Hello, Love!!

I am still basking in the glow of the worship experience I had last night at the Chris Tomlin concert - his "Hello Love" CD tour. About 15,000 people and I worshipped together giving me a tiny taste of what heaven might be like - "the multitudes of heaven worship you." Neh. 9:6

The music was awesome, so worshipful. But I was also impressed by a few other things that occurred during the night that I want to share with you.

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At one point, Chris Tomlin was singing the song "Forever" and forgot the words. Well, it had been a long night, on a long tour. The band continued to play... the other singers kept singing. And when Chris began singing again, it was the words ... "by the grace of God, we will carry on... His love endures forever..." And it hit me that there are times in our lives when we lose track of where we should be. Maybe we go through the motions, but not sensing the strength and peace and presence of God. Maybe it's something else we are struggling with - a relationship, a work situation, depression, health or financial worries - something that causes us to trudge through life unaware of the joy and freedom that Christ brings. And we find ourselves just "carrying on" not even realizing that it is by the grace of God we do so. Other times, we find ourselves in a difficult time or situation, and do know that it is only the grace of God that is carrying us through. Still other times, all seems well, and yet even then it is still only by the grace of God that we carry on. Chris said, "You don't have it all together, I don't have it all together but God holds it all together." So:

Give thanks to the Lord ... Our God and King ...

His love endures forever

For He is good, He is above all things ... His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm His love endures forever

For the life that's been reborn His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful ... Forever God is strong ...

Forever God is with us

Forever
From the rising to the setting sun His love endures forever

By the grace of God We will carry on His love endures forever

Forever God is faithful ... Forever God is strong ...

Forever God is with us

Forever

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Chris shared a challenge to get involved with onemillioncan.com. Starting at a Passion conference in Atlanta, this movement has been raising money to help poor people in the name of Christ all over the world. He said, "Our worship has to get some legs and do something. It has to take action." This week, my Sunday School homework focused on Romans 12:1 where Paul says, "Therefore I urge you, brethren (and sisters!), by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." Our service and our worship is inseparable.

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As one person, we can do a little. Many together can do a lot. At the Passion conference, the students were encouraged to share financially with those a round the worldwho have so little and need so much. It was a shock to the leaders when 20,000 student raised $1,000,000! And that began onemillioncan.com. To illustrate his point, all the lights were turned off on the stage except for one bare bulb. This little bulb was clearly visible throughout the arena. And Chris shared, "The darker it is - the brighter that 50 watt bulb shines!" Even one shining in the darkness provides enough light to overcome that darkness. Imagine what hundreds of lights will do! We sang, "A light shines in the darkness" to the tune of "O Come All Ye Faithful". Isaiah 9:2 says, "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them." That's the focus of onemillioncan.com. Check it out by clicking here.

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This next point my kids urged me not to share, but maybe you are as corny as I am, so here goes: The concert was at the Prudential Center in Newark where the NJ Devils hockey team plays. We were sitting on the "floor seats" where it was cool as the ice was below the floor. At one point as we sang, I became aware that below me was ice where Devils skate. Above me were banners praising Devils, but in between the music was rising and the presence of heaven was so strong and we were singing "rising up all around is the anthem of the Lord reknown ..." and "I will rise ... and I hear the voice of many angels sing...worthy is the Lamb". The angels defeated the devils that night! (Sorry if that was too corny!)

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And my last point (although there were so many more) is this: Near the end of the concert, Chris Tomlin invited Israel Houghton (the opening act) to come out and join him for the last songs. Previously, I have seen Chris in concert opening for Steven Curtis Chapman who did the same thing for him. The blessings and opportunities that Chris had received earlier in his career, he was now passing on to another. And so should we. As God has taught us, so we should teach others. As He has blessed us, so we should bless others.

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And that is the purpose of this blog. Whatever I have received from God, I want to share with you that you also would be blessed or taught. God does not want us to be like a cup that He fills. He wants us to be like a hose, a conduit, sharing and passing along whatever He has given us. That includes words of comfort, of wisdom, of blessing. It includes money, talents, gifts. May whatever He has shared with you be a blessing to others through you.

Susan