You are FOR ME!

Do you ever have those days where you FINALLY realize what God's been trying to pound into your head for days, months and sometimes even years? Well, the past few months, God has continued to bring the phrase "God is for me" to me through songs, my current bible study (Stepping Up by Beth Moore) and through other people.

Well, today, I realize what is holding me back from that sinking into the marrow of my bones...Here's what Beth writes:

"We live most of our lives unconvinced that God is really for us. We have little trouble picturing ourselves on God's side, but for the life of us we can't picture God stooping down enough to be on ours. 

We rarely admit it, but, our actions, anxieties, fears and insecurities suggest something else. Perhaps some of us don't so much feel as if God is against us as we just don't necessarily feel as if He's for us. 

Somewhere deep inside I think we're secretly convinced that God created man with very high hopes only to have them dashed. We proved a terrible disappointment to God, but because He is faithful to His covenant, He's obligated to see the plan to completion. Therefore, He tolerates us because He's stuck with us"

So, she asked us that question: Do we ultimately believe God is against us, God tolerates us, or God is for me? Then she talks about how most of us believe God tolerates us based on how He appears to act in our circumstances. In other words, "our litmus test for whether we think God is really for us is circumstantial evidence. "  WOW! I know I do that all the time - I've done it my whole life - I remember after losing my grandfather, Ryan's accident and my 2 miscarriages all in 2 years, I asked God what I had done? When in reality, He had the glory in the end in mind. This helped me so much this morning. Here's what she wrote:

"He knows when something glorious in the future necessitates something difficult in the present. Because He knows the glory will be worth it, God will risk being misunderstood. Yes, God wants us to have joyful, satisfying lives, but He also wants us to have crowns to cast. Reward to receive. Character to develop. Compassion to give. Testimonies to tell. In the midst of those painful processes, God makes bold promises"

I would REALLY encourage you to do what I did this morning! I read Romans 8:28-39 and filled in "I will" statements: I will show you...

My child, _________ (your name)

I will make sure all things work together for your good.

I will ____________________________________

I will ___________________________________

I will ____________________________________

I will ____________________________________

I will ____________________________________

Love, God!

Then, go listen to "You Are For Me" by Kari Jobe (you see the song in this player) - I know you will be blessed! http://us.dada,net/audio/14586677/Kari-Jobe-You-Are-For-Me/

I know you will be blessed!

God is FOR US! What a comforting thing! 

Being more than a conquerer,

Laura

You Are God

Yesterday in staff meeting, one of our senior pastors brought up Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them". And, this past weekend, we sang a song called, "Your Love Never Fails" by Chris Quilala. In that song, the bridge repeats over and over "You make all things work together for my good". HOW POWERFUL!

So, our pastor asked if there were some things in our lives, painful/emotional things that have happened, or our bad decisions we've made, that God has ultimately made it into something beautiful or we see some good in it. So, my husband (he's the youth minister) and I shared several things:

1 - His car accident in 2005 (this happened the day after our one year wedding anniversary) where they didn't think he was going to make it - you can read what we blogged - http://www.prestontrail.org/family/ryan-update.htm . But, now God has given us a great testimony of His faithfulness, His power and ultimately HIS GLORY has been seen through it all!

2 - My 2 miscarriages - they were SO difficult at the time and I would be lying if I said I was happy about it, or even happy with God, but, now I have the chance to minister to women in the same situation. Or just those longing for a child. That goes back to the verse in 1 Corinthians that says, "God comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we've been given" - and, now I have a beautiful little girl, Hadley, that I would not have had :)

I could go on and on of the things that God has redeemed in my life, the beautiful art He's made of my messes, and just the hard things that have given me eyes to see others in the same situations, or even just to see the character of God. I thank God, that HE remains the same!

One of my songs from my album (being released May 31st) is called, "You Are God" and the lyrics describe His character despite our humanness, and that HE is ultimately God and I'm so thankful I'm not:

I am so unfaithful, but, Your faithfulness remains

I am double-minded, but, Your perspective doesn't change

I've been known to hold a grudge, but, Your grace is always there

And, I have often falsely judged, but, You're just and always fair

You are God, You are God

And, I am not

You are God, You are God

And, I am not

You are holy, holy, holy

I clutch at things too tightly, but, You give me room to go

I say that I'm unworthy, but, You always tell me no

At times my fears have ruled me, but, You say to trust in You

At times I've been dishonest, but Your words are always true

CHORUS

I'm thankful You're not like me and that You remain the same

And, I will look to You, Lord and the power of Your Name

Blessings today and hope in the midst of hard times, You can remember the love, mercy, faithfulness, compassion, and character of God! I'm doing that today!

