“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart…” Psalms 9:1
About two weeks after my arrival in Ecuador, I had opportunity to witness someone fulfill this scripture. During service at the Talin church, Susan asked Gloria to sing a special song. I have been blessed to hear some of the greatest singers in the world. Their singing has moved me to tears; stirred my soul; touched my heart; even changed my life. But no singer, no song, has ever caused me to feel the perfect peace of God like I felt when Gloria sang.
Gloria is not technically a ‘good’ singer. She doesn’t always stay on key, her timing is not perfect. She would never win a talent contest, nor could she make her living singing. But I could sit and listen to her for hours. When Gloria sang “Yo quiero mas y mas de Cristo” (I want more of you Lord), although at the time I could not understand the Spanish words, I did not need to. The presence of God I felt when she sang was overwhelming. You just knew that she was singing with every fiber of her being, from the very depths of her soul, with her whole heart. It was as if it was just her and the Lord. The Talin church has no electricity, so there was no music when Gloria sang. The only other sound was that of a gentle breeze blowing through the open windows of the church. Even the birds that had been singing in the distance hushed for a time, no doubt knowing and honoring what a beautiful moment this was to the Father.
I am almost certain that even the angels in Heaven stopped to listen when Gloria sang. And I like to imagine that the Father proudly said, “THAT is what I made man to do. THAT is the very reason I created mankind. “
“I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” Psalms 7: 17
By Ann Templet
