Clear the Stage

About a year ago, I heard a song that went straight through my heart.

In the summer of 2012, I went with a group of friends to RUF Summer Conference.  There, I heard a message about idolatry that I will absolutely never forget.  Though I've grown up learning about how idols are not always golden calves, and they can really be anything that we put before God in our lives, I never gave the concept much thought until then.  I was shocked.  I had been idolizing myself, others, relationships, music, etc.  I remember feeling like I had been punched in the stomach when I realized the depth of my sin.  And for the millionth time, I was overwhelmed by the amazing grace of my Savior.

A few months after the conference is when I heard this song for the first time while studying at a coffee shop and I nearly started crying.  The convicting, biblical message in the lyrics is overwhelming. 

Over the summer, I was blessed with the awesome time of recording a cover video of this song with my friend Andrew Bradford (Bradford Productions).  Since we both share a passion for God and for using the gifts He has given us to spread His name, we were extremely pumped to work on this project.  Andrew's fiancee, Kimmy, is one of my very dearest friends, so the three of us had a blast driving all over the place to different locations to film.  Even despite the sweltering heat, annoying gnats, shockingly long church bells, etc., I believe we all loved every minute of it.  And dang, he did an awesome job!

Clear the stage, and set the sound and lights ablaze

If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols

Jerk the pews, and all the decorations, too

Until the congregation's few that have revival

Tell your friends that this is where the party ends

Until you're broken for your sin, you can't be social

Seek the Lord and wait for what He has in store

And know that great is your reward, so just be hopeful

'Cause you can sing all you want to, 

Yes you can sing all you want to

You can sing all you want to, and still get it wrong

Worship is more than a song

Take a break from all the plans that you have made

And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper

Beg Him please to open up His mouth and speak

And pray for real upon your knees until they blister

Shine the light on every corner of your life

Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open

Read the word and put to test the things you've heard

Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken

We must not worship something that's not even worth it

Clear the stage, make some space 

For the One who deserves it

Anything I put before my God is an idol

Anything I want with all my heart is an idol

Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol

Anything that I give all my love is an idol

{"Clear the Stage" - Ross King/Jimmy Needham}

Out of the Dust

A lot of things have changed.

I've lived in Milledgeville for two months now, although it feels like much, much longer.  When I first moved in, I remember unpacking my things and suddenly feeling like I had been punched in the stomach.  I don't want this, I remember thinking.  Why did I think I wanted this?

Those thoughts raced around in my head for a couple of weeks.  It seemed like the most unnatural thing in the world to be living in not only a different house, but an entirely different city than my parents.  I didn't know the names of any of the professors at my new school, whereas at my old one I knew of almost all of them.  I missed so many people and things about home that it was absolutely overwhelming.

I still miss home.  But now...this is home, too.

God has shown so much of His goodness to me since moving here.  It is so clear that He has been carefully preparing this time for me, and that amazes me.  He placed me in a beautiful apartment where my roommates have become two of my very best friends- godly young women who encourage me, stand by me, and make me laugh so much.  He gifted me with the confidence and the abilities to continue in a music program that is very difficult and often very hard on one's self esteem.  He blessed me with immediate friendships here so that I never feel lonely.  Perhaps best of all, twenty years ago He made me the daughter of the best parents I can imagine- two followers of Christ who love each other and their children with all their hearts, and who have provided more than enough for me emotionally, spiritually, and materially for my whole life.  He is so good.

I have also known a lot of pain since moving here.  I have been homesick.  I have made some very scary and painful changes in relationships.  I have been stressed beyond belief about school.  I have been scared of what lies ahead.  I have tripped over a lot of infamous Milledgeville sidewalks.

In the midst of pain, though, there has been so much healing.  The Father of all Creation never leaves His child to weep alone.

Looking back to only six months ago, I am in awe that I am able to say these things.  I had so little faith.  I refused to look to God for healing because I could only look inward at my own brokenness.  He truly did lift me up out of the dust.

He's not finished with me.  He's not finished with any of us.  Now, I look to the future with hope instead of fear because I have faith in the God who never leaves.

There is hope beyond the suffering, joy beyond the tears
Peace in every tragedy, love that conquers fear
I have found redemption in the blood of Christ
My body may be dying but I'll always be alive
{When My Heart Is Torn Asunder - Phil Wickham}

End It.

It has been too long since I posted about one of my hugest passions: Abolition.

You've probably heard some of the statistics.

Twenty-seven million enslaved today.  100,000 children trafficked every year in the U.S. alone.

It makes you sick, right?  So you close your eyes or turn away, because it hurts so much that you can't do anything.  I've done the same thing, and sometimes I still do.  But the truth is you can do something.  You can make it known.

Scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed today, I happened upon the video that I have included at the bottom of this post.  I have heard SO many people talk about how little good it does to raise awareness of human trafficking.  The popular opinion is that raising awareness isn't helping anyone.

But here's the thing.  If we don't know what's going on... how in the world are we going to stop it?

In today's society, prostitution is glamorized.  Watch a couple of CBS sitcoms or a typical modern comedy and that's obvious.  Men are actually encouraged to buy prostitutes, go to strip clubs, look at pornography- it's all "a part of being men," right?  That's what I've heard too many people- men and women- say.  And the prostitutes portrayed in the media seem pretty dang happy about their profession, don't they?  I've even heard many women argue that the women should be left alone to sell their bodies because that's their choice.

Let's get real.

This is one of the best videos I've seen about what really happens in the lives of the majority of prostitutes.  Be not mistaken.  The average age of entry into prostitution is 12-14 years old.  According to the definition of "average," there would have to be A LOT of children even younger than that entering prostitution.  They're not choosing it for themselves...and this video shows what motivates them to stay even when we, from the outside, think they could easily escape.  It is truly horrific.

This video also shows the healing that can come after rescue, which is amazing... but let's work towards prevention, shall we?  Let's know our facts, tell our friends, call our senators.  Do whatever it takes.

It's not glamorous.  It's a tragedy- and to bring this to an end is a war worth fighting.

Love 146

End It Movement

P.S. --  I can hear the angry comments now: "Strip clubs shouldn't be included- strippers aren't prostitutes."  Let me go ahead and say... I KNOW!  But it's the mentality of purchasing a woman's body- even if only to look at- that is the problem.  Human beings are not for sale.