Right Around the Corner…
Emanate in Franklin, TN
I have only gotten to attend Grace Center’s young adult group, Emanate, on a few occasions as most of the time I am on the road when it meets. But, towards the end of last week I knew that no matter how worn down I was I would attend the following Monday. Monday arrived and my exhaustion from my busy schedule started to persuade me out of attending Emanate. About the time I decided I may just stay home after all I received a text message inviting me to play viola at Emanate that night. I couldn’t say yes fast enough. There is something incredible about this group of people and the way they cry out to God. I had been wanting to participate with my instrument in worship but the right time had not come about. God’s timing in me coming in that night to play could not have been more perfect. “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20. That verse came to life for me last night.
I arrived at around 7pm for ‘rehearsal.’ I am use to structured rehearsals involving chord/ number charts and song orders. Last night I received none of those things. I knew it was gonna be a good night. 
We rehearsed the remnants of 3 songs and then went behind stage to just enjoy each other. When it was time to lead the body in worship we got up on stage and our worship leader, Chris McClarney, started playing a song we had not even discussed, let alone practiced. It was a powerful night. God touched so many hearts and you could see them genuinely crying out for God. The freedom I felt and the power that I saw manifested was priceless. The Kingdom of God is real… not merely talk but containing a POWER that is priceless. Just thinking about it today I am in awe and also can’t stop smiling. Last night I felt like what I was experiencing was what I designed for. It is an amazing feeling when you know you are where you are meant to be and that God uniquely designed for you to be there.
I walked off stage with a plastered smile on my face. I also walked off stage with not a clue of reality either. It was probably a good thing. :p I left my viola sitting on stage and then as I sat down in the back I realized that I was ‘stuck’ at this meeting until the very end. This is a bit of a charismatic group so I knew it could take awhile. So, I made myself comfortable in my seat and prayed that the Lord would give me energy that I was majorly lacking. I had a bit of help with the jell-o pudding cups they had in the back for a snack. It was G-O-O-D!!! And when it came down to it, I was so grateful that God is in charge. I would have missed out on the POWER that God was showing if I had gone with my plan for the evening.
As the night progressed it was almost 10:00pm and the speaker had been sharing MAYBE for 15 minutes. He spoke on the goodness of God. Let’s just say… He had my attention. The goodness of God is something that is hard to cling to in troubled times yet it is something that is so freeing when you do grasp it. No matter how we feel, or what we are going through, God is still good. And there is such a peace that comes when you say it out loud and just let yourself feel it. It’s almost as if your cares start to fade. Anyways, I have much more to tell of this story…
Towards the end of the sermon, the speaker asked if the ‘violin girl was still around?’ After someone yelled out, ‘it’s a viola!’ I politely waved my hand from the back to let him know I was there. Of course my heart was pounding as I considered the next words that were about to come out of his mouth. ‘Perhaps he just wanted to pay me a compliment or maybe he had a word for me.’ Just to leave me and the other 300 people in suspense he simple said ‘good’ and started sharing a dream he had with us. My heart was RACING at this point. His dream…
‘I was at Emanate and I looked up on stage and a girl who I had never seen before was up there singing. She had an anointing on her and people were being healed.’
I believe that is everything he said but of course I was freaking out in my head over what he wanted with me so I may have missed a few parts to his dream. :p He then proceeded to ask if I were STILL there and of course again I raised my hand. He said, ‘In a minute I am going to have you come up on stage and play.’ He also said, ‘we are going into a time of prayer and healing.’ Next thing I knew I was heading on stage where I would spend the next 30 minutes playing over this incredible group of people and interceding for their healing… both physically and spiritually. I could have cried at that moment. God, in HIS perfect timing set me exactly where HE wanted me to be and showed me what I was created to do.
A few days before this experience I was discouraged and wondering if I had missed the mark. I wasn’t sure how my music fit into life and wasn’t sure if I had heard God right about my calling. All it took was one text message and an obedient worship leader to make my desires and yearnings my reality. My life view shifted at that moment. I literally looked out and saw God doing miracles while I got to just dance with my instrument. Words cannot express how amazing that was for me.
And if you are still interested in this story… here is a bit of background…
Months ago God prepared me for Monday night. On August 11, 2009 a woman I had known for only a few days prophesied these EXACT words over me,
‘Felt like God said this is a preparation time for all He is going to do in the future. This time is needed to go deep with him, for where He is taking you need to be fully grounded in him. Do not despise the small beginnings. God is preparing you for something big through music. And part of it is prophetic in nature. Your viola will be a prophetic instrument that when you play focused on Heaven, you will literally bring it down to earth and ppl will be set free from bondage they didn’t even know they had.’
I had been praying to see that in my reality because I wasn’t seeing that come to life. On Monday night at Emanate I saw that word come to life. And everything God has been taking me through over the last several months has been my preparation for what HE has in store. It was all right around the corner.
What is in store next?! I have no idea. But I do know that God has great things in store. He has made me to lie down in green pastures. The inheritance He has for me is good and complete. And, what I felt even a day ago is gone. My fear that I had missed my calling has been settled by my Father… can’t beat that!
I hope this encourages all of you who may be struggling with how God feels about you or with your calling in life. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that dry and harvest seasons are necessary to fulfill all that God has in store for your life. Embrace whatever season you are in because you never know what is right around the corner… And also remember that God is good. The sermon that evening could not have been more perfect for what God was doing in my life.
