The Frequency of Healing Blog

No One Like You 

Over the past few years, I’ve been on a journey of writing songs from scripture and explored ancient prayers, chants, and sacred traditions of Judaism. These are significant because as a songwriter and worship leader I’ve always actively studied the roots of my Christian faith. What song did Yeshua sing with his disciples in the Upper Room during the Passover Seder or Last Suppler? (Matthew 26:30) What notes did the shepherd boy David play on his harp for King Saul to drive away the evil spirits that had tormented him? (1 Samuel 16:23) As I studied Jewish liturgy, I discovered that these ancient melodies had been passed down through oral tradition. Then something amazing happened at the turn of the century. A.Z. Idelsohn had compiled and written down traditional melodies of songs from local rabbis between 1914 and 1932. Pursuing his theory that if the Jews who had been disbursed from various tribes had similar melodies, they had each preserved, we might be able to hear what ancient Temple song sounded like.  When I came across an article written by Geoffrey Chew called “Jewish Melodies” it highlighted the possibility. My interest was piqued when he revealed Idelsohn’s claim: “some synagogue melodies had been transferred into Gregorian chant of the Roman Catholic Church.” This prompted me to read a book by Idelsohn’s student - Eric Werner called “The Sacred Bridge” which described in detail the many parallels between the Jewish and Catholic liturgy. 

Like seeing the tip of a mysterious iceberg from atop a lofty ocean liner, I had to dive deeper to get the full picture. Soon I was looking at music excerpts from the “Thesaurus of Oriental Hebrew Melodies”. I sat down at my piano and played what Idelsohn designated as “Intonations of the Pentateuch” from Exodus 18:1-2. In this passage of scripture Jethro, father-in-law of Moses praised God for rescuing Moses and the children of Israel from the land of Egypt. He said, “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods.” This echoed Exodus 15:11 known as the song of Moses and Miriam. After being delivered from the Egyptian army and safely passing through the Red Sea their voices proclaimed, “Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” This verse was familiar to me because every Torah service in synagogue each Shabbat begins with the song “Ein Kamocha” (Who is Like You). 

As I played the melody A.Z. Idelsohn transcribed something stirred within me. It was hauntingly beautiful, and it moved my heart in a powerful way. My God truly is a miracle worker. I knew I wanted to take this ancient melody and put it in a modern context, so I composed the song with the ancient melody and titled it “No One Like You.” 

Without a doubt, God is still working miracles today. I may not have crossed through a literal Red Sea, but I have been pulled out of many seemingly hopeless, dark, and stormy situations in my life – a turbulent marriage...depression...anxiety. Thankfully, the Lord helped me get through each difficulty and land safely on the other side. But I know more challenges lie up ahead. So, looking back here are a few things I’d like to remind my future self of: What would happen if I believed God was present as I went through difficult, deep waters? What if I didn’t allow myself to be overwhelmed by my circumstances and responded instead with honest heart cries and declarations of worship? What if I stood in awe and realized how BIG and magnificent God is and how small my problems really are? What if I understood how close God is? What if I remembered His goodness and whispered prayers of thanks for the ways He has already helped me? 

Over and over, I’ve found when I seek God’s presence in the middle of my circumstance and believe He is with me; He becomes my strength and my song. When I speak and sing who He is, He inhabits my praises. When I look for His perspective and ask for His wisdom, He redeems what was broken and lost. When I allow my life experiences to fill my mouth with prayer and praise, authentic worship begins - and so does my healing! 

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and love. It is such a comfort to know that You are with me and daily watching over me, protecting me and helping me even when I fall. Remind me to surrender my worries, anxieties, and fears to You because I know You can handle them much better than myself. Help me to praise You in the middle of the deep waters I may be going through and teach me how to trust You more fully. There is no one like You, Lord and along with the heavens I will continue to sing Your praise.

