Having real peace is easier said than done. Sure, you can turn off your celly, skip driving through rush hour traffic, and take a lavender oil bath, but can you make yourself stop worrying? Life serves up a generous helping of conflict. It’s one thing to find a peaceful moment. Living in peace when life suddenly takes a nosedive is something else. Peace comes from that deep, solid, holy connection between you, God, and other people. That’s probably why the Bible calls peacemakers blessed—with God’s help and the no-room-for-doubt knowledge that you’re his child, peace has a chance.
Read Matthew 5:9:
You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. (The Message)
Join thousands of participants and teams from around the world shooting free throws for children in need.
This year, every shot you take will help build a medical facility in Zambia. You don’t need to be a basketball player to do Hoops of Hope. You just need a heart for the children we’re helping.
Every shot you take represents a child and every dollar you raise will change their world.
I’m going to be honest. As I sit here and write this blog, on the eve of my departure to Rwanda, my impulse is to try and be super-spiritual, to try and be profound. But in the spirit of being 4Real, I’ll go ahead and say, “I’m not prepared!!” And since I’m being honest I’ll go ahead and say that what has consumed my thoughts the most as I prepare for this trip has been, “What am I going to wear?”
The extent of my travel abroad includes two weekends in Canada and two mission trips to Mexico. These trips impacted my life, don’t get me wrong, but in the end they were full of empty commitments to the people I had met, “I’ll write.” “I’ll come back.” “I’ll send you clothes.” Of course none of these commitments were fulfilled.
My mind wanders down a rabbit trail as I think of the World Vision videos I see every weekend and how numb I’ve become to them. I know that the pitch I give from stage is important and I know the children we are helping matter, but in some ways I think my feelings about those things haven’t reached my heart. It makes me think of the message we are trying to send to the girls at Revolve. I mean, yes they hear it, they get it; they’re beautiful, they matter, Jesus loves them. But do they truly get it? Do they truly hear it? Or is the message drowned out because the world’s message is so much louder and seems so much more important?
The message of Jesus has captured my heart in a powerful way because I made it through my teen years and I know the need I have for Jesus. Is it hard to realize the heart impact until you have gone through it and see the lasting effect?
I’m praying for the girls of Rochester this weekend and for my trip to Rwanda. I pray that our time would be more impacting and life changing than a weekend of empty promises. I pray that God would capture our hearts and challenge us to make a lasting impression of the world and our hearts.
The 2009 GMA Dove Award Nominations are out – and you better believe our Revolve Tour friends made the cut! Check it out:
Natalie Grant – Song of the Year and Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (I Will Not Be Moved); Female Vocalist of the Year; Worship Song of the Year (Breathe On Me); Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Relentless).
Bernie Herms (Natalie’s husband and leader of the Revolve Praise Band) was also nominated as Producer of the Year.
Group 1 Crew - Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (Keys To The Kingdom); Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year (Ordinary Dreamers); Short Form Music Video (Movin’)
Hawk Nelson - Recorded Music Packaging (Hawk Nelson… Is My Friend)
A few familiar faces from The Revolve Tour are tagging along to a few dates on Natalie’s tour and want to meet YOU!
Get your ticket to one of the below events and RSVP for a special meet and greet with Natalie Grant, Evan Milby and Tiffany Thurston from the Revolve Tour.
See it all from the very beginning – starting THIS THURSDAY, February 5, 2009. Did you miss The Revolve Tour’s very own reality TV show when it aired before? Do you want to revisit all the shenanigans the Revolve team got up to on their bus tour? Now’s the time! Episodes are scheduled to air on Thursday starting Thursday, 2/5/09. Check www.gospelmusicchannel.com for specific times.
This past weekend, Laura Wilkinson stopped by the Houston Revolve Tour All Access event!