Women's Worship Fellowship

HONORING JESUS WITH TIME AND ATTENTION

WWF Event in Dallas, This Coming Tuesday!

DFW!  WWF is coming to you and we sincerely apologize for the late notice!   Please come to this neat event in Highland Village!  We will start the night off with a singer-songwriter concert with Michelle Patterson and move into a time of worship with Michelle, Mary Luker and Krista Miller.  Our hopes are alive and kickin' that this will be an important time of honoring Jesus and receiving things that He is WANTING to give to us!   Come on out ya'll! If you are not in the DFW area, would you forward this to gals you know that might be interested? Click the links below for more info:

 

DIRECTIONS AND DETAILS

FACEBOOK INVITATION TO HIGHLAND VILLAGE WWF EVENT

Hey DFW--Darrell Evans in your town!

Dallas-Ft. Worth!  Darrell Evans is going to be in your town!!! Bunni Pounds, a WWF2 songwriter, is a part of the team hosting him this Saturday at New Life in Garland!  I had the distinct pleasure of hearing him speak and being led in worship by him last fall and it was one of the most meaningful messages I have ever heard. Goooooo!

 

xo

Michelle

 

 A Night of Worship With Darrell Evans!

Saturday night, June 11, 7p.m.

New Life Fellowship

2215 Beltine Road, Garland, TX

love offering will be taken

for more information: New Life Fellowship 972-495-3813 or bunnipounds@yahoo.com

ONLY GOD KNOWS THE NUMBER OF MY DAYS Psalm 139:16 MY JOURNEY WITH BRAIN CANCER

Laura Mantey is a founding member of WWF from Ft. Worth, Texas.  We have been in prayer for her since she started this journey.  We have asked her to tell you her story and she has done so here, beautifully.  As she begins her final round of chemo (May 16-20) before a chemo-vacation, we want to get you praying for her.  As I read her story this morning, I was shaken free from some pesky doubt of God's love for me.  Some weights fell off of my heart and some more freedom settled in.  Read this! You need it!

If any of you WWF girls have a story of your own that you would like to share with our members, email it to me at ascensionarts@mac.com.  

 The first thing I remember is seeing some kind of netting over me that I was fighting to get out of.  Later, when I went to get the staples out, the surgical nurse told me that was the anesthesia mask I wanted off.  Then I felt the need to throw up, and someone was there with a little container to catch my sickness.  The next thing I remember was waking up in a hospital room with my sons and Dennis all looking at me with so much love, I didn’t know what to think. 

 I was in the hospital.  I had had brain surgery….4 hours of surgery, and evidently my family did not know if I was going to come through this surgery or not. 

 On September 12^th, Dennis was across town in Highland Village taking care of his mother, and I was spending the morning with my girlfriend, Tammy.  I came home and felt the need to throw up, but it didn’t freak me out as it normally would.  That is all I remember…throwing up in the sink of my bathroom and rinsing the sink out.  I found out from family that first Jacen found me around 2 a.m. on Sunday morning sitting on the side of my bed and asked if I wanted help or if I wanted to go to the emergency room.  He said I told him “no” so he went on to bed.   That was around 2 a.m., according to Jacen.  Sean found me before going to work and didn’t think I looked right, so he called his dad.  I was on the floor near the bathroom.  Dennis tried to call me about 4 times, and I didn’t respond to his calls.  When he got home, he found me on the floor of my bedroom.  I was looking at him but not responding to him when he spoke to me.  Dennis then got Jacen out of bed and they dressed me and took me to the emergency room of HEB Hospital.  A CAT scan was done and found that I had a massive tumor.  The doc on call said they could not handle my case; he also told my husband and sons that he wasn’t sure I would make it through the night, so they should call all family together.  Thankfully, they sent me by ambulance to Harris Methodist Hospital in Ft. Worth.  The surgeon on call was Dr. Tom Ellis, and instead of immediately performing surgery, he gave me three days of recuperation.  I guess they continued to keep an eye on the tumor through CAT scans, and Dr. Ellis decided they would wait until Wednesday, Sept. 15^th, to perform surgery.  As it turned out, the tumor was about the size of a small orange; guess that is why I had been having migraines.  It also turned out to be a glioma tumor, one that the doctor says is malignant but treatable.  I choose to believe for complete healing.