I.D Card 

 

“What’s in YOUR wallet?” You’ve probably seen the TV commercial for a certain bank where they ask this question. Most everyone I know today carries some form of purse or wallet. Inside, is usually an I.D or identification card. While we use it frequently, sometimes there are things we don't like to show anyone - like the crummy photo they take of us at the DMV! Right? 

All of us carry an ID card, like a Driver’s License and it provides information about who we are. This piece of hard plastic stamps our name, address, height, eye color, etc. to distinguish us from someone else. But the thing it does not describe is our occupation, or what we do, let alone who we are as a person. Often, when we are introduced to someone for the first time, we tell them our occupation and the activities we are involved in.  We brand our identity with what we do, not with who we are. We have accepted that holding an ID card is necessary and normal because the information is deemed significant and valuable in our culture. Over time we have learned that our ID is something important. We frequently show our ID card at banks, airports, and other places. We usually keep it with us because we’re told it gives us access and we never know when we might need it. 

But what if each of us had a SPIRITUAL ID card?  

In this season of my life mine would probably say, “Sandi Padilla: Beautifully broken...to pour out God’s grace and love to those who need hope and healing.” Truth be told, it wouldn’t have always read this way. 

How do we get to the point of focusing on who we are instead of what we do? I believe each of us wants to belong. To be known. We cluster into affinity groups and associate with folks who are like us. We are conditioned early on in our lives to label and categorize others by their skills and abilities. I’ll be the first to admit that it would be much easier to wrap myself in my identify as worship leader, pastor’s wife, mother, music teacher, Bible study leader, teacher, spiritual coach, or committee member. Those are the things I do and some of the ways I enjoy serving God. And I really am passionate about those things! But if I allowed those things to define my identity it would be like trying to take photographs from a camera with a smudged-up lens. Everything would be distorted and just plain blurry! 

A few years ago, I realized that it was time to get off the spiritual rollercoaster I had been riding. I was tired of judging myself (and frankly others) by a standard of performance. Trying to be perfect had worn me out. I couldn’t do it anymore. I was done. I guess my old ID card had gone through the washing machine too many times and was a shriveled-up mess! Instead of perfect, I knew deep down I was perfectly imperfect. I waved a spiritual white flag and surrendered to the One who loves me fully and completely. I prayed and asked God to shape me and change me into the person He created me to be. I longed for a deep, meaningful life connected to my gifts, passion and purpose without the clamor and chaos of selfish ambition and striving.

Then God reminded me of something. He gave me a picture of how He works. During a time of prayer, I saw myself standing on a giant mirror in a large room. I saw I giant spotlight turn on and move across the stage until it found its way to where I was. A pure, brilliant light flooded the mirror causing the reflection to envelop me. I felt an incredible peace. God whispered to my heart, “Give your gifts back to me and all they will see, is My glory.” In that moment I learned taking the stage, speaking, singing, and using my gifts and talents isn’t wrong if I’m centered in Him. When we allow the loving presence of Jesus to flood our lives, all people will see is Jesus and His glory. 

How would our lives be different if we looked to God and believed who He says we are?  

We are fearfully and wonderfully made... Psalm 139:14

We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago...Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Are you ready to discover the essential, personal, and spiritual I.D card God has given you and let it permeate your whole being? 

Until you and I BELIEVE the truth of who we are we won’t be able to receive all that God has purposed for us. As His children we have been given an amazing inheritance. In the verse I started the devotional with Ephesians 1:12 the word “PRAISE” in Greek is AINEO (ī-ne'-ō) which means to extol, to sing praises in honor to God and the Greek word for “GLORY” is "DOXA" (which is where the Latin word DOXOLOGY comes from).  It means splendor, brightness and the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ - His majesty!  So from this verse we discover something special - when we reflect back to God who He made us to be we become a brilliant MELODY of praise that glorifies Him!  What an amazing privilege!  We are a song that honors Him.  He has chosen us, purposed us, loved us, lavished His grace on us and invites us to be a continuous song, a DOXOLOGY of praise for His glory!   

