Sixteen years ago!
It’s hard to believe it’s already so many years ago that our family spent six and a half months in pre-mission-field training. The first, very long two months of our training were spent in Valley City, North Dakota, living in a college dorm with our family. The last four months were spent in Waxhaw, North Carolina. It was such a loooong six and a half months. But also a nice, long time to learn more about God’s love and faithfulness!
Not long after, I wrote the following story in a newsletter…
The fall of 1997 at JAARS in Waxhaw, NC was a particularly difficult time for our family. We were extremely busy with training. I was five months pregnant [with our only son], and our support was very low. We were tired and discouraged.
One Sunday on the way home from church, Becky, our middle daughter, discovered she had lost a large section of her Bible. Unable to find it, she was upset.
Our hearts were saddened as we told her that we could not afford to buy her a new Bible; she would have to pray for one. That day she began to pray that God would give her a Bible.
It was only a few days later when a small, rather heavy, rectangular package arrived in the mail, addressed to Becky. Ron and I could hardly wait until school was out for Becky to open it.
That evening our family watched as Becky opened her package to find her prayer answered! Inside was a beautiful, burgundy, leather-bound Study Bible with her name engraved on the cover. God had so lovingly and faithfully answered our little girls’ prayer and strengthened the faith of our entire family!
God continues to prepare each one of us in special ways for future ministry. We praise the Lord for His goodness as we each learn to trust Him more!
Re-telling this story always squeezes my heart. That God would take such care to love my children, each in a way that would speak clearly to them, was so amazing to me. I tell it now again to say this…
Becky’s first Bible… the one that fell apart… still exists. We never did find the missing chunk but its pieces shine on… featured in my worship art. I struggled for a long time with the thought of tearing up a Bible but have come to this conclusion…
God receives no glory from a falling apart Bible shoved to the dusty far-reaches of a bookshelf. But He DOES receive glory when I showcase this Bible in art that seeks to shine a light on who He is!
It is with great joy that I have been using Becky’s Bible to do just that… to magnify Him for who He is, not just through the art itself but in the re-telling of the story of the Bible He used to begin to show my little girl that He knows her and He loves her.
All glory to our God who sees, hears, knows and deeply loves us, His children!
Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1
Every time I finish one wreath I am already excited about my next one. The following is a wreath I made for my office door with a winter theme.
And with the leftovers I made this one for the door of my pretty house:
What a beautiful story, a wonderful way to repurpose His Word…Your artwork is a gift from the Master! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story!
Beautiful Praise!! What a glorious gifting! I am hopeful that you will display your Worship Art on Dec 15th in the art show (Blue Rock
lobby) at the Sights and Sounds of Christmas!
Thank you, ladies. Sherry, I would enjoy participating in the art show. I’m hoping to do another one for Christmas if I get inspired with an idea.
Wow, I love your beautiful Bible creations. They seem to just yell joy and freedom – the perfect message for the Word.
Thank you Carrie. I’m glad you enjoyed them!