It's a Good Thing

It is a good thing to separate yourself and spend time with the king. Even on a Sunday morning, and even though you are probably going to church, it is still good to separate yourself from the business of your routine at home and enter in to gods presence. It is a good thing to separate from your responsibilities at church before you come to church and take time to focus solely on ministering and worshiping God! This advice is not just for musicians and singers, but for any Christian doing the work of the Lord.

Having this attitude of consecration and worship sets us up for success, instead of the failure  that many Christians fall into, which is to make their service in God and what they do for God the relationship with God. This of course will not work because it's a counterfeit relationship. Nobody wants to be shipwrecked, but unfortunately this happens too many Christians on and off again until they learned this principle.

For the Lord has called us to minister to him, oh singers and musicians. For the Lord has called us to even Concecrate our instruments and lay them down and get into his presence.

Since I'm a worship leader, I am often learning music and singing songs. So I can worship God during these times, my total focus is not on God in those moments, but instead, they are focused on the measures and went to come in etc. Though I have set this time aside to learn music for the service of the Lord, it is still not the one-on-one time that God richly desires from us.

I've become aware that there are several ways to pray and spend time with God, but I am learning to spend time listening to his voice and just lifting up his holy name. We were created to worship the king of kings and the Lord of lords. And I believe that this desire to commune, to fellowship, and to engage in a dynamic loving relationship with our father, where he talks to us and we can talk back is a reality for those who want too!

What do you really want a relationship with God? Do you want to know him more? Do you want to hear his voice? Or are you looking to see your position in the church elevated or perhaps maybe you are ministering but looking for the praise of other people? Friends is a good thing to separate ourselves and spend time worshiping God for who he is. Friends, readers it is a good thing to set our hearts on the Lord and listen to fresh before we get going and doing our thing or his thing for the day! If we learn to listen and spend time, our feet will definitely be walking with Jesus!

Obsession

Today the Lord spoke to me. I was reading the book: Face to Face with God by Bill Johnson. I began to feel His warm presence descend upon me, like butter melting on a stack of hotcakes. 

I closed my eyes and put the book down. I focused on God and pushed all other mental and emotional distractions away. I felt such a peace that soft releasing tears were gently falling from my face. I stayed there for a while but didn't want to scare my dad in the other room if I gave in and went too deep. So I allowed myself to marinate there in His presence and take in what I could.  I thought about all of the books I have read over the summer.... Oddly. Then I heard God whisper to me: 

There is much to obsess in, but obsess in Me. 

So if you know me, you might see me as a person who is caught up with many things. We all get caught up in things: video games, book series, events, volunteering, drugs, Facebook, people, organizations to name a few. 

He has been moving my own personal distractions away. I've been trying to figure out why there are still two stacks of schoolbooks on my dresser that are untouched. School begins in two weeks. I've been troubled by my lack of desire to plan, plan, plan. It's not that I haven't thought about it. It's not that I won't do a good job as a teacher next year, but I won't be obsessed  with my career; I am determined to be a Christ follower and be up obsessed  with following Jesus first and foremost! 

I've been feeling weird about the untouched stack on my dresser for a while now. I've been trying to understand what was happening to me. Did I lose my passion for teaching? No!  Did it a higher place or priority in my life? Yes! I now understand what has happened since I have been bathing and soaking in God presence, reading His word and other resources  since January. 

He has given me such a strong desire for more of Him. I've considered that my passion for Christ has trumped all other desires and passions I have had. 

My son often lovingly teases me about my increased "Jesus time" at church and home. Since he got home from the Army, I think he sees how different I am. Sometimes people tease me about my "Jesus friends" aka super friends! Well , I love that term super friends! My super friends are supernatural in Christ. They are obsessed with being Christ followers. They're crazy, they seem to have received the same download from God: There is much to obsess in; but obsess in me. 

Is God speaking to you through this entry? Read Psalm 23 for more insight. The Lord should be the main focus of the Christ follower. 

Food for thought! 

http://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?d=O&utm_expid=13466113-7.gxSc2r6FTcGKXIx6trdFNQ.1&search=Psalm%2023&version=MSG&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fmobile.biblegateway.com%2F

Ileana (Illy) Reich sent from my iPhone 

The Lord Gave Me this Song After Worship Today

I see The Lord, I'm stepping out

Walking forward, there is no doubt

I lift my hands, extend them out

To a dead world, that needs your Love

Give me faith that moves mountains

I'm an extension of your fountain  

Actions speak louder than words! 

