A Night to Remember!

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?  Job 38:22

It wasn't long ago that my mom gave me 2 CDs with her favorite songs. As I drove away and the children began to doze off in the backseat, I slid in the first CD. It didn't take long before I was overcome with emotion. The words were familiar but the effect that it had on me was different. There were only a couple of songs that I had never heard before but even those brought on an emotion that was unexpected. 

Growing up mom would play music like this throughout the house. Since receiving this "treasure" from mom, they became a constant source of inspiration to me. This week I had listened to them again after being consumed by the political news over the past few weeks. There was one particular song that I found myself playing over and over yet I had no idea what the name of it was or who sang it. All I knew was that it made me feel a little bit closer to "the way things used to be". If I had a penny for every time I have listened to this particular song...

Friday afternoon my dear friend, Brenda invited me to an event happening that night at Grace Fellowship. I was tired and it had been a long week at school. I had been out sick a day and was overwhelmed by the work I was going to be bringing home. With it being short notice, I didn't really want to go. My plan was to go home and rest so that I could get up early Saturday and get busy working on next week's plans, grading papers, and all the household chores that I had fallen behind on. Something was pulling on me to go and despite my not wanting to do anything but go home I said yes. I had to be there at 5:50 which I already knew would be difficult since I don't get out of school until 4:30 but even then it would take longer to pack up my things and get out the door. Then another 45 minutes to get home, clean up and change clothes. It made me tired just thinking about it. I rushed home, THANK YOU JESUS for lining things up just right so that my speeding did not result in a ticket or wreck. 

By the time I arrived at Grace, I felt the affects of a hectic week and couldn't wait until I could lean back in my recliner and just relax. I decided to enjoy the evening with my friends. There were so many people (women) and more food than I could have imagined. I still had no idea what I was about to experience.  

Brenda began to explain that the lady who was singing used to sing with the Gaither's and she was a cancer survivor. I told her that my mom and grandparents loved listening to the Gaither's and that my dad had even taken them to a homecoming concert right before he died. Now with my Papa fighting cancer for the second time, I felt blessed to be at this event and I knew this was going to be a night to remember. If only I had been able to invite my mom and a couple of friends from work to come share this night with me. 

As we moved into the sanctuary, I started to get excited. I saw a very attractive lady pictured on the screen. I still didn't know her even when she walked onto the stage. I thought to myself that I probably wouldn't even know any of the songs she would sing. The lady that walked onto the stage was Janet Pascal. 

As she began to sing, chills ran down my spine as I heard the familiar sound of the song that I had played in my car over and over since my mom had given it to me nearly a year ago. When she sang the first words, I struggled to hold back the tears. It was such a surreal moment.

 "Must have felt strange to end up stranded; between an army and a sea 

they must have felt forsaken wondering why

God wasn't all he said he'd be. 

When your backs against the wall; thats the hardest place of all. 

But somewhere between provision and impossibilities

God will make make a way when there seems to be no way

Forever He is faithful

He will make a road when you bare a heavy load

I know God will make a way.

By the time she finished that song, I was crying and so was everyone else in the building. It was amazing. She talked about some of her experiences with the Gaither's and read some from her book, Treasures of the Snow. We laughed, we cried...there wasn't a dry eye in the place. To think I nearly missed out on this opportunity is too much to imagine. 

Then she read from her book and I realized that I was among a large number of cancer victims just like my Papa. It was painful trying to hold back the tears. I didn't want embarrass myself and the 150+ women that filled the sanctuary. She went on to explain that  after finding out she had breast cancer, her sister was diagnosed as well. She asked a show of hands from those who were surviving with cancer and the hands that went up were astonishing. I said a quiet prayer and thanked God for making sure that I did not miss this and that I was so amazed by the coincidences that continued to happen on a day that I assumed would be uneventful. 

It was truly a night to remember. What a blessing to have been able to hear Janet Pascal's story that seemed to be so close to my own home. My last post discussed Job and his sufferings. Much to my surprise AGAIN, Janet's book discusses the conversations between God and Job, which is where the title of her book comes from.

 Thank you Janet Pascal for coming to little, old "Hog Mountain" to share your amazing story. You have been an inspiration to me and I am forever changed.