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank You for loving me and making me Yours. I am grateful for the purpose and plan that You have for my life. Help me to remember my identity and that You adopted me as Your child. Continue to remind me that my security comes from who I am in You, not in the things I do.  Forgive me for the times I have been a people pleaser and focused on seeking after other's approval of me. Please give me deeper roots and make me strong for Your kingdom's sake.  Let my life become a melody that truly is for the praise of Your glory. Amen

 

Abba, Father 

 

     This past weekend was Father’s Day. For me, it was the second year I celebrated my dad differently...because he is in heaven. Of course, Facebook helped prime the waterfall of tears as I viewed the slideshow of memories with my dad, but I also chuckled and laughed as I recalled the way he called me his ‘Sunshine’. We shared many special times and I’m grateful for the influence and impact he had in my life. My dad and I would watch National Geographic and Nova specials on TV. It’s true. My love of discovery especially of science and space came from him. You see, my dad Wayne was an aerospace engineer, a.k.a. “rocket scientist”!

     He would get out his telescope in the evening and lift me to his waist to view the stars and planets. I remember peering into the eyepiece and gazing up into space. “Again, Daddy, again!” I’d plead as I asked for one more glimpse of the celestial beauty so close and yet so far away. I enjoyed looking at the planets and stars ‘sparkle’ and ‘twinkle’ in the darkness of our backyard. I especially liked viewing the craters that made giant shadows on the moon. I think I even told my kindergarten teacher that I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up. 

     One of my best childhood memories was being awakened by my dad early on the morning of July 20, 1969. I was four years old. Sitting transfixed in front of our black and white TV we watched the astronauts land on the moon for the first time. We heard the voice of Neil Armstrong’s profound words as they broadcast back to Earth: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” “Wow!” I heard my dad say, “The universe our God created is amazing,” as his eyes welled up with tears. I’m grateful I grew up with the kind of wonder that caused me to worship the Creator of the cosmos. Thinking back on it, Neil Armstrong left his footprints on the moon, but my dad's words left a deep spiritual impression upon my heart. 

     I have so many fantastic memories in life with my dad. Through the years my dad supported me and encouraged me to thrive in my God-given gifts and talents. He came to every dance and music recital and took photos even if it was in 100-degree heat. He took our family on amazing trips and vacations. Dad invited work collogues from Japan into our home and our family hosted Japanese exchange students. When Aerojet asked him to move to Japan, there was no hesitation because he already loved the culture and the people. I’ll never forget walking the streets of Tokyo with my dad for the first time. His eyes sparkled with excitement as we navigated our way to find a street vendor with a savory pancake called “Okonomiyaki”. (As I recall, I didn’t enjoy the taste very well the first time because pancake batter and vegetables were a new savory combination. But I never let on because it was the start of a great adventure.)

     When my dad planned a father-daughter trip to northern Japan to visit pottery makers and enjoy the fall colors in 1983 it made special memories that I will treasure forever. What’s fantastic to recall is that no one spoke English in that region and there were NO English road signs! Somehow, with Dad’s navigational expertise, we made it to all our destinations which included authentic Japanese lodging. What a great trip.

     While living in Japan, I had the privilege of teaching English to Japanese and international students. One afternoon as I was tutoring a brother and sister from Israel in their home, we suddenly heard the front door open. Their father had come home from a long business trip. “Abba, Abba, Abba,” they joyfully cried as they raced down the stairs and bounded into his arms. The sight and sound of pure love of that moment has never left me. You see, we are children of our heavenly Father. He knows us. We are His kids. We belong to Him. He loves us faithfully. Unconditionally. We don’t have to stay at arms' distance. We can come close and even run into His arms. He is our Abba, Father. 

 

 

Mercies in Diguise 

"We pray for blessings. We pray for peace. Comfort for family. Protection while we sleep. 

We pray for healing. For prosperity. We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering. 

And all the while You hear each spoken need yet love us way too much to give us lesser things. 

What if your blessings come through raindrops, what if your healing comes through tears, 

what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near?

