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Art and Soul

11 Apr

In our pursuits for Christ and deep study of theology, we run the risk of becoming serious, legalistic, religious, conservative, dry and judgmental.

One very potent guard against this risk is basking in the beauty of art – music, poetry, animation, and everything made to express an emotion or idea. Don’t forget how to FEEL while searching for Christ. Don’t forget to desire, dream, love, sing, dance, spin, scream and cry. It’s a good thing to be moved and inspired.

Thank you Arcade Fire and Pixar for reminding me of this.

What inspires you?

Beautiful Things

9 Feb

Last night, Mark and I had the opportunity to be inspired again. Inspiration is breath for your dreams. It’s the lifeblood of your hopes.  The funny thing about inspiration though is that you must act upon it immediately for it to have any effect on your dreams or else it becomes a cold wind of despair and dried up bones…just a hope that cannot possibly become a reality. Inspiration can even become bitterness – “how can they be so successful at it and not me?”.

So, what am I going to do with this beautiful thing called inspiration? I’m going to hide it in my heart and make 3 changes today:

  1. Pray more
  2. Practice more
  3. Love more

It sounds simple, but really, these are the things that I neglect everyday. I know that if I’m faithful to do these things, the Lord will direct my steps and my works to align with His will. Be inspired today and make a change now.

A Moment In Time – My MJ Tribute

29 Jun

Michael Jackson was more than a celebrity in my home while I was growing up. He was a part of our lives…my life.

  • He was the first musician I loved and whose album I bought on my own.
  • I learned to dance to Billy Jean, Triller, Bad, and Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough.
  • I knew how to moon walk before I was 10.
  • Some of the best memories from my childhood were spent with my family dancing and goofing off with MJ playing the background.
  • I got to stay up late to watch the world primere of “Black or White” and “Remember the Time” – I thought music videos as we knew them were changed forever.
  • I have watched the entire Smooth Criminal video over 100 times.
  • I spent a whole summer skating to the nearest USPS box to drop off a letter every day to MJ. I sent the letters to Neverland Ranch…I never got a response.
  • I felt special to share a birthday with MJ – August 29th (I didn’t think it was just a coincidence)

Now that he’s actually gone, it brings a very surreal feeling to me. I feel like he’s actually been dead for a long time or he’s some ancient artist that never really existed during my time – like Elvis or the Beatles. I was never waiting for him to release a new song that was going to change my life. Most of the music I loved from him was made before I was born or just a child.

The Michael Jackson that I loved was not the Michael Jackson that died last Thursday. The Michael Jackson I loved has been gone for a long time. So…I didn’t cry much (only once), I don’t watch any of the commemorative TV specials, and I don’t care if people make crude jokes about MJ. His music will still have a place in my heart the same way it has my whole life.

Married Ministry

22 Dec

Mark and I share an incredible ministry together. Every Wednesday night, we lead a young generation to the throne room where we join in with the angels and worship our everlasting God. It is incredibly satisfying, challenging and overwhelming all at once.

However, what Mark and I do on Wednesday nights is just a small part of what Mark does at the church. You see, Mark works at our church…and I don’t. He gets to plan, write music, and cast vision all day long while I’m sitting in my 6′x8′ cubicle blogging, preparing reports, and writing emails.

I’m still trying to find where I fit into the whole ministry since I don’t actually work there. And the hard truth that I am coming to terms with is – I don’t fit in all of it.

There is a portion of the ministry that Mark and I do together and there is a portion that Mark will do with other people. I am learning to share the load and share my husband with a team…but it’s proving to be quite a hard lesson for me.

Thriller – MJ I love you

31 Oct

Something you didn’t know about me: I used to be obsessed with Michael Jackson. I’m talking about real obsession. I wrote letters to him at Neverland Ranch EVERYDAY and skated to the nearest mail box to mail it – EVERYDAY (this was before Neverland was a known ”hotbed” for bad behavior with little boys). I was bummed when the MJ took a turn for the “strange and unacceptable”. I was really pulling for him and Lisa Marie.

I know the words to most of the songs and every Halloween I still love to watch Thriller – the best music video of all time.

Oh MJ – now everyday is Halloween for you. Your face is your mask and your antics your costume. We will never be able to delight in your superior dance move, moon walk, spin/kick, glittery glove, jerry curled music ever again. At least we still have Thriller…

I Wish I Could…

24 Oct
  • sing like an angel
  • relate better to my friends when they are going through hard times
  • be more knowledgeable about Scripture
  • listen better – much better (sorry Mark for the constant interruptions)
  • win $1,000,000 playing McDonald’s Monopoly
  • start my own business
  • lose 15 lbs.

The funny thing about this list is that only one of these things requires luck…the rest, I just need to work at. I can do it. I know I can. SUCCESS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO EFFORT. Luck is for losers (even though I did win a $50 gas card) - and the rest is in our hands to work hard and become everything we ever dreamed of.

In My Wildest Dreams

8 Oct

I think and talk about dreaming a lot. Many people talk about the importance of dreaming big and what they hope to be one day.  

I have been thinking really hard about what I want to be “when I grow up.” What would I do in my wildest dreams? What would I be if my biggest dream came true. The answer…unfiltered and without excuse: A stay at home mom.

WHAT?!?! You heard me.

