thankful twelve.

#265 - 287



a private live bluegrass concert from pastor papa next door
the cat thinking I'm his playmate
brother's birthday
an out-of-tune family song
a full mug
a successful meeting
good news from the vet
picture frames
a handmade blanket
a full plate
lunch plans
quote-shaped sticky notes
new tunes in the car cd player (yes, i still use cds)
purple
revelation
people who are gifted to cry with the hurting
comfort food
colored pencils
new recipes
amy's french press
letters from travis
defeating the what ifs
conversations that challenge, reveal, and unite

hello, it's the unexpected calling...

It all started in April.

I went to the local retirement home to visit the mother of one of our church members. She was in the critical care unit while her son was on another continent, and she was feeling sick and lonely. I took my guitar, thinking I would find her alone in her room and be able to play some songs for her. I found her in the sunroom, however, with several other residents. I sat off to the side, trying to be discreet and to just play some mellow music while they painted.

The activities director wasn't having the whole "discreet" thing. Instead, she started wheeling more and more residents out to the porch to listen to me play and sing. I soon realized that these people hadn't heard much music in a long time, and the impact it had on them was remarkable. The melodies soothed, the words ministered, and just me being there seemed to lift their spirits. More surprisingly, though, was that the simple songs I played were meeting a need that many of them had...the need to worship God.

I found out that day that there's an entire church of people waiting to be reached, and they're right down the road. We just have to go to them.

The more hymns I played, the more they sang along with me. (Note to self: memorize the Baptist hymnal.) One gentleman, in particular, seemed dramatically affected by the music. Mr. J fixated in wonder my fingers strumming the guitar, and when I began singing a song he knew, he kind of jolted awake and sang it with me. He knew all the words. The music stirred him, but more than that, the ability to sing and worship God from his wheelchair moved him.

When I began singing, "How Great Thou Art," he broke down in tears.

Since then, I've discovered that Mr. J has Alzheimer's. Every time I see him, he seems to be retreating more and more into the fog. Certain songs will still jolt him awake, but it takes longer now than it did. Still, the music and the interaction makes a difference. I know it does.

Well, one conversation led to another visit, then another, then more people got involved, and I discovered that reaching this demographic is a passion for a lot of people in the church. So it seems that it's time to get something officially started.

These precious people need to know that they are not forgotten. They need to know that they are loved, and that they still have a purpose. I've seen what simple songs can do to communicate these truths. Can you imagine what consistent connection and relationship might do as well?

So, that all being said, we're starting a ministry at Seacoast Summerville to keep ministering to these sweet people. If this is something that stirs you up, let me know. And if it's not your passion, do pray for us. I have no idea what all this will lead to, but I do believe it's a mission field for me right now...will keep you posted. :)

(Oh, and do pray for Mr. J. He is so precious, and I know his family is suffering as they watch him decline...)

turns out...#1

Turns out, if you instruct a group of vocalists to do the "siren" exercise together as a warm-up, the collective voices sound like a firetruck.


This is a very bad thing to discover when you're moments away from singing at a funeral for a fireman.


(Yes, I did that. And it wasn't just one fireman--it was the Charleston Nine. So if you ever think you've done the dumbest thing ever, I hope this makes you feel better.)

Happy Thursday. :)

random recipe #1: a pumpkin breakfast

As beloved autumn approaches, I thought some of you might enjoy a fun autumn-ish breakfast idea: pumpkin oat bran! Thanks to the delightful Jessi C for the idea! This kind of thing is great because you can pretty much substitute anything for anything. Here's my version if you want to try it out:

Ingredients:
1/3 cup oat bran
1/3 cup (and a splash more of) unsweetened almond milk
1/3 cup (or more) pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 tbsp shredded unsweetened coconut
one banana
one tbsp almond butter
organic honey (as much as you want)

In a small sauce pan, mix together oat bran, almond milk, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and a little water. I find that oat bran heats very quickly and can stick to the bottom of the pot, so I recommend heating this mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently until hot. Mix in the coconut and honey (sweeten to taste). Layer mixture with sliced banana. Top with scoop of almond butter and a little more honey.

