I Am Understood?

Dear Friends and Family,

For my Communication Theory class, we are required to keep a running blog on our thoughts on the textbook reading, etc. For this week, our professor asked us to blog on our favorite song about communication and why it is significant or meaningful to us. I thought I would share my thoughts with you...

My favorite song on communication is undoubtedly the song, "I Am Understood?" by Relient K (my favorite CCM band since I was 13). The lyrics have sincerely echoed back something that I have oftentimes felt, but could never articulate.

For some reason, being understood is exceptionally imperative to us, as human beings. We don’t necessarily have to be understood by everyone, but we need SOMEONE, at least one soul to hear our thoughts and, not only hear them but, value them.

In this beautiful song, he is talking to God – His Creator, the only One who truly understands every intricate part of him. Only God can see past the masks we try to hide behind. The artist (Matthew Thiessen) knows that God knows him infinitely better than even he knows himself, and it scares him to be transparent at times, knowing that God already knows it all. I love this song so much because, despite our sinful nature, God loves us (His children) and forgives us, despite how undeserving we are. We should never cease to praise Him for the gift He has, indeed, given us… As the lyrics go, “My confidence is, in a sense, a gift you've given me. And I'm satisfied to realize you're all I'll ever need.”

To give you a feel of their words, I’d like to share them with you… It goes like this,

"I Am Understood?"

“Sometimes it's embarrassing to talk to you
To hold a conversation with the only one who sees right through
This version of myself
I try to hide behind
I'll bury my face because my disgrace will leave me terrified

And sometimes I'm so thankful for your loyalty
Your love regardless of
The mistakes I make will spoil me
My confidence is, in a sense, a gift you've given me
And I'm satisfied to realize you're all I'll ever need

[Chorus]
You looked into my life and never stopped
And you're thinking all my thoughts
Are so simple, but so beautiful
And you recite my words right back to me
Before I even speak
You let me know, I am understood

And sometimes I spend my time
Just trying to escape
I work so hard so desperately, in an attempt to create space
Cause I want distance from the utmost important thing I know
I see your love, then turn my back and beg for you to go

[Chorus]

You're the only one who understands completely
You're the only one knows me yet still loves completely

And sometimes the place I'm at is at a loss for words
If I think of something worthy I know that its already yours
And through the times I've faded and you've outlined me again
You've just patiently waited, to bring me back and then

[Chorus]

The noise has broken my defense
Let me embrace salvation
Your voice has broken my defense
Let me embrace salvation.”

I can praise God that I am always understood by at least one being… Jesus, Himself! It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of me, because I am loved by the Savior of the world, the Savior of my life… and that love is absolutely, unequivocally, unconditional.

Now that’s something to be joyful about.

With much love,

Andrea 

A Journey On the Rise

Dearest Friends and Family,

A very belated HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all! The festive, Christmas season came and went in such a very merry manner that I can hardly believe the month of January has already drawn to a close.

The American Spring semester has arrived, and classes have begun for Hunter and me. We are excitedly beginning the journey of being college students, together, again. As we begin to read numerous books for our various classes, as well as take note of assignments to come, we also look forward to the summer months and our vision for that time.

Through much prayerful consideration and contemplation, we believe that God is guiding us to a summer missions trip to South Africa and it’s surrounding countries. From the beginning of June to early August (approximately 2 months), we have decided to travel back to my beloved family and home. There is much need in the beautiful continent of Africa, and Hunter and I deeply desire to be used by Christ as instruments of His love and mercy. Our hope is to travel to Zambia and serve wherever there is need.

Of course, in order to embark on such a journey, there are expenses to consider. The most cost effective plane tickets we can find for the two of us amounts to $4,976.80. (It will continue to fluctuate, but mainly rise in price). We also have financial responsibility towards our bills in Phoenix while we are overseas (such as rent, car insurance, health insurance, etc.) which amounts to around $1,820 for those 2 months. Visas for Zambia will be about $100 for the two of us. We will need about $200 for extra expenses as well (such as food along the way). In essence, we will need to raise roughly $7,096.80. This will cover our plane tickets, our bills while we are away, along with extra expenses. We have no doubt that God is going to provide our every need. Maybe you’d like to have a part in His answer to our prayers.

God has engraved the Great Commission on our hearts. We are so excited to take part in furthering the Great Commission of our Savior, sharing with a lost and dying world the hope we have in Christ. God is doing incredible things in Africa, and we cannot wait to be a part of it!

More than anything, we would greatly appreciate your prayers, that God would prepare our hearts for the trip, and that He would work in and through us while we are in the beautiful continent of Africa. To God be the glory!

With much love in Christ,

                 Hunter and Andrea Combs

“Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.”

Isaiah 12:5

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