Here it is another new year, another chance to look back and reflect on any progress since this time last year. Great strides were made! Great strides indeed. On one hand.
On the other... a reminder of how far we still have to go.
Nothing has reminded me of that or shown me the urgency to do this thing like recent events.
Let's go back to the summer of 2010. You may remember that we had a fun time with the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilt". The ladies from the Lyman Quilters donated a beautiful quilt that traveled to various churches throughout the summer with the drawing held during the Beth Moore Simulcast in the fall.
The name was drawn and I knew without a shadow of doubt that God had chosen our winner. We had our pictures taken together and I had every intention of posting the picture and the name of our winner on our blog and website. It was right in the middle of working on the store and it was one of those things I never got around to.
This was what our winner shared in an email...
I would like you to know that I have been praying for awhile for the Lord to lead me in the right direction of the ministry that I would be the most effective in leading people to Christ. I know, without a doubt, that He spoke to me yesterday. I prayed throughout the day yesterday as well as today, and I know this is the direction he is leading me in . I know if it wasn't for the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ picking me up out of the mire and muck I was in for years of my life I would probably be dead. I am a recovering drug addict. I come from a past of sexual abuse, and I was on drugs for years as well as prostitution. I had one thing going for me... I had an aunt who was a praying Christian. God heard her prayers and showed me mercy. I have been through it all, I have even done prison time, but God delivered me from a life of bondage and sin. I have quiet a story to tell and God wants me to use my testimony to reach others. I am grateful that I am not another statistic today. All the glory goes to God .
Even though I didn't post her name or picture anywhere, I remembered her name and had her name and number om my volunteer "to call" list. While sitting here sipping coffee early one morning, I heard her name and then saw her face on the news.
If only I had taken time to call her... if only the Wellspring residential home was already here...
...if only
Praise be to the Lord of all Creation who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all my missed opportunities, my too busy schedule and what seem to me to be insurmountable odds on many fronts. Hallelujah You can see what I cannot!
