Crusades

I was asked to blog about the Crusades that were held Tue, Wed and Thurs night. Things got really busy so I didn’t actually have time until today (Sunday) and I will be honest that the more I thought about the crusades the harder it was to verbalize how incredible they were.  First, we were under a big white double tent. We used this location for VBS as well so we already knew were the fire-ant mounds were. J  The music was loud and fun. This drew people in from the small village of Kernaham.  Setting a time schedule in Trinidad is interesting. It is more of an approximate guess as to when things will start and end but here was my first lesson and reminder. God doesn’t work in our time frame.  I need to slow down and wait on HIM.  The crusades were “scheduled” from 7-9. The praise team from Faith and Fellowship Bible Church lead the worship at the beginning and I wish every person could hear them. It was fantastic. Contemporary music with a Caribbean feel. Our group then was scheduled for a choir piece, skit, testimony and preaching of God’s Word. Again, being a schedule person I was learning all sorts of lessons when piece by piece things were being cut from the plan because we were running out of time. 

Lesson #2 : Things that I think are important aren’t always what God thinks are important. Yes, the skit was fun, the testimony was dynamic and the choir piece was beautiful but God didn’t want to use those at that moment. Instead of becoming discouraged by that, I realized that there is great joy in being prepared for something, being ready and willing even if we are not called on. Serving unconditionally … and that means even if the song gets cut.  I was reminded of Mary and Martha. I have a tendency to get so caught up in the schedule and what needs to be done that I forget to sit at the feet of Christ and just listen. Lives were surrendered to Jesus. Hearts were filled with hope and that is why we came: to share the Gospel with the people of Kernaham. 

It is hard to describe the Crusades but I will never forget them. They have been etched in my mind as a place where in all the busyness I was reminded by God to  “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10
-Leah Raley