Monday, May 10, 2010

Bearing Burdens

Updated: For those who we have recently reconnected with through Facebook, or those who may not understand why there is a certain amount of fear to overcome...HERE gives a little more detail. Thank-you, dear friends!
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I'll admit that there have been times in my life when I have felt it was selfish to ask for prayer. Such a silly thing to think, especially considering I have NEVER felt anyone else was selfish who asked me to pray for them. In fact, I feel honored to be entrusted with someone else's concerns, worries, or thoughts!

The Bible says it best:
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ... Galatians 2:6

And so tonight, as the ticker counts down to sixteen days, I would like to share with those who might feel led to pray specifically for us as we bring our little girl into the world:

*That I would have freedom from fear that the enemy will attempt to harm my family or me... that he will have no place in this birth at all
*That she will be the perfect size and my body will open up to receive her as it's meant to do
*That my GBS positive testing will not affect the baby and that all infections, especially mastitis, will never be an issue
*That we will all be protected before, during, and after childbirth... that God's angels will totally encamp around us
*That I will be at peace about the pain aspect of it all... it's hard for me to separate the pain of childbirth alone from the ongoing pain I was in for almost a year following Maddie's birth
*That our little girl will be born healthy in every way... that all of us would remain healthy
*That all the specifics about the girls' childcare will be seamless and that Joe and I will work fluidly as a team
*That my midwife and any other medical professionals will be the perfect fit for this birth

One final request... Joe and I are writing down scripture to place around the room and also downloading some songs to play quietly as I labor. If you have any verses and/or songs that bring you strength, comfort, or peace we'd love to know your suggestions... if you get a moment, feel free to leave them in the comments or e-mail them to us!

Most importantly, we love to know how to lift up each of you. .. please share with us any time. Give us the blessing of fulfilling the law of Christ! :)

With Great Gratitude,
Katrina

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

the first song that came to mind was "baby mine." i've always loved bette midler's version, but alison krauss does a beautiful cover, as well. i think originally it was rosemary clooney, but i could be wrong.

MartinsBlog said...

Katrina,

These have been some of many of the verses that have comforted me in my times of fear. I was traumatized after my first son's birth and the labor and went into my daughter's birth extremely apprehensive. I did the same thing you are doing...had friends praying, had people lay hands on me and pray and worshiped, worshiped, worshiped...it was the best out of my three deliveries...TOTALLY FEARLESS which was a miracle!

OK these are just a few of my favorites that have given me comfort...
2 Chronicles 20:17
Exodus 14:3
Jeremiah 17:8
John 12:15
Isaiah 35:4
Isaiah 54:4-17
Isaiah 43:1-7

Love you call and let's pray together anytime. xoxoxo Ellen

Mama Brown said...

You will do awesome and it will be done through the awesome power of God. Calm your fears, he will be with you and Joe through every second. I will be in prayer over you guys through this time. I was GBS positive with both of my boys. Little Brownie was safe, even though I didn't get the proper medication prior to having him.

I have so many verses that have come through to share. Here are a few.

Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still.

Psalm 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation.

Judges 7:2-3 "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.'"

*** 22,000 of the people returned (afraid), and 10,000 remained (unafraid). God helps those willing to do it afraid.

2nd Chronicles 20:15 Do not be afraid or dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Watermark - Where To Find Me
Ginny Owens - If You Want Me To
Chris Tomlin - Indescribable
Tommy Walker - He Knows My Name

Oh...I'm just gonna make you a CD and bring it to you. Love you sweet girl and your family.

Felicia Murrell said...

Well, I have several soaking cd's that come to mind that would be awesome for a birthing experience - anything by Alberto & Kimberly Rivera...also great for nap time too! Healing by Faith Blatchford. This is a soaking cd with healing scriptures being softly read to music. And my favorite that we use in our nursery at church, Baby Oil by John Belt. A soaking cd specifically for little ones.
Grace Center in Franklin, TN may have them in their resource area. You can find Faith's cd at www.ibethel.org/store and John Belt's cd is in itunes. When I was pregnant with CeCe (our youngest daughter), I played CeCe Winans, Alone in His Presence the entire time during labor and transition, any time I would try to put in another cd, CeCe would knot up in my stomach.

