Bloom
Where You Are Planted
I should tell you a little about the way that I write songs. Most of them are written in the secret place. Some of these songs were birthed through times of trials, sadness, joy, and pain. If He tells me to release them, I give them to the congregation. I truly do. I never push the songs I write on the congregation, Music Company , or the team, because I’ll let God do that. God has at times birthed songs right on the platform, and that’s always cool when He gives them to me that way. For me there is always a vulnerability when I introduce my songs to the public. I can’t explain it, but I figure it keeps me humble before the Lord. The main thing is to be obedient.
On another note, it is not wise to always do “in-house” stuff. We need to listen to other styles and influences so that we stay connected to the other musicians that play around the throne of God. What would the world do with the Parachute Band, Integrity Music, Vineyard Music and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, just to name a few? If you do your homework, you’ll see that God is breathing on these influences and many others I have not named. So, introduce your congregation to other streams and influences.
At our church we have a wide variety of music and that keeps the “music meal” interesting. Look at it this way, your “home grown music” is the dessert. The message in the madness is that if God has given you songs for your congregation, give it to them.
God will give you songs of deliverance for your congregation, He will birth in you the songs of spiritual warfare that need to be sung at the appropriate times. He will give you songs of refreshing, encouragement, peace, and healing when He wills it to be so. All we have to do is listen for the songs that are sung around the throne. We need only to remain in intercession for the congregation that God has given to us and the songs will flow.
I have since been released to visit other churches and be involved with my network of worship pastors and leaders. It brings me great joy to participate in Praise and Worship with others in the body of Christ. I can visit other churches and not be concerned if we are doing the right songs or if God is showing up or moving mightily across town.
I didn’t lose anything by staying at my church for a season, for when I visited the other churches, I found we were all in the same place. Sometimes we were singing the same songs and seeking God for the same thing, “Show us Your Face, Lord.” You see, God does not work that way. He wants to show up and spend time with His children, especially if we have invited Him into our churches.
I heard an audiotape of A.W. Tozer recorded in the 1940’s speaking about the revealed presence of God and the omnipresence of God. He said, “The omnipresence of God is everywhere in the worst church and in the best church. But the revealed presence of God was manifested in Jesus Christ and the extent to which the revealed presence of God is strongest is how much Jesus in our sermons, our songs and in the lives of the believers.” (paraphrased)
Let’s fill our churches with the power of God and reveal Him in truth by living a lifestyle of worship unto Him. The true revival fire is Jesus Christ! Make your church a watering hole for a thirsty saint or sinner needing a fill up.
User Opinions:
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Bloom
Sister Debbi,I praise and thank God for using you to speak to me as well as to other worship leaders. I am encouraged and blessed by your articles and the timely relevance they always have for me as a worship leader. This article has reminde...more
Submitted by: Dasha
Location: Richmond
This Article
This article spoke directly to me. We are in a interesting place at church, not ideal but very interesting. We have a variety of musical tastes represented, but still a few who hold out that theirs is best. Nevertheless, we have a very happy and ...more
Submitted by: Sylvia
Location: Kentucky
Bloom
Dear Sister Debbi:Thank you for a wonderful article. I am all for expression of diversity in music ministry worship. This is how I order my personal praise and worship time daily at home.I am very much a Richard Smallwood, Daryl Coley, Kirk ...more
Submitted by: Alice
Location: Newark/ East Orange, NJ
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This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.