Set List - February 20 & 21

This weekend we continued our series on "Six Degrees of Separation" with DECEPTION. It was a great weekend again! 

Instrumental Opener: "Wherever We Go"

Worship Set: 

"All Over the World" - Tree63

"Glorious One" - Steve Fee

Video:

"Liar, Liar" clip (the one where he's determined to say the pen is RED but he can't lie)

Feature Song:

"Hard Time for an Honest Man" by John Cougar Mellancamp

Worship Response:

"Your Love Never Fails" - Chris Quilala

Next week we're continuing as we talk about REVENGE - we have an amazing day planned! I think it's going to be VERY powerful! Look forward to sharing it with you next week!

Songs

I have recently started walking through Beth Moore's, "Stepping Up" study. It is taking me on a journey through the Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 120-134). Today I listened to her audio on songs. Here's a few of her points:

• Song originated with God and accompanied creation (Job 38:7). Singing is eternal!
• Emotions and experiences can be expressed through song in ways spoken words can never satisfy. (James 5:13, Psalm 13, Hosea 2:14-15)
• A song can change our entire perspective (Acts 16:24-26). A song can also greatly affect the heart of God.

As I listened to her speak, I was overwhelmed with the amazing blessing & privilege it is to have the gift of music. AND, to be blessed with the talent to sing and lead others in worship. Songs can help us voice things that we may not otherwise say, and I have the opportunity to lead our people in expressing those things to the Lord. The good, exciting things. The hard, emotional things. And, the things that sometimes only the Spirit can say for us. But, whichever it is, we as worship leaders, get to use something that is eternal - SONG! We get to sing over people and help them draw near to the heart of God! WOW!

A challenge I was given today is to live out what I'm singing. It's easy for a melody to move us emotionally, but, we have to move our feet to a place of obedience. She said, "We can think a song is beautiful and memorize its words yet remain completely unaffected by what it says." How true is that?!? She took us to 1 Corinthians 14:15 which says, "I will sing with my spirit, but, I will also sing with my mind". We need to know what we're singing AND be putting our feet to our words!

Set List - February 14 & 15

This weekend was the third message (Divorce) in our series through the Sermon on the Mount called "6 Degrees of Separation" at Preston Trail Community Church (www.prestontrail.org). The set list was as follows:

Worship Leader - Warren Jacobs

Instrumental Opener: "Shine"

Worship Set: "Remain" (D) - Starfield & "Hosanna" (G) - Paul Baloche

Feature Song: "Lie Low" - Plumb

Worship Response: "From the Inside Out" (F) - Hillsong United

This was a very meaningful service. Many people feeling a need to renew their marriages, others receiving grace for past broken relationships and wanting to be made whole before entering into their next relationship and some just being very grateful for the wonderful marriage they have :)

Next week, we continue our series with "Deception" - http://www.prestontrail.org/main/message-series.html

To see other set lists around the country, visit http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2009/02/15/sunday-setlists-30/

Journey Ahead

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come to me? Help comes to me from Yahweh, who has made heaven and earth. He does not let your foot waver, your keeper does not sleep! Yahweh is your keeper, Yahweh is your shade above your right hand! Yahweh protects you against all harm, he protects your life." Psalm 121:1-3, 5,7

Wow - when I look at the road before me and the journey ahead, I tend to ask the same question the Psalmist did..."Where will my help come from?" God answered that question for me this morning saying, "Laura, I am for you! I will go before you! I will protect you! And, I will not slumber in doing so." As I read in my Beth Moore study this morning, "He is in perfect attendance to your every step". How comforting!

With the album songs beginning to be mixed and other details coming together, other details looming ahead, at times it can be scary, but, I am at a place of utter desperation and trust in the Lord, which is definitely a good place to be - under the shadow of His wings! He is the ONLY ONE that can calm any fear I have! One of my songs says, "At times my fears have ruled me, but, You say to trust in You". I am trusting God! And, thankful HE's God and I am not!

