Refuel Conference is here!! I have been excited about this opportunity to lead worship. There will be a few hundred people there who work with students at their churches. What a great way to pour into leaders! There has been a little change in schedule so I actually get to lead tonight and then tomorrow morning as well. I will post some pictures up later! Pray for healing, purpose, vision, and renewed passion in the hearts of everyone in attendance!
-G-
There is a Bear Rock Cafe in Fort Myers, Florida that I used to go to quite a bit before we left. IT WAS AMAZING!! My friend Lou runs it. Go to it. You will love the food and the environment.
Well today I went to lunch at a Bear Rock Cafe here in Charlotte. It made me miss Lou's place in Florida. This version up here is just not good. I don't know why but I was unimpressed. Oh well. Now I know!
-G-
This morning before our staff meeting, we took staff pictures. We have a formal and a casual shot. If you know anything about me, you know that I am not really formal. I like the casual. I tend to shop places like Buckle and urban outfitters, not so much Jos. A Bank.
So I'm sweating bullets cuz I don't own ties. I have one that came in a pack with a shirt that I bought last year. Other than that, nada. So I walk in and everyone starts in on me. They were all giving me the trash. The only thing that saved me was someone else bringing an extra tie. I watched a video once about how to tie a full windsor. Well I forgot. So I had to get someone to tie it for me. Overall, very funny experience. I hope you all enjoy that picture because you won't see me in another tie for a while!
-G-
Great day at church yesterday on many levels.
Our Senior Pastor, Dr. Joe Brown, was awarded the Heritage Award from the NC Baptist Association. This award means that he is pretty much the man of the year in the state. Pretty cool. Congrats Dr. Brown!
We were honored to have our Co Pastor, Clint Pressley, back with us to preach. It's always a pleasure to serve along a leader with incredible vision and passion for God's people and God's church.
We had a couple of newbies playing with us last night. James and Andrew Talbot are amazing guys and super talented. They joined with the other guys in the band to lead in worship for our evening service. Good times were had by all.
Beth Gromis blew it up yesterday when she sang "SOON" by Hillsong. It was a perfect song for her and it fit really well in the service.
Lots of things to be proud of from yesterday. But still the most important thing is that we came to the Father with hearts wide open. We were ready to receive. God was glorified during our services!
Set List:
Soon-Hillsong
Mighty to save-Hillsong
Your love never fails-Jesus Culture
Spring of Life-Stanfill
My heart will trust-Hillsong
-G-
So this title is a little misleading…
I used to be on the road but not anymore. But this is kinda cool to load up and drive a long way with a couple of guys and lead worship. We got in around 4 this morning so we were all a little tired. We went to Eagle's View Academy and set up and played. God was huge.
The speaker opened it up after he finished talking and students flooded the front. It was awesome to see students praying for each other, teachers praying for students, etc.
This will be a day for many of the students that will go down as the day their lives changed forever.
Glory to God!
Can't wait for tomorrow!
Set List:
All because of Jesus
Salvation is here
Everlasting God
Glory to God/The Stand
Give us clean hands
-G-
Yesterday was a great day in the house.
God moved in our services.
His people worshipped.
We are in the process of making some changes that affect the services. These are things that you may not even see, but some behind the scenes changes are in progress.
Now that our services are online, there is some added pressure. Things may need to look and sound a little more sharp and crisp. These are things that our team has noticed and is finding solutions.
The refining process is not always pleasant, but always necessary. That is the part of leadership that sometimes get hard. With honesty and hard work leading the way, people will follow. I, by no means, am saying that I do everything the right way, but we can all get it right with those two things.
Sarah, one of our singers, sang How He Loves. It was an incredible time of worship. There was a different response from the two different services. Sometimes from the worship leader's perspective, a lack of outward expression can be mistaken for lack of connection to God. Rest assured that He is doing exactly what He wants to do. We can't force worship, nor should we even try. God will be honored in the hearts of His people. Anyways, Sarah did a great job.
Set list:
My savior Lives-Desperation Band
Everlasting God-Brenton Brown
From the inside out-Hillsong United
How He Loves-Kim Walker version/Jesus Culture
Amazed-Lincoln Brewster
-G-
Part 4 of this leadership series is an eye opener!
A leader who has followers is insecure…
A leader who reproduces is secure…
Which one are you?
Really think about this one. Are you totally secure in who you are in Christ? Christ is where security and significance is found.
Insecurity is caused by selfishness. It carries that "I matter" mentality. Therefore, if it is not all about you, somehow things are wrong.
Security is, on the other hand, caused by selflessness. Security is knowing that it all relies on God and not me. Security wants the best for the Kingdom, not ourselves.
Insecurity:
"What can I do so people notice me?"
Security:
"How can I lift up someone else in this situation?"
Insecurity:
"Why are my needs not getting met?"
Security:
"How can I meet others' needs?"
Insecurity:
"Why is this happening to me?"
Security:
"How will God reveal Himself?"
Ashamedly, I admit that I am insecure at times. I find myself asking these questions. Remember, this is not for me to tell anyone else how to do certain things. This is for me as well. I desire to be secure in Christ as a leader. This is my journal in the journey.
Find security in Christ today. Ask Him to show you steps to lead you away from insecurity. Do that today…maybe even now…
Become secure. Reproduce leaders.
-G-
Prayer is huge.
Leonard Ravenhill writes in Why Revival Tarries, "The Cinderella of the church of today is the prayer meeting. This handmaid of the Lord is unloved and unwooed because she is not dripping with the pearls of intellectualism, nor glamorous with the silks of philosophy; neither is she enchanting with the tiara of psychology. She wears the homespuns of sincerity and humility and is so not afraid to kneel!
I have an accountability that I have to answer to about my prayer time.
Needless to say, my prayer time has grown.
Then God reveals more of Himself in those times of prayer, which makes me want to pray more.
Funny how that works, huh?
So today, how can we pray for each other?
-G-
