Crossover Christian Festival

Crossover Christian Festival 2008. Seth, Austin, Matthew (Austin's friend) and I set out at about 1 on Fri. to attend our first ever Crossover Christian Festival. We drove through rain, lighting, thunder, waters rolling....but we made it and with God's ever changing hand, the clouds cleared, the rain stopped and the skies were clear! We enjoyed music by a lot of good artist. Barlowgirl, Building 429, some rapper guy (can't remember his name, but he was good...) last but not least one of our favorite Christian bands Skillet! They rocked! We all had a great time! After about 7 hours of rockin', we were on our way home. After about an hour in to the trip home, the kids crashed and I just had some quiet time. No radio, no talking, just me and God. Some things became quite clear.

We have to live each moment. We can't take one minute for granted. While head banging with my kids, I didn't have one thought about bills, cleaning house, anything....it was just me and them. What a great memory. Grant it....some of the music was really loud and though I'm only 35....maybe a little crazy for momma to head bang to, but you know what it was fun. WHY? you ask...because I was with my kids and we were there praising God. Through the drums, through the electric guitar, even through the head banging- God was right there. How many times have you missed out on a moment? Either because you refused to do something new or the fact that you may have done it but you didn't totally submerse yourself into what it was. God calls us to daily be renewed, refreshed. Renewal, refreshment you have to love those words. He offers them...I'm not saying just totally go crazy...but try something different, drive a new route to work, talk to new people, listen to different music.

Barlowgirl! Love em... They are a band of 3 sisters and the girls can rock! Not only that they are so genuine about their love for God. One thing that came to me is how everyone is pretty good about "doing religion"....you know showing up at church when the doors are open, reciting bible verses, etc....but what about God, what about the Holy Spirit...what about Mon, Tues, Wed, you know....all those days besides Sunday. How good are we at "doing a relationship with God!"? One of the girls recited something out of a book she had read about the Nazi concentration camp. On one of the walls it was written, "I believe in the sun, even though it's not shining. I believe in love, even though I don't feel it. I believe in God, even when He is silent." They wrote a song with these words. Say them to yourself. It can make you have a whole different perspective on our God. Just imagine the person that wrote these words, what they were going through, what they knew was in store for them. Then look at where you are today. Look at all your blessings, even look at your hard times. But know that even though He may be silent, He is with you. He will never leave you. "Be not afraid for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." It's easy to get caught up in "religion". Relationships don't come easy. You have to work on them. I bet, sitting in that cell that person had quite a bit of time to work on their relationship with God. Take time today, tomorrow, every day....show your God that you care enough to give Him more than Sunday.

God is good.