Resources for Christian Women, Encouragement for Families
Blessings with Laura Story
Laura Story and Jane Vos
I had the privilege of attending a brunch and concert at Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church, June 2013. I was attending the PCA General Assembly as an exhibitor with Five More Talents. A few months ago, I had signed up for the concert and brunch, not realizing Laura Story was going to be there.
Driving in the rain a couple years ago, I heard the song Blessings playing on the radio. I began to cry and wondered who wrote it and if I could ever find all the words.
God had a bigger picture and I was totally surprised to have the privilege of sharing that time with Laura Story. I had my picture taken after we talked a few minutes. Laura also autographed my CD.
When Laura Story penned her now-famous song “Blessings,” she could hardly have imagined the way it would affect people from across the globe; or the acclaim it would bring. Laura won a GRAMMY award for the song – Best Contempary Christian Song in 2012.
At the brunch that morning, Laura shared about her husband’s diagnosis of a brain tumor going into the second year of her marriage. She explained that his vision and memory are still impaired. In the midst of disability, in the context of going through this, Laura sings the song, “Blessings.”
Musings
“What is the dream I am supposed to dream? When I look at the life she has I wonder. But God can make beauty out of ashes.
When will I quit pushing my agenda on her or others? Does God need to smash me down again, ridding me of all my selfish pride?
I know God hears my prayers. Just yesterday hubby and I prayed for provision for a new garage roof. Now, there’s a bunch of shingle packs sitting on my driveway. I know they aren’t on the roof yet, but Mr. S. is coming back in a week or so to do that. And the price is decent.
In the book of Ruth, God used two broken women to shake up Bethlehem. Carolyn Custis James says in her book, The Gospel of Ruth, ‘The gospel (even in its most primitive Old Testament form) has the power to rescue a believer from drowning in herself by moving her to think of someone else. Energized by her vow to Naomi and her newfound faith in Yahweh, Ruth turns outward and mobilizes.’ (page 94)
I know God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Why do I think He can’t make sense of all this? Is my real question, ‘Am I ready for what He is doing and will do or am I chomping at the bit?’ “
Disability & the Gospel
My friend recently gave me a book by Michael S. Beates called Disability & the Gospel. Although I’m not quite finished reading it, I highly recommend it. Everyone could benefit by reading this book.
Our world and culture cries out for us to highly regard the status symbols of the day: health, wealth, nice car, the popular person. Christ calls us to embrace the lowly, the least of these, the blind, the crippled, the lame…the forgotten ones, the ones we want to overlook or shoo away. But Christ says, “Come to Me.”
When I was in grade school, the teacher wrote this on the board: chURch and asked what it means. I can remember saying, “The church you are.” She said I was close. “You are the church,” she exclaimed. We, the people, are the church. And we all really do need and benefit from one another. When someone with a developmental disability or mental illness comes to church, we must embrace and love them. We actually learn more of His great love as we learn how to best love each and every person.