It sounds so mundane and I can’t believe it myself. I have always been a big dreamer – destined for fame I’m sure! It’s really hard for me to even admit this to myself much less a blog post. I have been labeled the eternal working girl on the fast track to a successful carreer.

But, I have finally come to terms with my simple and humble dream. I am consumed by thoughts of starting a family and being able to stay at home with a baby. Cooking, cleaning, volunteering at my local church and buying an apron. More than ministry, writing, starting my own business, or leading the next generation in worship (by the way, those are my other dreams).

What would you do in your wildest dreams???

RANDOM: Embarrassing iTunes

22 Sep

Totally random…I was just writing a very serious blog post and “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred came up on my iTunes Shuffle…why do I even own this song!?!?!!  I’m so embarrassed.

I totally lost my will and concentration to finish writing my serious blog post and decided to ask this very important question:

What song is on your iTunes that you are embarrassed of?

 

Oh my goodness…”Another Night” by The Real McCoy just came on my shuffle. What is happening in my life right now!?!

SLEEPOVER!!!!

11 Sep

I announced last night that we will be having an
ALL GIRLS CATALYST SLEEPOVER
at my house tomorrow night right after the Re:zound concert (pray for me!):

Prepare Ye the Way

4 Sep

Reading through the old testament is laborious in some parts. I was drudging through the details God gave Moses for building the tabernacle to hold the Ark of the Covenant (wanting to skip over most of it). Every detail, down to the thread color was instructed by God. I thought, “God, what can I possibly learn from this?”

Then, just as I asked, I realized that God cares about how we worship Him. God wants us to prepare our “tabernacle” to worship Him. He specified the wood, thread, dimensions, linen and colors for the tabernacle that would hold His presence! He did this for a reason.

If our hearts are tabernacles…if we really want God to show up at our church services…then, are we sure that we are prepared for God to really show up? Are we asking God how He would like our hearts to look? Are we concerned about the details?

How do we get our hearts and services ready to worship God…PRAY and READ the bible before you get to your church service. REPENT and FORGIVE before you go to worship God. He cares about this stuff…He wrote pages and pages of specific details and instructions for worshiping Him and honoring Him. Too often we throw out the old testament since we are under a new covenant…but the old covenant is a reflection of how our hearts should look now.

What is the thread color of your heart?

Music & Politics

28 Aug

What a week so far and we still have the largest event still coming up: Barak’s speech at Invesco Field at Mile High. We will be watching history as the first African American will be nominated for President of the United States of America…not to mention some AWESOME entertainment in the stadium:

  • Yonder Moutain String Band
  • Stevie Wonder
  • Sheryl Crow
  • And rumored Bruce Springsteen & Bon Jovi (Mark only agreed to go because of Springsteen)

Pictures to come from Mark’s iPhone!

The Right Now

13 Aug

How do you chase your dreams?…

I’ve been struggling with this question lately. I have huge dreams and not sure what to do to bring them to reality. I’m realizing that all I need to do is: Live in the “right now”.

Do everything I can do right this moment – TODAY – to live for God, to follow his commandments, to love people.

That’s how you do it. That’s it.

My dreams include writing a wedding resource guide. Being a mom. Being a wife. Leading worship. Leading young women. Being a daughter. Being a home owner. Reaching the desperate and lost. Owning my own company.

I can do about 90% of the things that I listed TODAY. The other dreams will come if I stay faithful today. If I push ahead RIGHT NOW on what God has already given me.

DREAM BIG, BECAUSE DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE!

Oh yeah…if you were wondering, the Pickle Juice Sno-Cone was delicious (maybe bringing pickle juice sno-cones to the world will be how I make my millions…):

Isn't it beautiful? 

Hey, it’s OK…

29 Jul
  • to want to each lunch at 10:30 am (that’s why the menu at BK switches over then…)
  • to not give money to every school fundraiser that people at work bring for their kids
  • to let the laundry sit in the dryer for a day even if it means all of my clothes will be wrinkled
  • to not like every worship song – yes, it’s all for God, but we all have our favorites and least favorites
  • to buy something stupid just because it’s by the cash register
  • to not like every song my husband likes- sorry babe
  • to want to watch The Dark Knight again even though I already saw it twice
  • to be nervous about my parents moving to town even though I know it will be great, i’m still nervous
  • to get used to drinking diet coke
  • to fight for what I want
  • to speak up
  • to be honest

Now you…

Live Life Like You Are Free

17 Jul

What if I lived life like I was free? Free from addictions, depression, anxiety, worry, tempation, distraction, sin, hurts, lies and fear…

What would my life look like? What could I accomplish if I would just believe I am free and lived like it? I will undoubtedly screw things up, but what if I could get up – brush myself off – and live like I am free again??

I could do anything…literally ANYTHING! I would have the hope of all of the world in my heart.

Last night, we sang a song shouted an anthem…it simply went: “WE SHOUT IT OUT – WE’RE FREE”

This anthem is a declaration and a kick in Satan’s face – and today I am deciding to live like I’m free (judiFREE)

JudiFREE being FREE (taken at Catalyst right after our anthem shouting)

JudiFREE being FREE (taken at Catalyst right after our anthem shouting)

Do it…

4 Jul

…listen to Mark’s song which has been revolutionizing our worship at church:

It’s simple, beautiful and so full of what God has done for us. Listen til the end – it’s worth it. 

Mark wrote this song about our great loss back in February and it captures what God did for us during that difficult time.

Happy 4th Ya’ll!

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