Continue reading »]]> {I wrote this post partnering with Adventures in Odyssey and Tyndale. I received Adventures in Odyssey Our Favorites in exchange for sharing their A.C.T.S.– A Call to Serve Summer Program and Contest as part of a Blog Tour. This is not a sponsored review and all views and opinions are of my own and were not influenced in anyway.}

Summer is almost here! Can you believe it?

We homeschool year round so our 2012-2013 school year doesn’t end until the middle of June and we will start back up at the beginning of August. Even so, I do tend to approach the summer months of May, June and July as a time to do things a little differently. One of the things that Will and I began doing when we got married was to find opportunities for our family to serve God together throughout the year and continuing that very special legacy has been one of the most rewarding things we have done this year.

Josh and Michael have been excitedly coming up with ways to raise money to help the missions our church supports. Josh came up with the idea of having a yard sale and lemonade stand and donating the money to the mission funds at our church.  When he mentioned this to his Bible Club teachers they got excited about it and asked if the Kids for Christ Bible Club could get involved and help us. We were thrilled to have them join in, the more stuff and the more helpers that day the easier it will be…and I am always excited about working with other families to serve the Lord through serving others together.

My step-daughter, Annie, is getting ready to start collecting hygiene items for Generation Next again in June and our family is totally on board with finding ways to do that.

Josh packing our Operation Christmas Child shoebox for this past Christmas.

And don’t forget it is a lot easier to shop for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes during the back to school sales than in the rush of Christmas preparations!

One of the things that I have noticed with our family is that the more we find ways to serve the Lord through serving others the more we want to serve! And each time we serve together it bonds our family closer together and closer to the Lord. What better way to really teach our children about how much the Lord loves us and how He calls each one of us to serve others in our families, communities and around the world?

Jesus calls us to put hands and feet to our faith not just talk about it. In today’s world we are inundated with opportunities to indulge ourselves and focus on our own wants throughout the year but especially in the summer time. I know as a parent one of my greatest desires is that our children grow up to be men and a woman who are passionate about their relationship with the Lord and who are confident about how to live for Christ in their daily lives. From experience with my children and with the children and teens in the youth/children’s ministries I used to lead, I have found that working with and helping people and children who are less fortunate than we are makes a bigger impact on them than just talking about the importance of helping those in need. And I am amazed at how much of an impact summer service projects, big or small, have had on our own children and the children/youth I have met through ministry groups.

In a very real way, then, the best path toward building selfless, confident children is to help and encourage them toward a growing and thriving faith in God. And that includes obedience to what God teaches—not because it makes kids feel good, although it often does—but because they’re following God’s instructions to love Him and serve others. That builds a faith they can count on and carry with them into adulthood…and that is the greatest gift we as parents can give on our children.

So when I received an e-mail from Tyndale Blog Network asking me if Unwrapping His Grace would consider participating in the Adventures in Odyssey Blog Tour for A.C.T.S.– A Call to Serve this summer I was immediately interested! Talk about an answer to prayer!

When I told Josh and Michael about it they were bouncing with excitement!

I hope you will join Adventures in Odyssey this summer to discover how fun it can be to serve others!

Adventures in Odyssey, the beloved audio series from Focus on the Family, has encouraged kids toward a stronger faith for 25 years. Whit, Connie, Eugene, and the other loveable characters from Odyssey have shared countless adventures with kids across the world in the classic audio dramas, books, videos, and devotionals, fulfilling the AIO promise to help kids discover, imagine, and grow.

This summer, Adventures in Odyssey is joining with Christian bookstores across the country, inviting kids to participate in a Summer of Service. They’re promoting the biblical message, “When you serve, everybody wins,” encouraging kids to serve their families, their communities, and their world. Whether it’s baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or putting together a care package for missionaries overseas, kids will discover that serving can be a blast! I know mine can’t wait!

The A.C.T.S. blog tour has three themes…

Today’s Theme: Discover how much fun service can be with Adventures in Odyssey’s A.C.T.S. challenge and contest!

The week of June 17th Theme: Imagine creative and fun ways to serve using your unique gifts!

The week of July 22nd Theme: Grow in your walk with God every day. With summer on the downswing, we gear up for school and re-establish routines that get lost during summer.

Each A.C.T.S. Blog tour post will include wonderful encouragement, free resources and gifts, and the next two posts will include great giveaways just for Unwrapping His Grace readers from Adventures in Odyssey!!!

How the A.C.T.S. (A Call to Service) challenge and contest works:

Kids who join A.C.T.S. can pick up a service log and collect fun character stickers for hours served at participating bookstores throughout the summer, or download a serving log online at whitsend.org. At the end of the summer, kids can record and upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.

