Red flag

Last year we were blessed to have a special team come to do short term mission with us. They are going round 11 countries in 11 months! They were a great help are still very much on our hearts and the hearts of our children here. Now and again I check up on their blogs to see how best to pray for them. They are currently in Uganda.


3 of the girls Amy, Kelsie and Samara posted blogs about their time in Uganda so far. They are right in the heat of a battle! A raging war that is leaving young people tormented.


They have been visiting a boarding school where the principle is deeply involved in the occult, even forcing the students to offer animal sacrifices. I know some reading this may think that's it's a load of old nonsense. Come on- demon possession is just in the movies right?
How subtlety the enemy has blinded the eyes of people to think there is no such thing. There is a very real battle going  and it's not of flesh and blood, but in the spirit world.


Here is a little from one of Kelsies blogs;

When we got there we entered a high school that was being affected by witchcraft from the highest levels of authority at the school. They were making sacrifices ultimately to Satan in hopes of progress and elevation in their school. They had cast spells on cats that roamed the grounds making the cats lives tied to the childrens'. So if a cat gets hurt, so does a child. If a cat dies, so does a child. Just the night before we came they had called in witch doctors who made the students participate in animal sacrifices and all the rituals associated with them. If they refused, they were caned. They targeted the non-Christians because they knew they would be the easiest to consume. Ceremonies like that one open the doors wide for demons to come in and take possession of the students and specifically for us, young girls.

When we got to meet the girls, there were at least five who were still possessed. So we immediately started praying. I have experienced demons before and seen them manifest but this was different. There were so many. At the name of Jesus, the girls' bodies started to thrash as the demons manifested. They were getting scared. The girls' eyes would clamp shut and they would hide their faces, because demons know they cannot stand before the living God. Some of the girls took longer than others and some demons put on a bigger show but all were released and freed from the stupid, evil grips of the devil. It was amazing watching the immediate change in their countenances as soon as the demons left. They sat right up, looked all of us in the eyes and were able to start eating and drinking. They were freed. Smiles returned to faces and tears fell. Lifeless hands we'd been holding returned a grip. It was beautiful.

These attacks are real and we need to be ready! I shared with the girls a mental picture inspired by my  Pastor....

Imagine holding a red flag.
Red  is a symbol of a warning  - the warning sign of the blood of Jesus Christ. Satan cannot stand being reminded of the blood of Jesus if proclaimed in authority. He and his demons fear and tremble at the very mention of it... and at the mention of the name of JESUS.
If you are a child of God you have been given the authority to trample Satan. God Himself crushes Satan underfoot. 


I love to  imagine waving that red flag... the demons scream and run! That red flag reminds our old enemy that he was and IS defeated! One proclamation of the blood of my Jesus and he quivers and shakes!

Greater is HE who is in you than he who is in the world"  1 John 4:4

Okay Joanna, so some crazy  American girls told you about witnessing demon possession in Africa you say..

Sadly it's very real here in the Philippines too. Although the country is predominately catholic, many of those who come from the provinces bring witchcraft and occults practices. Even in the poorest areas like the dump site and cemetery, occult rituals are frequently  carried out. There are so called "faith healers" and white witches living in both communities. I remember we were shocked to find out that almost every one of our youth had visited them in the past- almost everyone! The enemy has cleverly disguised it as being "just part of the culture". Well I know this- It's not kingdom culture! Praise God once the young people know the light of the world Jesus they can begin to walk in the light.


We have experienced more than once a young girl collapsing to the ground, cowering in a ball being tormented by demons. For an extended time she kept hitting her head off the ground until she bled. But JESUS is the Great Conqueror! The team laid hands on her and we all prayed ordering the demonic spirit to GO in the name of Jesus. We declared peace of mind in Jesus name. It's a beautiful thing to see a once contorted face overcome with peace and love.


"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" Ephesians 6:12

No wonder we are instructed to put on the armor of God! Never forget you are in a constant battle - don't let the enemy fool you!