Father, let your fire fall

Fill us and pour us on this world

Let us take the inside out

Dispelling darkness with love of The Lord

As your fire falls

 

I see The Lord, my mouth is yours

I'll open it, and speak your word

I'll walk in love and take your hope 

To the lonely, and share your love

Give me faith that moves mountains

I'm an extension of your fountain  

Actions speak louder than words! 

Father, let your fire fall

Fill us and pour us on this world

Let us take the inside out

Dispelling darkness with love of The Lord

As your fire falls

 

A Worship Team Special Edition: The Overflow

 

A Worship Team Special Edition: The Overflow

Friends, the worship that comes from us on Sunday or whatever service or event we are leading or participating in should come from a “prepared heart”. It should be founded in core values that we acknowledge. It should be full of non-negotiables, living our lives worshiping the Lord in everything we do. This is not reserved for the singers, but also the musicians too.  It should be a stream that is used to running and is familiar with communing with God.  Yes, I prepare for service by reading over the lyrics, seeking the Lord, praying over them, searching the Bible for scriptures, which I often use Biblegateway.com; but, it is a second level of dedication and devotion.  Don’t get me wrong, a worship leader and praise team member should know the lyrics and be able to sing most of the time without looking at them; this way they can focus on God and listen to Him for wisdom, while he or she is leading.  Know the parts for your instrument that are tricky, sing and play in the spirit at home and allow God to take you places in his anointing. However, their minds and hearts must be clear of everything else and ready to worship. This state of prepared readiness comes from a heart that seeks the Lord and has their own precious time with God.  The foundation is laid, kept, not forgotten, and seasoned daily. And out of this secret place, comes a surrendered heart that overflows. This overflow comes out like incense before God both at home etc. and in church.  If you ever worry you won’t know what to say during worship, if your heart is full with worship and the word, there will be an overflowing of new wine for the people. You will have experienced this new wine before the people. In short, you will be a refreshing spring for others to come and drink God’s living water from.  God will fill your lips. This is a surrendered life. If you bring your supplication before the Lord, you will over flow with praise” (Psalm 119:170-172). So bring your heart, your lips, your instrument, and whatever else you have before Him at home, in the car, etc. and you are sure to have a supernatural overflow wherever you go to minister.

 

God bless!

Psalm 119:170-172 (NIV)

¹⁷⁰ May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise.
¹⁷¹ May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees.
¹⁷² May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous.

Lovesick

I am a worshipper and lover of God. I love who He is, and my devotion is entwined with passion of falling deeper in relationship with Him. As I walk through trials and see how suffering produces character and hope; I become more aware of His commitment to me to the end of time. We live in a spiritual kingdom that has no end. His love never ends; the word tells us that His love is unfailing.

His love transcends every circumstance we face, as well as the failures we experience. He is clothed in love and gentle and patient.  Romans 5 tell us that “Hope does not disappoint”.  Jesus in my friend; the evidence is a life of relationship.  The fruit of this is trust. If one never opens up this “bottle” and tries it, they will never know or experience the love of God.

I fancy Jesus and am crazy about Him. I look forward to growing old and on into eternity with Him. His love has touched me life. Each time I come into His presence, I feel more and want more of His love. Isn’t it true that when you walk with someone, you get to know them and they know you? You can’t wait to be in their presence: it’s a safe and beautiful place to dwell and visit.

When we have such a deep love for Christ, there is an overflow and freedom to express it. One cannot not hold back their response of love, gratefulness, and admiration towards God when He is near. This deluge of emotions is so great there is a physical and emotional outpouring towards God.  Hearts and minds are connected singing a love song to each other. This song has a variety of genres, though these are just a few: thinking on, singing to, and or talking to God.

When I come into God’s presence, like I did at Beef O’ Brady’s today, sitting outside reading the book: Momentum, by Eric and Bill Johnson, I felt an avalanche hit me.   I finished the book, but there was so much more than that going back and forth between him and me. It was like the sun was shining on me, but it was His love just soaking me out there; I was smiling and celebrating His “love shower”.  I was just thanking Him for the opportunity to be in a class that was assisting my spiritual development and was drawing me closer to Him.