And, as with any good breakfast, enjoy with coffee. :) Let me know what you think!

thankful eleven.

#246-265

It's almost the end of the work week for me (I'm thankful for that!), and I wanted to finish strong with another list of blessings:

getting to catch up with my buddy Jason Groce (follow him on Twitter. you'll laugh!)

new Eisley tunes

the feeling of being productive

having someone catch your vision and decide to join you

making a hospital visit enjoyable (at least somewhat) for the patient

a random photo shoot in the office

thursday nights (they're like my fridays)

climbing out of confusion into clarity

watching a group, family, or team come together to support a hurting member

prayer support (where would we be without prayer support?)

new pumpkin recipes

breezes that hint at the approach of autumn

green palm trees against a blue sky

sushi

theater 99 and the people there

unsweeted iced honeybush vanilla tea

a high-schooler becoming a college kid

a clear, beautiful evening with nothing scheduled tomorrow

my extraordinary boyfriend. can't say enough about him.

random happy moments with goofy people

happy (almost) friday!

inspirations: akus.

This post is dedicated to one of my favorite music groups, Alison Krauss and Union Station (AKUS, as I will call them).

Here's the thing--I am not a huge bluegrass fan. I find a lot of the songs depressing and the themes redundant. However, bluegrass music often showcases some of the most incredible musical talent I have ever witnessed. And five of those unbelievably talented musicians make up AKUS.

If you're unfamiliar with AKUS, this isn't just a backup band for Alison Krauss. While she is one AMAZING vocalist, she's just one piece of the puzzle. The four guys are all very successful individually, and they are all experts in their particular instruments.

But somehow, these five distinct musical personalities come together to form one distinct sound. Each member plays a significant part in that sound, and without one of the other players, you would know something is missing.

It's the unity that inspires me. Always has, since I started ministry. And musical unity touches me in a deep way, especially when it comes to vocals. I went to their concert in Charleston recently, and toward the end, Alison and guitarist Dan Tyminski sang "Your Long Journey." From the first note, they were in perfect harmony together. Crystal clear, confident, exact...awesome. I got choked up instantly. Both Alison and Dan have such unique voices that it's hard to mistake them for anyone else, and yet they are able to take their distinctive tones and blend them into this perfect, unified sound. It really is incredible.

So how do you take several unique personalities and unify them into one cohesive sound? Isn't this the goal of teamwork? It's figuring out what each person is capable of, expecting the best from each other, and helping each one find his place in the big picture. It's committing to take the time necessary to build that kind of unity, chemistry, and support. It's opening our hearts to each other and finding out how we all fit together. And if AKUS is any proof, the effort is more than worth it.

(Just in case you think I'm exaggerating, here's an example of Dan, Alison and bassist Barry Bales singing, "Maybe." The kind of dissonance they achieve in their harmonies, while blending perfectly, could be an example to all singing groups...)

for His renown.

I know from experience.

When God says in His Word that He is mighty to save, I can honestly say, "I know."

My God has rescued me from despair. He has delivered me from harmful patterns of thought. He has saved (and is saving) me from a long struggle with panic and anxiety. He has delivered me from all my fears over, and over, and over again. So when you hear me sing, "our God is the God Who saves," this weekend, know that I am singing from personal experience of that truth.

It is not for my deliverance alone that He rescued me. It is for others, too. Our stories spread His renown, so that all men can know, and choose to experience, that our God saves.

Today, I add to His renown. He is mighty to save, He is worthy of all my praise, and He is good. Amen.

inspirations: robert irvine.

Inspiration comes from the most unexpected places sometimes. I have currently been inspired in my leadership journey by a show on the Food Network called "Restaurant: Impossible."