Be encouraged....
We are not on the side that's winning....
We are on the side that's WON  (Pastor Jack Glass)

It's not the place, it's the people

"It's not the place, it's the people" - this is a term used by my good friend who runs a wonderful place that fills hundreds of peoples lives with music. The phrase came back to me on Sunday in Tondo and I found myself nodding in agreement in the middle of what some would describe as a peculiar scene!

Piping hot atmosphere, children, teens and adults filling the rooms.... and no electric! No fans, no lights, no sound system. It wasn't really a big deal, but just quite funny to be part of. A  Pastor trying to preach while his power point came on and off along with an unreliable mic. A member handing out ripped up pieces of card board for the congregation to fan themselves with. Children becoming extremely hot in classrooms and as a result the behaviour was shall we say interesting! :) Cooks trying to cook and repair a generator that was noisy and kept running out of gas! Not your typical church gathering!

But, it was such a blessed day! People led into praise their Savior by one of the youth bands. The heart of worship was so present. Kids church teachers and volunteers under the age of 17 leading classes of children.Ladies preparing to serve through the feeding ministry. Hearts touched. Lives being changed in Jesus name. A group of people coming with willing hearts to minister to their God and serve others.

There were a group of children and parents from another area further away from the main dump we are based at who gave all they had just to be there. The vehicle we borrow to transport them could not be used. They sacrificed the little they had to afford public transport to get to church.

Beautiful.    

    

Sometimes it's important not to look past the small things. The gems that come from watching people with loving hearts serve others. The blessing of being part of one big family.  When Gods children gather, it's more than a "church service". It's royalty meeting to worship their Abba daddy, the King of Kings.

Yep, the people are dressed in what some would call rags. Yep, we are based on a dump site in a building that is falling to bits. But you know it's Gods princes and princesses meeting together.... and that's special.

It's SO not the place.... it's the people :)


"He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes- with the princes of His people" Psalm 113:7

(this is one of the verses we got right at the start when we started working with the people on the dump site community... love it... love it.... love it!! :)

What is it about the M word?!

What is it about the "missionary" word?

Well for me a picture of a missionary used to look something like this....

A little lady, with her white hair pulled back neatly in a bun. She loves children, is soft spoken and sleeps in a hut in some far away land, perhaps Africa.

Oh my goodness - how wrong was I?!!!

It turns our the M word basically means " an act of sending" or "to send"... So that means a missionary is someone who is sent to serve in a different country than their own right?
WRONG!

Jesus said " ...as the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21)

and

" .. . the harvest is truly great,but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest. Go your way, behold I send you out...." (Luke:2-3)

Wow -so if we know Jesus as our saviour we have already been sent!

The truth is every christian is called to be a missionary. Just because some are burdened to serve in a foreign country (for a time or forever) does not make them less or more important. We are told to "GO and make disciples of all nations" (disciple- follower of Jesus)

So if you faithfully GO into your little office and tell and show the good news, you are being obedient to this great commission right? 
RIGHT because the christian life is all about living on a mission. For some it means leaving everything. For some it means staying right where they are already.

Sometimes missionary jargon makes people a bit uncomfortable.. it's just something about the term. Honestly I used to cringe when people asked " so what do you do?"
"I'm a m-mm-miss...volunteer!"
 The reality is from the moment I came to know the Lord I was told to GO... from that instant I was SENT OUT...  and SO WERE YOU!

Just in case you were like me and missed the point for a while.....
Do you know Jesus? Are you a lover of God  and the people He created?  Can you share the good news?
Then YOU ARE A MISSIONARY :)

My sister reminded me of a song today called "people need the Lord" Do they need Him living on a poverty stricken rubbish dump? Do they need Him living in a mansion? Do they need Him working in a factory, school, office or ____________ (fill in the blank)??
YES! YES! YES!!

