Blessings at the Rock Show!

I wish there were enough adjectives in my vocabulary to describe the feeling I had.  Awesome, spectacular, amazing, glorifying....those are just a few.

I took the girls to the Rock and Worship Road Show this last Sunday in Colorado Springs.  We drove up Sunday after church with some friends, Rick and RJ, and when we drove up to the World Arena, we saw the most amazing sight....THOUSANDS of people waiting to get in and see 7 gifted bands!  We got into the venue and secured five seats just four rows from the front.  The kids were thrilled!  Truth be told, I was probably more excited than they were!  And probably even more exciting to me---the arena sold out!  Not a single seat was left.  AND THAT INCLUDES THE SEATS THAT WERE BEHIND THE STAGE!

Here's the lineup-

1. Moriah Peters-
2. The Rend Collective Experiment
3. Sidewalk Prophets
4. Disciple
5. Hawk Nelson
6. Lecrae
7. Tenth Avenue North
8. Mercy Me

These artists were fabulous.  But here are the highlights and moments that impacted me the most.

1.  So many people, in one place, praising God.

• There were young, old, hurting, and happy, coming together for a common reason-to praise Him in music!  All of those voices, singing with the bands to Him....it was thrilling!

2.  The crossing of the genre lines.

• It didn't matter if hip hop was your thing, when Disciple (a hard Christian rock group) got up there, those people STILL danced, still sang, still screamed!  And the people who might've come to see Hawk Nelson (alternative Christian) had fists pumped and were dancing to Mercy Me's "Move!"  It was incredible.  It didn't matter what you preferred, we were all united in one goal-lifting our voices to Jesus.

3.  The character of Lecrae. 

• Lecrae is a hip hop Christian artist and I know a lot of people would argue that the two can't go together.  But THEY ARE WRONG.  He is bold.  "One-one-six" he kept saying...referencing Romans 1:16-"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." 
• Lecrae said this at the concert-"What is this?  Is it possible for hip hop and God to go together?  Let me tell you something.  The earth is the Lord's and everything therein.  This belongs to Him.  The problem is not with the music, it's with the hearts of men.  But if God gets a hold of our hearts and transforms us, we can transform music for His name and His glory."

4.  My children.

• My purpose in this life is to have less of me and more of Him.  To be so full of Christ that He pours out on everyone and everything that surrounds me.  This includes my children.  I want them to love God and worship Him and praise Him as longingly as I want to and do.  And watching them, arms raised to Jesus, eyes closed, soaking in His love and joy....it was just so fulfilling.  They're still talking about it.  They're sharing it with their friends.  They're listening to the music.  They. Are. Loving. Jesus.

The whole night was probably one of the greatest things I've ever experienced.  Praising Him and the time spent with my girls was a precious gift. 

I'm posting a couple of pictures.  I'm also adding a couple of links to some of the artists.  Hope you enjoy!

The Rend Collective Experiment..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hABUNWk6sXc&ob=av2e
Lecrae (I'm putting 2 links for him because I liked him so much!).....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHnZRZiCYHE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxZk1DouwYc
Moriah Peters....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL2bZfHmsDs

Parental Failure

There are days when I fail at parenting....like epic fail.  The valuable lessons of treating each other with respect, using kind words, not being impatient, all get thrown out the window when I'm yelling at them to stop talking because I'm doing homework.  I feel bad when Peyton asks me to please play a game and I'm too busy reading my history assignment or posting the latest quote I found on Facebook.  And then I wonder why there's hostility in my home towards each other at times.  Are we really that dysfunctional?

And then, things happen, like this weekend, that shows me that even though my parenting isn't perfect, some valuable lessons are sinking in.

This last Saturday, I reached the edge of my insanity when the girls continued to argue, despite being told a MILLION times to stop.  I sat them down in my bedroom and started to ask them why.  Why can't we just get along.  After some lame excuses, I just told them both to be quiet and listen.  This is what I said...

"There is only one Peyton to you, McKenna.  And Peyton, there is only one McKenna for you.  One day, you will both be grown and move away, but you'll still be sisters.  What's the rule in our house?  We build each other up.  We don't tear each other down.  Someday, we won't be here to say 'I love you' or 'you're important' or remind each other how special we are.  And I don't want your growing up days to be filled with angry words or unkind thoughts to each other."

At that point, Peyton started crying.  I asked her what was wrong.  "I've been so mean to Sissy and forgot how special she is." 

Three days later, McKenna and I were discussing what to treat them to for their Valentine's Day dinner.  McKenna says to me, "Let's check with Peyton to see if she likes that.  It's HER Valentine's Day, too."

It was in those moments I realized something....there WILL be days when I fail at parenting.  I will miss the boat and hurt my girls.  Unintentionally, of course, but it will happen.  But you know what?  There will also be days when I win....like slam dunk, Super Bowl, inherit a million dollars win!  And when those moments happen, my plan is to hang on to those and ask God to remind me of them when I feel a failure moment coming on.

You know what else?  Next time, I'm playing that game with them when they ask.  Skip-bo anyone?!