Does God Still Love Laurian?

I am a fan of a Christian Rock singer named David Phelps as many of you know. I am a member of the message boards on his website at www.davidphelps.com and have grown to love all of the members there because of their love for God and great appreciation for great talent used properly.....and that being for God. I have never heard a voice like his before in my life and he is the only singer I listen to now because no one compares to his amazing voice and talent. It's just absolutely incredible!!!!

I have never gotten to meet David yet but I am planning to go to my first concert to meet him in December on the 11th in Ashland, Kentucky. God has used David to help pull me out of some very dark days over the years and I feel a need to meet this person who has been so willing to become a servant of God's. David is honestly the most giving person that I have ever heard of as I read what others have to say about him on the message boards. Everyone I have ever heard talk about him says the same things about him. They say how he listens to you as though you are the only one in the room. He looks you in the eye as you talk to him and he rubs or pats your back as you get your picture taken with him after a concert as though to tell you that you are cared about and loved. I have been told that there is just something different about David compared to other Christian artists. I'm looking forward to meeting this special person I keep hearing about.

Anyway, one of the members of the message board on David's website submitted a story to "Guideposts" of her experience earlier this year that absolutely grabbed my heart and hugged it! I wanted to share it with all of my readers as well because it's so dag gone great! You don't have to be a fan of David's in order to appreciate the meaning of this story. You do, however, end up being a fan of God's when you're done reading it. I hope so anyway.

Enjoy the story! Boy, I sure did!!


THE JOURNEY OF 11 MIRACLES
By: Laurian Allison Dawkins

"Well, THAT'LL teach me to try to put limits on God!!" I smiled to myself and then shot a quick prayer heavenward, "Yes, Mom. The Lord DOES work in mysterious ways! And He's got a sense of humor, too!"

It had all started innocently enough: David Phelps, the Dove award-winning tenor formerly with The Gaither Vocal Band, was going to tape live his first solo DVD and television special. The date was set for March 30, 2006 at the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama. I had wanted to attend to show support of David and his message of God's love for each of us. But also, I admit, to hopefully be able to tell him in person how he and his music helped me at a time when I needed it the most.

Here in central Florida a year and a half earlier I had lost my home when hurricanes Charley, Francis and Jeanne roared through. I had been reduced to merely renting a bedroom from friends. Then six months later my mom passed over. I found my rock-solid faith starting to waiver. "How can I know You're real?" I'd pray. "How can You show me You haven't forgotten about me?" David's glorious soaring voice would always manage to pull me up when my spirits would sag, but the doubts would inevitably creep back in. Now with this concert perhaps I would find out if meeting him personally could help redeem faith. I had been searching so long for a sign.

I was flying in one day and returning the next. The entire flight I kept repeating my one simple prayer: "Please, God, let me be able to look David in the eye and, if possible, get an autograph. If You could just show me that You're still there."

The hotel's shuttle driver who picked me up listened patiently to me chattering away about this unbelievable singer and the concert scheduled for that evening. When we reached the hotel's curb, he thought for a moment and then offered to drive me by the theater for a quick preview. A minute later a young man and woman from the hotel climbed in, apparently going in the same direction. I started making small talk about how much I was looking forward to a concert tonight. Why, I was lucky enough to even get a peek right now! They both looked at each other and then smiled at me. "We're the back-up singers. I'm Carly and this is Anthony. We're going to the rehearsal." Wow! Being able to meet a couple members of David's group! I was still glowing when the driver and I returned to the hotel.

Arriving too early for check-in, I chose a seat near a grand piano in the lobby that afforded me a view of the front door and settled in with a book. Ten pages in, out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed a man striding intently across the lobby towards the outside. I looked closer. He was talking on a cell phone. He looked familiar. HE WAS DAVID! Since I had come all this way I grabbed conceivably my only shot and yelled, "David! Good luck tonight!" He stopped talking and grinned back at me a grateful "Hey, thanks!!" And with that he was out the door. He must have so much on his mind right now yet he looked right at me! He even spoke to me! It would have been understandable if he had brusquely brushed me off or even ignored me on such a hectic day. But he didn't. I had heard of his thoughtfulness and humble character. It must be true.

It took me a good hour to calm down. People came and went in the lobby including several young men congregating by the piano when one of them reached over and hit a key. That piano could use a tune up. I made a face. "Oooo. Like fingernails on a blackboard." He was amused and then started tinkering away at the keys. After a minute the tinkering turned to jazzy riffs followed by soothing ballad-like streams and then countless other styles. This is just what I needed. The music was helping to keep me composed--no pun intended, I told myself. After too short a time my serenade ended when they left and in another few hours I was able to check in. And a few hours after that--concert time!

