His Plan

Over the past several weeks I tried and tried to find the right song to sing for special music today. Over the years as I have matured in the Lord I have become very picky. I try not to sing a song that is too much about ME or I or ME ME ME. I want it to be about the Lord. All the glory is for the Lord. I only sing a song if it has ministered to me. I don't sing a song because it is popular. It has to MEAN something. A good message is important as that is the whole reason I'm singing. I want the Lord to speak to someone and I want to praise Him. The song has to make sense. No crazy phrasing or BIG words. I need it simple.

I sang through all of the songs I had but just didn't feel like they were the right ones. I found many great, new-to-me songs that I thought might be perfect. Laying in bed one night a few weeks ago Mike said I should sing a particular song. I didn't really want to sing that song. I had already sung it a few times before (not at this church) and I really wanted something new. But all the songs I thought might be "the one" just didn't seem right. I struggled and spent hours searching but just couldn't come up with the right song.

Finally I had another option out of the selection I already owned. Sadly it was on cassette and sounded very airy. I found a website I could download it off of BUT you weren't able to download one particular range (like on christianbook.com) but instead you'd have to download the entire CD. I really didn't want to spend any money- at least not $10 for something I was only using 1/4 of. :) Still the words were "perfect" and it was very worshipful.

I asked for a second opinion on whether I should sing Mike's choice OR my choice. The vote was for Mike's choice. I agreed to Mike's choice (it was the easier, FREE option) and prayed asking God to use the song to minister to someone. Just one person would be enough. I went to bed last night still uneasy about singing Mike's selection.

Today was Sunday. During the greeting time at the beginning of the service I noticed some visitors,who at first caught me off guard because I knew them from somewhere else. I knew of their recent struggles and the weight that they were currently carrying.

As soon as the music for my song started and I began to sing the first few lines I noticed the lady visitor was red in the face. As I was singing I KNEW that the Lord had chosen the song I was singing for these visitors. I had NO IDEA that they would be visiting my church today. The Lord knew though and He purposely had me sing that song for them because He had a message for them.

When church was over I went up to the visitors and reminded them of who I was. The lady shared with me that the song I sang was special to her and her husband. That the difficulty that they are currently in is time sensitive and about to get worse. And that the Lord spoke to her and reminded her that he is there and His plan is perfect even when we don't understand.

WOW! Isn't God awesome?? I love moments like these when God works so obviously. It's amazing the way the Lord orchestrates things. What an encouragement to me today. His plan IS perfect.