Afterward....

We just finished our first series here at A Steady Rain. The Hidden Blessings series shared a variety of stories by several women. We read about health struggles, loss, tragedy, and valleys. Each of them ended with a renewed view of who God is and how He had used that trial to sharpen and strengthen their faith.
But, I'm sure there are some of you who read the series and said to yourself,
"Well, that's a great testimony of God's goodness, but I'm still in the midst of the storm in my life. I haven't come out on the other side yet! I haven't found any Hidden Blessings anywhere!"
What then?
My mother-in-law mentioned this verse recently....

Hebrews 12:11
"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."


Notice scripture doesn't say that we will find blessings or joy during the trial, instead it specifically says afterward we'll see the fruit from our steps of faith. 
None of the women who shared in our series would say that their journeys were fun or easy. None of them would even specifically choose that road again. Valleys are NEVER fun! 
It's vital to hide His Word in our hearts because when the dark clouds of difficulty come, all we can do is cling to those promises. 
We won't necessarily feel our "spiritual muscles" strengthening during the trial, but when it is done, we'll see a stronger faith than before. 

Hidden Blessings - YOUR turn....

As you know the first Friday of each month is your chance to link-up a post about what God has been doing in your life recently. Since we are at the end of an awesome series from some amazing women, I thought our Friday Feedback Question should give you the opportunity to share as well.

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Have you seen God's hand through difficult situations? 

How have you seen growth/blessing through those valleys in your life? 

Link up your Hidden Blessings post below. Also, take a little time to read a few of the other stories from the past 2 weeks here at A Steady Rain as well as today's link-ups! Feel free to share in the comments section as well! I pray that we will all have a shift in our thinking and reaction to the "negative" in our lives! 

James 1:12: "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

*NOTE: Please link back to A Steady Rain or include the Hidden Blessings button (above) in your post! 

Hidden Blessings - Jamie's Story

God can bring blessing and growth into our lives through seemingly impossible and heartbreaking circumstances. Today's testimony is from Jamie who blogs at Walkin' in High Cotton. I know that some of you will be able to identify with Jamie and her sudden tragic loss.  My prayer is that you will be encouraged by the blessings she received through a seemingly hopeless situation. 

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As Gold is Tried

It was a normal Saturday evening…our 20-month-old daughter was in bed, and we were sitting on the couch enjoying the quiet. I was complaining about 1^st trimester miseries, and my husband was suggesting that I just tuck myself and my little baby bump into bed early when the phone rang. My parents had been in a motorcycle accident and I needed to come home right now. I was 4 hours away. Right now, they all said. Right now. I grabbed a diaper bag and we strapped Ruby in her seat still asleep in her little sheep pajamas. We took nothing else except the dogs and our wallets.

It didn’t matter.

I became a 27-year-old wife, mother, and orphan before we even pulled out of our driveway, although I didn’t know it until several hours later.

I see now, from so far away, that the time from May 20, 2006 until after our 3^rd child was born in January 2008, was my time of being sifted. Threshed like ripe golden grain. Would I be His wheat? Would I be a seed worth planting? Would I bring forth a new creation from the old? Rise from the ashes as a phoenix of legend? Or would I blow away, as useless chaff, across an empty winter field?

And why? Why must I be a motherless mother? Why must I be a new wife and mother without her father’s support or her mother’s wise counsel to help her grow into her role? Why must I be abruptly, completely, forever rent asunder from my childhood, all the warmth of a lifetime’s traditions, holidays, habits…home?

I cannot talk of hidden blessings, because the blessings I have to share were not hidden. My old life was closed, chapter and verse, on May 20^th. Everything before that is a memory, and everything after is a new story, unfamiliar, perhaps, but not hidden. Maybe “private” blessings would be more accurate for my story. It’s not easy to share the clarity, the conviction--the thirst for truth that came over me--the connection I found in the honesty of the Bible. Answers to questions so deep some people don’t want to ask them. Answers so true some people don’t want to hear them. “How do I find joy in these trials?” “Why do I have to?” “Where do I find home?” “How do I replace what my children have lost for them?” “For myself?”