A hundred winners will get the brand new AIO Album, and after online voting, two grand prize winners (one boy and one girl) will get to travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country with a parent! The out-of-country destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22—hosted by AIO actors Katie Leigh (Connie) and Chris Anthony (Chris)—which you can watch at whitsend.org/acts. You don’t want to miss it! Talk about exciting!

If you need some great service ideas for your family…AIO is providing this wonderful “Serve. Share. Win. Weekly Service Ideas PDF” to get you started!

And I am thrilled to announce that AIO is offering a special free MP-3 download of an episode as a FREE GIFT to our Unwrapping His Grace readers to show some ways the wonderful characters in Odyssey find to serve!

So what are we waiting for? Let’s get started serving!  And remember to join the live podcast May 22nd to find out more details and hear the announcement of the out-of-country mission destination!

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

What are some of your family’s favorite ways to serve others? Please tell us about them in the comments below.

Serving other with His Grace,

Mary Joy

Continue reading »]]> In July 2009, I had the incredible blessing of meeting the young lady who would become the daughter of my heart the following April. The photo above captures the instant love that happened between future big sister and her baby brother.  Annie was getting ready to turn fourteen and Michael was just fourteen months old. It was love at first sight with both little guys and they were in awe of her. And this young lady had my respect from the beginning. I will never forget her first question for me after she sent me a friend request on Facebook in May 2009…”Mary, I need to know what your intentions are with your relationship with my Daddy. I don’t want him hurt and he really cares about you.” Annie was very protective of her Daddy.  As the weeks went by the two of us had the opportunity to get to know each other better through our many conversations on Facebook and then through Google video chat when she was at her Daddy’s apartment. I will never forget getting to hug her for the first time when we met to go fishing together and have a picnic so we could get to know each other during the boys’ and my first road trip to the Ozarks with Will. And just as Will fell in love with Josh and Michael, Annie found a special place in my heart during that trip too.

Annie with Will in a picture they sent me in May 2009.

Annie was the first person to tell Will that she thought he should marry me…and that was after a few weeks of communicating on-line and on the phone…before we met in person.  LOL She decided that we were right for each other and God was in it. Wow.

Annie as my maid of honor April 10, 2010

Annie’s love and protection of her family has grown to include me, Josh and Michael over the years. And I love her just as I love all three of my children. My love and respect for her has grown deeper over the four blessed years we have had together…from the time Will started courting me (May 2009). She is and always will be the daughter of my heart.

Last July, when I lay in the trauma unit in the hospital in St. Louis, Annie, her mom, and her dearest friends drove the many miles to be there with me the day after the accident…the day after her Daddy, my sweet husband, went home to the Lord. (without me asking her to come) My heart needed to see her so badly and it meant so much to me to have her and all of them there with me. Her mom had and friends had taken her to see her brothers at Children’s hospital before coming to see me so that they could tell me how they were doing. She knew I would be extremely anxious to know. (tears) She was so worried she would lose us too in the accident. She was there for us through phone calls and in person even while she was deeply grieving the loss of her Daddy and we have continued to spend time together when it was possible during her very busy senior year, even time together during Thanksgiving and Christmas. And she and her mom have stopped by our house on several occasions over this past year too. I will share more about God’s faithfulness in that in another post someday.

Over the past ten months, I am blessed beyond words by how our relationship has continued to grow.  I have been so blessed watching God’s work in her heart, mind and life over the past four years. It is her faith and relationship with the Lord that carried her through and grew and strengthened her faith through this very challenging year.

This past Saturday, this once young girl stood in front of a packed gymnasium as the beautiful young woman of God that she is today. Not only did she graduate from high school, she graduated as Salutatorian presented with honor after honor, scholarship after scholarship…and we, all three sides of her family, were there to celebrate and cheer her on as she shared from her heart and gave honor to God as she spoke to the crowd during her speech. And we were all invited to her graduation party that her mom hosted after the graduation ceremony. And so very blessed as her mother, continues to share her with us even after Will’s homegoing to heaven. God is faithful.

Annie and her Mom, Janis at graduation

We all know that her Daddy is so very proud of her accomplishments but most of all the young woman of God she is today. There were bittersweet moments as I knew how much it would have meant to physically be there with her and how much she missed having him there. But it is through the strength of their relationship and their mutual faith that she knows he is proud of her and that she will see him again in heaven someday.

I am so honored that Annie has given me her permission and blessing to share her Salutatorian speech with all of you here on Unwrapping His Grace. In her words, spoken before a packed house at her town’s public high school. We are so very proud of her accomplishments and the woman of God she is today.

