Daughter of the King: in His Hands

Yesterday morning as I saw the pictures and heard the news of ice-covered DFW, I felt deflated.  For the past four months I had been looking forward to a dear friend being the guest of honor at our church's Daughter of the King, women's event.  I was so excited for several reasons - getting to hear her sing and share her story is always a blessing and I was excited for my church family to share in this blessing; and I was looking forward to our high school girl friends coming together to hear our friend, and fellowship.  

That was not God's plan.  Yesterday morning, I knew that with a pouty lip.  I whinned to anyone who would undestand or listen.  She's not coming.  

That was not God's plan.  I say that now with a full heart and a huge smile.  HE HAD OTHER PLANS!  

In my friend from childhoold's place, stood another friend.  She stood, and she sang, and she played her guitar, and she shared her story.  She bared her soul before her home congregation.  She walked in obedience with every chord, with every word, with every detail of her private story.  I can imagine she wanted to puke, cry, and walk off of that stage several times, but she didn't.  She stood and explained how God met her where she was at, lying on the floor at rock bottom.  

She stood in front of a jam-packed full sanctuary of people she has grown up with, as well as complete strangers, all ages - she sang and she blew transparent.  She deep-breathed and swallowed down her own will, and made known to many the power of God's grace and mercy.  

The majority of the audience knows Jesus in an intimate way, but I would say lovingly, the minority (myself included) has bared their soul as she did in front of such a large audience.  

The Lord made a path for those to follow.  

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like the mold of the norm was shattered a bit.  Rocked.  

Another close friend who came to the event, said she had just seen Rick Warren on The View this morning, talking about how we need to take the one thing we are most scared to share, and make that our focal point (or something along those lines).  That's where God has done the most work.  He wants us to not leave behind the nasty, the bad, the embarrassing; because that's where He shines brightest.  Where people can see - WOW - He brought you from there!  Or, He helped you through that?  WOW!  And create a desire in others for that.  Creating a gnawing in them to get and have what those who's mess, He's made HIS MESSage, have in HIM.  

The Word says GO Tell!  In one translation Jesus says Run tell that!  Not really, He just says, Go tell as many as you can about me, but I hear, "Run tell that!"   :)  He says, "Go back and report what you've seen and heard: The blind will receive sight, the lame will walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor!"  (Luke 7:22)

I pray that people not only heard my friend's words and her songs last night, but that God spoke to them about sharing their own story.  I pray they take away more than just a great evening, but a conviction to be transparent.  To bare past and share present.  Myself included.  

My personal joys last night came from the fact that she sang "Oceans".  Enough said.  This song has been God's message to me for the past five months (weird the timing).  She sang "The Rock Won't Move".  :)  Anthem.  Listened to it on the way to the church.  She sang a song she wrote.  One that tells her story in song - through the gifts God gave her.

Think about that.  Can you imagine God's face - the light - His presence - bursting forth from the heavens when one of his children, uses the gifts He gave her, to tell the story he saved her from, and is writing now, to let others know of his saving grace, His redemptive love, His hand extended and open and ready to lead someone up and out of the pit, or off the floor, and to take the next step toward freedom?  Can you imagine?!?!?  

My friend was stretched.  WAY out of her comfort zone.  

She got a call yesterday morning to step in, in the absence of the scheduled speaker/singer, due to dangerous weather conditions.  She walked out onto the stage and stared out into the audience of many, and then she obeyed.  God's work happened last night  And it was awesome.