Experiencing God's Glory through a Concert...

I know -- it's July now -- but life's been hectic and not allowed for much blogging time, so please just step back into June for a moment as I cover some of the highlights.
Several memorable things came about in the month of June, but the coolest has to be the CASTING PEARLS’ concert and the completely bizarre way it came to be.

What an amazing feeling to know that my wishful thinking out loud had something to do with the amazing, miraculous act that brought that concert to our church!. Obviously God was listening and granting faithful provisions for which I, and many others in attendance, are extremely grateful for!

See, in early June, I glanced at a local band’s myspace page to see if there were any Christian music concerts scheduled soon, with added hopes in finding a known “headliner” coming soon. During the winter months here in Alaska we’d enjoyed a steady roll of good Christian music from various bands coming up, so we got a bit spoiled. Upon checking, I was thrilled to see that CASTING PEARLS would be doing a show in Alaska! YEAH – and their concert was just next week, but then noticed they were only playing one show in Fairbanks – some 300 miles away. I thought, “Seems like a great show, but just too far to drive! Too bad we’ll miss it!” Then I continued to think about the rationale of only playing one show in Alaska – and in Fairbanks, no doubt!!! I thought, “Wow, that’s so unique! Here it is primetime fishing season in Alaska, and these guys are traveling to Alaska for only one show in – and in Fairbanks, no doubt, and completely bypassing an Anchorage show (Anchorage is the largest town and usually attracts the concerts)!” I remember thinking this so very absurd and just mindblowing to think what an opportunity they’re passing up by not playing in the heavily-populated Anchorage, or better yet and closer to home, the Mat-Su area. Then I thought how cool it would be to have the Casting Pearls play at our church! I even caught myself drifting off into a daydream about how neat that would be for them to actually perform on our stage in our little church!

Well, believe it or not, God saw it through! It was such a spur-of-the-moment concert, and still I am not certain exactly what transpired to make it happen, but unmistakably it was the works of God and He was in control! An email was sent out to our church members late Wednesday night announcing a SURPRISE CONCERT featuring Colorcast (the local band from Fairbanks) opening for the CASTING PEARLS, along with guest speaker, Crystal Miller, a survivor of the Colombine school tragedy (and my, my, my, what a testimony she has!). So with 2 days to prepare, our little church hosted the most personalized concert ever! It was absolutely wonderful and spiritually uplifting – just what I needed! Even being held in this smaller venue, it still had such a tremendous impact & truly energized those attendees!

All I know about how it came to be is that on Wednesday afternoon, someone called the church wanting to know what time Friday’s concert would begin. Dumbfounded and unaware of any concert on Friday, the church receptionist denied there was any concert on the church schedule. The caller asked that she double check by going directly to the Casting Pearls website online which showed they would be playing at Church on the Rock on Friday (only 2 days away). Sure enough, there it was on the band’s calendar of shows!

This mesmerizing deed will continue to be a defining moment in my ever-growing faith! Undoubtedly, it demonstrated an amazingly powerful display of the wonders God can give if you just believe!!!!!

God’s love is so wonderful! We continue to receive His many blessings! We thank you Lord!

---Gen---