Family, friends, board members, administration, staff members, and fellow classmates, I would like to welcome everyone and thank you for being here to share these final moments of our senior year and the first moments of the next stage of our lives together with us. I remember bits and pieces of our early schooling years, but oddly enough I remember watching my mom leaving me in Mertzlufft’s kindergarten classroom filled with people everywhere I didn’t know. This one memory is of my first day of kindergarten. This memory is fond to me, even though it is not the est, because to me it reminds me of a start of something new. I have thought about this moment many times as I am nervous of what lies ahead of this new start. That first day of kindergarten when we all watched our mom or dad leave us was probably filled with many mixed emotions. Now we sit here about thirteen years later with mixed emotions again as we are seniors graduating from high school. I feel like time has gotten away from us all because to me thirteen years ago, I couldn’t even picture this day. today is filled with smiles, diplomas, speeches, tears and excitement. Today is both an end and a beginning. For the past couple of years or more we have been given the overwhelming task of deciding what we want to be for the rest of our lives. I don’t know about anybody else, but I still think of my future as “what do I want to do when I grow up?” instead of “what do I want to start becoming in three months?” To be truthful with you, I am still not sure how my “what I want to be when I grow up” plans will turn out. To think that when we were in kindergarten they would say “what do you want to be when you grow up?”, I would have an answer. Now, fellow seniors, the time has finally arrived in our lives that we can pursue our dreams. This journey has been a real soul searching process for me, and I am sure as well for my fellow classmates, but one thing I have figured out through the process is that we all need to put full trust in God each and every day as we travel through a sea full of decisions. We must have faith in God and believe in ourselves. As we have approached this day and are still approaching our next step in our lives, I have  had to constantly put aside fearful thoughts and instead trust that God has a a plan waiting ahead for us. This past year has been quite an interesting year. A lot of us dealt with emotions and situations we never thought we would have to face. Truth is, this year has been the most challenging year for me, but I have learned some important lessons this year that I believe I will never forget. I don’t know about anyone else, but one of the most important things I have learned is that life isn’t always going to playout exactly how you want it to. Each step of life may turn out a little different than expected, but if you trust in God and believe in yourself everything will be alright in the end. This is only one out of many things that I have learned in the past year. Because of the things I have learned it has allowed me to relax more, accept things for what they are, and to trust in God on a day to day basis.

I would now like to take this opportunity to thank a few people. I would first like to thank all of my teachers for always pushing me to give the best of my ability. I would also like to thank Tyra for being my best friend for as long as I can remember and for always being there for me. Mom, I want you to know that I love you and always will! You have helped hold me together when I felt like falling apart and I am very thankful God chose you to be my mom! Love you! I am thankful for the love and encouragement that my dad gave me throughout my journey of school and I know he would be proud of me. Most of all I am thankful for God and Him sending his son for me because without that I would definitely not be who I am today.

One last thought~ Don’t forget to call upon the Lord, He will be there good times or bad. Psalms 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”

Here are a few of the pictures of her with family from our sides of her family from her graduation and celebration with her family and friends…you will notice that all the pictures say “courtesy” of the special person who shared their photos with me…mainly her dear mom, Janis. I was heart-broken when I realized that we had gotten to her graduation and the memory card was not in my camera. I am SO grateful to Janis for generously sharing her photos with us. God is faithful!

Annie with me at her graduation party

Our little family at her graduation party.

Annie with her awards/honors after the graduation ceremony.

Annie with her Grandma Lorraine (my mom).

Annie with Grandpa and Grandma Charlotte (my dad and step-mom).

Annie with her Grandma Pershing, Uncle David and Aunt Gayle Pershing. (my mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law).

All of the Pershing grandkids together.

I hope you have found encouragement through this post today and especially through the words of Annie’s inspiring speech. It is her prayer, as it is mine, that when life hands you something you weren’t planning on that you turn to the Lord and remember He is always there for you. God is faithful.

Thank you for taking the time to celebrate this big milestone in the life of our Annie.

May God bless you and your family…

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

Learning on our Savior,

Mary Joy

Continue reading »]]> It has been such a blessed week for me here as a writer on Unwrapping His Grace.  What an honor it has been to share the journey of being a Forgotten Mother with other women on the same path, grieving the loss of my child while also celebrating my blessings as a mom of three children here on earth.

I know it isn’t easy to share your heart and share your child’s name on such a public forum – - – and I want every woman to know, whether you commented here on the website or on the Facebook page, that I have prayed for each one of you and treasured your child’s name and memory that was you shared with me.

