The Miracle of You ... Promises for Expectant Parents

The Miracle of You is ...

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:57:00 +0000

an opportunity to speak life and purpose into the life of an unborn baby before he or she is even born.

Paired with stunning and inspirational illustrations, this book coordinates with each stage of the baby's development and introduces elements of your baby's physical and spiritual development.

The passages in the book are taken straight from scripture and allow parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc. to begin to pray God's word over the next generation.

This is the perfect gift for a pregnant mom!

Available wherever Christian books are sold.

Or click here to order your copy directly from Karen.

A Great Review

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:50:00 +0000

I want to give a shout out to a dear friend and wonderful author, Sherri Woodbridge. She wrote the most beautiful review of the book on her blog and on Amazon! (Click here if you want to go to Amazon.) Here is what she wrote:

"Oh my gosh! This book is a perfect gift for new and expectant parents. Taking you from conception through the weeks of pregnancy, The Miracle of You gives the reader promises for expectant parents to claim for each week of pregnancy. Carefully chosen scripture highlights the beautiful illustrations on each page.

Karen Wells, author of The Miracle of You, has outlined what each new week will likely bring in terms of growth for the unborn child. Each illustration ties in the truth of scripture.

You have to see this book to grasp its beauty. It's a keeper for after the baby is born, to show her how she developed and the scriptures that were prayed over her. This is one book that will be perfect for a shower gift or when the pregnancy is announced.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful."

Thank you so much, Sherri! This is the kind of support we need right now.

If you are interested in writing a review for the book, here are some helpful links to listings to get you started:

Chapters Indigo - Canada

Wesley Owen

And then, don't forget to mention it to your favorite sites, bookstores, blog groups, etc. Thanks for helping to get the word out there!!!

Featured Non-Profits

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:12:00 +0000

Thank you for your interest in helping more moms

receive the powerful message of The Miracle of You!

For every book ordered through this website, Karen will be donating one book to these non-profit organizations. This will put The Miracle of You into the hands of the mothers of our most vulnerable babies.

By purchasing books, you automatically join Karen in her efforts to donate books, but you are welcome add additional books to your order to be given to these organizations, please indicate the quantity on your order form.

Click here to order books TODAY!

To learn more about these featured ministries, please follow the links below:

Saint Child Maternity Homes

Hillsboro, Oregon

Vancouver, Washington

Pregnancy Resource Centers

Portland, Oregon

Beaverton, Oregon

Clackamas, Oregon

Gresham, Oregon

The Book Arrives!!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Screams and shouts of celebration were heard at the Wells' and Farner's homes last night. Our copies of the book arrived!

We both enjoyed sharing this moment with our families. One of Heidi's children saw his name on the dedication page and proclaimed, "I'm famous!" Without a doubt - all of you will be world changers!

At our house, a dear friend of mine brought over some sparkling cider and Neal made the toast. I love what he said, "To dreams becoming reality!"

This whole thing started as a thought, then overtime it became a desire. Prayer added the Holy Spirit's power, then we started to imagine the possibility of it. After steps of obedience, tears of exhaustion and months of waiting - God materialized the dream!

Thank you isn't enough to express the gratitude in my heart right now.

Follow this link to see more pictures of our happy moment!

The Book is In-Stock at Kregel

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:19:00 +0000

If you placed a pre-order with Kregel...you should be receiving your shipment soon!

Week 5 - In Darkness

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:31:00 +0000

God watches as you are formed in utter seclusion, as He weaves you together in the dark of the womb. Psalm 139:15

Have you ever noticed that some of the best things in life begin in darkness? We could discuss the obvious of a baby in the womb or the fact that Creation, itself, began in darkness. Diamonds and precious gems are formed under heat and compression in the depths of the earth. One could earn a doctorate degree studying seed, when placed in the darkness of soil it begins germination and development.

Another, more abstract example, is that of a dream. Dreams are begun in the depths and seclusion of our minds. In this place, without input from the outside world, one can imagine possibilities that don’t require the light of reality for its growth. Everything ever invented started as a tiny thought. Every speech ever made, every book wrote, every building built, began in the private, intangible recesses of a human brain.

Coupled with the seclusion, these treasures in darkness also require time. For some the more cultivation time given to develop, the more precious they become. Others, like a seed and an unborn baby, there is a specific duration built into its DNA that will determine how long it will need before its grand entrance.

I also find this true of new mothers. Many women begin their formation into a mother without even knowing it. Some of the nurturing skills and life-giving qualities needed to parent their babies seem to be dormant and then spring up out of nowhere when the baby comes. Many first time moms I talk to, tell me they worry about becoming a mother. They look at other moms functioning in their element, and say they don’t think they’ll be able to survive. Truth be told, they do have what it takes; it just hasn’t surfaced yet.

