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Jason 
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A friend of mine was just broken up with by his girlfriend of two years.
He wrote me pretty upset, and wanting to give up.
Here’s what I wrote him:
Bro.
Don’t give up.
I can definitely understand the hurt man.
I’ve been there.
And I do know this, remember that though hurt is used by God,
it is still in its essence, unnatural.
It is a result of the fall, of the fracture that happened
in our union with God when we wanted to take control.
Be encouraged friend,
this is not how it’s always going to be.
And I know that losing this girl feels like you’ve lost
all of yourself, but here’s the good news,
and maybe bad news depending on how you look at it,
but I’ve been married for almost 2 years now, and I’ve
been surprised to find that my wife can’t make me happy.
I mean, she’s awesome, don’t get me wrong,
but the problem is that I’m just made for more than
even she can give me.
And so, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact, that
since God loves me, he won’t let me be completely happy
with anything other than Himself.
Yes, It’s painful, but it’s good.
I can promise you that.
If you think of it, I’d really suggest a book to you
called, “A Severe Mercy”
Basically, this dude loses his wife to cancer I think,
and he realizes that it was the severe mercy of God
that allowed it to happen, because basically,
she was his God. He didn’t know it at the time,
but the most merciful thing God could do was to take
her from him, because only God can last beyond this life.
Only God Himself can satisfy.
And yes, we have to walk through the midnight hour of
the soul to get there sometimes, but what you’ll find
on the other side is so much better. it’s so much more free.
Could you imagine, if God Himself was all we needed to be content?
What could mortal man do to us?
What could anyone take away?
They couldn’t.
They can’t.
Hang it there bro,
we’re just strangers here while we walk this earth,
and there’s light on the other side of this.
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What I love about your music is that it speaks truth about the Lord and just lets me know that God loves me and I am forgiven for past mistakes; I am new in Him; and that he is with me always and loves me unconditionally. When listening to “Over and Underneath”; I felt like God was speaking to me directly through your music. Then you came out with “The Light Meets the Dark” and wow, how could this album be better or even as good as the previous one. Yet it was; it is clear to me God has his hand on your life. Keep writing such great songs. I love hearing your Band (Elliot Hall - Purdue 9-24-11 and Indy 1-28-12); I look forward to coming to your concert when you are the Headliner, so you can play longer. From your biggest fan! May God Bless you and your band!
This really has nothing to do with the journal. But how did you members of Tenth Avenue North come to Christ? Nowhere on your page don’t explain or mention it, you make it seem random. Everyone of your band should post your testimonies on this site, please. Please do it now!
I read today a post on a pastors facebook page ‘Thanks to all the people that serve me in their church.” Sorry buddy they are serving others while serving GOD
have you seen this wordle?
it’s been a year since i was broken up with. me and my ex were together for two years, then after months of going to city of life with him and going to worship God he broke up with me at the church saying i was not godly enough. that Monday at school the people i was friends with since middle school and up until junior year abandoned me because he was spreading lies about me. i lost all my faith in God and decided that if he really did love me as he said he wouldn’t have taken everything from me. i stayed in bed, and wouldn’t eat for weeks. then one day i heard one of your songs on the radio and i got up, went for a walk and cried for a good hour. i haven’t exactly let it go but after a year the pain is fading to almost nothing. i’m still broken but i just graduated and i have my whole life in front of me. i trust in God now, i realize he was only taking those out of the picture that were never meant to be in it. thank you for your music it helps me take on each day.
I’ve had my heart broken by the guy that I was going to be spending the rest of my life with. We were together for seven months before things started going down hill. God has hand picked the perfect match for all of us. We might not know he or she is or what they look like. He or she is out there somewhere. There are a lot of men out there that just want to get in a girls pants. Girls can be the same way with the guy. Remember that SEX is to be saved for after marriage. If the guy that you are with is with you for lustful reasons you should get out while you can. Same applies for if the girl is with you for the same reason. Make a list of what you are looking for in that special someonw. That is what I did. Stick to that list and have it with you when you go out on a date. Highlight or check out the qualities that they have that you are looking for. Circle the ones that they don’t have. Don’t settle with someone just because they say that you are pretty or beautiful because love is so much more than that. God will always love you no matter what.
Hi.
Yes, sooo true. No one else will do but my God. So, how is a human to live here on earth with this knowlegde and these feelings?
I’m still working on that part… being content in my discontentment with this world. hmmm…
God’s Love…
“Only God Himself can satisfy.” This is exactly what God is teaching me right now, and the songs you write are playing a big part in that. Thank you SO much for letting Him use you so much to touch people’s lives. I’m fifteen right now, so I’m going through crushes. :( I’ve officially decided that I don’t like liking guys. And no matter how awesome it would seem, having a guy like me back will absolutely NEVER satisfy me NEARLY as much as God will, if I let Him. But I have an important question. How DO I let God satisfy me? How do I fall madly in love with HIM? I really, really want to. I’m desperate to. Probably even more than I’m aware of. But still, I’m not completely sure how. Will you please email me and help me with this? It will mean more than you would ever know. I’m desperate.
