I was driving to the airport this morning & saw a group of “workers” picking up trash on the side of the road. Each one was wearing an orange vest with these words emblazoned on the back:
“I AM A DRUNK DRIVER.”
Wow. Most hung their head low, hoping not to make any eye contact with the drivers passing by. There it was, in big capital letters for all the world to see.
Now listen, I’m not about to defend anyone who drinks and drives. They absolutely deserve to be punished by the law. Drinking & Driving has robbed many families of a mom, a dad, a spouse, a son, a daughter. Wearing an orange vest seems a little lenient if you ask me.
But, seeing their shame printed across their backs made me wonder what my vest would say. Can you imagine having to walk around with your sins being announced to the world? My secrets alone would be too many to even fit on one vest.
Many of us walk around wearing a similar vest. No, our mistakes and sins are not printed on the back, but the weight of our guilt hunches us over and we walk with a defeated posture. We avoid making eye contact and light & joy are missing from our face. We’re dressed in shame.
Today I’m shedding that vest. See, I have another vest and it’s just my size. This same vest fits anyone, regardless of who you are. The words emblazoned on the back say:
“I AM FORGIVEN.”
Let that vest show today. Wear your forgiveness. May grace and peace so permeate our own lives, that it can’t help but spill out to everyone around us. This vest is always in fashion, never out of style, and always the perfect fit. 
“But those who depend on faith, not on deeds, and who believe in the God who declares the GUILTY TO BE INNOCENT, it is this faith that God takes in to account to put them right with Himself.” Romans 4:5
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
You. Are. Forgiven. Act like it.
With love AND freedom
Natalie
Here’s the official music video for the song “Come Together Now” recorded here in Nashville to benefit those still hurting in Haiti. Visit ComeTogetherNow.com for details on how to help and where to get the song.
I’m so glad I make the best dinner. Atleast to Gracie…. (don’t tell her the soup is from Costco *wink*)
*SPOILER ALERT AT END OF CLIP*
so i just don’t get it. i’m so sorry. please don’t be a hater. but i just don’t get it. i kinda even liked the first one. but the new one is just kind-of embarrasing…
I’m a panicked flier. But I totally conquered a fear by going up in a hot air balloon. Yep. I’m so brave. Ok, not really. But I was proud of myself! and it was totally gorgeous. The Albuquerque sunrise was amazing.
Just had photoshoot for the new album. Thought I’d give you a little sneak peak…
natalie
So, living on the road is such a gift. I get to do what I love. But it does have its challenges and requires some creativity – especially with twin 2 year olds on the bus. There’s not much about the twins life that mirrors a typical 2 year old. They’re little gypsies – living out of a suitcase for much of their lives. Because of this, I want to work hard to bring some “normal kid” into their lives!
So….since we were out of town on “Pumpkin Day” and couldn’t ask for treats in our neighborhood, I still wanted them to have the experience. Now enters the problem: We’re at a venue in Austin, TX with no neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity. No malls in the area are doing anything special at the time. but i want them to have the fun experience and besides, i paid good $$ for those cute little costumes, and they’re gonna use them! 
Now enters the solution: there’s a massive crowd of people waiting in the courtyard outside the venue, waiting for the doors to open. So, I have my sweet tourmate, Tiffany Thurston, take mounds of treats and pass them out to the crowd, the merchandise volunteers, and the Jeremy Camp and Bebo Norman buses. They became our neighborhood. The girls walked all through the very sweet crowd, with the pink plastic pumpkins, and collected treats. they knocked on the doors of the tour buses and were met with love (and candy, ofcourse!) we made the best memories. it turned out so much better than i could have hoped. i think i may have just started a tradition for my family. the only question is who’s town we’ll be in next year!
Thank you, Austin, for making such a special memory for my girls and their mommy i will never forget it.
what did you do on “Pumpkin Day”?
*hugs*
Natalie
That’s right. I’m only asking you for $10. No matter who you are, how tight your finances, you can spare ten bucks. And then watch what God can do. He will multiply that $10, and use it to set slaves free. Here’s the deal:
Facebook is giving away money as a part of America’s Giving Challenge and we think that money should be used to help put an end to modern-day slavery! We need your help so that The Home Foundation can win the $50,000 prize! You DO NOT need a facebook account to give. Anyone can do it.
To help us win $50,000:
*Donate a minimum of $10 anytime between NOW and 3PM EST on November 6.
To help us win a daily $1000 prize:
*Donate $10 on October 27th.
To donate: click HERE.
That’s it. The person with the most individual donations wins. So we need YOU, and then we need you to be a loud mouth. Tell EVERYONE you know. Send an email, a facebook message, a twitter – anything to get the word out.
It’s so easy!! Why would you NOT do it?
If you need a little more motivation:
*By the time you will have read this message, 2 children have been sold in to sexual slavery. Yep, 2 kids every 60 seconds. THIS MUST STOP.
*The average age of a trafficked victim in the United States is 13. That’s right – it’s not just happening across the world. It’s happening across the street.
*There are currently 27 million slaves in the world today. 85% of these are young women and children who are forced to work in the sex trade.
We need your help.
When you give, you can call yourself an abolitionist. Now that’s cool.
With love and great gratitude,
Natalie
a fellow abolitionist
Like mother. Like daughter. My little gracie LOVES shoes. She came by it honestly We had some peeps at the show last night, one being our sweet friend Jenn Helvering. She and her college roomates came to visit us on the bus and gracie took over one of their pairs of shoes. She was rockin’ those heels. She turned our bus in to a catwalk…. Thought I’d give you a peek at THE show after the show…
Oh. My. Goodness. I’m feeling the fact that I haven’t worked out in years. I’m limping on stage every night. But – the workouts continue! I’m so proud of team Natalie Grant. We’re hanging in there! I have received so many tweets from you wanting to know how the P90x is going. so I thought I’d give you another glimpse. I’m so proud of my drummer, Richie, guitar Evan and singer extraordinaire Tiffany. They are keeping me motivated! We even did a “Dancing With The Stars” dvd. By “we”, I mean the guys did it too. I was so proud. Not sure if they’ll let me post the footage, I may have to sneak it