As I draw nearer to God daily, whether though declarations, prayer, singing, meditating on God, I see that He is drawing closer to me. The cry of my heart is that this love will begin to shine and touch others wherever I am.  Call me “lovesick”, and I’ll tell you it’s true. Call me “love-struck”, and I‘ll tell you it’s true.

Worship is more than what happens on a Sunday morning or at any given service, though He can and does move. Worship is a lifestyle; it’s a tangible life-giving gift that anyone can enjoy. To be with the Master and Savior, to revel in His love, to rejoice in who He is are just a few of the things I think about when I focus on the Lord. It’s like a window opens between Earth and Heaven. My spirit skips the clouds and goes straight to His bosom. Can you tell I am in love? When we have this secure intimacy and connection to the secret place, nothing can touch us because we soar above the clouds and troubles.

Hey, I never know how or if God will move during a worship service as I am leading, I just travel to the space above; my heart searches for Him. It’s just another time to meet Him. Yes, I set my expectations high and pray before service and ask Him to move, but my focus is still on me meeting God in an encounter that takes me higher and gets me closer to Him. Yes, I want to see Him move and do miracles, but I don't worship God to attempt to manipulate Him to move. I come into his presence and worship the "Great I Am".

Take a moment and think about the concepts in this blog. What can you do to draw closer to God? If you have not experienced this kind of love, the God kind-of-love, it’s time to open the bottle and experience Him by reading His word, talking to Him, and thanking Him. If you sense a block, ask God how to get the wall down. Nothing can separate us from His love; however, we need to be aware of His love and accept it, despite any failures we may have had. So, what is God speaking to you?

Puddles and Swellings: Out of the Box Worship

God blew in like the wind and fell on us with His mighty presence at our last worship practice. We have been hungry for more of God, seeking Him, praying, and asking Him to meet and change us. Now I know it sounds silly, but when we come to practice, that’s what we come to do. That sounds right. Doesn’t it? Well, I have been gently corrected by the Holy Spirit. Every time I come to the Lord to worship and praise Him, wherever I am, I should expect to connect with Him.

God wants to be invited into our box, our world, and whatever we put our hands too that we dedicate to Him. As we invite Him in to our world, He becomes part of our world. The more I get to know and love Christ; the more I feel closer to Him. The more we pray for Heaven to invade Earth; the more Heaven we can connect too. The more we connect to Heaven; the more He can invade out world.  And the two become one.

So I am so excited about what God is doing at Gulf Coast Church and in the Praise and Worship Ministry. We are finding deep swellings of God’s anointing every time we meet. We are also getting to know each other by the spirit. We are learning to move and flow in God. I think Jesus is happy we took Him out of the box! He is so much more than what we confine our thinking to, and it’s time to start jumping in the puddles He has prepared for us!

A Re-Revealing Purposeful Worship Movement

Today in church, God moved and smeared His anointing all over us. God began to show and remind me of some of the worship principles that are in His Word as I was leading. He told me it was reciprocal: fellowship and communion with God; the more praises that go up, the more His glory comes down!

As we, the worship team and church, began to abandon ourselves to God, letting the praises go up, He began to fill our sanctuary. It was like a swelling in the air that kept growing. The more we pressed in and praised, the greater His presence poured out.

He worked something sweet and special during worship inside my spirit too. There was a softer, more intimate exchange. I was believing for a great and mighty wind. I had been seeking the Lord to ask Him for us to hear the sound of heaven today, to worship in the heavenlies, and to ask God to release more of His power and glory on the earth. Yet, He came as a gentlemen, courting and wooing us.

I believe that He is doing something new and it's about to break out! This is not just a church thing. It is a movement that has begun all over the world. God is awakening the church and reminding them of His word and re-revealing (is that word?) His secret mysteries. These mysteries are opened to us and are not meant to be a mystery. He wants us awake and alive! He has a purpose for us in this global worship movement sweeping across America. It's not just the privy of one denomination or just non-denominational churches. God is breaking out past these man-made barriers and boundaries. He is using many famous worship leaders and bands, like Jesus Culture, Bethel, Kare Jobe etc. He is working this movement in the local church too.

