LISTEN UP | My Top 6 Christian Music Recommendations

1. Kari Jobe: Steady My Heart, Savior's Here, Healer, You Are For Me // 2. Hillsong Live: Forever Reign, Like Incense, Stronger, His Glory Appears, Desert Song // 3. JJ Heller: Pretty & the Plain, Who You Are, Kingdom Come // 4. Phil Wickham: Divine Romance, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus  // 5. Streams in the Wasteland: Title Track  // 6. Natalie Grant: Held, Home, In Christ Alone

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I'm getting quiet a few emails and FB messages on music recommendations. I guess it never crossed my mind to post my current listens or worship albums we recommend... ay yai yai!

So I'm starting that today! I'll post different genres over time, but today I'm starting with Christian Music. (*If you already got an email from me, sorry these are repeats :)

I'm not huge into Christian music (!) but there are a few artists and select songs I have on playlist repeat. Take a listen and tell me what you think.

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If you have an artist you love, don't be a hogger! Tell me in the comments section!

Mo's Merry Christmas Music

Tell me your favorite Christmas album/song ever! I need to stock up for next year :)

Behind the Music | Recording Studio Highlights

Studio days are long and exhilarating. It's like you are watching something so uniquely and intricately formed right before your eyes. 

From 7PM to Midnight, we tracked almost all the female vocals (leading and backgrounds), in a non-airconditioned room (because of the buzz it made), with one trip to Starbucks and another to In N Out. Girls' gotta eat. 

We are so humbled to be recording with such phenomenally talented people. ^^This is Chels, and she leads in Antioch Temecula. She has the pipes of a Diva Queen and the spirit of an angel. And the loudest laugh I've ever heard. Seriously. She wakes kids in other counties ;)

Tyson and our friend (and amazing bassist) are co-producing this first album. "Producing" sounds so authoritative but this project really has been a collaborative effort between all the musicians and vocalists and our engineer. We couldn't have asked for a better team.

The album should be ready for download August 15! But don't worry, I'll keep reminding you. 

Meanwhile, here's a little blooper from my session this week. I hit some sour notes so please feel free to judge. It happens. (And Ps. that's my favorite song on the album! Sung by Chelsea. Finally a fast song for girls! :) 

Job Song | Antioch Worship Album

This song is near and dear to my heart because Tyson wrote it based on the story of Job and compelled by our current season of life. It's a song that I sing boldly and yet still very broken before my God. It's a song that I can feel vulnerable singing and worshipping with while still proclaiming the name of my good and gracious and sovereign God. 


We hope it's that way for you too. ~Love, Jules + Ty




One true God, Sovereign and good
May You become, reward enough
When all my life, is burned away
And all that is left, is Your great love

Though you slay me
I will trust in You
For You my God are my portion

Faithful God, from barren land
My voice will rise, to heaven
Blessed be, Your holy name
When all is gone, Your grace remains

Though You slay me

I will trust in You

For You my God are my portion

Though You slay me

You will see me through

Before You God I will come undone

With hearts bowed low and hands held high

We bless the name of our good God

Who gives and takes, our hearts He breaks

That we might say, blessed be our God


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*To stay updated on what Antioch Worship is doing, find us on Facebook

High School Music Flashback // Writing Prompt

The other day while driving home from Palm Springs, Ty and I made up a new music game. We call it "Flashback." The basic play is each person takes a turn to play a song that anchored them through high school. You can stay on the same artist for multiple turns or switch it up. 

With our five year age difference, it was ridiculously comical. While I was playing Avril Lavigne's These Things I'll Never Say and ZoeGirl's I Believe (yes, I did), he was rocking out to Jars of Clay and Third Eye Blind. Yup. Third Eye Blind. 

So for this week's writing prompt, I though it'd be fun to hear what you all listened to in high school.  
What songs were your anthems in high school? 