I’ve been thinking about getting a girlfriend and praying about it at the same time. I’m old enough to have one, I’ve matured a lot to have one, but I’ve been dealing with whether or not I’m ready for that kind of commitment. I question Jesus about it and my answer from Him is if He wants me to be in a relationship at an early age, then I need to follow His will and don’t ask questions.
wow, all i have to say is wow…im new here btw…i just recently broke up with my bf of 4 years and we have 2 children together, i found out he was unfaithful to me and ive been taking things really hard lately…at one point i didnt want to get up from bed i didnt eat for a week and i was just losing it, i found myself medicating myself or getting drunk to fall asleep…i was just spiritually fed up with everything and i knew that it was time. i followed god at one point in my life with my bf (fernando) we looked for god together and it is because of him that i started to look for god in the beginning…before him i was always forced to go to church with family, but it was never something that i wanted to do. when i met fernando, he became my world. he was my everything and i focused all my attention on him, even when we were looking for god he was still my number one. i can see clearly now though….the words you used to help your friend were words that ive been telling myself…i even told fernando that this is all apart of gods plan. all this time ive been putting fernando first, even before god and he had to take away that one person from me, that one person than meant everything to me (besides my children of course)....it was my time to find god and out him first, even before myself…i had to lose fernando to find god and to learn that god is first regardless….i know it. i still keep in contact with fernando and i am trying to help him spiritually…i can see that he feels like hes fallen from grace and with all the in that he has within him, even god cannot forgive him and possibly love him. i tell him everyday that the love of god is soooooo amazing because even after i was tired of him mistreating me i got up and left, but god, god will always be there and god forgivese and will always love fernando even more than i possibly can. i pray for fernando every day and i hope that god opens his eyes and guides onto his path of righteousness…i was always an angry person who wanted to fight people everywhere i went…i was so lost, and now with christ in my life i see the light, it is there and it is so clear. fernando tells me that he is schocked and doesnt know if this is just a phase or an act, but i tell him i dont care what he thinks because i am happy and i am content with where i am and how i feel. i was tired of being angry i was tired of being heartbroken, i was tired of crying. its funny because now when i talk to fernando all we talk about is god, and how i will always be here no matter what, and im learning to forgive him. he tells me how hes confused and that why arent i yelling at him or cussing him out…i laugh and say “im better than that now thanks to the mercy and love of god and christ.” it feels sooo good to live in pure happiness….yes im still hurt, but god is working with me everyday and ive learned to trust god before i trust even myself…when i feel like i just cannot go on i pray and i beg god to help me get back up and give me strength to go on, to be a mother to my boys and to be a better person all around, a better daughter, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend and everything, but most importantly i ask him to come into my life and change me so i can please him…fernandos father is a pastor and his parents have been following god for a very long time now and ive had them and alot of other people tell me and fernando that we are husband and wife and we have one more child to go, theres still one little girl on the way in the future and fernando has a natural gift for playing music…and his mother tells him that he was given the gift of music to play music for god and that one day he will be up there praising god and bringing people to the feet of god…hearing all this for years was like sweet music to my ears. i always told fernando that i wanted us to look for god as a couple because without god we were nothing…i always waited though, id tell myself that id wait for fernando so we could look for god together, but now i see that i was wrong by waiting because its not up to me. god has called out my name now because now is my time. i pray to god and i ask him help fernando find the light because he needs it right now in his darkest times. its funny because i first heard of tenth avenue north through my cousin (jen) she followed god at one point in her life too, but unfortunately backslid as well…well one day she suggest your guys band to me and gave me your cd…i found myself listening to it everyday, i showed it to fernando and all of my friends and wed all be in the car together singing your guys songs out loud….good times :) i just feel like i need to say thanks because your guys music has helped me alot lately even before….at times when i want god to come and break through my door and talk to me, i put on your cd or throw on myipod and i listen to your guys music and i feel like god is speaking to me directly….and with everything thats going on in my life now im always listening to your guys music like all day everyday and i recommend alot of your newer songs to fernando and i truely feel like “healing begins” and “you are more” are songs made for fernando and he listened to them and said they were really good….i have not got the chance to see you guys live, because last time i mssed you guys :(, but you guys are coming back to cali in june and i will be there god willing….anyways i wanted to say something and i hope i dont sound crazy lol….well for some reason i felt like i had to come on here and read your blogs, because i felt like i was going to find something, and i did….i was like ohhh mann….because the advice you gave to friend was advice ive been giving to myself alot lately…but ive been feeling like i needed to hear it from someone else to really accept it so id know that it wasnt just me and my thoughts…and although you werent speaking to me directly i just feel like you were, i dunno its weird but yeah….i just want to say thank you tenth avenue north…because you have helped me alot lately with your truely inspring music….you guys know how to get to me:)..anyways ive accepted jesus christ as my lord and savior recently and repented of my sins and its because i was just sick of being dpressed and miserable and i was watching tv with my mom and boys and i believe i was watching tbn and there was a number to call and so i called it and it was a 24hr christian help line and i turned myself in to god and i quit drinking and smoking , and now i find myself reading the word of god to get sleep and fall asleep or i pray and pray and just talk to god everynight till i fall asleep instead of medicating myself or getting drunk…and im so proud that i quit smoking too because iw as a really heavy smoker,like 5 a day….but the man i spoke to on the phone that night was amazing…i will never forget what he told me, he said that sometimes god has to bring a person to the lowest point of their life to make them look up and see him….and that is so true….also when i was following god before with fernando i backslid because id ask god to show me a sign or speak to me but he never did and i just gave up, i couldnt get myself to feel the holy spirit…and now i see that i finally got what ive been asking for…god is speaking to me now. ive always been a very stubborn person and it took this for me to open my eyes…i had to lose fernando to trust god and to love god and put him first because i have to love god before i can love myself…god is love, those who say “i love you” , but dont know god are liars because no one can understand what love is unless you know god because god is love. well im gonna jet sorry this is so long :) god bless you all and thankyou again…
I write these types of things over and over again to myself to try to make myself let go, but I can never seem to go longer than a day without going back to worrying about the relationship I can’t have at least at the present moment. Probably never. I can never seem to let go of it no matter how hard I try. Where is the boundary between loving someone in this world with all your heart and loving God with all your heart? It seems like the only way to love God with everything I have is not to care at all for this one guy who I love, which to me is like a complete impossibility. I’ve tried for years to find peace in this, but have utterly failed. I am always discontent waiting for a relationship that will most likely never be mine. And when I think that maybe God is refusing to give me what I want because I value this person more than Him, I feel so hopeless. I love what you wrote. It just makes me angry that it’s true. It makes me angry that God is jealous, because jealousy doesn’t seem very loving.
