This was the day we had been anticipating for several months. This was the day we would experience Kingdom Bound firsthand.
Kingdom bound is a yearly Christian music Festival that is hosted, of all places, in an amusement park!
I have to admit that I had my qualms about the setting. I personally don’t enjoy taxing my ears with the loud noises of screeching rides, punctuated by the wild yelling of excited teenagers. Especially since the day before, my two teen sons had felt free to demonstrate just how contemporary teens behave! What did quicken my heart, however, was to see these same two teens so excited. And they weren’t just excited by the potential rides, either. They were actually anticipating the Robin Mark and Newsboys concerts as much, if not more, than the rides!
I left my kids on the rides and I headed off to try and locate a concert that would be led by Paul Baloche. Perhaps I should have been prepared for the crowds in the concert tents, but I had naively assumed that most of the concert goers would be taking advantage of the rides! I was wrong. The tent was packed. And it was only 10:00 a.m.!
I squeezed my way up near the front and tried to relax. It was difficult, though, because my mind was reeling in overdrive. As much as I like music, I would have a hard time even concentrating on it! That all changed during the first song on the venue. As Paul Baloche led us all in a praise song, Hosanna, I couldn’t help but jump on my feet, raise my hands in the air and praise the Lord. Then tears began to form in my eyes, and before I knew it, they were streaming down my face. All the frustrations from the previous day’s “teenage moments” seemed to melt from my mind as I focused on praising the One who makes a difference in my life: Jesus Christ!
My whole perspective changed in that single brief moment. My outlook changed to one of excited anticipation. I left the concert with a song in my heart and a smile on my face. The downtrodden mind-set that I had brought into the amusement park had been replaced with one of pure joy! Our God reigns indeed, and all of our worries are quite puny when we look at things from His perspective! I couldn’t help but think of the following verse:
“Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ – that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” (Col 3:2 The Message)
Our God reigns, indeed, and if we let Him, He can change our downtrodden, worried attitude into joy!
Let’s try to look at things from His perspective, knowing that we have nothing at all to worry about!
Why?
Because the mightiest King of the Universe who cares for us is at our side! “We can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?” (Heb 13:6 The Message)
Oh, the power of a praise song! It refreshes our hearts, lifting us out of the miry clay of our lives, setting our feet in the highest of heavens! Rescuing us from the pit of destruction and permitting us to adoringly see our situation from God’s perspective. We really have nothing to worry about! I wonder why we don’t sing His praises more often!
As for me and my boys, we plan to return to this Kingdom Bound experience, amusement park or not! It sure is worth it!
Hosanna! Our God reigns!
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