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‘Hold You Up’ – An EP Inspired By Three Amazing Stories
February 12, 2010 - Comments (20)So, here’s the deal: KLOVE radio and I have been doing this contest for a few years now. Every year around Valentine’s Day, they ask people to send in their love story. Then, I pick a winning story and write a song inspired by it. This year, over five thousand stories were submitted. I read through some amazing stories of love, loss, and redemption. It was a pretty moving experience for me. But Each year, there has been one story that winds up standing out in my mind that I keep coming back to, and that is how I know which story should be a song. This EP contains the 3 songs I’ve written including the latest one which will be played on air this morning for the first time. The winner, Ann and her husband, Jim will be on air with me to hear their song for the first time. I am told they were so excited, they took the day off of work! Awesome. Below, have posted the stories that inspired each song, as well as a link to buy the EP on itunes.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hold-you-up-ep/id355674903
The Story Behind “Waiting For You” – 2008
Laura & Daniel’s Story:My husband (Daniel) and I were neighbors growing up. We were the three musketeers, Michael (my brother), Daniel and me!
Daniel was in love with me from the start! His mother remembers him coming home from Elementary School (2nd grade) and telling her he was going to marry me! I wasn’t attracted to him in that way. He was my best friend!! He was always there for me through everything! Even through the hurt of seeing me with other boyfriends or seeing my heartache after breakups, he never once made me feel bad about not choosing him or telling me I wouldn’t be hurting if I were with him! He gave me space as he patiently waited for me!!
Finally after being patient for many years, we started dating in High School! He gave me a ring and proposed to me when he was 17! We had never been with anyone and promised to save ourselves for each other!! We went through Elementary, Junior High, High School and College together.
After we graduated from college, we married! We have been married for almost 6 years and we have a son who will be 2 in March! My husband is still there for me through everything and is a wonderful father! He works hard to make sure that me and our son are safe and secure!
God has been good to us!!! How wonderful it is to share your past, present and future with your best friend!!!
The Story Behind “When I Say I Do” – 2009
Jessica and Chris’s story:Touched by an Angel I first saw Chris at a West Point football game tailgate. Our eyes met from across the parking lot. I stole his hat and ran off with it, and he spent the rest of the night trying to get it back.
In the beginning, he was my angel. I remember thinking there must be a God, because love like this is not of this earth. We were blessed with a transcendent connection. Every moment together was like breathing in new life. After graduation, Chris entered the infantry. After a brief training period, he deployed to Iraq. But not before we were married before only close family.
He took my hands and said, “I will love you forever, through anything.” I knew he meant it, and I did as well. Every day of his deployment I asked God to send angels to watch over Chris and his men and give them cover. After 10 months, Chris was shot in his hands by an enemy combatant. The single bullet that entered his wrists was only inches from his face. My prayers had been answered.
Our love for one another has been the driving force behind his remarkable recovery. He is still my angel, and now I’ve had the opportunity to be his. This June, we will renew our vows before all our friends and family. Reaffirming our faith and commitment, we will once again hold each other’s hands and promise to love each other through anything.
The Story Behind “Hold You Up” – 2010
Ann and Jim’s Story:I met Jim when I was fourteen. I was working at a Dairy Mart and he stepped out of his car looking very handsome, dressed in full Fire Police uniform (he has been a volunteer firefighter for 37 years). I took one look and said, “I’m going to marry that man someday”.
Four years of chocolate milkshakes later he asked me out and we were married 3 1/2 years later. That was 25 years ago and he still makes my heart go crazy when he walks into a room!
The true love test came when at 27 I was diagnosed with very aggressive breast cancer and given two months to live. I watched Jim suffer more than I could’ve imagined…he felt so helpless. I kept telling him, God is way bigger than this and I was right! But Jim’s true love poured out to me during that time. He was the one who spent months holding my bald head and butchered body over a bucket when I was so sick I couldn’t hold it up myself, all the while stroking my cheek and telling me how beautiful I was.
Thirty-three surgeries and almost twenty years later he is still holding me up! Jim stood by my side as I honored God’s miracle by dedicating my life to helping children, having 2 biological, 23 foster and 4 adoptions. He is an amazing father and husband, and Christ’s love shines through him every day!
POSTED BY:
Matthew West
20 comments
Comment
Fri 12/2/10, 7:44 am
This is a beautiful testament to what God can do in a marriage. I love it!!
Fri 12/2/10, 8:01 am
Hey there I just want to know when will the song hold you up be available and where can I buy it? can I buy it on itunes. that is whereI get all my music and I love matthew west so I have to have that song. I would like to say that I thank God everyday for my personal love story that he has given me in my life. My husband is a very sweet man. We have been through our own personal tradgedies, trials, and tests and God has seen us through each and every one. Love stories are not always perfect but they let us know that God’s love is always in our lives and he shows us his love through the love of another person. that is why it is always important that as christians we show love to others everyday.
I love listening to KLOVE,
God Bless,
Your sister in christ
Jessica Weaver
Fri 12/2/10, 8:02 am
Ann & Jim what a wonderful love story! Ann, you are a blessed woman to find a man like Jim. May God continue to bless your lives & love. You both are truly blessed and have real love for one another and for God! And Matthew I love the new song, Hold you UP! It’s Beautiful!
