Beyond Belief

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The Lord has been doing things in our lives, working in wonder, the way only He can. He has taken us by surprise, and left us shaken with His blessing.

This summer we entered a contest. We thought little of it. We always do. But this time, something happened. This time, it went further then it had ever gone. The contest was the Tyler Morning Telegraph's Song of Faith contest. We entered our song, Color Me.

In late August, we received a phone call from the paper's Religion editor, Patrick Butler. He had highlighted six Song of Faith contestants in the week before's Saturday edition, and was working on five more for the upcoming Saturday. He wanted to interview us.

That Thursday, the four of us, Sam, James, Emma, and Johanna, found ourselves climbing an interior staircase, to the newsroom, little expecting what was coming.

It began when Mr. Butler mentioned the band that the first prize winner would be privledged to meet, Jars of Clay. Whoa! We looked at each other. Of all bands, Jars of Clay tops our list.

So, we had our photo taken, and proceeded to the interview. We had arrived a little later than expected, so we only had a short time to talk with Mr. Butler. He had an over-the-phone interview with, guess who, the keyboardist and founder of Jars of Clay, Mr. Charlie Lowell, only 15 min. after we arrived.

So, quickly, we sat down and began to talk. We began to share about the song, about how it was written, about how God works in us. Mr. Butler wanted more time with us. He asked us to come back in an hour. We agreed.

Little did we know.

The time went its proverbial way, and we again climbed the stairs, traversed the hallway, and resumed our conversation. When we were seated, Mr. Butler proceeded to relate to us his conversation with Mr. Lowell. Then, he told us. In his own words, published that Saturday in his column....

"When the kids came back, I asked politely, "Can I send Charlie 'Color Me?' He said he

wanted to 'play it for the guys.'"

Their faces looked like they hadn't heard right.

"You mean, send it to Jars of Clay?" they finally asked, looking at each other for clari-

fication. "Really?" And in a moment of time Emma Ramsey and her siblings went from

living in Winnsboro where next to no one has noticed them, to living on the moon. I

will cherish their looks for years to come."

Were we shocked? Yes? Blessed beyond belief, suddenly exceedingly curious about what God was doing. Jars of Clay listening to our song? It was hardly believable. But it was true.

A week later, we took second place in the contest, and went home, full of thought. Would anything come of all this? Most likely not. Four hours ago I was pretty sure it was in the past. We'd made connections, with possible futures in them, but that was all.

Now I know. God has His mighty hands tight around us, around our lives, and around our hearts. I got another call. Mr. Butler has gotten us two tickets to the Jars of Clay concert this Saturday.

And we will meet them.

Perhaps nothing will come of it. Perhaps something will. No matter which way, God has granted us an amazing gift. We will tell them how they have inspired us. We will ask them about our song. We will hear what they think.

It will be good, God good.

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View the articles concerning us and the contest below.

You Never Know What's Going To Happen Next

Song of Faith Highlight: Emma Ramsey and The Great Interference

Song of Faith Finalists Meet Judges During Meet-and-Greet