This can only be to take the word out, refresh and empower His church, and to bring about a massive move of God. I believe this outpouring will happen not just in the church, but also in the homes and cars of people who understand that it is normal to worship God, but that it is also our reasonable service to present our bodies. God wants us to get past ourselves and pride, as was spoken in today's message: To do things God's ways and not our own. If we follow the Biblical pattern of worship; there are so many things we can do (sing, pray, clap, shout, kneel, bow, dance, and lay prostrate). We no longer need an animal sacrifice because Jesus was slain for us. So,  go ahead and press and go boldly before His throne. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I go all-in for Christ in everything I put my hand to; so can you.

Psalm of Relief

In the darkest hour of those around me, I muster up a song of praise.

I remember that You soar on the winds of worship.

You are holy, true, and righteous.

Where there is pain; there is eventually relief.

Where there is suffering, there is eventually relief.

Soul, wake up and praise the Mighty One redeemer of us all!

In the darkest hour of those around me, I am caught up in this twister of trouble.

I have to shake myself and run to you instead of the sorrow.

You are my rock, friend, and confidant.

Where there is worry; there is eventually relief.

Where there is sadness; there is eventually relief.

Soul, wake up and praise the Mighty One redeemer of us all!

He Still Speaks and Moves

Yesterday before our church service started and after our pre-church service team prayer, I was prayingfor the service on my own with one- minute- thirty- seconds left on the countdown. I heard a voice behind me say, “Illy.”. I turned around and began to ask people if they called me name. No one near me on the platform had.

I turned around and smiled big in my spirit. I we reminded of Eli’s son, Samuel, in the Old Testament. The story is recorded in 1 Samuel chapter three. God was calling him; he responded back: ” Speak Lord, your servant hears” (v3). This was a thirty second download I wasreceiving and the outcome was awesome.

I started service and though I had always known the God was with me when leading worship, two things came to my mind and heart in those brief moments. One, listen to the Lord and flow in the Holy Spirit. Two, God was with me; God was with us. We had invited Him to come and meet us. We asked for an encounter with the Lord in our pre-service prayer and He met us. The Lord moved the entire service! He was there touching us and changing our lives and hearts. Folks, He still speaks and moves!
Thank you Jesus!

Go into 2012 Shouting and Praising your Way In!

I woke up this morning with the word “to go into 2012 shouting and praising my way in”. My pastor, special music, and visiting missionary confirmed this.

Let’s remember to give God the glory a head time and to give our best praise day-in and day-out as we press forward. That’s right! I’m not rolling in, drudging my way in, or sauntering my way in; I am going in full-speed ahead. I am going to embrace the new, whatever that is, and continue to praise God as I enjoy the journey. Now is a good a time as any to begin to ask God to speak to you about the new year ahead…… What does He have in store for you? Is this the year that you will embrace going deeper in Him, or will this be a year that you continue to pour into your agendas and incentives? These are tough questions. He got me thinking this morning about a lot of things!

As we get older, we tend to view the start of a New Year as a time when one retrospectively assesses their progress. I am not talking about New Year’s resolutions. I am talking about taking into account what God has put into our hands and told us what to do or NOT to do. It’s time to recommit and reconnect. For some, it’s a time to get back to the basics and to renew the commitment to the call that God has placed on us. No one decides they are going to ease back on reading the Bible. In fact, I have known many inveterate people to slip away. The answer is to recommit!

If our foundation is right, we can handle whatever comes our way, whether joyful celebrations or gale winds; thus, serving Him anyway and giving Him praise in the good and bad times. No matter what, I am pressing forward. I aspire to be more of a blessing to those around me. I am considering my priorities and what needs to be changed. I am turning my heart toward home. This home is heaven. The cares of this world can bring us down, but when we remember to sharpen our focus, we get back on track!

As we mature, we find God urging us to give up childish things or things we can do without. As we learn to surrender them, we become more like Christ. This in turn creates a positive cycle. The more we are more like Christ, the more people we will reach for Christ because of His light shining in and through us. Then they become like Christ and the cycle continues. On the other hand, when Christ is not the focal point, the cycle goes the other way. Think of it this way: You are what you eat. That is what you watch on TV, what you do online, what you read, where you go with friends, etc. What do you feed your body, mind, soul, and spirit? Does your spirit and soul crave to be with God, someone, or something else? What are you emulating for others? Does your life point others to Christ or towards stumbling blocks?

