I tried several times to take pictures of this label. I'll write it here below for you:
MATTHEW WEST SELLOUT
Previously unreleased Independent CDfrom the artist that brought you the hits,"MORE," "NEXT THING YOU KNOW," "ONLY GRACE" and now "HISTORY"
Last night, DS 2 and his GF were going to the Christian bookstore to get a journal. I asked them to pick up a CD for me while they were there. It wasn't because I wanted the latest Matthew West CD. It was because I wanted the song, "Only Grace" that has been playing on the radio recently. I want to use it at a retreat this weekend. They came home with this CD. I glanced at it and seeing the words ONLY GRACE in red lettering on the label, thanked them. Then I turned it over to see which track it was. I couldn't find it. I "dug deeper" wondering if it was a "hidden track" on the CD. I read the label again to look for the words, "Hidden track" or "Extra" or "Bonus". Nope. Then I read the label a little slower: "Previous unreleased independent CD from the artist that brought you the hits,..." The print isn't THAT small, but it's smaller and not written in prominent red. It's telling the buyer that this is the same artist that brought you "Only Grace". See, "Only Grace" isn't ON this CD.
I told DS 2 it wasn't there. He said, "It says 'Only Grace' right there." I said "Read it slowly." It took a minute, but he, too, finally got it.
And I wonder how many times I "miss" the message that is being sent. How many times do I NOT read the label? How many times do I THINK I've read the label only to find out that I misinterpreted? How many times is the message "hidden" in some way between bolder or redder letters--or bigger and supposedly better things?
Truth is, I think this happens quite a bit. It kind of goes along with the theme of being re-molded and getting that "Do Over" (see yesterday's post)/ When I don't HEAR or SEE exactly what my next step should be...when I miss the message....then I tend to step out on my own much like my son who saw part of the message and bought the CD anyway. I might have done the same thing in his position.
Today, the song "Only Grace" means even more for me as I think about the times I "mess up" and, in essence, forget to check the label:
“Only Grace” by Matthew West
From the album “History”
There is no guilt here
There is no shame
No pointing fingers
There is no blame
What happened yesterday…has disappeared
The dirt has washed away
And now it's clear
There's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy and believing it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There's only grace
You're starting over now
Under the sun
You're stepping forward now
A new life has begun
Your new life has begun
An’ there's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy and believing…it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There's only grace…
And if you should fall again
Get back up, get back up
Reach out and take my hand
Get back up, get back up
Get back up again
Ohh…get…back…up…again…
There's only grace…
There's only love…
There's only mercy and believing it's enough…it’s enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There's only…there’s only…grace…
There's only mercy and believing it's enough…it’s enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
And there's nothing left now
There’s only…grace……
So get back up…get back up again…
Get back up again.
And, that, my friends, is GOOD NEWS!!!
