Picture a wife, a mama, a dear friend, holding on to what is faithful and true. She’s sweeping her kitchen floor while she sings of His faithfulness. She’s on her back porch soaking up the sunshine and humming a tune. Her back is thrown out and she finds herself lying in bed, we can hear her worship from the other room. If we had to guess the song she’s singing, her life song would suggest this one….
“Ever Be”
Your love is devoted like a ring of solid gold
Like a vow that is tested like a covenant of old
Your love is enduring through the winter rain
And beyond the horizon with mercy for today
Faithful You have been and faithful you will be
You pledge yourself to me and it’s why I sing
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
You Father the orphan
Your kindness makes us whole
And you shoulder our weakness
And your strength becomes our own
Now you’re making me like you
Clothing me in white
Bringing beauty from ashes
For You will have Your bride
Free of all her guilt and rid of all her shame
And known by her true name and it’s why I sing
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
You will be praised You will be praised
With angels and saints we sing worthy are You Lord
You will be praised You will be praised
With angels and saints we sing worthy are You Lord
And it’s why I sing
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Carol Hinson’s life demonstrates our Father’s faithfulness. She’s part of the reason that as community, we’re better together.
“I, Layla Varvoutis, first met Carol Hinson when my now almost 10 year old son Nikolaos was two years old. Carol and her husband Mark led his Sunday nursery class at church. Carol was the warm and familiar face that would welcome the kids into the room each week, sometimes with a hug or with one of her sweet songs. Carol faithfully saw that class of children, most of whom were infants when she started serving them weekly in preschool ministry, all the way through kindergarten. Week after week she poured out to the children the love that had been poured into her by the Father.
Carol has faithfully served in the Grace Klein food ministry for eight years. She and her family have sown seeds in the lives of their food delivery recipients who over the years become more than monthly acquaintances. Carol allowed those relationships to cross boundaries of casual friendship into real community by faithfully meeting not only physical needs but by feeding them spiritually in speaking to them about Jesus, bringing them to church, and sharing her own personal stories of how a friendship with Jesus had changed her own life. Monthly food delivery always meant more to Carol than dropping a box of food off. She intends to share with others who God is and what He is up to in her own life and in those around her. There is no end to that goodness, which is what helps Carol and her family to continue the ministry today.
Three years ago, the Hinson family welcomed Samuel into their family forever through adoption. They were able to partner with Grace Klein Community through this journey to experience God’s faithfulness and provision in yet another way. If there is a road less traveled and a gate that is narrow, adoption has been that path God is using to sharpen Carol. Day after day promise ups and downs, but Carol continues to share with others that God is the potter and she is simply the clay. Her example of faithfulness to her God and to her family when circumstances become hard to bear has been a testimony to the power that is given to us by Christ Jesus in our weakness. I am so thankful for this woman, her family and her walk with Jesus. We are better together with Carol in our lives. She is faithful because He is!” – Layla Varvoutis