How Great is our God

When I married Jesse 16 1/2 years ago never in my wildest dreams would I have known the ride we were about to take. 

At the time we met, Jesse was playing bass in a band known as Judah [aka Between Thieves].  He had been playing in Judah for 8 years.  He felt called to step away from it after we married and literally sold every piece of music equipment he had and went searching to find himself.  About 2 months after that a guy from Grand Saline, Tx was putting together a band and asked Jesse to play bass with him.  Jesse told him no several times but this guy named Chris Tomlin did not take no for an answer and after being persistent for a few weeks Jesse agreed to meet him on the road for a conversation.  And like Jesse has said many times….”Chris bought his lunch that day and he has been buying his lunch ever since”! 

In 1997 God joined 2 hearts together that would change the way we worship in church today!  Jesse and Chris have traveled together, made music together, started churches together, lived together, shared hotel rooms, buses, dorms, and blood, sweat and tears, but above all they have made much of Jesus together! Neither one of them had any idea what God had in store for them that day at California Pizza Kitchen in Ft. Worth ,Tx and I believe with all my heart that we will be singing a few of their songs for eternity.

About a little over a year ago, Jesse and I felt in our spirit a restlessness.  We had no idea if the restlessness was the Holy Spirit or the flesh…and most likely it was a little of both.  We got down on our knees, opened up his word and prayed fervently for direction.  We felt release from our time in Atlanta, Georgia but still did not feel release from Chris.  We moved back to Austin, Texas in July and Jesse continued to play with Chris until the end of the Burning Lights Tour.  When he played the last show in Atlanta neither him nor Chris were ready to say goodbye so he flew back to Austin believing with all his heart that he would see all the guys on the road again in late spring.  BUT GOD, had other plans, and through MUCH council on Chris and Jesse’s part, through MUCH prayer, and through MUCH scripture, Jesse and Chris feel like now is the time to part ways!  It was a beautiful, hard, and much needed decision that had to be made and though there is mourning there is MUCH peace.  My text to Chris yesterday said “Peace reigns over our lives and in our home today”.  And that is truly how we all feel.  

God has all of our next steps already laid out and Jesse and I can’t tell you how ready we are to take a HUGE step of faith into that season.  Travel may be in his next season, we have no idea…but right now he is going to enjoy being present in our every day lives, watch his kids in plays and sports, and just be HOME for the first time in almost 17 years!  Praise the Lord!  Our God is soooo GREAT!