Please pray for me during this time. At times I'm very excited, other times I'm nervous, and other times I have felt the enemy attacking me more than any other time in my life. I know God wants to use me in some big ways and the enemy will do anything to keep that from happening. So, please pray for me & my family's protection against the enemy! God is faithful and will remain the same throughout this whole journey! And, we will look to Him and the power of His Name (also lyrics to a song on the album, "You Are God").

Thank you for the opportunity to serve and be used by You, God! I count it a great privilege!

Starting the journey,

Laura

Tears

Last night's worship time as you previously read was incredible! What I did not say was I cried all the way THROUGH it, ALL the way home and even when I got home. God was & still is stirring something in me for sure. 

This morning, I read in Psalm 84 (NLT): "4 What joy for those who can live in Your house, always singing Your praises. 5 What joy for those who strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. 7 They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem. 8 O Lord, GOd of Heaven's Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob..."

God has spoken alot and ALOT I'm still waiting on, but, one thing was that those tears were to bring me refreshment through Him AND to teach me something about His heart for me and my life. And it did! It reminded me of WHY I lead worship! Why I LOVE to lead worship - I LOVE IT and always have. I've been leading worship since a 7th grader and knew I was called to it when there was NOTHING I would rather do and nothing that satisfied me more in the Lord!

I also read in "Windows of the Soul" this morning a quote about tears, "Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come form and is summoning you to where, if your soul is to be saved, you should go next." Also, another quote says, "So much is distilled in our tears, not the least of which is wisdom in living life. From my own tears (Ken Gire) I have learned that if you follow your tears, you will find your heart. If you find your heart, you will find what is dear to God. And if you find what is dear to God, you will find the answer to how you should live Your life."

For me, living my life to the fullest, is leading worship. And wherever God chooses for that to happen, I will go. And, whatever opportunities He brings, I will surrender to those things. I am excited to see what is in the horizon for me and the Lord. I think through those tears He reminded me of the joy of leading worship too and ministering to people through song. For me worship is allowing God to sing over us and us to sing over Him. It says in Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in You, He will quiet You with His love, and He will rejoice over you with singing!" BEAUTIFUL! I want to be still and quiet and allow Him to continue singing over me and blessing me with the privilege to sing over His children as well!

THANK YOU GOD!

Amazed

Tonight I went to the Kari Jobe CD release party. First of all, she is incredibly gifted and the Lord's anointing is definitely on her. 

Second, the Lord completely broke me tonight. I have ALOT of thoughts going on in my head & heart and still needing to write, sift and pray through them all, but, I am in a state of brokenness which I know is right where the Lord wants me! A word was spoken over me tonight of the Lord just saying, "It's okay!" Again, still sifting through everything, but, the Lord came in power tonight and sang over us! I think He was truly blessed too! I am incredibly grateful and in awe of God's grace - how He accepts a child like me that wonders off sometimes and rebels, but, He just waits until we return home and He sings, "You're My Beloved, You're my Bride. To sing over You is My delight. Come away with Me My child". I am truly being swept away right now by Him and realizing how much I've missed His unbelievable presence. It's incredible what He will do when we are completely surrendered to Him. I cannot wait for what is in store. I am feeling tonight that God has some neat things in store if I will just remain faithful and near Him - so, I'm holding on for the ride! 

Bigger Than Yourself

So, last week (Jan 23-Jan 31), I recorded an album called, "Bigger Than Yourself". Release will be April 1st (hopefully!). I helped in writing one worship tune called, "You Are God". My producer & friend, Rod Padgett wrote 5 of the originals and they are incredible! And, I did 5 covers - "Rescue", "Draw Me Close", "Indescribable", "Tis So Sweet", and "My Glorious". 

It was an amazing experience! Being around that many talented musicians in one room was enough to blow me away. And, even the most amazing thing, is that they are ALL so humble! It was a great group to work with on this project. I definitely had to face some of my insecurities head on and still working through them, but, I wouldn't been TRULY faced with them if I had not stepped out with this project. Trying to find balance between promoting something that you've done and not feeling like you're like "HEY! Look at ME!" is very difficult for me. I tend to just NOT want to promote it, but, I know that would not be good stewardship on my part with what God has given me.

I'll definitely keep you up to speed with the progress of this journey :)