Sharing Your Gifts

In ways you least suspect, God answers prayers.  I have been praying for a couple of years that the Lord would bring someone into our lives with a heart for music.  My husband, who neither reads nor can write music, has been given over 70 songs (both the words and melodies).  His only way to capture those songs is to record them acapella.  He can hear orchestra's playing them, congregations and choirs singing them; but, that is impossible without sheet music for them.

We met Celeste and her husband Mike last December when members of our church and others came to Atria, where my husband ministers, to share a Christmas Program with the residents.  Celeste accompanied the group on piano and Mike sung in the choir.  At that time we had no idea how gifted this young lady was.

As we got to know Celeste and Mike we discovered that they both love the Lord and are both gifted in many ways.  As a side note:  They will be leaving for the mission field and will be gone sometime before the end of this year. Mike is a doctor and will be joining a medical missionary team in Africa.  Celeste will be working with women trapped in the sex trafficking industry with the desire to win them to Christ.

Through our relationship with them, we discovered that Celeste has been singing since she was a tiny little girl and also plays the piano--even composing her own musical arrangements.  Michael shared a few of his songs with Celeste and she was able to write the piano chords for them.  Three of Michael's songs became part of a one woman, outreach concert,  that we hosted at Atria on April 19th.

As we sat listening to this gifted young woman sing praises to the Lord, our eyes filled with tears.  As we heard Michael's songs being played and sung by someone who we have both grown to love, we were overwhelmed with thanksgiving to the Lord.

Little did we know, another sweet Christian sister, India Curry, who is a gifted artist as well, video taped Celeste practicing for the concert in her home and posted that video on Youtube.  You can watch it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcXn5x26Alo

This is the body of Christ working together to build up and edify believers, bring glory to God, and reach the lost.

What God has taught me through this is that He has everything and everyone under His sovereign control and overcomes all obstacles that we may think are present in our lives.  He will bring those members of His body together who will glorify Him with their gifts in the most unexpected ways--even if it's only for a season!

Rejoicing in Christ - The Center of Our Joy!