Angels in the House

I have a story to tell you which will most likely astound you.

On Wednesday I sat down with God to discuss worship on Sunday. It’s for Him, so I want to please Him with the best that I can give. And each week that I lead worship, I ask Him for His preference. It always makes me grin.

I pulled out my binder of songs, got the guitar out, and switched to the song list at Freedom Worship Center on one page and YouTube on another. I needed four songs.

I already had two songs that had been on my heart all week: Jesus Move and Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave. What next? Overwhelmed was just finishing up on YouTube when I switched back to the song list. I spied Oceans by Hillsong United.

I asked God, “Should we do Oceans?”

Immediately, Oceans started playing on YouTube.

“Okay…. Looks like we’re singing that one on Sunday, Daddy. ” Big, big smile. That was very quick.

Last, but definitely not least, was It is Well (Bethel). This needed to be sung in order to explain the miracle in my sister Jacki’s life through cancer. It is definitely well with her soul. But that’s another story…

Sunday arrived and we began practicing. My hubby Pete decided to play lead guitar since Alex couldn’t be there. He brought both of his electrics to the set. They had sounded great the night before.

Enter the enemy… man! He tried hard to take it down. Pete’s guitar kept going out. So, Pete tried the next guitar. Same problem. Then Alex’s guitar. No go. It would play for a while then cut out. They were working just fine the week before. Argh!

Jessie, our sound guru, came up and tested all the chords. Everything was okay. The input and output devices were fine, too. Batteries were checked. Pete tried again, but the guitars wouldn’t play nicely – no pun intended. Pete finally gave up and decided to just play the keyboard.

Rehearsal went well from then on. We finished just in time to pray and get ready to start the service. I had shared with Pastor Phil and Pastor Phil (yep! Two of ’em) how I wanted angels to show up during worship, and wanted with all my heart for everyone to have their hearts, eyes and hands lifted up to heaven, praising God, drawing close to Him as they worshiped. Wouldn’t that be amazing!

The team began and we sang Jesus Move and Overwhelmed. However, a strange thing happened during Oceans. I hear in my head where the lead guitar should be, and there it is! The lead guitar playing the part in the monitor that I knew should be there. I looked up at Jessie and wondered if he was playing around at the sound board, because there was no lead guitar player on our team right then.

After worship, Pete came up to me and asked if I heard the piano playing. I looked at him confused. He said he heard another piano playing during that song, and the piano was not matching what his fingers were doing. He heard two pianos going. His first thought was just like mine… Jessie? Nope! Not Jessie. Angels in the band, playing as worship was going on.

Instead of one set of drums, one bass, one acoustic guitar, and one keyboard, we had an additional keyboard and a lead guitar during the very song that God had unequivocally told me we should sing… Oceans.

I am blown away by God’s Personal Touch and His Profound Love; it is humbling.

It didn’t stop there, though. Pastor Phil was so anointed during the sermon, that Holy Spirit flowing through. And during prayer time, as we sang It is Well, I saw almost everyone come to the altar for prayer. It was a beautiful time of cleansing, tears, coming to God and drawing close to Him.

We had an amazing Sunday Service with the body of Christ and angels praising God, and the Holy Spirit ministering to everyone there. A treasure to add to my Treasure Box.

Infinitely Zero Odds

I told my son Jared about it today, and he told me that the odds of that happening are “infinitely zero.” Yep – Jared, the one getting a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry – total geek!

He starts describing to me the chances of both of us mistakenly hearing and thinking the same type of thing at the same time during the same song.

Out comes the paper and pencil as he explains the odds to me over the phone. (By the way, this one is for the skeptics.)

Here is the equation that we will use to illustrate:

1/x

If x=1, then the equation is 1/1 or 1

If x=2, then the equation is 1/2 or one half. We could use this equation to state the odds of getting heads while flipping a coin. The probability is 50%.

As x becomes bigger, 1/x becomes smaller

As the number of x approaches infinity, then 1/x essentially becomes zero.

If 1/x represents the odds of a phenomenon happening, the term is called infinitely zero (i.e. It never happens)

Let’s discuss the variables:
1. How many times I’ve led worship (more than I can count)
2. How many times Pete has helped with worship (more than he can count)
3. How many times Pete and I have lead worship together (more than we can keep track of)
4. How many songs have we done at each worship session (about five each time)
5. How many times we’ve experienced this during any of these moments before (zero)
6. It happened during the song God prominently confirmed.
7. Both of us were independently thinking and experiencing the same thing.

The more variables we add, the less probability we have of our experience happening to both Pete and me, during the same song, at the same moment of time, during the same worship set, but both independently.

Ergo, the probability of this occurring is infinitely zero. It shouldn’t ever happen. Which is why there is only one logical conclusion. God’s angels worshiping with us.

This was the conversation going through my son’s head while I was telling him this story. Sometimes, if we just stand back and think of these odds in our life in most of our situations, there is only one most probable conclusion – God.

God is Alive and Well!

At Freedom Worship Center, we’ve been learning about an intentional relationship with God. There is intentional, powerful prayer going on there. And God is moving.

I know that I’ve been intentionally spending more quality time with God every morning in worship and song, studying and meditating on the Word, extolling the virtues of my God, thanking Him for every blessing, discussing how best to overcome my negative behaviors, and praying for others.

I see an increase of intimacy in my relationship with Him, a more direct communication, answers to prayers, guidance in how to pray and what to pray for, and a very one-on-one walk with Jesus daily. It is miraculous – plain and simple.

John 15:4-5 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. (NLT)

And again…

John 15:7-8 But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father. (NLT)

John 15:16 You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name. (NLT)

God blessed me with the songs He wanted; He blessed us with angels – a desire of my heart; He moved in the congregation and brought many to His Presence.

Our God is so good.

Post Script

Pete used the guitars last night… there were no problems.