History

So ya'll know Matthew West? You know, the super poppy sounding Christian artist with his second album either out or coming out very soon. Yeah, him. Well as hard as it is for me to admit that I like his stuff...let alone listen to it, I do and I do. Well, its sort of complicated. About a year ago now I first got his CD. There is a woman at a church that I pastored at that was the "music woman." Every year at church camp she would buy CD's for us to use as give-a-ways the last nights of camp for campers and workers. For some reason we misplaced two of them and I ended up with them in my office. Then they ended up in my car. Then...yeah, even my CD player...imagine that.

If you haven't ever heard Matthew West's first CD title track "History" ... you need to! It sounds a little corny at first, especially for an ex-punk rocker and wanna be emo scene venue manager. But then... out of know where, it was like a prophetic voice speaking into my life...

Every choice that you are making
Every step that you are taking
Every chain that you are breaking
History is in the making

Every word that you are saying
Every prayer that you are praying
Every chain that you are breaking
History is in the making

I wish you could hear the song sung...or at least how I hear it. Back a year ago, I loved the song. I remember trying to get our new drama team that formed after camp to do a skit to it because I felt it was so powerful... but I guess I was the only one feeling it. Either way, I loved the song. But somehow my wife got wind of the CD and found the love song on the album and stole it from me.

I found it the other day. I brought it into the office and imported it to my itunes. This afternoon I decided to reminisce and crank it up. I guess I never knew why I loved the song. Maybe it was my desire to make "history" or to identify with the song. At the time, honestly I really couldn't identify. I wasn't breaking any chains, I wasn't making any moves or taking any steps. But then as you may know... I stepped. I moved. I acted. At times it has felt like I lept without looking.

And now here I am a year later, listening to the same song that I loved so much for an unknown reason, finding out why I love it. Now I won't try and over spiritualize things here, but I get it now! The past year is history. Not only the past, but real history. God moved in an unbelievable way in our life. My wife and I have grown so much. We know what it feels like to trust God when things look hopeless. I mean, the events of the past 365 + days are the stuff best selling novels are made of. I'm not talking after-school special or crappy low budget Christan film, I am talking $4.95 Blockbuster 2 Night New Release!

Yeah, I may have made some mistakes. I may have acted quickly without as much prayer or thought as I could have. In the world's eyes I was a failure. In my eyes I was a failure. But I am finding out that God is making history in my life. Every day that I get up and ask God to move, every time I see His will and choose to walk in it, every message spoken to a heart that is ready to respond...its history. God is a lot bigger than my busted life plan. Jesus is stronger than my ability to foul things up. Mark it down. This time next year...things will again look a lot different. God's making history.