Shine Women's Conference | Austin TX

"Movements are made of normal people moving."

History, legacy, movements. These are all words we associate with world changers and politicians, pastors or world leaders. Rarely do we name them of ourselves.

But let me tell you. In these photos, are men and women who embody every one of those words.

There is a seasoned generation that have gone before, built up the walls and vehicles by which we move today. And then there are the babies. The newbies, if you will, who are jumping in, head first, to a whirlpool of inspiration, aspiration, ambition and mission.

One generation looking back, reaching out and lifting up the other. That's the Church. That's community. That's legacy.

It's crazy to think that one season could have prepared me for this one. Oh geez, that's a whole other post.

I am so honored to be a small part of what happens once a year (and all the Wednesdays in between) in Austin, Texas. Shine conference has been a catalyst for so many women in this city. I can't wait to see what next year holds.

Jesus give us fresh vision, a fresh wind of ideas and creativity. Give us Your words and Your message, once again. 

Good, Good Father

I shared this video with my FB pals and the response had me in tears. From the moment I heard this song, I know women (and men) around the world would resonate so deeply with it. I want to sing it everywhere at all times haha. 

As a girl who relied on Jesus to be her Father from a young age and then had a miracle step dad fill the earthly role, this song gets to me.

This beautiful song was originally written and recorded by Housefires.

Not Just Another Sunday | Project WOW

PROJECT WOW is the brain child and collaboration of Ashley Beckford and friends. If you're a woman, and you lead worship at any capacity or want to (I see you) this site is for you.

Let’s be honest, ladies. We’ve all done it. I know I have. We’ve come into our Sunday services consumed. Consumed, distracted and overwhelmed with life’s issues. We’ve walked through the sanctuary doors thinking about everything else besides the reason we are there and the One we are supposed to be there for. 

Then we take the platform still thinking about what the people in the seats (or pews) are thinking about us, our church, our abilities and extra-ordinary skills in nailing that high note or run.

We’ve somehow gotten things twisted. We are caring more about every other person in the room other than the One we declare in our songs. We sing words like “Holy Spirit, You are welcome here”. All the while, I think He wonders if that’s actually true. 

Have we put together such amazing run sheets and song lists that Planning Center would combust if we deviated from it, should God ask us to? 

Here’s the million-dollar question: Have we left room in our hearts to hear Him when He speaks to us? Or are we too busy getting to every service element before the countdown clock in the back turns red and we usher in a new crowd and do it all over again?

Read the rest here

Post by Shunna Jones Moreno

Notes from Sunday | On Trusting God

Trust is an enigma, its almost always preceded with a great amount of fear but once you engage it, it'll set you free.

I was a girl who was told having her own babies was probably never gonna happen. And now, 5 years later, I have a toddler and another miracle on the way (and I'm not even sure how this one happened...)

The doctors gave me a diagnosis that shattered my world, but God always works at a different capacity from this world.

Listen, I'm not saying that when you bring your needs to God he will fill them how you want them.

What I am saying is when you bring your needs to God, He fills them in a way that will cause you to know Him and love Him and trust Him even more than you do right now in this moment.

Whatever you're carrying around today give it to Him.

Someone here needs to know God is their defender.

Someone here needs to know God is their provider.

Someone here needs to know God is their ultimate healer.

Someone here needs to know God still love you. No matter what. 

Trust Him at His word when it says, 

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

He's not messin' around.

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I Want My Daughter to Know Why We Sing

I have a fear that one day my daughter might come to despise the church, without ever really knowing or discovering for herself what it stands for.

I've seen my fair share of pastors' kids or kids with any connection to the Church, turn their back on it all because of any number of reasons. Some, because of all the things it took away from them--recitals, dad at their ball games, family dinners, vacations, Sunday morning doughnut runs. Others, because of the chaos it comes with--fishbowl lifestyle, open home, early mornings and late nights.

I know some parents completely missed the signs; the warnings and cries for attention or help from their children. But some really, really tried. Like really.

That's what terrifies me.

I'm afraid I'll try my hardest to be balanced and still miss the mark.

So I started a journal. For her. Hopefully the first of dozens that I'll write in, pray over, cry through and laugh about.

It's just one more attempt to go out of my way to let her know, to let you know, sweet Symphony, why we get up early and stay up late, why we spend most every Christmas and Easter in the walls of a Church.