If God can form a baby in utter seclusion and weave him together in the dark, He can do the same for a mother. Be encouraged, Mom, that God is at work in the depths of your soul and mind. He is shaping and developing you in ways you might not be able to see right now. But just because things go unseen, doesn’t mean they’re not there.

Pregnancy grows a baby, but it can also grow a mother. Don’t rush through the stages of development. Take a moment to actually be in the moment. Being pregnant can be about just that…anticipation, expectation and a time to dream. Trust God, allow Him access to the sanctuary of your heart and you will find yourself doing things you never thought possible.

Thank You, God, that I am Your creation, formed in the darkness of my mother’s womb. Thank you for shaping and forming me into the mother You want me to be. Help me to trust You, that even if I cannot see growth, I can know that Your hand is covering me. And when the time is right, You will unveil a masterpiece.

Expect Delays - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:36:00 +0000

So ... wouldn't you know it!

Right after I published the Expect Delays post, I received word from Kregel that the book is behind in production.

We are now looking at the end of August before any shipments go out. For those of you expecting a baby in the next month, I have to say I am so sorry it won't be here before your birth.

But the good news is that it is still on it's way. Check back tomorrow for my thoughts on "Still Waiting".

Contact Us

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:25:00 +0000

Click HERE to send the author, Karen Wells, an email.

Click HERE to send the illustrator, Heidi Farner, an email.

Week 34 - Expect Delays

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Proverbs 2:10-11 (NLT)

While driving home the other day, I drove past one of those large construction reader boards placed on the side of the road, warning of upcoming road work. Unfortunately, I noticed it too late and the only part of the scrolling message I caught was "Expect Delays." I didn't know when or where the construction would take place. All I knew was that at some point…I might get stopped.

Wouldn't it be nice if God would erect some of these reader boards on the paths of my life? Shouldn't He have the same courtesy when He's about to start a major road construction project, just to let me know things might not go according to the usual, or fit into my timeline? How is it that when I have my route all mapped out, my GPS is programmed and I am ready to go, I get caught in the middle of the worst traffic jam? Where was my warning sign to "Expect Delays?"

In the times where my path hasn't been the easiest, when all of a sudden I come to the realization God is undertaking another major renovation; I cling to a scripture like Proverbs 2. I do find wisdom and knowledge fill me with joy, and understanding does protect me, especially when out of nowhere, circumstances don't meet my expectations. This verse states that "wise choices will watch over me". Here's my sign!

The more I actively apply God's truths to my life; I can have a greater awareness to what the Master Planner is up to. If I make poor choices, it's guaranteed I am headed for major delays. Some construction projects impossible to avoid; I talked about these in Week 26. For the avoidable road hazards, it is a matter of understanding obedience to basic principles found in His word. God provides us with enough "If/Then" statements, we should know better than to go down a particular path. For example:

"IF you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding … THEN you will find the knowledge of God … THEN you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path." (Proverbs 2:3, 5, 9 NIV, emphasis mine)

Whether it is in the form of good ol' fashioned common sense, or making a calculated decision to do the right thing, I want this kind of direction in my life and in the lives of my children. Life is hard enough as it is. I want to avoid the major hassles by reading and following the best sign I could ask for – The Bible.

God, grow in me and in my children a hunger for Your Word, for Your truths and for Your clear paths. Thank You for laying out the course and showing us the way. Help us to lay down agendas and expectations to be able to follow Your leading and wisdom to be able to reach the destination You planned before we were born.

Week 26 – The Littlest Word

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

As God leads and guides you, you will be at peace. Your foundation is built on righteousness, and no enemy can come against you. Isaiah 54:13-14

I love that God gives us a scripture like this one. It gives me a sense of stability, as if the God Himself reinforces the path under my feet. I find this especially true at times in life when circumstances don't go according to my roadmap. There are times in everyone's life when we are on a heading taking us to a destination we never intended to go. Some of those times can even bring our lives to a screeching halt.

No one prays for moments like these. No one can prepare for them. But if we are honest with ourselves, we can know they are a part of life and they do happen. We find ourselves looking back over our shoulders to see if we missed a sign saying to "Expect Delays," but there just wasn't one.

The biggest standstill in my life happened on June 1, 2007. I had just sent home a bunch of 6-year old girls after my daughter's birthday party, and the phone rang. My father, age 51, had collapsed and died instantly while at work.

Without warning, without saying good-bye…gone.

