Upcoming Event!

I am honored to announce my upcoming live performance for the Artists of Tomorrow Benefit (put on by the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation).

June 13th at 7pm on the Frances Anderson Center Plaza

• Preview the Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Gallery and purchase art before it opens to the public.
• Visit with EAF Museum Featured Artist Pamela Harold.
• View art of scholarship recipients and student artists.
• Vote for People’s Choice Award in both the Juried Gallery and Student Top Twenty exhibits.
• Find fabulous art, vacation packages, wine and more to bid on in the Silent Auction.
• Listen to live music on the Plaza by Emily Brotherton and soft jazz in the galleries by Boulevard A.

For ticket information, click here.

Getting Down to Business

Lately, I've got a bit of "fire under my bum" (so-to-speak) and I'm prepping for the next "Big Step" with my music.  As I've prayed and asked God for the thumbs up or thumbs down, I didn't feel led either way.  All I felt  was a sense of peace (which is usually a good sign).  So I'm placing one foot in front of the other and trusting that God has something to teach me along this journey (even if the door closes in the end).

God doesn't always protect us from heartbreak.  

Sometimes, we need a little pain to learn, grow and mature - as tough as it is!  So what's the next "Big Step"??  Well, I'm presenting my songs to a gentleman who will basically critique them.  He's a composer/musician who has done all sorts of cool stuff that I can't even recount.  I called my worship pastor and asked him for advice in this area and he directed me to this gentleman (a personal friend)-I guess it's true that you can't get anywhere without "connections"!  Why am I putting my songs out there for critique/constructive criticism, you may ask?  I'm not sure...(insert nervous laugh).  I find I'm at a crossroad with my music.  I love to write and have about 20 finished songs (plus more that I'm not willing to admit I wrote) and the reality is that I'm not doing much of anything with them.  I don't have a manager or a record label; I don't have funds to record an album, market and distribute the music, I'm no pro at GarageBand :)...so...what do I do with it all?!?  That's the question I have been asking the Lord these past few months.

I decided to embark on a journey that could end in a bit of heartbreak.  I want to be honest with myself, so I realize the criticism could hurt (as constructive as it may be), but my prayer is that it would help me to refine my skill and grow in the process!  I don't want to be afraid to takes risks with this.  I read a book a few years back and a quote from it will never leave me...in fact it challenges me to the very core of who I am...

"The cure for the fear of failure is not success.  It's failure.  The cure for the fear of rejection is not acceptance.  It's rejection. You've got to be exposed to small quantities of whatever you're afraid of.  That's how you build up immunity." 

- Mark Batterson, In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day

So I'll boldly go where I've never gone before.  Pushing past my insecurities, trusting that God's got a plan and a purpose.  You know that verse in Psalm 37 about the desires of our heart?  It's one of the most commonly misinterpreted verses in Scripture, I think.  We often read it and think, "Awesome!  God's going to give me what I desire [my dreams, my goals, my wants...]."  Instead, the emphasis needs to be on the surrounding words -there is a bigger picture than the desires of our heart; there are requirements (see the bold words):

"Trust in the LORD and do good; 

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he 

will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; 

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteousness 

shine like the dawn, 

the justice of your cause 

like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD 

and wait patiently for him..."

-Psalm 37:3-7a

Did you notice I didn't put "he will give you the desires of your heart" in bold lettering?  It's the doing (trusting, dwelling, delighting, committing, waiting) that causes our heart's desires to be transformed into HIS.  No longer our will for our lives, but HIS.  No longer my dreams of becoming a singer/songwriter extraordinaire...but HIS way of using the gifts He's given me to further HIS kingdom.  

Now comes the putting it to practice.  I won't sit idly by and wait for something grand to happen with my music; and I won't go move to Nashville to pursue a music career...instead I will take one step at a time, allowing room for God to close or open the door.  His will not mine.

Amen.

Yes, No, Wait?

Do you ever find yourself frustrated by your lack of movement?  Lack of progress in the forward direction?  That's me today.  Feeling confused and a *bit* discouraged by my lack of discipline to start making things happen. But there's a balance in life in regards to that "making things happen", isn't there?!  If we try too hard, we become too self-involved and, usually, a bit full-of-ourselves.  On the other hand, if we dont' try hard enough, we come across as lazy (as though we don't want it enough to make it happen!).  Ugh.  I'm so there...hanging in the balance of not trying enough and trying too hard.  Knowing when to go head on running toward a goal and when to lay low and let God open the doors.  It's kind of a waiting game.  Making sure my ears are open and ready to hear any of [God's] responses to my incessant asking, "Why? When? Where?" 

