Chapter 7

If you're not spiritually and mentally prepared to lead people into worship it can easily lead people astray or distract from the real purpose of worship. Also, being in the word daily will help keep your relationship with God strong so you are able to help strengthen others while leading worship. This is most important because talents and abilities can only go so far. 

I completely agree with this chapter that staying active in Gods word is most important for leading worship and living a life that honors God. I think that if we remain consistent in being active in the word our relationship with God could be more thriving or active then ever before. 

Chapter 6

The author starts of by talking about how in this society we are trained and raised I the mind of thanklessness. So often we take for granted the gift that God gave to I us over 2,000 years ago when he sent his son to die a criminals death in place for us. "Understanding and meditating on the Lords marvelous love for us with help make us a thankful people. It's amazing how when we change our attitude from a mindset of complaining to thankfulness we can live our life with the joy of the Lord as our strength.
I like this chapter because it's so close to thanksgiving and it gets me in the mindset of living a life full of thankfulness. I think that if we live in the mindset of thankfulness that we can truly experience the joy of the Lord in a new way.

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God, steady my heart.
When this world seems to be spinning more that my feet can stand upon. And the whispers never cease screaming over the only logical part my mind can comprehend, filling it with deceit and darkness.
God, steady my mind.
When distraction seems to overtake your sweet, gentle whisper. Let me focus on the only thing that is never changing but is an always constant.
God, give me peace.
When circumstances crash over me like a destructive tidal wave only crashing and never relenting until it seeks death. Let me focus my eyes specifically on you, lifting me up to walk on the waves you already designed for me to conquer, knowing that I was predestined for greatness.
You stepped out of eternity to enter time. The hands that held the stars cared enough to bury my scars and bottle every tear I cry.
God, give me wisdom.
When this world acts as a puppeteer as I as the puppet. Let me clothe myself in your armor to fight off the evil one. You called me out of darkness into your marvelous light so I could walk in the life you lived to change the world for your glory.

Chapter 5: Living a Life of Worship

Living a life of worship should co e before leading a congregation into worship. We cannot live our lives however we want and then expect to come in Sunday morning being fully ready to lead people into worship. God doesn't call for worship he calls worshippers. It talks about in Acts 16 how Paul was in prison and throughout being beaten, mocked, and totrured he continued to worship God through all of it. We need to continue worshipping God daily, so that hae storms come our way we will respond in acts of pure, uncensored worship. 

I like this because so often we can be caught up in the craziness of life and forget that we need to worship, and then when sunday comes we can get caught off guard. Worshipping God is our reason for existence. 

Chapter 4: Having a Levitical Heart

The writer starts out by talking about how the Levite's did everything to give all the glory to God. God is not only looking for talented musicians to glorify his name, but once with pure hearts and pure intentions. "The essence of our existence is not to DO but to BE for his glory." When giving our selfs fully and completely to God  we shouldn't have any conditions or restrictions. Though our life's may be filled with chaos God calls us to be still and know he has everything in his hands. 

I like this article because our relationship with God should not be distorted or restricted in any way. He calls us to be pure and give ourselfs fully to him just as the Levite's did.  

Chapter 3: having a humble, servant attitude

It starts out by talking about how musicians these days will do anything and everything to reach their high rise to fame. It also says that in the bible times, the ultimate God worshipper would spend his time guarding his family and cattle. His songs would be based off of God's goodness and faithfulness to his community. There is no impurity or blemish blocking him from the presence of God. Music artists these days will talk all about their problems, issues, love, or any other worldly thing. God has equipped us all with certain talents and abilities, but the most important thing he looks upon is the heart. A heart that isn't self-focused, but rather instead it's shifted upon God and who he is. This reflects the way Jesus lived when he came to the earth. His whole purpose in life was to serve. Anyone who wants to be first will be last.

I like what this chapter says because it is so true. Our society has greatly changed on the view of music. I have to constantly prep myself before leading worship, knowing that the worship is not about me, but the one who created me. I have to remind myself and pray that my worship would be specifically glorifying to his name and his attributes. Being humble keeps him in the right place he should be in our lives.

Chapter 1

The speakers talking about how as a youth he was taught many lessons about priorities that he really took into effect as he got older and gained more wisdom. He realized that things he got taught as a youth, he used much more frequently when he was older. As he leads worship, he does it out of pure joy at gratitude to the Lord. He felt like Jesus had called him to a position of leadership and because of that he was extremely grateful. As time went on he focused more on the leading aspect of worship, and abandoned his close-knit relationship of seeking and thanking him. The only way to really connect to God is not only to worship him, but to seek his face always. Having that core foundation is crucial for becoming an effective worship leader.

I think this article is extremely relatable because sometimes we can get so caught up in the planning and the musical aspect of worship that we forget who we are really worshipping. I think maintaining a strong relationship with the Lord will not only keep your heart in check but make life so much easier.

Introduction to the book

The desire as a worship leader is to bring people closer to God. Leading by example is the only way for people to fully embrace in the precense of God. The book is mor about learning how to become a worship leader rather then the act of leading worship. The author writes this's book merely from example and writes valuable lessons that we can use to benefit the worship experience as a whole. Each chapter consists of small lessons that we can use to help and lead us.

I think this book will be helpful in teaching us the ways of becoming a more effective worship leader in leading the student body.  I hope our team grows more than we could ever expect by reading this book and learning from experience.