This hit home for me big time. I still have such a hard time letting go of my ex and we broke up a little over a year ago. Everyone has been trying to tell me exactly what you just said, pretty much, but I never listened. Something about the way you worded it made it a bit more real for me I guess. You have a gift, bro, God is changing lives through what you do.
I am always so worried about finding my soul mate in a woman, that I lost my soul mate in God. There is something in this post that stuck out to me more than anything else. I don’t know if anyone else really noticed it, but I did. You said you have only been married for 2 years. That means you married in your late twenties, I think. I know it’s odd that I noticed that, but I’ve been struggling with patience in finding the girl I’m going to marry. I’m only 19 and I feel like I have to find her now. That bit of information gives me hope and helps me with my patience issues. To know that you waited that long gives me strength.
You are a role model in my life because of how your life reflects Christ. I’m sure you hear this a lot, but I look up to you.
Thanks for what you do. I hope God blesses you in more ways than you can count.
It’s so true! God should be our true love, he should be the only that makes us completely happy! I’ll be sure to share this next time I get…Hope you don’t mind :)
GOD BLESS YOU TENTH AVENUE NORTH !!!
Mike.. Thanks so much for sharing this! My bestfriend’s boyfriend broke up with her last night. I’ve been struggling all day to find the words to help her see that as horribly as it hurts right now, God has an incredible plan for it! This post says it so well. Thanks again! Keep up the amazing work!
that is so true it took me for ever to figure thta out
that was amazing what you said!! oh my gosh i bet it touched your friend’s heart and probably everyone elses who read this. :)
That’s inspiring. He must’ve felt really hurt.
What great andd fantastic words spoken!!
U are right ., happiness is not found in the beautiful face uf a woman or handsomeness in a man .
Happiness is found in a RELATIONSHIP w GOD!! :)
Hope ure friends saw the great words god gave u to tell him ., andd hopefully now he see’s that our God is a jealous God andd what’s nothing but us to be focused on him(:
God Bless!
Hey Mike, Thanks for your post about your friend. My friend Chris Didonna who you might know, actually told me to go to this page and read your post. He said it would help a bunch. Like right now I am going through the same thing in my life with a girl i dated for 3 years. She just dumped me about 2 weeks ago and she started to date some other guy the day after she dumped me. For the past couple weeks i have been questioning God and myself. I know that God was doing this to me because he knows whats best for me, but it was so hard for me to have complete faith in him. I guess the biggest thing for me is i felt like noone else has gone through what i have gone through and after reading your post i see that its because i made her the center of my life that he took her away from me. It still hurts, but i know that things will get better in my life and God will lead me in the right direction. Thanks again for your music and your posts!!! Romans 8:28
Hey!
I’m new here. I REALLY enjoy your guy’s music and songs!
Anyway, about the post you put, i just wished EVERBODY in this world could see or hear this kind of advice. They need it!!
Well, may God bless you BIG! :D
Carissa (CubanPrincess)
Your music has meant so much to me over the past three weeks particularly. My boyfriend of two years broke up with me, with no warning. It totally broke my heart. So much of my identity was wrapped up in him. In God’s infinite mercy, He prepared me when my boyfriend didn’t by showing me that Alan had become an idol in my life. I loved him more than I loved Jesus. And Jesus takes second place to no one. Although my boyfriend used his ministry as an excuse to break off the relationship (just short of marriage), there are some sin issues that he’s battling that I feel are the true root. God has given me the grace to release the man I love to the God who loves him more, and the courage to pray that anything necessary be used to bring him to repentance. Your song, “Hold My Heart” has been my song, my prayer, my cry to the Lord. Your song “Healing Begins” has been my prayer for him. Thank you for providing music with such incredible depth that it demonstrates God’s character. Keep the Faith!
Wow… I love all of your songs… Really inspirational. I was born and raised as a christian. I have heard whole lot of songs thru out my life. I felt like this one have changed me the most. i love the sing by your side.
you couldn’t have said that better! i had a major break up with a friend a few months ago, and i felt really hurt at first. But i soon came to realize that maybe that friendship wasn’t bringing me closer to God, and it really was better that i broke up!
I’m glad you help people like that. That is true love from God.
