Hey everyone.... I just wanted to share a couple of experiences I've had in the past few months, but most recently, in the past few weeks....
As we all go through it at one time or another, I've been going through that "desert experience"...but it was more than just in my prayer life. It was also in my daily life....it felt monotonous and boring. I just did everything I did, and saw no point to it. Soon it spread to the ministry work I did as well. Pretty soon, everything was "infected". Fellowship was scarce for me. I felt like I was standing by myself in the middle of the universe and didn't know where to turn. I felt LOST. Even music lost it's effect on me. On top of all this, I was sick for about 3 months straight. I guess a good way to sum it up was that I was living the life of Job. :) This past week, I think I was really able to see how blessed I am, and that God really does care for me and pick me up when I most need to be. On Wednesday, I was in a minor car accident. Nothing to even think about, just a few scratches to my car (and a tiny long hole) along the front right of my bumper, but it was the protection sent from above that saved me from further damage. Then yesterday, I got to meet someone who didn't have the Lord in his life, and had no concept of what it means to live in Jesus. I felt so sad for him b/c his character seemed so empty. How can one live without the Lord?? I just can't even imagine it anymore. In any case, I think the Lord's given me a chance to evangelize in a way that I haven't had in a long time. Pray for his soul!! This is the last thing I wanted to share... as I mentioned before, I was going through an extreme desert experience. I happened to buy a new CD yesterday, and as I was reading the credits on the jacket, I came upon the artists comments. They hit me profoundly as I felt I was standing in his shoes. I felt his heart, his struggles through pain and growth. Read on: "FYI: this album was recorded between january 1998 and june 2001 mostly in the insufficiently air-conditioned room above Brian's garage. Many of the vocals on this album were taken from the original song demos that had been paraded around town, in keeping with typical music business protocol. These songs are intensely personal, and admittedly a bit selfish, as they have all in some way been a part of my own healing during three of the most discouraging years of my life. It was during these few years that I discovered the meaning of grace, an epiphany that inspired "Leaving Lonely", which is probably my favorite song on this album. It is my prayer that this collection of my innermost thoughts will inspire you to feel hopeful, and that you will realize the endless supply of comfort surrounding you as you navigate your own perosonal valley of the shadow...."Falling Awake" is my take on the contradiction that is the Christian experience...after all, faith walks hand in hand with doubt, hope is significant only in uncertainty, and we must all fall down in order to be lifted again. Thanks for listening. - Paul" He also said this in the thanks section: "Thanks also to God for patiently listening when the only prayer I could muster was 'why'". How much more honest can you get than that? It's the little ways that God works through artists like these that helps me to carry on in my trek to the gates of heaven, crawling as I may be. I leave you with the lyrics to the song that attracted my soul to this artist's music... brothers and sisters, I present to you Paul Alan's "Have a Little Hope" (copyright 2001 My Reality Music [sesac]).... I was blind now I see Chained to fear now I'm free I was blind now I see I wrote the book on apathy but Now I care about something I care about something You can call me a fool 'cause It's nothing I can prove I just had to tell you A million people try to find their way Over coffee in this little cafe Like the neon in the window Some things will never change Have a little hope on me Nothing else in life is free Have a little sweet release This is everybody's cup of tea I got lost one day in the saving grace And there's more than enough for both of us so Grab yourself a window seat and Have some hope on me I was lost and alone I was naked, I was cold I was deaf now I hear and The sound is so clear Would you come with me To the symphony Everybody's gotta run away Everybody's gotta feel their way home Everybody needs a reason To feel anything at all In the moonlight Under a neon sign This could change your life Blessings to you brothers and sisters... Love & Prayers, Leese Philadelphia, PA, USA **************************************************************** This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. To unsubscribe, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to this mailing list, visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet For automatic help, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ****************************************************************
