Delivery Time!!!!!

                            It's A GIRL!!!!

Coach realized the other day that we had been preparing at Lifeway Haven for 9 months. He looked at me and said, " I think it's time we have this baby!"  We couldn't help but remember our own deliveries of our children.  All the preparation we did, plus the planning and making everything just right.  The beginning of labor pains is a process you can't skip, and it's harder as the process developes to the delivery.  Many young ladies I have coached in labor all said, "I can't do it, I can't make it, this is too hard!"  Of course there is NO return at that point.  We MUST deliver the baby.  

Lifeway has been that perfect nursery, prepared for the ladies that will experience a new birth into a spiritual family.  The rooms are prepared, food is in the pantry, dogs all immunized, paperwork is all ready, and the family is pacing the floor for the delivery.  Everyone is excited and suddenly, it happened, we received the note that our new delivery could be picked up on February 4th.  Oh my, we all looked amazed, shocked, ready, and sober.  Our instructions were to be at a pick up point, park a certain way, bring clothes, and be on time! 

As we arrived, we followed all the above instructions.  The officer stopped her car, the one with a shot gun mounted in the front seat, and said "DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE FOR ANY REASON!" Of course, following instructions at that point was easy for us.  :)  After a 2 1/2 hr. wait, we were directed to the line to pick up the inmate who was released to our vehicle.  As she entered the car, we smiled, she cried.  ( just like a real delivery!)  We have never met our new delivery and only knew about her from a letter.  

The transition was awesome, slow, and peaceful.  Her first call home to mom and her child were timeless.  She had slept without a pillow for years, her skin neglected, and she came with only the clothes we provided for her.  As we took her into the donation area, she pulled a garment to her face and breathed in deeply.  She turned and said, "fabric softener!, oh, how I have missed that smell!" 

Over the next few days, she shared some of her experiences with our team.  It was hard to hear and hard to picture women coping with such circumstances during incarceration.  She had shampooed and bathed with lye soap and used the facility with only a partial shower curtain on it while a male guard watched.  That was only one of the multiple incidents she shared.  Meals were only for 10 min. and most of the time, the food is cold and over 50% of the diet is carbohydrates.

We have set her up for medical exams and dental help.  That is a common need among the incarcerated ladies.  Valentines was her first holiday with us.  Our family tradition in our home and also the ministries we worked in, is to have pink pancakes with hearts on them and pink milk.  She walked into the kitchen and just stood there!  We have played games, done Bible study, shopped, and taken her to church so far.  She is doing well and yesterday, we picked up another lady out of her same unit that was her bunk mate!  Now, we have 2 at Lifeway Haven.  

The doors are open, projects are being worked on, and we are in full swing after 9 months of waiting!  We suppose the Lord felt we were at "full term" and it was time for the delivery.  These are exciting days ahead.  Please look on our web site for ways to be involved or to donate to assist this wonderful opportunity.  We appreciate your prayers and support.  

www.lifewayhaven.org

Blessings to each of you, 

Conley & Nancy'    

He Hovered Over the Chaos

                               Bring Forth Fruit

In a quiet time recently, I was drawn to read Genesis 1:1 and continued over the chapter.  The passage seemed familiar to me until the Lord pointed out a few things.  It was a hard time in my life.  I needed answers, but felt the heavens were brass.  I KNOW HE is listening and desiring to say Yes to my petitions, because they were about souls and salvation of the lost.  

The Father whispered very softly what I had not noticed.  He hovered over the darkness, the formless world, it's chaos.  I pictured Him going back and forth, bending low and coming close to what He was observing.  What did He have in mind when He hovered?  

He first separated the dry land and the sea.  Well, separation can benefit I thought.  We often think it is a bad thing when people, events, plans, etc. are separated.  Here, I saw, even God felt separation would benefit the over all picture.  Earth and sea were formed.  Two entities that had very different functions and were both powerful and created by God for specific purposes.  When mixed together without form or purpose, they were chaos.  Thinking about the chaos I was facing and praying over, I began to ask Him and thank Him for hovering over what I could not. 

He then gathered what He had separated and gave it purpose, blessed it, and it brought forth fruit!  It was ready to give birth and purpose now.  All of that came out of chaos and God was there the whole time!  He is here now over my chaos and concerns.  He may have to separate somethings I wanted to remain one, but He knows what will bring forth fruit.  Do I trust Him to rearrange the chaos for me?  Does He really need me or my big ideas of how to do all that I think would be best???? 

I suddenly realized I was striving and struggling while He has it ALL under control, His bigger plan, His tapestry with many colored threads of free will, choices, and experiences.  I had recently bought the sign from Hobby Lobby that said "GATHER" and put it up over my dinning room window.  I felt He had told me He will gather those I intercede for. 

Do you have some chaos in your life that needs the hovering presence of God? Do you watch Him separate things without your input and wonder what is HE doing!!! Well, trust Him.  He knows best.  He will gather, bless, and then the sweet spiritual fruit we have prayed for and believed Him to produce in our circumstances.  

I can let go and let God now.  My field is white unto harvest and I must return to the labor I have been called to.  Thank you God for hovering over the chaos in my life and gathering, separating, and blessing it all to produce fruit.  What an AMAZING Father you are! Lasting fruit is what we want Father, that will increase the kingdom of heaven and bring those we love so much to Him.