Acting on faith
Monday, February 24, 2014
Linda Rose Ingrisano
I want to share with you a most beautiful experience of acting on my faith rather than reacting from myself. Here is what happened....
I lead an ensemble, Linda Rose and Company, and we were invited, along with Answered Prayers Cross, to minister to women at the Mary Hall Freedom House in Atlanta, Ga.
The ensemble consists of four backup singers and three musicians. The singers and I bought airline tickets and the musicians planned on driving up. But about a week before the trip the musicians informed me that they were not able to go. Each had a good reason.
What to do now? How will we sing without any instrumentation? Normally I would have cancelled the gig, but our singers had bought tickets and taken off work to be there.
In the past I would have felt guilt, fear, embarrassment, anxiety. I would have been so stressed out — crying, thinking of what a disaster this was. Why did I think I could do this? Who do I think I am? Etc.
Instead, I went to the Lord and said, “Well, Lord, apparently you have someone else in mind that you want to have play with us, so this is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Thank you for guiding me to find that person.”
The next morning when I got up I had the idea to call a friend of mine in Atlanta whom I had sung with. When I asked her if she or another friend would be available, she informed me that it would be impossible for them but she gave me the name of someone who might help.
I called this young man and told him my story and asked if he would be available. He said, “Sure, I am off on Mondays and would love to play for you.” When I asked what he does for a living, he replied, “I am the music minister for the Catholic liturgies at Emory College and work part-time at St. Peter Chanel Church here in Atlanta.”
Wow! God is so good! He was also gracious enough to bring with him a bass player!
I didn’t even mention that I couldn’t get in touch with the foundress of the Mary Hall Freedom House to finalize timing and the program schedule: Could we get into the room to so that the sound equipment could be delivered and so that we could practice? After all we had not played with these musicians and didn’t even know if they knew the music. Answered Prayers Cross members also were going to come to set up.
Needless to say this was an experience in acting on my faith. And the blessings were incredible! Since I went to the Lord with this challenge, I was gifted with peace and confidence that God had my back. I even laughed at the seemingly messed up plans.
The keyboard player and bass player seemed like as if they had played with us forever. It turned out that one of my sons played drums with us and the other sang. Double blessings! The backup singers were so “on” and the women who attended were so amazing. They were standing, singing, worshiping with us. We had chances to pray with them and one of our singers handed out rosaries to them. This was so much more than I had ever expected or dreamed of.
When we act on our faith — look up instead of around — there is no telling what God will do.
Prayer assignment: Remember a time when you acted on your faith. Thank God for that time and share it with someone this week.
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