In many ways, I feel as though my heart is full today, this week. I have seen many encouraging things in the lives of my brothers and sisters, some of whom I have known for a decade and some of whom I have never formally met.

God is doing things sometimes seems like a very silly phrase but it's true and maybe the simplicity represents awe. It's good that He is God and no one else is. He's the best at it.

Respect for privacy limits what I can say on a public blog but maybe that's for the best. Mulling it over now, I realise that the theme is people serving God in a new or novel way. Serving God in a way you have already served or have always served is obviously still valuable but I think the newness has struck me profoundly. He is still working. I forget. I forget, I forget, I forget.

And in a way I feel left in the dust. I feel seated among those standing or running. I feel cowardly.

On the other hand I have felt exhilarated because of some new opportunities this week in my most obvious niche: music.

On Monday and Tuesday, I was composing cello parts for Sunday's set. It's the first week in my almost-six years as Music Director that we've had two stringed instruments on the team at the same time. I realised that most wouldn't care if both violin and cello played the melody. I realised that some even on the music team wouldn't notice the difference. But, things like this are my gargoyles on the roof. Things like this delight me. Let's draw the most beauty out of these instruments in this context that we can.

On Wednesday the band (specially formed with a music set specially tailored) did exceptional work. They really did. Some have grown together over months and years, some are finding new confidence because of in-team comraderie, some are very new to us but eager and drown in welcome, and all desire to use their gift to magnify the Lord and try to lead His people to do the same. The Lord was there with us. He gave us more than a rehearsal. He gave us more than the sum of our parts. After the second song someone asked me cheekily, "Are you having trouble getting that smile off your face?" and only then did I realise I had been grinning nonstop for a while. Two songs in particular I am over-the-moon excited to share with the congregation. It will be beautifully done to point to our beautiful God. I'm so proud of those ladies.

On Thursday (that's tonight), I auditioned a viola player and ended up with far more goosebumps than I bargained for. He played well. He played so very well. The richness of that small wooden instrument, lovingly and carefully played, filled the large room with the life and joy that only music played to the Lord can bring. He astounded me. To say I am excited for what lies ahead (considering all the new changes in the music ministry) is a disturbing understatement. On the pieces where he played to my accompaniment and especially as he played a descant part over my melody, I struggled to not leap off my seat with delight and gladness. If you are not a musician/vocalist, you may not understand that feeling. Music is a great, great, great gift from God. It can only be from Him. I have no earthly explanation for the extent of its goodness. Playing worshipful music with others to the same God we all adore is a wonderful, blessed thing.

A few months ago we had no stringed instruments. Now there is a trio. They are different voices (figurative voices) from guitar and piano. I think I am excited because we can use those different voices to express and intimate different things about God. (If you were a baker, I could say it's like choosing different shaped nozzles for the icing. Or if you were into fashion, I could say it's like choosing different accent pieces: a cherry red clutch purse doesn't change an outfit the same way printed pumps would.)  It's as if praising God is desperate and urgent such that we just need to use anything we can find to do it. More instruments (figurative and literal) mean more praise. Let's do it.