I love to sing to the Lord. In fact, it's sort of my "job" right now. I'm staffing David's Tent DC, an organization that is centered around worshiping Jesus day and night for 10,000 hours. Really, we would love to have continuous worship offered up to Jesus in DC, our Capitol, until He returns. 10,000 hours is a good start. Jesus is worthy of the highest praise.
My shift is 8 pm-3 am. On a typical night I lead worship anywhere from 1-3 hours on the piano. I LOVE to sing to the Lord. I've received so much breakthrough in my ability to worship the Lord, whether it be in revelation within my heart or even my physical ability and confidence to sing boldly and prophetically to the King of kings, Jesus! The last couple of weeks have been a struggle though. My voice has been incredibly tired. I found it very difficult to rest my voice though because we were in constant need of worship leaders. So I would sing in spite of my voice being tired. I always found the Lord supplied me with His grace. My most quoted verse right now is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
My shift is 8 pm-3 am. On a typical night I lead worship anywhere from 1-3 hours on the piano. I LOVE to sing to the Lord. I've received so much breakthrough in my ability to worship the Lord, whether it be in revelation within my heart or even my physical ability and confidence to sing boldly and prophetically to the King of kings, Jesus! The last couple of weeks have been a struggle though. My voice has been incredibly tired. I found it very difficult to rest my voice though because we were in constant need of worship leaders. So I would sing in spite of my voice being tired. I always found the Lord supplied me with His grace. My most quoted verse right now is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God's grace is sufficient for me and His grace is sufficient for you, always. The past couple of days I have been completely unable to sing, although on Saturday I managed to sing for 1 hour. It was a beautiful time with the Lord, but oh was it rough on my body and my voice. I haven't sang since. I'm learning something new through "having no voice". I'll mention what I'm learning in a little bit. :)
I'm on "vocal rest" right now, and oh my goodness is it strange but good. I'm not communicating with people via my voice, but I'll write a message, I'll sign the little bit of American sign language I know, or I simply will be still and listen. It has honestly given me a new perspective. The main way I know to communicate is not an option. One of the things that my heart loves the most (singing) is not an option right now. I would by lying if I said this wasn't challenging! It is incredibly challenging, and yet I find myself enjoying this.(Strange, right?)
It is incredible how much you are able to observe and how much your mind can take in when you aren't thinking about what to say or how to respond. I cannot say anything and so instead of thinking about how to respond to someone, I listen to what they say- like I really listen to what they say. What I hear is actually reaching my heart. I'm learning about how to study the Bible, and I am HUNGRY to hear the voice of God.
He is always speaking and so I've known for a while that I need to be still and listen. Little did I think that it would take me losing my voice to get me to a place where I HAVE TO LISTEN. I greatly believe that the Lord has something He really wants me to hear and I am excited about learning to listen and especially about learning to recognize and know His voice.
When it comes to worship, I love to worship God with the piano and my voice. It's so easy to communicate my heart through songs! I understand that worship is about your heart's posture more than it's about the songs you sing, but oh am I really learning about how to worship the Lord with more than just my voice. I want to worship Him with ALL THAT I AM. I want to worship Him with the love that I have for Him, the love I have for others, with even the mundane! Whether the mundane is making my bed, washing dishes, tweeting for David's Tent, taking receipts to David's Tent, anything- I want to do it unto the Lord as an overflow of His love in me and me seeking to love Him in return! I constantly want to be worshiping the Lord with genuine love, passion and devotion.
The Lord has been asking me to dance. I'm in a season where I cannot express via my voice, but I can express via dance. Yes, I'm still nervous to dance, but oh what a joy it is to dance! I'm excited to step out in dance!!
