August Arrives

***First, just wanted to let you all know that ByGrace is playing this weekend in Martin at the BCM on Saturday and in Watkins Auditorium on Sunday! Hope you can join us in worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! ***

Well, I know it’s August 19th as I’m writing this, but really August has just been a huge blur for me and the rest of ByGrace.  We have had the opportunity to play a few times over the summer in different capacities, and I really just want to thank those of you who had us be a part of your events.

In May: First Baptist Church, Milan, TN

In June:  Weakley County West Relay for Life

In July: First Baptist Church, Benton, KY,

First Baptist Church, Troy, TN

In August: First Baptist Church, Martin, TN

UT Martin BCM

UT Martin 1Worship

I also would like to thank a few people that have really helped us out lately: Ben Wolski, Jackie Johnson, and Chad Brewer!

I haven’t had too much time to update the blog or the website, although I really intend to getting a new background and more pictures and media up soon.  Life just seems to fly though.  Quick update on the band and where we are… SOON TO COME MORE INFO!

Matt and Karen:  Still in Knoxville, Matt and Karen will be beginning their second year of life at UTK.  Matt’s a T.A. there and began classes this past week.

Josh and Lynnsey:  Josh got into PT School!!! It’s such a cool story, I’ll let you know about it later.  They are currently in Dickson, TN while Josh attends TSU.

Chris and Jackie:  Chris and Jackie are permanently in Martin for now.  Chris is still doin’ what he do in graphic design and Jackie’s working with WestStar at UTM.

Michael:  Returning to school, Michael’s gearing back up to finish within the next year or so.

Eric:  Just got a job teaching! Believe it or not, I am a middle school science teacher in Paris, TN!

To GOD be the Glory!

Eric

Wow… New Year = New Changes and Opportunities!

As I think back on the past few years leading with ByGrace, I think about hundreds of great memories of great joy, and I can’t really imagine my life without the blessings that God has given us in being linked together through music and, most importantly, through Christ’s blood on the cross.  As of now, everyone is going in such different directions it is hard to imagine how many more times that we will be given to play together and lead.  Of course, if God opens the doors, I believe we will continue to walk in faith together.

As posted some before, I am just going to update everyone on how the band is doing and where we all are in life now.

Matt and Karen:  In Knoxville now, Matt is going to the University of Tennessee to pursue at least a Master’s Degree in Geography.  At last report, Karen has found a job in Knoxville, and I suppose they will be there for the next few years.  Story, their little pup, is doing well, too, as far as I know.

Josh:  Josh continues to work at the Sideline in Martin.  He and his wife, Lynnsey, live in Milan, TN, and have a fairly recent addition in a puppy named Layla.  Josh leads regularly for the youth of FBC Milan and also plays guitar for Sunday services (he has become the TV star of the group as FBC Milan can be seen locally).

Chris:  Chris lives in Martin with his wife, Jackie, and works in website and graphic design in Paris, TN.  He and Jackie attend FUMC Martin where they are involved in youth.

Michael:  Michael is taking a short break from the books and works at an internship at Jackson Energy Authority (JEA).  In this, our drummer basically drives around Jackson looking at the various transformers (lol– jk).  I really don’t know what he does, but you know it’s important. Right, Michael?

Me:  I’m still in Martin and still in school, but I will get to be student teaching this semester.  This should be fun- hopefully! In other news, I hope to start back helping with worship services at FBC Martin or the BCM (as long as I have some time).  I will also be trying to update our website more often, so check back please!  I am also going to try and activate the comments section to the site so that you can give us your ideas and input as we continue to grow together as friends, musicians, and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Praying for God’s richest blessings for you and yours in the coming year— just remember that the greatest blessing is just knowing Him.  You can have access to God at anytime, any day, through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice.

Love you,

Eric

Summer Changes…

Well, summer is in full swing, although it almost seems to be a memory in many ways.  School starts back for youths everywhere, and while UT Martin and other schools have a few more weeks of freedom, I can’t help to think what a crazy summer it has been for me, and for ByGrace.

It’s a hard time in life for me.  Please pray for me.  If you know me, call.  I feel as though words cannot explain the depths of my heart and every time I get started talking to God it seems as though I am exhausted and cannot focus on what is to be said- on what needs to be heard.   I have trouble with patience, with trying to wait for opportunities, for what God wants.  I want what I want now– but then again what do I want?  Do you know what you want in life?  Many times I wish ByGrace would take off… I wish that I could be like the disciples (Jesus told them to go and not worry about anything– to go and not worry about the food they ate, but to rest in the Spirit and the love of their brothers and sisters.)  I feel like such a hippy for saying this, but what if we did just totally trusted God?  I think that’s my biggest issue.  There is so much darkness and fear that I really don’t want to wait around or try to figure it out.   But as this week continues on, I want to rest.  I want to lay myself down.  It seems like I need control to do A B C D E F, etc, but do I?