The premise of the show is a world-renown chef named Robert Irvine finds a restaurant that is about to go under and totally revamps it in two days with only $10,000. The whole 2-day/$10k thing is just to add drama to a one-hour show. But it's what this guy does in those two days with the people involved that inspires me so much. This guy knows how to empower people.

A major part of good leadership is the ability to look a problematic situation, figure out what's out of place, and put all the pieces where they need to be. Irvine takes a quick look at the failing restaurant's issues and makes changes--not just in the layout of the kitchen and dining room, but in the layout of the actual staff. He is able to identify people's strengths (or lack thereof) in a very short period of time and move them into the positions in which they, and the restaurant, will succeed.

Irvine does come in a bit like a caffeinated T-Rex at first and delivers some hard truths in a not-so-tactful way. In just about every episode, someone is crying from the way he's delivered the necessary information. But instead of telling them to get over it, he pulls them aside and listens. He sympathizes with how they're feeling, reaffirms them, and lets them know he's doing this for their benefit. He really is trying to save these families and their failing restaurants by giving them a fighting chance. Sometimes the process is painful, but the result is a real shot at success.

I don't condone the way he talks to people sometimes, certainly, but his ability to assess a situation and find "diamonds in the rough" is extraordinary. In one episode, he identified a woman who was actually gifted to be the head of the kitchen, but she had been working as one of the cooks for years. He affirmed her abilities and empowered her to do what she was gifted to do, and by the end of the episode, she was already blossoming in the role for which she was clearly best fit. It's the same in almost every episode, too. Irvine leaves the restaurant staff and owners feeling legitimately hopeful and optimistic about the future, when things had been so bleak two days before.

I love this show because I get to see principles of good leadership in action: assessment, delivering hard truths without fear, loving on people, and true empowerment.

Let's apply it this assessment thing. Are you in leadership? Are you frustrated because something is just not working, either with your role or with someone in your flow? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify the kinks. Be willing to delegate. Be willing to find that diamond in the rough. You may be the very person to empower someone else and help usher them into the role for which God has prepared them. This guy Irvine is doing it every week...imagine if we kept our eyes open the same way in our spheres of influence!

So, TV isn't ALL bad...

(And no, I'm not getting royalties from Food Network for promoting this show. I really do like the show this much. :) )

thankful ten.

#224 - 245

Sara Groves' music

learning new things on the guitar, like blues scales (yes, finally)

God reminding me to not roll my eyes at myself

being reminded that God is the only One in my future (the devil doesn't belong there, and neither do my thoughts.)

the rain!!!!!!!

Trav coming home in exactly 48 hours

discovering new musical artists (currently into Sam Sparro)

growing more acquainted with the secret place

a weekend retreat to a new city with a good friend

"The Holiday"--as much as I don't like Cameron Diaz or her character's story, I so enjoy the Kate Winslet part of the movie!

finishing two novels while Trav's been away

consistently getting up early

consistently working out

practicing being still and truly being rewarded for it

being successfully dairy-free for two weeks

fresh figs

serving homemade dinners and dessert to good friends

handwritten letters

massage chairs

finding a way to have a French-toast-like treat without dairy

God's provision. He always provides when I am in need, and there are not enough numbers to recount the times He has done this for me...

resting in His Word (sometimes peacefully, and sometimes in total exhaustion...)

joy and other thoughts.

I just had a couple of thoughts to share today. Some of these things I'm sure you've heard before, but I think we can all stand to be reminded from time to time. :)

-We all need people who will help us laugh when we feel like crying. I know several of us on the worship team have been saved from breaking down in tears during a worship service because we've been distracted in the nick of time by some adlibbed craziness backstage. Laughter can save us from plunging the depths.

-We also need people who will cry with us. I have a friend who literally cried with me when my beloved cat died. I can't tell you what that kind of compassion can do for one's heart in the midst of trial...shared tears are powerful stuff.

-True vulnerability is more effective than the false appearance of strength. I have found this to be true in leadership, teamwork, friendship, and even mass communication. It paves the way for others to listen, to open up themselves, and to receive.

