2009 Update #10

Reflections of Praise

September was definitely an interesting month! Actually, end of Sept to beginning of Oct was the interesting part. Leaving the country has that effect. Besides allowing me to visit a ministry in India, I had two weeks to try to meet up with new hosts for teams to India in 2010. Before leaving, the task looked a little daunting because it pushed me way out of my comfort zone. But God, in His perfect wisdom, knew it was exactly what WFI and I needed. It was so encouraging to meet and talk face to face (as opposed to long, drawn-out communications via email), to ask and answer questions, and to get a feel for what God is doing through music ministry in that country. Not only did He help establish friendships that can fuel several partnerships in the coming years, He ministered to me personally so I would return spiritually refreshed and refueled for the work ahead. Rather than taking up space here, I’ve posted my personal take on the trip here. Thank you so much for praying for me while I was out there. God truly did an amazing work through you to me.

Please pray

• for our 2010 hosts. We are aiming to send teams to at least 4 countries next summer. Please pray God will continue to speak to them about how He wants to use music in their ministries to expand the borders of His Kingdom where they are.
• for our 2010 teams. We are not as actively recruiting as we could be because I have been occupied with india over the last few weeks. Please pray I will get back into the swing of things quickly and have many opportunities to share our vision and mission with those whom God wants to use internationally next summer.
• for the development and planning of our domestic programs. Again, slightly distracted over the last few weeks. Pray I can re-focus and listen well to the Lord’s directions.
• for a peaceful re-entry period. The Lord was so good, not only to WFI but also to me, personally. Please pray I will continue to receive all He has for me and for this ministry through this trip. Pray also for re-adjustment. Physically, it was a little bit more challenging this time, and my body is definitely feeling it.

Looking Ahead

We all have our trust issues with God. So often, I fear what God has in store, but the truth is that fear is really rooted in my pride more than anything else. Through a long convoluted path, I sometimes end up serving Him out of a deeply hidden fear rather than joyful adoration. By that point, I am no longer His servant; I’m just doing stuff, as if He needed my favor to help Him out. It’s ugly, but I’m willing to bet it’s true for more of us than we’d like to admit.

But God, in His grace and mercy, takes us as we come and even humors us, all the while trying to teach us to find delight in our truest (though sometimes unrecognized) desire: living out His best plans for us, including growing more in love with Him with each step of faith and act of obedience. It took two weeks in India and the wisdom of the One who knows me better than I know myself to be reminded of the truth in Psalm 37.3-6. For whatever reason, I didn’t fully trust God was behind me in the small task of going to India, but that very trip turned out to be exactly the refreshment I needed to restore passion for what He has created me to do. What a delightful way to learn again that our limited lives here, when spent for His purposes, will prepare us for a far greater joy in Heaven.

Please pray we will continue to grow in understanding what it means to find our delight in Him so we can better enjoy the truest desires of our hearts.

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Psalm 37.3-6