The Art of Celebration

You'r probably thinking what a clever title. 

I didn't come up with it. 

But God bless the Irish! 

Tonight I celebrated! Tonight I rejoiced! Tonight I PARTIED! 

At this point I just wanna jump smack dab in the middle of my story and tell you guys how AWESOME GOD IS! 

I wanna skip past my intro, past my explaining, past my build up and just yell from the top of my lungs

GOD IS AMAZING!!! 

Tonight I learned the art of celebration. 

So I guess that was my intro. One down few more steps to go haha

So yes let me explain why I am celebrating tonight, why I am celebrating for the rest of my life!

 Rend Collective is a really awesome band from Ireland. I've listened to their music for a while now, I've also been obsessed with Ireland for as long as I can remember, and tonight I saw them in concert for the first time. 

I really wasn't sure what to expect. I like concerts but then I also don't. 

This concert definitely wasn't what I expect. 

I didn't expect for the lyrics to touch me, but they did deeply. 

I didn't expect for God to show me the victory has brought me to, but He did. 

I didn't expect to make a fist pump and raise my hand in victory  while signing " Nothing is impossible, every chain is breakable, with you, we are victorious"  but I did. 

I for sure didn't expect to fall in love with one of the cute lead singers but- haaaa just kidding. His accent was just to much to handle haha 

I sure didn't think I was gonna learn a lesson on celebrating, but I did.

I turned 21 this week. 

I am pretty sad about it. I don't wanna grow up. 

My 20th year has by far been one of the hardest years of my life. I have faced trials I never thought I would. I have walked valleys deeper than I thought could exist and felt pain deeper than I ever thought I could handle. 

But my 20th year of living has probably been one of the most amazing, thrilling, beautiful, changing, growing, blooming, victorious year! 

I am so sad to see that season of my life end. 

And I cant believe I'm saying that!!!

God has given me undeserving love. 

God has given me undeserving victory. 

 The Lord has helped me  overcome one of my biggest trials that I have faced in my short lived life.
A trial where my only enemy was my own heart, my own attitude, my own mistakes. 

I don't know when this victory came. Maybe when I was crying on my knees. Maybe when I was staring blankly at the walls, silently. Maybe when I was worshiping with my brothers and sisters. Maybe when I shut myself and refused to speak to anyone. 

It doesn't even matter.

VICTORY IS HERE! 

And this victory I have found in Christ was worth any pain, any trial, any depth, because it is the most beautiful feeling and experience I have ever felt in my life! 

I thought I have felt Gods joy. No not like this. 

Not the joy that God gives after he raises you from the ashes. 

There is nothing I did and  nothing I will ever do to be able to achieve this JOY!
It is only in God, through God, and from God that I have received it from.

So what was tonight?

Tonight was the greatest celebration. Tonight I rejoiced in all that He has done. Tonight I sang with a child like heart, and rejoiced in a child like joy. 

I wish my words were enough. 

I wish everyone could feel Gods joy. 

I wish his joy was explainable but its not. 

I just don't wanna forget this night of celebration. I want to forever remember this party. 

And I want to be forever reminded to celebrate God daily. Even when more trials will come.

Tonight I learned the art of celebration. 

I hope some of these lyrics speak to whoever has their heart opened. 

I hope these lyrics point you guys north just as it has re-pointed me back to head towards my target. 

REJOICE! 

"We are more than conquerors, through Christ

You have overcome this world, this life

We will not bow to sin or to shame

We are defiant in Your name"

"The pain will not define not us

Joy will reignite us"

"The dark is just a canvas

For your grace and brightness"

"In my wrestling and in my doubts

In my failures You won't walk out

You're great love will lead me through

You are the peace in my troubled sea"

" This is the art of celebration

Knowing we're free from condemnation

Oh praise the One, praise the One

Who made an end to all my sin"