Faith (By:Daniel)

Hey Everyone! Daniel here! 


Lets dive right into it. So I dislocated my left shoulder sliding into second base this past Sunday and was told I have a small labrum tear in my left shoulder. Im now on the 7 Day DL. 

Regardless of that, the Lord has been doing a work over here. Over the past couple months a big thing that has been on my heart is divine healing (what the bible says about healing and why we don't see more of it.) This deeper dive in getting to know more of the person of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit has opened opportunities to have really good conversations about it with my teammates.

Then I got hurt. The entire time it was happening the Lord gave me an unexplainable peace in the midst of the pain. What happens next was totally the Lord. Several of my non christian teammates came to me in faith while I was on the training table wanting to pray for healing over me in front of everyone (Quick side note: we prayed for healing over one of the guys who had a pretty bad pulled muscle in his neck and he was 100% healed later that night. He was one of the guys that came in to pray for me after I had got hurt). I wasn't healed on the spot, but it was awesome to see the Lord moving in their hearts and to see the their childlike faith even though they didn't know what to say or pray. 

Two days later I was a little frustrated I hadn't received the full manifestation of my healing yet. I can honestly say that I didn't even want to be healed for baseball, I really wanted to be healed to show Gods power to my teammates and to back up what I had been preaching to them. In the midst of what the enemy was trying to use to discourage me, the Lord allowed something miraculous to happen! The family Chel and I are staying with in Jackson, have a grandmother (Nana) that recently has had health complications. Just last week, she had to stay over night in the emergency room because they found a spot on her liver and didn't know what it was. After an all night stay and no diagnosis they set up an appointment next week. 

Now back to two days after my injury...Nana came over that morning before she went to her doctors appointments. I felt the Lord tugging on my heart to pray for her healing. We all then laid hands on her and prayed. I don't even know what I said, the Holy Spirit literally took over and spoke. It was an awesome prayer time. The next day Nana calls Martha (the woman were living with) so excited saying the Lord has healed her! Apparently the nurse couldn't  find the spot on her liver at all. She had to call the doctor in to try and find the spot. Eventually the doctor told her, we don't know what to tell you or how to explain this, but the spot on your liver is completely gone. PRAISE JESUS!!!!! 

When I heard the news, as you can imagine, I was ecstatic! I still am in awe. I want my situation to be used in any way to bring glory to Jesus. Needless to say, my faith has grown through this experience. I am still claiming healing over my shoulder and have been experiencing accelerated healing! I have almost full range of motion and function. Praise God!

These are my final thoughts. Healing was a mighty display of Gods love and power in the Bible, but why don't we see more of that today? Don't we serve the same God? Yes we do! Where I believe we go wrong, is we seem to be lacking faith. Christians simply don't know or believe the powerhouse of the Holy Spirit that lives inside them. The Bible clearly shows that faith is the key ingredient in so many of the healings Jesus performed. He always said "your your faith has made you well". This isn't a worldly faith like "I hope this works out". Im talking Bible faith "as if it has already happened" "believe as though you have already received". Bible faith like the woman that had a hemorrhage for twelve years and just knew if she only touched the fringe of His robe she would be healed. I know it took even greater faith from me to pray for healing over the Grandma when I hadn't even received my healing fully yet. As followers of Jesus, He has given us all authority over every sickness, disease, problem and situation. Lets do our part always and have great Faith and leave the rest up to our Heavenly Father. God truly is a Healer and wants us to depend on Him completely for everything and in faith receive it. 

As I'm typing this, my shoulder is so much better already than it should be. Im depending on Him to heal me completely. Please add my full healing to your prayer list. But rememberer to pray with authority that God has given you.

Thanks for listening, to Him be ALL the GLORY!

Hello California, Hello Baseball Season

The worst part about baseball is definitely "goodbyes". Early yesterday morning (and I mean 3am early), Daniel and I had to say the dreaded "G" word. I am thankful though that it won't be too long until we are back together again. My countdown is 12 days today. I can handle that! We've done 6 weeks before. Besides, I have to remind myself that there are so many military families out there that have it way harder then us. I am thankful.