This next graphic is for you, the mommies who commented this week - – -   I took the information I was given from your comments and made a picture with each mommy’s name, along with the names of their children in heaven.  Eight different women commented on the blog posts this week – - – and between all of us, me included, we have 17 children in Heaven.

Every mom and every child
are known by God.

(This graphic/picture was originally a gift to me, as an Angel mommy

by Perfect Chapter Laid to Rest, on Facebook.

I added the mommy and Angel-Baby names.)

Without further delay, here is the winner of our Basket of Blessings Giveaway:

Our Winner!

Vivian McWhiney – - please contact us ASAP at my email address (tothinebetheglory@yahoo.com) – or – on Facebook by private message within 48 hours to make arrangements to receive your gifts!

Thank you to all who entered and blessed me by allowing me to get to know you and your children on a first name basis.  I am touched and moved beyond words by the response to this series this week. 

I encourage you to stay in touch with me and let me know how I can continue to pray for you and support you in your faith journey.  If you would ever be interested in joining an online support group for moms who are grieving the loss of a child, please contact me by email and I will get you connected.

~~~~~~

Here are some of my favorite links where I have received support and given back to other mommies in my journey as a mommy of an Angel:

1. Kathe Wunnenburg‘s Books and her ministry of Hopelifters
2. Sable’s Wings
3. Owl Love You Forever
4. Leigh’s Blankets
5. Beanie for a Baby
6. Designs by Held
7. Perfect Chapter Laid to Rest 

 ~~~~~

In case we have anyone reading who is NOT an Angel Mommy, I feel led to share the following tips on how to love and support a mom grieving the loss of a child, courtesy of this blog:

1. Fill her arms with something to hold.

2. Initiate communication, i.e.,  ”How are you today?”  However, don’t push conversation, she’ll talk if she wants/needs to.

3. Don’t say, “I know how you feel.”

4. Listen, even if what she has to say is something she has said a hundred times.

5. Always use the name of her child.

6. When words fail, share silence or a hug.

7. Always remember special days with a note or gift (Mother’s day, the due date, birthday, day the child passed)

8. Remember, you can always give your Presence & Prayer.

9. Give Kleenex, a CD, book, or personalized piece of jewelry with the child’s name engraved.

10. Don’t use the phrases “Everything is going to be OK” or “God just must have a different plan for you.”  They hurt more than they help.

~~~~~

His Grace is sufficient for you.  II Corinthians 12:9

 May God comfort and keep you – may His Face shine upon you – and give you His Peace.

Gina Marie 

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

To God be the GLORY!

Continue reading »]]>

Day 6: My Heart is Open to your Healing – You Restore my Life

Go here for the first five days of the series:

day 5

day 4

day 3

day 2

day 1

A Deeper Prayer

Lord, I thank you for Your Touch.

I am grateful for Your Word.

Today, You met me

In the secret-est part of me

That I have kept sacred for You, restoring my Hope.

Today, I have learned that I can forever cherish,

Love,

Remember,

Honor,

And Yearn for My Precious Child

With You there to comfort me in my mother-heart.

I know that I will never be the same -

Being their mommy has brought me closer to You.

What a gift they are – and always will be – to me.

You know their name, as You know my name.

We are both hidden safe in the Palm of Your Hand.

I look up in Hope, hoping to see Your Face,

Looking forward to the day

I can embrace my child again – calling them by the Name You have chosen -

Together we will walk in Your Glorious Light.

Goodness, Mercy, and Unfailing Love will be my life’s Legacy;

I will choose to dwell in Your Presence

And in Your Healing Grace,

You are my Dwelling Place of Safety.

You will lead me on the path that leads to a beautiful, abundant life;

I can know joy and contentment again.

You are the Source of my daily needs;

My peace will overflow In Hope

Through my Faith

In You.

Never will I leave you – never will I forsake you.

Keep your heart ready to rejoice in the Truth of My Word

For my Hope is always around the corner.

Hold up through the hard times in life

In my Patient-Strength

and devote yourself always to prayer.

I love you – and I love your child – forevermore.

Verses for Reflection:

Psalm 23:6 - Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

Psalm 16:11 –  You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Romans 15:13 - May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

(C) Gina M. Weeks

~~~~~

I  pray that this series has been a blessing to you this week.  

I welcome your comments and thoughts below.

If you are a mom who has a child(ren) in heaven,

please be sure to enter our Giveaway for your chance to win a Basket of gifts* 

which has items to encourage and bless you such as:

• a book,

• a journal,

• a wind-chime,

• a candle, and
• two personalized items from Beanie for a Baby and Designs by Held

To see the pictures of the rest of the items AND to enter,

 go here and leave comments on this post.