FINALLY!!!! A band that is not fluff!! But speaks His truth! We are desperate for it - as I’m sure you know! I’m living with a recovering addict, which means I’m a co-addict. You’re music speaks unmentionable things to us… thank you for your courage to speak what He tells us we are. We are so NEEDY for His identity!! Thank you! We’ll see you in Houston on the 23rd!!! Praying for revelation for you and reflection of Him in your music! May you receive the spirit of wisdom and knowledge to know Him more! www.soareweinthisworld.blogspot.com
dear sylvester,
thank you for writing back to me, and i think you’re right about holding on to these eye-opening experiences. and lately i’ve been doing a whole lot better. i went to a new church for a couple of nights and God really spoke to me there. i think one of my biggest problems was i am a control freak. like i’m not a really over-bearing or bossy person, actually i think i’m kind of a push-over, but i would want to follow God but i would want to do it my own way. i would want to rely on my own understanding of things. i would want to do things like the way my family did it. but my family isn’t perfect and they taught me things that now i don’t really agree with. of course we have to honor our father and mother, but i don’t think we have to live our lives just like them. and that was kind of hard for me to do because my family is like if u ain’t doing what they think is right then you’re making a bad decision. but i’m learning. God has been teaching me some new stuff and it’s pretty awesome! when bad things would come, i would try to step up and fix them, but now that i’ve been sitting back and letting Him take care of them, it’s like i have this new kind of peace in my mind. and even when i get frustrated, i still have that peace and it’s awesome! God can do grea things if u just let Him, not that He needs ur permission anyway but u know what i mean :) anyway, thanks for writing me back, and also i’m a girl lol and i hope it gets better with u and ur wife. i’ll be praying for you :)
hey guys im not doing so great i just lost my sister to cancer and im gonna miss seeing you at the celbrate freedom concert this saturday i wanted to see you but i cant and i really wish i could hang out with you sometime this saturday idk but im finally 14 so yeah im good. text me sometime ay 903-292-3994 bye
Hmmm…a band after God’s own heart.
I wish I had a couple of those lines for some friends at times! It’s June now - so how is your friend? I really hope that the fire has refined him! It is amazing that our God reminds us of His love in those times, as well. It is true that He offers peace beyond understanding!
Mike, I also want to say that I appreciate you, Jason, and Jeff for being so willing to allow God to have His way in your lives. Your music shows a spiritual maturity that I long for in approaching my own music! And in particular, Mike, your video journal series and these post journals are absolutely amazing! God has lavished you with His love and wisdom, and it is overflowing onto this webpage! I was told by a good friend a number of years ago that my love for others had to reach beyond the music if I was to ever grow as a Christian musician. This is most certainly true! You go beyond the call of the average musician to share the deeper truths we may need to be made aware of - thank you!
If you, Jason or Jeff would like to check it out, some friends and I created a Facebook group called “The Sheltering Tree” based on a praise song you may be familiar with. (In fact, I welcome anyone who is reading this response!) The concept of the group is an online accountability center for believers who are needing prayer, counsel, or encouragement “on the go.” I am a husband, father, minister of music, graduate student, and I am filling in on bass for a good friend, AND writing/producing music - in other words: I’m on the move! I believe that it could be beneficial to bands on the road, and I just want to offer you guys the opportunity!
Again, thank you for all that you are doing and may God enrich your lives as you draw nearer to Him!
Your brother in Christ,
Jay
Jeremiah 33:3
i’ve only got a small piece of comment to give.
inspiring thinking.
Hey can anyone tell me how to talk to the band…e-mail perhaps? I can be absent-minded, so sorry if I missed the obvious. My virus program blocks twitter and myspace, so I cannot use those to ask them my question. Help me? Please?
Question: Is it possible to come to North Dakota sometime? I have not noticed any times you are coming. I am still waiting patiently, and will continue to do so, but I just wanted to know. I have been waiting only for you guys to come. Thanks for any help, and time spent on me. Best of luck to you all.
Love, Prayers, and so much more,
Cody
There are many things that I am uncertain about at this point in my life. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with the time that I have been given. I want to make the most of my life, be happy, and follow the path that God has intended for me. The only problem is that I haven’t discovered his will yet. Thankfully I have time on my side to keep me from biting my nails all day from anxiety. I know that despite all of the things that I am unsure about in life, one thing never changes. That is the knowledge that God loves me unconditionally and I love him just the same.
hey tenth avenue north, i just wanted to say, i appreciate your commitment to the Lord. ive been going throught one of the deepest struggles of my life recently, and your new CD has been my therapy (of course 2nd hand to the Bible!) as of recent.
love you guys, thanks for posting what you said to your friend about the whole breakup thing. its helping heal me too. may the Lord bless you guys and your ministry!