How could this be a part the plan of a loving God who leads and guides me? Shouldn't I have known? I spoke to him the day before, and he was fine. Why my Dad? Why now? We had so much more life to live together? He was my children's Papa and had so much life yet to live with them…Disneyland, graduations, weddings, etc…impossible!

One of the biggest plans Dad and I had was this book. He was going to illustrate it. In a matter of weeks after his death, I would be presenting the idea to several publishing houses. I immediately found myself on a road I had never planned for and no emergency escape route either. The only thing I could do, as do many other people who face unexpected, life-changing circumstances, was to go through it.

It has been two years since Dad passed, and many tears have been shed. My heart has known deep pain to the point where reading a verse like Isaiah 54 wouldn't make sense to me. The flood of the "whys?" and the "hows?" would come rushing in and I could barely think, let alone experience peace.

What I have found is that the key of this scripture is the smallest and potentially most overlooked word. It says, "As" God leads and guides you. Life is a process, a flowing relationship. It's not about arriving at the destination, but a journey shared.

The strength for me wasn't found in avoiding the roadblock or detouring around another way. It was found in the slowing down and staying with Him as He took me through the grief. This gave God the opportunity to build in me a new foundation; one where I place my hope in His unfailing love rather than anything life (or the enemy) can throw at me.

Jesus, only by Your precious grace can I pray this verse. Thank You for staying by my side through every curve and circumstance, never abandoning me. Through it all, I can know Your faithfulness is great and that Your mercies begin afresh each day. AS I put my hope in You, You will lead and guide me, and I will know peace.

Week 31 – Crossing the Placenta

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

You are in a place of worship, drinking in His strength and glory. In His generous love, you are really living! Psalm 63:2-3 MSG

What an amazing expression of God, so beautifully worded. This version is taken from The Message Bible. I thought it was particularly appropriate to speak over a developing. At this point in pregnancy a growing baby really does "drink in" and "breathe" the amniotic fluid, preparing her muscle and organ systems for life outside the womb.

During the later part of my pregnancy, I would sit for long periods of time and watch my belly rhythmically rise and fall with the little one's gentle breaths. The movement was subtle and if I wasn't very still, I would have never seen it. There are so many wonderful processes going on inside the womb, most of them go undetected. One of the motivations for this book, and especially this scripture, is to not overlook all the levels of development of an unborn baby.

Not only is this child "drinking in" her physical atmosphere, but she also is affected by the spiritual atmosphere around her. This verse talks about being in a "place of worship". We as mothers can have an active role in allowing our baby to experience this before she is born. When we enter into an attitude and heart of worship toward God, we drink in His strength and glory. This gives life to our spirit and in turn gives life to the life within.

I could pull out statistics from studies which prove a mother's "mood" does affect her unborn child. I could also quote scriptures about how God calls parents to be the gatekeepers of our children's spirit. I'll save those details for another time. For now, be encouraged and challenged to know: What you expose yourself to; you also expose your baby!

In Week 19, I explained the story about God telling me the "seed of Judah" was within me. What I now understand that to mean; though I would never say I fully understand it, is that God has placed praise deep within me. (The name Judah actually means praise.) During each of my pregnancies, I had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of our church's worship team. I have no doubt that every time I entered into worship when they were in my womb "seeds" of praise were planted in their spirits. And today, seeing my children freely sing and dance for the Lord is proof of this scripture.

Be intentional about worship. Experience His generous love. Receive His strength and glory. And then know that all of this does "cross the placenta"!

In your presence, Lord, is fullness of joy. Thank you for surrounding me with your love. Help me to take it in and allow it to sink to the depths of my spirit. As I let You nourish me and strengthen me, also fill my baby with this same glory.

Week 1 – The Painter and the Canvas

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:18:00 +0000

I wrote this devotional sitting in Heidi's home watching her paint one of the illustrations for the book.

God saw you before you were born. Every day of your life was recorded in His book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:16 NLT

I sit in amazement watching Heidi paint. The love this woman has for this project oozes from everything surrounding her. I cannot help see the resemblance to our Heavenly Father as He approaches the canvas of our lives.

She is intentional in every aspect, no detail left unkempt - from the worship music playing in the background, to the praise coming from her lips. Before she even begins, she knows where she is headed. She has her supplies organized and arranged to give her the greatest efficiency of creativity. She has prepared for months through extensive research and earnest prayer, pouring herself deeply into each week of pregnancy.

