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♪YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHASE IT♪
>> A LITTLE BIT OF MY STORY
IS THAT I GREW UP
WITHOUT MY DAD IN THE PICTURE.
I MET HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME
WHEN I WAS FOURTEEN.
HE DID HIS INTRODUCTIONS
AND HE CALLED ME
BY THE WRONG NAME,
AND IT JUST DEVASTATED ME
BECAUSE I'VE DREAMT
OF THIS MOMENT.
IT WAS AN UNMET EXPECTATION
FOR SURE.
AT THE TIME
I DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLS
TO DEAL WITH IT,
SO I SLUMPED INTO
A BIT OF A DEPRESSION.
IT WAS THROUGH THAT JOURNEY
THAT GOD DIRECTED ME
TO THE ARTS AND MUSIC
AND THAT WAS AN OUTLET
FOR ME.
SOMETHING CAME ALIVE IN ME!
I WENT TO SCHOOL FOR MUSIC.
I MET MY DAD AGAIN
WHEN I WAS A SOPHOMORE
IN COLLEGE.
AGAIN IT WENT REALLY WELL
AT FIRST,
AND THEN IT TOOK A TURN
AND HE JUST ASKED ME
TO KEEP MY SPACE
AND MAYBE LIVE
AS THOUGH HE DIDN'T EXIST.
HE SAID MAYBE WE'LL TRY AGAIN
IN HEAVEN.
SO, IT WAS ANOTHER REJECTION
AND AGAIN GOD MET ME
RIGHT THERE,
AND HE SAID,
"MY HEART BREAKS WITH YOURS.
OBVIOUSLY,
I'D PREFER YOU DIDN'T HAVE
TO GO THROUGH THIS EITHER.
BUT YOU HAVE A CHOICE
TO MAKE.
YOU CAN STRAP THIS ON
AND CARRY IT
INTO YOUR FUTURE MARRIAGE,
INTO YOUR DREAMS.
IT CAN WEIGH YOU DOWN
OR YOU CAN LAY IT
AT THE FOOT OF MY CROSS
AND WALK IN THE FREEDOM
THAT I OFFER
THROUGH FORGIVENESS."
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO.
SO, TO SPEAK CANDIDLY ABOUT
WHAT THIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN,
ABOUT WHERE GOD HAS MET ME
IN THE DEPTHS
AND WERE HE'S TAKEN ME
IN FREEDOM
TO LIVE MY DREAM NOW.
♪BEAUTY IS IN YOU♪
♪YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE IT♪
♪YOU DON'T HAVE TO FAKE IT♪
♪BEAUTY IS IN YOU♪
♪SO JUST EMBRACE IT♪
ONE OF THE ONLY REASONS
I WANT TO STAND ON THE STAGE
IS NOT TO SAY,
"LOOK AT THIS!
MY DREAMS ARE COMING TRUE
AND I CAN SING!"
NO WAY!
I COULD STAY IN BED ALL DAY
RATHER THAN DO THAT.
BUT TO STAND ON THE STAGE
AND SAY,
"I'VE WALKED THROUGH
SOME REALLY HARD TIMES
GOD HAS BROUGHT ME THROUGH.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT IT,
AND THIS NEXT SONG IS ABOUT
THAT JOURNEY."
OR,
"I WAS AN IDIOT.
I FAILED BIG TIME,
BUT I TASTED THE REDEMPTION
OF A LOVING GOD!
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THAT."
SOMETIMES GOD ASKS US
TO WALK AWAY
FROM CERTAIN SITUATIONS
OR CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS
BECAUSE THEY'VE BECOME
MORE IMPORTANT THAN HE.
THIS NEXT SONG IS CALLED,
"NOT AFRAID,"
AND THAT'S WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN MY LIFE
WHEN I WROTE THIS SONG
-- GOD WAS SAYING,
"WALK AWAY FROM THIS
BECAUSE THIS HAS BECOME
YOUR GOD.
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO HAVE ANY FEAR
IN STEPPING OUT IN FAITH
AND WALKING AWAY
BECAUSE I AM WITH YOU."
IT'S CALLED,
"NOT AFRAID."
