Scripture that let's me know GOD has our future taken care of....

Joshua 3 years old "How can he not be a gift from GOD?"

He is not only a gift but he is an ANGEL of GOD all of our kids are!!

January 27Th 2009 Tuesday

Jeremiah 29:11

For only I know the plans I have for Joshua declares the Lord, plans to prosper Joshua and not harm Joshua, plans to give Joshua hope and a future.

Now that is the version I say I replace each of my children's name in the place of You, here is the biblical version:

I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans to prosper you and not for disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.

To me that says it all and then it is followed with:

Verse 12

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me I will listen to you.

Verse 13

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.

This is all I need to know that GOD has my future, my children's, and my family as a whole futures taken care of as long as we call upon him and seek him out and give our future over to him and believe..........belief that is the hard part right?? It is hard to believe GOD has my sons future filled with hope.........when he was born with Autism.............BUT I DO, and I think of how all the ways the LORD has worked in our lives and in Joshua's and that it is straight proof that GOD is real and as long as you follow his word, you will prosper and have peace, that he will protect you from harm and that our futures are full of hope. Faith (believing the word, knowing it is true......my interpretation) since I have turned my son over to GOD great things have happened this last year and in December of 07 right before the New Year of 2008 I gave my children back to GOD I said "Lord I am not in control no matter how hard I try to be, I know you love them more then I do as they were your children first, you have way better for them then I could ever try do to myself" This came about when my oldest had been home about 3 months after being in Rehab and he was going to then be moving back in with us. I believed he could have a huge future and return to the once great hearted person he was , that he had went a stray for awhile but I never gave up on him and even though we went through some tough times and I do mean tough I had him put in Juvenile hall, then sent to Rehab it was hard for me as a parent to do that to him but it had to be done, I had to step up to the plate and make the hard choice and take control, sometimes it is easier to turn the other cheek and let them go off and "do their own thing" but he was only 17 and I knew if I did not step in and press charges against him then he would continue on the wrong path and probably wind up in Prison............I did it he was upset but I went and visited him every Saturday and even though he was not happy about the situation after a while he started "to get it" and he then took control of his future and made the best out of Rehab and he learned and he started setting goals for himself.........he had to want it I could only do so much for him.......then when it was time for him to come home I got worried and started wanting to control the situation again, but the LORD spoke to me because I was so worn out, and then ding....the bell in my head went off...GOD reminding me he was here just waiting for me to step out of the way and quit stressing about it............to move over and let him work........so I did I gave all of my children back to GOD.........and I tell you what....... powerful things happened in 2008 for my 17 year old now 18, he started planning his future, he started wanting a future, he wised up, he stayed clean from Marijuana and alcohol and has since, he works, he lives in his own home now, pays his own bills responsibly, he loves his family deeply, and so much more, he knows the LORD once again and has been so great.... sure he has made some mistakes but he learned from the first time and moved ahead, so I do not call those true mistakes I call them an experienced he seized and learned from, we are as close as ever and I love him as I always have but now I am also so happy with him as a person as a man. GOD moved quick with him and every time I got worried about him or wanted to step in and guide him without his asking me to I would stop and say "Now if I have truly given him to GOD then what am I doing trying to take him back?" So I would just pray he is your son LORD I know you will protect him and show him the way.............and he does every time, that is my one true testament to faith true faith and I am watching it work in front of my eyes...................PRAISE GOD.

Now with Autism I try to do the same thing you see I said try although I know firsthand that it works to trust GOD to give him the control and get out of his way.........I do struggle when it comes to Joshua for his future and health, now how can that possibly be when I know GOD is real and the only answer? I do not know, I know as a human I falter daily over and over, but when I remember to keep out of it and just follow GODS lead and listen to how the LORD directs me with Joshua amazing things happen, they may seem small or big to others but to me they are amazing as GOD is again working right in front of my eyes. I guess what I am trying to say is this......GOD already has all of the answers, we just tend to get in the way or they are not the answers we (I) want......I want Joshua healed now, today, I want to know he will be okay and will function as a "normal" adult, I get in GODS way a lot......... I do not want to except any less then a full healing, even though I must remember Joshua is GODS son Joshua will be what GOD wants him to be, what he has already planned for him to be, no matter what GOD has for Joshua I will love him and will be here for him day by day for the rest of my life............whatever GOD has is more then I could ever even imagine for Joshua it is all perfect.

I do not know why I am writing this tonight but it is weighing heavy on my heart, maybe someone who is going to read this needs to hear it too (as do I) I need the reminder daily that my child is a gift from GOD (all of my kids are) we were picked to raise these ANGELS for a reason I can not explain that to everyone but it is true............we would not have picked this for ourselves that I do know, but instead of the "why me?" question I try to remember "why not me?" All I know is my future is involving Autism like it or not that is it....make the best of it.........or wither away miserably in sorrowfulness and waste away my life and my children's.......No I do not think so I will keep moving forward, fighting the fight, pioneering with the others who have used Stem Cells for their children, and sharing my story........the reason I share it??? Just to let someone who might read this know they are not alone, they are not living it alone, or the only one who feels hopeless or frustrated and sad...........sure we all go through it, the key is not staying in it, turn it over to GOD he will help you through it so much better then you could ever do on your own.

Man if I could just apply it to all of my life huh?? My job, my home, finances, family, life in general, etc..........What is wrong with me?? I know what to do yet I get stuck in trying to control it myself.........the human nature in me..........but I have tried to give it all over to GOD and I must say work is going better, sure we are losing our house but hey that is material, we will have a roof over our heads, clothes on our back, food to eat, and heat to warm us and most of all we have GOD, now that is true wealth I will take that any day of the week!

Good night to you all and GOD BLESS you and your family may GOD give you strength and cover you in his loving arms forever~~~Lori