I forgot. This morning I was scheduled to sing the special music, and I forgot. But just before Richard asked me for my CD, I remembered and checking the schedule, realized it WAS my turn. Church started in 15 minutes. Richard appeared on my horizon then and before he even asked, I said, “I forgot Richard. But I have a tape in the car that I have sung on the way to school every day this week, I’ll go get that. It’ll have to do.” So it wasn’t that I hadn’t practiced, but I had not meant to sing THAT song, even though I liked it so much. After all, it hadn’t been that long since I last sang it. I had sung it every day this past week, but on the weekend, I hadn’t chosen which song I SHOULD sing. I hadn’t planned. Because I had not planned, I was nervous. If you had known me when I was young, you would understand. I was painfully shy. Afraid to talk to nearly everyone. And performing was out of the question. The first time I played my accordion for a group of elderly people, I ended up in tears in the car, determined that I would never do that again. And I didn’t for many years. No one could coax me into it. My mother tried to get me to join the LBC Choral when I attended in the early years at Liberty Baptist. There was a scholarship for those students. That should have motivated me as I worked 30 hours/week while attending school full time. In my heart, I wanted to, but I could not even try out. There was NO way. But after a few years, a wise person helped me understand that the music wasn’t about me. It was about the person of whom I played/sang. When we sing for God, it should be to His glory – not ours. And bit by bit, I have been able to play (until the accordion died a timely death a few years ago) and sing. But the churning in my stomach is always there and any confidence I feel only comes with much practice. So the butterflies were bad this morning; but as I sang, I looked at the people before me. There was Carolyn. Their grandchild is undergoing surgery tomorrow. “It is no secret what God can do,” I was singing as I looked at her. She smiled a teary smile back. We had talked about that baby in Sunday school this morning. Our text was John 9, where the disciples ask God who had sinned that the man who had been born blind or his parents. Jesus said, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” We knew that was the same story for little Wyatt. With every success, we know God is glorified. This was the baby the mother had been advised to abort and she didn’t. Doctors thought he might be in the hospital for up to six months, but he wasn’t. He does face surgeries, but we believe God has a purpose for this child. And then there was Lee on the back pew; he is also having surgery this week. His daughter sat beside him. Last year we celebrated Lee’s 80th birthday. He doesn’t look 80 and I was so surprised when I learned the number we were celebrating. Lee mows grass, walks on visitation, fixes lawn mowers, and does whatever anyone needs. We all love Lee. He looked a bit reflective as I sang. I wondered if he was thinking about what the doctor would find this week. His MRI showed a tumor. The doctors won’t know how bad it is until they go in. But it is not secret what God can do, I thought. Little Jacob, whom I taught in second grade Master Club classes came in form somewhere during the song. I love that little boy, although he isn’t so little any more. He is in grade 7. But he walks faithfully to every service, without his family. I couldn’t help wondering what God will do with his life. He is a sweet young man. And then I saw Linda and Sue and Skip, who have all had a bout with cancer, but they no longer have symptoms and only have to see doctors once a year. Linda was beaming, and the song was nearly over. And there was Sonny who underwent a kidney transplant, donated by another of our church members, C.D. Both are healthy. I realized that even though I forgot, this was the right song. If I had remembered, I would not have sung it. God spoke to me as I sang, and from what they said, He also spoke to others. The message of the music complemented pastor’s message about Jabez from I Chronicles 4:10. “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” Yes, it is no secret, what God can do.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 19:55:15 +0000
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