-nicole
Mr. Kendall,
when u get i opening things u need to hold on to them. sometimes they are for us to take a look at our own selves. with God, He is always with us. He puts ppl and sometimes answers thru television. not sayin television is the answer or a good thing. but He is with us thru the hard. the hardest part to follow God is to trust and love Him. bcuz we have always leaned on what we seen or kno or been thru. but Jesus Christ died for us to have life. not to be upset, or angry, or to hold on to what we done. if u recieved God in ur life, He is now in ur heart. u see u had a light in u bfore, with God the light is brighter. it shines very bright to lead us thru the dark path. but if we let the anger, the feeling down, the negative thoughts, or negative ppl influence how u see it starts to block ur light.and if that happens u start to see and feel nothing. we have to trust into God, to give Him our hearts fully. to try and love as He has done for us. we are not alone in our problems. so when someone has something to say we should listen cuz it just might be God leadin us thru our troubled times. so dont let no one steal ur love for ppl, dont let no one kill ur happiness, and dont let the negative things destroy ur life. for myself i kno its hard to trust and to love bcuz alot of bad things happened to me. i was empty, i felt nothing for no one. i loved, but i loved to hurt, and i loved to hate. God has shown me unconditional love, a love that i long for. and we as ppl spit in His face, said things bad to Him, and He still loves us. so thats how we have to be to others. i hope this helped a little. it reminds me that i need to keep doin it. i give all the praise and glory to our Father God. thank u Lord.
hey guys! i’m a HUGE fan of y’all. y’all seem like y’all just got it together. it seems like y’all are really doing God’s will for y’all’s life and i really want to be able to do that too. it’s hard though. i don’t really know what to do. i want to be sure i’m doing everything i can to follow God’s will, but i don’t really feel like He’s telling me to do anything much. i mean i try to follow the laws and alot of times i screw up but basically i just feel like i keep trying and getting nowhere. i’m just so lost. i don’t wanna go on not knowing if i’m on the right path first. i keep praying and every now and then i feel my eyes being opened up to something new but i don’t think i understand HOW to give up my life to God. can somebody please help me? it just isn’t how i thought it would be. i thought after i gave my life to God, things would be happy and if they got rough, He would help me through. sounds simple doesn’t it? that’s what i thought. And now i’m actually having to figure out what it ‘s like to follow God and it’s not easy and i think i spend more time feeling down or upset than happy. because of that, i felt like maybe i wasn’t following Him right or something. i just don’t know, can someone please help me out? another thing is, when i have these eye-opening experiences, it usually doesn’t last long and then i go back to feeling bad. i just wanna get out of this once and for all and really start living for God
Wow. I read this a couple weeks ago and though I liked it, didn’t think much of it since I’ve never been in a relationship. But after coming back to it and reading all the comments and seeing the similar situations in each one, it just made me think that I don’t need to be chasing after the relationships that I want to happen. I want to feel like I’m too in love with God to even think about guys. I don’t want anything to take His place like I’ve let happen before. Reading this brought that realization and a lot of peace :)
hey there mike after watching your video on youtube. How you talked about the song “healing begins” and what the couple did and how they confessed there sins to their youth pastor. It made me think back to when my-ex-GF and I did that and I realized that I had to confess my sins not only to God but to my brothers and sisters in Christ. And so after i had confessed my sins i felt better know that I had nothing left to hide from God. This song really inspired me to confess my sins not only to God, but to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you and the Tenth AVe North Band. You all changed my life.
Hey Mike, this was for me. It was especially good to hear “And so, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact, that since God loves me, he won’t let me be completely happy
with anything other than Himself.” That was golden. Thank you for you service to the kingdom bro. All glory to Him.
my wife and i have been serperated since november of 09. we been going to church and we gave our life to God, and got baptized. but i didnt give my whole heart to the Lord. i held on to what the enemy had told me. u see i used to ask the enemy for things. not material things but to help me bring pain to the world. and he told me that if i loved i would lose them. that i would never have my love. and i brought that into my relationship. it was in my head, i kept hearin the whispers. i even brought my own past relationships into this one. bcuz i was scared, bcuz i looked for the end to come. so in november i drank three bottles of 5ths. did a little drug, went home blacked out. and ended up in hospital. my wife told me that i said i wanted to beat her up. and i took a bunch of pills. woke up on a breathin machine. my wife left me while i was in hospital. i was clean of drugs for 4 years, than to impress my dad i did it. u see i didnt know how to truly love. my wife leavin me is a good thing. it hurts, it hurts real bad. but it has brought me closer to Jesus Christ. i think we just get caught up in our loved ones that we forget about God. we get caught up in our loved ones, we forget to look at ourselves. God is here with me thru this. His love for me makes me glow. i am more focused on God than i ever been. even tho this is a hard time for me and i am tryin to fix what i destroyed, God is with me showin me a path. i am learnin how to truly love, even when she is sayin negative things to me. i will still show love to her. bcuz i used to be the same way with God and he still loves me.
Mike, you are most definitly blessed by the words of wisdom and encouragement you had for your friend, thats so awesome, it also helps
me with my walk with Christ too.
Thanks a lot and God Bless
p.s. Tenth avenue north rocks!!
Thank you. You were definately very helpful to me. I just got dumped and was unsure of why, but i think that may have been God’s way of telling meto love Him more, you helped me see that. Again, thank you very much. You are truly amazing.
I really love your music! I really like your new CD! Here is a song I composed! If you would like you can use this for your next album!
Thank You
~A Tenth Avenue North fan~
You are the One
You are the one I love
The only one
The only one
When I was down you picked me up
You gave your life for me
You died and rose again
For me
For me
Such a sinner
As I
You paid the sacrifice
The one and only
I love you forever and always
As long as I am here
Always you
I am holding you
So you won’t give up
I am saved
You are the savior
Always here when I call for you
The lion and the lamb
The sacrifice that is never ending
Forevermore
I just wanted to say I was at the Shinefest concert in Kansas City on Saturday where it POURED down rain all day. I am SOOO glad i stayed to see you guys. This was the first time I have seen Tenth Avenue North perform. It was amazing, I could see God’s fingerprints all over you guys. It was an awesome time of worship. Thank you all for what you do!!
