Wow I didn’t realize it’s a been a week since I last posted……it was a busy week. Thankfully we had a nice snow/freezing rain, 2 hour school delay yesterday! 🙂 We a still waiting for a real snowstorm here, I get so jealous looking at all the snow pictures on other blogs!!
The other night Drums rented an old Journey Live concert DVD filmed during the Escape tour. I heard “Open Arms” blaring from the TV in the basement. I was intrigued and went downstairs to see what he was watching. Suddenly I was jolted back to my junior year in high school when I saw Journey in concert. There before me was Steve Perry with his 80’s haircut and his tight jeans belting out, “now I come to you with Open Arms…..” I had a serious retro moment and had a sudden urge to hold up a concert lighter (For all the under 30 crowd, before cell phones were invented, we would hold up a lighter in the air during concerts……this may be hard to believe, but there was once a time when people talked on a phone with a long cord attached to the phone). Then came the song “Stone in Love”, which has a line in it that was the theme for my 11th grade homecoming, …….”the memories never fade away”……..Suddenly I was thrown back to my homecoming dance and visions of me strutting around in my hot Gunne Sax dress…….. Wow, it is probably good that the memories actually DO fade away!
But then it hit me in the middle of Don’t Stop Believin’, that I was no where close to being a christian at that time in my life. I was a rockin, partyin, wild girl. The main thing on my mind was fun, parties and boys. But that all changed the summer I left for college. As I was packing I came across a tract that I had picked up in the hospital after a brief stay for knee surgery. I sat in my bedroom, and read for the first time in my life that I am a sinner, in need of a savior. And there in my bedroom, the day before leaving for college, I prayed to accept Christ into my life, didn’t tell a soul and left for college the next day!
Since that day, my view of the world and it’s priorities and values have slowly been transformed, and transfigured by Christ. I am so far from that rockin girl at a Journey concert, my life has truly been changed by Christ. It was fun to watch the Journey DVD, but it was also a wonderful reminder to me of the power of Christ to change a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but NOW I see! It truly is Amazing Grace!
Jesus and Dark Chocolate 
Oh, Sandy, another in common thing for us. I absolutely loved Journey… Steve Perry with that voice of his. My bridemaids walked down the ailse to “Open Arms” and Strongman and I danced our first dance to “Faithfully.”
I didn’t go to the concert. I was at HACC at the time immersed in nursing studies. I was a Christian at the time, but unfortunately, didn’t understand how to walk in a way pleasing to the Lord. That didn’t come till much later in my walk with Jesus.
Yes, it is good to remember how I’ve been changed. It is also good to remember that God still isn’t finished with me yet either.
Have a great day!!!!
Would it be ok to say that my brother who is 8 years older than me went to a journey concert? I remember him playing those big black round things up in his room all the time. What were they called? Oh yeah recors! 🙂
He has made all things new!!!
My hubby loves Journey and can actually sing as well as Steve Perry. Honestly! He’s quite talented!
I love that you shared this part of your life! I’ve been meaning to post my testimony too. I was saved when I was eight so it’s not a huge transformation, but I knew I was a sinner in need of saving!
Things are still not good with my husband, but I am learning so much through my counseling and it gives me strength to continue fighting this battle. I know God is right in the midst of it all! Please continue to pray for my husband David. I appreciate it so much! Thank you.
I have to say that even when I hear a Journey song it takes me back to high school. Brother Bear used to listen to them and even though it’s a little before my time, I have those memories too. Praise the Lord that He changed us so much, and that 80’s hair is no longer is style. (Mine was big, really, really big.)