Each of the speakers and singers were so respectful and humble and in many cases "terrified" to even be there for fear they would not do justice to the immensity of the purpose of the evening.
Many somber and reflective moments took place during the evening, and I was so moved to be there with my family and I admit there were many times when I wasn't even watching the stage but was fixed on the faces of my kids and wife. At one point I recall thinking, "how fortunate I am to be sitting here with my loved ones when in front of me a few rows were families that were one less tonight."
Max Lucado shared about how God is our shepherd, Louie Giglio said that the scars on Jesus's hands and feet are there to remind us for eternity that He gets it! Toby Mac gave a great show but I could tell he was alot less "Toby Mac" on this particular night, and Chris Tomlin did an amazing job of leading us in worship of the God of angel armies who is always by my side.
It was truly a night of hope and healing, and then Steven Curtis Chapman and his band which is comprised of he and his two sons (one on guitar and one on drums) came to the stage and sang and shared of how God has brought them through the broken times of losing his little girl to a tragic accident.
His son didn't see her and accidentally ran over her with the car and in that one split second everything changed for one of Christian music's most beloved artists.
His wife shared how God has been continuing to walk side by side with them through this tragedy and from such an incredibly powerful place of empathy with the families who have just lost loved ones she encouraged them that God knows what they're feeling and instead of running to other things that won't fill the void she encouraged them to run to the arms of Jesus.
I think that moment and the moment when she turned to her son, who was on the drums and said "Will Franklin I love you!" were the two highlights of the evening for me as I kept thinking and praying that the families who were in the audience would catch a glimpse of how to "make sense" of something that absolutely makes no sense!
Then, Steven Curtis Chapman did a song that for me captured what I was thinking and feeling the whole night. He sang "Yours" which is a great song with amazing truths that we can all walk away with when things don't make sense. Everything and everyone belongs to God, we're all His and He knows what He's doing.
I pray that you'll take a moment and read the lyrics and listen to the song and realize along with me today that even though I don't understand why tragic things come into our lives, God knows what He's doing and at the end of the day it's all His.
"Yours" by Steven Curtis Chapman
I walk the streets of London And notice in the faces passing by
Something that makes me stop and listen My heart grows heavy with the cry
Where is the hope for London? You whisper and my heart begins to soar
As I'm reminded That every street in London in Yours Oh, yes it is
I walk the dirt roads of Uganda I see the scars that war has left behind
Hope like the sun is fading They're waiting for a cure no one can find
And I hear children's voices singing Of a God who heals and rescues and restores
And I'm reminded That every child in Africa is Yours
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky To the depths of the ocean floor
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God Everything is Yours
You're the Maker and Keeper, Father and Ruler of everything
It's all Yours
And I walk the sidewalks of Nashville Like Singapore, Manila and Shanghai
I rush by the beggar's hand and the wealthy man And everywhere I look I realize
That just like the streets of London For every man and woman, boy and girl
All of creation This is our Father's world
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours You're the Maker and Keeper, Father and Ruler of everything
It's all Yours, God It's all Yours, God It's all Yours, God It's all Yours, God
The glory is Yours, God All the honor is Yours, God
The power is Yours, God The glory is Yours, God
You're the King of Kings And Lord of Lords
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God Everything is Yours From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours All the greatness and power, the glory and splendor and majesty
Everything is Yours Yeah, it's all Yours We are Yours
The glory and honor is Yours, everything is Yours
It's all Yours, God My life is Yours, my heart is Yours
My hands and my feet are Yours Every song that I sing It's all Yours, all is Yours
All belongs to You Our gifts are Yours, God
All our dreams are Yours, God All our plans are Yours, God
The whole earth is Yours, God Everything is Yours.
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