Our Visible God

By Patricia Aldridge-Hinkle

How do you react to unexpected events in your daily life? Do you panic when devastated, or do you see opportunities for growth? Do personal disasters destroy you, or do they make you stronger? And are your eyes open to behold the wonder and the beauty of life, even as you grieve?

In Our Visible God, author Patricia Aldridge-Hinkle shares her own touching and heartfelt life narrative—a narrative about a very happy woman whose life has been filled with both grief and intense joy and thanksgiving. Her love for God and for others has enabled her to see God’s hand and guidance leading her through tough times with courage and with confidence in her Lord. Through her journey, God teaches her how to praise Him even in her darkest days.

With faith, we can see God revealed both in ordinary and extraordinary situations, and seeing God is not necessarily a supernatural event—though it can be if God chooses to make it one. Most of the time seeing God is an exciting state of mind and an attitude. It can put a smile on our faces and a bounce in our strides as we are led daily into ministry to others, for “blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Jan 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781462412099

Patricia Aldridge-Hinkle

Patricia Aldridge-Hinkle lives in Johnson City, Tennessee, with her husband, Clark, and their two cats, CallieCat and ThomasCat. After a thirty-two year career in public education and forty-plus years in church music, Pat is free to pursue her secret ambition: writing about the ability to see God in our daily lives.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 Patricia Aldridge-Hinkle.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[Scripture quotations are]from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain.

Inspiring Voices

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.inspiringvoices.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4624-1208-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-1209-9 (e)

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 01/07/2019

9371.png

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the Glory of God, as He reveals Himself daily to those who have eyes of faith to see Him.

CONTENTS

OUR VISIBLE GOD IS SEEN

I IN GRIEF

In All Things Give Thanks!

Consolation

You Are Not Alone

The Hole In The Sky

II IN CHURCH

The Attic Window

Packing Up

III IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

Invisible In Plain Sight

Pure Joy!

IV IN NATURE

Music In The Sky

The Stink Lily

The Stink Bug

Suspended In Thin Air

A Walk In Autumn

V IN FAMILY

Back In The Groove

Surprise!

Vigil

That’s My Abby!

A Prayer For J.T.

Blessings Continue

VI IN FEAR

Hawk On The Steeple

Death Threat

Pre-Flight Panic

Sub-Zero Angel

VII IN A CHAOTIC WORLD

Food For Thought

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving Day Contrasts

Change

FOREWORD

Our life narrative is composed of a beautiful and complex tapestry consisting of our stories and heart songs. These are woven together to define who we are and how we have lived.

More than two decades ago, I was appointed to serve Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. One of the first people I met was the Director of Music and Arts, Pat Aldridge. I instantly found in her a partner in ministry who shared a deep love for Christ and people. We worked together for nine years in serving the community around us and glorifying our Creator.

I was instantly amazed by Pat’s diverse talents and gifts. She was an extremely talented musician who could draw from her choir music which exceeded their combined talents. Because they so loved her, they gave their all to the task of singing. The music that proceeded from the choir was a heavenly chorus each week.

Accompanying the choir were talented instrumentalists – organ, trumpets, French horn, cello and tympani - who were amazing. Even though the church was of a modest size, Pat put together an ensemble rivaling any church in the region. Even to this day, I long to have such a talented group playing in the church I serve. Each week the congregation was treated to a heavenly symphony that honored God.

Pat had a knack for writing and producing drama. Our church was known throughout upper East Tennessee for our Christmas productions. Several hundred people would grace our campus for dinner theater. They would leave with both their bellies and hearts filled to the brim. It was amazing because all who performed were amateurs, most of whom before working with Pat knew they had little or no acting abilities. She even placed me on stage. How did she get