This is why you know your way around the sanctuary and church halls and where every bathroom and trash can are. This is why everyone you waddle past knows your name.

Because Jesus loves us.
He saved us.
We, me and your Dad, we shouldn't be here.
He wasn't planned.
I was supposed to be a sexual abuse statistic.
We are not supposed to be here, in this place, physically, emotionally, spiritually.

We made some bad decisions.
Destructive decisions.
Petty, self-righteous, and sinful decisions.

AND GOD'S GRACE WAS STILL SUFFICIENT.

Trust me, that's some crazy good news.

We sing because we have to. 
We have to tell the world about this magnificent grace and love.
We have to show you that it's the most real thing you'll ever experience.

This is why we sing, and dance and act like crazy people on and off the stage.

Grace, love, peace.
Redemption, restoration.
It's all because of Jesus.

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Our family worships and serves at Shoreline Church in Austin,TX. If you're local we'd love you to join us! And tell us when you're here. Obvs :) 

Dear Worship Leader, Set Them Up for Success

"You are good, You are good,
In the valley low, we trust because we know,
You are good, You are good,
We will praise Your name and give You everything,
For You are good!"
(-Shoreline Music)

This is one of my favorite songs to lead. So much truth written at such a down-to-earth level. I also love when songs give the worshippers an action to take amidst the melodies.

"We lift our hands, we lift our hands to You, for You are good!" 

As a worship leader, when you can give people permission to worship freely and boldly, over and above what we may assume, it unlocks something.

Try it. Try placing a song in your set with some kind of action phrase and see if it unhinges your corporate worship. 

Set them up for a successful time of worship. This means, yes, removing any and all obstacles that may hinder them from pressing in. But it also means, giving them the tools to build a life of worship. 

And sometimes, the tool is as simple as stated permission. 

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If you're a worship leader, pretty please tell me what church you're at in the comments! I want to know and see and celebrate with you how God is moving in your community.

Mystery Of Love | Shoreline Music

This song was written weeks before we live recorded this album. Chris Sligh walked into work one day and said, Guys, we have another song to add to the list.

WTH! Was what was probably going through the majority of our minds because we'd already recorded, demo'd, set up and re-setup everything one needs for recording day. Adding another song to our already full album set list seemed ludicrous. (And I'm not talking trash on the rapper.) 

He sat down at the grand piano in our worship suite, played through this song and almost instantly we all fell in love with it. Not just for the practicality of it, singable, accessible, phenomenal message, and catchy melodies. 

We fell in love with the spirit of this song. We knew this is exactly what our church needed in this season. 

The night of live recording, the entire band left stage while Skip Downey played on that same exact grand piano and led a room full of worshippers into a last minute song they'd never heard before. 

And they sang. They sang at the tops of their lungs. For us, that's a miracle straight from the Lord Himself. It's like He prepped them, before they ever walked through those doors, to sing along with words and melodies their hearts had been yearning for all week. 

Another piece of heaven fell upon our corner of the world that night and we hope you're as blessed by the song as we are. 

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Song: Mystery of Love

Band: Shoreline Music

Worship Leader: Skip Downey

Find chord charts and more videos on our Facebook.

An Epic Weekend | Shoreline Church

 

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.

- C.S. Lewis

I saw this shirt at Target and didn't even look at the price tag. I knew I had to have it because my weekends are mostly epic. I get to spend most the day with my favorite community of people, who've all gathered, excitedly and expectantly, for the one sole purpose of seeing God and knowing Him more. 

But that's not the epic part. 

The epic part is, week after week, He shows up. 

He hears and pours out, again and again, His love, grace and providence on our little community. 

That, my friends, is epic. 

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How was your weekend? was it your version of epic?! 

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Shoreline Music has a new album coming out EASTER weekend and for all my worship leader friends, we have chord charts and tracks to accompany! More info here.

Never Let Us Go | Shoreline Music

Never Let Us Go, was written by Ty, Jake, and Marquita of Shoreline Music. The feel is similar to Job Song, some of you will remember from a while back. What I love most about this song is the accessibility it has almost instantly with a congregation.

Simple melodies lend themselves to the depth of the lyrics.

The message is simple: Brokenness is not a disadvantage for the children of God. It's an advantage. 

This project was one of the funnest in my worship / music experiences. The team and staff that put their hearts, time, sweat and tears into making this tool a reality is incredible. I know because I work with them. Most everyday.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll introduce them to you. One by one, profile highlight of my friends and co-workers.

