Answered Prayer

This week we witnessed the answer to a prayer that has been prayed for almost 24 years.

     On August 30, 1986, Grant Michael Fisher entered the world as our first born son.   From the time he was very young, we began praying for the young girl who would someday be his wife.  We did know that somewhere she was out there and her life was being formed and fashioned and at the right time their paths would cross and the rest would be history. We didn't know her name, or her face, or where in the world she was - but God did.

      It's been an interesting journey.  I never was one to get close to the girls that Grant dated.   I didn't want to rush the process and never wanted him to hesitate to break a relationship off that he felt was wrong just because the family had gotten too close.  One day a couple years ago, Grant came and basically asked me, "Mom, don't scare this one off."  First of all, I never saw myself as scaring anyone off -- just keeping a comfortable distance.   :-)   However - at that point - I agreed to unfold my arms  and be a bit more 'welcoming'.  Family is a big deal to us.  So, it is crucial that whomever 'signs on' to be with us - gets along with both the McCarn  and Fisher sides of the family.  Grant began bringing this young lady to holiday gatherings. Personable and fun - she fit in beautifully. Over the past two years this young lady became woven into the fabric of our family and into the fiber of our hearts.

      On July 10, 2010 in beautiful outdoor ceremony surrounded by friends and family we proudly and joyfully watched our son marry the girl of his dreams and the girl of our prayers. 

      Brandi Nichole Rose Riley Fisher - Welcome to the family. 

Turning of the Hearts

Turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers.  We’ve heard a lot about this in the past few years, but this cry for meaningful relationship between generations has escalated in recent months – or maybe I’m just hearing it louder.

I’m currently reading a book by Lisa Bevere called Nurture.   Lisa underscores the need for mothers and mentors and our need to be even more intentional in our pursuit of personal relationships that make a difference.

I’ve been doing a lot of self-examination in this area.  I don’t have answers.  I probably have more questions if anything.  But I do acknowledge that one of the ways that helps to turn my heart is when I intentionally spend time praying for the young adults in my life, and even for those I don’t know.

Recently I attended Empowered21, which was an intergenerational conference that had at its heart, this desire to see the generations coming together.   One morning general session lead by Jack Hayford has come back to my mind several times.  Hayford was joined on stage by two of his grandsons and about 9 other ORU students/grads.   Each one told of one way that they desired the older generation to pray specifically for their generation. 

Here is a basic summary of those Prayer Points:

1)           Spiritual Fathers to BE Fathers (mentors) to them

2)                 Conviction that leads to repentance

3)           Identity of this generation to be found in Christ.

4)                 Preservation of FOCUS in a world that is full of distractions

5)           Not to be deceived

6)           Understanding and revelation

7)           Prayer & unity

8)                 Hear the voice of God

9)           Stand in purity

10                 Relentless love to reach the lost

11                Be light in darkness

12                Righteous examples in all they do

13                No compromise

14                Willingness to pay the cost

15                Holiness and fidelity to the Word.

1                   Strengthening of family (the banishment of spirit of machismo in the Latino world)

What I liked was that the list wasn’t something contrived by a guessing older generation, but rather it came from the hearts of young adults.   As I sat in this session with my 21-year-old daughter Amanda, time and time again, as these points were being mentioned – she was affirming and agreeing with them.  They were tapping into the very things she desires and what many in her generation are longing for. 

It’s time to be intentional in how we pray and build relationships.   How in the world to we do this?  Well, perhaps it starts with telling God we are available and then walking in obedience where He leads and guides.    And we pray.  We pray this list.  A list born in the hearts of a generation who is asking God for spiritual mothers and fathers who will take seriously the cry of their heart.

Sign me up.