When she finally arrives at the blank canvas, she is careful to plot out the design. She begins with a rough sketch and then adds a very vague wash of indistinct background colors. Layer after layer, stroke after stroke, prayer after prayer, slowly the image begins to take shape. Each layer is followed by a brief pause to allow the paint to dry. She is meticulous and determined, singing and worshiping throughout the process...creating something from nothing.

In these beginning stages, if I wasn't already familiar with the illustrations, I honestly wouldn't be able to tell what exactly was forming. I would also be very hasty at getting to the minute details that truly show off the intricacy of the subject matter. Heidi though, doesn't approach it this way. She is patient, and there is no doubt in watching her, there is supernatural design working through her hands. She has the vision before her and is trusting God to get her there.

What a picture of this week's verse...before we are even born, God knows our life. He painstakingly prepares our entrance. There is nothing "haphazard" about His craftsmanship and for it to be such a masterpiece, He knows the beginning to the end. There is no way if we (being human artists) can take such care, love and preparation into our comparatively simple creations, that the Father doesn't take that much MORE tenderness and design. This is how He can say every day of our life has been laid out...layer after layer...season after season...detail upon detail. Words fail me to describe the depth of beauty in this process.

Thank you, Lord for knowing us BEFORE we are born. From Your perspective, the canvas of our lives are not accidents. They are truly miracles in the making - masterpieces! In light of Heidi's example, help us to grasp the depth of love and design You stroke into every aspect of our lives.

Week 3 – The Wait

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:37:00 +0000

Today's devotional was written by Heidi Farner, the illustrator of the book. She has so much life to give through her paintings and her words. Enjoy!

"You are wanted, loved, and will be dedicated to God's purposes every day of your life." 1 Samuel 1:27-28

The longing.

The hoping.

The waiting.

Month after month

Became year after year.

The longing - too hard to bear.

The hope – only disappointment.

The waiting – too long to endure.

The promises – yet to be fulfilled.

The rollercoaster ride of emotions – month after month.

Where do I turn?

I turn to You, Lord.

I cling to You.

I linger in Your presence and find hope renewed, faith restored.

"My God is faithful!" my battered heart cries.

This was the place,

This was the time,

This was the plan.

He was setting the stage for all praise and glory to be His.

What was impossible with man is possible with Him.

I was ready to be a mom at 26 but the Lord thought differently. He had a better way for my husband and I. Little did I realize, we were on the road to the miraculous.

Yes, the miraculous, for after seven years of desiring a child, countless tests and numerous surgeries, the doctors gave up hope for us to have a child. They used words like "unlikely" and "near impossible". But God did not!

In fact, He stepped in with such great mercy and compassion that I remember the moment vividly; like it just happened, even though its been eleven years ago. I was attending a large women's conference at Oral Robert's University. One time during worship, I had a vision of the Lord walking by me. I reached out and I grabbed onto His garment, crying out, "Lord please heal me!"

He turned to me and said, "Daughter your faith has made you well go in peace."

Only 2 months later, I became pregnant! God was and IS faithful! I can lift up my voice, as Hannah did in this Week 3 scripture, to say thank you for the child I prayed. And for me, it wasn't just ONE child He gave me. He entrusted us with THREE precious miracles: Wesley (10), Joshua (8) and Rachel (4)!

Lord, may we always wait patiently for Your timing. Let the dreams of our hearts be defined and purified with holy fire and come forth as pure gold!

Week 37 – Bother or Blessing?

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:24:00 +0000

Out of the mouths of babies and infants, God has made perfect praise. Matthew 21:16

This scripture is best appreciated in full context. In Matthew 21 (NLT), Jesus was in the city of Jerusalem and had gone into the Temple. The blind and lame came to Jesus to be healed, and He healed them.

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He did and the children crying out in the porches and courts of the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant.
And they said to Him, "Do you hear what these are saying?"
And Jesus replied to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have made (provided) perfect praise'?"

The religious leaders were furious because these children were worshipping Jesus, and Jesus didn't stop them. Instead, He goes further to say perfect praise comes from babies and infants. What!? This can't be possible. All babies ever do is cry. How can infants and children know anything? In the natural, we see little children and think … well … they're little! They need development. They would never be capable of anything even close to "perfection".

This is the same mentality of the disciples had two chapters earlier in Matthew 19. They thought the children and their parents were a "bother". In the disciples' minds, it was a waste of time for Jesus to care for the children. There were other, more important, things Jesus needed to be doing. They were not valuing these children to the same degree in which Jesus valued them. They did not see them as the blessings God had created them to be.

If we are not careful, we may, with our limited human eyes, see children as "less than" adults. This is not the way God sees them. From the words of Horton, in Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who, "A person is a person, no matter how small." God loves a tiny forming baby in the womb as much as He loves his grandmother. We all have value. These babies have just as much to teach adults, as we have to teach them. Our responsibility is to open our eyes and mind to the wonder they offer.

