As Promised...

Pictures from the Matthew West concert Kelli and I went to on Friday night!!!

We bought VIP tickets, so we got in early and got to meet Matthew West and take a picture with him...

Heidi, Michelle, Gina, Kelli, Mandy and Matthew!

Josh Wilson opened the show and he did a great job...

With our VIP tickets we were able to select our seats before the rest of the crowd, so we had fabulous center stage seats about 8 rows back. Last time we went to see him we were stuck on the far right side with limited view and we left with sore necks! Needless to say we were super excited about our seats this time!!!

For the Story of Your Life Matthew went to a cabin and read some 10,000 letters from people looking for inspiration to write his new songs. For the show he wanted to bring us to the cabin with him, so they had a cabin projected in the background...

He's such a great entertainer, so genuine and funny. At one point he told us how he wondered and feared that he wasn't really making a difference, that he was just preaching to the choir. But, God showed him through those letters and through writing these songs that the people of God are filled with hurts and sorrow just as much as the unsaved and that they need healing too and to be reminded where their strength comes from. 

Each of his songs from the Story of Your Life were written based on one of those letters, some that he shared with us were....

Strong Enough -- about a girl who was in a terrible car accident that changed her life forever and made her run to God for the strength to get through.

Family Tree -- about a girl from a dysfunctional family who was told that it would be her legacy and God spoke to her said I am your legacy.

To Me -- about a middle school kid who is bullied and made fun of and how his true value in God.

One Less -- about a couple who had other plans for their life as empty nesters, but God had another plan for them to adopt a little girl from Guatemala.

Broken Girl -- about girls who were sexually abused as a children... there were a lot of these letters. The song expresses how only the love of God can truly heal our brokenness. 

Two Houses -- about a girl whose father walked out on her family and how we have a heavenly Father who will never leave us.  

Survivor -- a song written to encourage a woman battling cancer. It's encouragement for anyone struggling in this life.

And, The Healing Has Begun is about a woman who had an abortion when she was 18 and God's healing. 

But, this song is for all of us... our own healing... each of us likely relates to at least one of these stories and we've either experienced His healing or are in the process of tasting it for ourselves. We all need His grace, His love and the Hope that He offers us. 

I relate to several of the songs, but over all the one that touches my heart the deepest and covers all of my personal sorrow is Family Tree...

  

Which of Matthew's songs connects you right to the heart of God?