So there is much to ponder, but I am adamant to go into 2012 thanking, praising, and embracing all that He has for me. The word is change! What about you? Take some time and do a personal inventory. Praising God is more than what we do in church on Sunday. It’s an attitude of gratitude, but also one of consideration of what God has in store for us. It’s living a lifestyle of worship! It’s what we do day-in and day-out as we walk with God.

New Song Series #7: A Winning Combination

God desires for us to worship Him in spirit and truth. No matter what is stirring in the natural, He is seeking for us to know that we are complete in Him despite how we might feel. We have to get beyond these feelings and get the hands on the truth. What does the Word say about God, about you, and about me? What is the truth? How do the two become one?

The heart, mind, and life of the worshiper should be consistent with no incongruities. God is looking for a people who worship the Lord at all times and not just in the congregation. I see this as someone who is transparent. The word tells us to bless the Lord at all times and that His praises shall be continually in our mouths. That’s a tall order of fries, but if we are attuned to the heavenly father and not so much being drawn by our earthly surroundings and circumstances, we are able to soar with Christ and enter into this worship. We are more likely to be singular minded and not double-minded. The Bible tells us that at a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. I venture to say that a person who is double-hearted is just as unstable. The Bible tells us to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. God is looking for devoted Christians who live their lives to glorify Christ.

God is looking for a people whose heart and mind are one with His. They live a lifestyle of true worship. This is the sign of someone who sings the new song. Every day they have fresh manna from heaven. They thank God for it and revel in His completeness all day long. They go beyond feeling and believe the truth. This frees them to worship God. The two are the winning combination that God is looking for in His people. He wants an undivided truthful heart that worships Him in His presence.

John 4:23-24 (NIV)
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

New Song Series #6: The Goal and Purpose of Picking and Singing New Songs

What is the goal of introducing new songs? Is there thought that needs to go into it before they are picked? Yes. Does this song meet a need for your congregation? Is there thought that should go into rearranging them for your congregation? Yes! Some of the new songs that come out on the radio have a lot of cool parts that may be hard for some novice musicians to play, as well as too hard for the people to sing along. They may need to be adjusted to fit your congregation. There is nothing wrong with making a song your own or making it more playable and singable by making it your own.

Musicians need to be able to enter into the presence of God just like the singers and the congregation. If they are so caught up in concentrating on the technical parts of it the entire time, they might grow weary and or not enter in at all. Likewise, the worship team needs to feel ready and comfortable. Yes, a lot of practice goes into things behind the scenes, but we also need to make adjustments to fit personal needs so we can enter in. Music Directors may change the melody line to fit the vocal range of their group or have everyone sing a line in unison because it makes what is being sung feel stronger. It might be just what the congregation needs. After all, our true purpose in leading worship is to serve the local church.

The goal is for the new song to be sung so that the people can enter in and feel the presence of God. If you are thinking about adding new songs, listen to the arrangement. Seek to arrange for simple chorus and versus. Bridges are good too, but often the radio songs are very tricky and leave people wondering when, where, and how to sing. Sometimes we lose people when we go off and do some cool part. If we do that, we have missed the purpose of why we are there. We are not there to lead our people into the dust, but to let them come up to the high mountain of God of with us.

Remember to lay your pride down. What is best for the people? If the intro drags and the congregation does not respond, cut it and change it. What if you can’t play the intro like they do on the CD? Can you put your pride aside and adjust it for the people? That would be better than just cutting the song, a song that you picked because your people needed to hear and sing the lyrics to be encouraged and led closer to God. Do you sing songs because they are your favorites and you pick them without considering the needs of your congregation, then you need to pray about this too.

Sometimes we think the elaborate is what the people want, but often they want to be able to feel apart and join in like a camp fire sing along. When we all get together and sing and praise in unity, mighty things happen!

New Song Series #5- Out with the Old and in with the New

I invite the presence of the Lord to fill our homes, our rooms, our hearts, our minds, and our souls with new life. Will you join me? For some, this will be a difficult entry to read and frightening ground to consider. Our flesh resists the moving of God, and if God is moving, He is moving on our behalf. Our feet have to be willing to go, or we will be stuck. This means letting go of things, stuff, positions, etc.

We have to want the new and allow the Lord to move out the old. I was helping a friend move today. She had a bed that was over 20 years old. She was holding on to it and did not want to sell it, though she had no place to store it. It represented the “thing, things, and or her old life” she had and could hold on to. It represented her past, which was broken like so many of us who are reading this.