The more I search for answers, the more peace God brings to my heart. His Word speaks to my soul… reminding me I’m not alone, that He has the answers, that I’m not the first or the last to suffer, to fail, to receive forgiveness, redemption, revival.

“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” (Zechariah 13:8-9, KJV) 

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I'm so grateful for Jamie's willingness to share her POWERFUL story! I know I was blessed by it. Hop over to her blog, Walkin' in High Cotton to get to know her better. 

Don't forget: Tomorrow is your chance link up a Hidden Blessings post of your own! I can't wait to see even more testimonies of our Lord's greatness shown through trials! 

Hidden Blessings - Christy's Story

God can bring blessing and growth into our lives through seemingly impossible and heartbreaking circumstances. Today's testimony is from Christy who blogs at Fearfully.Wonderfully. I know that some of you will be able to identify with her struggle with multiple miscarriages. My prayer is that you will be encouraged by the blessings she received through a seemingly hopeless situation. 

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Any person who has had to come face to face with infertility, pregnancy loss or failed adoption knows that the shoes are miserable to wear.  It's like being a member of a club that no one wants to admit they're in.  As a member of this club, there are days that come and go where it feels like this world is PURPOSELY rubbing the "lack of's" and "inability to's" in our faces. Even worse, there are days where we feel like God is the one to blame. My story has been birthed out of that pain, but the ultimate blessing has come in realizing that God is NOT to blame, He is the one carrying me through!

I can remember each moment like it was yesterday - each one of the four times that we were told our pregnancy was over. Our first pregnancy ended after 7 weeks.  Our second pregnancy ended after 5 weeks. Months later a glorious light and hope poured into our lives through the pregnancy and birth of our beautiful son, Isaak.  A year passed, and an unexpected pregnancy filled us with raw excitement as we planned to add another member to our family.  All was going wonderfully, until the 15th week. The bleeding began, and later an ultrasound confirmed that our baby no longer had a heartbeat. I was scheduled for a D&C the same day. Four months later we were again pregnant, but an ultrasound at 9 weeks confirmed that there was no heartbeat. Our fourth miscarriage was imminent. We had no answers.  We had no idea how it was possible to have 4 miscarriages (all with a different diagnosis) and 1 completely healthy boy. Our doctor was baffled.  The questions were never-ending, but God’s work was just beginning.

When we were losing our 4^th baby, I prayed so hard.  I was on my face crying out to God, praying, begging Him for a miracle, begging Him to please move in our life.  Please, just let us see a miracle!  The days that followed were so very painful… physically, emotionally and spiritually.  But a miracle was coming.  A healing was coming… not the one we had prayed for, but a healing none-the-less.

God has moved in my life, my family and my marriage in such a way, that we will never be the same.  I realized through this, that I was still angry from the 3rd miscarriage. I was still angry from the 2nd miscarriage. I was even still angry from the 1st miscarriage.  That's when I realized... something had to change! The walls HAD to come down. In our journey over the last 6 months we have learned this:

1. God is still God.
He knows more than me.  He is the only one that can see the big picture.  He alone knows what we can and cannot handle.  Before we ever faced a serious trial in our life, we lived our lives almost assuming that God owed us something, not the other way around.  Through each and every loss and through our prayers we have learned that - sometimes God says 'yes', sometimes God says 'no', and sometimes God says, "I am God".  And that needs to be enough for us. What a blessing to learn that now instead of later.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18

2. We have a miracle.
His name is Isaak.  He is our son, and so perfect in our eyes.  But, I was so busy trying to figure out what was wrong with me, why God was letting this happen, and what I could do to fix it, that I was looking past the beautiful miracle that I wake up to every single day.  We have treasured his sweet 2-year-old spirit.  We have laughed with him, cried with him, and formed an un-breakable bond with a son who IS here, alive and full of purpose.  God has used our pain to remind us to cherish the blessings we DO have and not to dwell on what we DON'T.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:18