-Look for joy today. Search for it, expect it, and rejoice when you have found it. God has it somewhere around here, just for you...

a day in the life.

Travis often poses some unique get-to-know-you questions that make me think before answering. Recently he asked me, "What are some things you look forward to every day?"

I love this kind of question, because it causes me to think of a list of positive things, and that always lifts my mood! So here are some of my answers...(I'd love to hear yours, too.)

Every day, I look forward to:
-drinking coffee
-greeting and feeding my happy cat
-"puttering," as my mom would say (tidying up the kitchen and doing little chores while the coffee is brewing)
-going outside by the pool to read and journal with God
-getting myself clean and fresh for the day (a.k.a. taking a shower and putting on perfume)
-interacting with my coworkers
-emailing with different friends on the team and outside of the team
-getting to know people through deeper conversation
-texting and talking with Travis
-looking at pictures of people I love and moments I cherish
-drinking ice cold water
-drinking coffee again
-communicating with my parents
-listening to music (the mix of the day depends on my mood)
-playing piano (if I remember)
-checking Facebook
-thinking of something blog-worthy
-hearing God speak throughout the day through various means
-making plans for the next day or weekend
-getting off work
-maybe exercising...maybe...
-reading my novel (currently working on Mansfield Park for the 2nd time)
-figuring out what to make for dinner
-being with Travis
-playing with Bingley
-getting into bed and falling asleep

A lot of these are somewhat routine, I know, but blessings nonetheless. What do you look forward to each day?

sing!

God loves your voice. He wants to hear what you have to say. And He wants to hear you sing. Yes, sing. And yes, I mean you.

I’ve had people tell me that they never sing because at some point in their lives, they were told they had terrible voices. Someone made a joke, and it took root into the very foundation of their self-perception. And so, they stand amid the congregation during worship, silent...as if they are doing their fellow church-goers a favor. But when we do that, we end up denying God of one of the things He loves the most—our audible worship.

In the end, I don’t think His enjoyment has anything to do with the strength, tone or pitch of our voices (or lack thereof). Rather, I think it has everything to do with the sound our hearts are making as we choose to vocally express our praise, love, and desire for God.

The vocalization matters! God says repeatedly to make our music loud and to sing. The tone deaf, the offended, and the embarrassed are not left out from these commands. Why? Because God delights in our songs. Victories over the enemy are obtained through singing praise. And we are set free more and more as we press into God through all avenues of worship.

He gave you a voice. You, specifically. He gave you a brain and a mouth and a way to express your praise through words that are wholly your own. Open your mouth and sing! He LOVES your voice. He wants YOUR praise. It is precious to Him! What you have to say, and to sing, matters to the God of the universe. Don’t keep such a gift held back from Him.

Your voice is beautiful, no matter how it sounds.

thankful nine.

#199 - 223

I read a devotional recently that reminded me to think of all the things I can enjoy TODAY, in the here and now, rather than rushing ahead to the hopes and plans of tomorrow. I think this is a great reminder, whether we are longing to be in a better place than we find ourselves today, or are excited about great and glorious things coming down the road and time just won't go fast enough! So here are some things I'm thankful that I get to enjoy TODAY:

-waking up to my cheerful cat, Mr. Bingley, and giving him breakfast

-drinking fresh, hot coffee that I made at home

-doing my Bible study in the quiet of my apartment before work

-writing in a journal that a friend mailed me out of the blue last week

-talking with my mom on the phone

-listening to Alison Krauss and Union Station's live album, which my dear friends Josh and Jeanne surprised me with a while back

-texting with my boyfriend

-planning worship set lists for the weekend at two different locations

-leading worship with a few close friends this evening

-having lunch with my dad and step-mom

-playing guitar just because

-problem-solving with faithful friends and team members

-writing a letter

-offering a few small words of encouragement when they seem needed

-air-conditioning

-flip-flops

-using the hair tie on my wrist when my long hair gets frustrating halfway through the work day

-beaded flower rings from Aura Lee's :)

-wearing the necklace I got from my team

-email conversations with friends

-holding a yellow coffee cup from IKEA--with coffee in it, of course

-looking at the picture of sweet little Pippin, my kitten who was loved by many and is now, I believe, chewing on paper in Heaven and making Jesus laugh

-remembering that God is in control and that I can breathe

-crazy-bright toe nail polish

-Chinese lanterns

What are you thankful for TODAY?

thankful eight.

