of us and had not passed judgment on us. I have since been back to visit and have ventured out in the public eye because those that want to pass judgment may do so . . . because God is good and he is taking care of me and my family in His way, on His terms & I will continue to praise Him!

I hope anyone who reads your daily blogs are inspired. I am inspired to be a better Christian, to be a better wife and a better mom.

Again, thank you again for making the contact with me in March! I have enjoyed getting to know you better!

As you say . . .

In His Grip,

Kathy

P.S. Sorry for any typo's!!!!

5/30/2008 8:07 PM  
Blogger Dancing Queen said...

This post was incredible! The past 15 months have really been trying times for us where we have felt TOTALLY out of control with every bit of our lives & felt like our prayers were totally being thrown to the side, but just the last 6 weeks or so, the sky has opened up, the path has been laid before us, and we knew God had his hand in it the entire time.

BEAUTIFUL! I will have to write that verse down...I haven't been familiar w/that one before. THANK YOU!

5/30/2008 8:46 PM  
Blogger Angie Seaman said...

Thanks so much Rachel. I looked at that site and fell in love with that little baby boy. Thanks for sharing the link. Dancing queen, I am so glad to hear that the sky is opening up for you guys. It's amazing how we can be so tried and tested and then all of a sudden we begin to see the light. His perfect plan always makes such perfect sense in the end. Thanks for sharing your stories.

And Kathy - after Brent and I's several hours of phone calls last night with you and Joe, I'm again amazed at God's great work. Like I said, I wish his timing would've been sooner but I'm so glad that we've made the connection now. Had you not made the post here yesterday, I don't know when we would've put it all together. God is good - all the time! Coming from a family who has been judged and gossiped about for years, we can soooo relate to how you guys feel. In the end, I pray that should others choose to talk about you and Joe, that they will do it while on their "knees" rather than with their circle of whomevers and whenever. Unfortunately though, some individuals have nothing better to do in life than to stoop to those levels in an effort to fill themselves up inside. They are empty themselves and choose to talk about others in an effort to make their inner being feel better. As the Lord says, always pray for your enemies and those who persecute you.

Hang in there! Be tough! Stay faithful - and know that God DOES hear you - ALWAYS! Although a prayer may not get answered in the way we would wish, they never go unheard. The four of us have a bond that most will never understand. For that, we are blessed. For that, we are thankful!

Hugs to all of you. I sooooo appreciate the feedback.
Angie

6/01/2008 12:15 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home

AGD Blog Archives

Link to Us!

 

Copy code and paste in your blog where you would like button to be displayed.


Copyright © 2006-2008 Angelica Grace Designs | All Rights Reserved | Blog Design: Simply Creative | Graphics: PRESH Web Designs