God showed up in a big way last night. We prayed and cried out for Him, so many of you have prayed and cried out for Him on our behalf. He came. He is here. He has lifted Kate, our little boys, and myself out of the raging waters and has set our feet on solid ground. God used the magnesium as a tool in His great plan, and the contractions have once again spread out considerably. Kate responded very well to the medication, she had a couple of "hot" and dizzy spells, but no vomiting or blood pressure crashes...another answered prayer. Kate and I were talking about how scared we were last night, and Kate said,"I really want to give this all to God, and I am really trying to do that...but I don't want to do that if it means that He is going to take away our boys". We talked about that and prayed about that. About 30 minute later Kate started to hum the tune to "Be still and know that I am God", and we sang that a number of times together. She said she just couldn't get that song out of her head. God used that song/phrase to reassure us both. We were both feeling like the situation was out of control, we were so scared that the babies were going to be delivered last night...and in one phrase that God put on Kate's heart, everything came into focus. God said just that...just settle down you two, I got this. The air in the room changed, our fears subsided, and God worked yet another miracle and stopped Kate's labor for the 4th time in 12 days. I hope that everyone that reads this has had or gets to experience the closeness of our God. It cannot be described in words. I have never felt as desperate or as scared as I did last night, and on this beautiful Sunday morning it feels almost like a distant memory. God carried Kate, He carried me, and He carried our precious little boys (who have grown quite fond of playing hide and seek with the heart rate monitors).
Another heartfelt THANK-YOU to everyone who has and who did pray for us. Heaven sent its army to this delivery room last night at the request of God's people. You all have such a special place in our hearts and we hope to one day thank everyone of you for praying for us when we could no longer pray.
We're praising God with you this morning! What a mighty God we serve!
ReplyDeleteLove, Aaron and Lacey
PRAISE THE LORD, OH MY SOUL, AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME BLESS HIS HOLY NAME.
ReplyDeleteMark/Kate, God is using the two of you in a mighty way to accomplish His purposes. Thank you for your honesty and for your testimony to our God. Thank you for giving us the privilege of lifting you up throughout the night to our heavenly Father. Bless you all in this day.
I woke up at 3:30 this morning and started to pray, I didn’t stop until almost 6:00am. I just couldn’t stop thinking about the four of you.
ReplyDeleteI have wanted to celebrate the VERY small milestone you have hit of 24 weeks. I have tried to thank God for this, it just seems very hard to celebrate anything when you guy’s still need so much.
I will continue to pray for you all to have the strength to continue this fight and for all of us to have the courage to accept Gods plan in all of this.
We love you guys!!
Answer me when I call to you,
ReplyDeleteO my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer. .... Psalm 4:1
Mark, Kate and "The Babies Two" .... God is using your family as a testimony to many, we have walked your walk you are walking, we have felt the pain your are feeling, now we are praying alongside of you as well.
Praise God that He has blessed you with relief and encouragement and reassured you that He is with you always.
Uncle Dan, Aunt Nancy and "The Boy's"
HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD,
ReplyDeleteSING WITH ME HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD
AND ALL WILL SEE HOW GREAT, HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!
We are overwhelmed with emotion by your post this morning - Thank you God for keeping constant watch and protection over our friends and fulfilling Your promises and answering our heartfelt prayers! Thank you Lord for showing up in the moments when You are needed most! We stand in awe and humbly reach out to You with praise and thanksgiving for all the blessing and favor you are providing not only to Kate, Mark and the boys but also to us, your faithful servants.
WITH GOD AND GOD ALONE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!!!
Continued love, support and prayers,
Tony & Cara
Praise God, Praise God!!! I am crying tears of joy! I am so thankful that your babies weren't delivered last night and I'll keep on praying!!
ReplyDeleteWow... what an awesome testimony of what you experienced last evening! I remember feeling those same feelings a few years ago and finally just gave it to God because I knew there was nothing I could do and that He was and always is in control. There is such an amazing peace that passes all understanding when you give it all to Him! Continue to "Be Still and Know"!!
ReplyDeleteMark and Kate,
ReplyDeleteI was so relieved to read your post this morning and so thankful to know that God's presence was there when you needed it most. You will continue to be in my heart and prayers as we continue down this path. Let's pray for a few quiet, uneventful days and nights.
Please let me know if you need ANYTHING,
Sharon
Praise God! I am weeping tears of JOY! We will continue to be your strength through prayer. We love you and your boys more than words can express. What a Mighty God We Serve!
ReplyDeletePsalm 32:8
"I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you"
God is watching over you and the boys every moment. May your day be filled with quiet moments and boredom. LOVE YOU!!
Tim, Sarah, Kylie, and Brady
Our God is an AWESOME GOD!!!! Praise Him!!!
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord. That is great news. We are praying that those two little boys will stay put, that God will give the doctors and nurses extra wisdom, and also that you will have the strength and peace to endure this roller coaster. We know that God's way is the best way, but we don't always understand. I saw written somewhere that "God won't give me more than I can handle, I'm just not sure he should trust me with this much!" Lean on God, as I know you already are!