"Why?" you might ask. Why do you need to know these people?

Good question.  You're just gonna have to trust me.

These people are rich in love and talent and passion for God, His people and His house.

I love our team. So so much.

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Watch the other videos here:

POWER AND GLORY
WANNA KNOW
more to come. 

When Leading Worship Becomes More Than a Weekend Gig

It was a Saturday night and I was spackling on my "stage make up", readying for another weekend of worship leading. (Side note: I love my job.) I had just dusted my eyelids with a soft salmon color from Sephora, and when I opened them to make sure they were even, I felt like I was looking into someone else's eyes. 

They looked tired, weary even, as if they'd been fighting a battle and losing hope.

And they were. Fighting and losing. Or at least that's what it felt like. 

I dabbed on extra concealer, curled my hair, lathered on some Chapstick and called it. There's only so much you can do ya know.

That particular weekend I was sharing before the song Forever Reign. It was new(er) to our congregation at the time and as I reviewed my manuscript for my speaking portion, I couldn't hold back the tears.

It read:

"You are more You are more than my words will ever say, You are Lord, You are Lord, all creation will proclaim, You are here, You are here, in Your presence I'm made whole, You are God, You are God of all else I'm letting go." 

 These words have been true of me time after time and when I came to a place of surrendering control, I began to see God's hand at work in my life. I saw Him for who He was...

I subconsciously worded it from a past tense perspective. As if to say, here's what I learned, now try to learn it too. 

But I haven't learned it. It is not something I've mastered and I wept because I knew someone that weekend needed to know that.

I wanted so bad to separate myself from what I knew my God was telling me to communicate. I wanted to be the identifier, not the identified. 

But I did it anyway.

I changed "came" to "come", "began" to "begin", "saw" to "see" and "He was" to "He is". I told the congregation I was stuck in the midst of this very concept, too deep in to turn back, yet too far away from hope to swim faster.

I was right there with them, whoever them was. It could have been anybody that day, that didn't matter. 

What mattered was that they knew they weren't alone. And the girl who sings about freedom and hope and peace could relate with their bondage and despair and unrest. 

Two months later, at a women's retreat, that someone found me. 

She came to me, with timidity and tears, and said, "When you spoke, a couple months ago about surrendering to God because of who He is to you, you eluded to your miscarriage and I heard it. It was brief but I know you said those words for me. I needed to hear that someone else felt what I was feeling and that they still worshipped God. But mostly, that I was going to be okay. Thank you." 

As a worship leader, you may see a wide array facial expressions and hands in pockets, but you can't see the brokenness that is being mended inside the souls of those faces. 

As a worship leader, you may think you're choosing a song or a verse or a hymn because it fits the right key or it's the newest, coolest thing, but you can't see how it is giving words to the groans in someone's spirit. 

And this can ripple beyond the Sunday morning setting:

As a co-worker, you may be afraid of what your team mates might think of your encouragement, but you don't know how much they need it that day. 

As a neighbor, you never know what a plate of cookies can do for the soul and happiness of a lonely widow(er) or single parent. 

As a parent, you may feel like you are showing grace and love to a brick wall most of your adolescent's existence, but you can't predict what they'll remember when life thrashes them around. 

As a spouse, the negative may be highlighted in your marriage right now, but you can't yet see just how much your unconditional love and purposeful kindness can change even the hardest of hearts. 

Leading worship is more than a weekend gig when you let your church know you are real. 

Being a Christian is more than a weekend gig when you let the world know you are real. 

Ponder for the rest of the week: How can we be real this weekend? 

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"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Dear Women, You Are Needed in Corporate Worship. Period.

"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear." -Rosa Parks (Tweet the quote.)

I recently threw out a question to some girls I knew were involved in worship in their local church. 

The question: What's your biggest hurdle in leading worship?

The answers: "Incompetence." "Myself." "Not allowing lies about my worth or abilities to get in my head." "Fear of public speaking.""Being too tough on my team.""My voice cracks.""Not being able to control perfection.""What others are going to think of me.""Not being good enough of a musician."

What's really being said here: I am afraid.

Me too.

How many of us are halted by fear? It stops us in our tracks and entices us with comfort. Or it taunts us with the what if's and how comes. What if you can't _____________? How come he/she can _______________ and not you? You don't need to put yourself out there, it says. It's too hard, too scary, too much money. 

