Natalie

All of you parents out there were right- time goes so fast when you have kids! Today I was watching Natalie figure so many things out that I ended up texting Zack throughout the day to tell him the latest on what she was up to. It feels like only a few weeks have passed since we carried our little one home from the hospital, and days since she cracked her first smile. At first I lacked the “I don’t know how I ever lived without her” perspective that I had often heard from other moms, largely due to the fact that I was so unprepared to be a mom. But now at 3 1/2 months, I can honestly confess that I have no clue what I would do without my Peanut. She is such a joy and I am so blessed to be her mommy!

Today was especially delightful because Natty had her first really good day in a week. Last Monday brought with it all the emotions you dread as a parent, and for the first time Zack and I got a taste of the gut-wrenching experience of having a sick child. No, it was not the flu. In fact, the flu would have been a welcomed relief compared to the infection our poor little girl had to deal with. The five hours we spent at the hospital last week was enough emotional and physical stress to last us a lifetime!

After watching Natalie develop a weak cry coupled with exhaustion I took her temperature only to discover that she had a fever of 103.5, so off we rushed to get professional help. As new parents with little more experience with sickness than a slight cough, we had no idea what we were in for. Sweet Natalie was subjected to all sorts of tests to discover the root of the issue; one catheter, two tubes down the nose, one vial taken of blood, two chest x-rays, two shots in her legs, and one bottle of antibiotics was more than we could handle, but had to be done. She had a severe urinary tract infection with a high white blood cell count and elevated heart rate.

It was torture for all of us, but especially for her. With each new test, she would stare deep into our eyes and cry harder than we’ve ever heard as if to ask why we weren’t helping her. All the consoling in the world wasn’t fixing the pain for her. Once we finally got her home and in bed, all my pent-up emotion turned to sobs. It made me wonder how the Lord feels each time we’re in pain.

The rest of our week was pretty rough, and Natalie was inconsolable for about five days in a row, but yesterday she turned a corner, and today she all but stood on her head! She taught herself to roll over onto her side from her back, how to take her pacifier out of her mouth and hold it in her hand, even making strides in putting it back in her mouth from time to time without dropping it, how to bend in half in her swing and lift herself back up using only her ab muscles, and has developed her laugh bit by bit. She’s back to her bubble-blowing, nose-wrinkling, wide-eyed self. Thank you to all of you who were praying for us!

I’m so thankful to the Lord for a healthy baby girl and have a renewed zeal to see that this never happens again if I can help it, but now my thought have turned to the many parents who have children with chronic debilitating illnesses, who spend countless hours with doctors and specialists, and my heart aches for them. We only got a tiny temporary glimpse of that side of parenting. If you are one of those parents, I would love to add you and your family to my prayer list.  Please tell me how I can pray for you. Your labors and tears are valued in the courts of heaven, and your Father is God. May the Grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you and your family.

 

October update

October is the month of the year where there are many things to celebrate. The leaves on the trees are beginning to change. The air turns to a brisk chill; not cold enough to bundle up, but not warm enough to go without a sweater of some sort. Our newly founded Hensley Tribe is beginning to find a lot of reasons to love the month of October.

October 2nd was Carrie’s 26th birthday. I was fortunate to have been blessed with a little extra money to add some furniture to our mostly furniture-less living room. I had to make up for the previous birthday where I didn’t do much as everything went into our wedding that would follow only four days later.

Which leads me to October 5th, where we celebrated the closing of our first year of marriage and looked forward to the next. I was able to get a great deal, an amazing deal in fact, on a short Spa session for Carrie as a gift. She got for me something that was very meaningful and warm to my heart: The First full season of Star Trek The Next Generation!!

Three years ago neither one of us would have imagined that life would have gone the way it has. Back then both of us were fresh out of relationships, both had swore off relationships, three years later we are married with a 3 month old. God has truly been good to us. I am so grateful for Carrie and our little daughter Natalie.

Last Sunday Natalie turned 3 months! I think she celebrated by blowing as many spit bubbles as possible down her chin. A habit that she has grown very fond of these days. It’s the greatest thing in the world to watch this little human being grow before our eyes. Everyday she seems to pick up a new trait. Nothing melts my heart more then to come home from a long day of meetings and writing curriculum to my little girl who has a smile bigger than the state of Montana as I walk in the room.

The last bit of celebration news is that my parents are moving here from Phoenix. This is big news in any regard, but bigger still when you consider the fact that my Dad was born and raised in Arizona and has never lived anywhere else. It will be such a blessing to have the distance between us cut down to a few miles as opposed to the 3 hour plane ride that it is right now. Pray for them as the transition to Kansas City is coming very soon.

How to Pray and Help

Life never lets one only celebrate. As believers it is one of our greatest privileges to pray for, and give to those in need. Since we are in need, I would like to give you an opportunity to do both.

First, both of our cars need work. We were blessed with a 2001 Buick Le Sabre in January, which has been an answer to prayer. Last week the “Check Engine Light” came on and it stalls, and shakes while it drives. Our other car is a 98 Toyota Camry, it needs new struts really bad and has a massively cracked windshield. Please pray that the Buick can be fixed cheaply, and that we get the money to fix both of them  soon. We are personally praying for about $500. If you can help in any way please see the bottom of this update to see how you can.

Second, This one is rather exciting for me actually, Carrie is taking on the skill of cake decorating. She is doing it with the hope that it not only becomes a fun hobby that she can do while at home, but can also serves as a little extra money for us. Pray that doors open for her to get the opportunity to learn more, and decorate cakes for people for money. She is already pretty good!

