Perfect Timing

Over the years, Vineyard music has been among my favorite worship music. I particularly like the songs sung and some written by the worship team at the “Burn” in SLO. Below is one of the songs I love, but sometimes hard to live.

We won’t be anxious,
We’ll cease our striving

We’ll wait on You

'Cause everyone knows that

You have perfect timing

You have perfect timing

Everyone knows that
You have perfect timing

We may wait, but You’re never late

We won’t worry ’cause everyone knows that
You have perfect timing

And after your testing comes your blessing

And after your testing comes your blessing

And after your testing comes your blessing

And everyone knows that

You have perfect timing
You have perfect timing
Everyone knows that
You have perfect timing

Cory has often said, along with others, God is never early, He’s never late, He’s always right on time. She has seen that in her life. I have seen that in her life as a missionary with YWAM. But sometimes, it’s hard to wait, it’s hard not to worry, and sometimes I wonder about the testing and blessing scenario. However, I know it’s true. It’s just not always easy to grasp.

"Beautiful Things"

This evening, I heard a new band. (written a few weeks ago) Gungor is the name. Previously known as The Michael Gungor Band. I admit I had expected something a little different. I was expecting a night of worship. And that’s exactly what I got. It just came in a different form. It wasn’t from a “box”. The band was amazing. God was in the house. The Holy Spirit was alive and well. I had heard the following song before-perhaps we’ve sung it for worship. It’s a beautiful song, however, it didn’t hit me until I got home (another “ah-ha” moment I guess) what it was speaking to me. I have a favorite quote from Princess Diaries which goes something like: “I’ve always been invisible and I’m good at it.” (well, you get the gist) I put myself in that place many times, growing up and as an adult. (no, I’m not trying to feel sorry for myself, I’ll get to the point eventually) So, this song, “Beautiful Things” keeps turning over in my head and I’m thinking, God makes beautiful things out of the dust and He makes beautiful things out of us... God created us from dust, from nothing and He continues perfecting us--we are beautiful in His sight. I’ve written quotes from the book Be A Hero (by Wesley Campbell and Stephen Court) in the past and that book talks about invisible people. It tells about how we need to be a voice for the invisible people. Be a voice for the voiceless. That’s how this all ties together for me. For the past 3 years I’ve wondered “What is my place?” I had done the same thing for so many years and now “schools out” at our house. What am I supposed to do? For now, I can be a voice for the voiceless, for the invisible people. I know what it’s like in my mind, but I have NO idea what it’s really like for the invisible people. I can only imagine. However, I need to look at those people like God does--He made beautiful things--people--all over the world. However, because of the depravity in the world, so many are in need, are in the midst of poverty, are hungry, thirsty, and need to be clothed. They need to be visited--the orphans, widows, prisoners, the sick. And when we do this to the least of these, we’ve done it to the Father.

I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. Jesus, in Matthew 25:35-36

This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James, in James 1:27

So, until I have the chance to GO into all the world, I will speak up for the voiceless.

Beautiful Things 

All this pain

I wonder if I’ll ever find my way

I wonder if my life could really change at all

All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found

Could a garden come up from this ground at all


 You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

 

All around

Hope is springing up from this old ground

Out of chaos life is being found in You
 

You make me new, You are making me new

28/28/28

So, you didn’t think I’d write a blog about singer/songwriter Keith Green? “He challenged believers to break out of their status quo Christianity and embrace a put-it-all-on-the-line life of faith and action.” On July 28, 28 years ago, Keith Green passed into heaven at the young age of 28, along with two of his children. On July 28, 2010, his wife Melody Green, Loren and Darlene Cunningham (founders of YWAM-Youth With A Mission), and John Dawson remembered a man that challenged the young people of his day. He loved the Lord and wanted everyone else to have the opportunity of knowing the Lord he served. His challenge continues to be of importance today, as the service proclaimed. YWAM is hoping to send out 2100 people in 2010, along with 100 bands from around the world. If you’d like to view the service from Kona, Hawaii, go to www.keithgreen.com to view.
If you think you haven’t “gotten a call”, you “haven’t heard the call”. We’ve been called to “GO” and “Go” means a change of location. (Loren Cunningham) So what does that mean for you? What does that mean for me? I need to chew on that for a bit. If I wait, will I have missed something? I need to do this first, I need to do that.
Melody Green mentioned in her book, NO COMPROMISE: The Life Story of Keith Green: “Jesus wants you to be part of what he is doing too. God is calling forth a radical generation of fierce worshippers. You can be part of the new breed. Don’t compromise with the world. Stand up for what is right. Speak the truth. Show mercy. Befriend the lonely. Defend those suffering injustice. Love the unlovable. Be passionate for Jesus. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel. And always remember to show compassion to the young, the poor, the hurting, and the lost. No matter how old you are, where you live, or what you have--you can help someone with a need. You can pour the balm of hope into a heart that has none.”
Leonard Ravenhill wrote: “Keith had a radical New Birth experience plus a Baptism of Fire and became a spiritual revolutionary. God took him, cleansed him, occupied him, and annointed him.”

John 12:24 “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Since Keith’s death, many have gone forward to “change the world”. They don’t want to sit idly by, waiting for someone else to go. They are “Going into all the World”.