Thank you, Father, for these precious lives you entrust in our care. God, help us to see them with Your eyes, to know their value and purpose. Let us never take for granted their significance and worth. Thank you for using them, no matter their size, to enrich our lives and bring a greater understanding of Your heart for mankind.

Week 32 – Let Them Praise

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:42:00 +0000

Your lips brim praises like fountains. You bless God every time you take a breath; your arms wave like banners of praise. Psalm 63:3-4 MSG

Each time I read this scripture, I can't help but picture my youngest daughter, KariAnna. It is a rare moment that she is not singing or dancing over something. She can sing a song about paperclips, tennis shoes and even an unassuming rock from my garden. And when the song revs up, then the dancing begins. Spinning, twirling, leaping – New York City Ballet has nothing on this girl!

As cute as this is, there truly is no greater joy I have in life, than seeing her let loose in free praise of God. She sings about His love for her in a way that cuts to the core of my soul. How is it possible for her to have such a beautiful grasp on forgiveness and grace? I have to admit; it baffles me that a 6 year old can know God in such a way. But the fact is, she loves Him and I'd be smart not to hinder her assent to His throne room.

Matthew 19:13-15 (NLT) is a story of some parents who also wanted their children to love Jesus:

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

I desire to have faith like these parents every day. They brought their children to Jesus for Him to lay hands on them. They wanted Him to "touch" their lives, even in the midst of resistance. (In week 37, I'll talk more about this resistance.) Jesus, however, responded to the desire of their hearts and did exactly what they wanted. Even better though, He responded to the desire of His own heart! Jesus loved these children, and He loves our kids too!

As parents, it is our responsibility to give our children access and opportunity to His love and allow them to be touched by Him. With all the other potential influences out there, we have to make God's presence a priority in our lives. We need to be worshipping in our homes, in our churches, in our cars, at the grocery store – everywhere.

If a 6 year old can find a way to give thanks for a paperclip and a rock; first of all, I need to let her give thanks without mockery or ridicule, then I can follow her example with singing and dancing!

Lord, thank you for loving me and my children. Help my lips to brim with praises for every part of my life. Give me an awe and amazement of your creation. Open my heart to every opportunity to bring my life and theirs to Your hand of blessing.

Week 19 – Walking with Dad

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:32:00 +0000

You belong to God; He holds your right hand. He guides you with counsel, leading you to a glorious destiny.

I want to say how thankful I am that I belong to God and that He is the one who leads me. He is the one who has laid out my life, has a plan and is more than competent to walk me through every part of it. What a journey! Even my wildest dreams and aspirations cannot compare to the life God has for me.

This scripture says He holds our hand and guides us. This implies an active and intimate involvement in our lives, but it doesn't show some spectator sitting up in the grandstands barking out orders over a megaphone. Nor does this say He puts a leash on our neck and pulls us everywhere He wants us to go.

"Holding our hand" means He wants to be close and help us along and allowing us freedom of movement. I am seeing a picture of my child skipping along next to me, singing and dancing, all the while, holding my hand, hearing my voice…in relationship. I want to live out my journey with God this way. I as I am growing in my understanding of Him as my loving, gentle Father, it is becoming more natural for me to follow Him side-by-side, step-by-step like this. But it hasn't always looked like this.

In Week 2's devotional, I alluded to "surprises" from God. In this case, I was referring to one that came when I assumed I knew where God was headed with our second child, took off in that direction and left Him to follow me. Oops! Similar to our first, I had an urging about who our next child would be. Though, truth be told, there was far less detail and direction. But me and my "type A, plan-out-everything" personality, took this "little bit" of understanding and ran with it!

I sensed God saying the "seed of Judah" was in me. This had to have meant that I was having a boy and his name would be Judah. While pregnant, I even signed our Christmas cards, "Love Neal, Karen, Caleb and Judah". God said it, I was going to have a boy…done deal, right!? Not exactly.

Naomi Elizabeth, our beautiful baby girl, was born in June of 2001. And for the record, I am so thankful God didn't change His plan based upon my interpretation. Even reading her name causes me to well up with joy and pride! She has meant more to Neal and I than we ever could have imagined. We are excited to continue hand in hand with God and see where He takes her.

Thank you Lord in Isaiah 55 (paraphrased NLT) you remind me that, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Help me to stay right beside you, holding your hand all the way and enjoying the journey.

