Dang! I did it again…
I’ve tried to get away from putting “My” in front of every blog title.
But my C.D.O. (that’s O.C.D. in alphabetical order…) makes me want everything to be consistent.
I hate that.

Anyways, moving on…

UNITE: An Evening of Worship and Prayer

Wednesday night at Coast Hills was UNITE: An Evening of Worship and Prayer and it was off the hook! The whole band and vocalists really brought the BOOMSAUCE!!

It’s so amazing to be able to come together as a church body and just focus on singing praises to God and worshipping him.

That night was very special to me as it was the first time I’ve run FOH (Front Of House. AKA, the sound board) for such a big event.

I can’t even begin to put into words how it felt to be used by God to help lead His people in worship. I literally got chills when at one point during the evening, I was looking down and making some tweaks to the mix and when I looked up everybody in the room had their hands raised and was singing out to God.

It was powerful.

Even now, I’m listening to the recording of the board mix leaves me speechless.
I can’t believe that I get to be a part of this!!

Please don’t think I’m blowing my own horn here.
The recoding isn’t perfect or anywhere close to it.
In fact, I think I made the vocal fx a little too wet during Your Great Name.
And the piano is a bit loud on Rhythms of Grace.

The fact that the mix isn’t perfect is proof that it isn’t about me.
God was worshipped and His name praised in spite of human error.
I know, I’m shocked too… ;)

But I’ll tell you what: hearing the vocalists sing and the band play, all of them pouring their hearts out and genuinely worshiping and praising God is truly awe-inspiring!

A year ago, I would never have guessed that God could use me in this way. If you would have told me what I would be doing and who I would be working with I would have thought they you crazy.

I am honestly and truly blessed beyond belief and have to pinch myself sometimes! I can’t stop raving about the team and people I get to work with. They’re some of the most talented and humble people I’ve ever met.

But what really touched me the most,
What punched me in the gut and took my breath away,
Was when I looked out at the audience during Stronger and I see my dad worshiping his face off.
I lost it.

How couldn’t I?
To see the man who I look up to looking up to God and surrendering himself broke me.

Throughout the evening we also had several times of prayer.

Time of prayer during UNITE

During one time in particular, Pastor Ken asked us all to reflect and pray and just be thankful for all that God has provided and done in our lives.

It was humbling to to really think about all that I do have going for me. It’s really my human/sin/selfish nature that allows me to dwell on everything I don’t have. I should be thankful for everything I do have! After all, I have a beautiful daughter, a great job that I love, I work with amazing/fantastic people, I have parents who love me, friends and family who are always by my side and I’m relatively healthy.

I have a lot of great things going for me.

Yet I somehow manage to always focus on the negative.

No more! From now on I will be thankful for what I have and no longer think about what I don’t.

Which, by the way, I have something else to be thankful for: a place to live in Aliso Viejo!
No more driving 40 miles a day for me!!
Looks like I’ll be moving as early as next week. w00t!

Alright, I suppose I should get to bed.

-i