Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 96:1 NIV).
Step by step, the Holy Spirit was guiding us in the direction God had planned for our “sabbatical,” sometimes by a process of elimination. Some types of service would not fit our qualifications or our skills, but we had been writing Christian songs ever since Donn surrendered his life to Christ. Both of us came from musical backgrounds. We loved to sing, but Donn’s work simply did not allow much time to focus on music.
Eventually it became clear that God was calling us to a gospel music ministry using the songs we’d written. We would also do children’s programs and have a Christian Nursery School in our home. Since we felt led to move back to the Sandy Lake/Stoneboro area, we asked God to bring a buyer for our house. Interest rates were very high and houses weren’t selling. Many houses in our development had been for sale for months. We hated the thought of a buyer being burdened with high interest rates.
We put our house on the market on September 6, 1981, and again I was overwhelmed by fear and doubts as the days and weeks passed. Was “NewSong Ministry” real, or only a figment of my imagination? But by the end of October, we had a signed contract with a buyer who was paying cash. Slowly our hearts were beginning to sing a new song of faith!
Father, how like the Israelites we are, so quick to forget all the ways You’ve proven Yourself in the past and “so slow of heart to believe” (Luke 24:25 NIV). Help our unbelief. Amen.
Our home in Penn Hills from 1979 to 1982.
*Featured photo: NewSong Ministries – Donn, Daisy, Robbie & Angie; 2nd photo: the home of Newsong Ministries in Sandy Lake, PA, from 1/82 to 10/84.
(Devotional from Homespun Faith, Reflections from the Seasons of Life, copyright 2014 Daisy Beiler Townsend. Available as paperback or ebook: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Xulon Press. There are Links on this website on the Where to Buy Homespun Faith and Sarah’s Legacy page. Locally at Fresh Grounds, M & M Grocery, Leanna’s Books, Penn Alps in Grantsville, Maryland, or from me 724-373-8445 or donaisy@neo.rr.com.)