For your age, you have the wisdom of an elder. The wisdom that God has shown you is great! Thanks for sharing your insight with everyone. This helps young and old—like me!!!
God Bless you Mike and your family and your band!
A year in a half ago I learned the true meaning of making God my everything—and I had to learn it through a really tough break up. Though the pain was overwhelming and I grieved for a long time, I am so beyond thankful for it. I know God did it out of love. Before I met my ex-boyfriend, I was always a happy person. But after our breakup, I learned how to be a continually JOYFUL person, madly in love with God—and not just in love with Him because what he can do for me or how he can heal me! I fell in love with him simply because He’s God and He’s worthy! I found that “He is not the means to some end, but The End Himself” (something I read from Mike :)) When the Lord santifies you, it is a beautiful thing!
Recently, I had to go through another hard break up. And though I prayed and prayed the Lord wouldn’t allow me to experience this kind of pain again, THIS TIME I know the end—The Lord is getting glory and fame, once again teaching me to lean on Him and nothing else! It’s a lesson He will teach over and over again in my life. The Lord gives and takes away, but blessed be His name!
Consider yourself deeply loved and set apart when God brings pain your way! He disciplines those He loves and it’s gonna be SOOOOOOOO worth it!
In the middle of a struggle, it’s really difficult to see the purpose of the suffering. You’re in the darkness and you just want to see the light. But you often don’t see the purpose until you’re on the other side. In the meantime, you’ve just got to let God’s grace be enough for you.
Thank you for posting this. God used it to show me why He took a special guy out of my life for a time. Falling in love with God is more important than falling in love with the guy. And all of the struggles, tears, and anger were totally worth it.
wow! that is the best response that i have ever heard on that particular subject. it is amazing to think that God has everyone of us a spouse who will make us happy, but only to a certain extent. how God is the key to being truly happy and content. it is really amazing when you think about it. People can make us happy and then they do something that disappoints you, but if you focus on God, you will be able to find true contentment and happiness.
Amazingly written, this helps people, myself included to understand that happiness is not something we can achieve by ourselves, it helps a ton with the struggle.
I had to respond to Jane Yount’s comment. Having been in the same situation 6 years into our marriage, what I learned through the heartache, through the tears is that Jesus Himself has felt the sting of betrayal. True, not in the same concept as marriage but He knows how you feel.
God allows us the freedom to choose-even the freedom to make wrong choices. He didn’t make your husband cheat-your husband acted out of his own free will.
Adultery is a horrible thing to happen in a marriage and the results can be devastating and have long lasting consequences.
It’s not easy to forgive and it’s not easy to walk the road of reconciliation. When I looked at my husband’s sin, it was easy to see how dark, how black, how painful that sin was.
But when I made a list of all the things Jesus had to forgive me for, it was tougher not to forgive that adultery.
We worked through that situation but my husband never repented of his actions.
Unfortunately, my husband is away from the Lord again and plans to seek a divorce-16 years after we worked through the affair.
Forgiving someone is not for their benefit. It’s for your benefit and it’s a huge act of grace.
I wish you the best, Jane and I’ll be praying for you.
i do not want a boyfriend right now because i am not very close to God at all! Before i start dating any guy, I’m going to need to get closer to God before I get distracted and lose my relationship with him! I looove yalls band!!! saw yall at winterjam in charlotte, nc and it was awesome!!! :) i just bought yalls CD!!! and i absolutly LOVE IT!!!! thanks for all yall do!!! I love you guys!! and im praying for you!! :)
wow thats sooooo good i strugle with putin God first in my life. More than anything i’ve always wanted to feel loved (by the people around me) and i’ve struggled with Gods love for me more than i ever had before but its the only thing that can satisfy me completely. and i relize that(its the putting it to action thats hard)
Thanks so much…i love tenth avenue north
just read your response…i’ve just had my first heartbreak since my divorce. Reading the last 10 (or so) lines just slapped me in the face. I was so worried about God taking him away from me and putting all my attention on him, i unintentionally replaced God. I realized that soon after the fact, but reading that made it all so real, again. what a great thing to hold on to. God is the only thing that can satisfy us and looking for that here on earth is such a waste of time and energy. i’m learning how to do things the right way and will NOT make that mistake again. thanks for posting that….such wisdom!!
Thank you for sharing! I, too, was once dumped by my first love. Man, oh, man was I hurt! I drove my car in the icy snow at about forty miles per hour! I did not want to go on literally. Jesus, however, had plans for my life! I am so happy I did not give up! I am now engaged (some thirteen years later) to a GODLY, SPIRIT-FILLED gentleman who loves me unconditionally. We will be uniting as one on May 28, 2011. I thank and praise the Lord for keeping me when I did not think I could be kept!!!! He is so awesome (Jesus) and He (in His timing) will bring the one across your path that is so deserving of your love. God bless all who have gone through a breakup/seperation in relationships.
ooooowwwwwww. hit a real tender spot there. But I desperatley needed to hear that. Mike, you’ve been given this incredible gift to touch people in their lives with just the words to knock them down but at the same time help them stand. God REALLY speaks through you. Thanks. I’ve been with my boyfriend for almost two years… we’re going through some tough times right now and that little message hit me right in the head. Maybe he is in a way taking the place of God for me… and I need to fix that! My boyfriend’s not a Christian and it’s tough to have a relationship with someone who cant understand what’s at the depths of a person… and for me that’s Jesus… thanks again Mike. Way to catch my attention.
