Desiring God

As a little girl the Sanctuary seemed large enough to hold a million people (probably closer to two hundred). The hard wooden pews were a rich dark brown not very comfortable for children. The large stained glass windows never seemed to lose their fascination and sometime when the sun shone through just right it reminded me of butterscotch swirl ice cream. I still love to go back there in my memories because it was in this setting I heard the songs of faith and promise so many times I could sing many by memory before I was eight years old. I loved Standing on the Promises, Stepping in the Light, (my favorite) and Come and Dine.

Ezra Miller was often the Sunday morning song leader (nope no worship teams back then). The congregation worshipped with joy and abandon. Sometimes the joy would get into their feet and they would dance which was totally fascinating to a three year old. What an Amazing voice Ezra Miller and that’s probably where I fell in love with tenors. I still remember there was one hymn that they always got in the wrong key for him. He would say, “I don’t know much about music and the only thing I know about four flats is that morning I went out and all my tires were flat but I think that’s what the song is written in. Can we all get in that key?” The congregation would laugh and the orchestra would start again.

           There were no worship teams, although, every person who played an instrument brought it and played in a group on the platform. The pastor’s wife played and accordion. I can still remember her playing and singing, “Lord, don’t let me fail. Help me make the bride. When my faith is weak, keep me by thy side. When my way is dark, always let me see something in my life that you have done for me.”

        The pews were filled every Sunday morning and Sunday night and we had two midweek services, not just one. Nevertheless, I think we were there every time the doors were open and we always stayed to the end regardless of how late it was. I remember going home sometime after midnight one Sunday night after a particularly lively service and my mother telling me to get to sleep fast because it was just a few hours before we had to go to school.

         It is here that I am reminded of the story where Peter and John go to the temple and as they arrive they encounter a lame man, begging for silver and gold. Poor themselves in worldly wealth they had something they could give away. It was faith in a mighty God whose unlimited power could change this man’s life. One of those apostle’s spoke simple but meaningful words, “Silver and gold have I none but such as I have I give thee.” He reached down and took the man’s arm and the power of God touched him. Not only did he walk but he caused a disruption. I don’t believe many people went leaping and jumping into the temple in those days. Oh it must have been a sight. I wished I could have been there. The temple leaders were probably aghast that anyone would behave so in such a holy place. Then I think of what it must have been like for Peter and John. I wonder if they were afraid they were in trouble because the priest and the people were upset that they messed up temple traditions.  I wonder if they were amazed that God actually healed the lame man without Jesus present. What would it take for us to approach a lame man and take his hand and say, “In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk”? But mostly I think they had spent so much time with Jesus that they just knew that anything was possible. They had spent so much time with Jesus that they knew who He was and had experienced the power that dwelt in Jesus. They had spent so much time in Jesus’ presence that, “they too could be about their father’s business”. They had experienced time after time Jesus’ compassion for hurting, broken people until healing the sick was normal to them. Normal can you imagine? It was not a unique once in lifetime, “God really showed up that day story”. It was the story of the New Testament. We all have stories where there was no doubt that God showed up and something incredible happened. I love to hear those stories. Could it be that we are missing what God is doing because we haven’t been in His presence enough to believe that anything is possible with God? We can’t share with others something that we don’t have. Biblical knowledge and theology is not enough to help the lame, deaf, and blind. It will only happen as we spend enough time with Jesus that we act just like He does.    Spending enough time with Jesus that we are touched with His compassion for the hurting, and until we absolutely know how great God is.  When I was younger, I heard a man say, “You can have as little or as much of God as you want.”  What would happen to the world if the church desired God more than anything else?

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee oh, God. Psalm 42:1