This is how God works

Before I explain just one of the ways God has worked in our lives this week, I need to let everyone know that March is CRAZY busy for us over here. It's mostly good stuff, but it is affecting my time and ability to regularly post on the blog, so sorry about that. Then, when April rolls around, Delynn and I will be going on holiday to Dresden and Kraków so that will likely cause some additional patches of non-bloggyness. Just keep checking back and eventually I'll get something posted.

Okay, so this was a great God thing. Last week, spring decided to grace us with days of sunshine and warmth. After the long, cold winter, we are more than ready. It has been a glorious few days and everyone is out walking, riding, holding hands, you know... spring-stuff. Well, some form of allergen - I know not what - also decided to make its presence known.

Last Wednesday, I was hit hard. It worked down into my bronchial passages as well as my sinuses. I was coughing, sneezing, watery eyes - the works. My voice was cracking like a middle-schooler. When we sang at our Lifegroup retreat last weekend, I had to sing down an octive. I do think it gave me a really cool (dare I say sexy?) baritone voice though... (I'm not sure what Delynn thinks...) I don't recall whether I had the same reaction last year, but then Delynn and I were so often down with a cold, any allergic reactions were probably masked.

So, I'm not doing the best, I can't sing AT ALL without sounding like a frog and I had to lead worship singing on Sunday morning. My co-leader was away for the weekend, so we didn't have a backup. During the retreat, my friend Jon came up to me and asked if there was anything he could pray for - I immediately said yes; he gently laid his hands on me and began to pray. I didn't experience a sudden healing or anything but I was grateful for his fervent prayer.

Sunday morning, I got up early to prepare to lead singing. I noticed that I was coughing less. As I showered, I started warming up my voice but it was still cracking as I went up the scales. I figured that I would just have to sing as a bass that day. As I got ready to leave, Delynn was up having her first cup of coffee and I asked her to pray for me. We held each others hands and she simply asked God to be close to me, heal me and give me strength.

As I drove to church (I had borrowed a school vehicle to transport the Weiler contingent to the retreat, so we had it Sunday morning) I continued to work the scales and warming up my voice. I was blessed to have the car because I probably would have gotten some strange looks doing my warm ups on the tram... Anyway, during that 15 minute drive to church, my voice really started improving - it was such a relief. I could hit notes higher than I had in days. I was so thankful that God was granting me the desire of my heart.

We had our pre-worship practice (which was a little rough) but the worship went really, really well. It was hardly a strain to sing praises and speak - it felt miraculous. We had been invited over to supper at a friend's home, so we spent an enjoyable afternoon with them. As the afternoon progressed however, the cough and baritone voice began to return. By the time I was ready for bed, I was back to where I had started the day - but God had seen me through. And I don't even want to tell you about this morning - hack!

Late last night, we got an email from a friend back at Vancouver Friends Church that was simply titled: Praying for you. In it, spoke of the Lord bringing us to mind in his quiet time and although, "He did not tell me what to pray for you but he knows what you need at every moment." Wow! Our friend, thousands of miles away, was led to pray for us, for me, at just the time it was needed.

Now, some may say that it is just coincidence that all of these events came together, but I say no. People of faith do not believe in a God of coincidence but in a God who actively shapes, moves, blesses and directs his people. This is the God in which I believe - He met me in my need and provided. Why don't you give God a try and see what happens...

God is good - all the time.
All the time - God is good.