Sunday, September 12, 2010

Day 12- Your favorite musical artist’s life story.



I love Jeremy Camp.    He has such a heart for worship and for God and it shows in his music.     I believe that the reason he writes such heart felt music is because that he has had to walk the depths of his music.     He doesn't just write about a relationship with God.    Jeremy has developed a relationship with God through hardships that few people have to endure.

Jeremy was leading worship at a Bible study when he met Melissa.     He was so in awe of her relationship with God.    They talked and started spending time together.   After four months of dating, Melissa said they needed to break up saying she felt like God was preparing her for something else in her life.    Jeremy was devastated, but respected Melissa's decision.   

Jeremy went on the road performing his music and nursing his broken heart.      His ministry was thriving as God was blessing him in many ways.

In the midst of this he received a phone call that changed his life.      Melissa asked him to come to the hospital.     She had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.


“I walked into the hospital and she was just beaming,” Jeremy recalls. “You could tell she wasn’t bummed out. She was just trusting the Lord. It was amazing.”

Jeremy was also overwhelmed that Melissa's perspective on the disease was that if she wound up leading one person to Christ then dying was worth it.

Driving home from the hospital, Jeremy did a lot of talking to God.    He told God he wanted to marry Melissa, but he needed to hear from Melissa that she loved him.      The next day, Melissa said she loved him.  Jeremy left the hospital to fast and pray.      When he went back to the hospital he told Melissa he wanted to marry her.

Five months later with Melissa feeling a little better, the couple married.    During their honeymoon Melissa began having problems.    When they returned to the hospital they were given the news that she only had months to live.     On February 5, 2001 she went to be with the Lord.     During her final moments, Jeremy stood with her family and sang the same worship songs that he had sung to her during her hospital stays.

Jeremy said, “Watching Melissa go to Heaven made me realize what’s important. Music is not my life. Christ is my life. The only thing that really matters is what we do for Jesus on this Earth, and as a result of what I’ve been through, I express even more the goodness of God and how faithful He is.”

The first song Jeremy wrote after Melissa's death was "I Still Believe".     (It is definitely one of my favorites.)


Now God has brought healing to Jeremy's life through a new wife, two beautiful little girls and nine back to back #1 singles.    

He is a man who has been to the bottom, but allowed God to bring him to the top.



7 comments:

i cant decide said...

He is one of my favorites, also. I didn't know his story though. Thanks for sharing that no wonder I love so many of his songs.

Stacy at Exceedingly Mundane said...

I didn't know that about his life, very enlightening. Thanks for sharing, Deanna! :)

Really loving these day to day posts, so glad you are doing this for the month!

Unknown said...

That is really beautiful... I had no idea.

I'm not sure I've ever thought about a musician's life story. I always thought Rich Mullins' life was an interesting one....

Erin said...

Jeremy Camp is one of my favorites. I knew of his story and was so happy to hear that he got married again. God bless him for all he's doing!

Patti Lacy said...

Thank you for sharing this story (which I did not know), Deanna.
I've always loved his music...now I have even more connection.
Patti

Ruth said...

I have never heard of him, but thanks for sharing. What a story, and what a faith!

Allison said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE Jeremy Camp.