Tonight I went to Matt Wertz's concert at The Social in Downtown Orlando. This is the third time I've seen Matt in about 2 years. Every single time has been amazing. He's incredible talented, has great stage presence, and is just really passionate about what he does. Plus, he's one of many artists who supports The Mocha Club which I believe is doing amazing work for the people of Africa.
Of all the songs Matt sang tonight, I think this one is my favorite. It may not be as catchy, melodious, or lyrically intriguing as the rest of his music, but it speaks volumes. It speaks the truth of Christ in such a simple way to understand. While Matt is a Christian, he's not particularly known as a Christian artist, which is awesome. Because at his concert tonight were people of all walks of life. Those people heard these truths. The truth of the Gospel. Whether they realize it or not, the seed has been planted. Hopefully someone someday will share with them about the Great Lover whose love will never be taken away.
Anyway, enjoy the lyrics and if Matt is ever in your town, be sure to hit up his concert. In the meantime, check out The Mocha Club. Give $7 a month. Be Love to the people of Africa. It's easy.
I will not take my love away
When praises cease and seasons change
while the whole world turns the other way
I will not take my love away
I will not leave you all alone
When striving leads you far from home
And there's no yield for what you've sown
I will not leave you all aone
I will give you what you need
In plenty or in poverty
Forever, always, look to me
And I will give you what you need
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Things Happen
My favorite Felicity quote so far. This is why I love this show.
"I guess when your heart gets broken you sort of start to see the cracks in everything. I'm convinced that tragedy wants to harden us and it's our mission to never let it....I guess I'm learning little by little that we decide what our lives are going to be. Things happen to us, but it's our reaction that matters."
I've been there. My hearts been broken and I've seen everything I've planned out unravel. I've had to pick up the pieces multiple times and had times when I thought I couldn't go on. But every time I've picked myself up and I've made it through. And it seems like every time God provides another piece of the puzzle that is my life. I'm learning that my reaction really does matter--my attitude and outlook are what people see. Especially as a follower of Christ, people are watching to see how I handle tough situations. Unfair and frustrating things happen to all of us. It's all about how we handle them and for me, I know it's about how I let Christ handle my life and how I trust him.
"I guess when your heart gets broken you sort of start to see the cracks in everything. I'm convinced that tragedy wants to harden us and it's our mission to never let it....I guess I'm learning little by little that we decide what our lives are going to be. Things happen to us, but it's our reaction that matters."
I've been there. My hearts been broken and I've seen everything I've planned out unravel. I've had to pick up the pieces multiple times and had times when I thought I couldn't go on. But every time I've picked myself up and I've made it through. And it seems like every time God provides another piece of the puzzle that is my life. I'm learning that my reaction really does matter--my attitude and outlook are what people see. Especially as a follower of Christ, people are watching to see how I handle tough situations. Unfair and frustrating things happen to all of us. It's all about how we handle them and for me, I know it's about how I let Christ handle my life and how I trust him.
Monday, March 23, 2009
"I've been running from something..."
I just finished a 6 mile run--my longest since the marathon in January. The marathon left me in major pain for a good 2 months at least. I was dealing with some pretty bad pains in my feet and ankles and I'm still not sure what it was. But I feel much MUCH better as evidenced from tonight's run. I'm hoping to keep this up for a while.
As a reward, though, I get to watch last week's episode of The Office!!! Sooo excited. :)
As a reward, though, I get to watch last week's episode of The Office!!! Sooo excited. :)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Disconnected
I've been disconnected. Life's crazy right now. Family was in town, then a friend, then I moved, now another friend is in town.
The house is great. Living with Fawn is awesome.
That's the short and sweet update.
Hopefully I'll have more soon.
The house is great. Living with Fawn is awesome.
That's the short and sweet update.
Hopefully I'll have more soon.
Friday, March 6, 2009
To-mor-row
The world's cutest nieces arrive in sunny Florida tomorrow!! And I cannot wait to be a princess with them!! :)
That is all.
That is all.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Face of Love
Yesterday at church I saw it. I've seen it before, I'm sure, but yesterday I truly saw it. Love. All around me. It was almost overwhelming. I suppose it wasn't suddenly that I noticed it as I recall in weeks prior seeing and feeling something truly special about City Church, but I think on Sunday it just clicked.
I think it started when I sat in the auditorium (our church utilizes an auditorium of a local museum as we don't have our own facility) before worship. I was there early because we had had a meeting for kids church helpers before the service. I saw families start to come into the auditorium and it was so amazing to me how other people were so eager to love on their kids and the parents.
During worship I continued to look at the people surrounding me and was just overwhelmed by how obvious love was being spoken. There were a few married couples sitting around me and sure, I know it's typical for married couples to hold hands or to put their arms around each other, but for some reason, it seemed different. When the guy sitting next to me reached over and put his hand on his wife's arm it was so much more than a thoughtless act of holding her hand--it seemed like a true "I'm so in love with you" type act. But yet it was simple. And I see it in so many of the couples in our church. The way I honestly see it is that they are so deeply in love with who Christ is that they only know how to love their wives the way the Bible calls them to love their wives (I'm certainly not saying that they are perfect for I don't know what their marriages are like behind closed doors and I know that naturally there is human failure. I'm purely saying that I see a people who love Jesus so much that it bleeds into their love for people so obviously and clearly).