Third, as the world talks about flu season, vaccinations, and doctor visits, it reminds me every day that neither Carrie nor I are currently covered under any sort of Health Insurance. (and no I’m not holding out for the public option! ha!) Luckily Natalie is covered under a government funded program for the next 5 years. We make just enough to cover our current expenses, with no real wiggle room aside from a date with Carrie here and there. Please join us as we are praying for an extra $300. a month for insurance. If you are able to donate it would help greatly.

Lastly, pray for me as I continue to teach and minister to teenagers locally and nation wide. I am currently developing curriculum for my weekly Christian World View class, Preaching at our weekly youth services, and soon starting an inner city youth outreach program; helping teens living in dire situations in down town Kansas City. I always need wisdom, humility, and revelation from heaven to know how to best serve those the Lord has entrusted me with.

Thank you to all those that read our updates! If you are in need of prayer or have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at zhensley@gmail.com

Bless you!

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As you may know, the purpose of this blog/site is two fold:

1. To update friends, family and supporters with the current happenings in our life and ministry.
2. To raise funds to continue our ministry to the region of Kansas City and the International House of Prayer.

Three ways to support us:

Pray- Seriously helpful to us. No I mean like really HELPFUL to us!

Invite- As a preacher I’d love to come to any church or ministry that would have me and talk about night and day prayer and how to reach this present generation of teenagers.

Invest- Partner with us through finances. In this day and age I realize everybody has a new way to ask for donations to their ministry/cause/idea/campaign. I will simply say this: Sow into our lives, and we will sow into yours. Any and every type of donation is helpful for us in being able to stay a float financially while giving 70 hours a week to ministry.

To donate online click here: ZACK’S DONATION PAGE

If you would like a tax deduction for your donation, make the check out to: IHOP-KC and mail it to:

Support ATTN: Zack Hensley

3535 E  Red Bridge Rd

Kansas City, MO 64137

Update September 09: Life as a parent

Sitting down in my office. In front of me, mildly steaming my glasses is a pressed cup of my favorite Colombian roast variety. It is currently and I will say abnormally silent. To my left is a stack of books I intend to rip through this next week as I start year two in writing the curriculum for and teaching my worldview class. To my right is a stack of notes about a foot high, reminding me of the amount of sermons I preached this summer. 5,000 teenagers, 132 full services, 112 staff members, 56 messages preached, 8 weeks, 4 camps, 2 national conferences, and 1 baby; this has indeed been a full summer.

This year was yet again another year of vast change in every area of life. In October Carrie and I will have been married a single year. In 10 nearly 11 months of marriage we have not only grown extremely close as friend and spouse, but we have endured and championed the greatest gift any couple could receive; giving birth to a child.

On our wedding day last October, I wept like a baby when I saw Carrie come down the aisle. The events of that day collaborated into the most beautiful experience of my entire life. I remember I didn’t stop smiling for weeks after. 10 months later that experience was rivaled with the birth of Natalie Sage Hensley.

Watching my wife give labor made me fall in love with her in ten different ways that I never thought possible. Toward the last few pushes I found myself in tears watching my wife muster the courage to push Natalie out, with no drugs or sedatives of any kind. She had the joy of seeing little Natalie set before her, and endured such hardship to bring her here. It was like watching her walk down the aisle again; my love for Carrie overwhelmed me.

They say having a baby changes you, and they are right. Instantly I began to think differently. Where I had always been a stickler about getting enough sleep, now I gladly wake up at 2:30am and help Carrie feed, change, and rock Natalie back to sleep. Where I was concerned about what the next 5 years of life would look like, I first wonder about how to make the first 5 years and beyond of her life a success. Where I had a hard time getting motivated to cook and clean, I find pleasure in doing it so my wife can rest. Having a baby, truly, makes a man out of you.

In the last 6 months I’ve seen my ministry, influence, and leadership grow significantly. I got to preach on the main stage at 2 National IHOP conferences, I got to lead thousands and pastor hundreds. I even had a line of teens begging me to autograph their Bibles this summer. Where in times past it would have been an answer to both my prayers and ambition, it has become a small foot note in the essay of my life. Nothing has, or ever will give me such honor, and such glory as being a lover of Jesus, the husband of Carrie Hensley and the Father of Natalie Hensley. If nothing else becomes of my name and ambition I will end my days completely content.

Soli Deo Gloria

———————————————-

As you may know, the purpose of this blog/site is two fold:

1. To update friends, family and supporters with the current happenings in our life and ministry.
2. To raise funds to continue our ministry to the region of Kansas City and the International House of Prayer.

Three ways to support us:

Pray- Seriously helpful to us. No I mean like really HELPFUL to us!

Invite- As a preacher I’d love to come to any church or ministry that would have me and talk about night and day prayer and how to reach this present generation of teenagers.

Invest- Partner with us through finances. In this day and age I realize everybody has a new way to ask for donations to their ministry/cause/idea/campaign. I will simply say this: Sow into our lives, and we will sow into yours. Any and every type of donation is helpful for us in being able to stay a float financially while giving 70 hours a week to ministry.

To donate online click here: ZACK’S DONATION PAGE

If you would like a tax deduction for your donation, make the check out to: IHOP-KC and mail it to:

Support ATTN: Zack Hensley

3535 E  Red Bridge Rd

Kansas City, MO 64137