prayer – daily portion

Since 1980 I’ve been attending at least one week of Vacation Bible School every summer. No matter my age, no matter where I’ve lived – there’s always been at least one VBS to attend. At age 5 I remember my dad was the king of VBS at our church. There were trophies for learning the most scripture verses in your grade, there was a dunk tank, and there were snow cones not to mention pounds and pounds of homemade cookies and giant coolers full of red kool-aid.

As an adult I’ve loved leading children’s songs, in children’s church or Sunday school, children’s choir- you name it – but especially at VBS in the summer. There are so many great songs of Scripture and Truth to teach that will live on in the hearts and minds of children. I love seeing it happen in real time! Man, it’s great!

I’m leading VBS songs this summer at a friend’s church and I’m carrying on the tradition I learned from my dad all those years ago. We are singing “Hallelu, Praise Ye the Lord.” And let me tell you, these kids are SINGING! (or they *might be* shouting a bit… because we are having a contest to see who can sing the loudest.) It is possibly the most fun I’ll have all year!

This week we are hearing testimonies from missionaries from around the world – and there is a specific focus on prayer. God hears our prayers and God works in powerful ways when we pray – of course, that is true and I believe it. However, these beautiful VBS children did a craft yesterday and it really made things look different to me.

The kids were asked during craft time to write a prayer request on a colorful paper cross. Oh my, the prayers they wrote down. Here are just a few…

“that my sister will get better”

“please stop wars”

“I hope you can love me”

Jesus told us himself in the gospels that we must have faith like little children:

But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Luke 18:16

What a fantastic example for me and everyone who sees these requests! Sometimes in my grown-up world, my faith can be so weak. But – do you realize? He really does hear us! He is powerful to answer whenever we call out to him! This knowledge is worth praising Him with our whole hearts!

Oh wait! I know just the song we can sing!

Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah! PRAISE YE THE LORD!

from Psalm 30:

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

When I was a young I used to think David, the author of many of the Psalms, was so dramatic and melancholy. Having heard often in Sunday school that David was a “man after God’s own heart” I had a hard time believing his life could be all that bad. He was a king after all…

But then I stepped into the darkness of my own night, and I realized I had misunderstood. When a difficult situation stretches on and on into the darkness with no relief in sight, it can be almost impossible to keep going. The longer I live I realize that none of us are immune to the darkness – no matter how strong a believer, or how faithful you might be – its possible you’re either just coming out of the darkness, or you’re about to walk through it.

Recently, when I was in a place of deep sadness, I remember asking Michael if it would always be this way. We had left our church of 15+ years, and had not found a new place to worship. That meant we were not playing our instruments or using our gifts which has always been life-giving for us. Visiting different churches just felt empty. Was there not a place for us? Would we ever find a community where our hearts would connect? I shed a lot of tears and tried to believe the words of Psalm 30 might be true

fast forward ….

This past Friday I had a meeting at Mission Red Bank, where our family worships regularly now and I’m on staff as the Creative Director. The meeting was at 7am. Friends, in spite of the fact that I am in no way, shape or form a morning person – I loved going to that meeting. Walking into that space, meeting with colleagues and friends to plan and imagine and think – it was warm and hopeful.

Driving home afterwards, I realized the later part of Psalm 30 had proven true. What I’d been praying for was actually happening: The night has turned to morning! And my heart is so very glad!

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Thank you, Heavenly Father for your goodness to me and my family. Thank you for these mornings of joy. amen.

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +

Blessings all mine, with 10,000 besides…. You may not believe it, but our church meets in a space that is adjacent to the lovely “Meeting House” coffee shop, where they make all kinds of delicious concoctions, like this beautiful Blueberry Iced Tea. It is the most wonderful, glorious, summertime beverage you could ever partake of – and if you live near Red Bank, TN you should stop in for one. You’ll thank me.