What Have You "Made It"?

One of my favorite songs from my days in the youth group at my home church was "Heart of Worship"  by Matt Redman. It sounded beautiful when sung and I liked the words. I was recently reminded of the words when we sang it at a singing service I attended. The chorus of this song is "I'm coming back to the heart of worship where it's all about you. It's all about you Jesus. I'm sorry Lord for the things I've made it when it's all about you- it's all about you Jesus."

It got me thinking. What have I "made it"? "It" being church, worship, my Christian life, etc. Well...


It has become a social event. A place where I can go and know that I can see friends and connect with people. I have made it an escape. A place at the beginning of the week where I don't have to think about homework or school or life- I can just relax. I've made it a concert-where I can just listen to the song leader and the people around me sing pretty songs. And I've made it a way to feel better about myself. When there is a pointed lesson I can listen to it and think "Well hey, I haven't had an affair, so I'm good!"

What I'm forgetting when I do that though is that this week I gossiped about someone in my class. I lied and said I was busy when someone asked me to hang out because really...I just didn't want to do something with that person. I made fun of someone in my head for asking a dumb question in class. I let my anger get the best of me and snapped at my best friend. When this realization started pouring over me this week, I realized I've got "it" all wrong.

Church and worship isn't a social event. It's not an escape- at least in the way I've been viewing it. It's not a concert and it is definitely not a way to feel better about myself. It is a way to be challenged. It is a place to connect with others on a deep, intimate level- not just saying hey to my friends and catching up on the week's news. It's a place where I can be free to pour out my heart to God in worship, and be humbled by the message the preacher brings. It's a place where no matter my sins or my hurt, or other's sins and hurt, I can be me and come into the embrace of other's that love God passionately and without abandon.

My challenge to you is this week, make a list. What have you "made it"? Write it down. You don't have to show it to anyone, but there is something powerful about being completely honest with yourself and with God. And then think of ways to change your list. Instead of making it an escape from the craziness of life-thinking of it as the one day a week you can just sit and have your kids be quiet and not have to pay bills or cook a meal or do homework-  make it a refuge where you can feel the peace of God surround you. Instead of thinking of it as a concert, think of it as a place where you can completely let yourself go, and let the words and the music wash over you and encourage you, lift you up, raise your spirits. Instead of a place where you feel better about yourself, try to think of a challenge from every lesson that the preacher brings. I promise you- if you look for an area of improvement you will find it.

"I'm coming back to the heart of worship, where it's all about you. It's all about you, Jesus. I'm sorry Lord for the things I've made it when it's all about you- it's all about you Jesus."

Be salt and light!!
~Hannah~

The Proposal Story (ah!!)

Here is the promised proposal story. Enjoy! 

I went to Atlanta, Georgia for a mission trip with the youth group I was the youth intern for, and Evan decided to take a week off from his internship in Springfield, Missouri and go home to Georgia. He had e-mailed the youth minister I was working for (Matthew) and told him that he was going to propose, and asked if I could have a night off. Matthew, being the awesome, understanding boss that he was of course said yes. Now, I should have known something was up when I was talking to Matthew and Evan, because both of them kept absolutely insisting that I take Wednesday night off. Well, on Wednesday of that week Evan picked me up from the place I was staying with the youth group and took me to his house. I  thought that we were just cooking dinner for his parents, and then hanging out with everyone. However, when we started to cook dinner his parents disappeared upstairs. Before we had started dating, Evan had taught me how to play chess. He had led me to believe that I was pretty good by letting me win several of the games. Apparently, he was just being nice. He suggested that the person that won the next game got to decide the next activity we did. I was pretty sure of myself, so I agreed. ....I lost in about 5 moves. HIs suggestion was that we go on our first official date. At Evan's house on the night of the proposal, he had bought a new chess set. He suggested we play a game while dinner was cooking. After he beat me (he always wins), he came to sit by me on the couch and said that he had thought of a good analogy for life that involves a chessboard. He said that a lot of times in life, things will happen and you will lose "pieces", like in a chess game. He said that while some pieces may go out of your life, sometimes you are lucky enough that God sends you just the right person that will always have your back and will do anything to protect you, like the queen piece in chess. He said that he was so lucky, because God had sent him that person, and that it was me. He got down on one knee, pulled out a ring, and said "I am so lucky that God sent me you. I know that you will always have my back, always do anything to protect me. And for the rest of my life, I want to be that person for you. Hannah Wren Stone, will you marry me?" I, of course, said yes.

Sorry it's been so long coming. I've had a lot going on, some of which I will address in my next few blog posts. I hope all of you have had a marvelous start to your new year. 

Be salt and light!!
~Hannah~