Each comment on every post this week on Unwrapping His Grace earns you more entries!

The drawing for the one winner of the Basket will take place on Mother’s Day, 2013,

 with the announcement of the winner to follow…..

Today is the last day to enter!

*This giveaway is limited to readers in the United States due to shipping costs.

 Thank you for taking the time to enter –

 each comment from each person is read and prayed over.  

Thank you for being a part of the Unwrapping His Grace community. 

God bless you!

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

To God be the GLORY!

Gina Marie 

Continue reading »]]>

Day 5: My Heart is Still Unsure – Will You Take Care of Me?

day 4

day 3

day 2

day 1

A Deeper Prayer

I don’t know if I can surrender

My pain

My guilt

My sorrow

Or my grief.

If I choose to“move on” – - -

To take you at your Word

That in You I can find

Hope, Healing, Restoration, and Peace,

Won’t I be letting my baby down,

Forgetting my loss,

And, in all of the many big and bigger ways,

Allowing Life to make me forget how

I was touched by their life?

If I don’t remember- – -

Who will remember?

If there’s a time when I don’t weep for them anymore -

If I have healing,

If I have joy,

If I start to laugh again -

Won’t I be living a lie?

Teach me, Lord, what it means

To Heal and have Hope again.

I know that I will never be the same.

Allow me to see how in letting You heal my heart

My child can be, will be, a gift to my life

For all Eternity.

I am so scared. But, I am hopeful.

In You I take a baby step towards Healing today.

Pick me up in Your Loving Arms of Grace

And meet every need I will have as I choose to live the rest of my life

Through You.

My Precious Treasure, My Daughter, My Own,

I will care for all of your needs, even in the middle of what seeks to destroy you.

I will anoint you with My own Healing Oil, your Blessings will be overflowing.

My Grace will be a Soothing Balm to your heart and to your soul.

Be strong in Me and take Courage; I am your Redeemer.

Verses for Reflection:

Psalm 23:5 - You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with ^[a]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

Psalm 31:24 -  Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!

(C) Gina M. Weeks, 2013

~~~~~

I pray that this series has been a blessing to you this week.  

I welcome your comments and thoughts below.

If you are a mom who has a child(ren) in heaven,

please be sure to enter our Giveaway for your chance to win a Basket of gifts* 

which has items to encourage and bless you such as:

• a book,

• a journal,

• a wind-chime,

• a candle, and

• two personalized items from Beanie for a Baby and Designs by Held

To see the pictures of the rest of the items AND to enter, go here and leave comments on this post.

Each comment on every post this week on Unwrapping His Grace earns you more entries!

The drawing for the one winner of the Basket will take place on Mother’s Day, 2013,

 with the announcement of the winner in a blog post that night.

*This giveaway is limited to readers in the United States due to shipping costs.

 Thank you for taking the time to enter –

 each comment from each person is read and prayed over.  

Thank you for being a part of the Unwrapping His Grace community. 

God bless you!

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

To God be the GLORY!

Gina Marie 

And be sure to check out and support our wonderful sponsoring partners:

Handmade and unique items such as scrapbooking and card making embellishments, greeting cards and paper bead jewelry made from upcycled and recycled materials from Recycled Memories.

Visual Prayer is a way to connect to God through our natural desire to create. Check out Michelle’s amazing prayer art and fine art creations.

Continue reading »]]>

Day 4:  I Find Sanctuary in Your Presence – Heal My Broken Heart

If you missed the other parts of this series, look here:

Day one

Day two

Day three

A Deeper Prayer

I remember walking in the shadows

When death touched my life -

Stole my dream -

Left me bleeding

In the dark-

I felt so alone.

My life changed forever on that day.

My life-light was stolen-

My innocence shattered-

My flesh – my baby – my own precious gift-

Was taken from me.

Why did you take them away from me?

How am I supposed to live another day without them here with me?

Don’t You love me?

What did I do wrong?

My heart weeps with you.

Death was never part of My Plan.

I love you – cherish you – and hurt when you hurt.

I love your child as much as I love you -

And I love you with an Everlasting-Steady love.

Even in the unending shadows of death’s darkness

You weren’t alone.

I was with you in those dark moments.

Can you look back and see

That my Shadow overshadowed death’s shadow?

I gave you comfort, protection, and guidance.

You never took a step alone – I was your Shield.

My Eye has always been upon you.

My Arms have never left you.

When you breathe, it’s because I breathe Life into you.

When your heart beats, it is from My very Power that it moves.

I am always with you – never to leave or forsake you.

Your healing is my very Work and Life-Light to be completed in you.

I wipe away all tears from your eyes.

In me, there is no more sorrow, but Hope.

Because of your mercy and loving-kindness towards me, I will wait on you, Lord.

Verses for Reflection:

Psalm 23:4   Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

Psalm 33:18   Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.

(C) Gina M. Weeks, 2013

~~~~~

I pray that this series has been a blessing to you this week.  

