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| "JOSHUA AND MAMA SHIRLEY" |
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| "JOSHUA"
"Doesn't look good. I don't think the little calf is going to make it." my husband reported solemnly as he came in from the barn.
"He isn't moving, he is just laying in the hay. He's not standing up and he still isn't taking milk from his mama. I've given him two bottles of Colostrum, that's all I can do, he probably won't make it through the night."
I jumped to my feet. "What?" I cried across the room. "You're giving up on him? No way is he going to die! We are not giving up on our little calf! I am going out to the barn to pray for him!"
I knew it was cold outside so I threw on my down parka, warm boots, hat and gloves and headed out.
I trudged through the thin blanket of snow and the frozen leaves and made my way to the barn. The sun was setting and it was reflecting a pink glow upon the snow that made it look like cotton candy was spread across the white hilly landscape.
"Hi Mama Shirley. How are you and your new little baby doing tonight?" I patted Shirley on her head and handed her some treats. She bellowed loudly and turned her head in the direction of the newborn calf lying lifeless in the hay.
I started praying loud enough that the Llamas, sheep,chickens and other cows all gathered around the fence in the pasture behind me to see what was going on.
"Get up little cow in the name of Jesus rise up! You shall not die, but you shall live and we will declare the works of the Lord! Rise up, rise up! No sickness or disease in the name of Jesus! I speak life to you little one. I name you Joshua. You will grow up be a mighty little bull! Rest now Joshua, because tomorrow morning you are going to be running all around and kicking up your heels, full of life!"
Shirley looked at me with her big brown eyes and let out a big M-o-o-o-o as if to say Thank you and Amen.
The other animals were still stretching their necks over the fence b-a-a-ing, m-o-o-ing, snorting and clucking with curiosity as to why I was out preaching in the barn again at this time of night!
"Don't worry Mama Shirley, the Lord has healed your baby and tomorrow he will be dancing all around in the barn."
You may think I'm crazy praying for a cow, but if the Lord cares about the sparrow, I believe he cares about our cow!
I came back in the house. My husband asked, "Did he move, did he get up?"
"No" I said "He didn't move. But he will! Don't give up because the Lord has touched him. He is going to live!Tomorrow morning when you open up the barn door he will be running all around full of life kicking his heels up! Oh, and by the way, I named him Joshua!"
The next morning my husband came back in the house shaking his head. "Praise the Lord! You won't believe this but that little calf is running all around the barn like a ninny snorting and kicking his heels up!
I named him Joshua because in Hebrew Joshua means
"Jehovah is generous. Jehovah saves."
Have you ever felt like giving up? Are you ready to give up now? Is there something going on that seems impossible to overcome? Does the situation look lifeless and dead to you? Does it feel like there is no way to restore what was lost? Do you think there is no way for you to survive this?
Are you feeling defeated?
DON'T GIVE UP! Did you hear me? DON'T GIVE UP!
Rest in the Lord and know that,
JEHOVAH IS GENEROUS! JEHOVAH SAVES!
Yes, it may look like your life, your marriage, your relationship, your children, your career, ministry and your dreams are lifeless and lying dead in the hay. DON'T GIVE UP! JEHOVAH IS GENEROUS! JEHOVAH SAVES! Jehovah is only a prayer away!
"...always pray and don't give up..." Luke 18:1
What have you given up on, or what are you ready to give up on?
The moment you're ready to quit is usually the moment right before a miracle happens. DON'T GIVE UP!
Ask God right now to be generous and to save your dream, your children, your marriage, your relationship, whatever you need but most importantly to save you and your relationship with him!
"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7
NOW, RISE UP IN THE NAME OF JESUS! PRAISE THE LORD, RUN AROUND SNORT AND KICK UP YOUR HEELS LIKE A NINNY! JEHOVAH IS GENEROUS! JEHOVAH SAVES!
Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!
Donna Selma Lind
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