When we are in between the old and new, we can sense what is familiar to us and stay in a pattern of limbo or worse yet, stay stuck in the past. But folks, when I looked at the furniture, it was in terrible shape. It was beyond repair and time to give it away or sell it. This was a revelation to me. Often when we are stuck in the old, we don’t know we are stuck, but people on the outside can see we are stuck. This is what I saw today. I could see as an outsider the true condition of the bed and bedroom set. This is what we need. God can provide this spiritual vision or people who are close to us can call a situation for what it is. Even my husband told her to let it go. Letting go of this object is a big step of faith. I believe that she is getting a new life and second chance. I ask God to give you revelation right now. If you want to move on in God, you have to have the new song. Out with the old and in with new, I say!

If this is what your life looks like, you need to let it all go and ask the Lord to give you a new song, a new life. Again, I invite the presence of the Lord to fill our homes, our rooms, our hearts, our minds, and our souls with new life. Will you join me? For some, this will be a difficult and frightening to consider. Our flesh resists the moving of God, and if God is moving, He is moving on our behalf. Our feet have to be willing to go, or we will be stuck. This means letting go of things, stuff, positions, etc. It's time!

New Song Series #4: Come Prepared; Come Expecting!

This week as I was walking off the platform, I heard the words “come expecting; come prepared” dropped into my spirit. I stopped at the nearest seat and jotted down those words. I ran to the restroom, imbibed, and reflected on these nuggets. Then I returned to my seat, jotted down a few more things, and settled into Pastor Keith’s message. Here is what transpired between the restroom and tuning into Pastor Keith’s message. When I fled to the restroom and took the opportunity to listen to the flood God was pouring in me, there were two major areas of this download from heaven: preparation and expectation.

In the area of preparation, God was reminding me that if I want the new song and the fresh move of God, I have to be prepared before I lead the congregation into the high mountain of praise. I am NOT talking about making sure one knows how to sing, play, and for the leader’s sake, lead the songs, but it is much more than that. These are the obvious! But are you behind the scenes asking God to move in a fresh way throughout the week and yes, right up until service starts? Is this just for the leader or the entire team? He is looking for more dedication and abandonment from all of His ministers. I told the Lord I am “all in” and ready to go to the next level. This means I have to give myself to more prayer. I have to be fresh too. This means that I have to deal with the bad stuff that creeps in, and I have to surrender my heart to Him. The closer I get to God; the closer I believe the people will get to God. After all, my ministry unto the Lord is an overflow and out pouring of what he is already doing.

Regarding expectation, the Lord told me to expect to see Him move. Expect healings and deliverances. Pray and ask God ahead of time for these things, to look for them when I am leading, and to expect them to manifest. Expect His presence to fall. Expect Him to meet his people a fresh. Expect to hear the new song breaking out! Expect to hear new and vibrant praise!

So, again the key is fresh oil from heaven. Prepared and pray for that oil and believe that He will pour it out on His house and on His people. Expect it! If you don’t prepare, one cannot truly expect. There are no short cuts. God is looking for worship teams that are willing to expose their heart cries to Jesus in the public; however, this would be a result of what was done in the secret with Jesus that week. Are you ready to seek God, prepare for his out pouring, and expect Him to move? If so, commit yourself to seeking, praying, Reading His word, praising, and worshiping Him more. Give Him all of yourself. Let heaven touch earth.

New Song #4: The Burden

Lately I feel that the Lord has been sharing a burden with me. It's rather large; I feel puny and unable to initiate it. Nevertheless, I have begun to thirst for His refreshing waters; I see that I can only be obedient with what He has put in my hand.

Our land, America, is barren and hurting. They need a healer and one who can send them joy in the midst of trouble. I worry because I see less people in churches. There are so many lost. Are the people of God really in touch with God? If they were, wouldn't others be flooding the houses of God? Are they being obedient to taking His word to the highways and byways. How else will they hear this new song?

For the first time, I see this new song as more than just a new worship song. It's like a revelation or remma word that goes out of the house, car, or wherever He touches you with it. These life changing words can breath new life. It's like God changing your tune. Two weeks ago I prophesied in church that God was going to give us a new song; He was going to change our tune. He was going to do it. I am waiting to see this come to pass. When I am leading worship, I look out beyond what I see in the natural; I hope for hearts, hands, and lives connected to Jesus getting a needed download, but also just spending time with God, while letting the stream of rushing waters come to refresh our souls.