I welcome your comments and thoughts below.

If you are a mom who has a child(ren) in heaven,

please be sure to enter our Giveaway for your chance to win a Basket of gifts 

which has items to encourage and bless you such as:

• a book,

• a journal,

• a wind-chime,

• a candle, and

• two personalized items from Beanie for a Baby and Designs by Held

To see the pictures of the rest of the items AND to enter, go here and leave comments on this post.

Each comment on every post this week on Unwrapping His Grace earns you more entries!

The drawing for the one winner of the Basket will take place on Mother’s Day, 2013, with the announcement of the winner in a blog post that night.

*This giveaway is limited to readers in the United States due to shipping costs.*

Thank you for taking the time to enter –

know that each comment from each person is read and prayed over.  

Thank you for being a part of the Unwrapping His Grace community. 

God bless you!

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

To God be the GLORY!

Gina Marie 

Continue reading »]]>

Day 3: My Heart is Still Grieving – I Need You to Guide Me

(Day one: here and Day two: here)

A Deeper Prayer

I am still drowning in my tears.

My heart is broken, bleeding, ripped apart.

When you took my child You took a part of me.

I will never be whole again.

I am still not sure that I can trust You.

All I want is to have them back with me.

Some days, I know that without You holding me up

There wouldn’t be a reason for me to go on anymore.

Help me.

Speak to me.

Love me back to wholeness,

- – - and Healing – - -

Without Your Hope,

I am lost.

Help me. Rescue me. Carry me since I can’t go one more step unless it’s by Your Strength.

I love you. I am here.

I can make you whole again.

Through My love,

Through My Grace

And, yes, I will even restore your Hope.

Let Me lead you off of

The worn, hard paths full of stones and pain

Into an easy place

Where there is an easier pace.

Look only on Me.

Gaze into My eyes – I am Truth.

Know that you can trust Me – I am Righteous.

You are safe,

You are loved,

You can be Healed.

My Heart rejoices when I rest in Your Promises

You are my Portion – - -

I will trust in You and wait with hopeful expectation in You

For the answers I need.

You are my Answer.

Verses for Reflection:

Psalm 23:3  (AMP)

He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.

Lamentations 3:24 (AMP)

The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.

(C) Gina M. Weeks, 2013

~~~~~

I pray that this series has been a blessing to you this week.  

I welcome your comments and thoughts below.

If you are a mom who has a child(ren) in heaven, please be sure to enter our Giveaway for your chance to win a Basket of gifts* which has items to encourage and bless you such as:

• a book,

• a journal,

• a wind-chime,

• a candle, and

• two personalized items from Beanie for a Baby and Designs by Held

To see the pictures of the rest of the items AND to enter, go here and leave comments on this post.

Each comment on every post this week on Unwrapping His Grace earns you more entries!

The drawing for the one winner of the Basket will take place on Mother’s Day, 2013,

 with the announcement of the winner in a blog post that night.

*This giveaway is limited to readers in the United States due to shipping costs.

 Thank you for taking the time to enter –

 each comment from each person is read and prayed over.  

Thank you for being a part of the Unwrapping His Grace community. 

God bless you!

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

To God be the GLORY!

Gina Marie 

Continue reading »]]>

Day 2:  I Accept your Forgiveness – You Give me Rest

(Day one found here)

A Deeper Prayer

My heart is Weary.

Heavy.

Sore.

Full of Sorrow.

Sometimes I don’t think I can walk another step, Lord.

— Are you there? I can’t feel or see you right now.

My life-walk feels clumsy.

It’s too hard to carry

This heavy body full of thoughts

That remind me

Of behind me – - –

Bringing me down

To cruelly crush my spirit.

How they beat upon my heart

And make me feel like it’s my fault.

Is it my fault?

Come to Me, My precious Daughter.

I will bring you to rest

In rich, green fields of safety- – -

You are safe in Me.

Take a drink from the cool, refreshing water.

Find rest for your soul in My Provision for you.

I will soothe your fears.

You are not at fault –

Hear my Words:

It is not your fault.

Each of our days are numbered by My Father.

Take that Truth into your heart

In You I find rest for my soul – - –

My Heavy Heart becomes lighter in the “Truth”

“My Child and I are Loved – - – always loved.”

You remove the heavy Anchor of Grief-Guilt that has held me down

Through your Grace, and through Your Love.

Verses for Reflection:

Psalm 23:2 (AMP)

He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.

Psalm 147:11(AMP)

The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.

(C) Gina M. Weeks, 2013

~~~~~

I pray that this series has been a blessing to you this week.  