There are hurting people everywhere. There are people who need the hope of our God everywhere. There are people who think they have it altogether and have a gaping hole in their heart everywhere.

As for what the actual mission can look like..... I think that's a whole other blog :)

Newly born

"Bagong Silang" translated is newly born.  What comes into your mind when you think of a new born? Joy.... life.... celebration....that sweet smell of a baby's head!

This precious little new born is named Angel Mae.


She was born and lives in a graveyard.

The name newly born  is also the name of a  cemetery. It's the name of a place where around 1000 families live . Their make shift houses are built on top of tombs or on unstable bamboo planks above the trash filled sea.

I will never forget the fist time we went there in 2008. To this day the images  are engraved in my memory. As we drove over the muddy road through the gates, towered on each side above the ground were tombs packed one on top of the other.  It was then I saw one of the most heartbreaking pictures of my life. To my right  a skinny 3 year old girl sitting in between open tombs, surrounded by bones playing with a dead rat. 

 I could not and still cannot believe this is her reality.

To be honest it would be easy to become hopeless walking around Navotas Cemetery. There are layers upon layers of issues.At the same time there is a real sense of community and somehow it helps combat the feelings of despair that could creep in.
(click on the link below to watch a short video about Navotas)

http://www.vimeo.com/17426942

There is a beacon of hope there. A church lead  by the most joyful man I have ever met -Pastor Dodong. He is a faithful man who loves the Lord and loves people. His beautiful wife Virgie is an intercessor full of integrity. Each one of their 6 children are special and full of compassion.


They bring joy to a community that is full of death,love to people who feel unlovely and hope to families that have nothing to live for.

They could have moved to a better place. Even after their little son  died by falling through the shaky bamboo slats into the sea - they chose to stay and reach out to the people there

Sacrificial love.



Last week the local police warned them and the residents of community that the owners of the land are planning to burn down the houses.

The reason?

• They have decided they want the land back and as far as I understand, by law they are not allowed to just demolish homes. However there is nothing to stop an "accidental fire".

Maybe its just an empty threat?

• Last year a close by area in Navotas was burned down leaving people with nothing but the clothes on their back. This very day in fact we found out that the land owners started demolishing the area.

Now I have heard people say more than once over the last few years that its really the fault of the poor that they have nothing because they came to Manila when they had a home in the province. To say  I feel angry at this comment is a bit of an understatement....

So you are telling me these thousands of people who are squatting on open dump sites and cemetery's have chosen to be there? You are saying they have left the comforts of their beautiful provinces to steal land to build shacks made of plastic bags, wood scraps and chicken wire because they wanted to? Would you want to live amongst the putrid smells of human waste and rotting bodies? Neither do they.

Its true most of the people in these communities have come from the province. Most of their story's go something  like this......

 They left the province because there was no work and their children were starving. They desired to give their families a better life so they came to  Manila to find work. When they arrived they discovered the harsh reality that there were no jobs and so were stuck unable to afford the travel expenses back to their home. They did not want to beg so they moved to the dump site and cemetery and began trying to find ways to survive. Some pick trash- some clean graves - they work and earn what they can.

 

These families work hard. Every volunteer we have had come out here will testify to that. Yes earning penny's - but trying hard to provide for their families.  You know what? They are still welcoming. They would still push past their problems to bring you a smile.

Those who pray-please pray for the families in Navotas Cemetery. Pray that God would convict the hearts of the men who are plotting to turn this community to ashes.  Those who live in the cemetery and know Jesus as their saviour are just seeking Him and trusting Him at this time. Pray for those who are living in fear and uncertainty of whether they will have a home or not. Pray for our team who are working in the youth and kids ministry that they could help bring peace to fearful hearts.

Pray that this community would truly be newly born.... born again in Jesus Christ.

Fruit grows in trash

Rotten food, rancid smelling garbage, decaying animal bodies...

How could  fruit ever grow in this?!

I've seen it with my own eyes!

