The ministry of music....

Music has always been a huge part of my life and God has used that medium to speak and minister to my soul...I am so thankful my parents allowed us to take piano for years; I started singing in children's choir at church when I was little and continued to sing as a teenager and adult, in choirs and ensembles. I am so grateful I learned the great hymns of our faith and I'm so grateful I've been exposed to some incredible worship music that started bursting on the scene in the 90's.

Over the years I've had powerful moments of worship with so many wonderful artists...groups, choirs and individuals...reminisce with me and see if any of these are familiar to you...
-Evie
-Sandi Patty; Sandy Patti
-Dallas Holm
-The Statler Brothers
-The Gaithers
-Michael W. Smith
-Amy Grant (prior to her marriage to Vince Gill)
-Wes King
-Kathy Trocoli
-Kim Boyce
-Dennis Jernigan
-DC Talk
-Steve Green
-Keith Green
-Phil Keaggy
-Rich Mullins
-Take 6
-Carman
...then in the late 90s the Brownsville Revival broke out in Florida...I was so close to going down there for one of the services; not going is something I've really regretted....but an UNBELIEVABLE worship CD was produced
-Hillsong
-Travis Cottrell
-Chris Tomlin
-Jeremy Camp
-Third Day
-Steven Curtis Chapman
-North Point Church
-Mercy Me
-Casting Crowns
-The Passion Series...and I want to attend one of those events as well....nothing beats worshiping the Creator of the Earth with thousands of other believers!!
---and I know I've left many others off this list...

I am so thankful that God has used those people to minister to me in my time of need, and just during some great moments of joy....it's hard for me to imagine not having music or not liking music...or not singing...when the Bible is FULL of verses that tell us to lift up our voices; praise His Name; dance a dance of joy; lift our hands and voices in adoration to the One who gave all so I could live.

I also had the privilege of attending Kanakuk Kamp, (http://www.kanakuk.com/)
for four years as a child/teen, and then for two summers as a counselor in college. We had the most amazing worship each night; and that is where I heard for the first time, praise and worship music. And from there, in high school I was involved with K-Life Bible studies led by godly college-aged men and women; and Icthus Bible studies in college where we had the best time, sitting around in someone's apartment, singing and praying.....powerful stuff.
And today, there is hardly anything more precious to me than when I hear one of my girls start singing praise songs to their Savior. I am just so thankful for ALL the different opportunities God has given me...to see the world, experience different people, jobs, environments; different types of churches and Bible studies; and to relish in His incredible creativity expressed through His most prized creation...people.

Happy Fourth! As I hear the sound of firecrackers outside my window, I can hear a symphony in my head. Thank You, Lord, for music and what it has meant to me and how rich and wonderful it makes living life here on earth.