Because Thou Hast Done It

            Sometimes I just need to go back to the firm foundation and substance of the Psalms. When I read the words of King David I’m in awe of the amazing writer he was. The powerful sonnets he put to paper always reminds me how faithful my God is. But there is one particular Psalm that has a specific verse I never noticed until this week. It pierced my heart in a mighty way.

Psalm 52:8- I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it…

Wow, I can’t even put into words how much this verse blessed me. There is so much God has done for me my whole life, but in the last two years, He has gone above and beyond. Today, I just want to take time to remember and praise Him for one unexpected gift I never dreamed I would be a part of.

Writing Vespers for My Church’s Youth Camp.

So just what are vespers? They are thought-provoking mini-dramas to cause the kids who attend to examine whether they are where they need to be in their walk with God. Honestly, if you would have asked me in my early 20’s I would have told you I would probably be a girl’s counselor at camp by the time I was 30. But God knows what His children need and He opened this door two years ago. My assistant Sunday School Teacher, Ashlie Lansing pulled me aside after class one day and we had the following conversation.

“Pray for me, I was asked to be the head of vespers at youth camp and I’m not sure if I should do it.”

I squealed in excitement. “Oh, you’ll be great at that!”

“Uhh, I don’t know…”

“You totally would!” I assured her. “And if you need help, I’ll help in any way I can.”

That was the beginning of a God-ordained partnership. Ashlie and I have talked about this, but we never would have imagined we would be a team in this way. When I was seven, she was 16 and larger than life to me. I looked up to her and aspired to have a Christ-like relationship as she had when I became a teenager. It’s so surreal to me I’m now working with one of my role-models, but it was all in God’s plans because we completely edify and compliment each other. When God gives us an idea, I’m able to give it life with the words He gives me to write, and Ashlie is able to put the technology behind it that adds the power and awe it needs to complete the thought God impressed upon us.

Ashlie brings talents to this partnership that I can’t, including an amazing discernment sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and I’m able to pursue my God-given purpose and calling to write in a way I never expected. Ashlie often likes to say that God uses us the way He inspired the Bible. There were many different authors, but God is the inspiration behind it. I really believe God’s philosophy is why use just one of His children when He can use many because He knows how much it means to our souls to feel useful. Also, when several people work together and the final outcome is just right, then there is no doubt God was behind it.

The best part of Ashlie and I’s team is we realized we’re making an eternal impact on these kids. God has impressed on both of our hearts that our roles in creating vespers are a mission field. One day, God whispered in my heart, that the vespers performed each night aren’t just done and forgotten. He brings them the kids minds throughout the school year to give them the strength to be victorious amidst the temptation and peer pressure they face on a daily basis. Wow, that really challenged me! Immediately I felt the responsibility and magnitude of the task God had given me. The resolve to take this calling seriously became that much stronger. 

I don’t have children of my own yet, but I still love the Bible verse that says, train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he shall not depart from it. I realized that even though the kids that come to youth camp aren’t my own, God’s asking me to do exactly what this verse says through the words He has given to write- Train up these kids in the way they should go, so when they leave the safe confines of camp, they won’t depart God’s truth.

I praise God for the sweet friendship and team, Ashlie and I have formed. It has given me the perfect picture of what Paul meant when he wrote that the body of Christ should work together like the parts of the human body work together. I also praise God for the door He’s opened for me to use my writing in such an impactful way. And lastly, I praise God for the opportunity to put the Bible verse I love into action. 

So as you can see only the Lord could have done this. Now I ask you to pray. Ashlie and I have begun planning the vespers we believe God has given us. Pray they will be relevant to the issues these kids have to face. Petition God to plant these dramas into the hearts of every boy and girl that are there, so when they need strength, they can remember this source and draw from it. Ask God to help us be sensitive to the people who should be a part of each vesper and who He can use to help us portray the message we are trying to convey. Above all, pray if there are souls that need to be saved, God will use each play to convict and bring them to Him.

Because God has done it and He wants to do it again.