♪♪
♪I'M NOT AFRAID♪
♪I'M NOT AFRAID♪
♪SORRY IT'S OVER♪
♪I THINK IT'S THE BEST THING♪
♪FOR NOW♪
♪I'M TAKIN'♪ --
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME
TO HAVE AT LEAST A PART
IN WRITING THESE SONGS.
I WANT A PIECE OF MY HEART
TO BE REPRESENTED,
SO I JOURNAL A LOT,
AND I TAKE MY JOURNAL
AND I SAY,
"WELL, THIS HAS BEEN
ON MY HEART
THIS WEEK"
OR "THIS MONTH."
SO, NOT ONLY TO BE ABLE
TO PULL OFF THE SONGS LIVE,
BUT TO BE ABLE
TO PERFORM THEM
DAY IN AND DAY OUT,
THERE'S AN ELEMENT
OF TAPPING INTO A PLACE
WHERE,
MAYBE I'M NOT FEELING IT
THAT DAY,
BUT THE SHOW MUST GO ON.
AND SO IT'S EASIER
TO PULL FROM THAT
AND TRY
TO CONNECT WITH THE AUDIENCE
IF IT CAME FROM A PLACE IN ME
TO BEGIN WITH.
♪BUT IT JUST WASN'T♪
♪SUPPOSED TO BE♪
♪LETS NOT TALK ABOUT IT♪
♪'CAUSE ALWAYS LOOKING BACK♪
♪WON'T CHANGE A THING♪
♪LEAVE THE GOOD♪
♪LEAVE THE BAD♪
♪AND THE IN-BETWEEN♪
♪I'M GONNA DO♪
♪WHAT'S RIGHT FOR ME♪
♪AND I'M NOT AFRAID♪
♪TO WALK AWAY♪
♪LET ME GO FOR THE LAST TIME♪
♪I FINALLY GOT IT STRAIGHT♪
♪FOR THE FIRST TIME♪
♪I'M NOT AFRAID♪
♪'CAUSE I KNOW HE'S THERE♪
♪TO MEET ME♪
♪SO I'LL BE GONE♪
♪I'LL BE GONE♪
♪BUT NOT ALONE♪
♪IT MAY NOT BE EASY♪
♪'CAUSE AT IT'S BEST♪
♪LIFE IS STILL HARD♪
♪BUT HE IS WITH ME♪
♪AND I AM NOT ALONE♪
♪YEAH♪
♪OH-OH OH-OH♪
♪OH-OH OH-OH-OH♪
THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN.
YOU CAN SNAP YOUR FINGERS
♪NOT AFRAID♪
♪GOTTA GO FOR THE LAST TIME♪
♪I GOT IT STRAIGHT♪
♪FOR THE FIRST TIME♪
♪I'M NOT AFRAID♪
♪TO WALK AWAY♪
♪LET ME GO FOR THE LAST TIME♪
♪I FINALLY GOT IT STRAIGHT♪
♪FOR THE FIRST TIME♪
♪I'M NOT AFRAID♪
♪'CAUSE I KNOW HE'S THERE♪
♪TO MEET ME♪
♪SO I'LL BE GONE♪
♪I'LL BE GONE♪
♪BUT I'M NOT AFRAID♪
♪TO WALK AWAY♪
♪LET ME GO FOR THE LAST TIME♪
♪FINALLY GOT IT STRAIGHT♪
♪FOR THE FIRST TIME♪
♪NOT AFRAID♪
♪'CAUSE I KNOW♪
♪HE'S THERE MEET ME♪
♪SO I'LL BE GONE♪
♪I'LL BE GONE♪
♪BUT NOT ALONE♪
OH-OH OH-OH OH-OH-OH♪
♪I'LL BE GONE♪
♪BUT NOT ALONE♪
♪OH-OH OH-OH OH-OH OH-OH-OH♪
♪I'M NOT AFRAID♪
♪OH-OH OH-OH OH-OH OH-OH-OH♪
♪I'LL BE GONE♪
♪BUT NOT ALONE♪
>> ALL RIGHTY!
ARE YOU READY
FOR ANOTHER NEW TUNE?
ALL OF THEM MIGHT BE NEW
TO YOU,
BUT THIS ONE IS NEW TO US.
I LOVE IT,
AND I'M EXCITED
TO PLAY IT FOR YOU!
I HOPE YOU LIKE IT TOO.
