Miracle Maker

Worship this morning:

Praise is Rising
Men of Faith
No, Not by Might
My Jesus, My Saviour
My Lord, What Love is this (Amazing Love)

The pivot, that "special" one, was the last one, but today was very much about crying out to God for healing, personal and national.  At the end, I had a feeling that He wanted me to do another, but I got no message as to what, so I sat down.

The church, or at least some members, are suffering at the moment, a couple of them have pretty serious medical conditions, and then we had some devastating news from my predecessor and her husband.

You know what to play, He seemed to be telling me.  Your feelings about wanting to play another were correct.  I had the briefest of moments to explore my motivations about playing something that wasn't on the words file, that it would end up a performance.  But I had been waiting for the right moment to play it, I was expecting that it would come out during a time of ministry perhaps, or some special moment.

Well, right then was that special moment.  I paused, just in case.  No movement from anyone else.   I gained permission from the leader to sing, and walked up to the mic, picked up to my guitar, said a few words, and sang Miracle Maker by Delirious^?  I didn't think I would make it through, but I did detach without becoming too distant from it...

...it has been recorded, and I listened later, this time I had the freedom to cry a little whilst listening.  My singing tutor would have liked what she heard, I did OK.

And I got some advice today which I will make sure I follow: leave the hall to pray as a group, and come back in, bringing the presence of God with you, rather than praying in the hall with all the distractions.   He was completely correct, we had not been taking that aspect of our routine seriously enough.

A good day at the office.   Waiting in His presence.  Sitting at the feet of the miracle maker.  Please God, send healing, send revival to health, hearts and minds everywhere.

Power and Authority

Had a bizarre day yesterday - everything I touched fell to pieces, but somehow I could only laugh at the various scrapes I got myself into.

I realise now that He has me strong enough to face minor difficulties, and all the tribulations of the last few months have just strengthened my armour.

And practice tonight was more than just practice, it was worship.  We practice in a place that is also a voting station (separate room of course), fairly close to the front door, so we were giving it large to those coming in and going out...

The worship this week is very much Power Praise, I wasn't really thinking of it being polling day when I was choosing them, more that one had been put on my heart (see earlier post) and trying to fit others around it.

Where the worship recently has been all about God the Creator, the theme has shifted to Power and Authority - recognising His, obviously, but maybe also the Power of His Promise..

...hmm must look it up.  Pray about it.  Perhaps I can share it.  After reading a post in another blog which discussed whether WL's should say anything during worship or not, I was gratified to find out that they should mostly stick to their anointing and leave to God the rest, however, I strongly believe a service is for everyone, and if I, even the WL, has something to share, I should share it.

I may be undertaking a new task within the church group too.  God's getting me linked in good, discarding the last vestiges of doubt.

Also, today I relieved myself of an old skeleton, or at least took steps to dismantle it.  I agree with something Bossman said recently: we should be squeaky clean, anything that is in our power to sort out, we should try, asking God to hold our hand through it.  I did, the rest is up to God.  I will bear any consequence from this, but, somehow, as a King's Kid, I believe it will turn out for good.  I certainly feel better for it already.

Kingsway

I've decided to put something else that is "regular" on this blog, to a) give me something more to focus on, b) to encourage me to post more and c) make my blog a little more WL diary like - I can look back on this with the tags and can find out interesting stuff; ha, but not necessarily useful or expedient :o).  What I'm getting at is that although my personal feelings have been forefront, and are very relevant at times, I should be including some items into this scrapbook blog that are more generically WL related.  I have a couple of ideas, but, anyway, whilst it's quiet (sssshhhhhh) physically and spiritually with me, let's kick off my first idea.

This series will be on the Kingsway freebie downloads, a new one is available every Tuesday, sometimes first thing in the morning, but usually just before lunch.  The freebie is quite often a sample song from a recent album, an artist or group that is under special focus (e.g. Rend Collective Experiment, or Delirious? re-releases).

To access these downloads, you need to register with Kingsway.  It doesn't hurt, it's completely free, and they don't bug you with email (one or two or week at the very most, although Easter and Christmas can sometimes increase this number - stands to reason...).  As a WL, I look upon this as an extra resource, as well as entertainment - usually you get a free mp3 plus sheet music (there have been a couple of instances when it's been free sheet music only - obviously copyright owner/songwriter reserves the right etc and that's completely sound and proper) It is invaluable - especially if I hear one I really like and want to share it with the church or group (or even keep something in reserve for those ministry times - it's all in the preparation).  Along with my own thoughts, I will include whether I am aware if the song is covered by CCL in approved publications and any popular source I know of (I will stick with SOF, Source and Mission Praise, you will need to find out any others yourselves....or maybe for a fee....no, joke...:o) )

Anyhow - there's an interesting video available on the webpage this week, a short documentary, featuring, amongst others, the writers themselves.