With those recommendations of peaceful, anointed music that will release the atmosphere of heaven into your birthing room, I bless you to know that you are in the right place at the right time. You are loved by your Heavenly Daddy and He has you and this delivery in the palm of His hand. I bless you to feel the weighty presence of His glory upon you and Joe from start to finish. I bless you to experience His healing presence in your own body with the infection being cleared even now in Jesus' name and I bless your little one to have safe passage into this world. I bless you Katrina to experience supernatural childbirth. I release the sound of heaven over you. May the angels herald this little one's coming with great joy and great praise. This is a lawmaker, a justice fighter, a freedom ringer. One who will influence the influential. I bless the fight in her spirit. Spirited one she is.

I love you guys!

Jeannie said...

Oh Katrenda! I love you, and I know you and baby girl will be just great. I don't have verses or songs to share, but I do have the scars from an emergency c-section as testament that if anything goes wrong, you and baby will be ok. We had one nurse who noticed one odd little tick and within 10 minutes I had 3 doctors, 8 nurses, a state of emergency, and a beautiful baby boy in my arms. He was drama from day 1, but I love him.

Jeremy and I will add you to our bedtime prayers. Love you!!

amy said...

Dang, you made me cry!! I do remember your ordeal, and rebuke that pain and fear that you endured to ever return!!

I can imagine that you are certainly anxious, but you are a WARRIOR Katrina...you are going to deliver beautifully and safely. The Lord will carry you through.

I have no children (yet), but unfortunately I understand fear and it's no fun. The Lord never gave us the spirit of fear. I pray that the Holy Spirit washes over you and brings you peace and strength.

I can't wait to see her beautiful face. Embrace the moment. And what a grand idea for the scripture and music!!!!!!

My absolute FAVORITE song is "Lead Me to the Cross" by Hillsong. Well, my whole playlist on my blog is covered in my favorite Christian tunes :)

I love you girl and you are at the TOP of my prayer list!!!

xoxo

Jilly said...

Katrina and Joe,
All I can say is that you two and this new baby are gonna be "safe in His arms"...this is the song that came to mind as soon as I read your words. God will carry you as He has carried you so many times before, and what an amazing and fitting picture of Jesus' love at this time when another miracle is about to be born and light up your family and begin the journey and purpose she was designed for! He will carry you, and will help you carry her! I love you much!

Here are some scriptures to encourage you:

The Lord is faithful and will give you strength and will protect you from the Evil One.
2 Thessalonians 3:3

I love the Lord, because he listens to my prayers for help. He paid attention to me, so I will call on him for help as long as I live. Psalm 116:1

Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee. Psalm 55:22

and a favorite of mine for you is...
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

music...
Safe in His Arms...Phil Wickham
What a Wonderful World...
Somewhere Over the Rainbow...hawaiian version from 50 first dates the movie...
Every Season...Nichole Nordeman

Chinchilla Family said...

We will be praying, Katrina.
Father, we lift up Katrina and this beautiful miracle you are giving to the Martins. We entrust the entire birth to You, Lord. You are the One who knew her even before the world began. She is Yours. As a Father, protect Your child, Katrina, as she labors. We pray for a hedge of protection around her, Joe and the girls, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bring peace, bring hope, bring joy. Be exalted in this miracle, Oh God.

Nina said...

I can't believe it is less than two weeks until your baby girl will be here! I have been praying for this delivery since I heard the news you were pregnant again. I have faith that everything will go perfectly this time.

amy said...

OH YEA...lovin' the idea "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" hawaiian version...beautiful! Def put that on your list :)