Simply Trusting (from 2010)

There we were:
My dad standing at the front, mom playing the keyboard, my two brothers, sister, and I droning,
"Trusting Jesus, that is all"
The song had lost its thrill after hearing my mom practice it 25 times a day. And half those times, she called "Leather Lungs" James to come sing and keep the beat. So forgive us if dad had to stop and say, "I want to hear you SING. This is Church!".

One of us (probably me) was brave enough to complain, "But its just our family. We might as well stay home and have family devotions".
Taking a moment to collect his patience, my dad decided to honor this remark with a reply.
"Listen. This IS church. This is Victory Baptist Church. We have services on Wednesday night. Even if it's only our family, we'll be here. So I want you to sit UP, Listen, and SING."

So, once again, mom played the intro and following James' rousing lead, we belted out, "Simply trusting every day-- trusting in a stormy way-- even though my faith is small-- trusting Jesus, that is all!"

Victory Baptist Church met at a YMCA daycare facility. Now this is not your average American daycare. The concrete block building was L-shaped and built around an outdoor basketball court. It was a tropical-typical building. There was about a foot of space between the walls and tin roof. This was to allow air to circulate in the equatorial heat and also to allow flying cockroaches to terrify 12-year old girls during church service. Passersby must have wondered about our denomination...

On Sunday afternoons, my family and some volunteers from another church across the island would go to the town center. We would grab a quick lunch and then stand outside the shopping center, wander from table to table at the hawker center, or stand at the bus interchange handing out flyers and inviting people to church. Since Jody and I usually ate lunch at McDonald's, that's where we handed out flyers. We got a lot of stares and several hostile words. But Dad just said smile, and keep on going. So we did. And people came to church.

I loved Sundays because I got to help in Children's Church. By help I mean sit in the back and laugh until my sides ached at the antics of James and his best friend Cedric. James had the incredible ability to get people to sing. The kids loved him. He led them in chorus after chorus. Then there was a Bible lesson. But my favorite part was the puppet show. Looking back I realize those were some pretty corny jokes. But in my eyes, James and Cedric were the next Abbot and Costello.

I remember one Wednesday night it was once again just our family at church. James got up to lead the singing. But before he could start, in walked my buddy Keith. Rain began to tap on the tin roof. I watched it sliding down the banana leaves outside the door. My heart was filled with contentment, and I could sense that same feeling in my family around me. Our faithfulness had paid off. A teenage boy had come to learn about Christ. We sang our hearts out that night. "Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus , that is all".

Now I have to tell you the truth. I didn't like everything my family did. I got hot. I got tired. I got bored. I stayed in Children's Church mainly to get out of preaching service. If I could have talked my parents into letting me stay home while they handed out tracts, I would have. But not only did my parents demand church attendance, they demanded service. And they encouraged a good attitude.
I'm so thankful they did. The Lord worked in my heart during those years. I saw faith in action. I learned lessons that have lasted a lifetime.

Two years ago, Son and I were getting ready to go on a survey trip to Singapore. I began to second-guess everything. I worried about leaving my two kids while I went half-way around the world. I worried that my love of Singapore would color Son's judgement. I went to church the Sunday before we left a nervous wreck. I sat in service and prayed that God would help me get out of this trip. Then Pastor Duncan opened the invitation and I went to the piano. The song--- "Simply Trusting". The Lord showed me what to do.

A couple weeks ago, I realized that we are in a slump. I was again second-guessing. Are we really supposed to go to Singapore? Was that just my wishful thinking? What are we doing with our lives? How will we EVER get our student loans paid? Pastor Duncan preached an encouraging message that Sunday morning. It seemed just for me. But I was brushing it off. And then he opened the invitation, and I went to the piano. The song -- "Trusting Jesus". As I sat there, I was transported back in time. I heard the rain tapping on the tin roof. I felt the contentment of my family surrounding me. And I heard the words, "Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all".