HILLSONGS UNITED Live in Araneta 27 May 2008
Posted by Renette in From the Inside Out (Hillsongs), Hillsongs, Hillsongs United Live in Manila, Mighty to Save (Hillsongs).add a comment
Last night (May 26), my boyfriend Sid and I went to the worship concert of Hillsongs United in Araneta Coliseum. I wasn’t really that psyched to go at first for a couple of reasons (they didn’t really make sense so I’d rather not mention them) but he was really excited about it. Sid, who plays drums for our church band, got a free upper box A ticket to the concert courtesy of our church, and he bought another ticket so that he could take me along.
I didn’t really know what to expect, so I was stunned when I got inside. We got in a little before 8 pm, and the place was PACKED! Joel Houston opened things up by reading (or was it paraphrasing?) a chapter from Psalms. You’d think church people would be all prim and proper, but you’d be surprised at how crazy the crowd was. for some reason, the lyrics of a DC Talk song suddenly popped into my mind: “What would people think when they hear that I’m a Jesus freak…”
The atmosphere was really overwhelming and very emotionally charged. I don’t think it’s possible for you to be at Araneta last night, to listen to the songs (and to the thousands of people singing along), to watch the people jumping and dancing and raising their hands and worshipping at the top of their lungs – and NOT want to join them and worship God as well. People were literally on their feet for 2 straight hours! I had to sit a couple of times though – my stilettos were killing me.
I don’t really know all the songs, but some of the lyrics really touched me personally, and I found myself listening to it over and over again today via YouTube:
Everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations
Savior
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
Shine your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen King… Jesus
What I love about this song is that it reminded me that my Savior can move mountains. He’s the God of the impossible after all, and He is more than able to handle any problems we may have. All we need to do is ask Him to take us as He finds us, with all our fears and failures.
A thousand times I’ve failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I’m caught in your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul
Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing you praise
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out
This song actually reminded me of two other DC Talk songs: What If I Stumble and Consume Me, both of which are my favorites. I guess our prayer is that we learn “the art of losing [ourselves] in bringing [Him] praise.”
Anyway, if you were there and would like to remember all the songs they played, you can check this concert review I found from the Pinoy Christian Music blog, since it contains a playlist. It also tells how the concert went in greater detail than I did here.