IT'S A LITTLE TUNE CALLED,
"BACK TO INNOCENCE,"
AND BASICALLY,
WHAT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU
AS THE YOUTH OF OUR NATION,
AS THE YOUTH OF YOUR NATION
IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
WEIGHED DOWN
FOR FAR TOO LONG!
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A GOD
WHO SENT HIS SON TO DIE
SO THAT WE COULD HAVE
ETERNAL AND ABUNDANT LIFE
WHILE WE'RE HERE ON EARTH!
WE HAVE BEEN WEIGHED DOWN
FOR FAR TOO LONG!
LET'S GET BACK
TO A PLACE OF INNOCENCE!
THAT'S WHAT OUR GOD OFFERS US
THROUGH HIS SON,
WHO IS THE ULTIMATE
INNOCENT SACRIFICE!
SO, THIS SONG IS MY BATTLE CRY
TO GET BACK
TO THE PLACE OF INNOCENCE,
AND YOU'RE WELCOMED TO JOIN!
SO, IT GOES A LITTLE BIT
LIKE THIS!
♪♪
♪THIS DISTANCE♪
♪I CAN HARDLY TAKE♪
♪I'M NOT GONNA BLAME IT ON YOU♪
♪WALKING AWAY WAS MY MISTAKE♪
♪NOW I KNOW WHAT I GOTTA DO♪
♪THIS IS NOW OR NEVER♪
♪I'M CHOOSING NOW♪
♪MAN, I'M READY FOR CHANGE♪
♪I WANNA REGAIN♪
♪EVERY BIT OF INNOCENCE♪
♪THIS IS OUTTA CONTROL♪
♪I GOTTA LET YOU KNOW♪
♪I'M GETTING BACK TO INNOCENCE♪
♪♪
IT'S INTERESTING.
GOD IS SORT OF UNFOLDING
A NEW CHAPTER OF HEALING
WITH SOME OTHER THINGS
THAT I'M JUST DISCOVERING.
THERE ARE OTHER AREAS
I WAS REALLY WOUNDED
AND I DIDN'T KNOW.
AND WITH THE AWARENESS
OF THAT WOUND
AND THE NEED FOR HEALING,
THERE'S BEEN THIS CRY
OF MY HEART
WHERE I JUST KNEW
THAT SOMETHING WAS BROKEN,
AND HE'S JUST BEEN PEELING OFF
SOME LAYERS,
AND THE LORD AND I
HAVE BEEN IDENTIFYING THE
WOUND FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IT'S BEEN A SWEET, SWEET TIME.
AND OVER THE COURSE
OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS,
I WROTE THESE SONGS,
AND IT'S INTERESTING
THAT THEY ALL DEAL
WITH THE CONDITION
OF THE HEART,
AND I DIDN'T REALIZE IT
UNTIL WE PUT IT TOGETHER.
♪LET'S CHANGE THE TUNE♪
♪OF OUR SONG♪
♪WE'RE BREAKING OUT♪
♪OF THESE CHAINS♪
♪AND SETTING STRAIGHT♪
♪WHAT REMAINS♪
♪OHHHHH!♪
♪♪
HOW YOU DOING?
HE'S REALLY TEACHING ME
THAT THE CONDITION
OF OUR HEARTS
IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT
THAN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES,
OR WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND US,
OR THE PLATFORM
THAT WE STAND ON.
HE IS WAY MORE CONCERNED
WITH THE CONDITION
OF MY HEART
THAN MY CD SALES,
OR THAN THE ATTENDANCE
AT A SHOW,
OR MY PERFORMANCE.
THE FIRST THING THAT NEEDS
TO BE TAKEN CARE OF,
BEFORE I EVEN STAND
ON A STAGE,
IS THE CONDITION OF MY HEART
SO THAT I CAN
REPRESENT HIM WELL.
AND SO,
I'M JUST SOAKING UP
THIS LOVE ENCOUNTER
WITH THE LORD.
THESE LAST FEW MONTHS
HAVE JUST BEEN SO SWEET.
WE'RE JUST REALLY DEALING
WITH SOME PAINFUL
AND HARD THINGS,
BUT IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL TOO
BECAUSE HE'S SO GOOD.
