Breath

Planning Sunday services is an exercise in listening to, and trusting, the Holy Spirit. Dane experienced a bit of that a couple weeks ago as he was putting together songs for this past Sunday. He wrote,

"There is a little bit of a breath theme. When I think about that I don't have to think about my breathing, it helps me realize that it is all about God. It tends to take me to a place where I am more fully recognizing His presence with me and my dependence on Him. There is also a purifying component to me: kind of... out with the bad, in with the good."

The cool thing is seeing how the Holy Spirit moves. Heather Funk, responding to Dane's song selections, sent a message of encouragement to Debra Hansen. Many of you probably know Debra. She had a lung transplant 20 years ago, but even today has difficulty breathing. After living in St. Louis for the past 2 and 1/2 years waiting for a new lung transplant, she returned to Lincoln last month after a cancer diagnosis disqualified her for new lungs. She is cancer-free now, and enjoying her time back with friends and family in Lincoln.

Heather wrote on Debra's Facebook wall, "Girl, you are on my mind and heart! Today's worship is dedicated to you, my dear friend." If anyone is "breathing in Your grace, breathing out Your praise" in response to God, it's Debra. She has always inspired me with her joy, her peace, and her smile.

The Holy Spirit works in the planning of a Sunday morning, in the gentle prompting to write something encouraging to a friend, and in the way another friend is thankful for each breath. May we praise God, no matter the circumstances, and in a variety of ways.