A Good Day, this Sunday

Today I woke up late (what's new) and was somewhat out of it as we drove to church for Praise Team practice. I've had several late, late nights and was feeling it this morning. But as we began practicing our worship songs this morning, my attitude lifted. Praise does that you know, even if we were just practicing. We had a bigger Praise Team this morning. Kenny and Rhonda were there and Kenny played his sax and I played my flute on some songs. After our practice we had Sunday School which, like usual, is enjoyable because of Kenny's personality and awesome storytelling. He shared about Gideon (not Gilligan) and how he trusted God and obeyed God in the face of certain death. A good truth to remember.

As I was getting reading for the worship service, Dan came to me and said that the order was going to be a little different this morning. We were going to sing one song, the special song, and then Pastor would preach and then we would sing the rest of our songs. If you know our Pastor, he always does what God tells him (which hopefully all pastors do that), so sometimes our services are a little - umm - unconventional? Shocking that God doesn't always stay in the box we put Him in.

Well, I digress. We sang Come Now is the Time to Worship, and then sang our special - a new Brooklyn Tab song. Then pastor preached an awesome sermon about tithing. Yeah, I know what you are saying -- tithing? He did talk about tithing our money, which I totally believe is a topic that needs to be preached more! It's God's money anyway. But he also talked about giving back to God in such areas as time and worship. And he spent the rest of the message talking about worshipping and praising God. This makes the third confrontation I have had with this topic this week. A lunch conversation, Bro. Bullock's message, and then my pastor's message. (Which I think, Pastor Cox went to GBS and heard Bro. Bullock's message because he talked about Jehoshaphat and Paul and Silas too.) So needless to say, I think God is trying to tell me something! :)

Anyway, after the message, the Praise Team sang / played our songs. I love our little group. We have amazing guitarists from Belize and India and my brother, who is learning guitar, has been playing with them. My dad is the worship leader and I usually sing lead with him, but today I was singing middle with mom (who plays the piano) because Rhonda joined us and was singing lead too. And Kenny was singing tenor (I think). Then our Music Minister (the Boss :), Dan, plays the keyboard, his wife Desta sings low, and their son Daren plays the drums. So that is our little group. We have a wonderful time singing/playing together and leading the people to worship. I am so blessed to be around awesome people.

Our worship time was wonderful, giving praise to God for His goodness. We had a short altar service, then the instruments played a little while everyone left.

Let's see Sunday dinner: we had barbecued chicken on the grill (by my bro), mashed potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob, crescent rolls, and fresh strawberry pie with whipped topping! YUM! My mom is the best cook! :)

I was able to take a much needed nap this afternoon since we didn't have kid's club. I know I should have gone to the 2:30 service at GBS but, alas, I slept instead. Got ready for service tonight and hurriedly drove over to deliver Katie her freshly laundered choir tank top that I borrowed last night because I forgot mine.

The choir met in the Music Hall and had prayer time before the service. I have tremendously enjoyed being in choir this year. We have been such a close and united choir which was evident on our choir tour. I love learning under Mr. Wolf. He is such a godly, honest, transparent man. I think everyone should be in choir just to sit under the direction of Mr. Wolf. He will make an impact on your life; I know he has mine!

The instrumental ensemble played It is Well with my Soul for congregational singing. Chen told me to take everything up an octave because we didn't have mics. He said the only person that would hear me was Mr. Miles. Poor man, probably has hearing loss now. :) Just a word about Alfonso Chen (from Mexico). I have grown and matured musically because of him. He is so kind in his advice and affirms when I've done a good job. I love hearing his testimonies in service and seeing his big smile. And Lord willing, I will be going to Mexico band camp this summer. Please pray that God will provide the money that I need to go.

Our choir sang for the last time tonight. We sang And Can it Be, There is a Remedy, and Unto the Hills, some of our best songs. I think the choir and the band has had such good songs this year. I enjoyed playing and hearing them sung one last time.

After we sang, Mr. Avery shared about the financial need of the school. I know everyone is feeling the pressure, with gas and food prices increasing. But that pressure is just compounded in a larger institution like GBS with all the buildings and people. Bro. Avery felt like God wanted him to raise $50,000 tonight to go towards the deficent. And thanks be to God, the people responded and we raised that amount.

Mr. Bullock's message on revival was right on, tonight. It is something I know I need personally, my family needs and my church needs. This summer especially, I want to draw closer to God in my devotional and prayer time. This past year it has been difficult for one reason and another, but I want to make that time and give that time back to God. After the sermon, we had a beautiful prayer time with God.

After the service I said goodbye to several of my friends who I am really going to miss this summer! But I pray that you all will have a God-filled, blessed, relaxful summer and I will see some of you back in the fall.

Thank you God for such a good day. I praise You for being faithful to me, loving me, dying for me. Thank you for Campmeeting and the encouragement and guidance I've received. Thank you for my wonderful friends and the awesome memories we've made this year. Please bless us, help us, make us more like You even this summer. Father, You are a good God and worthy of our praise. Thank You for all that You've done.