#164 - 198

Today I have 35 reasons to be thankful. They are the 35 people who currently make up the worship team that I’m privileged to lead. This past weekend I got to spend time with many of them and noticed several things that made me realize I need to stop and thank God, right here and right now.

First, we have a new trainee named Michael who went to work early so he could leave early and get to the church by 5pm. He did that because Kathy, who was training him, found out she needed to leave early. He made sacrifices to meet her early and train, and then stayed until the end of rehearsal that night. Who does that? That’s amazing.

Our new sound trainee, Dick, handled everything on his own at rehearsal while interacting with the band, letting them know his needs, and being open to constructive encouragement. (Worship directors, take note: the ease of communication between tech and musicians makes ministry so much happier…)

Barb just started training on lights a little while ago to fill a need, and she has poured the same amount of determination and excellence into making this area her own as she has with running Song Show. It’s really incredible, and she’s always cheerful about it. The world needs more Barbs.

Then there were the musicians. Gale, our rock of tempo, is consistent in his excellence and preparation, while still being flexible and open to new ideas. Carl brings reliable and creative ideas to add freshness to the familiar. Joe is always perfecting his craft and learning new tricks, which brings our collective level of musicianship up a notch each week. Austin tackles music like science, and rarely meets a challenge he cannot conquer. Kelly is stepping out of her comfort zone to learn new techniques and to be prepared for anything that may come her way.

Kelly’s example reminds me…I think it’s the dedication to being the best they can be that makes this team so exceptional. It’s not for their own glory – it’s for God’s glory, and for the service of the team as a whole.

Gerald has only been on the team for a few months and has already proven himself able to go with the flow, as a few emergencies have come up on his weekends to play. Ryan is always moving forward as a leader and as a worshipper…Every worship team needs a Ryan Scott.

Then I went over to our other venue and watched more team members interact. The combined forces of Josh, Jeanne, Jamie, Lee, Dan and Stephen were something to behold. Stephen is another example of the commitment to being the best we can. This guy has been working on his vocal artistry with Ryan, and the work he has put into it so far has already taken him to a new level of vocal power and effectiveness. And why did he do that? Because he decided to not settle. He’s not trying for a record contract (as far as I know) – he just wants to offer his absolute best to God and to us.

One final thing I noticed…when I walked into our other venue, I noticed Woody, who was scheduled to run lights, was sitting on the front row with Lee’s little girl on his lap. Ellison had been crying because she wanted her mom to hold her, but Lee had to practice. So Woody, who had nothing to do at the moment because our lighting system was busted, took care of little Ellison by picking her up and holding her in his lap. Ellison was comforted by the grandpa-spirit in our lighting guy…how cool is that?

This is less succinct, I know, but it’s important to let these people know how amazing they are, and to let God (and you) know how grateful I am for each of them. If you've not been mentioned in this particular blog but you're on our worship team, know that I am talking about you too!! :)

I know now from experience that God can take a team of very different people and turn them into one cohesive, joyful family unit. Kind of like this one, but, you know, happier:

thankful seven.

