Stevens Park

So this Sunday I am doing another Stevens Park Concert. I've been doing these concerts for like 10 years (I can't even remember exactly when my first one was). They are so much fun. It's so informal and there are those who do come just to listen, but for others they come and eat a picnic supper, play football or frisbee, and I'm just the background music.

I enjoy it so much. There's no explaining what it's like on stage while I'm singing. It's like there's this connection between me and the audience that would normally not be there. Depending on the situation and the songs I'm singing, it's almost as if sometimes I can feel what some people in the audience are feeling.

The strangest example I have of that (well, to me it was strange at the time) was the first time I sang the song I wrote (He Loves You) in public. It was at the end of what our youth group called "Yes Night". Which is just a praise night for teens.

I felt led to share the song with the group, but did not want to be pushy about it. So I prayed that if God really wanted me to share it that He open up the door to do so. Not more than just a few minutes later the youth leader asked if there was anyone who felt led to share something.

I hesitated for just a moment before raising my hand. Since my youth leader was the one who helped write the background music for the song, it was perfect. I went up there, told him what I wanted to do and he agreed that the song needed to be shared.

While I was singing it, there was a girl in the front row. She started crying when she heard my first verse and cried through the rest of the song. When I looked at her my heart broke, and then the weird part happened. It's like God opened her heart up and I was able to see it. I saw all the hurt, all the pain, all the emotions. It was almost overwhelming as I stood there singing and at the same time was singing to her pain.

I know some of you may not understand what in the world I'm talking about, but as I got used to it, I find it a regular part of my singing now. I've come to know that it's a gift the God has given me, a gift to feel other's pain and to try to communicate with them by the language of song.

Even if I'm never famous for singing, I feel (and should always remember to feel) blessed that God has given me this gift. He will allow me to touch whoever He wants me to touch. so today that's my prayer. That God will bring to Stevens Park, those who need a touch from Him. And I pray that I would be an open and willing vessel to speak His love to those who need it the most.

God bless!