Somewhere along the way, Christians absorbed this misguided notion that the Lord works at a snail’s pace. Broken heart? Give it a few years. Abusive family? That’s at least a decade or more.
Good things come to those who wait. Is that Biblical? Honestly, I don’t know. Do good things always take a long, boring length of time?
Maybe everything in front of us is already good, because we serve a God that is good. Maybe our Father delights to give us, His children, good things.
Creation. Seven days (including a day of rest). I wouldn’t call that a slow work.
So here I am, minding my own business, enjoying the World Race for what it is: a honeymoon with Jesus. Six months have gone by, three continents have been trekked, and I am flying high on Holy-Spirit-juice every freaking day. In short, life is awesome.
And then, the following events play out in less than two weeks:
Tuesday, December 25, 2012: I arrive in Phuket, Thailand after a 24-hour bus ride from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Phuket is where the other half of the women on my squad have been doing ministry all month and the entire squad is having a ‘layover’ there until it’s time to travel to Debrief in Malaysia. I discover a keyboard in the common area of the Phuket S.H.E. ministry facility and there I remain glued (except for eating and sleeping) for the next three days. I also sing myself hoarse and am currently still raspy.
Someone drops a comment about why I haven’t led worship for the squad yet and I immediately feel myself recoil internally. Leading worship? That’s something I have not done since high school, back when I was a legalistic, soapbox zealot. I am not that woman anymore. And with that, the Lord speaks and tells me He has not forgotten that worship leading is something He wants to redeem.
Saturday, December 29, 2012-Sunday, December 30,2012: My squad and I travel from Phuket, Thailand to Pangkor Island, Malaysia for Debrief. I told the Lord I’d lead worship if a) there’s a keyboard at Debrief and b) if I’m specifically asked to do it. Surprise, surprise, we’re staying at a Christian hostel complete with a worship building that has . . . a keyboard.
Monday, December 31, 2012: I’m once again glued to the keyboard. There’s something about it that lets me enter into deeper intimacy with the Lord. In my playing around, I somehow end up leading worship for the morning and evening session—completely unplanned, but when I was asked . . . I couldn’t say no (see Note B above). Also find out I’m fully funded, thanks in large part to South Bay Agape Christian Church.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013: My team, Spirit ROAR, goes to our debrief session with the squad leaders and squad parents and we have a rockin’ time. I spill all my past months’ revelations on how I’ve finally fully embraced being a team member and following my leaders, and how I’ve made the irrevocable decision in my spirit that God is good in all circumstances. Later that evening, my old team leader and current squad leader, Michael Nicosia, takes me and my Spirit ROAR leader, Stephanie Vergara, out to dinner. I think we’re catching up as friends, really it’s all a ruse to ask me to step into leadership. What. The. Heck.
Immediately, I hear the Lord tell me that this is the best He has for me. I ask Him, “What if I say no?” and He tells me that He will still give me good things . . . but know that this is His best. So, not knowing who I’ll be leading or anything about what leading a team will look like, I accept. I vacillate between excitement and wanting to pass out for the rest of the night.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013: Team changes and leadership changes are announced to the entire squad, and I step into leadership over a team of 6 amazing women: Amy Weiss, Kylee Taylor, Miranda Brinsa, Meagan Kelley, Krystyna Szymczuk, and Christina Dombrowsky.
Thursday, January 3, 2013: I find out the January Malaysia ministry will be with Sanctuary of Praise in Sungai Petani, and that it has a focus on music/worship ministry.
Ok, ok, my diary of events is a little long-winded but my point is this: Dang, the Lord works fast. As soon as He initiates a season, it comes about in complete fullness.
I’m blown away by the latest events, and I’m still adjusting to what being a leader of a team really means. So far, it’s meant a lot more administrative responsibility in terms of finances and organization. But spiritually, does it change anything? The Lord has been showing me that His plan is to transform me “from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). I will follow Jesus wherever He takes me, however that looks. Now, I get the privilege of inviting others along for the ride. Let’s go.
“No matter what kind of work was to be done, however menial it may have been, the person chosen had to be ‘full of the Holy Spirit.’ (Acts 6:3) The plan of the church was that everything, even everyday routines, must be sanctified to God, for the church had to be a Holy Spirit church. Beloved, God has never ordained anything less.”
– Smith-Wigglesworth Devotional for January 2
– Smith-Wigglesworth Devotional for January 2