ReplyDeleteMatt
Mark and Kate,
ReplyDeleteMaranatha Church is praying for you and the boys. The prayer warriors are especially raising your name to the heavens.
Nancy
God is so great! Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers guys!
ReplyDeleteJessica
Mark and Kate,
ReplyDeleteYea! What an awesome and powerful God we serve! Thanks for sharing that incredible expirience with us! We'll keep praying for peace, patience and strength to endure these difficult days! Continue to 'be still and know that HE is God!' Love you guys!
Jeff and Heidi
mark and kate,
ReplyDeleteraquel and i are following the progress and we continue to pray as this all unfolds. we love you. stay strong.
ryan and raquel
Dear Mark and Kate,
ReplyDeleteI prayed for you so often throughout the night. I am so happy to hear you felt God's presence. It is awesome isn't it?
We will pray that the contractions subside, strength and rest for both of you and that the boys will continue to grow strong and healthy.
Mark and Kate…
ReplyDeleteAfter you called this morning we were filled with so much joy and gratitude to God. It took me back to your comment of a few days ago. Our God indeed is still on Plan A…the plan He created for you before there was time. As we wonder what is going on we can take comfort in the fact that our God never changes. I was reading through the Psalms, a book which has many songs in it that start as laments and then are transformed into songs of praise to God. Both are emotions that God understands and uses to transform us. That awesome prayer warrior who was praying you through at 12:33 last night captured that truth well. One of them is Ps 77. The psalmist says:
I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help.
You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! I think of the good old days, long since ended, when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me? Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.”
But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds [miracles] of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people.
There is no God as great as our God! He is and remains the God of great wonders!
When you talked the other night about running out of the words or energy to pray it reminded me of what Paul said when that happened to him. He said …the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
What an assurance it is to know that when we run dry, the Spirit steps and prays for us.
Thanks for getting this blog going. Your posts mean a lot, and the prayers and comments of others have encouraged me and provided a great blessing. God is receiving glory through your testimony of trust in Him and His faithfulness.
Love, Dad
We never expected our prayers to be so quickly answered...that is the post we have been praying for since we visited on Thursday. Every moment is lighter when you can fully trust and your lives will never be the same.
ReplyDeleteWe are constantly thinking about you, wishing we could bear the load for you and, of course, continually praying.
Your friends, Levi, Audrey and Savannah
I read your blog and wanted you to know I am praying for you. I sing "Be still and Know" all the time, and your entry brought tears to my eyes. Our God is so good! I also have twins, born June 30, 08, girls :) They are blessings! We have been in Spectrum since 12/24 because one is ill and had a Bone marrow transplant. We understand the waiting, the fear, crying out to God. He is here!! You are in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteWe are thinking about you guys a lot! We continue to pray for you and are so glad that the contractions subsided! God is good!
ReplyDeleteShelley and Scott Plaggemars
God is good. I couldn't tell you how many times I was on my knees praying for you guys. God truly is showing all of us his faithfulness and proving he can work miracles. Thank you for your consistent updates. Kate...you have one great husband for support and a great God that is carrying you in his arms.
ReplyDeleteI was in church this morning and I had a heavy heart after reading the post from last night. We are currently studying John 11 where God raises Lazerus from the dead. (With God anything is possible!!) I got home and this post was here!
ReplyDeleteAnother selected scripture that really stood out to me was Philippians 4:4-7. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Our prayer for you and the boys is that your family will be surrounded by the peace that transcends all understanding.
Praise God for He is Good! You continue to be in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteJames 5:16"...The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."
Ephesians 3:14 "When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father."
Romans 1:9 "God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart..."
Our prayers are with you daily. We know that God is with you, so we pray that you continue to feel His presence and experience His peace. It's amazing to think how your babies are developing each day and what a blessing it is that they are still growing in the place that's best for them - their mother's womb. May there be many more days of that! Kate, may God give you strength as your body is so weak.
ReplyDeleteJoel and Sarah
Wow! What a mighty God we serve!!!
ReplyDeleteWe have prayed and prayed, and we won't stop.
We are so encouraged by God's strength. We know it is HE who surrounds you.
Thanks for filling us in.
Thank you so much for your blog. You are ministering to others through your faith and reliance on our Mighty God. I was on the horrible magnesium for a couple of weeks in the hospital with our twins and remember vividly the annoyance of the three monitors and the constant worry. My heart goes out to you. We are lifting your family up in prayer!
ReplyDeletelove, Stephanie Cooper
Sarah Schreuder just gave me your blog address so we can pray over you guys! Thank you for the regular updates... We will definitely be praying for you and the twins. Chad and Kim (Pett) De Jager
ReplyDeleteWonderful news that the contractions are lessening and Kate is feeling better! We've been praying for you and will continue to do so. Thank you for sharing the updates. These boys are such miracles! We pray they will be safe inside mama for many more weeks.
ReplyDeleteJon, Jen (Wolbert), Mya and Owen Frego
We're praying, Kate and Mark. All our love to all of you.
ReplyDelete