I lay there weeping.
Not because I was sick – after so long of being really sick I got past the misery, and accepted that there was nothing I could do to change my circumstances.
No, I lay there weeping because a song played.
A song that brings back a rush of emotions. A song that reminds me of people who have absolutely touched my life. A song that reminds me of an experience that absolutely transformed my life. A song that always reminds me of the One who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Click here to play the song. It’s #9 in the playlist at the bottom right of the page.
The People who absolutely touched my life:
Meet Jonathan David and Melissa Helser.
In spite of extreme adversity, they fought for a dream, and fought until it became reality. Their dream is bringing life to the nations. Their music is awakening a generation. Their vision is reviving the hearts of men and women all over. You know that song, “Ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby”? Well, they are the real thing baby. They are absolutely committed to God, to each other and to their two beautiful children. Beyond that, they spend their lives for the sake of their friends. They love beyond their capability, and then they love beyond that. They live each day like it’s a miracle. They worship God with all of their mind soul and strength. They work hard, play hard, worship hard, and yet they live and breath rest. They walk in the unforced rhythms of grace.
Their lives inspire me.
The Experience that absolutely transformed my life:
The first day of school I stood in front of the class crying, because I felt so honored to be a part of something so special. Even as I write this tears flood my eyes, as I remember, all that was given to me at the 18″ Journey.
It was a time for my heart to receive healing. I was having a hard time coping with everything I experienced out in the nations for 15 months, and the 18″ Journey was a safe place for me to process. I took the creative writing collective, and found so much healing through writing. The class also awakened parts of my imagination that had lay dormant since I was a kid. I wrote a poem called “The Adventures of a boy named Noah”, which I may share some day.
The school was two months of non-stop worship, discipleship and teaching. I received more in those two months than I can possibly comprehend.
I learned the secret of rest, and it transformed my life.
The One who made the Ultimate Sacrifice:
The cross has made a way, so we can enter in, to go back to the garden once again. The cross has made a way, forever I will say, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain’.
Receive the reward oh Lamb of God!
I want the Lord to receive the reward of His suffering. I want my life to be His reward. He is so worthy, and I want to give Him nothing but the best. So often I settle for giving Him what I have left. I want to always remember His sacrifice, and live my life in a way that the Lamb of God would truly receive the reward of His suffering.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive the reward of His suffering, worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
I lay there weeping.
Yes, partly because I had spent two days in a hospital, and been sick for awhile. But mostly because I miss my friends. Mostly because my heart has been so transformed. And mostly because I still owe $1,100 in support to 18″ Journey, and have been unable to pay it. I’ve been given so much, and I’m not even able to repay the basic costs of the school. Would you please consider making a donation today? I guarantee you, your money is going to a good place. Thanks for reading!
[to give, you can make a check out to ‘A Place for the Heart’, and send it to 340 N Hayworth Ave #304, Los Angeles, CA 90048]