The locals living around the old smokey mountain dump site area have started to grow corn and other plants near the top of it. Seriously, its the strangest thing to see towers of decaying trash with corn,plants and even some little yellow floweres growing out of it!

But I've seen much more fruit come from the area...

When we "accidentally" started a ministry back in January 2008 we were what you would say totally unprepared! In many ways actually. I think that's why we know God gets all the glory,because He chose in His grace to use us to serve his beautiful people that live in the poorest of poor of conditions when we did not have a clue! Because we never planned to stay long term we didn't bring a team, plan on training a team or organise for any short term teams to join us.  I remember so clearly within weeks we had a couple of hundred children coming along  and still it was just Ron and I! (quite ridiculous! :)


We prayed - Lord if you want us to stay here, provide us with a team. From that day it was like our eyes were opened and we saw the potential  in the people who were living in the dump site and cemetery communities.Amazing potential in the people we came to serve. At first we trained  some mothers to help with the feeding programs. Then the teenagers to help in the children and youth programmes.


3 years later we have a team of 55 local people from the dump site and cemetery  communities. I can't even express properly  how in awe we are of their hearts. The team now includes pastors, youth leaders, kids church teachers and assistants, volunteers for children and youth programmes, music teams, feeding ministry, maintenance. Honestly its incredible what the Lord has done.


Each of them have a story of pain. Each of them has a heartache. Each of them have grown up and live in  conditions unimaginable to most.


BUT


Each of them have a calling. Each of them are filled with love and compassion for their own people. Each of them have God given gifts that can be used for His glory and to serve others. Each of them have a hope and a future.

Just wanted to thank God for hearing our prayers and giving us a team - a family. My heart leaps as I think of each one of them from the youngest to the oldest. I Just wanted to honour them for their commitment and faithfulness in bringing hope to hurting people.



childrens ministry



Some random pics of our team.... please pray for them.

pastoral team

"I am the vine, you are the branches....



feeding program

he who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit...




















music



...for without Me you can do nothing.



youth leaders

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples"

John 15: 1-8

Just when you are in your comfort zone...WALLOP!

What a day!

It's funny that my comfort zone now includes the following...



walking in poo has become normal!



walking through poo most days

teaching a few hundred children at a time

eating what feels like tons of rice

loos having no such thing as a flush or toilet roll

 rats,roaches and sometimes scorpions nearby

being covered in mosquito bites

flies sharing my food

smelling like garbage

I know that being accustomed to these things shouldn't really be normal, but I believe God has given the grace. (phew for that!!) In a strange way these things are kind of in the comfort zone for hubby and I now.

Today when we arrived in Tondo we were forced to go into  problem solving mode before we even stepped in the door. Just about 30 mins before a couple of hundred people were about to come bursting through the gate (mostly kids under 12) we noticed the classrooms were empty. No chairs, no tables, no electric fans, no whiteboards.... not really anything actually! The lovely local women came to me in  a panic saying there were almost no cooking utensils and only 50 plates and about 20 spoons. They were due to start the feeding program after kids church fo about 400!

All of the stuff had been moved to the new container school. Don't get me wrong it's a HUGE answered prayer, miracle and blessing that the new school will open soon!!We are all so excited that this building will break strongholds of poverty. It was just a bit of a shock that we had no time to prepare for much needed items suddenly vanishing! In the busyness of the move someone had forgot to communicate that literally everything would be taken from the old warehouse,where we run almost all groups  and not much would be left. The original plan was that we would still be able to use old equipment and new ones would be bought for the new building. For now it doesn't look like this is happening,which leaves us with very little and on a faith journey as to how we can replace it before we leave in 2 weeks time!! eek .. i am trusting... i am trusting!!!  God provides!!



plastic instead of plates

 One of our feeding ministry volunteers said " Oh it seems like having a new husband!!" What she was expressing was that it was like starting all over again... and it really felt that way!