 I want to stop here and reflect on my perspective concerning all of this….I believe it was God’s will for me and on behalf of my family that Dr. Ellis was on call that night at the hospital (Harris Methodist/Ft. Worth).  He is an excellent surgeon and is known all over the United States and in the world.  He talked to my family about how carefully he handled my brain.  I believe he is also a Christian, though we have never talked about that.   He was also extremely excited (according to my family) when I came out of surgery and immediately started talking to the nurses.  I really like this man.  He knows what he is doing, and I believe God hand-picked him for me.

 I do know that during these days from Sunday to Wednesday before the surgery took place, Dennis and the boys told me I had several visitors and I was talking to people in my right mind and asking how I could pray for them before they would leave.  Dennis told me he would get upset with me because “I” was the one who needed prayer!  Oh well.  I’m glad to know that this is what is in me, whether I’m in my “right” mind or not.  I evidently also understood what was going on, heard what Dr. Ellis had to say and was confident and told Dr. Ellis that I was in God’s hands.  Dr. Ellis decided to wait until Wednesday to do the surgery rather than open a place to drain the tumor.  I was stabilized and having visitors.  Of this I have no recollection, except for one vague remembrance of a young man, Parker, who teased with me about going dancing once I got well.  He is one of Jacen’s buddies. 

 A huge miracle is that my mom came, not only to see me but to stay with us until November.  A few years ago my mother got very mad at me, made some accusations that we didn’t treat her or her husband, Ed, right.  She said that she was not coming back to visit with us again.  So, though I hated to hear these words, I prayed and felt like the Lord wanted me to leave her alone; so I had not been in relationship with her for several years.  She was headed out to Colorado to meet with friends when she got a call from Jacen, who told her about the brain tumor and that I was in the hospital.  This happened right after I got to Harris Methodist, too, but I had no recollection of seeing my mom until after the surgery when she came into my room.  I was SO very glad to see her.  I thought an angel was coming into my room.  Relationship with Mom has been completely restored, as well as her relationship with each of my sons and with Dennis.  They are all anxious to have her around and get to know her again. 

 In the hospital and when I came home my family and I were blessed with SO many people sending cards, gift cards, food and prayer.  I felt and continue to feel that God has me wrapped in His loving, Fatherly arms and is showing me all of the time how much He loves and cares for this family.

 After I had been home for several weeks, I woke up one morning around 4a.m. with a pain under my right breast; felt like it was in my rib cage.  I thought it was gas, but it continued all day the next day.  So, again, my sweet husband got on the internet and researched what I was feeling.  He had thought it might be a blood clot…post surgery and just as he was telling me this, the pain got worse.  So, I say, “Why are we sitting here?”.   Jacen got me to the car and Dennis drove me to the emergency room, where they took me right away because of what it was.  The doctor on call that night was amazed at my composure, even though I was in such pain.  Before I was sent to a room, he told me that there was something about me that caused him to want to re-evaluate his relationship with the Lord.  He said he was a Christian but had not been going to church.  Then he said he might cry, so he was going to leave, and Dennis and I were left just looking at one another.  I can’t remember saying anything about God or Jesus, but something touched this doctor’s heart.  I ended up being in the hospital for 6 more days.  This time was more emotional because the doctors were using Cumadin to get my INR (thinness or thickness of blood) between 2 and 3, and the medication would either make it get too high or too low.  We still deal with this.  I also had my first night of chemo and radiation the next day.  The first night of chemo I got as sick as a dog!  I didn’t think I would ever stop vomiting, and we didn’t call the nurse at first because Dennis and I both thought this was just a reaction and I would stop; but I didn’t.  I was crying and finally called for the nurse.  She shot me up with something to stop the vomiting; it didn’t work at first, so she gave me more.  It was a long night.  I cried and cried out to God to have mercy and realized why people don’t want to take chemo.  Thankfully the next day, the hospital doctor told me of a pill that dissolves on the tongue to get rid of nausea.   IT WORKS!  I take it now every day because I’m on so many meds to keep my body comfortable.   I finally got the OKAY to go home again.