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[b]?

²⁸“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34

So there’s the call and also the answer in so many ways.  It’s not a girl, or a car, or a house.  It’s resting in who you are.  Who you are called to be. Who you were made to worship.   I need help… Lord, let me give my worry to You tonight.  Let me rest in Your Promise.  Be with Matt and Karen as they have gone to Knoxville.  Be with ByGrace.  Lead me to Your feet.  I need You now.

Relay for Life – Spiritual Life

As it gets closer to the time we play this Friday, I can’t help but think about the miracle of life.  I also think about cancer and how terrible a disease it is, and how it cuts individuals and families down.  When I think of this, I also am reminded of a time in my life during college that I had a cancer scare.  Behind my left ear, I had some type of skin rash that had around a ten percent chance that it would become cancer later in life.  I was scared in many ways, but in the end everything turned out fine.  I chose to have the affected skin removed, and soon after, things were better.

Through this experience, I realized how much this potentially cancerous tissue could relate to sin.  All of us have this disease called sin.  We are selfish, or prideful, or envious, or one of thousands other traits in which we are disobedient to God.  Whenever I realize I am infected with a particular sin, I am ashamed or hurt because I let this disobedience come into my life, but overall, I always need to remember that God loves me and, just like the skilled doctor that removed the potentially cancerous skin from my body, God will cut away the areas of my life that are disobedient.

In the new chorus to the older hymn, Just As I Am, written by Daniel Doss, we sing “You take me just as I am, You love beyond where I’ve been, You raise me up from the dead, You take me just as I am.”  Today, as you read this, remember God loves you just as you are.  Run to the Loving Father today and give Him everything.  He gave His Son for you.  I really like to go straight into “The Saving One” by Starfield from “Just As I Am” because it perfectly relates to how we can approach God.  ”His love has made a way.”  Accept Christ as The Saving One and Lord of you life and be reunited with your Father in Heaven.   I never knew how much God would reveal to me after I was saved, but everyday, when I fail, when I’m down, His mercies and His teachings are renewed.

Praise God that He takes us in and calls us His own.

Love you all,

Eric

ByGrace Boys????

We have recently finished our first music video ever with our version of the Backstreet Boys hit single, “I Want it That Way.”  The world premier of “I Ate At Noonday” was today at the BCM in Martin and is soon to be released on YouTube.  You can find it here.  Leave us a message or two if you think about it

Have a great Thursday! It’s beautiful out!

Concert Saturday in Martin!

Hey guys and gals! We are pumped about playing this Saturday and leading worship at First United Methodist Church in Martin, TN!!! Come on out, hear some good tunes, and fellowship with us as we praise our great God!

Lord, let this be all for you. Guide us in Your name, and if ever we lose sight of You, let this all fall and be nothing. We do thank you for your many blessings God and for the extended family that you have given us through your Son. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the cross. Let us never ever get tired of the story of His suffering, death, and resurrection so that we can forevermore have the light of life. It’s all through Jesus, Amen.

JOSH GETS MARRIED!

After a year’s engagement, Josh and his sweetheart, Lynnsey got married at a ceremony in Milan, Tennessee, at Lynnsey’s home church on January 2, 2010.  Afterwards, they honeymooned in the Bahamas and are now living in Milan.  We are so happy for the both of them and know that God will bless their lives together as they seek His face in everything.  In other news, REFUGE begins tonight @ 6:45 pm in the FBC Ministry Center.  Come out as we praise our Wonderful Maker this week!

Courtesy Facebook and Johnnie Mack Stephens (plus Sam Stephens who took the pic)

Post-Retreat

FBC Martin’s Junior High Regroup retreat has come and gone, and for the first time in a long time ByGrace does not have any special events coming up. God used the band during the retreat to set a tone of worship all weekend. The band really enjoyed connecting with the middle schoolers and showing them how God works in our lives and can do the same in their lives! God has been good to us.

In other news, ByGrace has continued to enjoy leading worship weekly for the FBC Martin college ministry at Refuge each Wednesday this semester. God is at work in Martin, and the band members are excited to be a part of that. Leading 60+ college students every week with the goal of offering God a sacrifice of praise has us pumped, just as we hope those who attend are encouraged to fan the flame of the gift of God (II Tim. 1:6) in their own lives.

CoffeeHouse!

CoffeeHouse is coming up, and the band is gearing up to play and lead worship. We are looking forward to debuting many original songs from “To You”, rocking out to some favorites, and worshiping again with the amazing people at the B! Come on out and join us! Look out for a few free give-aways as well as T-SHIRTS on sale!

CoffeeHouse is Friday, October 23, 2009 at the BCM right next to Bradley Bookstore in Martin, TN. It is a free time of fun and worship at the B!

Welcome to ByGrace Online

Finally! We’re working on getting our Web site up to date. Please come back often for new content.