3. We have a story and a healing.
We've been very open about everything that we have gone through.  I've been so blessed by the stories of others, and I believe if anyone out there has walked a similar path and can take away the smallest inkling of hope that God is bigger than all of this - then I believe NOT ONE PART of our story was experienced in vain. We are striving to move into a place where we can stand with circumstances aside and claim victory in our own lives - REGARDLESS of the outcome. Yes, we are hoping for a miraculous healing, and one day hope to have more children, but more than that - we are experiencing an emotional & spiritual healing. A healing that is erasing the scars from each painful season we have been through. Not the scars from the situations themselves, but the scars from the bitterness and anger that I have let form over me. I CANNOT serve a God who I claim to be my First and Only Love, but be angry with Him simultaneously. He is my Creator, my God, my Healer, my first love, my best friend and I know that won't change because of a circumstance.

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.  Rev 12:11a

No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.
Luke 11:33-36

I can honestly stand where I am now and say that I can look back and see the hand of God over our lives.  I do not believe He is the author of despair; I believe He is my Healer and we have watched Him take our mess of a story and stitch it into something that can be used for His glory.  He has allowed each loss to serve a purpose, and He has given us our beautiful son as the ultimate comfort and reminder of His love.  We continue to write our story because we know it is not over; in fact it's just beginning.

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I WILL see you again and you WILL rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.  John 16:22 

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I'm SO blessed every time Christy shares her story of pain, growth, faith, and healing. I know she'd love to meet you at her blog, Fearfully.Wonderfully. 

Hidden Blessings - Carla's Story...

God can bring blessing and growth into our lives through seemingly impossible and heartbreaking circumstances. Today's testimony is from Carla from Moment by Moment ministries. I know that many of you will be able to identify with Carla's questions about adversity. My prayer is that you will be encouraged by the blessings she received through her journey.

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I’m the kind of gal who likes to gain understanding of a situation. But, as you well know, there are some things in life that we may never fully understand. Adversity is one of them.

As a result of my lack of understanding, there was a season in my life when I could list each personal difficulty and the unanswered questions and hurts that resulted from them. Out of my desire for understanding I began to read God’s Word. I didn’t just read the Bible like it was a hobby or mental exercise, as in days gone by, I read really looking for answers.

All the while I was looking for understanding of my circumstances, through His Word, God was providing me with a deeper glimpse of Himself. What an amazing work God was doing—As He revealed Himself to me through Biblical truth, my focus was drawn away from my circumstances and toward the consideration of His perspective. I began to look at each circumstance in life through the eye of the orchestrator of life—our loving God.

Because the world told me that adversity was bad, I once failed to see purpose in hardship. But my life was changed once I learned that God has purpose in every trial, and victory is achievable in every hardship. The apostle Paul experienced enormous adversity in his lifetime. Yet, in Romans 5:3 he tells us that he rejoiced in his suffering. How could someone choose to rejoice in the midst of suffering? In the same verse Paul answers this question . . .Because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

It wasn’t that Paul rejoiced because of suffering, but He could rejoice in spite of the hardship, knowing that God’s purpose was being achieved through it. As a result of applying this truth in my life, I am now choosing to embrace the challenges and adversities I face. This change in perspective doesn’t result from exerting my will or mustering up my own strength—I am able to embrace trials by faith and trust in the promise that God is building character in me; His character. This simple act of faith enables me to focus on the potential outcome (based on eternal purpose) rather than merely on the situation (based on temporal circumstance). And in seeking the eternal, I always find hope!

 

What choices are you making concerning the challenges facing you?  

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Carla shared some great insights into facing the adversities that come into ALL of our lives. If you'd like to connect with her some more, make sure to visit her website, Moment by Moment Ministries. 

Hidden Blessings - Melody's Story....