By the time it started the theater was packed with thousands of fans, waiting to hear THAT voice, to hear the love of God through his musical ministry. People were actually commenting on the electricity in the air. David's voice just shone into each heart there. Many were in tears. We were all in awe.

David was partway into the program when he introduced each member on stage. When he got to Jack, the keyboardist, I felt a smirk. "Ah ha!" It was my pianist in the lobby. I had met David's keyboardist and did't even know it. Most concerts are for less than two hours. David sang for four. And his voice was as strong and pure on the last note as on the first.

Out in the lobby I joined some people who had lined up in case there might be a meet-and-greet after the taping. A few minutes later David approached the head of the line and started meeting with admiring fans. Closer...closer...and then it was MY turn!

I told him how I revere his voice and performance; how very special they are to me. But as I started to tell him about losing my home and then my mom, he grabbed my hand and held onto it. I desperately struggled to find the words to convey the depth to which he has touched my life. All I could finish with was a quiet "You fill my heart." His eyes never left mine. This was not the fake sincerity of a celebrity. This was a man who truly cared at that moment for me and my sense of loss. Recovering, I asked him if he would autograph his latest CD, which he graciously signed. The mood brightened and then I noticed that he was STILL holding my hand. The man who has sung before the President of the United States actually cared enough to literally reach out to me. Maybe God was reaching out to me also--I just had to see the forest through the trees.

My time was up and I moved into the background. A man who had earlier been staying by David's side ended up moving over next to me. I had a feeling. "Is your name Jim Chaffee?" I asked. Admitting it was, he wondered How did I know that he was David's manager? He laughed when I told him that he looked like the manager type. We discussed how we both felt that David's tone in the upper registers has a brilliance to it, like a trumpet.

A woman came up behind me and asked if I had signed the journal? Go back inside and ask for it. The stage was being dismantled by the crew and the theater was empty except for a group of about thirty people down in front. I asked about it and was handed an album overflowing with loving messages. These people were "Members of the Board," I found out; passionately loyal admirers of David's work and ministry. As fans from his website they had gathered from all over the country to show their love and supprt for him this special night. They had made this album and a plaque to commorate it all. They had even taken up a collection among themselves for World Vision which David and his wife Lori fevently support. My mind raced as I had only a minute to add my message. Writing how every day I thank God for the gift of him and how he "fills my heart," I wished him and his family Love and Light.

Someone called "Here he comes!" and David found himself quickly surrounded. He gratefully accepted and looked over each keepsake. It was easy to see how deeply touched and honored he was by what all the "Phanatics" had done. It was now nearing midnight but still he stayed to take even more time with those of us by the stage. The crowd ebbed and flowed and I found myself next to Lori who was holding their two year old son Coby. "Great name!" I joked. "My name is Lauri too!"

Eventually the group started to disperse and I headed for the lobby. I was thirsty and pleased to spy a water fountain. But there was a woman ahead of me holding up a toddler boy for a drink. "By any chance are you...Grandma?" "Why, yes. I'm Lori's mom." Another one! What a way to end the evening!

Back at the hotel I kept running all the incredible encounters over and over again in my mind, savoring each friendly phrase, every warm smile. So much so that I really could't sleep. I had needed reassurance that I was still loved. And with all these messengers God had replied "You want to know HOW much I love you? This is how much!"

By morning I finally gave up and came to the lobby for an extra-early check-out. While waiting for the shuttle van I sat there grinning like a Cheshire cat. A woman standing over by the window looked my way. Embarrassed, I felt I should explain this silly look on my face. I explained how I had just attended the most wonderful concert by the most extraordinary singer I had ever heard, and how much he and his music meant to me. A knowing smile came over her as she reached out her hand, "Hi. I'm David's mother." It was about this point that I could feel the silly look turning into downright goofy. She was so kind and gracious, speaking with me for over ten minutes. A man approached. "Oh, there's my husband." Could I meet him too? "Of course!" I could just hear God giggling at me. Now even mom and dad were added to the "list."

Well, that did it. I plopped back into my chair, my head spinning. How could I convince my friends back home that within 24 hours I had spoken with ten--count 'em--ten people connected with David, including him. They'd never believe me. I could barely believe it myself!

I looked up to see a man staring in my direction. "I know you," I blurted out, "you had that really nice flag shirt last night here in the lobby. I was going to a fantastic concert. Did you go? You've gotta hear this guy!" And with that a now-familiar smile crept across his face as he extended his hand. "Hi. I'm David's lawyer."