Just Thinking

Jon Plank used to have a saying while we traveled in quartet. If a trip was especially long or a situation was getting old, Jon would say, "Okay, I'm ready for the next thing." I would like to say, "I'm ready for the next thing." When I lost my voice at youth convention it was more than just a typical laryngitis. It turned into a terrible cold and I still can't shake it. I can talk now but can't even attempt to sing yet. It's terrible. Coughing all the time. Feverish. I'm ready for the next thing.
And this weather isn't helping. Cold and wet. Yuck. The kids have missed two consecutive days because of the weather and I'm ready for them to go back to school.
So, I'm ready for the next thing.

Check this story of survival from the tornadoes in Tenn. (Click Here)

Ok, so I've lost my voice again. It seems that when I don't get enough rest, one of the first things that happens to me is that I lose my voice. But what is so frustrating is that it never happens at a good time. Last summer I was supposed to sing in a wedding and lost my voice the day before. I mean I could only whisper. That wasn't good timing. As I mentioned in the previous post, we were in youth convention this past weekend. Friday night, I lost my voice again. And I was scheduled to sing for each evening service of the convention. Again, not good timing. Talk about frustrating. I love this youth convention. I love being part of this youth convention. And to be honest without sounding too egotistical, I love singing at this youth convention. I love singing period but it seems this convention is a great place to minister through music. I had my favorite piano player, Jon Plank, accompanying me and was enjoying singing some new songs. And then, boom, out of no-where this bronchitis, cold, sore throat, something hits me.
I shared this frustration with a teen from my church. She told me, "There's a reason for it."
"Yeah, sure," I thought but not really believing it. It's just one of those things that happens to me every now and then.
So I asked Dwight Rine to fill in for me on Saturday night. Just a side note, it was at last years convention that I had asked Dwight to sing the solo part for a choir song and he lost his voice. I had to fill in for him and the Lord really helped during that song. But back to this year. Dwight agreed and prepared to sing for the evening service.
From the very beginning of the service it was evident that God was there. The congregational singing was great. God's Bible School quartet sang a beautiful song entitled "He Loves Me." This song really ministered to hearts. Young people and older people were sharing wonderful testimonies to God's grace and help to them. And throughout the testimonies many of them were referring to the song "He Didn't Throw The Clay Away." Different parts of that song seemed to come out in several of the testimonies that night. I was sitting on the platform, unable to say "Amen" but was just taking it all in and enjoying God's presence. Dwight was sitting beside me and he held out a paper that had his song on it. You guessed it, it was "He Didn't Throw The Clay Away."
I said, "Man, you gotta get up and sing that song."
But not wanting to interupt he sat there for quite some time while testimony after testimony was given and again, some referring to the thought of being picked back up and made new.
Matt Ellison was leading the service and had GBS come back up and sing another verse of "He Loves Me."
We finally got Matt's attention and told him that Dwight needed to sing his song now instead of waiting for just before the message. He got up and shared about the events leading up to this point. When he started singing, the place just erupted. People began to pour to the altar. There was shouting, people standing with hands raised in the air and tears pouring down their faces. It seemed that wave after wave of God's presence swept over the congregation.
And then I thought of Cayla's words, "There's a reason for it."
As frustrated as I was about not being able to speak, let alone sing, I am so thankful that God knows what He is doing. I had a different song picked out for the service but evidently God wanted to use the one Dwight sang.
This service did something for me and to be honest, as I am typing I have goose-bumps just thinking about it.
I've done some thinking about the events. I want to be used of God. There is no greater thing to give ourselves to. But I want God to know that I am also willing to allow Him to set me aside and use whoever He chooses. I'm just glad I was there.

It is exciting to see how this convention has grown over the last several years. Rev. James Plank had a vision several years ago to have a high caliber youth convention is this area. It is his vision and leadership that have really inspired the rest of us to join in and see this thing progress. But we couldn't do it without God's help and He certainly has been helping us. I have no doubt that He is pleased with efforts to present our young people with attractive, fun, informative, and practicle activities all done professionally yet conservatively. It has been our experience that our young people love this convention. The balance between the services, topic sessions and activities provides a great opportunity for young people to interact with one another as well as recieve spiritual help and encouragement.
Representative groups from Penn View Bible Institute, Hobe Sound Bible College, Allegheny Wesleyan College, Union Bible College and God's Bible School all attend this convention and add so much to the overall atmosphere.
I can't say enough about the involvement of our local churches and youth groups. Youth groups from area churches take part in each evening service by singing a song, playing offertory, ushering, greeting and other things.
If you haven't yet, I urge you to join us for the activities this weekend. I promise you that you will enjoy it.