The Kids' rocking cousins came over yesterday, so Norah and Josiah were having fun with chalk on the porch.


O For Grace

Last Sunday night I went to see a Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn concert that (as expected) was completely awesome. To me there’s just something really mystical about live music… especially when you’re watching people with love for God in their heart weave that love together in rhythm, melody, harmony and rhyme. In a way, it feels like a work-out… but without all the cut-off t-shirts, classic rock, trainers, iPods, and sweat. When I say ‘work-out’ what I mean is that when I left the show, I felt good. I felt like something had happened. I felt stronger. We all have struggles, questions, victories and defeats, and it’s encouraging to watch someone turn all of those things into something beautiful and then present it to you for your encouragement. It was like my faith was lifting weights.

Well, to end the show, Jill suggested we all sing a hymn together and just started leading us in “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” Whoa. I haven’t sung that song in probably eleven or twelve years just because I have spent so much time in the past decade sort of detoxing from some of the stuff about my old church. It turned out that I only remembered the first verse and chorus, but I sang it, and as I did, something happened… I trusted Jesus. I don’t mean I got saved… that happened a long time ago. What I mean is that right then and there, in all the problems and perplexities of that day, and having lived through the week I had just lived through, I sang that song and in so doing, I actually trusted Jesus. I trusted Him to take care of Christy in this time of seemingly unending and debilitating sickness. I trusted Jesus to sell my house and find us a new one. I trusted Him to make my ministry flourish and to make my relationships with kids grow deep. I trusted Him to make me the kind of Dad that can not only handle, but flourish with three kids. I just trusted Jesus.

I guess that is the thing I love about worship… that when a person knows Christ, they’re different from other folks because God’s Spirit actually resides inside them in this mystical union so that singing songs isn’t just making music, but actually has the potential to become something more than just music. For the Christian, singing a song of praise has the potential to become worship… and when it does that, it actually changes you.

I went home that night and Christy and I were talking about all the difficult things coming up in our life and when she asked me how I was doing with all of it, I answered, “Honestly, I’m great. Jill Phillips made me sing, “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” and when I sang it, I really just started trusting Him.” Christy got this incredulous look in her eyes and said, “No way! The other day I was so sick and my throat was so torn up so that I could barely talk, but that song was just on my heart, so I tried to sing it as best as I could… that same song.”

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise, and to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more!