Compelling Creations Inspirational Stories

Autism: In the Hand of God Pendant

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:10:34 -0500

Message and Story: "In the Hand of God"

by Julia Boyd, mother of Jacob

Two days before Christmas a package came in the mail. It was the jewelry piece from my friend Jill Felts, owner of Compelling Creations. As the silver flickered in my hand, I studied its simplistic beauty and what the piece meant to me. Seven years ago, I sold jewelry for a wonderful company and suggested to them that there should be a piece for autism and faith. I even shared designs with them. No one really paid much attention to the idea but they did care and pray for our family and the direction I should go. I was devastated, because I knew someday many people would desire such a piece. I felt rejected.

Then, last year I attended Hearts at Home, a national women's conference out of Bloomington Illinois. I noticed a jewelry booth that kept drawing me to it. I wandered over and browsed the collection. I so desperately wanted to see something with autism and faith. Nothing. The woman behind the counter asked if she could help me find anything. I said, "As a matter of fact, do you have anything with a connection with autism?"

She responded, "Funny, you ask that. I am the owner of this company and designer and believe that there is a piece God will show me, but I cannot seem to be at peace with how I want to communicate this to the world. My dear friend has a son with autism who is 19 and I have lived with her stories in my heart. It is very personal for me and I want the piece to be special."

My heart lept as I said "Well, I have a song that I wrote for my son and it has touched many lives, especially mine. Would you be willing to read this flyer and consider this song as part of your piece that comes to you? I truly believe there needs to be a mom praying with other moms on the internet. The Lord has provided opportunities for me to challenge the church to help through a lecture called 'Inspired by a boy, from his mother's heart'. Someone needs to help them have insight in how to pray and assist the child and family." Of course I was teary eyed, because I could tell she understood and we agreed to be in prayer and contact and wait for God to answer. For months, we prayed. Nothing.

Then, this past November our family went into a dark time with my son and life stood still. There was no way I could communicate to my own family. How was I going to help Jill with this piece? Lots of crazy stuff happened during this time but I still mustered an e-mail to Jill. What she did not know is that the Lord put on my heart a vision of His hand with his forearm extended like an island. I felt like I was in the pit of hell and I was going to lose my family. I was crying out to God in desperation and anger. I was done dealing with autism.

Honestly, I was bargaining with God. I want out. I am done. This is crazy. I can't handle it. I AM DONE! He responded in a loud audible voice, "Good. We can FINALLY get started."

You see, I had not given him all my cares and worries, even down to the jewelry piece. I had to release my right to be "superwoman" and try to have all this figured out. He said, "I will help you find ORDER in DISORDER". He supernaturally moved after that, and I felt like I was on the sidelines watching my life unfold as He brought people into our home to care for us, pray with us, and re-establish all that was stolen from us many years ago. I cried with tears of sorrow and of joy that I serve a God who answers prayers and puts items in the world to show me His power.

The piece is a symbol of His love. Do I need a piece of jewelry to know this? NO. But that He would care enough to show Jill the same vision without us talking, just praying for the same purpose is a miracle. The day she sent the rendering sketch through e-mail, my mouth dropped and so did I. Literally, on the floor. Prone, face down in worship. It was "The Hand of God". The vision snapped back in my mind. He was telling me His hand is with me. He does want me to say the words He has been telling me to say. Talk about confirmation. Wow. Heavy stuff. But it honestly happened. Jacob has improved and settled down. This is definitely not the last time we will have to deal with severe issues, however, the Lord helps me be wiser and more sensitive each time. He keeps manning me with more people who care.

Those that do not believe God exists are missing out. I sure don't have it all figured out, but I know who does. Now, we are stepping out in faith that this piece will bless others. Our local autism program called TAP (The Autism Program) in Charleston Illinois has opened up its doors to have a prayer group organized by myself and other families. They will be selling the piece through the Compelling Creations website to raise money for the center that serves our family and so many others in Coles County and beyond. It is my prayer that this piece will link many families and non-profits together to raise awareness for autism and a cause that God so intimately has told me he cares about. When He nurtured me through the writing of "I am the Child you love," He reassured me that He loved me too and nothing would take His love away from me. God knew I needed Jacob in my life. That's for sure. Being Jacob's parent keeps me in a constant state of humility. I learned a couple of weeks ago from an amazing bible teacher that humility equals gratitude and gratitude equals JOY! I got my joy back through a difficult struggle. It does not always make sense unless you go through something like this. I understand that each one of us has a purpose and a role we must play in this lifetime. I am going to make mistakes and I am going to have to let my emotions out.

