When Someone Else Writes Your Song

Leadership Development, Testimonies
Oct 272010

I love music. I love to listen to music and sing music. I love praise and worship and anything that focuses my thoughts and heart motives on Christ. I have many favorites; they draw me closer to our Savior and Creator. They fill my heart with His love.

But with this song, it’s like someone else saw deep into my soul and wrote what I wanted to but didn’t. It’s by a group called downhere. I saw them in June of 2008 at Stone Mountain Park while attending AtlantaFest, and while struggling with something for a while (putting my name in for leadership selection for this board position), they sang a song that was like God saying, “Go For It.”

Have you ever had a life verse from Scripture or some kind of motto in your life that was more prominent than others? For most of my life, mine has been from the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah. I learned this verse when I was a young girl attending church and missions conferences, always in reference to giving our lives over to God and His work in the world.

The song includes some of these lyrics….

You reach for the deepest hope in me
And call out for the things of eternity.

That’s what God was doing. He had to dig deep into my relationship with Him to pull out something eternal. He was calling me into a God-sized assignment, something I couldn’t do in the flesh, but that was promising to bless many and reap something big. For Him.

Here I am, Lord send me
All of my life, I make an offering
Here I am, Lord send me
Somehow my story is part of Your plan
Here I am

This has been the chorus of my life….that whatever He has given me would be able to be returned as an offering unto Him. That He would call me, that I would answer. That He would continue to write His Name on my heart. That I would continue to acknowledge His work in my life and in my service.

These broken parts you redeem
Become the song that I can sing

He took a mess of a heart and still is recreating it in the image of His Son. He is just that loving and forgiving!  I love how He uses our natural talents, learned skills and spiritual gifts for His purposes. Are you seeing that this message is not just about me but also about you? Yes, you! YOU have so much to offer the Body of Christ, and I encourage you to listen to God’s song over you. What is He saying? How is He calling? Look for the confirmations of His calling in Scripture, in prayer, in conversations with trusted godly people, and just maybe, you’ll hear Him singing His song to you at an outdoor music festival. I did.

Thanks for the opportunity to serve you in the area of Communications for these two years. It’s been an incredibly sanctifying journey.

Somehow my story is part of His plan.

Love,

Melinda

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 ESV

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The Communications – 3VP update is published on the fourth Wednesday of the month. For questions or comments please email communications@pwoc.org

Posted by Melinda Hemphill at 2:00 am Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Identity Update – Still Missing

Real life stories
Oct 012009

For those of you who read my blog entry last Thursday, here’s an update on my missing military ID card: 

  • Checked at the Air Force Academy Fitness Center front desk three times to see if any good-natured Samaritan, or kind and benevolent Colorado Springs resident, might have turned it in. No such good fortune. And no fortune cookie either. 
  • The last time I checked at the Fitness Center front desk, a helpful young woman called the Security Forces desk to inquire whether anyone in a particularly good mood had turned in a Firtko, and they said, “No card with that name here.”
  •  Each time I walked from my car, to the locker room, from the locker room, to my car, I checked the ground, the grass, the parking lot. Nothing with my face on it. 
  • So, I officially no longer exist. I even got searched! Well, not me personally, but my car – a red 2007 Honda CR-V … oh, right, you don’t care about that. 
  • When I had to enter Fort Carson the first time without my precious Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege card, the security dude who checked my adorable (NOT!) driver’s license was quite kind. You’d think I’d know these things … I had entered the lane where you go if you’re not official (even though the red, 2007 Honda CR-V has stickers, which makes it official) … have you ever had a car that was more official than you? Okay, sorry, digressing again.  
  • So, back on point – I didn’t think I would be considered official because I didn’t have that priceless piece of laminated information extended from my sweet little paw. However, the kind security gentleman said to me, “You can go in the regular lane because your car has stickers. You don’t need to show your registration and insurance to get on post. Just show your driver’s license.” Duh. Yes, I felt like a dip wad. But, it just goes to show you that I RARELY lose anything, especially my entire LIFE all at one time. This was a newbie experience. 
  • Even though I felt like a dip wad, I was totally relieved that I still counted. Or, at least my vehicle counted. I don’t count for much until I get new plastic. 
  • Well, guess what! Just yesterday my U.S. Army – HOOHAH! – husband accompanied me to the DEERS office to get an identity replacement. Yeah, I know. Apparently Uncle Sam doesn’t acknowledge my existence unless I have a soldier with the same last name, wearing ACUs, standing right beside me, declaring that I do, in fact, exist and that we are married, and that I have a right to reclaim my lost identity. The only problem is that the DEERS office was closed from 11 a.m. until closing for an “organizational day.” You know what that really means, right? A bold-faced boondoggle! 
  • So, here I am, on the ninth day without my personhood on a page and I’m trusting God. I trust Him to protect my identity; I’m grateful that He is in control of everything and has allowed this little challenge for a reason, although I might not ever know that reason; I’m glad that replacing a military ID card isn’t a big deal … unless the DEERS office is closed!!! Deep breath … I won’t lose my peace J; and, this is just another awesome reminder of my human imperfection and total dependence upon the One True God and Creator of the Universe.  
  • Finally, no matter what happens in my life and yours, “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3).
Posted by LauraFirtko at 1:40 pm Tagged with: , , , ,
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