My boyfriend of a year just broke up with me with no warning and no explanation and your music has helped me SO much! I just wanted to say thank you for doing what you do :]
Wow. I’m getting to this kind of late, but this sounds like a lot of really good advice that my friend needs. I’ve been trying to get through to her but it’s not working. Her situation’s a tad different, but I’m gonna forward this to her. Thank you so much for your encouraging words that I know I can benefit from, too.
Thank you, and God bless, Mike. :D
like steven say in the first chapter..
im also frustated about the girl lol.. not a man lol…
i like that song
its powerfull healing to wake up us from broken heart…
God bless
Hello from ARGENTINA. First, these words are impressive, very accurate and precise, with no margin for error.
Like the songs of the band ...
Second: I am writing this, hoping that you can read it and know how much I feel blessed, not just me, but many people in Argentina ...
Third:It will be like a dream if you can talk to me and tell me how you can compose things so used by God
Thanks for everything ... and ... I hope to see you one day in Argentina ...
God bless the band
You have no idea how much I needed this. I always watch the video journals and read what you have to say because it is ALWAYS profound. But this time it went for the jugular of my poor, miserable soul, sending me one step closer to healing. Thanks
hey i rally enjoy your music. it feels me with love and joy! (: i think God ha really bless me. your guys music really lifts me up when im down. i thankyou for that.(: keep me in perayers. my name is kayla im from kentucky. God bless you all.
I needed this a lot. I’ve never had a boyfriend. I keep asking God for one, and I guess in a way, I thought if I have one, I’d be really happy.
Wow! What a painful but SOOO true piece of insight! After my husband committed adultery 20 years ago and told me 6 years after that, I thought my life was over. I have shed so many tears I could’ve created another ocean. I have literally spent the last 20 years trying to figure out how to forgive my husband (and God for letting it happen), how to love him again, and to figure out even how to live again. It has been the most painful journey of my life, but I have learned to lean on God like never before.
Amen!
Everyone wants that someone whom they can be intimate and close to. Who they can trust to love them unconditionally!
But that “person” is not really a person it is the almighty Father!
Its so encouraging to read your commending and loving heart towards your friend….I have been encouraging some of my sisters in Christ in the same manner.
He wants us to find complete fulfillment in Him! Until we are secure in our relationship with Him, we will never be secure enough to enjoy a relationship with the man or woman God has set aside and furthermore, He needs to be the support and foundation under our feet to minister to our spouse.
The two become one so as to glorify the father more, but never to fully complete each other soley in the confines of their relationship!
Brothers and Sisters, don’t GIVE IN to the world’s definition of love. FALL IN to His deep deep all surpassing love!
Blessings!
Heb. 10:24
So I have a boyfriend whom I think the world of. We’ve been together for a year straight, on and off for three, and he’s changed so much from the time we started dating until.. well, he’s still changing. For the Best I believe. We’ve both gone from drinking, partying and just being plain stupid to settling ourselves down with each other and we’re happy with that :)
But not too long ago, he told me “I don’t love you more than I love God. And you shouldn’t be with me if you love me more than you love Him. I can’t be with you if you do.”
That’s crazy right? I remember thinking to myself “I don’t think it’s possible to have a stronger love than that.”
This has totally opened my eyes to that “stronger love” that I couldn’t seem to comprehend. I need to stop putting all my faith in a boy and start putting all of it in HIM! He’s the only one who will be there if someday my boyfriend’s not :)
And Thanks you guys for making awesome music!
-Sarah!
after all, losing still hurts
I am so thankful for your God-given wisdom and your graceful, capturing way with words, Mike (and all of tenth avenue north)! Every single one of your blog entries moves me to a place beyond words and all I can say is that I feel like each entry was written specifically to me. I’m so glad you’re doing what you’re doing, and especially glad that you’re letting God work through your life. What an inspiration…
Mike-
You always offer great encouragement. The tenth avenue website keeps offering me encouragement throughout my high school days! Thanks!
-Kristin
Hey Mike, I like the encouragement you have for your friend. I want to say, it is not easy after a break of many years. I can testify to that. I gave my heart to a guy who I thought would be my future husband. We dated on and off for almost 4 years until it ended. I was heartbroken, but I knew that it was the best. I praise and thank God for taking it away. I was so into him and not God, He is a jealous God. To this day, I wouldn’t say that I am 100% complete, pain still remains and in time God will heal me completely.
James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Dude this reminded me of “footprints” you know how the man was told that he saw only one set of footprints during the worst parts of his life because he was being carried ^^ I love that poem so much and I honestly try to remember that when I am hurting myself or going through times like when my first love died ^^
You are absolutely right, Mike. My dad has always told me: “God has to break you before He can use you.” I’ve been in some pretty bad situations, but they have always lead to something amazing happening in my life after that.
Nice encouragement. My friend just got dumped and she feels like he took half her heart with him. I told my mom and she said that she was happy that since I’ve had two boyfriends that she’s never seen me get torn up about it when we broke up. I think that your friend needs to concentrate on his relationship with God more than anything. Give him my best!!!!!!!!