It makes me wonder how He is going to make it all happen, though an old pastor of mine prophesied over me twenty years ago that I was not called to figure things out, I still try! I think He is going to use me and you, as well as many others. Those who are sensitive to the call. He wants exuberant worship to break out all of over the United States. I know He is about to do a new thing, and I want to be on the forefront at Gulf Coast Assembly of God in North Port, Fl. It's not about breaking out and being famous at all; instead, it's about being an effective, pliable, and useful tool in the King's hand. From there, may God develop a greater passion and desire to worship and sit at His feet. If we were having these types of rich divine experiences, we would be going out and telling others about what happened. How amazing God's presence was at church, in my car, and at the doctor's office.

I also long for a time when there are no hindrances in worship. When we sin and fall short, we tend to put up a wall towards God, though He forgives us every time. This is one of the reasons that people are not as connected during worship. Sometimes it looks like a glaze is over people; they look and are unengaged in the worship. Instead, I'd like to see more people gather at the front and worship and praise. I'd like to see more people kneeling at their seat as God falls on them, though there are others standing and singing. If they feel led to dance, sing, and or whatever appropriate way they want to express their love for God, they are WILLING and able to do it. So, I am excited because our pastor is very open and has been praying that the Holy Spirit comes and touches us. This is my prayer as I prepare to lead worship tomorrow. Lord, come and meet us. Touch us! Please breath new life, new worship, and a new passion in us for You, Lord. Out of this desire, new songs will come. It's a rather complicated thing, but one can see that the principles are interrelated.

New Song Series #3

Psalm 40:3He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

Okay. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. One can glean some basic and common concepts from the words: new song. One, the word "new" means that it is fresh and not old. This means that others will be writing these new songs. These songs should be centered around God. The new song comes from God. It is His song that he births in us. He can also birth a song during worship, at a prayer meeting, a youth group service, or wherever. The key is that we should be looking for the fresh and the new, while listening to the heart of God whisper these fresh new lyrics. Don't get me wrong. Old hymns and songs are good. They represent what God has seen us through; they build or faith too. We should also sing songs that our congregation can join in with. However, we must never forget that we also need to be willing and obedient to usher in the new song. We do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit. We want to allow the spirit of God to move freely.

Think of the love and excitement that a new puppy brings to a household. Suddenly everything is going to be ok. Everything is focused around the new puppy. In the House of God, new songs signify what God is doing. They are prophetic and life changing in nature. It's time to to usher in the new song!

New Song Series #2-Five Morsels Associated with the New Song

Psalm 149 1 Praise the LORD.[a]
"Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people." NIV

I have been intrigued by the words “new song” found in the book of Psalms for a very long time. I have been researching these words, but also praying for God to reveal to me what this new song is. I have believed the new song to be a song of praise that comes when you come through a battle or when the Lord gives you a strong song of praise in your mouth that is new. It’s not an ordinary song of praise, but it’s personal, fresh, and radical. I wrote about this a bit last week when I remarked on the sound of praise I heard at a women’s meeting where I recently spoke. This was a corporate sound of praise that was bold, fervent, effective, and mighty.

However, this week I was reading an article from Worship Leader Magazine: Sing to the Lord a New Song- JAN/FEB 2011 entitled “The Song of the Redeemed”. I began to receive vivid insight about this new song, as well as the role of the worship leader in today’s world (pgs. 30-37). It lines up with some of the things I always thought, but there were new morsels to savor.

1. The new song is being born out of congregations who engage in prophetic praise and worship. The do not all have a set song list. Some have no song lists at all. Some reserve time to flow in lyrical worship between songs and allow the Holy Spirit to sing through them.
2. Worship leaders, not just the front person, are called to write songs and seek God for new songs for their church.
3. Worship leaders are to bring new and fresh songs that will inspire their congregations to worship.
4. Worship leaders are the key to the spirit of God breaking out in the house of God. It’s their passion for God that inspires those to worship. People are looking for real worship and meaningful church. This movement will flood our churches with people who are hungry to hear God’s word.
5. A worship community must be living!

These five morsels are enlightening and overwhelming. Yet, they also remind us that the call that is upon us to inspire others to worship is big. It comes by surrendering ourselves to it. I don’t have to worry about how this new song will come out. I know He is going to do it. I see new songs coming from our team. I see prophetic songs coming out in worship. I’m ready Lord!

