Rock & Worship Roadshow

Saturday night a friend and I had the opportunity to attend a great concert! It's called the Rock & Worship Roadshow and features Mercy Me and Jeremy Camp along with Tenth Avenue North and Hawk Nelson. The unique thing about this tour is that it was born out of a desire to provide affordable Christian entertainment. They didn't sell any tickets in advance, and the cost was just $10 at the door. JQH Arena holds 11,000 people, and they had to turn some people away at the door once it filled. If you enjoy corporate worship, just imagine 11,000 people in one room singing praise at the same time.

I've changed my playlist to reflect the music of the concert.

Easter Playlist

Easter is my favorite holiday. Not just Easter Sunday, but the entire season. Several years ago at church we did a presentation of the Easter story called "A Week Called Holy." It lasted 5 nights with a different piece of the story being portrayed each night. It really captured the quick turn of events from the triumphal entry to the cross, and then the resurrection. There are so many aspects of this story of the Father's love and Jesus' sacrifice that never cease to amaze me. I know a lot of people who would say Christmas is their favorite holiday. For me it is Easter because without His death and resurrection, His birth would have been far less significant. His birth alone would not have brought salvation.

In honor of this Easter season, I have changed the playlist attached to this blog to include songs that celebrate Easter or in some way remind me of the price He paid on the cross.

Day 30: While I'm Waiting

John Waller's song "While I'm Waiting" is such a great reminder of how important it is to wait on God actively, not passively. Waiting is taking a lot more time than I ever dreamed it would. My prayer is that I don't waste that time by "marking time" but that I rather use it to serve. This is not how I expected this 30 day period to end. A month ago I had every reason to believe that I would have an answer from the IMB regarding the next phase of the process. I was wrong in that belief. It will be another month, maybe longer, before I know anything. What I do know is that God has a plan for every part of my life, even during this time of waiting. Thanks for joining me in prayer. I'll be in touch when I know more.

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

Day 24: Here I Am

My prayer today is from the second half of a song called "Here I Am" by the group Downhere.

When setbacks and failures and upset plans
Test my faith and leave me with empty hands
Are You not the closest when it's hardest to stand?
I know that You will finish what You began
And these broken parts You redeem
Become the song that I can sing…

Here I am, Lord send me
All of my life I make an offering
Here I am, Lord send me
Somehow my story is a part of your plan
Here I am

Overwhelmed by the thought of my weakness
And the fear that I'll fail You in the end
In this mess, I'm just one of the pieces
I can't put this together but You can

Here I am, Lord send me
All of my life I make an offering
Here I am, Lord send me
Somehow my story is a part of your plan
Here I am

Day 20: Set the World on Fire

It never ceases to amaze me how many songs I hear strongly relate to things I am experiencing, thinking, or feeling at the time I hear them. One of the many examples of this is the song "Set the World On Fire" by Britt Nicole.

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for You
It's everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

[CHORUS]
I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There nothing I cannot do
Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father's hands

Day 7: Give Me Your Eyes

Christian artist Brandon Heath has a song that is pretty popular right now called "Give Me Your Eyes." The first time I heard it over the summer, it captured my attention because the message it holds was like an echo of my heart. It says, in part:

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eye so I can see

Can you imagine what that would be like? To truly see the people around us the way God sees them, even for just one second, would forever change our perspective. I think there have been a few times when He has allowed me just a tiny glimpse of this (with some of my students and with some people I encountered on mission trips). Those glimpses were life-changing; I can't imagine what it would be like to see through His eyes every day. When I reflect on His love and compassion for each individual person, I realize how much that should impact the way I treat each person. So, today I am praying through this song.