 My life from this point was filled with about 40+ radiation treatments every day except the weekends.  I also take Temodar, a chemo treatment specifically to attack brain tumors.  I took this Monday through Friday at bedtime while going through radiation during the day.  As I was told and expected, I was extremely tired most of the time and I lost hair on one side of my head.  I decided right away that I was not going to let this get me down.  I knew God was with me as I prayed daily for healing and knew that many others, besides my own family, were praying for God’s healing and restoration over my life.  My sweet son, Jacen, shaves me about every 3-4 weeks.  I have had “cry” days, days of sadness; but for the most part, I feel very confident that God has me in this journey and will use it to glorify His name.  Getting back to not letting this get me down, I bought little caps and hats and bands to go around the caps & hats for decoration during the cold season.  My mom also sent me two hats.  Now that it’s warming up some, I have moved to baseball type hats that cover my ears and are cute.  I want more; don’t have enough colors yet!  I also gained quite a bit of weight, which is mainly around the middle, and I don’t like that, but the doctors don’t want me to lose a lot of weight.  I have lost about 5 pounds, going from being in the 140’s to the 130’s.  That’s good, except I had to order larger clothes (I did enjoy ordering online and getting packages by UPS or mail).

 We celebrated Thanksgiving with only immediate family…Dennis and Sean prepared most of the meal and we ordered a smoked turkey (we won’t do that again); Sean also baked cookies and actually did a better job than I do! But the main experience was having our sweet boys and Taylour (my daughter-in-law) around the table.  It was a great time of thanksgiving to the Lord for saving my life and giving me back to my family. 

 We celebrated Christmas with a couple of guys that are close to my boys…Jay and Antonio.  We went to Salt Grass Steakhouse on Christmas Eve as always and enjoyed dinner; then we went home and opened gifts, ate a little candy, etc. and then we cleared the table and laid out new stockings and decorated them (this was creative Ryan’s idea).  I think Sean had Christmas music playing from his bedroom.  This is what I know - I felt very blessed to share Christmas with my precious family this year.  Oh!  I got an outdoor fire pit from Dennis and the boys. (The only thing is, Dennis tried to light a fire once and mostly what we got was smoke, so we have some learning to do about this fire pit.)  We hope to make s’mores when we can have all the guys and Taylour and our new grandson, Eli over.

Yep…that’s the newest thing that happened.  Ryan and Taylour’s little baby boy,Eli Jay, was born on January 28^th, the day before Dennis’ birthday, so now he thinks he’s special. 

Really he is.  Dennis has been so good to me since all of this happened.  He drives me to the doctor visits.  He's taken me to every radiation treatment.  He kept up with my meds until I felt capable of doing it on my own.  He has been the husband I have always wanted and for a period of time I had lost.  But that is old news…all things are being made new, including my brain.  I have had two MRI’s and both have shown no new tumor growth.  The chemo continues,  since after Christmas, 5 days a week, once a month.  My last chemo week is in May…16^th through the 20^th.  Then Dr. Dean, my chemo doctor, says I get a vacation!  Yea!!!  He also says I’m ready for “The Runway.” 

 I have also started physical therapy to work on my core and my legs, as I can’t get up easily when I get down, and my tummy is too big!  This makes my back hurt, so Dr. Ellis (my surgeon) wrote up a prescription for me.  Dennis found the perfect place for me to go.  I love him for doing this kind of thing for me because my brain doesn’t like anxiety. 

 I am sure this journey continues for the rest of this year, but slowly and surely I am becoming more myself; I have more energy and I want to get out and do things.  I still have to be careful of my immune system, so I haven’t been to church since September and only to restaurants, etc., with my family.  I have been treated for shingles (which I wouldn’t wish on anyone), and I have had one urinary tract infection and thrush.  Oh!  And I lost a filling one night while eating oatmeal.  In spite of these setbacks, I have been so blessed so far with good health through this.  My spirit is strong; my faith is strong and I also believe I have gone through this courageously (not to lack humility) I have had such confidence that only the Lord knows the number of my days and from the first time I found myself in my NICU room, I have felt and continue to feel Father God holds me close to His heart; especially on the days when I cry.