Psalm 33:3

Psalm 40:3

Psalm 149:11

New Song #1- Praise Creates a Stronghold Against Satan

Psalms 8:2 says that "through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. NIV" When I read this scripture I felt like the heavens opened and revelation fell like fresh manna from my heavenly father.

I got new revelation when I read that scripture. You mean to tell me that when we praise, we create a stronghold that silences our enemy I thought to myself. Maybe you read this scripture before and saw it. Maybe you read this scripture before and never saw it. Nevertheless, it was new to me and gave me yet another reason to praise and worship God.

I believe I heard this praise through God's children this past Tuesday night at Community Life Center where I spoke to a women's group. It went on and on, and it was powerful. It was radical. There was a sense of abadonment in it. It was thick, deep, and wide. There were several times in that night when we broke out in it.

God had given me an image of women praising with their hands up the night before as I was preparing to speak. I heard a loud crazy like praise coming out of her mouth!
Little children look at things simply; we can look at praise the same way. It is clear to me that I silence the enemy when I praise. It's not a wimply half-hearted praise; it's raw and radical praise.

What about you? Are you up for it? I hope that this short article has lifted the covers off your face and given you another reason to press in and praise and worship! It has myself.

A Never Ending Supply

This past Sunday the Lord was speaking to me during worship. He told me that "His presence was a never ending supply", amongst other things. It's was raining rain buckets, as it does every Sunday at our church, but who was wearing a raincoat and why? All we have to do is enter in, take of the raincoat, and soak in the life of God that drenches us from His throne, but our trivial thoughts and difficult trials of life keep us from entering in. "It’s a choice", He reminded me!

I thought about what He spoke, and I looked out into the congregation. I could see that some entered in and some did not from my natural eye. Then I remembered that I cannot see what is happening in the heart. Couldn't someone woman have her hands lifted high and be singing a song but still be planning the next ladies event? Could someone who closes their eyes and has no outward appearance of entering in be connected to the King in worship? The answer is yes to both of these questions. So, I stopped looking out and felt that the Lord was grieved, but I continued to attempt to help bring the people up to the high mountain of praise.

Sometimes we get caught up in the routine of worship and we are not present with Christ totally. Again, this is our choice, but this grieves the heart of God we do not give ourselves entirely to the king. It would be like me withholding myself from my husband on our honeymoon night; he would be hurt, devastated, and angry like a salty underdone mixture of black beans wrapped up in one big bad spoiled flour tortilla! Let’s remember that when we come into His presence, we need to purposeful and focused; after all, He wants us to lavish Him with our love, which is our heartfelt worship.

God also is grieved when we withhold our joy and do not lift our hands and clap as we are commanded. Yet, He would rather us give these praise offerings to Him freely and cheerfully. We also can read about David and know that he shouted, danced, and sang in God’s presence. I am sure this was a freeing experience for David. FYI, you can do all of this in the privacy of your own home; however, the point is that God inhabits the praises of His people. So, if you want to meet Him, you have to extend some genuine praise to our Lord and King wherever you are.

Like I said, this past Sunday the Lord was speaking to me during worship. He told me that His presence was a never ending supply. All we have to do is enter in. That it is both our trivial thoughts and difficult trials of life that keep us from entering in. It’s a choice.

Here In Your Presence (with lyrics)

I love to worship God. When I go there, it is as if the earth melts and heaven kisses it. Before I know it, the two become one, and I am in Jesus’ arms. Amazing things happen when you come into God’s presence. You don’t have to be in a church service for him to rain down on you. You forget about it all: the junk, the turmoil, the health ailments, pride, fear, and whatever else that keeps us from soaring with Him. I heard Him say, “Come fly away with me” during worship.” He is that real!

I also think about the Lord’s Prayer when it says, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10 NKJV). I understand this to mean that I do not have to wait until I die to do or see His will. It says, “On earth as it is in heaven.” This also means that His will is existing in both places. It’s just like when we worship God; we are worshiping in two realms. It’s pretty awesome that we can do that.

But what rocks the most is that He meets us there every time! He never turns us away. That is why I love to run there and worship Jesus. I love to worship Jesus. How about you?

Click on the above song and get linked in! Let your world become like Kool-Aid where sugar and water mix. Taste and see that the Lord is good!