Well I finally figured out how to log into this blog again which is really exciting! Anyways... On thursday and friday we had to attend lecture series for one of our classes. My favorite part of this years lecture series was learning about the country of Kosovo. It was so interesting that most of their population is under the age of 30. I think it would be a really cool place to visit because they have only been a country for a couple of years. It was also interesting to hear that the guy who spoke was part of the only Christian band in the country. That is crazy to me since we have so many in the USA. They really challenged us to be mission minded and use our gifts to further God's Kingdom. It was exciting to hear the good things that are going on around the world. It also reminded me how we can have a huge impact on the world by allowing ourselves to be used.

Another cool thing that happened this week was the 24 hour worship event at Visible Music College. It was an amazing time of encountering our Savior and lifting up the Name of the Lord. Everyone who lead did a great job of listening to the Spirit and pointing us to the things of God. I especially enjoyed spending time in the prayer room. It was a space where I could relax and easily focus on communicating with God. I need to spend more time in prayer because it totally refreshed me.

Kairos Moment

Kairos Moment:

I took classical piano lessons growing up and hated it like most kids do. However, my mom could see I had a gift in music so she forced me to attend lessons. The only reason I liked going is because she always brought me through white castle after my lesson. This was very special for me because I was the only one that liked White Castle in my family and it was the only time I ate fast food. I know they are disgusting but sometimes I crave one of those hot sliders haha!! Anyways, this went on for years and finally one day I was crying to my mom in the car and I said “all I want to be able to do is worship while playing the piano.” She must have liked that answer because after that we were determined to find someone who could teach me chords and how to lead a congregation into worship. We came in contact with this lady named Abby Lopez who is an incredible polish musician who had a heart for worship and the church. She was an answer to prayer. She taught me Chords, how to lead vocally, and a guitar.

All this was going on when I was in junior high. I was about 13 and that is an extremely hard age for young girls at least it was for me. I struggled with self esteem issues and also just trying to figure out who I was. I had a desire to do the things of the Lord but I didn’t spend time in the word on my own and my idea of a good worship time was singing songs that I liked. I soon learned that singing songs I liked wasn’t worship at all. One lesson I was sitting with Abby and she told me to sing out to the Lord whatever was on my heart. I got extremely embarrassed and said I had nothing to say. She then stated that I have a lot to say and that I should do what she asked. She would always come off very aggressive because her first language is polish so she didn’t spend time thinking about how to say things in a nice way. I have to add that I was very emotional at 13. People could just give me a weird look and I would start crying. Needless to say I was all choked up and embarrassed that I had nothing to say/ sing out to the Lord because I wasn’t confident in who he was in my life. A week or two later I was at a the Mighty to Save Hillsong Concert and we were singing the song “Fire Fall Down” and for the first time I truly had a desire to know the Lord and let the Holy Spirit invade my life completely. I remember standing there completely unaware of my surroundings just praying that God would use my mouth to express his goodness and truths in my everyday life. That was a moment of transformation. I experienced the Lord in a new way.

The next week when I came to lesson I was singing out new melodies and truths about the Lord and Abby was shocked. She asked me what Happened and I explained to her that I wasn’t really sure what happened but that the Lord had answered my prayer and broke me of my pride. I knew who he was and I was confident in who He made me to be. After that experience I had a desire to read His word and become more like him. I started memorizing scripture and sharing the goodness of the Lord with my friends. I am forever changed by that moment when I acknowledged the Holy Spirit living in me and started allowing Him to act through me.

This was the verse I have lived by ever since.

1 Timothy 4:11-16

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

In Class on Thursday we learned how to run a sound board! Yikes ;) This was something I have never even touched before because technology and I have an extremely hard time getting along. Anyways it was so good for me to learn and understand how it works. I hope everyone in class enjoyed me singing "baby" for at least 15 min! haha

Leadership

I learned so much about leadership in class on thursday!
It was really interesting because we started off the conversation talking about how leadership is a skill not a gift. It is something that is learned. The best leaders are the best followers. Being a follower means that you have to work on being confident, credible, and compassionate. Those things only come if you have taken the time to follow and learn from other people.

This lesson really excited and challenged me because I feel like I am becoming a good follower by getting a chance to learn under Josh... He has gained so much wisdom from following others and I am so lucky to get to learn under him! Our ultimate goal is to follow Christ right? and he is the greatest example of how to be a fantastic leader by following God the Father.

I was just reading Hebrews 12 and the last two verses were a great reminder to me of what our worship should look like..
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptable with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." mmmmmmmm scripture is  amazing!

Philippians 2

Everyone should read Philippians 2!! so good :) It's about Imitating Christ's Humility..... read verses 1-11 at least ;)

Being a Selfless Leader :)

Class on thursday was just incredible. I learned so much and was challenged in ways I had never thought of before. One idea that Josh talked about was that we don't get to be ourselves all the time when we start leading at a new church. It involves a ton of self sacrifice. So many times I try to come in with all my new ideas and my own style instead of first adjusting myself to what they are used to and then slowly adding in some things that may be different. I would hate for the congregation to feel discomfort and like they don't belong to their home church anymore just because they got a new worship leader... Is my comfort more important then the congregation feeling comfort and trust in the leadership? very interesting! :) "I could either be the big leader in the dessert or I can lead the people to the promise land!" Pick up your cross.. suffer for their sake - awesome idea!

 
Another idea that I really grabbed hold of was Faithfulness and commitment in the long run. Don’t be so quick to find a place that would be a good fit for you but find a place where you could be faithful. They need someone to care for them. Rarely we get to choose the people we are leading so it is important that we recognize that we are there to serve. Basically don't be selfish. I am very selfish when it comes to worship leading I just discovered! But i am so excited to work on the things that have been exposed now.

The last thought I want to talk about was allowing older men and women of God to teach me. Even if there are things I don't agree with there are many things that I can learn through allowing them to teach me. I am young and I am excited about maturing in my faith through this class and others around me! This is going to be a great year! :)

Ephesians 5: 19-21
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

God's Slave

So on my phone one of my apps gives me a verse of the day and today's was 1 Peter 2: 15-16 and it says "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slave" wow.... pretty challenging hu?! The whole idea of not using my freedom as a cover up for evil really made me stop and think. Too many times I think I'm doing pretty good but do I really consider myself as God's slave? I am going to really have to pray into that.... I am praying this week that I would desire that identity. I would love to be God's slave more then anything but that means that I am going to be challenged and stretched in ways that I cant even imagine... let's do it!

On Sunday I got the opportunity to go to saint jude hospital and pray for a sweet one year old named levi! He has a tumor right in the middle of his brain :( it was the saddest thing... but it was amazing to see the faith of the family and I was so encouraged by his mom! She was constantly exalting the Lord for the blessings that they have seen even through this hard time. It really made me think about how blessed I am with my health but also appreciate the strength of that little boy. He is a little soldier!

This morning I got to hear Dr. Sanchez speak during the worship time at my school and I loved what he had to say. I was so impressed by his wisdom. One of the things that really stuck out to me is when he was talking about the amazing relationship between The Lord and David. It's obvious in scripture that David was not perfect yet he was a man after God's own Heart. I would love to be known as a someone after God's own heart. That is so cool! anyways... I'm not very good at blogging yet but I'm sure I will get better! love you all! :)

Getting Started!

Hey Guys! I am starting this blog mainly to discuss what I am learning about class and get your input. I am excited to have a place where I can share what the Lord is doing in my life and hopefully through that encourage other people. I am also excited to learn from everyone else so feel free to comment :)