Can you imagine being the shepherds in the hills outside Bethlehem that night? Can you even fathom what they felt when their quiet nighttime reveries were interrupted by an ANGEL standing before them, and the glory of the Lord shining around them!?! Luke 2 says they were “terrified”… I’d say!
Peace is the theme of the second week of Advent, and I know that word can mean so many different things today… it brings to mind everything from “wartime ceasefire”, to “absence of conflict”, to “a state of calm and quiet”… not to mention a certain era of history characterized by long hair, tie-dye, flowers, bell-bottoms and drugs.
Did you know that the word “Advent” comes from a Latin word “adventus” meaning “coming” or “arrival”? And did you know, since Advent began to be celebrated, that the “arrival” and “coming” we celebrate is NOT just the arrival of a little baby in a manger?
The Lord has been showing me that He isn’t interested in the “best” version of me coming to make an appearance before Him. It actually doesn’t impress Him. He desires that I bring all the stuff (good and bad) into His Presence. His Presence desires my presence.
If you serve on a worship team, chances are that you’ve received feedback from somebody at some point. Feedback comes in all shapes and sizes. In any case—whether it’s a compliment or criticism—it’s vital that we steward these moments well.
It was Christmas Eve. Probably somewhere around 2010. Jason and I were scheduled to lead the songs in our church’s Christmas Eve service, which included several very-wordy traditional Christmas hymns. Phew. Good thing our church had a confidence monitor! No need to spend copious amounts of time memorizing all the verses of the songs—since they would be there for us on the screen!
As worship vocalists, it’s imperative that we walk in honor toward our leaders. Hebrews 13:17 says to “Obey your [spiritual] leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are keeping watch over your souls and continually guarding your spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of you]. Let them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would be of no benefit to you” (AMP).
If you serve on your church’s worship team, the tips in this blog are going to help you use your—and everyone else’s—time most effectively, and most importantly, help you to be a great team member!