Fri 12/2/10, 8:15 am
This is absolutely amazing. I love hearing stories of how God has blessed marriages across the nation. He has blessed mine as well, and I hope that more couples will come to Christ so they can feel this love!
Fri 12/2/10, 8:21 am
I LOVED this song! Wow..Matthew West is truly a great song writer:) Very moving!!
Fri 12/2/10, 8:46 am
I missed hearing the song…but the stories behind all 3 somgs are amazing. God is so faithful and it shows.
Fri 12/2/10, 9:18 am
heard the song on klove this morning…amazing matthew…as always….miss you guys…tell emily hi and i hope yall have a great valentines……God bless…
Fri 12/2/10, 10:01 am
I heard you sing this song for this couple this morning! What a powerful message! LOVED IT!
Fri 12/2/10, 12:37 pm
I heard the song on Klove not to long ago, its one powerful song. I loved it. It reminds me of my husband, he is always there for me through thick and through thin. We’ve been married for two years now and he never said anything that would hurt me and he is always positive when my day is not going very well. I thank God for those men that are always faithful to their wifes and love them unconditionaly.
Fri 12/2/10, 4:22 pm
I got goosebumps this morning when I heard the story behind Hold You Up… and then the song… oh my! The song is so right for this story… and yet, can be applied to us all! God has really blessed you with a great ability to communicate through song!I followed the KLOVE link to itunes and downloaded the 3 songs. I am wondering if they will be available for download as regular MP3 songs… i do not have an ipod. Thank you!!
Fri 12/2/10, 7:58 pm
This is a very moving, touching and beautiful story. It shows about God’s power and his great help. I loved it! =]…. Happy Valentines Day and God bless!! <3
Fri 12/2/10, 9:50 pm
I heard the song “Hold You Up” on KLove on my drive home this afternoon, and would love to have the lyrics for the song. Anyone? Thanks
Sat 13/2/10, 9:44 am
I heard this song on my way to work Friday morning, I was crying all the way there. It’s so great to know that Love like that still exsists. I felt I found love like that but found it was me that had that sort of love but not my spouse. I have been divorced now 10 years but God has brought me a long way since then and I still hold that promise and belief that I can love again. I share that love with so many others when I get the chance by doing for others and striving in living a good christian life. I have come through being legally blind and god restoring my sight. Thru ovarian cancer and I am now 6 years cancer free and now I struggle with no immune system and diabeties after my cancer. Last year I had phemonia I was scared at first but just believed on my faith and remembered God wasn’t thru with me yet so I knew I would come thru it. which I did. This song probably speaks to so many hearts out there Thank God for giving you such a blessing in song writing and your voice and you chosing to use it for Gods grace!
Sat 13/2/10, 12:00 pm
I was touched by Ann & Jim’s story. As Christians, we share in each others sorrows and triumphs. I could identify with their battle with cancer as my husband was diagnosed with esophageal cancer 2 years ago. It was a hard battle. He went to be with the Lord a month ago today. Matthew’s song, “Save a Place For Me” means so much to me, just as this new song about Ann & Jim’s story will touch many who have walked the same path.
Sun 14/2/10, 7:18 am
I bought the EP on iTunes and have been playing it over and over! These are such beautiful songs. I’m only 18 and have made the decision not to date until I’m ready for marriage. These songs give me the confidence that God’s timing is absolutely perfect.
Sun 14/2/10, 8:33 am
wow…the tears were streaming as I read all these stories. ” Hold you up” is an amazing song that tells a true love story.
Mon 15/2/10, 12:44 pm
That’s amazing! God has brought them through so much!
Wed 17/2/10, 2:28 pm
Matthew–these songs are wonderful! I have been listening since the very first contest when Laura and Daniel won. The stories are so touching and then to hear you put them to music is just amazing! Thanks you so much for doing this! I have really enjoyed hearing them and just wanted to tell you how blessed I feel when I hear your music!
Thu 18/2/10, 11:56 am
As soon as I heard the piano, I cranked up the volume. Cried the first time I listened … and cried more when I read the story behind the song. I love how someone else’s story — not to mention their challenges — poured out in a songwriting challenge and story of your own. That’s the beauty of community .. and music! As a songwriter myself, THIS is the sort of inspiration that brings meaning to those moments of singing alone and trying to find just the right words… You’re blessed, Matthew! As are we for hearing you…
Thu 18/2/10, 8:02 pm
God is great! Praise the Lord Jesus Christ! I want to thank Ann and Jim. I pray for many blessing over them. God is so good and powerfull that we were able to meet with Ann and Jim while at our local church during our marriage class with my wife Tiffanie. It was the most powerful moment of my life and I cried very hard. Praise the lord god almighty! This has touched me in a way that words can not explain. I can’t thank Ann and Jim enough for comming into our lives and into our class that night and touching all of our hearts in that room..Bless the both of you! Lord Jesus Christ is with us at all times and is mending our broken hearts, changing lives and repairing our marriage. Thank You and God Bless.