How He Loves

 I've always loved music. I think it's something I got from my brother. Maybe we both got it from our Mom. As a kid, I adored my older brother, Travis. He was 7 years older than me and I wanted to be just like him. I wanted to do every single thing that he did. Everything I know about music, I learned from him. I know I have told this story a thousand times before, but my brother used to make me copies of his cassette tapes so that I could listen to "his music". I found out many years later, as he was recording the tape, he would pause it every time there was a bad word so that I wouldn't listen to that. It's one of the things I think about when I think of how great of a brother he has been to me. It's one of those things that makes me realize how much he loves me. He taught me the love of music.

When I was 13 years old, I heard a song that would change my life and my heart forever. It was called "Where There Is Faith" and I heard it at church. It makes sense that a song would be what would save me. That a song would show me the love of Jesus. That a song would make me want to live my life for Christ. "I believe in faithfulness. I believe in giving of myself, for someone else. I believe in peace and love. I believe in honesty and trust. But it's not enough. For all that I believe may never change the way it is, unless I believe Jesus lives. Where there is faith, there is a voice calling, keep walking. You're not alone in this world. Where there is faith, there is a peace like a child sleeping. Hope everlasting in He, who is able to bear every burden to heal every hurt in my heart. It is a wonderful, powerful place. Where there is faith." Those lyrics will always be the words that saved me. Those lyrics will always be what made me realize how much He loves me. Music taught me the love of Jesus.

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be Chris Tomlin? I bet he could walk into just about any church on the planet on a Sunday morning and hear one of his own songs during the worship service. This was my thought process on Sunday morning as I sang one of his worship songs at my own church. It really got me thinking on worship and how important it is to me. Worship time at church has always spoke to me more so than a message. The song we were singing on Sunday was called "Good, Good Father." I have heard and sang that song so many times over the past 6 months, yet on Sunday, for the first time, I heard the lyrics. "Oh, I've heard a thousand stories of what they think you're like. But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night. And you tell me that you're pleased and that I'm never alone. Oh and I've seen many searching for answers far and wide. But I know we're all searching for answers only you provide. Cause you know just what we need before we say a word. You're a good, good Father. It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are. And I'm loved by You. It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am. Cause you are perfect in all of your ways. You are perfect in all of your ways. You are perfect in all of your ways to us." Wow. Just think about those words for a second. They make my heart skip a beat.

But, it wasn't until I heard the last verse, that my heart felt like it could pop out of my chest. "Oh it's love so undeniable. I, I can hardly speak. Peace so unexplainable. I, I can hardly think. As you call me deeper still, as you call me deeper still, as you call me deeper still, into love, love, love." Even people who know me the best, don't know this about me. When I am worshiping, my heart goes into this deep, wonderful place. I feel like I'm with Jesus the whole time. I get so overwhelmed by the words of the song, that I can't stop wanting to cry. So, I stop singing until I can gather myself again. I stopped singing on that whole last verse because I just couldn't do it without balling my eyes out. Another thing about me that people don't know, is a big pet peeve of mine. It's something I need to work on more, because a worship service is the last place you want to be frustrated about something. I just hate it when people come in late. I know that things happen and that it sometimes can't be helped. BUT, if you are going to be so late that you are coming in during the last worship song wanting me to move so you can get to a seat, why not wait til the song is over? I think that's why most churches start out their worship with a fast song and they end with the slower songs. The slower ones are more moving and put you into the heart of worship. It bothers me so much when people come in THAT late. I know that God wouldn't want me to feel that way, but He also understands how important that part of the service is to me. Hopefully He can help me out with that struggle.

Do me a favor. Just sit still. In the quiet for one full minute. Think about nothing but one thought. "How much does Jesus love me?" My favorite worship song of all time is by David Crowder. It's called "How He Loves" and it's the one song that can always put me in my place. David Crowder is one of my all time favorites. Mainly because his lyrics are so deep. "He is jealous for me. Love's like a hurricane, and I am a tree. Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy. When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory. And I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me. And oh, how he loves us, oh. Oh, how he loves us. How he loves us, oh. We are his portion and He is our prize. Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes. If grace is an ocean, we are all sinking. So heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss, and my heart turns violently inside of my chest. I don't have time to maintain these regrets, when I think about the way he loves us. Oh how he loves us. Oh how he loves us. Yeah he loves us. Oh how he loves us. Oh how he loves us." Now. Do me another favor. Look up this song. Listen to all 4 minutes and 8 seconds of it, all while thinking of how much Jesus loves you. I promise you, it will be something you will want to do again.

His love for us is an amazing feeling. His love for me, truly makes my heart turn violent inside of my chest. It does that every single time I worship Him. From the day I was born, I was influenced by music. I know I will be until the day I die. Thanks to people like Chris Tomlin, and David Crowder, I'm able to put myself back into perspective with just a 4 minute song. But, it's supposed to be that way.

"Sing to the Lord, all the earth, proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all people. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise." 1 Chronicles 16:23-25