10 Songs I'm Listening To On Repeat

1. Who Are We Fooling | Brooke Fraser & Aqualung (video above*)
2. Someone Like You | Adele
3. Tomorrow | Tyson Morlet
4. Green Eyes | Coldplay
5. Come Thou Fount | Leigh Nash
6. She Belongs to Me | Bob Dylan
7. Set the World on Fire | Britt Nicole
8. I've Got This Friend | Civil Wars
9. Living Proof | Mary J. Blige
10. Desert Song | Hillsong United


What are you listening to?

#Friday #Follow // Music Edition

1. Christina Perri [Acoustic album]
I have never really been a huge fan of this girl, but when I heard her acoustic album, I was amazed. Her voice sounds so much more emotional and raw in these tracks. 
2. Taylor Swift
If you don't know already, I am on Taylor Swift's side. Though she gets a lot of flack for not being the best of singers, this girl knows how to entertain and captivate her audience. More on that here.  
3. Jon McLaughlin
Thanks to my friend, I now know about Jon McLaughlin. I had no idea who he was until she got to sing a duet on his album. [Get her song on iTunes! "Maybe It's Over"] His voice is smooth and his song variation is will have you dancing and crying in one hour. 
4. The Civil Wars
So good. So very good. Some of you might remember Joy Williams from back in her Christian Pop days, but this girl has pulled a completely different feel in her music and vocal style. If you like folk/country/Alison Kraussy, you'll like this duo. 


Happy Listening! What are you doing this weekend?


Love,
JM

#Friday #Follow: What's in my iPhone

In light of my new single being available now on Amazon and iTunes, this week's #Friday #Follow is my current music faves. I have a ton of music in my iPhone right now that I'm listening to on constant repeat. And I always get asked about the type of music I listen to. So I figured I'd use this week to show you what's in my iPhone. Ready???


**I have HEARTED all my favorites, although on all of these the whole album is my favorite. But I chose just for your sakes :)


ADELE
You can't go wrong with this girl. Her album was on repeat for like 2 months after it was released. Such passion and "umph" comes through her music. Love it. But you already know that due to this rant ;) 

Brooke Fraser
I first heard this girl from Hillsong and wanted so bad to sing like her. Then I realized she was from Australia and that was probably never going to happen. haha. While her worship stuff is impeccable, her single/solo music is equally as captivating. Her most recent album is my favorite. Very different from her other stuff. I'd say its more catchy.

Jessica Andrews

Everyone has "the music that got me through high school". For me, it was Jessica Andrews. Country, of course, but her music was always so hopeful and lovey dovey and pretty. What every teenage girl likes. I only have one song in the iPhone right now, but this post reminded me I need to add more :) Her song Summer Girl was a dorm fave in my college days. 

Katharine McPhee
I really really really really really wanted this girl to win American Idol! She was my favorite in the very beginning. I was happy for her that she got 2nd at least, but she totally owned Taylor Hicks with her Over the Rainbow bit. [Sorry Taylor & Taylor lovers.] She finally came out with a new album earlier last year and I love it. More edgy and raw than anything she's done so far. Good work Katharine. {Ps, I really like your blonde hair!}

Death Cab for Cutie

When I was first introduced to these guys, I didn't like them. I thought they were too weird. I didn't like how "electrical" their music sounded. But, they grew on me and are now one of my favorite bands. If you like Owl City [all you youngins] you'll like these guys. They own Owl City. [And by "own" I mean, "are way better than..."]

She & Him
I actually just found out about this band last night from some of our dear friends. We were talking about music, naturally, and one of us mentioned Zoey Deschanel from Elf and they informed us that she's married to the lead singer from Death Cab [Ben Gibbard] and she has her own band called She & Him! So I bought album today and will be listening to it all the way home from SD tomorrow.  

So that's what in my iPhone right now. What about you? Any new music I should check out??? I hear Civil Wars is good too but haven't gotten a chance to listen yet. 

Happy Friday and Memorial Weekend. 

Thank you to all those who give their lives in service for our freedom. Special shout out to my cousin Ryan for his service in the Army!