I can remember back when I was in Jr. High Sunday School being taught this lesson by Mr. & Mrs. Wills.  God's answers to our requests are always 1 of 3 answers:
*Yes
*No
*Wait
I love that "Maybe" was not in the mix of answers.  In fact, I don't think God's answer to any of our needs is ever "Maybe".  God is not a God of confusion and indecisiveness (unlike the wishy-washy word, "Maybe").  If I truly believe that, then His answer to my dreams, goals and aspirations isn't "Maybe". 

It might be "Yes", though.  And if it is?  Then my responsibility to to walk boldly and confidently through the door that's been opened for me. 

However, it might be "No".  And if it is?  Well, then I need to refocus and regroup; get past the initial sting of discouragement and move forward, keeping my eyes and ears opened for the next door.  Maybe even seek advice from a pastor, mentor or counselor to help me identify where I "steered off" track in regards to my goals.  It's easy to want to be good a something, but it may not be an area God's gifted us in.  Time to refocus. 

Lastly, the answer might be "Wait".  And if it is?  Then patience and perseverance is KEY!  If you're anything like me, the "Wait" answer is the toughest!  It's the most out of my hands.  It requires the most diligence and persistence.  Wanna know a fun fact?  I searched for the word "wait" in an online bible site and there were 135 verses pertaining to this very word!  Some of the most well-known verses on waiting are found in Psalms, but here are some unusual references that really spoke to me this afternoon:

"I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."" - Lamentations 3:24

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." - Habakkuk 2:3

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." - Micah 7:7

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." - Romans 8:25

Oh, Lord...help me to have the attitude of "it is well with my soul" whatever Your answer is to my needs and desires.  I know Your ways are best!  Amen!

From Blog Signature

{New Music Monday}

I don't find a lot of uninterrupted time to write (cue the noisy 3 year-olds and whining dog...).  Despite a lack of free time, I've been trying to be more disciplined in my song writing.  Write about ups...downs...you know, life stuff!  Lately, I've even stretched myself by writing songs based upon a fictional story.  That's what leads me to introduce a new song to you!  A little "ditty" I wrote about a girl who *thought* she knew a guy, but he ended up fooling her...and to that, she says she's "Going, Going, Gone". ;)

Take a listen!

{Love}

God is love. We read it, we're taught it, we sing about it. But do we really believe it? I've heard it said that "if we truly believed God loved us, we would be compelled to live our lives quite differently." Our actions would be less self-seeking and more about seeking God's heart and will. Our words would be focused on encouraging one another rather than said in order to puff up our own egos. I don't know that we will ever fully grasp how wide, deep and great God's love for us truly is while we're still here on this earth, but in the meantime, I know I can do better...strive harder...look deeper. One of the first scriptures that comes to mind on the "topic" of love (although there are so many more I can't even count them!) is found in Romans 5:8, which says:

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Death. It doesn't necessarily seem to fit with the lovey-dovey, candy-filled holiday Valentine's Day is celebrated as...but as believers, it's the ultimate demonstration of true love.

So as we reflect on God's true, pure love for us, here are a few of my favorite worship songs on God's love.

"You Are For Me" - Kari Jobe
My favorite line: "I know that You have come down, even if to write upon my heart to remind me who You are."

"He Loves Us" - John Mark McMillan {this video link is of the David Crowder version}
My favorite line: "He is jealous for me..." {I used to be bothered by the word 'jealous'...but I spent some time and let it sink in...it's not a bad jealous...it's a good jealous!"}

"Amazed" - Desperation Band {I am REALLY partial to the chorus & bridge...when I have this song in my worship sets, I only do those sections and really emphasize those sections...they are SO powerful in and of themselves!}
My favorite line: "How wide, how deep, how great is Your love for me!"

He love you...yes YOU!!! Yesterday, today and forever...his love never changes...never fails...never gives up! He loves you.

Humbly,

From Blog Signature