#148 - 163

a solo church service in the backyard with iPod, journal, Bible and singing birds

exploring new territory with my love

finding the nearby Starbucks in an unfamiliar city

playing a childhood game as an adult

eating lunch outside

discovering the solution to a long-suffered mystery

a well-done, God-honoring film

a promising new novel

birthday parties

lettuce wraps

coconut-chocolate cheesecake

homemade tacos

Menchie's frozen yogurt

warm summer evenings before the invasion of humidity and mosquitos

a currently unwritten song creating itself in my head

the beckoning beach...

thankful six

I need to do one of these today...today I am thankful for:

#120 - 147

jump ropes

mums (flowers, not matriarchal figures)

playing wiffle ball

an unexpected few minutes with jeanne...she is always a delight.

having close friends who are good at finding the good

movie adaptations of my favorite stories (especially when they do them justice!)

fireflies

freshly bloomed honeysuckle

riding with the windows rolled down

productivity

helping create and implement something new

playing piano

waking up to my cuddly, purry cat

enjoying a quiet morning with said cat

a devotional that hits me in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time

the season of Good Friday and Resurrection Day

a Sacrifice that really does cover all my sins - past, present and future

learning what victory really looks like

a complete foot-washing

knowing I will never again be unclean

a secure future

unconditional Love

knowing what being healed feels like

wine and bread

restored relationships

reflecting on how far I've come

reflecting on how much He has done

knowing that there are more good things ahead...

thankful six: songs.

#86-119: I am always thankful for music, and tonight I want to share some of the songs I'm particularly grateful for. I am leaving out MANY songs for the sake of time and space, but here are a few to whet your appetite and get you thinking about the songs you love:

The Long Defeat

Sara Groves

Ribbon in the Sky

Stevie Wonder

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

Paul Simon

Something So Right

Paul Simon

Romance Larghetto

Frederic Chopin

Put a Penny in the Slot

Fionn Regan

Dry Cleaner from Des Moines

Joni Mitchell

Beautiful

Kari Jobe

Made Me Glad

Miriam Webster

Do I Do

Stevie Wonder

Tidal

Imogen Heap

Night and Day

Frank Sinatra

Only Hope

Switchfoot

I Fall For You

Fleming & John

Christmas Worship Medley

Israel Houghton and New Breed

You'll Come

Brooke Fraser

Enough

Chris Tomlin

Champagne High

Sister Hazel

Us

Regina Spektor

Waltzing Past the Grave

Jay Clifford

Dim and the Dark

Jump

The Story

Brandi Carlile

Downpour

Brandi Carlile

Dreams

Brandi Carlile

Shadow on the Wall

Brandi Carlile

Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight

Amos Lee

Maybe

Alison Krauss and Union Station

Tightrope

Janelle Monae

One Thing

Hillsong

Rescue is Coming

David Crowder Band

On the Road to Beautiful

Charlie Hall

Like a Lake

Sara Groves

Stockholm Syndrome

Muse

You are God

Gil Gatch

thoughts on worship - a video blog.

Here's my first video blog...thanks for watching!

thankful five.

# 70 - 85

a hawk sighting in suburbia

watching my cat try to figure out how to capture a ceiling pull chain

feeling holy passion rise up on the inside of me

Elvis the dog spinning in excitement

a special date to look forward to with my love

speaking just the right words and knowing that God has given me those words

new music to think to

watching weird and creepy children's movies from the 80s-90s

my team of beloveds

taco night

seeing God show up in the "nick of time"

singing with a hero

connecting people

having an unspoken (and forgotten) dream of my heart remembered by God

hazelnut decaf coffee

a picture that expresses my sense of humor

an unexpected gift!

I have much to be thankful for... In addition to continuing my list today, I have to tell a story.

Last First Wednesday, the worship team gathered in the kitchen for our usual pre-service tech meeting. I noticed that several members who were not scheduled that night had joined us. I thought they were just there to hang out, which was exciting enough for me, but it turns out they were there to see the look on my face when they surprised me with a huge bouquet of flowers, jewelry, a gift certificate, and a card of appreciation...just because. They were all so excited just to bless me.

These people give so much every week and they do it cheerfully - every last one of them - and they wanted to appreciate me?? I am overwhelmed. I love them like my own family - my children - and now, every time I look at this trinket, I am reminded of them all...and my heart is full.



To all of you on the Seacoast Summerville Worship Team (and your spouses): thank you. I love you more than I can say!