God wants us to embrace our calling as parents with honor and dignity and realizes it is going to be hard. When life gets tough, I think of the three roles that keep me in check: My role is lover of God, wife, mother and the rest is gravy. They must go in that order. Amen. Thank you Jill for your heart and for your gifts. May He anoint this piece with His holy spirit and let it speak to the nations a message of partnering with God in prayer. And remind the people that HIS right hand will guide you ALWAYS! Amen

A Connection with my "Military sisters"

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:16:36 -0500

Submitted by: Scarlett Hughes - Air Force Spouse

When I was returning to our assignment in Niger, Africa, the metal detectors kept going off as I walked through check-in at Dulles Airport. We figured out it was my Faith Family Friends^© pendant. I turned around to four of my sisters who were standing (and crying!) on the other side of the gate. We all laughed, because they were all wearing their necklaces, too! I just didn't want to take mine off for anyone! The Faith Family Friends^© necklace has kept me connected with not only my mom and six sisters, but my military sisters from all over the world. Thank you for creating such beautiful and meaningful jewelry. No matter where the military sends us, I know, these three words are 'all that matter'.

-- Scarlett. Air Force spouse- 16 years

Pray New Orleans

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:52:34 -0500

Submitted by: Catherine Rumph, Woodland MOPS Coordinator. New Orleans, LA

Dear Jill, the Pray New Orleans pendants that Compelling Creations made are beautiful! I am amazed that when God gave me a vision of a fish holding a fleur delis, that I am now holding this gorgeous sterling silver fish in my hands. Thank you for helping me make His dream a reality.

As you know, after the MOPS Convention in Orlando (where we passed out nearly 4,500 prayer cards) I came home, and through God's leading created a foundation called www.prayneworleans.org to facilitate Rebirth, Revival and Restoration in this city. Part of the plan is to help start new MOPS groups in areas that would not normally be reached by traditional MOPS, because as MOPS, we know "Better Moms Make a Better World."

Since planting the seeds for these three new groups our family's circumstances have changed. We will be leaving New Orleans as soon as we are able to sell our home. We'll be moving to Houston where my parents live. All three potential MOPS groups are in possession of everything they need to get started including printed charters and funding for their groups. But, I will not be here to help them get started as I had planned. Our God is awesome and powerful - - and our prayers have the power to impact the city of New Orleans - - through MOPS - - forever! Please say a prayer for the future of these three groups and the Mighty Women of God he is raising up to lead them.

These are the three groups:

Fischer MOPS - Berean Bible Church (Outreach into the Fisher Housing Projects)
LOCC MOPS - Love Outreach Christian Church (African American Church sharing our building since hurricane Katrina)
Center for Life MOPS - Pregnancy Crisis Center (Offering MOPS to moms who chose LIFE)

Thank you again for creating these Pray New Orleans pendants. I'm saying a special prayer for each woman who will wear them - that her life be touched by the power of our prayers.

Thank you for your Pennies from Heaven Pendant

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:24:37 -0500

Thank you for your Pennies from Heaven pendant.

I have five sisters and one brother. My sister, Venita, (or Nita as we all called her) was the second oldest and the first of the six of us to pass on to Heaven.

When Nita was dying, we told her that she needed to send us three pennies so we would know she got to Heaven. We told her that it must be three pennies so we would know that she met her husband, our Daddy, and her nephew... all who had already passed on.

Each day, I would whisper, "Now remember Nita... you need to send us three pennies." I reminded her every day for weeks. Even on her deathbed I gave her one more reminder and she whispered back, "I will remember."

That next week all of us cleaned and emptied her house. At the end of the last day, when all was clean and boxes were removed... we found three pennies... that was all that was left lying right there together... three pennies. We knew she was Home.

The next day, Nita's daughter went to press clothes for Nita's funeral. When she walked into the laundry room there was another set of three pennies lying out together on the washer.

I found three pennies together about one week later lying on my empty dresser top.

Megan, Nita's granddaughter, was the first of the grandchildren to begin to find sets of pennies. We were all meeting at the Olive Garden for dinner a couple months later and as soon as she got out of her car, there were three pennies at her feet on the ground. Since then Megan continues to find three pennies together at one time.

Mindy, another granddaughter who is in high school now, took her grandmother's death the hardest. After Nita died, Mindy packed up the little things that she had given to her grandmother over the years. She could not bear to go through the memory box so she put it in her basement. Mindy lamented that she had never found her three pennies like the rest of us had. About a year later, Mindy was ready to unpack the box and look through the memories... there on the bottom of the box were three pennies.

Our family continues to find pennies all the time...three at a time. Nita remembered.

This is why we all wear your Pennies from Heaven pendant. Thank you.

Story sent to us by Catherine Andrew,

Atlanta, GA

We have changed our corporate name!

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:58:15 -0500

As you can see from surfing my website, we had a busy summer changing our corporate name.

We each have something in us that our soul wants to express and mine happens to be expressed in jewelry. When people ask me why I design my jewelry I always answer, "I just simply feel compelled."

This seems to mirror our customers' feelings. For the past 10 years, we have received emails and letters from customers who say...

"I feel compelled to write to you and tell you how much this design means to me..."

"I felt compelled to give the woman next to me on the airplane my Faith,Family,Friends pendant after I heard her story..."

Therefore to reflect the true essence of my business, I decided to change the corporate name from Classy Creations to Compelling Creations, Inc.

We hope you continue to feel compelled to wear and share my designs.

Thank you! ... and keep sharing your compelling stories with us... we love to hear from you!

Jill Felts