Yeah, He Loves Us.

There is real pain. Pain is real. You may not be experiencing it right now, but there is someone who, right now, is in a painful season of their lives. This Sunday we are celebrating All Saints Day. There is a mixture of emotions that comes and goes with the death of a loved one. Pain is one of them. Some people never get over that pain. Some move on gracefully, while others may find that the wounds of loss are still very fresh. Next Sunday we, at Isle of Hope United Methodist, are beginning a series called "Everyday Thanks-living". If you thought Martha Stewart, don't worry, you're not alone :). However, the primary focus of the scriptures and the sermons are about being thankful in every circumstance. I didn't fully embrace the difficulty of this subject until someone shared their own struggles with how to tell people to be thankful in every circumstance, "because I can just see it happening: You know ____, it's easy for you to be thankful, your husband didn't just walk out on you." Or just substitute any undesireable circumstance. "Your wife and daughters weren't just brutally raped and murdered, and house burned to the ground with them in there." (That was just in the news). How is it, then that we can be thankful in every circumstance?

I know the answer... but I don't want to write that sermon. I don't want to write any sermon, actually. This week, I have found my refuge in the music we are singing. It truly is a gift to minister to people through music. There are so MANY amazing songs that capture the essence of the human condition in light of salvation through Jesus. This week we are singing: Everlasting God, Jesus Paid It All, How He Loves, I Will Rise, and You Hold Me Now. I encourage you to look up the lyrics and/or listen to these songs (both, preferably). It is a joy to come along side those who are suffering and share in their suffering and have compassion for them, and love them. It is a joy to minister to their needs through music. I don't always "have a way with words", or "know exactly what to say". Most of the time, my wisest moments are those of silence. Musical moments are a close second though. I will always have a song to minister to your heart.

I know church services and worship aren't all about emotion. BELIEVE ME, I know. I am apart of that generation with that giant BS radar built into them. But, I have found a hope. I have found a peace. I have found a love and joy (I think I just quoted a Kim Walker song... uh...) and I have been given the distinct priviledge of coming alongside others to minister to their needs and share those things through music, and for me... music is the emotion. When the music is in place, the heart is in place, for me. For others, when the right words are spoken, they've been filled. For others, still, when the message is there, they worship. I'm thankful for all of these gifts and everyone who comes together on Sunday mornings (or whenever) to bring these gifts together to minister to each other and to give glory to God.

Another wonderful night of rehearsal. I love those people.

Lindsay