 This entire experience has made me slow down and enjoy one day at a time.  I enjoy watching a tree I can see from my bedroom window; I watch its leaves blow in the wind; I watched when the leaves were coming off.  Every morning I would watch that tree and know that God has me.  He’s in control.  I have watched as the white buds, then new leaves began to grow back on this tree.  My mother and Dennis planted a sweet, beautiful flower bed for me right off of my front porch for my 55^th birthday, and if the wasps won’t bother me, I like to go out there just to look at the flowers.  I know how deeply I’m loved by my sons and my husband; my mother - even my sisters and brother and my dad, all who have been alienated from me and my family because of choices they made.  I am amazed at the “friends” who wrote on the “Blessings for Laura” that Sean put up as soon as he could.  I get overwhelmed and cry every time I read most of the blessings and prayers.  Most of all, I know that I am loved in Heaven, where God reigns and Jesus is seated at His right hand interceding for me and all of us daily.

 The Lord has also given me something to do while I heal…I can pray for other women I know who have different types of cancer.  There’s a baby named Avery Curtis who has a blood cancer, and I pray for her daily.  She’s only 7-8 months old right now. 

 My husband, Dennis, has been a good man to me through this and has promised on several occasions that he loves me and isn’t going anywhere.  We have laughed and cried and even argued through all of this.  He has also told me he doesn’t know what he would do without me…that’s very cool to know.  I’ve seen him get emotional when he hears me and one of our sons talking about the future if the Lord should choose to take me home with Him.  I feel strong, so I don’t think that is going to happen right now.  The Lord knows the number of my days, and He also knows how much my family still needs me, as well as my new grandbaby, so I don’t “feel” like He’s taking me home too soon.

 This journey is far from over, according to Dr. Ellis and Dr. Dean, but we all seem to get along so well.  Dr. Ellis (surgeon) says we will be “friends” until one of us is laid 6 feet under.   I hope not.  I choose to believe God for complete healing.

 I pray that anyone who reads this and either is going through some type of cancer or knows someone who is, whether family or friend, will gain some hope, courage and confidence in the Lord through this story.  I pray that God will remove fear with His perfect love.  I have fear at times, especially when in some way my body breaks down during or after chemo.  But the Word of God tells us in Philippians 4:5-7, “Don’t fret or worry.  Instead of worrying pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.  It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”  This passage is so true!

 Finally,  I want to encourage every woman who is a part of Women’s Worship Fellowship to pray for the women, men or children you know of who have cancer.  Do what you can to help out with food or short visits, (when the person is ready…not before).  Listen and encourage but be careful of your words.  Mainly all someone wants is to be listened to, and I (we) like hearing what’s going on in other peoples’ lives.  I don’t want everything to be about ME.  I guess I’m saying, treat the person like they are living…not like they are on their way out.  Only God knows the number of our days.

 Love and abundant life and blessings,

laura

 

 

KYONG A HAYES, WWF ALIVE AND WELL IN JAPAN!

If you have wandered around on our previous NING network or even on this blog, you probably know who Kyong A Hayes is.  She has been an active member  of WWF for several years now and even has a song  (Right Here) on the WWF2 recording.  She is a quality woman doing some pretty awesome Kingdom work with The Navigators in Japan.  The night before the earthquake, I got an email from her saying that she would be in the states this summer and could we please have a worship night.  That same night, she also purchased a whole slew of WWF2 cd's to pass around to her friends in Japan. Those of us who know her have been intruiged by her stories of reaching out to people around her and worshipping with other ladies in small, intimate groups.  She has inspired us and we have prayed so much for her.