Although we anticipated it, Daniel did make the AA roster and is starting the season in Jackson, TN with the Jackson Generals. We are thankful for this promotion and so excited to see what this season has in store. This spring training was a blessed one filled with many opportunities. Daniel finished spring training hitting .439 (18 for 41 with 7 BBs, 6 SBs and 4 HRs). The 4 homeruns were actually hit in the last 4 straight days of spring training. One being in the big league game against the Padres! So that was so fun! God is so GREAT and to Him be all the glory, honor and praise!

Another exciting thing that happened this past week is Daniel was interviewed by MLB reports. I was so blessed by this article and it makes me so happy to see Daniel getting recognition for his hard work. Here is a link to the article:
http://mlbreports.com/2012/04/02/carroll-interview/

Thank you to everyone for the prayers and constant support, we're excited to have you along with us for this 2012 season.

Onto the Next Adventure...

It's hard to believe Spring Training is already coming to an end. In 3 days, well be packed up back in suitcases again and headed onto our next adventure. Which as of now, is looking like our next adventure will be in Jackson, TN with the Mariner's AA team (a level up from last season, so we're excited). I am so proud of Daniel and so excited about how well he's done this past month. He's hitting .441 so far this spring (15 for 34 with 7 walks, 6 stolen bases and 2 HRs)! Praise God!

Daniel's parents, sister aunt and uncle also came out to visit this past week, which has kept us extra busy. Daniel's parents headed back to Cali yesterday and Daniel's sister, Meagan, is staying with us until Monday so she can do the drive back to Cali with me. The plan right now is Daniel leaves with the team 3am Monday morning and I'll be flying out to TN the 15th. I'm excited because there will be 4 other wives traveling with their husbands as well this season in AA. Looking forward to all God has in store.

Spring Training:God is our Healer

The smell of pine tar, dirt and sun screen fill the air...which could only mean one thing, it's baseball time!

Spring Training has been super exciting so far. God has continued to show us that His favor, grace and protection are over us.

Our excitement was cut short a couple days after we arrived though. While doing his Performance Training, Daniel tweaked his right groin. He was feeling quite a bit of pain and felt like he would be out close to a week while he rehabbed it back to strength. He said it was close to a 7 on pain scale of 1 thru 10. Our first reaction was disappointment, but Daniel was quick to say "God is in control". As a wife, you try to be strong for them but it's easy to feel frustrated when you have seen your husband experience injuries. You know their desire is to just play and anything that sidelines that breaks your heart for them. In the midst of what we thought would be a setback, we both experienced an extreme sense of peace after praying about it and being reminded that our God was in control.

The Lord has really been showing, teaching and opening our eyes to the fact that He is a Mighty Healer! He is alive, active and relevant. I think so often, myself included, we get in a comfort zone and limit how truly powerful God is. Romans 8:11 says that the "same power that conquered the grave lives in us"! Do you realize how powerful that power truly is? It's beyond our comprehension and natural realm. It means it's a power that is capable of performing the supernatural. We've been really trying to absorb that and have child like faith in believing that.

Well a few days ago, while praying with our good friend Alex over FaceTime (yes, God is not limited to technology but uses even that for His glory) we had an amazing intimate experience with the Holy Spirit, we were overfilled with joy and prayed for complete healing over Daniel. And guess what? That's what the Lord gave us! Daniel was 100% completely healed and even stronger! We are in absolute amazement still! This happened just a day after Daniel experienced his injury. There was no way he would have been able to come back as soon as he did.

He has been doing awesome so far this spring and has been told he looks even faster then last season. Which is without a doubt from the Lord, because with the pain he was experiencing that first day he should be no where near close to looking faster then last year. All Glory to God!

