Prayers Answered

This morning I went out into the garden to read my Bible. It is beautiful out there. I know the second picture is just a bad picture, but I thought it was kind of cool. It is a beautiful sunny day and I felt that God was showing me some wonderful things, like He was streaming His light straight to me- which I feel like that 'bad' picture portrays...

I wanted to write out a list of prayers that God has answered. I will be honest, at first the only one in my mind was of Him giving me Liz for a friend, but I knew He had answered abundantly in other ways. I prayed right then, 'God please help me to remember all You have done.' I started writing and the next thing I realized He had answered even that prayer, one thing after another was pouring out of my pen. I wanted to share some of these things because He deserves to be bragged about:

1. When I was coming to Germany and I had to stay the night in the D.R. I had spent the first day pretty much alone. I prayed that night that God would give me someone to go through Saturday with, and what do you know, this random dude named Veejay started talking to me on the bus ride to the airport and I ended up with a friend who, a)gave me money to pay the airport worker who got my bags, b)helped me pull one of my bags through the 2 hour wait to check in c)helped make sure I got on the right flight d)talked to me through all the waiting and much of the flight so I didn't feel lonely and the time went by faster e)helped me get my bags again in Berlin.

2. I prayed that the man on the plane who had the heart attack would be okay. We were told when we got on the plane to leave the D.R. and go to Germany that the man had made it safely to the hospital and would survive and was doing well.

3. I prayed before coming that my team here would like me and that my coach would like me. That has happened for sure, they are fantastic. Even on Thursday another teammate asked if I would want to go jeans shopping together (I had asked her another day about finding long pants)...

4. I asked that God would allow me to play well, and I keep praying for this. So far He has allowed me to play well and stay healthy.

5. When we were in Leipzig and I slept on the hard floor I asked God to help me to sleep and sure enough, He helped me to sleep almost till 9 am!

6. Before going to Poland our coach told us that we probably would not be able to go to the tournament on Friday because we did not have a car to take. I prayed that God would provide a car. I told my coach this over Facebook. He put on his status that he needed a car and within 30 minutes, a friend told him we could use her car for the weekend.

7. Sorry this one is a little gross- but I had a lump in my mouth (I had this once before while still in the US and had it removed) and I prayed that God would take it away. He did. It is completely gone and has not returned.

8. I prayed that God would provide a church service to attend in English. Tonight I am going with Liz to one (she told me about it).

9. I prayed for a Christian friend my age--AIA put me in touch with Liz.

10.I have prayed that God would help me to know what to say in every circumstance, even when asked tough/uncomfortable questions, and I believe that He has done this so far.

11. I have prayed for safety walking home alone late at night in the dark, especially on the dirt rode that is filled with holes. So far He has brought me home with no problems at all. He also has helped me in my prayers to help me find my way using the trains.

After I wrote all of those things in my journal (knowing that I am still probably missing many) I read the Psalm for the day (I am reading one a day, but I started at the end and am going backwards). It 'just happened to be' Psalm 138 which says in verse 3:

"When I pray, you answer me, You encourage me by giving me the strength I need."

I almost started laughing when I read that, I certainly smiled. God is so sweet to me. I read over again in verses 1 and 2 where it says:

"I give you thanks, O LORD, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name."

I thought of how much I have doubted God and even been angry with Him at times in the last couple of years. Yet still He is faithful. It is not as though He is faithful to one who has been faithful to Him. That is humbling in a wonderful way.

I thought of how I ask my German family for so many little things- do they have books in English I can read? DVDs in German I can watch? Nail clippers I can borrow? Can they help me print out papers I need to fill out for my team?

Why would I not ask my Heavenly Father for every little thing? Again I thought of my friend Beth, who I think is the person who really taught me to ask God for every little thing. I am so grateful to her for that. What a wonderful friend.

I then started thinking of things to keep asking God for. One of the main ones is financial provision, particularly through getting picked up by a higher team.

Shortly after this I read the rest of Psalm 138...and of course an answer is there:

vs 8 "The LORD will work out His plans for my life- for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever."

I am excited to see what other things will be added to that list of answered prayers. I am thankful to know that I can count on that list growing.

And lastly, in a completely unrelated topic...Yesterday I went into a sports store in the mall and saw:



Yeah, that is the sister of Jen Ayers-Stamper, now Jen Dickson (former Teammate and friend of mine,not former friend, just former teammate ha ha)...Again, it is just cool to see her when I am in Berlin...And she is just straight up cool anyway.