God can bring blessing and growth into our lives through seemingly impossible and heartbreaking circumstances. Today's testimony is from Melody who is my amazing mother-in-law. I know that some of you will be able to identify with Melody's battle with breast cancer. My prayer is that you will be encouraged by the blessings she received through her journey.
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Stunned, speechless -those are just two adjectives that inadequately describe how I felt as I sat across the desk from a nurse at the Women's Center, and heard her say my biopsy showed Stage Two breast cancer. 
After she explained what stage two meant she then told me she noticed I was a pastor's wife. She said she had been praying for me since she received the report. I truly felt the strength of those prayers at that moment. On the way home, I told my husband that through whatever was ahead I wanted to glorify the Lord. 
I elected to have a double mastectomy. The surgery was two weeks before my son was to go to college for the first time. It meant a lot to me to be able to take him, so I prayed that I would get the "ok" from the doctor. One day before we were to leave the drains were removed and I was on my way to Pensacola. 
When we came home I got the report that a very small section of the lymph node was positive.That news was almost as hard to take as the initial diagnosis because it meant chemo.
I was homeschooling a Senior, 6th grader, and 3rd grader. How was I going to do it? 
Answer: By God's Strength. 
We did not miss one day of school in spite of days when I was feeling very sick. There are so many other ways - large and small- that God showed Himself faithful to me and my family.
I learned many lessons such as what the Lord meant in His prayer-"give us day by day our daily bread", but one of the most valuable lessons is that all God asks is our desire to glorify Him-He does the rest. He will perfect our weakness. It was not me who had strength-I shed many tears and felt fear as I lay awake many nights-but it was Christ in me Who gave me the strength to go on in spite of all the varied emotions. 
Strength can not be conjured up by our efforts. God alone allows us to glorify Him as we honestly pour our hearts out to Him and humbly admit our inability to produce any good thing. His promises became my anchor in the storm. I praise and thank the Lord that it has been five years since this "storm" and He has blessed me with health and strength.
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It seems as if cancer has touched almost everyone now days! This terrible disease is painful for both the patient and the families involved. I hope Melody's testimony was a blessing to you. If you have more questions for her, let me know! I know that she'd love to help and encourage your further! 

Hidden Blessings - Dawn's Story

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God can bring blessing and growth into our lives through seemingly impossible and heartbreaking circumstances. Today's testimony is from Dawn. I know that some of you will be able to identify with Dawn and the health issues surrounding her 4th pregnancy. My prayer is that you will be encouraged by the blessings she received through these valleys. 

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I heard the phone ring one sunny August afternoon and, like usual, I was halfway across the house and had to scramble to get to it in time.  I nearly collided with one of my three children as I ran down the hall to catch it before it went to voicemail.

It was one of those everyday moments that would normally pass by without notice, except that this one began a journey that our family never expected to take.

I picked up the phone, somewhat breathless, and the voice on the other end of the line was the nurse from my doctor’s office.  “The doctor needs you to come in to the office first thing tomorrow.”

We had been in town just that morning for a routine ultrasound for our fourth child – our older kids had come along and were thrilled to see the ‘movie’ of their little sibling, and everything was looking good.  Or so we thought.

“No, I’m sorry, we can’t give any details on the phone,” the nurse continued.  “The doctor just needs to speak with you in the morning.”

I had no illusions that he was calling me in for a friendly chat…I knew instantly that something was wrong.  And being a glass half-empty kind of person, in the presence of the unknown I immediately assumed the worst.

I was shocked…after three healthy, uneventful pregnancies before this one, it honestly hadn’t even crossed my mind that there could be anything wrong with this one.  My husband and I prayed together on our way into the doctor’s office (my husband called and sweet-talked them into squeezing us in that day) and then sat waiting for the news…

“There’s something wrong with your baby’s heart,” the doctor began, turning to face us.  “We can’t tell with our equipment what it is…it may be relatively minor, or it’s possible that your baby may not survive.  We won’t know forsure until we send you for more tests.”

Again, the unknown. Somehow I had thought these things only happened to other people!  We were referred to a neonatal cardiologist in the big city, and tried to carry on as usual while we waited two weeks for our appointment.  During that time, I happened to come across a note I had scribbled on a scrap of paper months earlier.  “Lamentations 3:21-23” was all it said.  I could vaguely remember having seen those verses on someone’s email signature and thinking they would be good verses to memorize someday.

