God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble...or sick

Remember when I said in my last post, "it felt like medicine head"? Well, little did I know that was just the beginning of a week long battle of the flu.

Nick and I toughened out the remainder of Sunday by finishing out the services, going to lunch, then coming back to the church for handbell practice that afternoon. Thankfully, when it ended we were both free to return home and do whatever possible to get me well fast.

It's funny to trust your own instincts when really, you're not the one in control. God is. What I mean by that is He led me through a week of learning to trust Him in, what I deemed, an unfamiliar area. I was working too hard with the goal of "I have to get well. I have to get better now!" I wouldn't let go of how sick I was, and give my illness to God. I had to hold on to it; like it was my treasure.

I know what you're probably thinking (or even saying/shouting at your computer), "the sickness was your treasure!?"

Well, I treated it like it was. The thing is, how many times in life do we desire to control something that wants to control us?

You know what that's called? Opposition to authority. Not the flu's authority, but the Almighty and Everlasting authority of God. His authority always was, always is, and will forever be reigning above all. It's high time I realized that truth in even something as seemingly minute as the flu.

One thing I didn't forget to do during this whole week, was thank God that it wasn't the stomach flu.

The beauty of this illness is that it has been musical. It began late Saturday while Nick and I were with B2 (2nd floor, Baker Hall on HU's campus) watching football. We couldn't even finish the game. The illness crescendoed throughout the next few days, and either Tuesday or Wednesday night was the climax. At that point, I hadn't slept in three days or so and had a breakdown. I felt like I was trying my best to get well, but "my best" just wasn't cutting it.

Nick encouraged me. We prayed together and talked about how to help me sleep. Thankfully, the next time I had to lay down, I got 5 hours. Praise God! It was then that I started feeling His healing.

As this illness decrescendos and makes its way out of my body, I notice how long it took. A week. But this girl's not weaker because of it. She's stronger because of the lesson that was learned through God's intervention. That intervention brought not only a healed body, but a healed heart, soul, and mind with renewed strength.

And... He gave me just enough time to heal. Just before the next Sunday's services.

I have gotten wind that a lot of people are sick right now. If you're ill, I pray that God intervenes in your body, and heals you. But not that He heals just your body. I pray that He heals and renews your mind, heart, and soul while giving you strength for what's yet to come.

blessings,

Bethany

Strategies of Cohesion for me, an ENFP

I'm still searching for informative research on worship leaders and their personalities; especially if they're ENFPs. But for now, I'd like to dive into some things I have learned through reading other bloggers such as Bob Kauflin. When searching worship leader blogs, his is near the top of the search list. It's called, "Worship Matters."

I was eager to seek encouragement one day last week, so I read a few hot topic entries of his of which I felt I was struggling in leading worship. He discussed transitions and how to make them meaty with the gospel; not just the supposed silence to which we naturally cling. One could share personal experience, a provocative theological thought that epitomizes the connection of the seemingly opposing songs, an instrumental transition, a prayer to engage the heart mind and soul in worship, and even repeating the last line of the previous song while playing the intro into the next song; this helps those involved in worship to not lose the momentum of what it means to worship God. It helps them focus on worshipping God rather than feeling uncomfortable about what they may deem as an awkward transition.

Normally it takes me quite a long time to invoke a lot of new strategies into my actions, but this learning experience proved otherwise. Today at services, I was so out of it (it felt like medicine-head), but yet I felt strength, peace, and perseverance in a very big way. When I felt weak, God made me strong and exemplified these transitional traits through me to create a cohesive worship experience with His believers. Granted, worship may not always feel cohesive, but when someone is leading the worshippers with the ability to create such cohesion, the worshipper is less likely to be distracted and can wholly dwell on all of God.

We get distracted everyday, right? I'm an ENFP. It's sort of my job. But when it comes to the body of believers and desiring a deep reciprocating relationship with The Almighty, distractions are just that; distractions. I'm not talking about the distractions that we may see as distractions to our own lives; such as someone walking in on our tv show right at the season finale and wanting to talk. I'm talking about the distractions that lead us astray; the kind that lead us toward eternal death rather than eternal life. For instance, they are the kind that attempt take away precious moments during the day that we could be practicing, sharing, learning, and reveling in the Love of God.

I pray that we all are learning about cohesion, in that we seek the strength God provides us in His fathomless, ever-widing, and endless Love that is found in Jesus Christ Who died for us...with arms spread wide open.

blessings,

Bethany