All Three for the Purpose of One!

So yesterday, was that BIG day I had talked about. The day where I lead worship for a huge congregation in three different services. Three different tones, three different times of mistakes, three different groups of people out there, three different reactions, but it was all there for one purpose. That purpose was the purpose of bringing praise to God and thanking him for all He has done for us.

As you know, the day before yesterday was a stressful one, but I learned how to just let God work through me and to take that fear and make it useful and to show His glory through it all. So let me quickly run you through yesterday morning... and maybe, if there is time, tell you about my night with the 79th Annual Academy Awards!!!

So I began the day with an early morning... 4:30 am. I got up got ready and got dressed. I just want to mention that I wore this awesome tie. I'll try and take a photo of it and post it. I think it's possibly one of the most awesomeness I've seen of a tie yet. Anywho, I ended up at Grandview Baptist at around 6:30 am... and was the first person there. All the lights were off and I waited for our bassist to come because the doors were locked and I was the one that had a key to the place. We walked to the Worship Centre and just chatted about stuff. After about ten or fifteen minutes, the other band and tech members began to arrive.

7 am and we began rehearsal with a prayer and got right into practicing our transitions for the worship songs. We had so many that it took us literally until 8 am or even past 8 am to finish practice. I was feeling a bit frustrated because it seemed as if I wasn't understanding when anything was going to happen and how things transitioned into others. But eventually I got a hang of it. We went to another room for prayer right before and start the first service at 8:15. I was nervous and anxious, but was trying to keep my cool. I don't fully enjoy public speaking in front of big crowds, eventhough I used to be good at it when I was younger.

I fumbled over my scripture verses, didn't talk loud enough, kept my eyes closed sometimes (so I wasn't engaging the audience) and didn't properly introduce myself while the offering was passed around. I wasn't too worried about it all surprisingly now that I look back. I was excited and thought it went quite well. There was just one problem with that service there was this subtle music playing on a CD and it was in our monitors. I feed off the others (as I believe many people do), but specifically off the band. When the band feels it, I give more. But with this sound coming through they weren't really into it as much and so I wasn't able to feed off of them more than I could have, but it was all good... I thought it still went well. The congregation was pretty much stoic the whole time, but I didn't care because I was happy praising God. Service ended with a BANG! and the worship pastor, the producer and I at a quick meeting to discuss what we can do to make it the better for the next service.

We fixed words, we fixed the sound and the band was engaged, as well as the crowd. I fumbled my scripture verses again, and skipped a section of the song, but it was great because I was beginning to get the hang of it. I was beginning to not need my piece of paper that had all the words that was going to say. I was being able to relax and become more confident and just be myself. A little jumping and a little crazy (black singing) vocals, which I was SWEET! and yeah we ended that on a definite positive note. It went phenomenally. People came up to me and said that they loved the worship set and that I did an amazing job. Great encouragement and as much as I don't like hearing it, I have to admit it definitely boosted the confidence in myself and knew that I could relax more.

Third service hit and we were on. I read the scriptures fine and I lead the congregation much better. I had a blast and I know others did too. Besides one tiny fault, the lead guitarist forgot the beginning of Mighty to Save. It went awesome. I also did more "black singing" vocals. and I was happy.

It ended and I was poopeded... so I went home and took a nap. I'm not going to talk about the OSCARS because 24 just started and I'm missing the first 2 minutes ending this blog so yeah!

L8s, latex and all that love stuff
nathizz