I am so very blessed to attend a congregation full of humble listeners. I know that ministers in general want to listen to Holy Spirit and want to get out of the way so God shows instead of them but some do it better than others. The ministers where I attend are really really good at this.
The worship leader, Ken, is amazing in his gentleness, foresight, and stability. I absolutely LOVE singing praise and worshipping with him leading. He is one of those folks that just opens his mouth and beautiful song comes pouring out. He comes from a very large, very talented family of singers so he comes by it honest. I appreciate that he is open to the Spirit’s leading and that he is a vessel for God’s comfort and blessings.
Our preaching minister, Don, is truly gifted in crafting stories and discerning jewels of wisdom from God’s word. I know Don so I know it is not him but his willingness to be led that allows all this knowledge to pour forth. (wink wink, Don). More seriously though, he really does open himself up so that God can pour himself in. Don is quick to get himself out of the way so God can be seen. Holy Spirit has many blank canvasas available in our church but none more willing than Don.
I have appreciated these men and their service since coming to Atlanta but I rarely speak of this admoration. After the events of the past 2 weeks, most specifically this past week, I felt it necessary to say something. Neither of them know about the struggles my family has been dealing with over the past 2 weeks although they would both be supportive and give me big hugs if they did. I know this because over the past week I have seen and heard of their response to the Prather family. I know how their hearts are broken and yet they ministered to all around them.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to be in church Sunday morning when I found out earlier in the week that the whole service was being changed so that it would center around the Prather’s and everyone else’s responses to this tragety. But what I experienced was touching, comforting, and healing not just in the Prather sadness but also my family’s sadness.
I could not sing it but the song Blessed Be Your Name was powerful. While I am not totally convinced that everything that happens is God giving and taking away it is a great song. I know that God can give in times that things have been taken away but it isn’t always God doing the taking. Then the sermon, “Where to find hope when hope seems hidden.” I thought this would be a “why do bad things happen to good people” sermon or a lesson from Job’s trials but it wasn’t, it was totally unexpected and totally what I needed to hear.
In Matthew when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus and his disciples tried to defend him, Jesus said, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” Jesus is telling his disciples that if all that were happening in this moment was my arrest for false accusations then sure I could call down all the fury of heaven to rescue me from this circumstance. But there is more to what is going on than meets the eye so I must stay in this moment and God will carry me through it.
That is powerful stuff there folks. When I call on God’s angels to place a hedge of protection around those I love and it seems as though they got lost or hung up elsewhere I now know that they are poised and ready when it is a situation where I need to be rescued but they are present and supportive when it is a situation that I must endure because more may be happening than meets the eye.
Thank you Ken and Don for being humble listeners. Thank you Holy Spirit for offering the words I needed to hear.
1 Comment
29 June 2009 at 1:50 pm
good one!