Love,

Calling All Closet Singers

Are you a hairbrush singer? Do you love music but think you could never be as good as so-and-so? Well then I have a treat for you!

7 days from today I will be starting a trial run through my I Heart Singing E-Course. My running motto in this course is Everyone can sing. You might call me crazy but I know it's true and I'll prove it through this course. "How are you gonna do a singing course through the internet??", you ask...Well, guess you'll just have to take it to find out :)


It is a {7} week course and I am offering it absolutely FREE to the first 10 people who apply below. I already have 2 signed up so that means I have 8 spots left. 


Enter your name and email below and I will send you a Welcome Email by Friday night to confirm your registration and get you your login information. 

*The entry closes when all 8 spots are taken or by midnight on Friday.

This is going to be fun! :) 

Love,

Just in case you didn't know...

Our music is now on iTunes and Amazon for your personal enjoyment. And it's less than $10! Click the photo to go directly to album page.

And if you have time, leave a review :) 

Happy Wednesday!

Love,

Fighting for Love

Last night was one of the best nights of my life. Seeing so many people come and celebrate with us this fight for love, my heart melted more than once. The night started out very cold and rainy. I feared people wouldn't come because of the inconvenient weather. But that just wasn't the case. We had an amazing opener, Miss Jockii, who did a fabulous job. I loved the Ukelele. 

 We had a "plethora" of cupcakes, thanks to dear friends and family. All of them were decorated so cute and appropriately :) 

And we sang our little hearts out.

Passionately belting my new song :) Recording coming soon! I think.

I am not ok with all this pain and sorrow

we must choose today to make a new tomorrow

One girl one girl, one girl at a time

This fight just became mine.

This was my first ever attempt at wearing sequins. It was a little nerve wracking, but if there's any time or place one could wear sequins, it's at a birthday or concert right? 

And did you see my gorgeous choir girls in the back?? All of them talented musicians [yes, Jo, you are a musician!] and all of them have sweet sweet voices. They sang the finale song with me. It was a tear jerker. 

So thank you all who came and made this evening possible. I couldn't have done it without you:

-Kandis, Chelsea, Shereena, Alicia, Jenn, Crystal-Lee, Amanda, Jess, Amber, Rayna, Genee, Dierdre, Brittany, thank you for slaving over your cupcakes.

-Ed and Sydney for helping decorate :) 

-Della, Joanna, Erica, Jockii, and Crystal-lee, thank you for sharing your voices.

-Brian and Adam, thanks for running sound and lights. The show literally depends on you... :) 

-Bob for taking care of the kiddos!

-Andrew for setting up the genius donation bar. Seriously genius.

-My mom and dad for raising me to believe in goodness and justice for the glory of God. 

-Kenny, Danny, Justin and Andrew for playing with us. It is seriously a blessing to have such amazingly talented [and flexible] musicians in my life. I appreciate you guys. Even though I throw last minute songs in the mix...

-And last but definitely not least, my Ty, for believing in this cause and fighting with me. Love you.

I am full with thankfulness. I am full with peace.

Love,

A Song for Tomorrow.

We're playing this song tomorrow night. It makes me cry every time. I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to get through it but luckily I will have 8 of my singing friends helping me with this one. 

The party is tomorrow!

Music starts @ 7PM, debuting our friend Jockii.

Location:

The Venue 

29930 Hunter Road

Murrieta, CA

Map it here.

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to.

**The next couple days of posts will be focused on awareness, education, and opportunities to abolish modern slavery. None of the pictures or videos posted on blog will contain disturbing content, however some of the links provided for those who desire further education may . -JM**

As I jokingly wrote the title of this post I laughed at myself because I will probably seriously cry at my party. You see, this year's birthday is a bit unconventional. Usually I look forward to my birthday for selfish and introspective reasons. Selfish because I get presents on my birthday. Good presents. Introspective because I get to reflect on the last ___ years of my life and see what I have or haven't accomplished. I get to see where I came from and whether or not I grew this year. 


