Archive for the ‘Worship’ Category

• Long Overdue Brain Dump

  Date: 2009.07.15 | Category: Glory Academy, Uncategorized, Worship, family is everything, random thoughts | Response: 2

  It’s been so long since I’ve blogged I may or may not have forgotten how… I’ve been trying to figure out what happened that suddenly halted the desire to write, but I don’t know if it really matters. What DOES matter is that I’m still here – and I just may be ready to jump back in. I hope there are some of you still around to actually read this…

  I need to just get somethings out and then I’ll get to the more serious postings later -

  • My baby girl turned 1! I can hardly believe it – but on June 28th, we celebrated Rylee Lyric’s birthday! We had a wonderful time with some amazing friends, a GORGEOUS cake and a pretty darn good photographer…
  • We sold our house! YAY! We are so thankful for a quick sale – only on the market for a month and we got a great price for it and a relatively smooth transaction. Shane and Christie Register will Coldwell Banker did a fantastic job selling it for us – thanks, guys! I am a firm believer in STAGING YOUR HOUSE before you list it for sale. I think we have personally proven that this works (our last home sold in 7 days without a realtor!). I promise I will do a separate post on my tips and tricks for a quick sale. Anyway…we move into our amazing new home next week! I am obsessed with Hagood Homes – this is our 2nd home built by this wonderful company and let me just say that they have been unbelievably and uncommonly wonderful to work with. Every detail is attented to with such care and they have truly gone above and beyond in the customer service department. (thanks, Andrea!) I’ll have more to say about them later, too… I can’t wait to post some pics of the new place and to have some super fun parties!
  • I went back to work! When Rylee was born, I decided to take an extended maternity leave and it has been just what I needed. I have really enjoyed taking time away to be with my children and I know that they are my first priority and my first ministry responsiblity. I cherish every moment I have with them and Don and have felt so blessed to have been able to take this time. But – I know that the Lord has been leading me back to work and I am really excited about what He has planned. Last week, I went back to the office two days a week to work in the creative art’s department at Rock Church again. Because I have been and will still be leading GAFA, I know that I can not feasibly do both full time on a permanant basis. Both jobs deserve and require more time than I will be able to give to them. So we will see who the Lord leads us, but for now…. I’m back!
  • GAFA is rocking and rolling! Last Spring, we made the decision to turn Glory Academy into a “free tuition” Fine Art’s school. What a HUGE step of faith for us, but God is proving Himself faithful and the response has been so amazing! We are still in the process of securing a large portion of our yearly budget, but the community response has been so wonderful – classes are filling up and we are hearing from so many how this will be their ONLY opportunity to give their families quality education in the arts and I am so honored to be able to offer this to our community. We are going to have an incredible year! If you want to partner with us as a financial contributor please let us know! All contributions are tax deductible. Just give us a call at 910-602-5302 or e-mail us at info@gloryfinearts.com. That’s all for now – there is a TON more I need to blog about – trying to not be afraid to open the floodgates again… !

• Sunday Afternoon Thoughts

  Date: 2008.06.15 | Category: Church, Worship, creativity | Response: 2

  This morning we woke up early so we could go have father’s day breakfast at Causeway Cafe – yummy! I stuffed myself on pancakes, bacon, cheese grits and fresh orange juice! We had a great time but it was really strange to be out with all the regular people on Sunday morning instead of at church for rehearsals. I felt like a heathen…

  We pulled up to the church at 9:45…..9:45! That was just weird….but exciting at the same time. I am barreling ahead into a brand new season of my life and have such total peace about where God is leading me. I know that He has me and my family right where He wants us – and He has such amazing provision in place for our church. As we walked in the back door (I still have a parking space!), I could hear my team in the studio praying – I could hear all of them lifting up their voices together as they prepared their hearts to lead His people in worship. It was an amazing sound….

  As I sat on the front row before church, I was so happy when they opened up the backstage door and they all came out with such contagious excitement on their faces! I knew it was going to be a great service…and it was.

  From the very first note, there was a new sound in the building and I was almost taken back. I know that God has greater levels of skill and anointing for us in this new season – and I am grateful that we are not in “coast” mode. David is such an amazing man of God – his wife Karen is such an incredibly anointed woman of God – and they are here to facilitate growth in the creative arts’ department. It’s not just about how great of a musician and artist he is, or how talented Karen is – it’s about worshiping our God and leading His people into greater levels of relationship with Him. I am honored to have them on board with us as we move forward and can’t wait what all God has in store for us.

