More than Words Can Say

I am certainly not a writer of any shape, form, or fashion. I just like to talk . . . so I use lots of words. However, even if I could write like some of my favorite authors . . . Beth Moore, Francine Rivers, Jan Karon. . . I don't think I would have the right words to describe the night Tiff and I had at "An Evening With Friends." It was a live recording for Travis Cottrell's new CD and Beth Moore (one of my favorite Bible teachers) was also speaking. I'll start out by giving a play by play.



We knew to leave early, as the concert was free, so we knew storms of people would be there. When we stopped to get gas we loaded our purses up with snacks. I'm a girl who eats every 2 to 3 hours, so I get hungry often.



We got to FBC Woodstock and waited until they opened the doors of the sanctuary. We got excellent seats! While we were waiting for the concert to get started we saw the Governor of GA, Sonny Perdue. We went and introduced ourselves to him, thanked him for what he does for our state, told him we were homeschooling moms (he and his wife are former homeschoolers). Y'all, he was so nice, warm, and friendly. . . very genuine. He told us he knew what a sacrifice it is to homeschool our kids and asked their ages. He told us to bring our kids up to the capital.

Tiff and I sat next to this very sweet lady, Karen, who is also a blogger. She was really delightful and I'm so glad we made a new friend.



We also saw some of our other real-life friends and chatted with them a bit (forgot to get a picture with them though)

The night started off with Sean Groves talking about Compassion International and giving a personal testimony. He really has such a heart for the Lord. I loved what he said about most of us think in terms of our salvation of what we are saved FROM and not what we are saved FOR . . . to take care of widows and orphans.

Travis started out the night just being real . . . telling us he is really a goober and he is very nervous and he may want to do some songs over . . .

Then. . .

The instruments started playing, Travis started singing, the FBC choir proceeded down the aisle of the church to take their places on stage, then they started singing with Travis, and my tears came to . . .

falling. . .

uncontrollably falling down my face. . .

the kind of tears where you shake on the inside . . .

the kind of tears that make you want to gasp for air . . .

the kind of tears that make you so aware of the presence of a Holy, Almighty, Majestic, and Glorious God that NOTHING, I mean NOTHING else on the face of this earth matters.

There was joy like no other. . .

tears like no other. . .

clapping and raising hands like no other. . .

lifting faces to heaven like no other

than I.HAVE.EVER.EXPERIENCED in my life.

It was the kind of worship where you would get up out of your seat and praise our God, maker of heaven and earth, and you didn't care who was around you or what they were doing or what you were "supposed" to be doing. It was just WORSHIP . . . true, authentic, pure . . . WORSHIP . . . and it was AWESOME.

Travis did have to redo 2 songs, but when the presence of God is as evident as it was that night, you want him to have to do sing more and more. It was the kind of night that you didn't want to end.

After the concert was over I met a friend of Tiff's from college. They got to catch up a little bit. Tiff and I also met a friend of his, a very talented artist named Brian, who has painted for Michael W. Smith and other Christian musicians.

We then went to meet Travis. He was so sweet to be standing in the lobby to greet people. Like Tiff said, "I think he liked us. We made him laugh." He was a super-neat guy. His wife is a health nut like I am so we chatted briefly about that. Tiff put in her request for him to record a song he sang on the Psalms of Ascent DVDs. They talked music. I thanked him for a great night and told him if heaven was even a fraction of what that night was, then I can't wait to get there.

Since Sunday night every time Tiff and I talk it is still a topic of our conversations. Might not seem like much to some people, but we have lots to talk about and are very chatty girls. We are still just reeling from this night. It is something you don't ever want to forget . . . one of those nights that changes something inside of you for the better . . . one of those nights you don't ever want to come down from the "high" of. . . one of those nights that you wish everyone you love could have shared with you.

I don't want to end this post without saying that Beth Moore was great also. I love her heart for the Lord. Her passion for the Lord inspires me so much.