Week 2 – Knowing You

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:58:00 +0000

The Lord's message to you is, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesperson to the world." Jeremiah 1:5 NLT

The illustration that corresponds with this verse, cannot be more perfect! Heidi captured the moment before conception so beautifully; suspended in a sea of blue…there is a serenity and anticipation as one seed approaches the other. And to think, at this moment, before this new life has even been initiated; God knows him or her.

This might appear strange, but I had a brief moment of a sense of "knowing" my first born son. Months before I had even become pregnant with him, I was talking with a friend about her one year old son, Joshua. During that conversation, I thought about how Joshua in the Bible had Caleb as his companion. And it hit me…I was going to have a "Caleb" and he would be a mountain-taker. Somehow, in that instant, I met my child before he was even conceived.

The Bible tells us a great deal about Caleb in the books of Numbers and Joshua, but the one part of his life that stood out to me was when he was 85 years old, he decided to claim the land promised to him by God. It was a mountain inhabited by giant men, but Caleb didn't care. "Give me this mountain", he told Joshua.

I am not saying God revealed every detail about my son's life. In fact, I know from experience, interesting surprises come when we assume too much about these urgings from God (see week 19 for example). But it is good to ask God for a window into our children's lives, to give us direction and peace as we parent them.

Our Caleb is almost 10 now, and living up to his name sake. In fact from infancy, he has an extremely high energy level, a propensity to climb everything and is very head strong about his desires. I thank God for giving me a "knowing" of him so that I can direct these God-given traits in a positive way that will help him to fully become the man God intends him to be.

Heavenly Father, what proof of how much You love us! You knew us before we were in our mother's womb. Cause me to know my children the way You know them. Give me an understanding of the plans and callings You have for their lives and to be a part of Your shaping and molding them into that person.

Week 18 - Thrive

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:40:00 +0000

God will pour His Spirit on you, and you will thrive wherever He plants you. Isaiah 44:3-4

I love gardening…have you noticed yet? There is just something so powerful about the process of growing a tiny seed hidden from view into something so unexpected. How is it that a small, and seemingly lifeless seed, when placed in the right soil and given the right amount of nutrients can develop into such a beautiful living creation?

What a perfect picture of pregnancy! It begins with seed of a woman and a man, and unless you have a microscopic view and a basic understanding of the process, you might not be able to perceive the potential. You would never know the "power of life" was contained inside. Like plant seeds though, apart from the right atmosphere, they cannot grow and become all they were intended to become.

Each seed has specific instructions for planting, from the time of year to plant, depth of placement, spacing of seeds, amount of sunlight, and some even a specific requirement for the pH of the soil.

God in His perfect design of the earth and all its splendor, has an order and place for everything. He is the Master Gardener. He doesn't sow haphazardly, throwing intention and purpose to the wind, stepping back to see what happens. He is precise in His timing, conscientious of the ideal soil and is the Authority on nutrients and conditions needed to grow any THING or any ONE.

That's right! God creates us with forethought and design, and His mastery continues past the womb. God has a planting time and place for every part of your life. If you cooperate with Him and look to Him for placement and nourishment, you will thrive.

Thank you for being the Master Gardener, full of tender loving care for all your "little seeds". Help to grow and strengthen each of us, no matter what stage of development we are in. Let your Spirit pour over us and nurture our hearts, our minds and our bodies. Help us to not just survive, but to thrive!

Week 23 – The Right Tools

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLT

Referring back to Week 4, I was amazed by a landscaping truck I saw. I included a picture for you to see what I saw. Coming from someone who ruined her pruning shears trying to cut a whole tree down, I felt a sense of pride for the owner who gave all these wonderful tools to his or her employees to use. How much more fun would this project have been if I would have had the correct tools for the job!? Instead I ended up with blisters and a "hack job".

As I looked at this trailer with 4 different types of edgers, 3 mowers, etc. – a bit envious of all their fancy tools – I thought about my life as a parent, wife, daughter and friend. How many times have I tried to tackle a big situation with a little tool? Have I tried to settle a disagreement with elaborate words rather than true repentance? Have I tried using human ingenuity to remove a road block instead of faith and hope? When do I turn to my thoughts in a situation rather than fixing my mind on God's?

God has "supplied all my needs". God has given me every tool I need to shape my life. Just like the landscape crew had tools they could use to create a masterpiece lawn, God has given me every tool necessary to allow my life to truly be the reflection of the One I have been patterned after.

Does this mean I will know how and when to use all the tools given me? Well, not exactly. You might get a good laugh if I walked up to the trailer, grabbed a hedge trimmer and just started away at my rhododendron. Needless to say, training and discipline are a must with any tool.

