Winners, Unanswered Prayers, One Way News and More SGM Christmas Extravaganza Coming Soon!

WWY Remembering at Christmas Ornament Winners Announced here. Congrats to the winners!

And, now the winner of the Reunion Necklace:

heathermohr from In this Storm

And....

The Winner of the Reunion Key Ring:

The Blue Sparrow

Please email me your address and I will get those right out to you this week!
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In other news, I have been doing some thinking about unanswered prayers....or prayers answered differently than we expected. About life's disappointments and all of the goodbyes along the way.

These verses from Habakuk 3 mean so much to me as I reflect on the days in the past I spent waiting on the Lord...and some of the prayers of my heart currently awaiting answers.

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—


Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

I think of the years I saw little fruit in my marriage...the years we spent unequally yoked...the years I spent claiming these promises, allowing them to wash over me. What was the promise? Did I know all those years ago that one day I would stand on a stage beside my husband and join my voice with his in worship to our Savior? Did I know that when I sat alone in the church pew?

No....I didn't.
The fig trees did not blossom and there appeared to be no fruit on our vines in the early years of our marriage as we muddled through the best we could. Trusting in what we couldn't see, clinging to Him despite what we saw with our human eyes.

Did I know when I stood over the grave of my daughters on that cold November morning that one day their lives would be used to offer comfort and hope to hundreds....and soon thousands of families? Did I know that their lives would serve to create a tenderness in our hearts...that they would be part of the beautiful tapestry of this family...a piece of the puzzle that both shattered us, left us broken, and yet was essential to our healing all at the same time?

Did I know when I heard the words incompatible with life in regards to our Thomas on that rainy day? Did I know when we lept off the cliff in the fog and carried our sweet boy, praying for a miracle while planning a funeral? Did I know that His sufficient grace was carrying me those days, weeks, and months... and that He was waiting to fill me with the sweetest joy and comfort in what should have been the darkest moment of my life?

No...I didn't.

The fields yielded no food...the sheep were cut off from the fold...and there was no herd in the stall.

But the prayer of my heart remained...

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

There were disappointments... incredible losses...prayers that weren't answered the way I hoped. And, there still are some...in this life. But, looking back on those days...seeing what I couldn't see then. Knowing the faithfulness of my God...sometimes, it's good to look back and see what He has brought us through...to see how what once seemed hopeless has blossomed into hope...what once was a pile of ashes has turned to beauty.

If you are still in that place...still waiting for an answer or trying to make sense of an answer you never wanted...keep clinging...keep trusting in Him. Keep trusting...even when you don't see. For, He is good...even when life is bad. He is faithful...even when we are faithless. He has a plan and purpose...even when we don't understand. He is working long after we have given up.

When all you see is emptiness...

When it seems all hope is gone...

When you stand in front of the ruins broken and weary...

Remember this promise from Joel 2...

Fear not, O land;

Be glad and rejoice,
For the LORD has done marvelous things!
Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field;
For the open pastures are springing up,


And the tree bears its fruit;
The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
Be glad then, you children of Zion,
And rejoice in the LORD your God;


For He has given you the former rain faithfully,
And He will cause the rain to come down for you—
The former rain,
And the latter rain in the first month.


The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,
And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
“ So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you.

You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
And praise the name of the LORD your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame.


Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:


I am the LORD your God
And there is no other.
My people shall never be put to shame.


Keep waiting and trusting for His restoration...for He sees all that has been stolen, all the years the locusts have eaten...He will restore them...and His restoration is a beautiful thing to behold.

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Speaking of restoration, our band, One Way, had the opportunity to share worship music and our family/ministry testimony last Sunday at Holgate United Methodist Church. Thank you so much for your prayers. The day was a blessing, and we were so grateful for the kindness and welcoming spirit offered to us by Pastor Susan and the congregation.

No matter how we struggle through our days, how Satan attacks with doubt, how the locusts seem to feast on our lives, and even when the fig tree doesn't bloom....

God is faithful to meet us there...and to carry us through...and to restore all that is broken.

Tim and I singing Days of Elijah...

Sharing our family and SGM testimony...

I didn't know this sign was up there until I saw theses pics! Holgate UM made it, and I noticed they mentioned our church home. I probably would have said we were there to represent Sufficient Grace... although we are proud to say we are from Harvest...so  hopefully our church doesn't mind claiming us! =)

God's grace and faithfulness bring me to my knees. Our boys sat in the audience, as we worshipped together. And, I closed my eyes, remembering that once fruitless tree...now blossoming and growing in abundance. Sweet grace...washing over me...

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P.S. Tune in tomorrow for the BIGGEST giveaway in Sufficient Grace history!!! This is the finale of the SGM Christmas Extravaganza 2010...and it is going to be so much fun!!! It will include several of my favorite things! I hope you will join us.