Deeper still, the cause of fear is the "unknown." When we can't see two or three steps ahead of us, a quiver of panic sets in and we begin to doubt our worth, credibility or capability. 

So what is the conqueror of fear? Miss Parks and I believe it is knowledge. 

Though fear may still be present, I can confidently walk past its illusionary barrier if I can learn and shed some light on that which I am fearful of. 

Monsters under the bed? Turning the light on will prove otherwise.

This is the vision of One Half Worship Coaching. To turn the light on woman's fear of the stage, the talent, and the journey of becoming a modern day worship leader.

Local churches need both male and female to step into partnership of leadership. For so many decades, male leadership was made to be the most natural decision in church leadership. But I believe we are entering a new and exciting era of unlocking the entire other half of passionately powerful and effective leaders. 

God's design for the Church is this:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:1-17)

Men are ineffective without women. Women are ineffective without men. Both are vital and necessary for health and potency of the Church. (Tweet that!) The whole body, working together, pushing through fear, will change the world. 

So friend, do not be afraid, for you are part of a much bigger powerhouse. 

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Are you a woman in worship and want to explore the coaching program? Click here. And by coaching, I mean chatting over coffee about all things worship and women and a whole lot of resources for you!

Women (Not Yet) in Worship

Dear Women (not yet) in Worship,

You know who you are.

You're sitting close enough to the front to feel the music loud, but a couple rows back so no one really, really notices you singing your heart out. I see you.

You come to church every week, a tad early, and rarely late. However, it's not because you're one of those people who show up before the previews in a movie theater (you know who you are), but because you'd rather push over that greeter than miss the first song. And if you do come in a little late, you're singing the minute you hear the words clear enough. I see you.

You don't look at the slides anymore because you know nearly every song by heart and you can close and lift your eyes to the heavens with freedom. I see you.

What you may lack in confidence or vocal technique, you make up for in passion and soul. I see you.

You sit in that chair every week, silently wishing you had the courage, the time, or the voice to join the team. I see you.

You start doubting that nudge you feel every week that says Go ahead, try out, you can do it. I see you.

You have made the stage an untouchable mirage you only daydream about stepping onto. I see you.

I'm here to tell you, the stage, the platform that seems so high and far off, it's built on brokenness, failures, doubts and inadequacies. (< Click to tweet.)

The stage isn't a badge of holiness, but rather a badge of humility. (tweet, tweet?)  There is no room for pride when it comes to leading God's people; only prayer, passion, and perseverance.

You are a powerhouse, not because of who you are, but because of Whose you are. You were created for a specific purpose, and if you aren't living into that purpose, the Church, your brothers and sisters,  are crippled. Health comes when every part is working and moving.

It's okay to be scared. It's okay to be nervous.
It's okay that your voice isn't what it once was or what it should be.
It's okay you'd rather die than speak in public.
We can push our way past all that and watch God transform you.

I see you. I believe in you. Take the chance, ask for an audition or opportunity, and then equip yourself.

It's your time to move.

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Are you ready to take the next step as a women (not yet) in worship? I want to meet you, talk to you, equip and encourage you. Shoot me an email or sign up to chat in a  5 Week Worship Coaching Course and let's get this ball rolling!

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Original photo via, edited by JM

Shoreline Music Night of Worship

I'm so honored and excited about being a part of the No Height, No Depth Project with my new friends at Shoreline Music in Austin, Texas. When people ask how we like leading out here I tell them two things:

1) We LOVE it. We feel like we've been at this church forever and the people are amazing.
2) Our band is a perfect combination of everything awesome and weird. We are misfits fusing together into something brand new.

Every person in this video is a friend. Every person has a heart for the Church. Every person has passion and purpose in their instrument or craft and every person has been placed on this team by God himself.

It really is electrifying. Sometimes in a bad way (haha), but mostly good.

If you're in Texas, we'd be honored if you came and worshipped with us January 7th. It's going to be something special.

Dear Women in Worship, She Needs the Real You | Worship Coaching

Leading worship is a passion and pleasure I could have never predicated over my life. Hanging out with other girls and talking deep and vulnerable, well, that makes me tick.

The following course is an unrefined combination of the two, specifically for women and girls who have any and every desire to pursue any realm or degree of worship leading.

Are you a woman? Do you like to sing? Have you thought or even dreamed about using your voice in your local church? Do you feel ill equipped to do what you do? Well, you're not. Your church needs you.