  I have to admit that I am anxious to have this baby, take a little time to recover and then get back on the team as a volunteer! Excitement for the purpose of God is building around our church and I am glad to be a part of it! Let’s all welcome David and Karen to the family!

• How He Loves Us

  Date: 2008.03.21 | Category: Church, Worship | Response: 0

  This video – this song just messed me up. Thanks, Carlos, for posting this. In case you are wondering, Rockers, we WILL be learning this song immediately.

  

• It’s SOOO Cold! (and other monday morning thoughts)

  Date: 2008.01.21 | Category: Church, Worship | Response: 0

  The doors on my Highlander crunched when I opened them today….that’s just too cold – unless it’s just going to go ahead and snow. I can put up with the cold if there is something to enjoy about it. Otherwise, I could do without. One day I want to retire on a beach somewhere…

  Yesterday was another great day for our church. As we continue to reshape our understanding of vision, I can see our church family beginning to be stretched a little. I think we’ve been coasting for too long now – waiting to see what was going to happen next. (rightfully so considering all that HAS happened around here) But it’s time to move forward and really take big steps toward what God has always intended us to be. His plan for us has never changed – He knew forever ago what He wanted us to look like, sound like, act like in 2008 but it’s really up to us to see that happen. He’s never going to force anything on us – it’s our decision to make. Either we get off our butts – quit whining about how hard it’s been – and stop waiting around for the heaven’s to split open over a Sunday morning service or we stay where we’ve been for the past several years. People – it’s not going to happen unless we MAKE it happen! I believe that vision and purpose are divinely inspired by Holy Spirit, but we must take that inspiration and put feet to it.

  I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to put feet to my part of this vision. How am I going to take this Creative Art’s department to the next level?  How do I get my feet out of the mud and on the road to explosive growth and new opportunities? I don’t think I have my thoughts formed enough yet to spill them all out here…more on that to come. But let me just say this – to my amazing team and staff – get yourself ready. If you are still on the fence about your commitment here – make up your mind. We definitely do not need people in leadership positions who aren’t sure if this is where they are supposed to be. Brace yourself – it’s going to be a wild ride this year!

• It’s SOOO Cold! (and other monday morning thoughts)

  Date: 2008.01.21 | Category: Church, Worship | Response: 3

  The doors on my Highlander crunched when I opened them today….that’s just too cold – unless it’s just going to go ahead and snow. I can put up with the cold if there is something to enjoy about it. Otherwise, I could do without. One day I want to retire on a beach somewhere…

  Yesterday was another great day for our church. As we continue to reshape our understanding of vision, I can see our church family beginning to be stretched a little. I think we’ve been coasting for too long now – waiting to see what was going to happen next. (rightfully so considering all that HAS happened around here) But it’s time to move forward and really take big steps toward what God has always intended us to be. His plan for us has never changed – He knew forever ago what He wanted us to look like, sound like, act like in 2008 but it’s really up to us to see that happen. He’s never going to force anything on us – it’s our decision to make. Either we get off our butts – quit whining about how hard it’s been – and stop waiting around for the heaven’s to split open over a Sunday morning service or we stay where we’ve been for the past several years. People – it’s not going to happen unless we MAKE it happen! I believe that vision and purpose are divinely inspired by Holy Spirit, but we must take that inspiration and put feet to it.

  I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to put feet to my part of this vision. How am I going to take this Creative Art’s department to the next level?  How do I get my feet out of the mud and on the road to explosive growth and new opportunities? I don’t think I have my thoughts formed enough yet to spill them all out here…more on that to come. But let me just say this – to my amazing team and staff – get yourself ready. If you are still on the fence about your commitment here – make up your mind. We definitely do not need people in leadership positions who aren’t sure if this is where they are supposed to be. Brace yourself – it’s going to be a wild ride this year!

• What happens when we start to get a clue

  Date: 2007.09.25 | Category: Worship | Response: 0

  
  

  My brother posted a great piece about our service this past Sunday. I am so excited to see God’s people transitioning into this season where we are truely after God’s heart. When we are after God’s heart, we will go after His children who are lost and unconnected. We will begin to cry out for Him to break our hearts for what breaks His – to open up our eyes to the things that we haven’t yet seen.