Most of our kids  have no boundaries at home and over 3 years with our team its been amazing to watch them thrive by having some consistency. I don't know if this is coming across as its meant to but probably those of you have volunteered with us would understand whats this morning would have looked like. Take away all usual physical structure.... give the children clear open spaces and what would they do? To my Scottish friends " they wur loosin the heed!!" Its was total madness. Add to this 40 degree heat, no fans and very hungry tummy's and imagine!

I  want to tell you how totally thankful Ron and I were for our team (who are all made up of local people living in the Tondo community) I was so proud of them as they all rallied together and just got on with things, working through the problems and finding creative solutions. From the youngest teen who volunteers with the kids ministry to the women who cooked  and serve for the feeding program.  I thought to myself  - God you are just so good giving us these people. Although we were all exhausted, we were elated at the unity in the team. Really, they were amazing. They are full of compassion for their own community. 

Today was so challenging  for many reasons. We had very sick children, a woman who mis carried and others with urgent needs that we had to attend to. I came home and wept over the suffering of the of people today.Sometimes it hits you with big WHACK ! BAM! WALLOP!  Honestly it can be so overwhelming  when you can't help them all at one time and you so desperately want to. I'm so thankful we can throw our selves upon God. That's what I done when I got home, just lay at the feet of my Abba Father and wept. (and in my wonderful hubby's arms too) 

I haven't been able to get this quote from Gracia Burnhams book To Fly Again out of my mind since I read it last week;

"God is attracted to weakness. He can't resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need Him. Our weakness, in fact, makes room for His power"

WOW! I love that! So getting thrown out your comfort zone is a good thing!

What is it about each of us that wants to appear strong?  Why are we so afraid to let down our guard, drop the facade and admit our weakness? Why is it so important for others to think we are  in control, confident, competent and capable?  Could it be pride I wonder? Yep! Heart check for me! Here in the Philippines when you say " kumusta  ka" (how are you" everyone replies with " Mabuti -yes as in Ma-BOOTY :) which means fine.  

I'm fine!

The youth use a term here which I think sums it up. PLASTIC. Meaning he/she is just pretending. Don't we all do this at times though - pretend I mean. I know I do, not intentionally but I do. Sometimes it's because we don't want to let people down, make people sad,keep up appearance of being  a"good leader" to the team. But you know what I have learned since starting out on this crazy journey of full time mission work...

The best kind of leader is a weak leader. Hmmmm... how so?

When I am weak HE is strong!!  How much freedom we would feel is we always walked in this truth.  I am free because I know that I know that I know that without HIM i can do NOTHING! HE is the strength of my life.

So though  we do not have a clue about how all the equipment will be replaced, at the end of the day what matters WAY MORE is what I witnessed and felt today. There was not much stuff but there was TEAM and there was LOVE and a whole lot of LAUGHTER!

Team








white funeral

I watched today as my husband and another team mate collected the trash that surrounded our friend Nhora's coffin before the funeral service began. I listened as a pastor asked some neighbours to stop gambling around the coffin. I held broken hearted children as they sobbed for their lovely mama. How desperately they want her back.

In many ways it was a sad sight but it was also a time to rejoice. I could not help being happy to think of Nhora enjoying heaven. I could not help smile as I thought of her life and the legacy of love she left behind. 

In the midst of the cultural chaos  I was blessed with a symbolic sight. In the middle of Ron taking the funeral I  looked through teary eyes to notice that most of the people present were wearing white. How strange and significant all at the same time.

In Scotland as in other places the traditional attire to wear on such an occasion is black. I'm still not sure if white is the done colour here in the Philippines but it was a visual reminder to me of where beautiful Nhora is now. 

"... and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments....." Revelation 3:4,5

How wonderful that the focus had turned to the reality that Nhora was now in the presence of her Lord Jesus. I am exited that one day we will see her again......



stairway to paradise by Thomas Kinkade



   No more tears Ate Nhora......