I would LOVE to be healed right now and go into David's Tent tonight and sing out to God- God is able to do that- BUT I'm so excited about the valuable trinkets, treasures, values and lessons that I'm learning simply by not being able to speak or sing. It's such a joy. I'm communicating with Jesus in a whole new way, and it is blessing my heart and reviving my spirit. I trust the Lord, I trust His timing, I trust His will, I trust His sovereignty. He knows my heart and my heart has never felt so intertwined with His heart as it does right now. Yes, my voice hurts. Yes, the coughing is obnoxious and limits my physical rest. BUT my Jesus is so good and He has never failed me. I don't mind this sickness one bit because what I value is God's presence and the love of Jesus, and no one can take either away.
I do appreciate your continued prayer for me. I know I will be healed very soon, but in the midst of where I am now- I ask for prayer to experience the fullness of Jesus and His love for me. Please pray for my ears and heart to be opened to hear what the Lord is saying to me and to fully encounter Him. I want to make the most of this season. I do not want to miss out on one thing He has for me simply because I am "sick". I do know the importance of rest, but oh do I want Jesus. He has captivated my heart and all I want to do is run after Him with all that I am and all that I have. I love you all. Let me know how I can pray for you.
I'm on "vocal rest" right now, and oh my goodness is it strange but good. I'm not communicating with people via my voice, but I'll write a message, I'll sign the little bit of American sign language I know, or I simply will be still and listen. It has honestly given me a new perspective. The main way I know to communicate is not an option. One of the things that my heart loves the most (singing) is not an option right now. I would by lying if I said this wasn't challenging! It is incredibly challenging, and yet I find myself enjoying this.(Strange, right?)
It is incredible how much you are able to observe and how much your mind can take in when you aren't thinking about what to say or how to respond. I cannot say anything and so instead of thinking about how to respond to someone, I listen to what they say- like I really listen to what they say. What I hear is actually reaching my heart. I'm learning about how to study the Bible, and I am HUNGRY to hear the voice of God.
He is always speaking and so I've known for a while that I need to be still and listen. Little did I think that it would take me losing my voice to get me to a place where I HAVE TO LISTEN. I greatly believe that the Lord has something He really wants me to hear and I am excited about learning to listen and especially about learning to recognize and know His voice.
When it comes to worship, I love to worship God with the piano and my voice. It's so easy to communicate my heart through songs! I understand that worship is about your heart's posture more than it's about the songs you sing, but oh am I really learning about how to worship the Lord with more than just my voice. I want to worship Him with ALL THAT I AM. I want to worship Him with the love that I have for Him, the love I have for others, with even the mundane! Whether the mundane is making my bed, washing dishes, tweeting for David's Tent, taking receipts to David's Tent, anything- I want to do it unto the Lord as an overflow of His love in me and me seeking to love Him in return! I constantly want to be worshiping the Lord with genuine love, passion and devotion.
The Lord has been asking me to dance. I'm in a season where I cannot express via my voice, but I can express via dance. Yes, I'm still nervous to dance, but oh what a joy it is to dance! I'm excited to step out in dance!!
I would LOVE to be healed right now and go into David's Tent tonight and sing out to God- God is able to do that- BUT I'm so excited about the valuable trinkets, treasures, values and lessons that I'm learning simply by not being able to speak or sing. It's such a joy. I'm communicating with Jesus in a whole new way, and it is blessing my heart and reviving my spirit. I trust the Lord, I trust His timing, I trust His will, I trust His sovereignty. He knows my heart and my heart has never felt so intertwined with His heart as it does right now. Yes, my voice hurts. Yes, the coughing is obnoxious and limits my physical rest. BUT my Jesus is so good and He has never failed me. I don't mind this sickness one bit because what I value is God's presence and the love of Jesus, and no one can take either away.
I do appreciate your continued prayer for me. I know I will be healed very soon, but in the midst of where I am now- I ask for prayer to experience the fullness of Jesus and His love for me. Please pray for my ears and heart to be opened to hear what the Lord is saying to me and to fully encounter Him. I want to make the most of this season. I do not want to miss out on one thing He has for me simply because I am "sick". I do know the importance of rest, but oh do I want Jesus. He has captivated my heart and all I want to do is run after Him with all that I am and all that I have. I love you all. Let me know how I can pray for you.