In The Midst Of Worship

Churches have changed quite a bit over the past decade. Which is great, of course. But one thing that does bother me about this change is how the worship services have shifted a bit in some churches. It often seems a little more like a concert than anything. And I'm not talking about the loud music or the awesome lights, but just the fact that everything is so scheduled and rehearsed rather than simply allowing the Spirit of God as he wishes. It's almost like watching a short little Christian concert just before the pastor comes up.

This month, my boyfriend decided to turn his college ministry, Scope, into a worship service gathering that meets once a week. We've only had three meetings, but so far, they've been amazing. Despite the small amount of people that have showed up.

(Praying before the first worship service of Scope)

Why did he decide to make Scope into a worship gathering? Because, worship is the time when we are changed drastically. It's when we set our eyes on God, forgetting what's around. It's when our spiritual eyes are open, when it's just you and your Father. You can't experience his presence and deny that His existence, nor can you

just "imagine" his presence, his healing love, his overwhelming sense of peace. Because it's nothing of this world.

One of my favorite verses on worship is Psalm 84:10~

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousands elsewhere."

This message translation gives a good visual of this verse, stating that~

"One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches."

It's during then, during that time of worship when we realize just how tiny our life here on earth is, and how it's not and never was about us but entirely for Him.

In his presence is when we receive strength to face each day. And it should not be just a once-a-week thing, but every moment of every day we should be worshipping our Father, studying His Word, and living our life to reflect His glory.

We experience oneness with our Father, a spiritual cleansing and renewing, the moment we allow him to take over during worship.

That very moment when we lay our burdens down at his feet and he replaces them with his grace, his love, his mercy, his peace. And it's then, only in the midst of worship, when we are truly changed.

David Crowder Band (Only You)

Writer's Inspiration

“I shall live badly if I do not write,

and I shall write badly if I do not live.”

~Francois Sagan

"God is so awesome and so multifaceted

that we need a variety of means to communicate about him.

Every genre contributes something to the wealth of fiction -

literary, mystery, historical, thriller, women's fiction,

fantasy, science fiction, contemporary, and more.

Whichever kind of fiction God calls you to write,

it can give new glimpses of him and serve his Kingdom on earth,

and that makes every day a good day for fiction."

~Sharon Hinck

"So long as you write for any other purpose than to glorify God,

you will not be writing for the right reasons.

And therefore you will not be fulfilled...

God is your audience. He is your target reader.

He holds you on His lap while He delights to hear

you read the story you wrote for Him."

~Jeff Gerke

"When we as writers take our fears, beliefs,

imaginations, and research and offer them up for the Lord to use,

we are changed, and our fiction carries the power of truth

and the fingerprints of our God on every page."

~Amy Wallace

"You hold the pen of hope and healing,

you who tell of fear and feeling.

Power to touch the jaded soul;

power to make the broken whole.

To entertain, to intertwine,

to take us back in tests and time.

Write you must - now go from here;

write and keep the Savior near.

Now, Spirit, lead us every page;

through our words, be center stage.

Give us love for those who read;

give us words so they might see.

Author God, now through your power

guide us from this very hour.

Let us tell of love and light

and grant us strength so we might write."

~Karen Kingsbury

My Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer's Conference Experience - Year 3

So, a couple weeks ago - the day after my high school graduation, to be exact - I packed my bags and left with my mom for the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer's Conference. For my third year in a row. And just so everyone knows, it gets better pretty much every year. Even though the first year was pretty exciting since that's when I met my future publisher, I learn so much from this place each year. And each year, I meet incredible people and end up coming home very inspired to continue my writing journey.

It's the best in the world. Seriously. That place makes me not want to go to another writing conference. Of course, I'm sure they're all great. But there's something about Ridgecrest... maybe the mountains... or the people... or the campus in general... that makes me feel as if I'm on vacation. Seriously.

Unfortunately I always forget to take pictures until the last day of the conference, but here's a few:

Me with Eddie Jones (my publisher at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and co-founder of Christian Devotions) and Cindy Sproles (co-founder of Christian Devotions).

Me with children book author and freelance writer, Michelle Medlock Adams.

My mom and I with best-selling author Jim Rubart. Read his books. Seriously. You won't be able to put them down.

This is my friend Katy and I at the banquet. I am very, very thankful for her and her family. They helped me my first year at this conference when I was pretty much clueless. Not to mention, if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have known to sign up for more than one appointment my first year. And one of those appointments just happened to be with my publisher. =) Click here for Katy's amazing blog.

Me with comedian, actor, and Adventures in Odyssey writer, Torry Martin. Oh my goodness, I've never laughed that hard listening to a speaker. Not only was he hilarious, but his classes were amazing. He's an extremely talented guy.

Here's a list of some of my favorite quotes from

the conference classes I attended:

"We're in spiritual warfare.

We're going to enemy's camp

and snatching souls.

Speak their message so clearly

that they see how attractive Jesus is

and they run to him."

~Rusty Wright

"God can use us,

however it's not our responsibility to save them

but to love them and plant seeds...

Focus on that and it'll be easier."

~Rusty Wright

"The first key to writing is to listen,

because you want to simply to listen to your imagination.

Stop thinking so hard that you can't think

what your imagination is telling you."

~Ann Tatlock

"In the world but not of the world

does not mean we should stay away from culture.

Not being in the midst of culture

means that we have given up the battle."

~Zena Dell Lowe

"Our goal should be to cause people

to seek greater truth when reading our story.

The story will cause people to look inward at themselves,

which will look at their sin,

which will lead them to God...

It will cause them to look for something higher.

Realization of sin always leads to God."

~Zena Dell Lowe

"Humility is where everything starts as Christian.

To be like Christ. He hates pride

and wants humility for his children.

Jesus came to earth as s helpless baby

who has to be taken care of by his own creation."

~Caleb Breakey

"Did God go to a Bible school to find his disciples?

No. He looked for humble fisherman."

~Caleb Breakey

"The closer you get to your breakthrough in writing,

the more Satan will try to attack."

~Jim Rubart