hectic pace

Wednesday is the most frantic day of the week for me! Our days off are Monday/Tuesday due to working weekends and we definitely try to play catch up on Wednesday.

• Prayer requests to be prayed for from the weekend
• Thank you notes to be written
• Tons of emails to answer
• personal reading/study time
• hallway conversations that end up as additions to my 'to do' list
• cleaning up left over weekend messes backstage and in green room
• preparation of announcements for the weekend
• Staff prayer at 11:45 a.m.
• follow up with drama director for upcoming drama: many details
• ongoing recruitment discussion
• stage layout for the weekend service has to be approved
• Roadie team gets instructions and sets weekend stage after Wednesday service
• Administrative projects lined up for the week
• research on next series creative elements

On and on it goes! The Bible tells us in I Corinthians 10:30 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Rick Warren said," Do everything as if you were doing it for God! When this happens, what we're doing becomes an act of worship that brings pleasure to God!"

This doesn't just mean 'church work'! Everything as if we are doing it for God! Puts a whole new spin on each day!!

What I learned today

I learned that God likes to surprise His children. OK, so I'm not a theologian, but I will never stop marveling at how God speaks.

Today as I sat out in the magnificent weather on my deck to study, I went to a chapter in David Nasser's "A Call To Die" entitled, True Worship. It began with one of my favorite verses, " I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1 esv

So often worship is only thought of as a sing-a-long before the message. Every single day our lives are acts of worship if we are a Christ follower. Nasser went on to say, "God is looking for a generation of "Walking worshipers". I like that, walking worshippers!

After reading this chapter in the Nasser book I tuned in the Bible to the chapter I was scheduled to study, guess what? Romans 12!! Surprise!

What a powerful chapter! verse 2 reads, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

This chapter goes on to explain that the many members of one body all have different functions. Everything that is offered to our Lord as a selfless act of service is an act of worship! How amazing that God can draw so many different people to one place and equip them with every gift necessary to make the body complete.

As I began to study today and was surprised by God leading me to the same passage twice I learned that God is very interested in what I study. He cares about what I am learning and wants to lead me to discover promises hidden within the pages of His words. I learned today that there is nothing more important than being available for God's surprises.

Everyone has an opinion

Last week my Senior Pastor and I discussed changes we would like to see on our worship teams. The following day our Executive Pastor sent me a top ten list of what annoys people the most about worship teams and worship leaders.

1. When they tell you what to do and how to worship… to the point where it makes you feel guilty if you don’t conform yourself to her/his understanding of what worship is
2. When they talk between every song.
3. When they repeat the same catch-phrases every week.
4. Breathy speaking between songs
5. When worship teams forget that the audience of worship is God, and start making it a performance for those sitting in front of them
6. Worship leaders who seem really wrapped up in being “cool.” Sometimes you can tell they’re being fake and/or showy
7. When they don't know the lyrics
8. Sing with their eyes closed the whole time.
9. When singers act like they are really bored up there
10. Transitions between songs take long time. Uncomfortable dead time between songs

I have honestly heard people mention one of these top ten dislikes following the same service another person compliments it!

Worship leading and music selection have to be two of the most controversial topics in ministry. Everyone has an opinion.

As a leader, this can become very discouraging, or it can be embraced as a challenge. A challenge to come so prepared and passionate about worshipping our God, that you just let God work through you. Our confidence comes from Him not from man.

Psalm 96:1-4 "Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! (2) Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. (2) Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! (4) For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!