The real you.

Check out the worship coaching stats below and let's chat. I'll buy your coffee. - - - - -

FACT: Your church needs you. But not the pretend you. The real you. The whole you. Woman, you are the key to unlock the other half of your congregation. You are who every woman is looking to on that stage to relate with. You may be completely different people and have virtually nothing in common, but she's looking to you. Because you are her sister. A daughter of the same Father, God. She doesn't need you to be perfect. She doesn't need to hear golden pipes. She doesn't need to see a freshly groomed girl who's got it all together. She needs you to be real. Like her. Broken people relate best with broken people. (Click to Tweet) TAKE YOUR PLATFORM TO THE NEXT LEVEL Since the launch of One Half Worship Coaching, I have met with dozens of girls and women, just like us, who have the heart of worship for their local church. They just don't know how to get to the next level. Let me walk you through it. Not everyone has time or finances to allocate to a 5-week course, so I am offering my second batch of Mini Sessions from July 1- August 1.  MINI SESSIONS INCLUDE: A 40 min one-on-one conversation and coaching with me (via Skype or FaceTime) A personalized assessment of your current and unique worship skill set  A vocal assessment + access to tools and exercises to keep you excelling Tips on how to set goals and make change happen Worksheets for creating and studying content Monthly meditations and inspiration designed for worship leaders COST OF MINI SESSION = $40! And if you got a lot out of your session (which I promise you will), the investment you made will be credited towards the full One Half Worship Coaching Course.* BOOK YOUR MINI SESSION GOT A QUESTION? EMAIL ME READ MORE ABOUT FULL COURSE *5 Week Full Course, $100! - Mini Session, $40 = $60!

Worship in the (Temecula) Valley

Excited and honored to be invited home for Worship in the Valley. If you're in Southern Cali and you have Thursday or Friday night free, come worship with us!

Thursday, November 20 | 6:15P
Friday, November 21 | 6:15P

NO CHARGE | But still register so they know you're coming!

Crosspoint Church | 28753 Vía Montezuma | Temecula, CA 92590

Come say hi~

Hume Lake with the Band

Have you ever had the chance to watch someone grow up?

Maybe besides your own children?

It's been a weird and joyful journey watching these friends grow up. Some of us are the same age, so we're growing up together, through college and weddings and bands. Some are younger, so we watched them go through pimples, squeaky voices and girlfriends. But this band is one we love very much.

They were some of the toughest to leave when we moved.

You never know, when you uproot from a place you've been grounded for so long, how the distance will effect relationships. It's kind of terrifying. The "what-if's" were overwhelming for me as we said our last goodbyes and drove away.

But that weekend in September, when we all drove and flew various miles to play together once again, was so full of joy and laughter and unity.

The band was back together. Even if just for a weekend.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, or so they say. Seeing these sweet lives blossom and flourish under the pressure and changes of seasons has been a sheer joy.

I miss them. I love them. Even from a distance.

Office Hours

Austin has been home for the Mo's a whopping four months. The most common question we get, "So, how do you like Austin?" Naturally. And almost as naturally, our answer is, "We love it!" The people we work with, the church we're setting roots in, and the city. Smaller than LA but still a little hipster and holy family friendly! 

Tyson is in guitar heaven. He and the guys do an innumerable amount of stuff every day, but if I had to put  a ratio on it, playing guitars is about 80% of their day. #everyguitarplayersdream 

Of course worship isn't about equipment and tone, nor is it about skill. It's about giving God glory for who He is and what He's doing in the lives of His people. But excellence does have its place. So glad to be a part of a team that is on board with that kind of vision. 

Today's photos highlight some of the amazing team we work with. Talented. Kind. Hard working. Of one heart. And they love on my kid, which is always a win with me.

We're pretty thankful for this safe place of strangers who are quickly becoming family.

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If you're ever bored or stuck at home on a Sunday morning and want to get your worship on, you can watch our weekend service online! 

Leave it All at the Altar and Don't Take Any Leftovers Home

It's rare that we sleep well on Saturday nights. 

Nearly every weekend for the last five years, we've sung, played, led worship somewhere in this country. Together and apart from each other. We love what we do. Every time we step foot on any type of platform, be it a dirt lot or a big stage, we are acutely aware of two things: 1) we are living a big calling and 2) we don't deserve to be doing any of it. 

Maybe that's what keeps us up at night. 