 What if trials of this life, are Your mercies in disguise?"

I think these lyrics really cut through the surface, don’t you? Laura’s song challenges us to think about the way we tally up only the good things that come our way as blessings. What about the struggles? We all have them. The apostle James reminds us to “Consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (Wow! And I thought the lyrics of “Blessings” were challenging!) But I think this verse expresses the last poignant phrase of Laura Story’s chorus: “What if trials of this life, are Your mercies in disguise?” 

Life sometimes pushes us to reach out in prayer. We hear Jesus whisper, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Relief and healing are available to us. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week! The Lord is saying He can and will help us. Are we ready to trust Him? Do we believe He is for us? 

Like an infant learning to walk for the first time, the parent must allow their child to struggle. Why do they choose to watch and wait? If the parent decided to pick up the child every time they saw them wobble, the baby’s muscles would not be strengthened. Most likely it would delay their child’s development. So, is it merciful to allow the baby to stretch, push and learn to roll over by themselves? To learn to lean forward and fall down? Yes, it is. In fact, it is loving. 

The word “mercy” in Hebrew it translates as “lovingkindness”. Mercy is “hasdekah” (Strong’s H2617) God allows us to go through difficult things because He knows what will happen as we go through it. He also knows the outcomes we will experience on the other side. Challenges will change us. Difficulties will discipline us. Obstacles will become opportunities. For me, James 1:4 truly sums up WHY life’s trials are God’s mercies in disguise: “...so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” 

I hope you will discover as I have through the years that praying is just like breathing. Quick, whispered prayers to God are heard just as much as others – whether with a prayer partner or in a group or own personal setting. And I like what St. Augustine said, “To sing is to pray twice.” So, as you can imagine I do that a lot! 

When we view the circumstances of our lives through the lens of God’s mercy, we will find multiple blessings. I’m praying you will find yours today! 

Superbloom! 

Spring 2023 has sprung, and from what I understand there is a SUPERBLOOM in the coastal foothills of California this year. In fact, there is so much color that you can see it from space. That’s intense! After a few years of drought, it seems like a miracle, doesn’t it? 

True confession. I’m not a green thumb by any stretch of the imagination. I can barely keep a cactus plant alive that is sitting right next to my kitchen sink! But I do love flowers. In fact, the iris flower is my favorite. Its lacy petals, dramatic colors and long stem always make me happy. I think one of the reasons I like the iris flower so much is that it resembles a bloom that was at the top of the pillars in the Temple. Kings 7:22 says, “The capitals on the pillars were shaped like water lilies. And so, the work on the pillars was finished.” 

This brief verse of scripture catches my attention me because it describes a process. The artisans who made these flowers on top of the pillars had to imagine and perhaps draw the flower design, gather the materials and most likely in a trial-and-error fashion carry it out. They most likely sculpted and then carved out the design. It’s amazing to think about how God gave them the architectural plans and then assigned them the task of completing it. 

Sometimes we struggle in our lives with being in a process, don’t we? We’d like to be finished. Done. Ready to be displayed. But we know that with any project, it takes both patience and persistence for something to turn out the best it can be.

God’s workmanship the apostle Paul reminds us, “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed.” And in Philippians 1:6 he encourages us, “...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” In Hebrews 12:2 Jesus is described as the author and finisher of our faith. Like a great coach who is instructing his team with the strategies they need to win, Jesus is right here to help us. We can lean into Him. We can trust Him. He has our very best in mind. 

Sometimes we get tired and weary from the everyday challenges we face, don’t we? But there’s another verse of scripture that reminds us of when our spiritual roots are being supplied by the life-giving water of the Holy Spirit, we don’t have to worry. Even when we feel the pressures and the ‘heat’ coming from the circumstances pressing around us. 

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8, ESV 

This is a great reminder. Even when I am feeling discouraged or feel like I’m in a spiritual drought, the source of my life is Christ. He’s the Master Gardner that can help me blossom into a super bloom!