Nhoras legacy of love

If you lived in a dump site area would you;

- Have compassion for  your neighbours?

-Be willing to go hungry so someone else's child could eat?

-No matter what, always wear a smile?

-Even  bring a song and dance?

                                                       My friend Nhora Mariano did.



Nhoras last picture April 2010



Our friend and team mate Nhora died suddenly last week. She was 35 years old.

Truth be told I have sat down to write this blog at least 4 times now, but just sigh and close the laptop. It really doesn't feel like she's gone. Nhora was one of the first local mothers who offered to volunteer in the kids ministry.When we met her in 2008 we knew she had a huge heart and God given compassion for children in her own community. She would serve the children in whatever way was needed: helping at the feeding - washing their little plates- cleaning-  wiping their tears- walking them to kids club-  lavishing love on each one...

Loving on all her babies

 For 3 years she faithfully lead the 1-4 years old kids church class. Sometimes she cared for 70 toddlers at a time with help from only a few local teens. The mothers who come usually just want a break from their kids and understandably as they haven't had a moment to themselves all week, but not Nhora. She called them "my children" and showed patience and love for every single one of them. They miss her. She has left her legacy of love in every one of their little hearts.

In spite of her own life being far from easy she loved to sing and dance and as soon as any kind of beat could be heard her tiny hips started to wiggle! Along with the other mothers she took part in several concert nights. I noticed Nhoras creativity the first time I taught them a dance routine. She would contribute by adding her own steps and would remember the moves when I forgot! When it was time to perform she would fill the others with confidence and light up as she gracefully danced her way around the stage. She looked so beautiful because to her it wasn't just singing and dancing -it was worship. I can see this legacy of love in her daughters. Only hours after they found out their lovely mother had died Ron and I found them singing  - yes singing with tears..." here I am to worship". It was Nhoras favorite song.

 

church anniversary concert 2009

 More than anywhere else I see so obviously Nhoras legacy of love in her four beautiful girls Antointh, Grayvie, Angel and Nene. They beam who Nhora was. Same smile. Same giggle. Same desire to help.Same love for Jesus. Same love to sing and dance and never sit still for a moment. They never got a chance to say goodbye to their precious mama. She went to the hospital to get some tests as to why parts of he body had been swelling. She never came home. It was  discovered that she had developed a heart problem after her miscarriage a few months earlier. The doctors said she had water in her lungs and her heart couldn't cope anymore.  Nhora wasn't afraid of death. She told her husband that, but that she had to fight to stay alive for him and her girls. For reasons that our human minds cannot comprehend, she died before the doctors even done any kind of heart test. I know Nhoras is now dancing with Jesus.



her four Angels

The day Nhora was taken "home" we had the girls stay at our house for a couple of days to allow their father organise getting her body back from the hospital. I cannot describe how heartbreaking it was to hold them as they cried and cried. Nene (the youngest) just poured out tears sobbing "mama ko mama ko" - " my mama my mama. It was as though I could feel her young heart breaking in my hands.They loved their mum so much. If ever I've seen a woman with a mothers heart, it was Nhora. We found out that the girls had no pictures of their mum so we put some together and some in a frame. We all spent time talking about Nhora -the girls would stroke her face on the picture and say "maganda"-beautiful. In each picture they said "she is not sick there" and talked about how they loved their mamas smile, what her favorite songs were and how she was so kind. The next day they came to us and asked if they could get a picture together holding their mamas picture.

Antoineth wanting bubbles blown over her mamas picture

They asked if we could take another picture..this time while they blew bubbles around the frame. I smiled as I thought about how this was so Nhora - she was so bubbly and full of fun. I love that her girls know that. I feel blessed that we were able to have them stay with us. Though it was sore in the heart for all of us - it was healing to cry and pray together.

Those of you who pray- please pray for them and dad Tony. They are grieving so much right now. In the culture its expected that they just appear strong. I witnessed quite a few of the neighbours just telling them not to cry now. I pray they will be allowed to start the grieving process.

