The Thrill

So I get a call from my best friend and she says to me, "we need babysitters for Saturday night." I tell her "okay", and wonder what has she signed me up for now? For those of you that know us, you will understand that statement. She then proceeds to tell me that we are going to the Toby Mac and Brandon Heath concert!!! We won a contest from The Fish radio station. It takes a minute for this information to actually sink in and register as I did not recall entering a contest. "I told our story of how God put us together and they picked us" she tells me excitedly. Now I am freaking out a little bit as I go online and check it out. Sure enough, there we are on Lara Scott's page as the winners with the entry Wendy sent in. WOW!! Not only do we have backstage passes to the concert, but we get to have dinner with Lara Scott. JACKPOT!!!

We arrived and got to hang out backstage watching things get ready for the night. Lara Scott and her husband came over and we took pictures and talked, just chillin together. Then they took us in for a meet and greet with the VIP ticket holders. There Toby Mac came out and talked, answered questions and sang a few tunes for all of us. It was time for us to go under the stage and eat dinner together with Lara, her husband and friend as well as the production company. It was great food with lots of choices and good conversation with everyone. I very much enjoyed spending time getting to know them and sharing our stories with them.

As we were leaving, in walked Toby Mac...SO COOL!!! We talked with him for a few, snapped a few pictures and got a couple of autographs for the nephews ;) Yes, I did try to get him to adopt some more kids after I learned he had 5 children, 2 of which were adopted. C'mon, you have met me, you knew I would! It was a very awesome few minutes to spend with him.

We left there and were backstage again and up walked Big Wave Dave with his 2 children. How fun that we also got to meet him again (we went to his graduation from HOPE...well actually we were there for Joe Barsha, but BWD graduated too).

It was time to go in and take our seat for the fabulous show to start!!! The energy and the music from everyone there was incredible. Life changing I would say. Such an experience to be able to rock out, sing, dance, and cheer but then have the artist read from his bible and encourage the unsaved that God has a plan for them. They left me wanting more and I vowed to go to more concerts after that night.

It was not only a lot of fun as two good friends, Alena and Phil, had purchased tickets and were there, but it was inspiring, refreshing and renewing for me. God always lets me know when I am feeling like I can not do anymore that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I felt His presence there, I felt Him speaking to me through the songs, letting me know that I am doing what He is asking and to keep going.

The one song that I felt such a connection to was when Brandon Heath sang the following chorus:

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me your heart for the once forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

Yes, those words were meant for me. I needed those words on that night, at that moment to remember why I do what I do and what it is really about, because it is not about me or my plans, but about His kingdom and reaching the lost in His name.