For every mountain You've brought me over, For every trial You've seen me through. For Every blessing.. hallelujah. For this I give You praise. As I write this blog, this is the music being played on my tv by a choir, and I am so overwhelmed right now at the presence of the Lord. I'm watching the INSP network as they talk about the legacy that Dr. Horton from Lee University (a choir director), who recently passed away, left the world. He was not a big celebrity, he never asked for fame and glory, he just spoke into the lives of college students, many of whom are friends of mine. He taught them what worship truely looked like and just influenced them to be better.
For me, there have been many people who have influenced me over the years, beginning with my dad who taught me how to have joy in EVERY circumstance. Nothing is too hard as long as you have the Lord leading you along the way.
About 3 years ago, I ran unexpectedly into someone who would have great influence in my life in the area of Worship. I never ever would have seen myself as a worship leader today if it weren't for the incredible experiences of worship that I have had with him. He has shown me how be honest and vulnerable and real before a congegation leading them into the presence of a Holy God who knows and sees every heart and every hidden place. I believe when I am real, when I am honest in front of the congregation, it's easier for them to get real before the Lord and break down barriers that might get in the way of their own worship. I am thankful for my Worship mentor and incredible friend Mike Cowart. I know that God has GREAT things for him still....
Just one year after Mike and I met, he introduced me to someone that I can't even talk about without choking back tears. OMGosh.. if you could see me right now.... I can barely write this blog because the tears are already flowing down my face. From the moment I first saw her,I was drawn to her. I don't know why, it's almost like there was an annointing on our friendship even before we became friends. Her friendship was the very gift that I needed at the perfect time. I'm pretty sure she would say the same thing. It's funny. Even though we live so far away from each other, just knowing that she is praying for me and cheering me on, makes her feel so close. I think she was the one who said it a long time ago... "there is no distance in prayer." We've only been friends for a short time, and I believe that I can truely say that in that short time, no one has challenged me more than she has. She is a reminder of the parts of God's promises that I sometimes forget. She is an amazing mother. She is putting values into her children that challenge me to do the same. She calls me beautiful when I can't even look into the mirror. Her strength is amazing. She is going to fight to the end for what is right... she loves Jesus FIRST. She doesn't take herself seriously...which is one of my favorite things about her. I'm the same way. We love to laugh together. Jayne knows how to LIVE the zoe filled life (life to the fullest). Just a couple of weeks ago, she finally earned the right to be called Dr. I know that many things in her life will change as she begins her ministry of healing, but I am confident in this... God is going to use her to touch SOOO many lives. Not only in a physical way, but she also has this way of speaking into people's lives to challenge them to be better. She did to me and still does. I also look forward as our friendship grows this year and as I watch God continue to chisel away at both of us into what He wants us to be.
It's so great to have people who influence you. Who believe in you. Who cheer you on to be better. I'm thankful for those kind of people and can only hope that I pay it forward into someone else's life the way it's been paid into mine. I love you my friends!
