Tonight was, and still is, an at home date for my husband. When you have three kids and one income out on the town dates become kind of rare...

So we're at home, making the most of the little bit of time alone we have and we decide to watch the episode of American Idol we DVRed from earlier this evening. It's on on a rare Thursday night due to the big Idol Gives Back benefit from last night.

This week is "inspirational" songs, and really some of the performances from Tuesday were okay...but for me it's hard to find inspiration in just an average song.

So there we are, sitting with Ryan Seacrest who introduces the final eight singing...get this...Shout to the Lord! On national TV. One of my most favorite worship songs ever. On American Idol.

I watched all these kids singing one beautiful song with a beautiful and profound message:


I couldn't help but be heartbroken that for some singing that song all they were singing were words. Empty words. My heart was at once excited to hear My Jesus praised and at the same time broken for those not open to hearing it...

I went to grab the verse this brings to mind and once again was struck by God's heartbreak at our bad choices. Was reminded of how perfectly just and merciful God is and how He hates so much to see us set ourselves up for such pain...

Also, I was humbled by his great love for me...

Luke 19:

37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"^[b]
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."