Through my office window I see the beautiful burst of orange light cast by the reddish sun bidding to set. I love sun sets, they catch my attention, but they also kick in the thought that darkness is falling. Suddenly, as I approached the the nearest window to admire the sunset, I felt like I was being dragged into another night. But darkness isn't permanent.
You’ve had another one of those days. Everything seems uncertain. You think: Wouldn’t it be great to wake up one morning and have everything be certain? Certain in love? Certain about your job? Certain about your future? Who could you talk to about this? Bigger question, who’d listen? Then your mind quickly assesses the immensity of your request. You want God to listen to you, right now. How ridiculous. There are six billion plus people on this planet. What if they’re all calling God at the same time? You slump. Deeper into the dumps. (srushnell)
Then--something happens. A little silly thing. God attracts our attention and then really puts us to the test. When we remain faithful, God's faithfulness abounds. Discouragement and disappointment turn into hope and victory.
I had just received an email from a friend who is relieved and overjoyed at the result of a recent crucial activity his church engaged in. The activity involved a major decision- a step taken that will issue a whole new era in their life as a congregation! In an earlier email from another member of that congregation, the person expressed frustration over the long process the church was dragged into. But now, the dragging has come to an end. From that experience of a long drag, the church has learned many things- things God wanted specifically for the church to discover. They are now ready to soar- something the church wasn't able to do to its full extent-- but now...!
A weird process. There is something to learn about in the process, and I found a lesson in the first verses of the 40th Psalm. It begins like this: I waited patiently for the Lord. I was beginning to learn that one must be patient. In time, the Lord inclined toward me and heard my cry. The lesson is: the wondrous importance of being listened to! God allows us plenty of time to come to the place where we know we are heard.
Then there are three more steps that God takes with people who wait patiently. The Lord lifted me up out of the desolate pit, freed me from the miry bog. I wasn't down in the pit anymore. Then there was the next step: The Lord placed my feet on the rock, making my steps secure. With my steps secure, I was out of the miry pit, out of the bog, on secure ground. Then the Lord put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.All of this comes from waiting patiently and patiently and patiently. That's the process God takes us through. I marveled at that process, weird though it may be for me. Maybe for the very first time in my life I was not trying to interfere with God. I was not giving God my timetable. I was not making demands of God. I was putting my life out there, and saying, "God, do what You will with who I am."
The purpose of our lives is to learn. God, in showing us a path, may be pointing us to a place where we will learn the most, even though we may be expecting and hoping for a place where it is easy and calm. Finding ourselves in a quandary (dilemma), inching forward with great difficulty, thinking and rethinking, trying and failing and trying again, may be just exactly what we are meant to do. God has put us into a place where we will grow deeper and deeper in understanding.There are times in our lives when God has enough faith in us to put us in a difficult place. Let us have faith in ourselves that we are able to finally see our way clear. How do we find our way clear? Wait patiently on the Lord. Listen to the voice of the blind man who said: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, that I may receive my sight." Make his words our prayer and we will discover the benevolence of the universe. God will respond to our prayer in ways far beyond anything we can do by ourselves. (nymarblecaliandro)
Godwink, small talk and a Concert Series (?)
Squire Rushnell, author of a famous new book coined the word, "Godwink" - It's God communicating with you-- in a nonverbal way-- making a little miracle happen, right in front of you. This odd little coincidence-like moment, or answered prayer, He’s sending you--you… out of all of those billions of people--a direct personal message of reassurance.
In some "Godwink" moment I found myself sitting around the "three wonderful women in my life" in the last seven years! While it's common to see all three of them together, finding myself in a fun conversation with all three gave me that "Godwink" feeling!
Boots Dizon (middle in photo) was Music Ministry coordinator between 2000 and 2005- instrumental in many innovative things in GCF's worship life. It was around 2001 when I joined the Worship Staff to Lead Worship and plan worship events. with her assisting in coordination and follow-up of musicians, among other things she did with total finesse. In 2005, she resigned and has since completely involved herself in full-time mothering two teens, and working as road manager of her all-female singing group 4Word. She is one of the most committed praise and worship team members, and now a part of the Worship Planning Team I lead.
Lo Chua (in white) was Ministry Assistant from 2005 until she became Director for Ministry Information Support Service. She did Boots' job with equal finesse even though she is not as "creative and musical" as her predecessor. Her dedication and industry caused her "early retirement" from the Exalting Ministry to head the Support Ministry staff!
Ruby Poyos is the current Ministry Assistant designate for worship and music. I've never met any other woman so alert and enthusiastic as she- always ready to lend a hand. She's a "Jackie of all trades and a mistress of many things!" combined with her sincere and discernible heart for worship! She's perfect fit to assume the thrones vacated by the first two!
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