♪LIKE A TON OF BRICKS♪
♪I FELL FROM THE CLIFFS OF LOVE♪
♪OVERTAKEN ME♪
♪DEBRIS OF THE MEMORY♪
♪WHOA-OH-OH-OH!♪
♪WASTED TIME♪
♪I'VE WASTED DAYS♪
♪I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING♪
♪EVEN TOLD MYSELF♪
♪IT'S WHO I'M SUPPOSED TO BE♪
♪WHOA-OH-OH-OH!♪
♪BROKEN AND BLEEDING♪
♪EMPTY AND NEEDING♪
♪TAKE THE PIECES OF MY HEART♪
♪IT'S ALL BEEN SHATTERED♪
♪MAKE IT NEW FROM EVERY PART♪
♪THE MESS IS SCATTERED♪
♪YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE I TRUST♪
♪PUT ME TOGETHER♪
♪LIKE I ONCE WAS♪
♪TAKE THE PIECES OF MY HEART♪
♪HEART!♪
♪I NEED YOU♪
♪I NEED YOU♪
♪CAUSE EVERY TIME I TRY TO♪
♪FIX THIS ON MY OWN♪
♪I END UP ALL ALONE♪
♪TAKE THE PIECES OF MY HEART♪
♪IT'S ALL BEEN SHATTERED♪
♪MAKE IT NEW FROM EVERY PART♪
♪THE MESS IS SCATTERED♪
♪YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE I TRUST♪
♪PUT ME TOGETHER♪
♪LIKE I ONCE WAS♪
♪YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE I TRUST♪
♪PUT ME TOGETHER♪
♪LIKE I ONCE WAS♪
♪TAKE THE PIECES OF MY HEART♪
♪IT'S ALL BEEN SHATTERED♪
♪MAKE IT NEW FROM EVERY PART♪
♪THE MESS IS SCATTERED♪
♪YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE I TRUST♪
♪PUT ME TOGETHER♪
♪LIKE I ONCE WAS♪
♪TAKE THE PIECES OF MY HEART♪
♪HEART!♪
WOO!
HOW HE BRINGS THINGS
FULL-CIRCLE,
AND SOMETIMES
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE JOURNEY
WE DON'T SEE
THE FULL-CIRCLE,
BUT THEN
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
HE GIVES US THESE GLIMPSES OF
"OH! I SEE
WHAT YOU WERE DOING!"
YOU KNOW?
IT'S JUST AMAZING
HOW WE ALL LIVE
A UNIQUE STORY TO OURSELVES,
BUT THE POWER OF A STORY
IS THAT SOMETIMES
WE CAN GLEAN
SO MUCH HOPE FROM,
"OH, THEY LIVED THROUGH THAT!"
YOU KNOW,
"I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF IT
RIGHT NOW,
BUT HOW DID YOU FIGURE OUT
THIS CROOKED PATH?"
YOU KNOW?
AND SO,
I HEAR THAT KIND OF STUFF
ALL THE TIME FROM KIDS,
FROM GIRLS,
AND IT BLESSES ME!
IT NEVER GETS OLD
FOR THE LORD TO CONTINUE
TO USE ME JUST AS A TOOL.
AND THAT KIND OF
--IT'S NOT JUST GIRLS!
YOU WANT AN EXAMPLE
-- ONE TIME THIS BIKER MAN,
WHO WAS PROBABLY PUSHING
70-YEARS OLD,
TOOTHLESS,
BIG GUY,
PONYTAIL,
LEATHER JACKET,
JUST LIKE TOUGH GUY,
CAME UP TO ME
AFTER HEARING MY STORY,
AND HIS EYES WERE BLOOD-SHOT,
AND HE CRIED,
AND HE JUST HUGGED ME,
AND HE WOULDN'T LET GO,
AND HE SAID,
"STEPHANIE,
I'M THE MAN YOU DESCRIBED.
I HAVEN'T SEEN MY DAUGHTER
SINCE SHE WAS ONE-YEAR OLD,"
AND HE SAID,
"I HAVE SOME CHANGES
TO MAKE,"
AND HE JUST COULDN'T STOP
THANKING ME,
AND HE WALKED AWAY IN TEARS.
AND SO,
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL THING
ABOUT STORY
IS THAT WE CAN ALL
PUT ON OUR LENSES AND VIEW IT.
