More SCC

I really do listen to other music than just Steven Curtis Chapman's. Really. But bear with me as I share a third blog in a row with his name in it. I have always drawn strength from so many of his lyrics, but I believe so many more people are going to relate to his music now - especially with what he produces in future - with the depth of grief he has experienced.

If you are interested, here are links to interviews he and his family did this week to talk about the grief they have been working through. Have a kleenex handy and listen to one with Good Morning America and the other with Larry King on CNN - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6 (Part 6 has the new verse to 'Yours', as in my previous blog).

Yours

"I’ve walked the valley of death’s shadow

So deep and dark that I could barely breathe

I’ve had to let go of more than I could bear

And questioned everything that I believe

But still even here in this great darkness

A comfort and hope come breaking through

As I can say in life or death

God we belong to you."


Steven Curtis Chapman - "Yours"

(The above is a brand new verse 4 that has been added to the original song since recently walking through that valley and losing his 5 year old daughter.)

We will miss you Joy

"This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams

And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no

And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope (There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan

But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, and ...

We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything God promised us is true, so ...

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope"

With Hope, By Steven Curtis Chapman

Cinderella

Do you have little ones in the house and find yourself rushing your play times with them, their bedtimes and story times? I remember the exhaustion! Steven Curtis Chapman wrote the song (and book), 'Cinderella' in 2007 and since losing his 5 year old daughter two weeks ago, that song is now getting a lot of playtime on the radio. It's got to be heart wrenching for him now to hear that song in his mind. His manager, Jim Houser, wrote this in October 2007:

'I laugh every time I hear Steven share the story of how "Cinderella" was written. And in my work, I get to hear him tell it a lot. When he talks about rushing bath time and rushing story time and, then the pay off when he knows they should pray but he knows the girls will drag it out so he says 'ok, pray, but pray quick, immediate family only!' That always gets a chuckle from me. You'd think being in this kind of proximity to such a prolific writer would mean that I would really "get it." You'd be wrong.
The other night, after a particularly long day at the office, and a long few hours after dinner that night at home I'm embarrassed to admit I was rushing through story time with my three kids. Downstairs the ipod was playing the "Jim's post dinner playlist" and at a certain providential moment, Steven's new song "Cinderella" began to play. As it drifted up the steps within earshot, the reminder washed over me and through Steven's lyric and God tapped me on the shoulder. I felt God impress upon me the thought, "you have less story times than you think left. Better slow down Houser." '

Sober reminder to us all. Love your family and spend quality time with them. These moments are precious. Cherish them.

Listen to the song here. Then go hug your kids.

Addendum to "With Hope"

An addendum to my earlier blog 'With Hope'.......

Jim Houser, Steven Curtis Chapman's manager, writes in his blog of Maria's memorial service.....
"...I too echo Caleb and his wise beyond his years comment, after having the privilege to walk with so many of their family and friends next to the Chapmans through this time, I have never been more convinced that Jesus is real, that the Gospel is true. Despite this tragedy that could seem to contradict He is a good and sovereign God, we know the truth that is on the front of Maria's Memorial Service program! That He has plans for us 'plans for peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.' "

It's cool to note that the couple for whom Steven wrote "With Hope" were able to hear his best friend sing that song at Maria's memorial, and to be a source of comfort in response for what Steven had helped them through in similar circumstances.

You can read about the memorial service here.

With Hope

Oh how I wish Steven Curtis Chapman did not have to live out these words in his own family that he once penned for someone else ....ache, grief and hope....

We ache and grieve with his family and pray for peace and strength from that precious hope for each one of them.

"This is not at all how
We thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you, but ...

We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope
(There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again

And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more
The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears I see the Father smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home
And now you're free, and ...

We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything God promised us is true, so ...

We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope"

With Hope, By Steven Curtis Chapman