Blessings in disguise & a Sneak Peek!

It's time for another Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge!  Today I am the hostess, and I have chosen John 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 

Recently, a young woman was talking with her dear friend.  This friend had been going through some difficult times and was feeling down and alone.  She expressed the feeling that she didn't think anyone in their town cared about her or her family at all.  Later that week, a  tornado ripped through their town, the first in this mountain town in over 50 years!  It leveled buildings, trees and  left a number dead or injured.   One of the areas hit particularly hard was where this friend lived.  They lost over 75 trees, both of their vehicles, a garage, and some damage was done to their home, but thankfully they were protected. The next day, people started showing up with chain saws, heavy equipment, water, food, supplies.... there were over 30 people working on this family's lot alone!  They continued doing so for weeks!!!  She finally realized just how much people cared for her and her family! 

The next Sunday in church, the special music, which had been planned and practiced long before the tornado struck, was this song - Blessings, by Laura Story.  I have shut my playlist off for today so you can listen to this.  If you can't hear it, the words are on the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge blog.

A few weeks after the tornado, my husband and I sat in the church where these two young women attend on a Sunday evening, where people of the church had gathered to sing praises  and give testimony of God's grace and mercy!  It was all I could do to not be weeping as one after another told their story.... yet each one, in spite of having lost much of this world's "things" had such joy and thanksgiving for all God had done for them!  It seems that some of their blessings truly did come through the rain and wind and storm! 

Also recently, here on the east coast of the U.S., in ONE week, we felt the tremors of a 5.9 earthquake and the powerful forces of a huge hurricane that slowly made it's way up the coast, leaving a path of floods and destruction.The people of Texas have been enduring the worst fires imaginable. 

The news every night is full of sensational stories of pain and suffering all over the world!  Wars, famine, hatred, murders, earthquakes and disease abound!  It's all around us and I am sure that in our own lives, not one of us is without burdens!  Perhaps we have sat at the bedside of a suffering loved one, watched a parent slowly disappear into a world we cannot seem to reach, prayed through sleepless nights over broken relationships, buried that loved one we thought we could never live without, lost that baby we thought God wanted us to raise, and cried for help in the midst of our darkest hour.  We've had our moments when our faith has been tried, and we've even had times when we had some doubts.  We've asked Him "WHY?  Why are you letting me go through this?"  

I shared this song today because I know so many  are suffering through some dark hours right now!  The words touched my heart and I hope they will yours as well.  As Christians, we tend to think our lives should be trouble free and just the way we "want" them to be.  When they're not, we pray that God removes the painful things.  I know for myself, that some of my darkest hours have ended up being my greatest blessings: times of  growth and a refocusing on what's really important; times of realizing how gracious and merciful God has been to me!    I don't think I would ever fully have appreciated the gift of this life had I not almost lost mine at the hand of a hit and run driver.  I'm pretty sure I would not have learned to truly forgive unconditionally  if I had not had that experience.  I also don't think I would have had the compassion for people who are suffering had I not been left with chronic pain myself.  My pain has given me many opportunities to encourage others in a way I never would have otherwise!   Sometimes some of us need to stay broken for a while so that God can do the work in us that needs to be done.  Perhaps instead of praying for removal of the pain, we should be praying for His will and glory to be seen in it all, for growth in our relationship with Him,  and for the joy that comes from really being surrendered to and loving our Savior and knowing that His plan for us is always the best plan!  Remember this.... He loves us enough to give us what we need, not necessarily what we "want"!  When we are in the deep waters, we may not see the blessings He has for us... but He has a plan for each of us, and it's for our good!

Let me simply leave you with a couple Scriptures:

Ps. 30:5b  "...Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Rom. 8:35, 37-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I hope He pours out His Blessings on you today!

My challenge is to create a card  that  either uses the word "Blessings" 
or uses an encouraging Scripture. 

Here are the details on my card:
Stamps: This is a sneak peek at a new Our Daily Bread designs stamp set called Christmas Rose.  I placed it in the Seed Packet from this month's release. I told you that you'd want this seed packet! :) Stay tuned for more great stuff to use it with!
Papers: The base is Coredinations, designer paper is Websters Pages.  I used Memento and Versafine Inks.
Accessories: Copics, MS Holly Punch, May Arts Wrinkled Ribbon, Tatted Lace from a vintage piece, stick pin with elements from my sweet dt sister, Sabrina, sewing machine, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Irredescent Gold.  

Be sure to stop by the Stampin Sisters in Christ site to see all the details on this week's challenge!  Our sponsor this week is Pink Cat Studio!  They are giving aways 5 free digis!  We thank them for their generosity!

Please visit my dt sisters for more inspiration

Linda,  Miesje, Rebecca,  Kris, Peggysue,  MariLynn, Chris,  and Traci

I am entering this in the following challenges: My Sheri Crafts -  #69 Sew Simple, nspire Me Fridays - always anything goes, Our Craft Lounge -  patterned papers, Polkadoodle -distress it, The Outlawz Copic Challenge -, must use Copic/Promarkers - Anything Goes, Crafty Ribbons -  Anything Goes, Southern Girls -  Anything Goes,Paper Shelter Challenge -  #32 anything goes, Simon Says Stamp - dies or punches, Anything Goes Challenge -  Anything Goes, Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Shapes and/or Die Cuts, Addicted to Stamps  Must use stamp  Stitching, Aly's Sunday Challenge  Bows, Corrosive Challenges - 2W, 2E - Punches and/or Dies, Gingerloft -  Vintage or Distressed, Kenny K Krafty Girlz -  Christmas Card, Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes, One Stitch At A Time - Use your Favorites, The Crafty Pad -Stitching, The Squirrel & the Fox -  Anything Goes