I welcome your comments and thoughts below.

If you are a mom who has a child(ren) in heaven, please be sure to enter our Giveaway for your chance to win a Basket of gifts which has items to encourage and bless you such as:

• a book,

• a journal,

• a wind-chime,

• a candle, and

• two personalized items from Beanie for a Baby and Designs by Held

Just an example of a sweet bear: you will be able to suggest a an animal, color, and a name, if you desire, for your bear.

To see the pictures of the rest of the items AND to enter, go here and leave comments on this post.

Each comment on every post this week on Unwrapping His Grace earns you more entries!

The drawing for the one winner of the Basket will take place on Mother’s Day, 2013, with the announcement of the winner in a blog post that night.

*This giveaway is limited to readers in the United States due to shipping costs.

Thank you for taking the time to enter –

know that each comment from each person is read and prayed over.  

Thank you for being a part of the Unwrapping His Grace community. 

God bless you!

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

To God be the GLORY!

Gina Marie 

Continue reading »]]> Thank you all so much for the beautiful, heart-felt responses to my post from yesterday where I shared details about the New Series for May and the Giveaway.  My heart is so blessed and humbled to read of each child so loved and so missed that was mentioned in the comments.  I pray that you feel supported and safe here.

Tonight I have a special  reflection/devotional that I am going to be sharing with you.  It is divided into six parts, corresponding to the six verses in Psalm 23.  I plan to break it up and share a portion with you over the next six days, with the last part shared on Mother’s Day when we announce our winner of the Giveaway.

It’s something I wrote, reflecting my feelings as a Mother who Grieves.

Praying that you make a point to join in with us over the next six days leading up to Mother’s Day by reading the posts each day, taking time to comment (and enter!), and sharing your heart with us in our community.

~~~~~

I wrote this Prayer Experience based on Psalm 23 to be a part of a special event this past weekend.   I was invited to be a part of a special ladies day hosted by my friend, Kathe Wunnenberg.  It was for mothers who have lost children – and 50 mothers were invited to her special event where we would be encouraged to spend time with God and with one another, encouraging each other in the Hope we have in God as we grieve the loss of our children and learn how to live in a deeper walk with God even after loss.

This is my second time being able to take part in this annual event; it is literally a life-changing Hopelifting experience.  Kathe and her ministry has been such a blessing to me over the last few years.  I am beyond blessed to be able to share about her books and ministry with you this week.  She has changed my  life.

I pray that this reflection that I wrote blesses your heart.  

~~~~~

Day 1: Getting Still before the Lord – Leaning in to Hear His Voice

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10*

A Deeper Prayer

I want to go deeper with you, Lord – - -

I am not sure where to start.

I need Your tender Hands of Hope and Healing

To come and touch my Heart.

Psalm 23:1* says that You are my Shepherd –

Lord, I am afraid.

I shall not be in want of anything –

Today, here, right now, I need Your comfort.

Grasp me in Your Arms -

Let me hear Your heartbeat.

I rest my head on Your Shoulder.

I am safe in Your Arms.

I want to know “Why?” – - -

I know that You know the answer.

“Wait on Me, My child.

Wait for, hope in, and put your expectation in Me.

Take Hope in the Promise

That I am Your Shepherd.

I am leading and guiding you.

I am your Source of healing, of Hope.”

Trust in Me.

I will wait and hope for and expect the Lord; I will be brave and of good courage and my heart will be stout and enduring. Yes, I choose to wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. – Psalm 27:14*

Verses in Reflection:

