With Everything

This past Tuesday night, Hogan and I, along with a bunch of our friends, went to the Hillsong United concert at the BJCC here in Birmingham. For those that don't know or listen to Hillsong United or Hillsong, check them out now!! They are an amazing band from Australia that worships Jesus with everything they have. We sing their songs in church ALL the time but what an incredible experience to worship with them live along with thousands of others in our city.

It was an incredible night to say the least. At one point during worship, I nudged Hogan to take a picture real quick of the crowd. I posted it above but even this doesn't do it justice. At the point just before this picture, every hand was raised in the air to our Lord. What a sight.

I had one of those, "I can't believe this is me living this life" moments in the middle of worship. I looked at myself, screaming my lungs out in worship to Jesus with both arms lifted as high as they would go to him. I stood in awe just thinking about where Jesus has brought me from and how incredible he's made my life today. I was never in a terrible place in my life. But I didn't truly know him; I didn't live for him; I didn't have the joy and freedom that only HE offers when you surrender your life to him completely and let go of what the world offers. And so I realize now that that was indeed a terrible time in my life because of what I was missing out on. My heart breaks for those that are missing out on that. It breaks even more for those that don't know it's out there. The ones that live a mediocre, average life thinking that is as good as it gets. They don't know the joy and peace and life they are missing out on that Jesus so wants to give them if they will let go of their own desires and let go of what the world is saying to do and follow him wholeheartedly. It's an amazing life and it was so incredible to be reminded of it in such a powerful way Tuesday night.

These are some lyrics from a song we sang - "With Everything." At one point, there were no instruments playing. Just the crowd singing. I know that darkness fled from our city and our hearts that night as we gave everything we had to our Savior in worship.

"Let hope rise And darkness tremble In Your holy light...

With everything With everything
We will shout for Your glory
With everything With everything
We will shout forth Your praise

Our hearts they cry
Be glorified
Be lifted high above all names
For You our King
With everything
We will shout forth Your praise."

Like the Australians say, "Amen?...Amen." :)