Calling Me Higher

This Sunday, I am a part of the worship team. About once a month, I look forward to singing with some amazing musicians at my church. The best part is that we are just everyday people with families, jobs, and the busyness of life, however, when we put all of our gifts together it glorifies God in ways that I can not easily explain. Plus, I am surprised every time to find that the playlist of songs hits my heart right where God has it, so really there should be no surprise. Right?

One of my favorite groups I love to listen and worship to is All Sons and Daughters. In fact, they were in town for a festival this past summer and I was able to meet them. Yes, I was a bit awestruck and probably said something stupid like, "You guys are my favorite." Oh boy! I even took it one step further by getting a picture with them and to be honest, I felt like a giddy teenager again. Needless to say, they were very kind and so gracious. Their music is founded on scripture and full of truth that I desperately need to hear and be reminded of daily. Whenever we can sing one of their songs for worship, it is an honor.

This week, we are singing Called Me Higher by All Sons and Daughters AND Oceans by Hillsong. Can it get any better? Of course, there are three other songs that are just as fabulous, but these two hit home for me. Both of these songs talk about how we respond to God's calling. The songs are written to not hold anything back, but to tell of being bold and obeying God's calling on our lives. In Called Me Higher, the second verse says:

I could hold on, I could hold on to who I am
And never let you change me from the inside
I could be safe, I could be safe here in your arms
And never leave home, never let these walls down.

I know exactly what this is like, because I have lived it in so many ways. I hear God calling me to be bold and step out to share my story and it has taken me awhile to have the "guts" to do it. All that I have experienced in my life; a daughter of a drug addict, a married abused woman and mom, a divorced woman, a single mother of two-these experiences and more allow me to share what God has done in my life and the hope I have. However, this song reminds me how important it is to not get too comfortable and listen to God.

Another song that I love singing at the top of my lungs is Oceans. Read these lyrics:

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander,
And my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior.

That is my heart's cry, to be able to trust and go wherever he calls. The hardest part of this for me, is that I do like to be in control and this pretty much means I can't be...EVER! I continue to learn this lesson and usually the hard way. Right now, I am trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing. I feel a pull to write, speak, sing, teach-what does all of this mean? I have absolutely no idea! Actually, this is quite unlike me to let go and let God so easily, but I am in a place where I am not sure what is next for me.

Music has always spoken to me in crazy, amazing ways and I wanted to share the way that God uses music to remind me of the truths and promises he gives to us. Here is to hoping that I stay the course and TRUST!

I am being called to write...What does it mean?

I don't want to sound obsessive or strange, but everyday I think about what I should or could be writing. There will be a "divine appointment" or a funny happening or a wonderful realization or encounter and I will think about how I can't wait to write about it. However, the busyness of life just keeps getting in the way. I would like to declare here and now that I will no longer be letting my passion for writing go by the wayside. Time will be devoted each week to getting my thoughts on paper or on this blog. I won't lie to you, I have no idea how I will be making this a reality, but the first step is to notice and then make a plan. Right?

God has been revealing a lot to me lately. If you don't know me well, I am a planner. I like to schedule things and write them in my Erin Condren planner, which I love so much! Sometimes, I see my daughter running around trying to schedule things with others too, just so that she can write it down and have a plan. Oh goodness, what have I done! All that to say, I always had a plan for my life and where I would go professionally. Now as I see my passions steer elsewhere, the future doesn't seem so clear. I have no idea what this means except that I will have to continue to rely solely on God and the plan he has for me. I think it may include writing, leading, speaking, and singing. But to be brutally honest, I have no idea, so for now I will write because I know I need to be doing that with all certainty.

My journey begins...