sierranichole.com

I am currently in NY state staying with family friends for a couple of days and have had such an awesome time being here! Today was a busy day and I spent the day with Shelly and Sissy hitting up antique shops, drinking coffee and catching up before I leave tomorrow.

The entire day while we were antiquing I was receiving non stop text messages from different members of The Sound with ideas, vision, song ideas for when we lead Worship on Saturday for “The Revolution”. I was also constantly getting notifications that band members were posting on our group board where we post ideas, songs, etc… The whole time Shelly kept telling me, “Take a break! Turn off your phone and be with us.”

I, however, continued to keep texting the guys trying to figure out Saturday and our band schedule for the next couple months, etc.

Tonight I went to bed at 10:30 (which for those of you that know me is INSANELY early for me). I tossed, turned, and its now 1:52am and I still have not been able to sleep. However, God is speaking to me.

Today, while I was hanging out with some friends I don’t see very often I was really distracted for a chunk of that time with my “stuff”. The time I should have been focusing on spending time with good friends I was spending being distracted by ministry stuff. God spoke to me tonight that I tend to do that with Him sometimes.

There are times when I know I need to focus 100% on God. I am in my Word, soaking up some good Worship, drinking coffee and conversating with God internally but the entire time I am also texting people, Facebook is open in a tab next to Twitter and BibleGateway.

God challenged me today that when I am spending my time with Him to turn off the distractions. Turn off my cell phone, Social Networks, and ignore my friends for a while.

Many times we don’t consider our Ministry stuff distractions. We say that were doing stuff for the Kingdom so it can’t be a “distraction”. Well, I am here to tell you it most definitely can be.

If you were spending time with Bill Johnson, or Kim Walker, or Benny Hinn and they spent half of that time updating Facebook, texting, being on the phone, etc all for Ministry stuff…would you feel like you weren’t important to that person?

I bet God feels that same way. Sometimes we need to just turn off our ministry mode and be in total, complete “Secret Place” mode. Find that time in your day where everything, but you and your Creator, gets puts on “silent”.

Turn off your Ministry staff, turn off your Worship Band, turn off your Youth Kids…its really ok. Even Jesus did this!

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Luke 5:15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. ¹⁶ So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Even Jesus needed time off from ministry to JUST be with His FATHER. To seek, pray, and just rest.

So, my Challenge for you (and for me) is to set aside time each day to just turn everything else on “silent” (cell phone, ministry, facebook, etc) and “draw away” like Jesus did to a quiet place and just BE with our Father.
Just like Shelly said to me, “Take a break! Turn off your phone and be with us.”

The Father says the same thing.

This video is insanely powerful! Watching thousands of Youth and Young Adults and even some older people worshipping together, hearts abandoned singing ALL ABOUT Jesus! Wrecks me every time.

Enjoy.

 

Worship Songs over the last decade have gotten deeper, more intimate and more intense but have also gotten more US centered.

There are so many fantastic Worship songs out there but so many focus on what we can get/need/want from God rather than just BEING about Him.

So many songs have lyrics that focus on “God I want to be this or that” and “God encounter me” or “God Loves Me” etc.

I have had such a hard time finding songs that aren’t focused on me/us.

While there is a place for these kind of songs, there shouldn’t be more songs about us than about Him.

Hear me, Im not saying these kind of songs are wrong or bad, they are AWESOME. God gave them to the writers for a reason.

What I am saying is we need to get back to the heart of what Worship is- All About Jesus.

Two of my favorite Worship Leaders right now are Bryan and Katie Torwalt.

I just started listening to them a couple days ago and was blown away by the lyrics in their songs.

These songs are sooooo God focused, so focused on loving, honoring and praising The King of all Kings.

THAT, to me, is Worship.

Again, while there are times for songs like “He Loves Us” and “Holding Nothing Back” and “Set a Fire” I personally feel like the Church needs to get to the place of intimate Worship, singing about who He is.

