I am so glad that it is behind me now but I am even more grateful for the privilege and opportunity to sing the solo part for the choir number we did last Sunday, "As I Have Loved You".
At first I was really nervous to do it but our choir director, Troy Miller, was wonderful to work with and I got to practice with Ann Danes a couple of times as well to help me learn the song. Somewhere in the middle of my preparations I realized that my fears were of the judgments of man. Would I be able to do good enough? What would people think? What if I made a mess of it? I then realized that the Lord had asked me to do this and that He would qualify me to do that which He had asked. In my fears I was only thinking of myself. I determined to turn it all over to Him. I would do what I could to prepare and then do the best I could. But most importantly I needed to fear God not man!
I felt good about the performance. I felt strength that was not my own. I was grateful that Catherine was able to join our little ward choir and was there singing with me which made it an even more special event. I could see her smiling at me out of the corner of my eye in the tenor section.
I believe the message of the Lord was delivered for the Spirit in the meeting was strong, the children were quiet and reverent. The speakers delivered amazing talks. It was wonderful!!!
I love how the Lord moves in mysterious ways! As I sat here reflecting about the Sacrament meeting and the speakers I felt prompted to call Brother Mease to tell him that I really appreciated his talk on Sunday. I was really touched by the Spirit and knew that he was talking by the Spirit that he had left his own agenda behind and spoke what the Lord wanted him to. So now in my calling him and telling him that I really appreciated his talk he reminded me of my testimony of two months ago about having someone "Check On Me". He said that at the end of the meeting no one acknowledged him. He said: "You know how no one wants to be noticed and everyone wants to be acknowledged?" So he told me of his preparations and prayers and that he really wanted to be lead by the Spirit. I told him of my preparations for singing the solo part for the choir's song and he said "Oh, was that you? It was beautiful, I wondered who it was that was singing. I should have turned around to look." Then he told me of the discussions that had gone on to have the choir number changed and have Sister Wilson, our full time missionary, sing but she had said no to the request. Then he made the comment about all the angels that must have been attending us to have that song be sung in that meeting because he wasn't scheduled to talk (he is the Ward Mission Leader) until the end of the month and it had been moved up to the Sunday that the choir was scheduled to sing "As I Have Loved You". I know that I was attended to by angels in my preparation and performance and that angels sang with me and the choir. Now I am even more grateful because I could be the Lord's messenger again as I was asked to make a simple phone call to thank Brother Mease for his talk. He needed to be acknowledged just like when I needed to be "Checked In On" two months ago when Sherry Krull was the Lord's messenger and called me.
I hope this all makes sense because I am beginning to feel like I am rambling. So I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will be upon you as you read this posting and feel the true meaning of it all!