  Matthew is one of my favorite photographers – he took these great pictures of the service. Thanks for documenting this transition, Matthew – let’s make history!

• Let’s Get To It!

  Date: 2007.09.05 | Category: Worship | Response: 0

  There are some monumental tasks ahead of me. Getting GAFA up and running again, planning for our huge….bigger than ever….you don’t want to miss it….Christmas production, and then the GAFA end of the year production that seems just right around the corner. Not to mention just the day to day ministry that takes place around here. Oh, and then there’s my family – yea, that… my adorable little baby, Reagan and my amazing smoochie, Don. I could be overwhelmed – but I’m not. This is actually how I work best; too much to do in too little time. I LOVE IT! I think it’s pretty clear that God is up to some pretty big things around here and I get to be right in the middle of it! Woohoo!

  I think that I am most honored that the Creator has chosen me to be here at this moment, doing these incredible things. What is most frustrating to me is the people who have lost that sense of honor – those people who are in a bad mood everytime they come to serve or who roll their eyes when they are asked to stretch themselves a bit to accomplish Kingdom work. Man, I’m having trouble not writing in all caps right now…

  I want to be one who is always excited about what God is doing and what my part in it is at the moment. Whatever I can do to advance the kingdom is what makes my heart beat a little faster. The church should be a place where everyone is chomping at the bits to serve not averting their eyes when a ministry leader attempts a friendly conversation. This is what we were created for, people!

• Let’s Get To It!

  Date: 2007.09.05 | Category: Worship | Response: 1

  There are some monumental tasks ahead of me. Getting GAFA up and running again, planning for our huge….bigger than ever….you don’t want to miss it….Christmas production, and then the GAFA end of the year production that seems just right around the corner. Not to mention just the day to day ministry that takes place around here. Oh, and then there’s my family – yea, that… my adorable little baby, Reagan and my amazing smoochie, Don. I could be overwhelmed – but I’m not. This is actually how I work best; too much to do in too little time. I LOVE IT! I think it’s pretty clear that God is up to some pretty big things around here and I get to be right in the middle of it! Woohoo!

  I think that I am most honored that the Creator has chosen me to be here at this moment, doing these incredible things. What is most frustrating to me is the people who have lost that sense of honor – those people who are in a bad mood everytime they come to serve or who roll their eyes when they are asked to stretch themselves a bit to accomplish Kingdom work. Man, I’m having trouble not writing in all caps right now…

  I want to be one who is always excited about what God is doing and what my part in it is at the moment. Whatever I can do to advance the kingdom is what makes my heart beat a little faster. The church should be a place where everyone is chomping at the bits to serve not averting their eyes when a ministry leader attempts a friendly conversation. This is what we were created for, people!

• Could we…maybe???

  Date: 2007.08.15 | Category: Worship | Response: 0

  So….I’m really being provoked into a new place….I’m getting bored and tired of the same old. I’ve been thinking alot about how to unlock some things in my creative process. I think I’m pretty good at inspiring others in their creative process…I come alive when others around me do great things – now I just need to start doing more great things myself.

  I downloaded my current desktop background from Jeff Kapusta’s Blog. It reminds me every day that “Discipline is the Concrete for Creativity”. I am officially spanked…

  There is an amazing amount of talent in this city. Churches like Lifepoint and PC3 are doing some incredible things to bring the message of Christ to this city like never before and they are seeing unbelievable results. We have to face facts here, people. In order to effectively reach the unchurched, we have to craft our message into a form that they can understand. They won’t grab hold of chritianese laden messages or cheesy announcement graphics – they certainly won’t stick around long enough to here out of tune singers and unrehearsed musicians playing elevator worship from 10 years ago. 

  What we MUST understand is that God deserves our absolute best – He deserves people who don’t complain about coming to rehearsals…people who will show up on time and prepared….people who understand the importance of what we’re doing here. We only have one chance to reach that hurting person who comes in our doors for the first time. We only have one chance to bring the message of salvation to that teenager who is questioning whether or not God even exists. That’s it – one chance! God gives us the opportunity to minister to them and we can screw it up if we have not adequately prepared!

  Now – to my wonderful, dedicated and amazingly talented team here at The Rock  - you do an amazing job every Sunday. I have been blessed with some of the best singers, musicians and tech nerds around – and you truly give your time and resources to this ministry. Now, let’s step it up a notch. The vision is worth it. This city is worth it. The message of hope in Christ is worth it!