I just want to thank you for this. My boyfriend of over a year broke up with me 2 weeks ago and I’m still hurting so much. He was my first boyfriend and my best friend. It hurts like no other knowing that I won’t have him again, but I think I was planning my life around him. I wasn’t just living. I realize that now, but it still hurts. I know it will take time and God will use this to help me. In fact, he already has. I’ve grown more than I ever thought I would. I guess my relationship with him was becoming an idol and God and I were spending less and less time together. I hate that so much. Now, I’m going to reconnect with God for sure. So, thanks for posting this!
wow. this was so encouraging to read…my boyfriend and i broke up the night before you posted this, mike. we hadn’t been dating for two years…only seven months, but things were serious and we were headed for marriage. i know it was the right thing for both of us. i completely made an idol of the relationship and in many ways, it was the main thing i was living for. he where i turned to for happiness, contentment, joy, and strength…and a person can never satisfy those completely. i allowed myself to become distracted by the relationship and distanced myself from God.
and you’re right, hurt is definitely used by God. i’ve had to learn some things the hard way…the Lord has used this time to shake me up and point out things that need to change in my life. this past week has been hard, but i know i’m going to come through this stronger and closer to the Lord.
oh, and by the way, i’m definitely going to read “a severe mercy” :) another friend recommended it and it sounds like a must-read.
anyway, thanks so much for posting this! i kinda feel like it was posted just for me…
awesome advice, i have a friend that looks and acts just like you. lol
WOW!! This was just what I needed to read. A year ago, I was in a relationship with this guy who I thought was all i could ever want. Every girl at school wanted him, but I had him. At first, things were perfect. He was sweet and seemed like he really loved me. Then, he started pressuring me into doing things that I didn’t want to do. I wouldn’t give in, so he broke up with me. I was devastated. I thought my world was ending. But in the midst of all the hurt I was feeling, I knew that the relationship wasn’t healthy and I knew that God had a plan for me. Over this past year, I haven’t dated anyone and I have grown closer to God than ever before. When i read what you wrote to your friend, it finally clicked that there is no guy out there that will ever completely satisfy me and that i need to stop searching for happiness, because true happiness comes from God, not boys. Thank you!!
Wow, that’s really true. My cousin just broke up with his girlfriend, and he was… absolutely crushed. I then realized how much we dwell on relationships. Past ones, present ones, ones we WANT to happen, when a good portion of Christians only read our bibles about 15 minutes a day. Kinda sad, really. We’re striving and striving for the love of other human beings, when we already have the love of the Creator of the EARTH. Of the UNIVERSE. I don’t know about you, but I find that pretty incredible. God actually thinks about ME, personally. He KNOWS me. My name. My age. My favorite food. How messy my room is. Etc. ;) And here I am, guilty as ever. Just a plain old thirteen year old girl. Not deserving even to be created in the first place. Man… that’s just… wow. Amazing. :)
Thanks for posting that, it really encouraged me. :)
~Katy
“A Severe Mercy” is my favorite book. Everyone should read it.
WOW, great advice!!! did any1 ever tell u, u look like the guy from the OC? sorry, couldn’t help it :)
yes, a broken heart takes time to mend. but don’t lose heart. God is close to the broken hearted. its like God is saying to us, “listen, im the one who holds everything together. though this relationship isn’t a part of what i have for u, let me hold your heart. let me mold u into my Son Jesus.’‘
i love how scripture says that God will not despise a contrite spirit.
Mike,
First, I would like to say that I am probably older than most of your fans, :) but your music is so annointed. There is not a bad song on your whole cd. The words, instruments, style is from God, through you all, to us!! The Lord is “so there” every time I listen to y’all.
In the response to this boy whose girlfriend broke up with him…you are as annointed in your words to him, as you are in your music. May our sovereign Lord keep you in His hands as you sing, encourage, and give his sound counsel to others!
My daughter (12) and I went to the concert in St Paul on Sunday. WOW! We had a GREAT time. Thank you for your music, your testimony and your honesty! God Bless All!
Absolutely! Our joy must be found in Him! I have known a version of this myself. I am standing for the restoration of my marriage and expecting the Lord to do just that but the early days just after he called me and told me he was leaving were very tough (although grace-filled!). I realized though, not too far into the journey, that the Lord HAD to take Mike (my husband) away for this time….because He had work to be done in Mike (obviously) but ALSO He had much work to be done in ME! I may not have thought of Mike as my “god” but there was real danger of that, the way things were going! He had to teach me about trust and faithfulness (even when things don’t go as you plan) and waiting on Him and He had to teach me to LOVE Him, more than anything (or anyone) else! So, though it hasn’t been easy, I wouldn’t take it back, if it would mean I had to take back all of the intimacy that I have gained with the Lord. Now I know that, when Mike returns, my hope and trust will be in the Lord through Mike, not just Mike himself. But, the Lord IS faithful and He has shown me that He will restore. Two years is NOTHING compared to His Glory that will be revealed :)
Good job, Mike! Most people would have just said “Poor you” instead of encouraging them to take the big step and grow in there faith.
Mike, well said as always, though I wish it would penetrate my thick skull.
I find myself still dwelling on past relationships, to the point of it setting me on a dangerous path. I feel like I need to try and make something “happen.” I don’t know why I am so weak, and it frustrates me. I say that I will give it all up to God, and yet I fail over and over. I am so frustrated.