When all of the chaos erupted in Japan, I started trying to track her down.  I have been trying to find out if she is ok and googling up her physical address so I could pinpoint her location in relation to all of the devastation.  It finally occurred to me to check her facebook page and here is what I found there.  Kyong A, we love you and we are praying for you.  And you better believe we are ON for a worship night, whenever you get here. :)

At the bottom of this message from Kyong is the recording of "Right Here", the song of Kyong A's that is on the WWF2 recording.  Give it a listen and pray for that same peace to settle on Japan today. If you would like to donate to Kyong A and her family, here's a chance. 

We are all fine, no injuries, a little shaken up, but thankful for His protection over us... 

I had arrived to pick up Sam and Isabella at kindergarten and about 5 minutes later, the room started shaking. Usually it ends in about 5 seconds. But this one kept going and going and going and got more intense. I felt like the building was going to fall down on us. The teacher took Sam, who was napping, and I took Isabella and we stood in the door frame. Then we decided to attempt to escape outside, as it seemed like we were sitting ducks in a very shaky building. We risked it and got safely to the car and were relieved to be in the wide place of the parking lot, decreasing the number of things that can fall on us. Many, many more aftershocks of great intensity continued afterward. The power and water were out and soon it started to become nighttime. The convenience store was packed out with long, long lines and I was in the dark trying to buy dinner, not knowing if it'd be days without electricity. We eventually attempted to return home by car, and with all the power out, the street lights were dark and there was incredible order on the streets--because this is Japan and people take turns yielding to one another on the street! Half way home, the power was on in that part of the city and we were relieved to find our current place to have water running and the electricity working. Even as I write this we have had many aftershocks but not intense ones. 

Some thoughts from today...

After we were without running water, working toilets, non functional kitchens, no electricity and heat in this cold Japan winter, i see more clearly how little control we really do have --how much we are at the mercy of God.

 

We all need to be prepared to meet God. 

God gave me several opportunities to share a great summary booklet that presents the Bible in a nutshell and the hope that God offers everyone through Jesus Christ. Would you pray that God would use this experience so that many would receive His gift of forgiveness of sins and a relationship with Him?

 Please pray for our friend and fellow staff's family: Tomo--he hasn't been able to contact his family who are in Sendai. Two staff families, the Ogawas and Swans, live in Sendai. We'd greatly appreciate prayers on their behalf.

 Pray for us to not live by fear but instead sensing His strong Presence with us--that we'd trust Jesus so much that our fears have no room to reside in us.

thanks all!

 

kyong a

07 Right Here

Poem By Becky Mccord

Becky Mccord is a WWF girl from a way back.  She sent in this amazing poem and we knew you all needed to read this.  Thanks so much, Becky!  

 

Do you know how wild and wonderful you are?
Arrayed in splendor
grand
sublime
The words ring hollow when compared to your great worth.

You are not object. You are entity.
You cannot be contained nor neatly rounded off to fit the size and shape
of any pre determined peg hole.

You are soft and strong. Stoic and emotive. Delighter and delight.

You shoulder pain that would reduce most men to fetal curled positions
rocking back and forth while calling for their mamas.
Those called for mamas are our sisters strong
with wild heartbeats
they pound the drums of war upon the taunts of any enemy
brave or dumb enough to pick a fight with loved ones.
These sisters feel the hurts not only of themselves but those around
both seen and felt for miles
as sadness from a hurting one sings siren calls for help
that woos a mama/sister heart to actions
far beyond the realms of personal protection.

Determination to see justice win can fuel another and another tender stroke
upon a fevered brow .
Satisfaction in a tended heart can keep a sister soothing long into the night.
Tenderness prevails upon exhaustion flooding broken hearts that beat
both in and out of their own breast.

Strength borne of softness.

These same brave sisters also taste the ache of weakness
brought about by failure in their own sweet hearts to keep it all together.
Some stand defiant
raising fists against the storms.
You will not see them cry out even tho the tears may blur their eyes
with filmy puddles of frustration.
They cannot bend for fear of breaking.
Knowing not that breaking can unbend the knots of time.

Some other sisters swallow hope like pills and loose themselves in tears
that never cease to wet their cheeks and pillows
crying on
til spent with agony and wasted time
and dreams left unfulfilled by life
filled up with daily chores.