During this season of Lent, our church has also been partaking in communion every Sunday. As I watched each family filter through the communion line there were two sights that particularly stick in my mind. One family has 2 children who are probably around the age of 12. As they walked through the communion line, each parent took a hold of a child's hand and guided them through the line and pulled them close while partaking in the bread and wine. I don't have adequate words to describe how this instance clearly spoke of love to me, but I just remember feeling overwhelmed with the sight of a family that clearly loves and cares about each other. The other sight I remember is seeing a husband and wife with their infant child walking through to get communion. The mother was holding the small baby and was in front of her husband. The baby was looking over her mother's shoulder at her father who was smiling ear to ear and abounding love for his daughter. The nonverbal communication that was transpiring between this infant and her father was amazing. I could tell that this dad was just head over heels for his daughter and would do anything for her.
Tonight, I think was really the topper on it all. At my small group I once again felt incredibly overwhelmed by love. I've been so stressed with a variety of items lately and have felt such a feeling of staggering discontentment, frustration, and sadness. I arrived at small group in tears tonight just paralyzed with stress. I sat outside in my car for a moment crying and praying. When I felt as though I had gathered myself and rid all evidence of red eyes, I went inside where I was greeted with many warm hugs and an instantaneous knowledge that something was bothering me. A few of us talked for a short couple of minutes before we started our study for the evening. Afterwards I went to leave and got sidetracked in a conversation where I just felt as though my life was being poured into. Sure, all of my same stresses are still present, but now I can rest in the knowledge that there are people praying for me and fighting my battles with me, and mostly, just people loving me and showing me God's love.
*Note: I'm sure that God's love is evident in churches around the world (and many many many places outside of churches), but I just had to write this moment down for my own memory. In this place in my life where I've battled with discontentment and longing, God is hearing my cries and my pleas for love and guidance and has provided a community that undoubtedly is living out the Gospel.
I think it started when I sat in the auditorium (our church utilizes an auditorium of a local museum as we don't have our own facility) before worship. I was there early because we had had a meeting for kids church helpers before the service. I saw families start to come into the auditorium and it was so amazing to me how other people were so eager to love on their kids and the parents.
During worship I continued to look at the people surrounding me and was just overwhelmed by how obvious love was being spoken. There were a few married couples sitting around me and sure, I know it's typical for married couples to hold hands or to put their arms around each other, but for some reason, it seemed different. When the guy sitting next to me reached over and put his hand on his wife's arm it was so much more than a thoughtless act of holding her hand--it seemed like a true "I'm so in love with you" type act. But yet it was simple. And I see it in so many of the couples in our church. The way I honestly see it is that they are so deeply in love with who Christ is that they only know how to love their wives the way the Bible calls them to love their wives (I'm certainly not saying that they are perfect for I don't know what their marriages are like behind closed doors and I know that naturally there is human failure. I'm purely saying that I see a people who love Jesus so much that it bleeds into their love for people so obviously and clearly).
During this season of Lent, our church has also been partaking in communion every Sunday. As I watched each family filter through the communion line there were two sights that particularly stick in my mind. One family has 2 children who are probably around the age of 12. As they walked through the communion line, each parent took a hold of a child's hand and guided them through the line and pulled them close while partaking in the bread and wine. I don't have adequate words to describe how this instance clearly spoke of love to me, but I just remember feeling overwhelmed with the sight of a family that clearly loves and cares about each other. The other sight I remember is seeing a husband and wife with their infant child walking through to get communion. The mother was holding the small baby and was in front of her husband. The baby was looking over her mother's shoulder at her father who was smiling ear to ear and abounding love for his daughter. The nonverbal communication that was transpiring between this infant and her father was amazing. I could tell that this dad was just head over heels for his daughter and would do anything for her.
Tonight, I think was really the topper on it all. At my small group I once again felt incredibly overwhelmed by love. I've been so stressed with a variety of items lately and have felt such a feeling of staggering discontentment, frustration, and sadness. I arrived at small group in tears tonight just paralyzed with stress. I sat outside in my car for a moment crying and praying. When I felt as though I had gathered myself and rid all evidence of red eyes, I went inside where I was greeted with many warm hugs and an instantaneous knowledge that something was bothering me. A few of us talked for a short couple of minutes before we started our study for the evening. Afterwards I went to leave and got sidetracked in a conversation where I just felt as though my life was being poured into. Sure, all of my same stresses are still present, but now I can rest in the knowledge that there are people praying for me and fighting my battles with me, and mostly, just people loving me and showing me God's love.
*Note: I'm sure that God's love is evident in churches around the world (and many many many places outside of churches), but I just had to write this moment down for my own memory. In this place in my life where I've battled with discontentment and longing, God is hearing my cries and my pleas for love and guidance and has provided a community that undoubtedly is living out the Gospel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)