I doubt the living creatures and the angels are in the Throne Room singing repeatedly about what they want from God but rather singing about His Holiness, His Glory, His Beauty…etc.

There is a time for songs that are about Gods love for us, etc.

I love songs that sing about our desperation for Him, our need for Him, songs that focus on His attributes.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am NOT knocking on the current wave of Worship. I love it!

Its just where we are as a Church right now, I just see the Body of Christ coming to a place in Worship where we saturate our hearts in awe of God Himself and leave ourselves at His feet and focus more on bringing the songs of Heaven to earth.

So, this is all just my personal opinion.

What do you think?

Check out some great songs:

So, as you all know I am part of a Worship Band called “The Sound“.

I lead Worship from the keys and get to Worship with some of my best friends as well as some fantastically talented guys. Jamie, Joe and Nate are amazing guys with amazing talent.

Right now we are trying to build up our online presence until we can get an EP done. So what I need is for you guys to help us out by following us on Twitter and Facebook!

Twitter: twitter.com/UnleashtheSound

Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnleashingTheSound

Once you follow us if you can just spread the word. We will be giving away a FREE Bethel LIVE CD when each account hits 200 followers.

 

Also, if you could share the love and check out/LIKE our Church’s page on Facebook that would be great!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lighthouse-of-Faith/162647137123004

You can also follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/iSierraNichole

Follow some of our Band members:

Joe Carreon (Electric) @J_Carreon

Nate Fransen (Drums) @NateFransen

 

THANKS EVERYONE!

Sierra Nichole

 

 

We are ALL called. We ALL were created with Purpose and Destiny.

Do you know what you are called to do?

What is Gods call on your life?

1. Lead Worship and take Worship out to the Nations

2. Travel the World bringing the message of Gods Love to the Broken

3. Minister to abused, broken and hurting women.

4. Minister to Youth.

5. Write Worship Songs that not only minister to the Heart of God but lead people straight into His Presence.

6. Adopt

THIS is what I know the call of God on my life is.

Now that you have defined what God’s call on your life is there are a few things to be aware of.

1. DISTRACTION AND TEMPTATION ARE EVERYWHERE

The enemy would like nothing more than to distract you from Gods call on your life.

Do you think the enemy LIKES when you walk in Gods destiny for you?

OF.COURSE.NOT.

1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

When you are distracted from Gods Call on your life you are like a walking target for the enemy.

Distractions come in so many forms. It can come in the form of family, friends, your job, even ministry. Be aware.

Keep close to God and His heart and be constantly covering yourself in prayer.

If you begin to feel distractions coming in don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask for prayer.

Make sure you have people covering you in prayer, especially those of you who are in Ministry.

2. The enemy wants to bring discouragement.

A discouraged heart is an easy target as well.

Build yourself up in Gods Joy.

Be in the Word. Be in Worship.

For me, I have been in this place recently. A place of deep discouragement. I called my Pastor who asked me, “Sierra, where do you find your most joy in God?” I said, “Worship”. He then challenged me that if that’s where I find my joy in God why wasn’t I pressing into Worship?

I know that for me when I Worship…God pulls me out of discouragement and I begin to feel Gods love for me as He encourages my Spirit with His Word, His love and His heart for me.

So, BE IN GOD’S WORD.

II Corinthians 4:7-9 – But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Do not let the enemy steal your joy!

As Christians, its easy to fall into temptations, distraction and discouragement. The enemy knows our weaknesses, the things that are easy to distract us with, etc. Be aware. Be watching.

Don’t kid yourself by thinking your exempt.

The devil HATES a Man/Woman of God who is CONFIDENT in their call and walk with God.

Avoid temptation, be aware of things that can distract you and take your focus off of God, and use Gods Word and encourage yourself in the Lord.

(Thanks to Pastor Sean Tymeson for preaching on this subject)

Well, I have hit bloggers block again….any ideas? Anything you guys want me to blog about??