Someday had come.

I looked up the passage and was awed by what I read: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!”  The Lord knew we would be facing questions and doubt and I felt He had graciously provided those verses ahead of time to comfort and strengthen us.  I clung to the words:

“Yet…”  Jeremiah was writing during one of the most miserable times in Israel’s existence – Jerusalem had just been destroyed, left in ruins.  He spends the first two and a half chapters of the book of Lamentations describing the devastation they have just experienced.  But verse 21 is a turning point: YET!  Yes, Jerusalem was destroyed and the people taken into captivity…but in spite of all that…YET!  There is still hope!

“…call to mind…”  Even the prophet Jeremiah had to make the decision to call to mind the love and faithfulness of God – it didn’t necessarily come naturally.  It was okay that I was scared about the health of my baby, okay that I sometimes had to force myself to speak words of truth.  I could choose to call to my mind Scriptures that spoke of God’s faithfulness and love for His people.

“…we are not consumed…”  Yes, we were in a difficult situation.  It was overwhelming and frightening and I felt like our safe little world was shaken.  But we were not consumed.  No matter what we face, we have God’s promise that we will not be consumed.  Hard pressed, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed!  (II Cor. 4:8-9) Thank you Lord!!

The next few months continued to be filled with uncertainty…the initial specialist’s appointment revealed only that our baby’s heart was ‘a mystery’ to the doctors.  I continued to see the specialists every month throughout my pregnancy, never really getting any concrete answers except that baby would ‘probably’ be okay to be born at our local hospital, as long as she saw the specialists soon after birth.

We had one more surprise in store for us when I went into a labor five weeks early…due to what we found out later was a placental abruption (not discovered until the c-section was already underway).  Our precious daughter was born just before Christmas, 2009, weighing only five pounds but with no major problems.  Praise God!

Our daughter has had a stay in the NICU, a further hospitalization for observation on her heart, and some other issues with gaining weight and low iron…but she is growing and developing and we are so thankful for her presence in our family.  Her current treatment plan is open heart surgery once she is three or four years old, but we continue to pray that God would heal her before then if it is His will.  Having a health scare with a child is not a pleasant experience, but His mercies are indeed new every morning – Great IS His faithfulness!

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Amen! He IS faithful! Can you identify with Dawn and her journey? 

Hidden Blessings - Patti's Story

God can bring blessing and growth into our lives through seemingly impossible and heartbreaking circumstances. Today's testimony is from Patti who is the Senior Pastor's wife at Covington Baptist Church.  I know that some of you will be able to identify with Patti in raising a son with muscular dystrophy. My prayer is that you will be encouraged by the blessings she received through her journey.

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In the summer of 1976, my nearly perfect world was shattered when my beautiful 2 year old son, Richard,  was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.


I was living a sort of “dream” life at the time with the husband I loved, two wonderful little boys, in close proximity to some family and working in a church.  And now the news, that not only would my son eventually be unable to walk, he would die young, probably between the ages of 12 and 15.  I remember the feeling of a Pandora’s box being opened and all the bad stuff spilling out, until my husband pointed out to me through the words of an old song:  “Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my guide”?

How little I knew or understood in those beginning days, the beautiful, tender mercies of God that would sustain us, nor the journey that I was beginning.  Over the years, God drew my son’s heart to Christ and I was able to see Him grow greatly in that relationship .  He used Richard to show me courage, a beautiful, willing spirit, humor in the face of trials, and the reality of our days being numbered.  I learned something about serving as my husband and I eventually took on the physical care of a young man who was losing strength all over his body, and I learned about the joy that is yours by caring for someone. 
One evening, I had strapped Richard into a hover lift, lifted him into his bed, undressed him, arranged him on his side where he would stay for the whole night, and was pulling and tugging on him to get him in just the right position, when he said to me, “I really don’t have many trials.”  Thankfully I was behind him at the time, so he couldn’t see my face; I was so amazed at his perspective.