I feel like I haven't done nearly enough justice to the wonderful person Nhora was. But I just so wanted people to hear of her. I wanted you to know she existed - know she was loved and know how she loved. I wanted people to hear her name and read her legacy of love. I wonder how many others have lived their lives in a squatters area and died without anyone knowing their name. Its a comfort to know this;

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" Psalm 116:15

I'm sure of this... so sure.... that the angels were rejoicing when Nhora Mariano arrived at the pearly gates. We miss her so very much... but I see in the eyes of her children and the other children she cared for her great legacy of love - HIS love through her - now in them.It's a privilege to have known her.

"Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter now into thy rest"

baptism 2009

  Leonhora Mariano
Born:  October 17 1975

                                                             Called home: November 4 2010

Are you a singer....well....em?

I sat down to write a blog about funny things said in kids church, but I can hear my lovely hubby playing his guitar and singing in the other room and it reminded me of a question I was asked yesterday by an author from New Zealand who came to visit.

" Are you a singer?" 

"Well,,, em," I stuttered..."sometimes".

So why on earth did I give such a vague  answer?! What does "sometimes" mean anyway?! How ridiculous! lol :)

I used to teach creative arts. Part of my work involved teaching people how to sing  and I made a pretty good living from it.  I have had the privilege of being involved in worship teams since I was 14. I performed in lots of concerts. I love to sing. It's defiantly part of who God made me. So why on earth was I not sure when I was asked such a simple question?!

Well, we have been working with the beautiful people of Manilas largest dump site and surrounding area for almost 3 years now.  Within these 3 years we have breathed in a whole lot of dust and methane gases coming from the burning trash. The notes that I used to sing, are now kind of a croak. Sometimes while Ron and I would be leading worship my voice will completely disappear and  fit of coughing would take its place. Frustrating to say the least!



one of the families living in the charcoal making area

I have never really thought of this until tonight.......I wonder how many people who live at the charcoal area at the dump site used to sing?I wonder how many had a beautiful voice before it was  stolen by the raging gases that exude from the burning charcoal 24 hours a day? I wonder how many of them have been gifted with talents that they are not able to use because of the horrific surrounding they live in.  They still bring a song and so can I. I am blessed.Whether I croak or sing..whether my voice comes out sounding  the way I want it to or not.. I will sing because it's the One I'm singing for that really matters. 

One of the first songs I ever wrote was this;

 I call to my remembrance my song in the night
When I sing that song everythings alright
 No matter what I'm feeling
No matter how dark it is
No matter what the circumstance I'll raise my voice
I'll raise my hands and sing sing sing
Lord I sing. I sing. I sing

I sing through the broken times
I choose to sing
By grace the choice is mine to praise
Like a child I come a picture of praise I hold to you
You accept this worship in love.

No matter what the circumstance
No matter what the circumstance
I'll raise my voice
I'll raise my hands and sing sing sing
Lord I sing. I sing. I sing

Have you ever had your child or a child you love run up to you and stretch their arms out to give you a painting or a drawing that they have done? You open it and its a fantastic mess of colorful scribbles? What do you say to them? Usually something along the lines of "Oh that's amazing. Well done. I love it" Why?  It's not so much the picture that's important as the one who gave it. They gave it from the heart with love.

I have a wonderful friend with a beautiful voice and an even more beautiful way of bringing music and joy to others. She has given her voice to teaching hundreds of people and inspired them in ways no one else could have. So much so that she has lost her singing voice. But I've watched as she teaches - it doesn't make one bit of difference to her students. They still come in their hundreds because its not really about the singing voice at all. Its about the one singing.

I'm sure that's the way our Father is with us. It's all about our heart. We can have a song in our hearts everyday, even if it doesn't come out sounding exactly angelic!

"I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being" Psalm 104:33



singing their hearts out

 

http://youtu.be/RwmDPj46k_s