The List Goes On

Your words have unique power. You never know who might be reading, listening, or what God might do through something you share.

Like many of you, I have been part of text thread groups whose main purpose is for encouragement and prayer.

There have been a handful over the years and in them were usually some close friends, some friends of friends, and some blank faces at the top of the thread representing ones I didn’t know. If you know me, I am usually quiet unless something is truly pressing on my heart. But I read.

I pray. I carry some of the requests with me.

About four years ago in one of those groups my friend from church, Jordan Hanks shared a message. It was simple. He wrote about how sometimes we feel the old weight we carried before Jesus lifted it. And when that weight tries to creep back in, he reminds himself of the names Jesus has earned in his life. He is a Healer. A Redeemer. And as Jordan said, “the list goes on”.

The moment I read it, I heard melody and lyrics. I couldn’t wait to grab a guitar and when I did- this song poured out. It has always been one of my favorites to share when I find opportunities to play for people I know. And now, I am grateful to have it beautifully produced by the incredibly talented Lucas Perez so I can finally share it digitally as well… for the blank faces.

Every idea in the lyrics came straight from Jordan’s text. So much so that he is listed as a co-writer. I barely knew him when he sent that message and since then, we have become good friends. I can tell you, this is simply who he is. He sends encouragement just like that message all the time. He had no idea what that one thought would become. Now everyone who hears this song is touched by something he shared one morning without thinking twice.

That original group no longer exists. I never even learned most of the names in it. But that one message left a permanent mark on me. It reminds me that when the past tries to push its way into my present or rewrite my future, I stand on who Jesus is.

He is my Savior.

He redeemed my ransom.

He took my burden and gave me His.

He is My Deliverer.

My Healer.

And the list truly does go on.

All because a man I barely knew sent a message to a group one morning.

So… say the thing.

Write the thing.

Share the thing.

And watch what God does