We have to first know that God has given us an arsenal of glorious riches. Then we can ask Him to lead and guide us into being good managers of these precious gifts. Sometimes, we'll have to sweat. Sometimes, we'll have to step out of our comfort zone. Truthfully though, I'd rather go through life knowing I have used the right tools for the job, than waste a whole lot of time using ones that aren't cut out for the task.

Father God, open my eyes to everything you have set out for me to use in my life. Help me to look to Jesus and His life as the ultimate example of how You want me to live. Let me use your tools of discipline, faith, love, forgiveness, integrity, trust … let this list continue on for every need I might have. Thank you for giving me a full trailer!

Week 4 - Created

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

God created you in His very own image. He patterned you after Himself. Whether you are boy or girl, God is your creator. Genesis 1:27

Yesterday, I noticed a truck and trailer belonging to a landscape company. I was astonished at the number of blowers, mowers, hedge trimmers, trimmers, edgers etc. carefully placed, each in its own spot, along the sides of the trailer. These guys had it all! From the spare tanks for gasoline, to the debris dump station in the back of the truck. It wasn't just the basics needed to mow the lawn; this setup gave the workers everything they needed to create a masterpiece lawn.

My first thought was how wonderful for the owner of this business to give their workers such an abundance of tools. I loved that they had everything they needed to tackle any yard. (For more on my first thought, you'll have to wait for Week 23.)

The next thought was, "I bet when these guys are done with their work every lawn will look like it was created to look."

Then it hit me…just like a master landscaper "creates" a scene in the "image" of what he or she sees for that space – from form to function; God creates each one of us in an "image," His image. From the delicate intricacies of your baby beginning to form in the womb, to the complex neural workings of an adult brain, God wants us to be a masterpiece!

Every created work is a reflection of its creator. If we are referring to God as the ultimate creator, who created heaven and earth in all its beauty, we should expect nothing short of His magnum opus for the one creation He expressly says (in James 1:18 MSG) is the "crown of creation." NLT states, "we, of all creation, became His prized possession."

Thank you, God, for creating us with such care and inspiration. I am honored to have you as our Creator. There is no one greater, no one more qualified and no one able to do what You can do! Help me to see the full beauty of what you have created all of us to be.

Week 42 – God’s Heartbeat

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

For those of you who would never dream of skipping ahead to read the end of a book, you might want to look away or just come back tomorrow. Yes, I am going to do it….I am going to share the last lines of the book with you!!! Oh, don't worry – it won't ruin the story. Sometimes it's good to know where you are going before you begin.

And in case I haven't admitted enough to you already, I am going to begin with a confession. Please don't share this with the other "Weeks", but the verse that corresponds to Week 42 is my favorite! Yes, so many of them are amazing and wonderful, but the passage seen below has special significance.

When going through my final edit of the book, I had to rearrange the order of some of the scriptures. Some of them could not be moved because they correspond with certain anatomical development in the baby for a particular week. Other scriptures could not be moved because they represented the intercession Heidi did while she was painting the illustration. A handful, though, could be moved around.

This scripture, out of Luke Chapter 1, was moved many times. In fact, it kept getting pushed back and back; it ended up as the final scripture. As I was writing the final version, an overwhelming flood of emotion came over me. This was it; the culmination of the book! The reason God wanted The Miracle of You in the hands of parents across the world!

In that poignant moment, sitting on my living room floor surrounded by yellow sticky notes, I got it. I heard God's heartbeat for the new generation. This is His message is to children being born today. As you read, yes, apply it to yourself and your baby. But, please, picture other parents reading it to their babies.

What if 10 other parents read Week 42 over their baby? What if 100 parents read it to their baby? How about 1000? I break out sobbing with the realization … it IS His message, His desire, His Heartbeat … pray it is activated in this generation:

God's plan is for you to be a joy and delight. Many will rejoice because of your birth. You will be great in His sight. You will turn sons and daughters of God back to the Lord. You will have the spirit and power to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children … And you, our little child, will be called of the Most High to prepare a way for the Lord. You will tell His people how to find salvation through the forgiveness of sins and with His tender mercy you will give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, guiding them to the path of peace. Luke 1:14-17, 76-79 (Author Paraphrase)

Pre-Order The Miracle of You

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Wells) — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:53:00 +0000

Thank you for your interest in The Miracle of You.

Many websites are beginning to take pre-orders on the book.

The retail price is listed at $12.99,

though you will be able to find some sites selling it at a reduced rate.

For Kregel Publishing, Click HERE.

