Psalm 100 - a song of praise!

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:1-5

A year ago this week, I received two very important pieces of communication. The first was a letter. The second, a phone call. The letter was from my doctor’s office notifying me that there had been an “abnormal” result in my mammogram. As that news was still sinking in, I received a phone call from KLOVE telling me I had won tickets to see Chris Tomlin in concert in Denver. Talk about having highs and lows in a short span of time.

The next week was a blur of scheduling. I needed a biopsy. I was also at the front end of a massive project at work that was requiring enormous concentration and a lot of travel. Throwing the possibility of breast cancer threatened to send me over the edge. My faith was being tested in a big way.

As the night of the concert approached, I was very focused on the evening as a way to introduce my son to music and music-making. He’s definitely gifted, and I was thinking that God was using this as a way to open a door for him. Oh how little I really know! God had a big plan for me and I was hopelessly clueless.

In the past several years, I had become a pretty big fan of Chris’. His music is regularly part of the worship experience at our church. No matter how many times I hear “How Great is Our God,” I cry. The overwhelming power of those words just turns on the faucet in me. So, getting to see the show was an incredible gift.

From the first note I thought, wow, this is different than any other concert I’ve ever been to. God showed up that night. Worship was bigger and more powerful than anything I had ever experienced and it was simply amazing. At one point Israel Houghton, who opened for Chris, talked about everyone there having something on their hearts. He said whatever it is, God wanted to take it from you if you’d just let him. Boy, did the tears start flowing. At that moment I said “God, I don’t know what lies ahead with the bisopsy. I know that whatever happens, you’ll be there with me and will use the situation for your glory. I’m trusting you with it.” I cannot describe the sense of peace that came over me. From that moment on, I knew that whatever happened with it, it was going to be okay because God and I were in it together. What an unbelievable thought.

The night just went up from there. Hands raised in praise, singing as loud as we could sing, giving our all to God. I think I learned what it means to truly worship. He was clearly in the room with us that night. As we left that night, I was thinking wow, God I don’t know what you have next for us, but this was pretty amazing and I’m in for the duration!

We had received Chris’ cd “Hello Love” as part of the package we won. I loaded it onto my iPod and had “I Will Rise” cued up during my biopsy. I didn’t even feel like I was in that room – I was back at the show, praising and focused on God.

I’m grateful that there was no cancer. But my promise to God is the same. I’m using that gift, the concert and the cancer scare rolled up into one – to give Him the glory and help tell his story in whatever fashion He wants me to. I can tell you that the past year has been a tidal wave of experiences and emotions that still leave me in awe. God has moved mountains, broken down barriers and brought people into my life who are an incredible blessing. I cannot wait to see where the road leads next.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

Chris Tomlin - Glory In The Highest Preview from Worship Together on Vimeo.

This is a slight twist from what I have been writing on this blog. But, I truly believe this is something that is so powerful it can only be from God Himself. If you’ve read any of my earlier postings, you already know that worship music has changed my life. And, while we’re not supposed to play favorites, I cannot help but declare that the music of Chris Tomlin, his band, the people he writes with, etc., etc. are at the very top of my list. It was some of the first music I discovered on this walk of faith and it has carried me and my family during trials, triumphs and tears – both happy and sad.

My son and I had the privilege of meeting Chris back in February when we won tickets to a concert in Denver. It was during that time, I had a cancer scare. While it all turned out fine and I’m grateful for my continued health, it was wake-up call to me of sorts. It was the quiet voice of God in those uncertain moments that took my faith to a new level. And, as crazy as it may sound, it all happened at that Chris Tomlin concert. I left that show and have not been the same since. I have a zeal for God that I never thought was possible in me. It’s wonderful, to say the least.

So, when I heard this summer that Chris and his band were working on a Christmas project, I’ll admit, I did a happy dance! Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I cannot wait to sing the songs – I get in trouble at home when I start playing them before Thanksgiving! And to hear that my favorite artist was putting together a Christmas worship music project, was just beyond cool. I counted down the days till October 6, the day it went on sale. I couldn’t get back to my desk fast enough to listen to it!

And boy, did Mr. Tomlin and the gang deliver. No, they didn’t just deliver, they hit it out of the park! This is a Christmas CD for the ages. If you watch the link above, you get a small glimpse of the experience. It is simply AMAZING. The music on this CD will lift you higher than you could ever imagine. Its like angels are right there with you! I swear I am going to get in an accident because I cannot listen to this music without closing my eyes and lifting my hands. Driving over the past week or so has become a challenge because we keep playing the CD over and over! My kids are just as excited. We’ve all already memorized the new stuff and just sing our little hearts out in the car together!

Both of my children has a copy of it and asks to play it in their room at bedtime – is there anything better than falling asleep to “Joy to the World?”

This Christmas season will be one to remember. No matter what is happening in the every day – the challenges, struggles or the wins and blessings – we have found a wonderful way to keep our focus on the best present of all – Jesus! Merry Christmas.

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Psalm 33:1

My son, Trevor, me and Chris Tomlin

Music has always been a huge part of life for me and my family. It seems like we always have music playing and we’re singing. I’ve been a music nut for as long as I can remember. But the past six months or so have been truly transformational in the music department! For the past few years, the music at our church has been slowly filtering into our everyday listening. First, we added KLOVE to our presets, and then The Message became a staple on my satellite radio top 5. And, the music of artists such as Chris Tomlin, Third Day, Tree63, the Newsboys and Mercy Me found its way into my cd collection and onto my iPod.

I’ve written about how this past January, I was blessed to win two tickets to see a Chris Tomlin concert in Denver. We were also lucky enough to meet him and other band members, along with Israel Houghton, who was touring with him. They were all so amazingly gracious and humble. I’ve been able to meet many “famous” people over the years in one capacity or another. Gracious and humble are not usually the words that come to mind when describing those encounters. But Chris, Israel and others were different. As great as it was to meet them and see that they were truly special, it was the amazing worship of that night that really opened up my eyes. I’ve never felt that way before. Sure, numerous times during church services, I am moved to tears – almost every week, actually. But that night took it to a much higher level. I didn’t want that feeling to end ever! That had to be a taste of what it will be like in Heaven one day when we’re all praising Him around the throne!

So, from then on, the joyful noise in my life has almost exclusively become worship and praise music. I can’t think of better ways to start and end my days – I have noticed my temperament has softened and I am less stressed. Even with things in life that are pretty trying, the music and praise that has become a staple of every day keeps my focus in check. And the best part is the impact it is having on my children. They both love to sing and we’re always singing when we’re together, especially in the car. To hear my son sing like Chris Tomlin or my daughter tackle a Francesca Battistelli song brings the biggest smile to my lips. I am joyful, thankful and humbled by how God uses such gifted people to spread His message. And I am so thankful that He opened up our hearts to receive that message.

I just put the kids to bed before writing this. Each one has their own special cd of their favorite Christian music. And, for months now, they each ask for it to play as they’re falling asleep. A I left Trevor’s room, he was listening to this: “Sing, sing, sing. And make music with the heavens, we will sing, sing, sing. Grateful that you hear us, when we shout your praise, lift high the name of Jesus.” What a wonderful way to head into slumber and what a great way to wrap up the gift of another day.