I don’t remember Richard ever saying “no” to a request for his time and talents.  When it was becoming obvious, that his time was shortening, his response was, “I need to get going”.  That “get going” had to do with writing a letter to his brothers to express his love to them and trying to do more in the Lord’s work.  God gave him 26 years instead of 15 and I’m grateful.    And now that he has finished his journey, and I’m still struggling through mine, I think of him and the joy he is experiencing with Jesus and I am so thankful for the privilege I had to be his mom.
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Thank you so much, Patti for sharing this beautiful story of trust in a God who holds all of our lives in His capable hands. Do you have further questions for Patti? E-mail me or comment below - I know she'd love to connect with you! 

Hidden Blessings - Deborah's Story...

God can bring blessing and growth into our lives through seemingly impossible and heartbreaking circumstances. Today's testimony is from Deborah who blogs at Art and Soul by Deborah. I know that some of you will be able to identify with Deborah and her family's terrible loss in a house fire. My prayer is that you will be encouraged by the blessings she received through such a life-altering trial.

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 Acts 20:24

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;

 my only aim is to finish the race

 and complete the task the

 Lord Jesus has given me—

the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."

The Valley ~ 2006

I painted this in 2006 with acrylic and glazing medium. During a time I was living in one of life's valleys.  Five years ago we had a house fire and lost everything. 

But, according to the insurance company the old foundation was stable, so we built a new house on the old foundation.

The cowboy and I were in the heart of the valley....Our marriage was changed, my children were changed, our family dynamic was changed and my faith was changed - Forever.

As I look back at this piece of artwork, I see now there must have been light in my spirit even in the darkness life dishes out. The light color palette in the midst of the dark greens at the top center appears to me now to be a reflection of the light of God which resides within us...even in the valley.

I believe God allows these valleys to accomplish His purpose within us.

Waves of Color and Light ~ 2006

As I clung to this scripture:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" ~ Philippians 4:13

My paintings would reflect the colors I needed to heal.

The road out of the valley can be a long difficult one. I had days where I felt like a big black cloud was hanging over my family and trouble on top of trouble was all there was for us. I felt undeserving...unworthy...and I was asking, "Where is God in all this?"

Which leads me to this question? 

Does God, who has given His only Son to show us His love, grace, and mercy consider it defiance, that I would question or consider (even for a moment) that what God created (me) is unworthy and undeserving? I have always told my kids God doesn't make mistakes or garbage. 

That is why grace is my word this year. Because, I have been allowing this unworthy, undeserving perception to hold me back from all the blessings God has in store for me and my family. 

I can not tell you how hard it is to rebuild after a trauma like that.It affected each of my family members differently, and the healing process is and was different for each individual.

Out of the ashes was heart ache and loss. My healing process included counseling, bible studies and  my artwork. I could escape the valley and find peace in the studio. A respite from the rebuilding process of our home and family. (We did a lot of the work ourselves to save money.) 

Then from out of the ashes I began to look for the blessings and the lessons -changing my perspective.  

My soul needed healing...I found healing through Gods words.

My Spirit needed rest, which I found through creating art. 

My heart needed GRACE - something I did not have to work for or earn...because, in the valley I felt like just getting up in the morning was work, being a wife...work, being a mother...work....work.work.work.

ANOTHER STROKE FOR THE BRUSH

Beauty in the ashes..

Because of the fire...I was able to have a new studio, hence the name: Art and Soul.

Because of the fire...We went from a one bathroom for 6 people to two! (a miracle)

Because of the fire...I found out what I am made of...Strength...Courage...Compassion...

AND

Who I am in Christ.

Because of the fire I now believe more than every God has a purpose for my life.

1 Corinthians 15:10 

(New International Version, ©2011)

10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am,

and his grace to me was not without effect.  

No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, 

but the grace of God that was with me." 

God is with us in the midst of the darkest valley. Trust me, I found him there....Although I am unworthy of the gifts of God, He does not ask us to be worthy, He accepts us just the way we are.

That MY friends is the good news of God's GRACE!

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I'm so thankful that Deborah shared her beautiful story (and artwork) of beauty through the ashes! Maybe you can identify? I hope you'll head over to her blog, Art and Soul by Deborah to get to know her better! 