If you are interested in Bulk Ordering

or carrying the book in your store,

please contact Dave Hill, Kregel Publishing's Sales Director at:

616-451-4775 x218

800-733-2607

616-451-9330, Fax

customerservice@kregel.com

A New Beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:37:00 +0000

Thank you all for your prayers over our last post for favor with Mr. Nilsson. I was able to talk with Mrs. Nilsson Sunday night on the phone. She was very cordial and expressed that she thought Heidi's paintings were beautiful. She explained, though, that she forwarded our request to their agent and publishing company and that they are the ones who handle all copyright requests. She wished us well and was very helpful.

We heard last Wednesday from Mr. Nilsson's agent and they chose not to release the rights to any of the photos for us to use in the book.

After some wonderful prayer time on Thursday, Heidi and I felt the Lord has equipped us to continue on without using the photos as direct inspiration for the illustrations. We are standing and believing that God is going to show Heidi things what "no eye has seen" and she will repaint what God shows her. He was also able to give both of us a new excitement and an sense of a new beginning for the book.

On Saturday, Heidi began to paint again, and she said that the "creativity was flowing really well". Please keep her in your prayers. She will be painting in the mornings every day this week and potentially for most of the day on Wednesday. As of today, she has 11 to do from start to finish. There is a chance she may choose to redo a few more depending on how the first 11 go.

Pray for open heavens and for God's hand to be upon her hand. Pray for protection and provision for her husband and children, as this will undoubtably take a great deal of mom's time. Pray for a "condensing" of the work into a short amount of time. We are working with our publisher and trying not to let this change affect our release date. This means we don't have much time to finish the new work.

From a practical stand point, I am putting a schedule of meals together for Heidi and her family. If anyone of you would like to help, let me know and I'll fit you in. Also if you have any words of encouragement, or scriptures to share, please pass them along. I want to make sure Heidi constantly feels loved, surrounded and supported.

I'll keep you up-to-date as the painting continues!

Needing Prayer for Favor

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:14:00 +0000

Dear Faithful Intercessors...

Heidi and I would like to come to you for a special request for prayer. In the last two weeks, we have become aware that we are needing to receive permission for use of the fetal photographs Heidi used as inspiration to create the paintings. They are enough of a "likeness" to the original photos, that we will have to get permission to be able to use her illustrations.

Originally we were talking about 16 out of the 21 paintings! Of these, 12 of them came from one source. The remaining 4 were from separate sources. Heidi has chosen to repaint these 4 in such a way we wouldn't have such "likeness" to put us in a place of potential copyright infringement.

As for the other 12...these beautiful paintings were taken from the amazing, ground-breaking work of a Swedish photographer named Lennart Nilsson. Every time I look through these wonderful images, I am inspired and moved. I want to keep our illustrations as close "likenesses" of these photos. I want to honor this man and his expertise. Many of these photos were taken through endoscopic cameras back in the early '60s. NO photographer has ever come close to taking the shots he took! NO ONE has given humanity such a view into the dark of the womb, like he has.

I have received contact information for Mr. Nilsson's wife as the best way to contact him. Heidi and I felt led to fast and pray for three days, and call our "handmaidens" to also pray and fast with us. We feel like Ester, and need the favor of Ester in approaching this man with our request.

We want this project to be the same blessing to him, we are praying for it to be to our readers. We want his full support and even an endorsement if possible for the use of Heidi's renderings of his photographs.

Please join with us in praying for this. Pray for favor, creativity, inspiration and a "God Touch" for Lennart and his wife. Today was my first day of the fast. I am working on crafting the email to connect with him over the next two days, and sending it out Friday morning.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support!

Karen

P.S. if any of you are interested in learning more about Mr. Nilsson, here are a couple links to some interviews with him...

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/odyssey/nilsson.html

http://gruppof.blogspot.com/2008/06/meeting-lennart-nilsson-30-may-2008.html

Deciding on the Title...

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:57:00 +0000

Hello there faithful friends and intercessors!

After a bit of summer down time, we are back to work on the book. Kregel had a "Titling Committee" meeting this week and they are tossing around ideas for the book.

The working title I had of "I Knew You Before You Were Born" probably is not going to make the cut. After much marketing research, we have found many other books on the market with very similar titles. Nothing that was identical, but enough that were close to cause us to want to go in a different direction.

Kregel's Titling Committee came up with this suggestion:

The Miracle of You
Prayers and Promises for Expectant Parents
by Karen Wells

Rather than go into the technicals of this possibility, I wanted to throw it out to all of you for feedback, comments and prayer!

We are in forward movement right now, so if you can drop me a line, or add your thoughts as a comment as soon as possible, it would be greatly appreciated.

Love you all!