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Have you ever finally seen someone in person whom you really admired, but you'd only seen in pictures or on TV, or heard on CDs? What was your reaction in that moment? Have you ever thought about why you had that reaction?

I've been sharing this week on my blog about one of the role models in my younger years, Amy Grant, and how I happened to be in Augusta last Sunday when she did a concert there.

This was the first time I'd ever seen her in person. I can't say I've followed her career as much in recent years. I have other artists now who are a bit more musically "my style" and such...and I wasn't sure that I would even be "impressed" by her performance since my preferences have changed so much since I was 11 years old. :) And yet, I found that when she took the stage and started her first song, I got a little choked up. The first thing I did was ask myself "why?"

As a child with parents in ministry, the family checkbook was often more than slim. Going to concerts back then wasn't really an option or something we could spend money on. So I think partially the little kid in me was touched to have the desire to see her in person finally fulfilled. It felt like something came "full circle." Especially to see that her drummer had drummed for me on "Fearless Now." But as an adult, I know she's just a regular person, and I truly never expected to have that response. There was something about just physically being in her presence that caught my emotions off guard.

She was a real, tangible, human being up there doing what I strive to do so many days of my life - offering her gifts and talents in service to the Lord, hoping that through that service she can be a blessing to others and draw them closer to Him. Honestly, she was also in amazing voice, and I was very impressed that vocally she's still "got it" and that she's still out there giving it her all. As I thought about it, I guess I found myself mostly wanting to just thank her for the example she set for me all those years ago.

Twenty years ago she released the album "Lead Me On," and it was right about that time I started singing Amy's songs in church and writing songs of my own. I never would have imagined life bringing me to where I am today as a worship leader, singer, songwriter, and pastor's wife. In fact, most of my years in school I was pursuing a career in flute performance. It really wasn't until my senior year that those dreams started to change and it became obvious that God was stirring something different in my life than I had planned. But I can truly say His dreams for me are better than anything I imagined. Even on the hard days, I am thankful He led me on this path and placed this call upon my life.

Thinking about how being in Amy's presence affected me got me thinking about how being in the Lord's presence affects me, too. It may sound cheesy to say, but Jesus truly is our greatest role model. We are blessed that even now, though we're here on earth, God sends his Holy Spirit to dwell within us. The Bible tells us He also "inhabits the praises of His people" and that "when two or more are gathered in His name" that He is there. That is an amazing thing! No wonder I often get choked up in those intimate times of corporate worship when it seems I sense His nearness in a special way.

Then I start thinking how much MORE amazing it will be when we finally see the Lord FACE to FACE! In that moment we will be without pain, without sickness, without sorrow, without shame, without doubt, without fear, without regret, without worry, without lack...and we will spend the rest of eternity free of all those chains, in His amazing presence, worshiping around His throne with every tribe and every tongue. WOW.

I know that often our daily experiences give us glimpses of eternal things to come. Through this simple concert in Augusta I saw a glimpse of God's love, provision, guidance, mercy, plans, and purposes in my life. If anything...it makes me homesick for heaven, but also stirred more passionately and urgently to do all I can while here on this earth to sow the gifts He has give me to honor and glorify His name.

Philippians 2:14 - "Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing."

May we live the kind of lives that can be a role-model examples to others, and the kind of lives that make our heavenly Father truly proud.

Philippians 1:8-10 - "So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God."