Searching skies for answers to their self perceived laziness and lack of motivation.
Wailing long and hard because to get it done feels bigger than the talents they possess.
They look upon themselves...these sisters...as inadequate or faulty in their current state.
A longing rises up to be some more.

Emotion runs the stoic out of town.

It's true, we sisters often fail at bringing forth the beauty as we see it
played upon the mind and heart and soul.
We wish the wishes of completeness and perfection that seem still farther than our grasp.
We secretly suspect that what is needed is not possible with what's been given
as we tend to blame ourselves.
We sisters know that in us lies the answers if only we could somehow
step aside while stepping up.

Do you know how wild and wonderful you are?

The answers here lie not in form as if by solving problems we could shoot solutions
like bullets at a chosen target.
We sisters work within each moment to extract the tidbits of redemption
that can save a day or even turn a minute.

We do not always get to know the why's as we proceed
towards an unseen goal along a hidden path.

We often have to buck it up when all we want to do is sit and melt.

We do not give ourselves the credit we give others
for another day breathed through and night endured.

We need to see that small success can often look like failure.
Steps forward get discounted when we feel the clink of ankle chains.
The time it takes to feel complete can nullify the time just spent
in bandaging
the hurts of many wounds.
Ours and others'.

Those hands that bring such comfort to our loved ones
would do well to bring some home.

Forgiveness starts when looking in a mirror.
Imperfection truly can be all embraced.
Delight can come in many forms both giving and receiving
when we learn to ease the pressures of
expectation and regret.

My sisters, know that being brings no failure.
We can wake today and shower it with grace.
We will take a step and feel the strength that comes
as each new moment swings us to the next one.
Then when we fall we stay or stand
believing that today is not all up to us.
And that is a relief.


Wild and wonderful are descriptions of an untamed heart
that glories in the knowledge that our maker truly knows what He is doing.
And He does it very well.

Do you know how wild and wonderful you are?

WWF2 Songwriter series: Abigail Campion/I Have A Reason

Abigail has been coming to WWF events since she was a teenager.  She and her mom, Lee and sisters Sarah and Kathleen have hosted gatherings in Houston and participated in WWF all over the place. She is no longer a teenager and has become an amazing singer-songwriter.  This recording had a lot of Maynard's on it-her mom and sister Kathleen also came out to be a part of the choir.  You know Kate's lovely voice from "Lord, I Love You."

We pretty much begged Abigail to write a song for this project.  Her response was, " I don't usually write worship songs, but how is this?"  Uhhhhhh, it's amazing.  You can check out Abigail's music here.  At the time of the recording, she as just a few weeks  away from becoming Mrs. Campion, so we went ahead and listed her writer name as Abigail Campion on the cd.  And Abigail, we are  hoping to hear a lot more worship songs from you, we neeeeeed them!! xox

                                                                          Abigail & Amy Dale at the WWF2 recording

LISTEN TO ABIGAIL'S SONG "I HAVE A REASON" FOR FREE FOR 24 HOURS BELOW!

I've Got A Reason

 

WWF2 Songwriter Series: Mary Luker/I Will Come To You

Mary Luker is a founding member of WWF.  Most of the first two year's worth of events took place in her living room in her small apartment in Fort Worth.  She is an amazing guitar player and singer-songwriter but her area of expertise (in our opinion) is leading worship. Mary's sweet relationship with Jesus spills over into her leadership in a beautiful way.  There is no warming up when Mary leads.  She has no time to waste and she will go deep on ya pronto. Her leadership style is fiercely intimate and we love being led by her.  You will know her from her presence on the WWF1 cd as well.

The song of hers that we chose for WWF2 is "I Will Come To You".  It's a burden lifting, settling call to worship.  Even though so many worship cd's start with a bang, we knew this was the right place to start - for WWF.  If you attend a WWF gathering,  you know - it's full of women. Women these days are worn out.  If they can ever carve away a night to worship God, you can assume they have fought to get there. We always need to take a few moments to settle down and let go of our lives so we can really enter in.  I Will Come To You is a perfect gateway for that. With that in mind, we began the whole recording process with this song.  I believe we got it in one take and everyone was so dialed into it.  We love this song!  We love you,  Mary!