**Due to the Hidden Blessings series, there is no Friday Feedback question this week. 

Remember: 

NEXT FRIDAY, you will have a chance to link up YOUR Hidden Blessing story at our Friday Feedback post. 

Hidden Blessings - Patty's Story....

God can bring blessing and growth into our lives through seemingly impossible and heartbreaking circumstances. Today's testimony is from Patty who blogs at pk's house. I know that some of you will be able to identify with Patty and her father's battle with Alzheimer's Disease. My prayer is that you will be encouraged by the blessings she received through a seemingly hopeless situation. 

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My dad is 62 years-old, and 8 years ago was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimers Disease. This diagnosis rocked my world. 

My dad was able to function fairly normally for a couple of years after his dignosis, but then started to go downhill. It got to the point where my mom had to bathe him (my dad is 6'2'', and my mom is 5'4") and help him with the majority of his daily tasks.

Watching my parents walk through that was heart wrenching...devastating.

The disease finally reached a point where my mom could no longer give my dad the constant care he needed.  He had become violent and would often wander off.  The day finally came when he attacked my mom, thinking she was an intruder, and we were forced to move him into a nursing home specializing in Alzheimer's.

Walking away from my dad the first day we left him in the nursing home was the hardest day of my life.  Dad was still aware enough at that time to know who we were, and he was very aware of us leaving him there.

In the 3 years since Dad went into the nursing home, I have gone through many seasons of grief and heartache. In that first year, I would often question God..., 

"God, why my dad?  He loves you with all of his heart, and he's so young.  

Why do we have to lose him to this awful disease?"

In the past 2 years, God has used this trial to reveal Himself to me in new and beautiful ways.  He has shown me that He is sovereign over my life and the life of my dad and He has given me a peace that "surpasses all understanding."

He has used this trial to show me his unconditional love, through the care of our church family and through His Word.

He has used this trial to bring my mom to an awareness of the Lord that she didn't have before my dad's illness, and He has used this trial to bring my wayward brother back to Him.

I don't question God about my dad's illness anymore, because I have the answers to the "why's" now....

I now know that He is using my dad's illness to bring us closer to Him, to make us aware of our desperate need for Him, and to show us that He is sovereign and will provide for our every need.

The most beautiful thing about all of this, is the fact that my dad loved to share the gospel...he didn't care who it was, he would share of his love for his Savior.  Even now, when Dad can't talk anymore, God is still using his life to bring others to Him.  Praise God!!
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Has the terrible disease of Alzheimer's touched you or your family? I hope you've seen that there is blessing and growth through such a dark trial. I know that Patty would love to answer any questions you may have at her blog, pk's house. 

Hidden Blessings - Aurie's Story....

God can bring blessing and growth into our lives through seemingly impossible and heartbreaking circumstances. Today's testimony is from Aurie who blogs at Welcome to our Good Life! . I know that some of you will be able to identify with Aurie and her difficult pregnancies. My prayer is that you will be encouraged by the blessings she received through these valleys. 

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During my errands today I drove past the hospital where I gave birth to Bella.  I couldn't help wondering how many babies were in the nursery, how many women were in labor, and how many parents were marveling over their tiny miracle.

You see, I will never again be a patient in the maternity ward.  I'll never take another pregnancy test.  There won't be the agony of are we/aren't we?! again.  I'll never lie on the exam table, waiting to hear a tiny heartbeat, or feel the cold ultrasound jelly on my stomach.  No more morning sickness, no stretch marks, no worries about weight and water intake.

I did not have easy pregnancies.  We needed some help to conceive, and I miscarried twice during those long months.  When we found out we were pregnant with twins we were thrilled!  I miscarried 1 twin at 13 weeks - but successfully carried Sophie to full term.  A few months after Sophie turned 1 we started thinking about adding to our family and amazingly I was already pregnant!

