Encounter '08 ::: Nashville

This year's Encounter '08 was held at Christ Church, Nashville ... and wow ... was it ever an ENCOUNTER!

The thing I appreciate so much about Lindell Cooley and the Grace Church/MMI staff is that they truly minister to the LORD ... first; modeling for worship pastors and worship leaders/musicians the very "thing" that we should be focused on ... the heart of the Father.

Not our performance. Not our "worship gig". Not the attendance in the sanctuary. Not the coolest/most hip "worship set" list.

The Father's heart. That is our #1 priority.

I love Pastor Lindell's motto for Grace Church: God is more important than people; and people are more important than stuff.

This should be heeded by pastors and church leaders of any-size congregation in America! We are so easily being entrapped in the corporate "bottom-line result" mode; and, that can be a heartbreak to the LORD ... especially when He gets "lost" in the mix!

Thanks, Lindell and staff for an AMAZING encounter with the LORD, and with other worship leaders from across the nation who love to rest and refresh in the Presence of the Holy Spirit.
I look forward to Encounter '09!

Preacher ... President ... or, Prophet?

MIKE HUCKABEE spoke publicly through a tele-conference sponsored by Steven Strang, CEO of Strang Communications on Thursday, April 10. Click the link to read the cover story:

http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=16892

the little things

by Blaire ...

lately .. i've been noticing the little things.

yesterday, me and my dashing little brother (he's 7) decided to go outside and play.

the weather felt more like august then december, but despite the heat, the breeze was lovely. so, we spread out a huge blanket, and brought every board game from his closet out there. we had it all. snacks, water, the beatles playing on the cd player (which he knew every word to the beatles 1's album, and THAT made me smile).

we had a blast. laughing, singing, playing. have you ever SEEN the beauty of the Creator?

i could see Him yesterday. in my brother's beautiful blue eyes, in the fall leaves and their colors,in the cool breeze blowing through trees.

i currently work at a daycare during the day. i help out with toddlers in the mornings,and i spend my afternoons in the nursery.with newborns.no matter how tired, or how frustrated,or ready to go home i am, i can't help but smile anytime my eyes catch theirs. i can SEE Him.

the innocence, joy, purity, beginning, vulnerability, and precious tenderness.

everything around me is created. breathed. thought of. considered. i feel His love in the breeze, and see His affections in the rising sun.how could i not yearn for the Uncreated One? the One who came from nothing at all, yet is FULL of substance and all that is good .. and how could i not love His Creation, in which i am, in fact, a part of?

I see You. I see Your creation.I see Your love.

I choose to SEE the little things. To take in and absorb all that You have gracefully put in my path to reveal Your intense desire for me. and I am extremely grateful.

for more from Blaire ... click www.myspace.com/youarehuge