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?

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.

• 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.

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.

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…

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.

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???

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!?!

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?