The Beautiful Spirit Magazine Summer 2015 | Page 2

W hat a lovely sound drifted up the narrow stairway from our crowded basement! Our youngest son had started a Bible Study group which was meeting in our house. One busy evening he had rounded up forty or so of his friends for his monthly get-together. He had his friends bring their own instruments, and they made amazing sounds! Our son had a keyboard, a young lady brought her cello and another young man had his guitar. You might expect just noise from a group of teenagers - but I heard sweet sounds filling our home as they sang wonderful Christian songs. Quietly, I sat at the top of the stairs to listen in as the group sang song after song, and then our son talked about something from the Bible. Wow! As I listened to the soft music drifting up the stairs from this very special group of young people, my mind drifted back to the memories of my own youth group from over forty years ago. The same elements had been present. We had met to enjoy one another’s company in the home of one of our group. Someone had always given a heartfelt challenge from the Word of God, and there had been a time of prayer. Then we had sung! If there was a piano in the home, we sang around the piano! If someone played guitar, we all sang with the guitar! I had never wanted to miss one of our youth fellowships. I so vividly remember one Saturday afternoon when I was sitting by our front window pleasantly reading a book. Looking up, I noticed smoke rolling around the window. Alarmed, I jumped up and looked out one window after another and then it dawned on me slowly that our house was on fire! My Dad and I were the only ones home, and I saw the horrified look on his face as he opened the attic door. “Call the fire department!” he shouted to me. I was so upset I could barely get the directions to our country home out of my mouth. Thankfully, God in His providence sent the farmer next door to our house who had noticed our fiery situation. He immediately saw that I was flustered and called out to me the directions, line by line, to give to the dispatcher. This timely act of kindness helped save our home. Had the firemen arrived ten minutes later our lovely white house with black shutters probably would have burned to the ground. But thankfully, very quickly, the fire trucks and firemen came rolling in! What a relief! When my Dad asked me to run outside and grab something for him, I ran so fast out the back door that I fell flat on the sidewalk! The last thing I did before I left the house was to call my youth group leader. I knew that his family would be eating dinner, so I quickly dialed the phone number and was so glad when they picked up the phone! Saturday night Bible study was to take place in just a couple of hours. “Hey,” I said, “Would you please pray for us? I can’t talk right now because our house is on fire! I am not sure if I will make it tonight, but I really want to be there!” Later, my tired mom did not let me go because of the events of the day. I understood, but as you can see I never wanted to miss those precious times of singing and worshipful moments together with my dear Christian friends! One of our youth group’s favorite songs was taken from Psalm 19:7-11. The words of that song sank deep, deep down into my heart. That song helped me to find my way in life. It taught me the right priorities. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” The songs we sang helped to form the foundational truths of my life. My family was going through troublesome times during the days of my youth group meetings. In the midst of other believers I found a very pleasant oasis, and my young heart and soul were ministered to in a very special way. What a wonderful time for sweet memories! When our son graduated from high school, he passed his Bible study on to another young man in our church to lead. When the second young man graduated, he passed it on to his brother, and it was passed on to still another brother! They met in our home most of the time during those years. That Bible study continued on for about five years, and was a wonderful reminder to pass it on! The Beautiful Spirit Pass It On Allissa Senn is dedicated to encouraging women to apply the truths of the Spirit-filled life. For a one-year subscription (four issues), send your name, address, email, and phone number, along with a $12 check, to the address below. Reply by August 1, 2015, to receive your first issue in the Fall. The Beautiful Spirit is published under the ministry of the Foundation for Global Education, a 501 (c) 3 private operating foundation dedicated to providing Christian education and charity throughout the world. The Beautiful Spirit 56 West Ranch Trail, Morrison, CO 80465 [phone] [email protected] 2 The Beautiful Spirit Summer 2015