My Life In God's Hand
When you begin to look back through the years, you always notice major points that shifted your life and turned it into something you would have never imagined.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” is my life verse. Yeah I know. It’s a well-known verse, but I feel it is the right one that describes the roller coaster God has placed me in. So lets start from the beginning.
Back around 8-10 years ago I purchased a beautiful black acoustic guitar. I wanted to be Bono from U2. I wanted that whiny singing voice and I wanted a black acoustic just like him. Ammie, (my wife now, but girlfriend at the time) was not happy with my purchase because marriage was on her mind, and obviously it wasn’t on mine.
Well that is as far as my acoustic went. I bought it, played it with no lessons, then it got stored for a good 6 years. Yea, that being Bono dream didn’t last long. I recorded my voice one time and thought, “Who Died?” That was the end of it.
Lets move to 2007. At this point I really didn’t care much for Worship music. I would listen to the radio and quickly change the station. I couldn’t stand it actually! But boy, how God changed my heart!
I went to help out at a Kids Camp in Ensenada where Ammie’s parents are the directors, and her brother Al who is a musician happened to bring a Worship DVD of Hillsong United. That is where my life was turned upside down in that category. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Christian music that I can actually sit down and listen to. It was Unreal!
Well, I began to listen to that cd over and over, and then began to download their older & new cd’s. Listened to those over and over and began to consume what true worship is about. God began to soften my heart of worship. That was the 1st point.
In June we began to attend the satellite church of Covina Assembly of God called Canyon Breeze Church. I was never really a part of a small church like this one. But the people were so friendly and welcomed us with open arms. I wanted to get more involved so as time went by I began to do sound on Sunday mornings for the service. I have always been a hands on type of guy when it comes to electronics. Give me a box with knobs and I will figure it out!
I began to want to be a part of this worship. My acoustic finally got to see daylight again, and I began to get some lessons from my brother in law. It wasn’t easy for me. I have fat fingers! But I pressed on. I began to ask Matt Vincent the current Worship Leader at Canyon Breeze if I can begin to go to practices just to see how I can do playing alongside a group of musicians. God was stirring something in me! This was the 2nd Point.
Wow, I was actually beginning to see improvement. My fat fingers wouldn’t get in the way as much as before. I still struggled to sing and play at the same time, but maybe that would improve later on. I finally had the guts to ask Matt if I can play on a Sunday where he needs an extra guitarist. By this point I had already purchased an electric guitar and amp. I was set. I always seem to think I can do anything, until its time to actually do it.
The very first time I played I remember being so stiff and nervous. I have ALWAYS had a hard time being on stage. I remember back in college I had to do a small presentation in front of my classmates and I was so nervous that I had each limb shaking like a tremor. It was bad! I just couldn’t do it. I survived the first Sunday playing. Now I was hooked. Although I did think Matt would never ask me to play for the team again. I began to feel overlooked as I saw my name back in the sound booth. But Matt must have known something that I didn’t. I really needed to practice some more…. ok ALOT MORE!
So here is where it all began to change.
I was so hooked on Hillsong Worship that I began to watch workshops on their songs and how to play certain guitar riffs and such. Hillsongs lead guitarist Nigel Hendroff was the person I began watching on youtube. Such a gifted musician that I would just be in awe when he played. I always wondered what it would be like to be able to play like that. So I watched and played, watched and played.
It was now late 2008; we heard the news that our pastor at the time was leaving. Considering that we came to this church with the pastors and really thought this church was going to be growing. We were in shock, but inside we were calm, because we had the peace of God in us. Ammie and I knew there was more in store for Canyon Breeze. We didn’t panic; we just gave it to God and let Him do his work.
Now came the even more news that shocked us. Our Worship leader was leaving! Really God? Wow, this was just too much to consume at once. Never second-guess the calling God has on you. He called our Worship leader Matt and his wife Angie to Mexico to work in the missions field. Their target date was January of 2009 to leave.
One day I was checking my facebook when I came across a good friend of mine from High School. She had moved to North Carolina I believe in the middle of our school year and after that we lost contact. I added her as a friend so I could see what she had been up to all these years. I will get back to my friend from school in a bit. This whole time since we knew our Worship leader was leaving, God began to stir my heart some more for worship. He began to tell me that I needed to have a bigger part with it. Not sure what He was really telling me with that, but I doubted it because here I am, no experience, no music knowledge, totally afraid of being on stage. Where are your going with this God?
So here I was checking facebook again, and my friend had added me as a friend. I began to see her photos and I began to notice someone that I recognized. Who is this guy that she is married to? He looks SOOO familiar! Way to familiar. Now here were my next words…”ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!!!!” It was Nigel Hendroff, the lead guitarist for Hillsong. I ran upstairs to tell my wife and I think I levitated my way up. I don’t remember ever hitting the floor! My wife couldn’t believe it. She knew that I would watch those workshops and such. This was the 3rd Point!
I now knew what God was trying to tell me. He wants me to lead! It was clear as day!
This was the first time that I felt God confirming something within my life as clear as He did it. I couldn’t doubt it any longer. I was now on a mission to get better and practice…why? Lets go back to Philippians 4:13! If it’s His will, well you know the rest. I set up a meeting with Matt to share what had happened and I also shared about my heart to lead in some way. He was excited! We all wanted to keep it within the church because we all felt the talent was there.
Once we had our new pastors, I knew I had to share with them my heart and new ignited passion with what God had stirred in me. I didn’t know the pastor well, but I knew I couldn’t keep it mellow. I just had to say it how it happened, and I got that chance over dinner at our friend’s house. One day I get a call from my pastor asking me if I would like to be the new Worship Leader, and without ANY hesitation, I said, in a mellow calm collective voice…”Yes, I would LOVE to be the Worship leader.” Inside I was jumping for joy rejoicing to the true God that has give me a path, and I told myself I would follow it as long as He has it planned for me.
Wait a second…I am afraid of singing, talking playing on stage! Um, what did I just tell Gabe my new pastor? Wow, I was taken back after that. But it’s amazing what God did! All that doubt, all those worries were thrown out the window. He gave me courage, He gave me strength, He told me I could do ALL things through Him!!!
I always wondered what it would be like to have a testimony where I could actually share how God was working in my life. Here it is! I cannot question it anymore. If there is truly something that He has for you, FOLLOW IT! Don’t second-guess it. It’s like what Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
To this day I am still amazed at God’s power, strength and love! I have now been leading worship at Canyon Breeze for over a year now, and I cannot imagine NOT doing it! I love it with all my heart. He has blessed our church and me with such AWESOME people on the worship team. People who understand the heart of it. People who are yearning to experience God’s presence through in it. People who will continue to strive and improve on their musicianship. We have a team that is on the same page. There may be hard times, but there are definitely great times. But as long as we have Jesus Christ in the center of it, none can break the bond that which He created!
It has taken me so long to write this. But I felt it was the right time to do so. God Bless those who read this. Let God lead you in all you do. Don’t worry about the impossible, that’s only minor to Him.
Pietro Avolio Jr.
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