Title: Name Above All Names
First Line: Oh, God You're High Above all the Nations
Artist: ALM.uk (Abundant Life Church worship group)
Composer: Jonathan James, Mark Stevens
Mp3: Yes
Sheet Music: Yes
CCL: Yes
Popular sources: No popular source currently.  See below
Previously heard by me/on mp3 player: No

My thoughts: It's fairly typical contemporary Christian Rock, which sits alongside songs such as "At Your Name" very comfortably.  I like it actually, but it doesn't really suit my church - just a little too youthful.  What is interesting about this week is that the sheet music is in fact an "arrangement" so includes voice direction.  Rather than the usual Kingsway sheet music format, it appears to be taken from some other publication - for those that like that sort of thing (there was a wonderful set of arrangements at Christmas for "Joy Has Dawned") - it may be worthwhile finding out where it came from to see if the whole publication contains more of the same.  It could possibly be the digital songbook called "Name Above All Names" or "Send Me - Live Worship", the only two available sources that I can see.  I don't think it's a song that could set the Christian world on fire, but it is likely a good addition for churches with large congregation, who are mostly in the 15-32 age bracket.

Kingsway (Home page)

Why does God do this?

Why, when you're feeling your most unworthy, sinful, broken-hearted, useless (I'm sure a few out there could add more and then some)...

...does He start to pour out encouragement after encouragement and blessing after blessing?

In some ways, it makes me feel worse.

My feelings about this morning were largely unfounded.  It was good actually, a peaceful service and different (thought I wouldn't want it every week)

The moment I walked in, I had someone encouraging me.  Then I heard something that was a further, direct encouragement, shared with the congregation...

...then I got another after the service...

...then more when sitting in the canteen...

...uhhh...Boss, please I don't know how much of this I can take.  I lost count of the fruit that was popping up after seeds thrown, some of it in a hissy fit.

Another special night coming up soon, I knew there had to be a reason for some of the revival and praise choruses I've been preparing lately.

God's got me too ashamed to be ashamed.  If you get my drift.  And if you do, explain it to me, I'm going to bed before I get a headache...

Who's the Daddy?

For all sorts of reasons, I found myself weighing up whether or not to go to my regular place of worship this Sunday.

Some may think I'm throwing some sorta hissy-fit-strop if I don't turn up, but I really really really have my reservations about the program this Sunday.  I decided that I'm going to have to pray in that it will work, and it will bless, despite what that may mean...

...but then again, I know I have two mortals that have admitted that they're my biggest fans.  It's great to have backup in this life, tears spring to my eyes when I think of it, and I just see myself as so so blessed....

...so pray for it to be a success, because mortal conflict cannot get in the way of Daddy's Will.  And turn up, because I believe He wants me to show visible support.

Back here, I said how renewed motivation had got me preparing choruses well in advance of ever needing them, well at the moment that not only includes that which we all should know, but more besides.  In the past, I've ignored choruses that I feel don't suit our congregation.  Now, if it packs a punch in my spirit, it's getting added to a work in progress list for Musescore, the words file AND chord sheet - I have disciplined myself to do these at the same time and write up the chord sheets as soon as I have no more than 6 or so pending.  I feel strongly that doing all these more modern and slightly more contemporary choruses are not the waste of time I may have felt previously.  This means the Boss is getting me prepared for something.  I have some thoughts in mind of why He's doing this, in a nutshell, I think there are busy times ahead where I can do little, if any administration, because I'll need to be doing.  How exciting is that?

But I'm making some wonderful discoveries, even amongst old choruses.  It's like going through a jam-packed attic, lots of hard slog but with small rewards.  I've "found" one which, if I manage to get through it without becoming a puddle (haven't managed it in practice yet), I feel strongly He has asked me to do as the "pivot" Sunday week - it is beautiful in its simplicity...yet over 20 years old!  I heard it on a Christian radio station a few days ago, I completed what I needed to for me and group, it's all ready to go.  God I think is reminding me not to neglect the old amongst the new, in a similar fashion I say to people 'Don't neglect the Old Testament, for the Old Testament is Jesus Christ concealed, the New is Jesus Christ revealed.'  As such, old choruses still have the sparkle of annointing that came through the writer's fingers from the Boss.

All these blessings help me forget the realities of certain situations in my life, and trouble and heartache in particular from an area where I should not.  But He constantly reminds me that He's in charge.  I can't, I won't have it any other way.

...ping..!

Do I feel better after chatting with my friends?

Actually, fellowship does make you feel better, in any circumstance, in any walk.  I still feel I'm at somewhat a turning point in my life, and if one small domino falls, it will cause a chain reaction I will be unable to stop, resulting in a major change in my life.  Does this bother me?  Yes, a bit.  Do I believe God's in charge?  Yes, I do, making my first question and answer seemingly unworthy, but I am only human, and don't we want to be in charge of our lives, really?

But I learned a lot from yesterday, even if, spiritually I still feel a bit battered, I'm just going to have to hang in there.  Then one of them said something, which, when I pondered on later I thought....

...A-HA...NOW  it makes sense

It was somewhat comforting to find out something about a key thing that was bothering me, a purely human element, which I now need to work out how to handle.

Do I stand up to it?

Do I pray my way through it?

Do I endure and suffer it?

..or do I leave?  (Last resort)

I know my calling.  I have never been so sure of it.  The advice is to stand by this belief, and dig in.  Can't say I won't come back here and winge occasionally....

Highest calling

"In my opinion the role of the worship leader is one of the highest callings anyone could receive. As such, make sure the desire of your heart is not for a position or a church appointment but rather that you might glorify and worship God in everything you do. Forget about status. Forget about leadership. You cannot be ambitious as a worship leader because your role is to decrease that He might increase." Robin Mark

This short article touched me to the core.  You can read all of it here.