It's basically an expected habit at this point, possibly a small annoying tactic of the Enemy to distract us from vision and excellence, but every weekend we push through and remember we are best at our weakest. 

Because then it's not us. It's Jesus. 

Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, 

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness. 

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

And I'm so grateful that I have a man, a co-laborer, that inspires me to leave everything I have at the altar, taking home no leftovers so that I might be filled again.

And so I encourage you, whatever you do, do it to the fullest. Leave it all at the altar. Take home no leftovers so that you might be filled again too.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

Office Hours

I like predictability and routines. And I like adventure and irrational donut runs. But let's not get distracted. 

Every morning we do the same thing. Get up. Eat breakfast. Get ready. Head out. Drop Sym off with the nanny. Drive thru Starbucks. Go to work. 

Our work depends on the day and week of the month we're on. There are a lot of shifting variables that cause us to stay on our toes; pounding energy drinks, coffee and a whole lot of Chipotle.

What I love most about my job these days is the culture of open discussion in freedom. We openly give push back on ideas, good and bad, we ask a lot of questions, we poke fun and we still love each other at the end of the day. Mostly.

So thankful for the human and pioneering leadership of this guy. He admits when he doesn't know what he's doing and is constantly reminding us of vision and purpose. His voice is a'ight too ;)

Andy Stanley wrote, “Often, stepping outside your comfort zone is not careless irresponsibility, but a necessary act of obedience.” 

Yes, he pushes us. Yes we are uncomfortable. But we are charged up and expectant to see what God might do with a band of misfits like us. 

And we have play dough. So there's that. #winning

On Singing, Songwriting, and Living Out Dreams

My favorite feeling right now is when people ask me what my new job in Austin entails and I get to reply with, "Writing songs and leading worship."

Will someone please pinch me?

Of course there is so much more to that type of job than sipping lattes at Starbucks and writing cool melodies and piercing lyrics on a clean silver Mac Book Pro. (Okay, we all know my Mac isn't clean. I have a toddler. Okay, we know it's not all my toddler's fault.) 

The Singer/Songwriter life is actually less glamorous than most people think it is. I know Instagram puts a hazy glam cam on it all, but it's just that. A cam for glam. 

Unless you're one of the gifted few who can sit and pop out songs like a toaster oven, writing music can be grueling, discouraging, and tedious.

But whose job isn't at one point or another?

If, ten years ago, someone would have told me what my life would look like in June of 2014, I would have laughed in their face.

Me? Songwriting and leading worship for a living? No. I'm going to be a psychologist. 

Yea, okay.

No seriously. I want to be a psychologist. Or maybe an English teacher. I don't know, I haven't made up my mind yet. Or a whale trainer. The jury's still out, but there's no way I'm going to make a living singing and writing. 

Oh little Jules of little faith. 

Deep down I knew, if someone handed me a singer/songwriter contract, I would have taken it in a millisecond. It was my dream job. But dream jobs are hard to come by. And as a 16 year old, thinking about college degrees, "Bachelor in Singer/Songwriter-dom" was laughable. 

Until June 2014. When this guy handed me a singer/songwriter contract and said, "Welcome to the team."

But here's a secret: This "dream job" of mine, came with a lot of hard work and patience, but not in the ways we usually suspect.

I didn't work to be a songwriter. I just wrote songs.

I didn't work to be a singer. I just sang, wherever I was, with whoever would let me and sing along with me. 

Dreams don't happen in a moment. They happen over thousands of moments stacked on top of one another. (Tweet it!) They happen by sewing one stitch at a time, in the direction the fabric leads. 

My favorite author sums this concept up of living our dream lives this way:

“Everything is interim. Everything is a path or a preparation for the next thing, and we never know what the next thing is. Life is like that, of course, twisty and surprising. But life with God is like that exponentially. We can dig in, make plans, write in stone, pretend we're not listening, but the voice of God has a way of being heard. 

It seeps in like smoke or vapor even when we've barred the door against any last-minute changes, and it moves us to different countries and different emotional territories and different ways of living. It keeps us moving and dancing and watching, and never lets us drop down into a life set on cruise control or a life ruled by remote control. 

Life with God is a dancing dream, full of flashes and last-minute exits and generally all the things we've said we'll never do. And with the surprises comes great hope.”   

- Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines

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What dream do you feel is unattainable, laughable even, yet it burns in your heart to do?