I don’t know about how your family does life, but mine is different. Our life’s experiences are very much characterized by the music we listen to. Songs that just really. hit. home. This summer Kevin went to MD Anderson for his 6 month cancer check up which made this time different. All of us were going in different directions so it turned out that Kevin was going to his appointment by himself. I just knew God had a plan in allowing this trip to happen this way.

While in Houston, he was able to attend a Houston Astro’s baseball game with some friends and afterward a concert that Mercy Me was putting on after the game, right there in the stadium. Wow! What an opportunity!

Mercy Me’s newest album has been a reflection of our summer. Every single song has a special meaning not only to Kevin, but to me and each of our girls. I would highly recommend getting it and soaking in the words that it has to share through the songs. I’d like to share some of those truths here on the blog in days to come. Just my thoughts. I am realizing that God’s truths are timeless to any generation. They give hope and explanation to all that God does in our lives.

The song that I want to share today is the one called “Dear Younger Me.”

There is so much in life that we do not understand. Things that happen along the way that totally look like mess ups and failures by the decisions that we make and how many times we interpret that it is in those events that determine our worth. I along with many others feel these messes are what give us our identity and value.

That lie is straight from the pit of hell.

God has been showing me that He wastes nothing that He allows in our lives. The horrible, the big, the bad and the ugly. The things that seriously don’t make sense at one time…will later. He uses it for His glory. He uses it to teach us about who He is and what He wants us to become in His kingdom.

Just like the bird uses all the left over messes to build his home, nothing is insignificant! The people and opportunities that God allows to happen in our lives makes us stronger and more aligned with His purpose for our calling in His kingdom.

This song that Bart Millard is sharing with the world is powerful to so many. It speaks of grace, forgiveness but really the cross. We were never meant to carry many of the things that we are carrying past the Cross of Christ. The place where Life in Jesus begins. This place of healing, mercy and grace is all right there at the foot of the cross.

Just read these words…

If I knew then what I know now
Condemnation would’ve had no power
My joy my pain would’ve never been my worth
If I knew then what I know now
Would’ve not been hard to figure out
What I would’ve changed if I had heard

Dear younger me
It’s not your fault
You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross
Dear younger me

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

Every mountain every valley
Thru each heartache you will see
Every moment brings you closer
To who you were meant to be
Dear younger me, dear younger me

Here is the explanation from Bart about the story behind the song, but after that I want to share with those of you who haven’t heard the whole song. Please take just a moment to listen. Maybe this one is for you. Maybe these words will help you find freedom in laying it down at the Cross of Jesus. Just maybe.

Here is the whole song in its entirety.