Playing To Audience of One

On Friday night, Connie and I went to the Make a Difference Tour featuring Toby Mac, Third Day and Michael W. Smith. This is something that was the brainchild of Max Lucado that was designed to help World Vision to find sponsors for children in other countries.

The concert was really good but one thing stood out to me at the very beginning. A late addition to the lineup was a guy named Jason Gray (He has a new song out which is very popular called More Like Falling in Love - listen here).

Anyway, the show was scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM. Ten minutes before 7:00, Gray came out to begin. Needless to say, many of the seats were still empty and many people were milling around trying to find their seats. I thought that these would be very difficult conditions to play under as it had to be pretty distracting.

However, I was very impressed with Gray. It appeared that the people walking around were not an issue to him. He gave it his all, regardless of his surroundings.

I have heard it said that we all should remember that we are really playing for an audience of One. That is exactly how Jason Gray played on Friday night.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24

One-Upping Chris Tomlin

Our family has had an incredible week so far. We are in Sandestin, Florida enjoying each other’s company, some unbelievably beautiful scenery and some great weather.

The week started out when we heard on the radio about a couple of free concerts on the beach in nearby Panama City Beach. So, on Saturday night we found ourselves on the beach listening to Chris Tomlin, one of our favorite artists. Sunday night was Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.

The incredible thing about this is that both nights we drove the 40 minutes to Panama City Beach in the rain and the forecast was not looking promising. Also, each day was incredibly hot (I know...Florida in August, go figure!). Right before each concert was to begin, the rain stopped and we enjoyed perfect evenings. Not only was there no rain, but it remained cloudy which lowered the temperature to a very comfortable level--it was absolutely perfect!

On Saturday, right as the Chris Tomlin concert was ending (which was amazing by the way!), the clouds parted and we witnessed perhaps the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen (see above picture of my kids). My daughter Molly summed it up perfectly when she said, “I think God just one-upped Chris Tomlin!"

“Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go

Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow

Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light

Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night

None can fathom”
Chris Tomlin from his song Indescribable