Psalm 46:10*

Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 23:1*

The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

Psalm 27:14*

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

(C) Gina M. Weeks , 2013

~~~~~

I welcome your comments today about the reflection/devotional for extra entries for our Mother’s Day Blessing Giveaway*:

If you haven’t entered for our Basket of Blessings Giveaway, please be sure to go to that page and enter too!

 

The drawing for the one winner of the Basket will take place on Mother’s Day, 2013,

with the announcement of the winner in a blog post that night.

*This giveaway is limited to readers in the United States due to shipping costs.

Thank you for taking the time to enter – know that each comment from each person is read and prayed over.  

Thank you for being a part of the Unwrapping His Grace community. 

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

To God be the GLORY!

Gina Marie 

Continue reading »]]> On Saturday, I posted an article letting you know all about our new series for the month of May:  The Forgotten Mother:  Hearts that Grieve.

I felt God prompting me to choose this topic for my focus for my articles this month;  I wanted to do something to bring awareness to this overlooked sisterhood of women in our society.

I pray that in writing these articles, sharing my heart, and giving resources for healing and support, the women who have lost children at any age will feel supported and be able to grow in Hope in the LORD and experience His Healing for them.

I belong to this silent sisterhood of grief.  I lost my second pregnancy to a missed miscarriage – a blighted ovum – at 9 weeks along in January 2002.

I want to share with you how God has brought healing and hope back in to my life as I walked my grief journey, grappling with so many unanswered questions among the loose ends.

I have never forgotten my baby “Wes” – (Boy Name: Welsey Randall and Girl Name: Wesleigh Marie) –  and everything that happened to me during that time of my life.  I don’t think I ever will – my heart now has precious heartstrings leading up to heaven and I feel a tug on them every day.  

I pray that in remembering my loss and sharing about this time with you,  I can also remember and share with you how Great and Healing is the Love of our God. How in holding on to Hope, I can live my life in expectation of our reunion.  How our God is Gracious even when we don’t see how He can work all things out for our good from the brokenness of our hearts.

There will never be a time when our hearts won’t miss and ache for our little ones - I have learned that grief is a life-long process of healing.  What I do know is that God can and will do a work in our hearts to the point that we will be able to share our unique story; we can share the hope of  how God has given us healing through His Grace in our darkest times.

I pray that you will join me this next week and share your story with us.

 I long to know the name of your child and hear your heart.  

Above all, I want you to know that you are not alone.

I pray for you – and I am here for you.

You are not forgotten here.

We are giving away a very special Mother’s Day Blessing Basket this week.

Please read the details below for what will be in the Mother’s Day Blessing Basket 

• You will have the choice of one of these books, written by a friend of mine named Kathe Wunnenberg  (links are to each one on Amazon):

1.  ”Grieving the Child I Never Knew“

 OR

2.   “Grieving the Loss of a Loved One“ 

• You will also receive a beautiful journal,

• a wind-chime,

• a candle, and

• two personalized items from the following ministries:

1.  A Beanie Baby from Beanie for a Baby

Just an example of a sweet bear: you will be able to suggest an animal, a color, and a name to be attached, if you desire, for your Beanie Baby.

2.  A necklace from Designs by Held

An example of the personalized items made for each mommy…

Here’s how to enter our Giveaway – - – Starting today with the comments from this post!

Each day this week (starting today), I will be posting an article.  

Here is how you – a mother who has suffered the loss of a child (at any age), can enter for your chance to win our special gift basket giveaway – - - 

 

You can earn entries every day if you do all of the following:

 

1.  Leave a comment on this blog post

2.  Leave another comment letting us know about your loss – and how it feels to be a forgotten mother.  (I love learning the names of your child(ren), if you care to share that information.)

3.  ”Like” Unwrapping His Grace on Facebook – leave a comment letting us know.

4.  Subscribe to the Blog – leave another comment letting us know.

5.  Share a resource that has helped you on your faith journey through loss in the comments below.

6.  *NEW*:  Like “Hopelifters” on Facebook, Kathe Wunnenberg’s Ministry page: click here and let us know by leaving another comment.

7. Leave a comment on each post in the reflection series:

 * day 1 - Walking Deeper through Psalm 23:  

  Getting Still Before the Lord – Leaning in to Hear His Voice

  * day 2 - Walking Deeper through Psalm 23:   

   I Accept Your Forgiveness – You Give me Rest

* day 3 - Walking Deeper through Psalm 23:  

    My Heart is Still Grieving – I Need You to Guide Me

* day 4  - Walking Deeper through Psalm 23:

    I Find Sanctuary in Your Presence – Heal My Broken Heart

* day 5 – Walking Deeper through Psalm 23:

    My Heart is Still Unsure – Will You Take Care of Me?

* day 6 - Walking Deeper through Psalm 23:

My Heart is Open to your Healing – You Restore my Life

 

 

 

The drawing for the one winner of the Basket will take place on Mother’s Day, 2013, with the announcement of the winner in a blog post that night.

*This giveaway is limited to readers in the United States due to shipping costs.*

Thank you for taking the time to enter – know that each comment from each person is read and prayed over.  

Thank you for being a part of the Unwrapping His Grace community. 

Don’t miss a single post! Take a moment to sign up for the free updates through your E-Reader or in your email.  And be sure to join the Unwrapping His Grace Facebook Community where you will find daily updates, Scripture, encouragement and opportunities to share prayer requests or follow us on Twitter.

To God be the GLORY!

Gina Marie