WHETHER YOU'RE THE MOTHER
WHO HAD TO LEAVE
'CAUSE IT WAS
AN UNHEALTHY SITUATION
TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN,
OR WHETHER YOU WERE
THE CHILD,
OR WHETHER YOU WERE
THE HUSBAND.
YOU CAN LISTEN TO A STORY
AND FIND YOUR ROLE IN IT,
AND OUR GOD IS SO BIG
THAT HE USED A 25-YEARS OLD
GIRL'S STORY
TO TOUCH A 65-YEARS OLD MAN.
♪EVERYBODY SHOUT IT OUT♪
♪LOVE HAS TO BE LOUD♪
♪HEY, HEY!♪
♪HEY, HEY!♪
♪LOVE OUT LOUD!♪
I DID SPEND SOME TIME
IN GUATEMALA AND AFRICA
WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE,
BUT IN THAT TIME,
I GOT TO SEE THE WORLD
OUTSIDE OF MY SMALL
CHRISTIAN-COLLEGE BUBBLE,
OR MY YOUTH-GROUP
PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD,
AND I SAW REAL POVERTY,
I SAW REAL NEED,
AND I ALSO SAW REAL HAPPINESS,
I SAW A CONTENTMENT
THAT I DON'T SEE
IN NORTH AMERICA,
THE UNITED STATES.
AND SO, IN THE MERGING
OF THESE TWO WORLDS
-- MY "WORLD TRAVELER"
WHEN I WASN'T DOING MUSIC,
AND THEN NOW,
MUSIC IS MY LIFESTYLE,
IT'S MY MINISTRY,
AND MY CAREER
-- TO MERGE THOSE TWO WORLDS,
AND PARTNER WITH
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL
AND SOLES FOR SOULS
IS MEETING A PRACTICAL NEED,
AND I CAN STAND ON A PLATFORM
AND SAY
-- YOU KNOW,
MY AUDIENCE IS TEENAGERS,
SO IT'S NOT ENTIRELY REALISTIC
THAT THEY COULD LEAVE
FOR THREE MONTHS
AND GO DO WORK OVERSEAS,
BUT THEY COULD
GO THROUGH THEIR CLOSET
AND FIND A FEW PAIRS OF SHOES
THAT HAVE BEEN
DELICATELY WORN,
AND THEY CAN START
A SHOE FUNDRAISER,
AND ALL THEIR FRIENDS
CAN BRING A PAIR,
AND THEY CAN DONATE IT,
AND IT'S MEETING
A PRACTICAL NEED,
IT'S SERVING,
IT'S LOVING,
AND THAT'S WHAT
SOLES FOR SOULS DOES
-- THEY GET SHOES,
AND THEY GIVE SHOES.
THEY MAKE IT REALLY EASY
-- THEY TAKE CARE OF
THE DISTRIBUTION,
THE GIVING OF THE SIZES,
EVERYTHING!
SO, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS
GOING THROUGH YOUR CLOSET,
AND GOING,
"I DON'T REALLY
WEAR THOSE ANYMORE."
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL,
PRACTICAL WAY FOR ME
TO ENCOURAGE MY AUDIENCE,
AND SAY,
"WE'RE STILL CALLED TO SERVE.
WHETHER YOU'RE IN SCHOOL
AND HAVE A PART TIME JOB
AFTER WORK
AND YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME,
YOU CAN STILL SERVE,
AND HERE'S A PRACTICAL WAY
THAT YOU CAN MEET A NEED."
♪IT'S TIME OUR LOVE♪
♪JUST HAS TO BE HEARD♪
♪IT'S TIME, IT'S TIME♪
♪FOR US TO WAKE UP♪
♪IT'S TIME♪
♪EVERYBODY LET'S TURN IT UP♪
♪♪
♪HEY, HEY!♪
♪HEY, HEY!♪
♪LOVE OUT LOUD!♪
♪HEY, HEY!♪
♪HEY, HEY!♪
♪LOVE OUT LOUD!♪
♪HEY, HEY!♪
♪HEY, HEY!♪
♪LOVE OUT LOUD!♪
♪HEY, HEY!♪
♪HEY, HEY!♪
♪LOVE OUT LOUD!♪
♪GO!♪