This second pregnancy was even more difficult than the first.  I was diagnosed with placenta previa in my 3rd month and was on bed rest for 3 weeks.  Believe me, there is no way to explain bed rest to an 18 month old! My blood sugars were all over the place.  I had horrific back pain that did not stop - no matter what I did.  In my 5th and 7th month I was put on bed rest again.  In my 8th and 9th month I was in and out of the doctor's office and hospital.

At my 30 week check up my OB gently suggested that we discuss having a tubal ligation, since my body was struggling so much with this pregnancy.  We talked about it over and over and over.  At each visit I asked more questions, and my doctor patiently answered each one.  When I walked into the operation room I still wasn't 100% sure.  I mean, there is NO going back - this really was a final decision.  We prayed about it, and I remember asking God for direction - was this really what I was supposed to do?

As it turned out, yes.  God blessed us with a full term healthy baby girl.  He blessed me with the strength to carry her to full term and defy the medical odds.  You see, when the doctor made the incision to start what was supposed to be a routine c-section, she found that the wall of my uterus was tissue paper thin.  She pricked it with her glove-covered fingernail and the wall opened up.  Amazingly there was no infection, no tearing, no scarring.  The placenta was right where it should be.

The miracle in all of this?  Isabelle had been in the transverse position for most of the pregnancy.  This position allowed her to be safely born at full term.  If she had moved an 1/8 of an inch up, down, front, or back my uterine wall would not have been able to handle the pressure and most likely would have burst, putting my life and Isabelle's at risk.

So, while at times I'm sad to think of all the things I won't experience again, I'm so thankful for the blessings that I have - and the doors that have opened for us to expand our little family!  But that, dear friends, is another post!
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It's amazing to see the hand of our Creator in protecting Aurie's sweet unborn daughter, and the blessings they have received after some very difficult days. Please head over to Aurie's blog, Welcome to our Good Life, to get to learn more about her story. 

Hidden Blessings - Natalie's Story...

God can bring blessing and growth into our lives through seemingly impossible and heartbreaking circumstances. Today's testimony is from Natalie who blogs at Mommy on Fire. I know that some of you will be able to identify with Natalie and her difficult childhood. My prayer is that you will be encouraged by the blessings she received later in life through these difficulties. 

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I was conceived through artificial insemination, and had a tumultuous childhood (mother married four times, alcoholic father who popped in and out of my life). I had an abortion right after college, then married my college sweetheart who developed horrible cocaine and gambling addictions and was repeatedly unfaithful. 


He was a white collar professional and I was an elementary teacher at the time.  Both of us thought we believed but we didn't know any truth (just grace), and we went to church once in a while.  If you asked me if I believed in God I would have said "yes," but I had never heard the Gospel and had never made a profession of faith.  I'm not even sure I had ever opened a Bible.

My father was homeless and lived on the streets of Indianapolis for a while. Through the help of a mission and a very committed local businessman, he achieved sobriety during the last six years of his life.  He died from COPD as I was in the midst of a divorce at the age of 27 (yes, his smoking habit it was eventually took his life).

It was during this time, in the midst of my divorce and my father's death that I began to run.  My running group met at a local church, and I would walk by the beautiful sanctuary with a large cross on full display.  I would often look at it, but not think much about it. Eventually, it began to really stir something in me, and I began going to church.

My aunt gave me Michael W Smith's Worship CD.  I listened to it on my runs and admired God's beautiful work in nature.  I also began meeting, through complete chance, with a woman involved in an organization called "Priority Associates" which is an offshoot of Campus Crusade for working professionals.

It was then that I made a profession of faith and haven't looked back since.

I am now happily married to a Christ-loving man and have three beautiful children.  I live a boring, drama-free life and I couldn't love it more.  

I share my story often because I was low, low.  Christ has done, and continues to do, a beautiful work in me.  He does it in us all.

I am currently about to start volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center and also speak freely about the abortion I had when I was 23.  I regret it and most women do - and yet, I want them to understand that God forgives even this. 
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I'm SO thankful to Natalie for opening up with us and sharing some really difficult chapters of her life. I know she would love to connect with you by answering more questions about her story. Get to know her better over at her blog, Mommy on Fire.