His first game of spring training was awesome! He went 2 for 2 with a single, double, 2 walks, stolen base, run scored off the Mariner's big league #2 projected starter. He also made a crazy running catch in center! (sorry if the stats bore you... I'm just a proud wife!:) Daniel was also invited to play in the big league game today. It was a split squad so he was even able to start. He had a great game and went 1 for 2 (again...more stats,sorry) with a single, stolen base, 2 walks, run scored and an awesome flyout to deep center that was just short of being a home run! He also got invited to the big league games tomorrow and Saturday as well. I'm just so excited for him to be getting opportunities like this. God is SO GREAT and at work constantly. I'm learning that there should be no such thing as a "boring Christian life", God is so exciting and at work- we just need to have faith to believe it and see it.

"Baseball is in the air"

Well.... Here we go again, It's Baseball Season 2012! 


This is Daniel's 6th season as a professional baseball player and my 5th season as a professional packer. I honestly feel like I could get paid to pack for people. I now know how to minimize living essentials for 6 months of the year to a few suitcases, that's a master art! And one I am quite proud of.
         
We are now in Arizona and have been so blessed to have been able to live with the sweet host family we lived with last Spring Training. The setup is great and we are less then a mile from Daniel's stadium. 
         
Yesterday was the annual Spring Training Ladies Luncheon put on by Baseball Chapel and PAO. This was my 4th time attending and it is always such a blessing! I was able to catch up with some sweet friends and meet more incredible ladies who live this crazy life too. It's always so nice to get encouraged and have a support system in these women. I am so excited for all God has in store this season-to Him be ALL the glory!

Trusting in the Lord

Completely, 100%, whole heartily trusting in the Lord is something I find myself struggling with at times. Especially when it comes to baseball. This time of the year (Spring Training time) I often find myself getting caught up in the "worries" and "unknowns" this lifestyle can bring. Although we have been told Daniel will most likely start this season in Jackson, TN (AA), I still say nothing is for sure in baseball until you are there. And then once we are there (wherever there may be) comes the "where will we live"..."do we bring our car"..."how long will be there"...the list can be endless. That is where TRUST needs to come in. The Lord has proven to me over and over again that He is our constant Provider. He has never failed us yet! 

Yet, I still find myself lacking trust in my King of Kings! Why? Jeremiah says "Blessed" is the one whose trust and confidence is in Christ! I believe my lack of trust has to do with my desire to want to be in 'control'. The Lord has been showing me that in order to fully trust Him, I need to surrender my will, my desires and my future into His Hands.

In Genesis, God promised Abraham and Sarah a son. Yet, it took almost 24 years for that promise to be fulfilled. In the mean time, they took matters into their own hands in order to speed up the 'waiting process' instead of completely trusting that God would fulfill His promise to them in His timing. I often find myself doing the same thing, trying to take control and make things happen in "my timing".

My prayer is that in every insecurity and instability this baseball life may throw our way, that I would be grounded in the complete confidence that God is our provider and sustainer. By not trusting Him, I am trying to retain control of my situation. Today I am reminded to "Let Go and Let God". I KNOW His timing is better then our own in ALL things and that He will provide for our EVERY need (Matt 6:26).

Isaiah 40:31

"But those who TRUST in the Lord will find new strength. 

They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. 

They will walk and not faint."

New Addition to the Family :)

There is a new addition to our family.....

No, it's not a baby.

We have a new sister-in-law!

Daniel's brother, Ryan, married his sweet bride Carisa earlier this month on February 4th. They had a beautiful wedding! Daniel was the best man and I was a bridesmaid. We were both honored to be apart of their special day. It kept us very busy after getting home from winter ball, so it was also so nice for all the anticipation and planning to finally come to a close as well. Everything turned out perfect and we are so excited for them as they begin the journey God has for them as husband and wife.

Ryan has also been blessed with a beautiful singing voice and surprised Carisa by singing the song "Changed By You" by Between the Trees to her at their wedding. Check it out :)