But not this year. This year I gave up my birthday because something came to my attention that shattered my "almost" 23 year old heart. Something broke and crushed my entire world view on what exactly it means to celebrate. 

That something is Love146. 

Love146 is an organization that fights towards the abolition of slavery. Sex slavery. The enslavement of girls [and boys] as young as 5 years old who are [present tense] forced into this life of defilement and disgrace and degradation. 


For me, that is just not ok. My heart is physically burdened for these girls as I have seen their faces, read their stories, and heard their cry for freedom, wholeness and love. They just want love. 

They just want love.

Friday is one step closer to giving them that love. Friday is my birthday party and I want you to come. 


Ty & I will be doing our first very own concert just for you guys. We started planning the set last night and I think I cried a minimum of 17 times. Especially on this song. There is a line at the end that I've never been able to sing because I become overwhelmed with sorrow. Passionate sorrow. It says, "I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor, I see the man with a passion come and kickin' down that door..." and all I can hear in my head is:

We're coming. We're coming. Please know that we're coming to find you. Help you. Love you.

So if you're Friday night is open, please join us for some coffee, cupcakes, and a really good concert ;)


The address is: 
The Venue 

29930 Hunter Road

Murrieta, CA

Music starts @ 7PM

Love,

She's a Fave.

Some voices just move me. They could be singing about rain dancing in the middle of the Sahara desert and all I hear is the sweet tone that is sung. Music is weird I know. And musicians are even weirder. 


But A Fine Frenzy is definitely my long-lasting obsession and since I didn't do my normal seg on Sat, I thought I'd share her here with you.


It's good stuff.

Come Be Free

Today was a very inspiring day. We sang You'll Come and I was meant to share a verse before it then lead into the bridge of the song. As I was studying for it on Friday, I prayed that God would enlighten my heart so that I can speak from it. I have a hard time sharing things that I haven't experienced first hand. Especially in worship. So I read and re-read and re-read the verse, rolling over its content in my heart and my mind. Then, in a non-hyper-spiritual way, I began realizing what God was trying to tell His Church. 


The verse said: 

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 

I wept with unabashed gratefulness.

My sin [violation against God] is no more now that my identity is found in Jesus Christ.

But then God took me a little further. I admitted to Him that I knew all this in my head. Yet I do not live it out as confidently as I should. I doubt, I fear, and I worry sometimes whether or not I am good enough to deserve such grace. I fear that my sin, which seems too big, too nasty and too grave, can in no way be covered by Jesus' blood. 

[I don't voice these things of course...because that would be doubting. Certainly the worship leader of such a growing and impacting church would never doubt her salvation...right?]

Wrong.

I do. But the beautiful thing about the love of God, [you know, the one that covers my deepest darkest sins] is that it also covers that sin of doubt. That sin of fear. That sin of worry. Those were nailed to the cross too. And if I continue to carry that burden, it is by choice. Not because I have to. The bondage of those chains has already been broken for us. I am free. You are free. 

We

Are

Free

So in that understanding I can more than sing these words:

Chains be broken

Lives be healed

Eyes be opened 

For Christ is revealed.

That's what I shared today. For those of you who were there, I hope you were encouraged. I also hope you were encouraged to encourage the people around you in this same truth. For those of you reading this, I hope you are encouraged as well. And I hope you are encouraged to encourage those around you in this same truth. 

People need to know that they can come to God just as they are. [Please please know that!] No fixing. No perfecting. Not even "cleaning up your act a little". There is no condemnation for those who find their identity in Jesus Christ. You are declared perfect in the eyes of God. And there is absolutely no room for judgement on the Christians's part. We are just as messed up as anyone else. In fact, most of us are more screwed up. That's why we need Jesus. By our own admission, we need a Savior. Thank you Jesus :)

God please open our eyes to see and experience this wonderful truth. 

Mmmm.

Happy Sunday!

Love,