(this is an arranging session prior to the recording days, Mary is in the hat on the left)

If you need some more Mark Luker, let us point you in the right direction!  She is one half of the acoustic duo "Mary & Brian"  and their debut cd was released earlier this year. You can listen to it on their facebook page here.  If you would like to have Mary Luker come and lead worship for your group of if you are interested in booking Mary & Brian, just shoot Mary an email here: believeanddream@gmail.com 

LISTEN TO MARY LUKER'S SONG "I WILL COME TO YOU"  FOR FREE FOR 24 HOURS!

I Will Come

 

 

WWF2 Songwriter video Series: Ashley Warren/Thank You

Ashley Warren is a supernatural force of nature.  You cannot be around her and not want more of God and more of truth and just more in general.  She is a thriving wife and mother of four small (on the outside) children.  She does amazing things with food, color, yarn, movement and music. Check out her blog and current knitting adventure.

We were thrilled that she submitted this song because we most definitely wanted to express thankfulness in the WWF2 worship experience.  On the day we recorded her song, the recording equipment was overheating and it kept locking up and shutting down in the middle of takes.  She had to take this song no less than 15 times and she was a champ.  She didn't complain once and her 15th performance was just as strong as her first.  At the time, we were certain that God was wanting to pull gratefulness out of us, otherwise, why would He have us sing the same grateful song 15 times?  Yesssssss!!!  Take a listen to her beautiful solo project, Freshley Found,  here. 

LISTEN TO ASHLEY WARREN'S SONG "THANK YOU" FOR FREE FOR 24 HOURS!

 

Thank You

 

WWF2 Songwriter video series: Esther Sparks/My Loving God

Esther Sparks lives up to her name.  She is, indeed, a sparky Scottish folk princess, a wife and mother of three and has been stateside for about 15 years now.  She lived in Woodland Park, Colorado (current home of WWF headquarters) for two years and led small weekly worship gatherings for women in her living room for a good while. It was during the time of these gatherings that she wrote this song, "My Loving God".  We would sing this song passionately and with great ownership right alongside her dog, Dave, in those days. We have known that we wanted this song on a WWF project since then.  This song is an anthem for the locals and we really wanted more people to get a chance to sing it.

At the last moment, Esther was unable to make it to the WWF2 recording.  We had to think really fast about who should sing that lead vocal if she wasn't coming.  We decided on Reilly Thornberry.  Reilly is my niece.  She is 14 and  has a beautiful voice.  I didn't want to scare her to death, but I had no choice but to give her pretty much zero warning that she was going to be singing a lead vocal on a live recording.  She was willing and we scrambled up to a bedroom during the lunch break to rehearse. Reilly may have been nervous but you would never have known it.  Reilly is really precious to Esther so it was really meaningful to Esther to have Reilly sing her song.  And I got to sing a duet with my niece, a memory I will always hold dear.

Here is Esther's song story:

You can check out Esther's solo stuff here and buy it here:

WWF2 Songwriter video Series: Kimberly Vidaurri/Savior

 Kim Vidaurri, queen of lilting melody and soulful worship, (Can you be the queen of worship?  Probably not.) submitted a different song than this.  It was beautiful and moving but as we were making our list, I kept being drawn back to an older song of hers instead.  I think the team was a little frustrated with me for choosing an older song, but I couldn't shake it.  She herself was surprised that I had reached back into the archives for this song, Savior.  However, in the days prior to and surrounding the recording, as some personal turmoil unfolded for me, this song served as a focus-changer for me.  When we rehearsed and recorded this song, everything was in perspective.  We are hopeless without Him.  He is the only One who can save us.  We adore Him.  He is our safety. I am not sure if I have ever meant a song so much in my life.  Kim herself sang it with great passion and we knew it was the proper choice for this project.  

If you have never heard Kim before, check out her debut worship project here.   Her writing is accessible and intimate and her voice will make you wanna sing.