The Voice of the Lord

My mind kept returning to the Voice of the Lord as I readied myself for my recent travels to California. He was reminding me how his voice is powerful and when He speaks things happen. He also ministered to my heart through his words in Hebrews about when we hear his voice not to harden our hearts. He says that three times in one or two chapters. I pondered these words throughout the week thoroughly enjoying the truth and comfort of these words. My prayers... May it be as You have spoken...

But, the reason for this blog post is to tell the story of Grace's birth. I know I told you recently, but it is one of many I should write down. So, in honor of Grace for her fourth birthday, here goes. First, I have to tell about my excitement when Frederick called to tell me they were having a baby. I was in my duplex living room in Gainesville during my second year of midwifery school. I think I said, "oh my gosh" 15 times. I just couldn't stop saying that and how happy I was for them. I was overjoyed. We didn't know if the baby was a boy or girl. Susie was a scheduled cesarean for the end of June. I was planning to be home the week of the proposed birth (if I remember correctly or at least the next week). But, the Lord had his own plans. It was the only night in all of midwifery school once being on call (after my two in a row missed calls incidence) that I had ever turned my phone on silent. We had our first pharmacology exam the next day and I wasn't as prepared as I would have liked to have been. I wanted a good night's sleep.

So, when I woke up at 7 a.m. I was surprised to see a missed call. It was Mom and she was calling to tell me that Susie's water had broken. I was sleepy and hadn't done the math but I got really nervous because even though I didn't know how many weeks she was, I knew she was early. And, I knew the risks involved. I immediately was concerned. My bible was sitting next to my bed so I picked it up. I opened immediately to Psalm 29 and there I read how the voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth. Immediately His peace came over me and I knew that He was the one responsible for this. It was no mistake. I felt safe on behalf of my precious family. I wasn't sure what I should do. I decided to get ready to go to school- took a shower, ate a healthy breakfast, got dressed. I had been praying here and there. As I blow dried my hair I started singing out loud "You are my hiding place. You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance whenever I am afraid. I will trust in You. I will trust in You. Let the weak say I am strong in the strength of the Lord. I will trust in You." I was singing as a prayer on behalf of Susie and this child, a song of protection over them. As I sang out loud, I got chills all over my body, even on my face. I finished the song and blow drying my hair and walked to school.

We got to school and everyone in the class had some sort of crisis going on. So, Kristin and I prayed together as we often did. We would just join hands and pray out loud in front of whoever was around, which happened to be our pharmacology teacher... who happened to have forgotten that we had an exam that day. Talk about provision! She NEVER did that. She was a tough cookie. We couldn't believe it. Our teacher joked with us to watch what we prayed for. We assured her we only prayed for provision, nothing against her:). So, I went to the other room to call either Mom or Frederick to tell them they could call whenever they wanted since I had asked them to please wait until after my exam. (I knew I would be a wreck if I got bad news). When I called, they said it was a girl and her name was Grace Elaine Schaffer. Both she and Susie were doing okay. I was SO happy. It was crazy to hear her name for the first time and know she was a girl. It was even crazier seeing her sweet picture and how much she looked like us. I love His hand in that story and knowing His presence in her birth. This is my favorite part of birth- His hand in His creation, in His provision. His timing. His ways. His GLORY. The Voice of the Lord spoke this earth into being. He speaks the hour of birth. He speaks the ordering of our lives into being. The Voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is majestic!