Being Blessed or Being a Blessing or Both?
es, I am still alive. Yes, I have lots I would like to write about! Yes, I still occasionally manage to read other blogs. Yes, I am extremely swamped with work, etc., and don’t know when I’ll get back to substantive posting. (And yes, Scott, I still owe you a return volley!)
Thank you to those who have checked in with me to see if I was ok. I apologize for the silence.
Having said that, I do want to take a few minutes to report on a wonderful ministry today. In nearby Vilas, NC (a “blink and you’ll miss it” portion of road between here and Tennessee!) sits Brushy Fork Baptist Church.
Christy and I know several people who fellowship there, and finally, after several years of talking about it, arrangements were made for me to minister in music.
I strive, whenever I do minister in music at a gathering anywhere, to be a blessing to the people who gather. And that was certainly my desire today.
We attended the morning service, where I shared two songs during the service. Then, this evening, they were kind enough to allow me to have the entire evening service at my disposal to minister in whatever way I felt led.
I’m not sure who got the bigger blessing, however — the people that gathered or me. I simply must say that the portion of the body of Christ that is Brushy Fork Baptist Church is a sweet and warm and welcoming group. And they can sing! 
Anyway, it was a delightful evening where I definitely felt the Holy Spirit leading and shaping the service. And the responsiveness of the people there was very encouraging.
Thank you, Brushy Fork Baptist, for hosting our ministry tonight, and thank you to each person there (although I doubt any of them even know about this blog, much less read it!) for being a blessing to us.
Oh, and before I sign this off, let me share a really cool “God thing” that happened tonight…
We left the building, after saying goodbye to the few that were still there, and headed to Applebees for a much-needed meal (we had not eaten dinner before going to the service). Just as we pulled into the parking place at Applebees (about 10-15 minutes from the church building), Christy realized that she had left her purse at the church.
Even though we figured no one would be there at the church, we drove back out there. Sure enough, the building was all dark and closed up. But I said, “I’ll go up to the door anyway and see if maybe someone is still inside.”
I got to the double doors at the front of the church and saw that it was, indeed, dark everywhere within. I pulled on the right door — locked. Big surprise there! 
For whatever reason (thank you, Holy Spirit!), I pulled on the left door…and it opened!
I walked into the lobby in the dark, hoping there wasn’t an alarm that would go off! Sure enough, in the shadows over where our CD table had been, I saw Christy’s purse on the floor.
I picked it up, carried it outside, and let the door shut behind me. Then, out of curiosity, I turned around and tried the door again. It was locked securely!
By the time I got back to the car, the pastor had come out of his house. He had recognized us from across the parking lot and came out to see if everything was ok. I explained the situation to him, and told him about how the door had been unlocked for me to walk in and retrieve the purse. What a cool way for God to help us out!
He thanked me “for locking up” for them and we headed back to Applebees again for real this time.
Anyway, isn’t that so neat how God kept that door from shutting tight when the church was “locked up” the first time, so that I could easily go back in and retrieve Christy’s purse? That’s the kind of God we worship!
Until next time,
steve
September 17th, 2007 00:10
I agree, definitely both! What came to my mind as I was reading this is the kingdom truth that it really IS more blessed to give than to receive… Great story!
September 17th, 2007 08:03
I have found that when I am doing ministry, whether it be visiting a homebound, preaching in chapel at the nursing home, or making an evangelistic visit, that I intend to be a blessing but end up being the one blessed. Maybe when we place ourselves in the place of “blessability” that is what routinely happens; that God works in an out of the ordinary way…
And one other thing. What is it about women leaving their purses at church? I make no judgments, cast no aspersions, but this sure seems like normative behavior for a lot of ladies. If those things are so important, why are they leaving them everywhere?
September 17th, 2007 10:18
Sounds like a wonderful day. I think I know that church. I may have visited there for a gospel sing or something in years gone by.
It seems like everybody in that area knows how to sing, they teach children shape notes as soon as they learn how to read.
September 17th, 2007 23:58
I think you missed the point of the story, Mr Sisk. But thanks for pointing out my mistake
Seriously, I’m glad you pointed out that other people tend to leave their things lying around (I’m sure that’s it’s not just women who leave things behind) I was beginning to think I was losing my mind…glad to know I’m not the only one-
All joking aside, Steve’s point about the leading of the spirit of God in the service and after the service was incredible to experience. God is so good to us!
September 18th, 2007 06:35
Sounds to me like God knew you needed a little blessing in the midst of all the busy-ness. And He does provide for our needs, even when we aren’t aware of the real needs.
I’ve been kind of flat-out for the last few weeks, too, only it’s carpentry and roofing on my son’s house rather than music and related–we had to rebuild some stuff that wasn’t done right forty years ago to eliminate major leaks. I’ve hardly touched my guitar lately, and when I get to the computer late at night, about all I can do is read what’s on my favorite sites without posting anything, and blogging is out of the question.
September 18th, 2007 08:32
Christy,
Nahh…I didn’t miss the point, just had to rib you and Steve a little. If I wasn’t a forgetful sort, I would not have said anything. Better a purse than a kid, though.
We were in Food Lion yesterday. (Thankfully we live in Small Town, U. S. A., so I didn’t get too wired about this.) My wife had already taken the littlest two out to the van; the baby was screaming needing to be fed. I kept the other three with me as we checked out. We were walking out and as we were packing groceries into the van, my second daughter screamed, “Where’s Maddy?!?”
I looked around, and well, no Maddy. I ran back into the store and there she was, looking at some well-placed, kid-attention-getting, display of junk toys. The funny thing was she didn’t even realize we had left. I swallowed my heart back into its proper position. Like I said, better a purse than a kid.
Thanks for being a good sport!
September 18th, 2007 14:48
it sounds like a great evening; one of these days i hope we will be able to come to one of your events. This morning I went downstairs and Ryann had your CD playing. She is going to wear that thing out!
hope to see your family soon! give everyone our love
Igs
September 21st, 2007 18:28
The multiplication of blessing. You were blessed when the locked door didn’t latch because, we believe, God’s intervention. The pastor was blessed when he responded to seeing you in need. And we were blessed when you publicly gave Him praise.
As for forgetfulness: Purses and kids are easy to leave behind when you have many other things competing for your attention. But when you can’t remember why you went into the room you just entered….
September 22nd, 2007 10:54
Hope this encourages you and tells you what I think of your blog.
September 23rd, 2007 08:13
Heard it many years ago – “We are blessed to be a blessing!”
Enjoyed the story Steve … wish I couldv’e been there
October 2nd, 2007 20:51
I know where else you can minister in music…
Jer. 29:11 