Worship Archives - LeeAnn G Taylor - Embracing the Mosaic Life

An Easter Playlist for You

March 27, 2016 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

This week I created an Easter playlist on YouTube.

I asked for suggestions on Facebook and added my favorites to YouTube so they’re saved and can be listened to again and again. I thought I was creating it to share with you but I quickly realized I was prompted to gather these songs about Christ’s power over the grave as a reminder for my own fragile heart too.

It’s been quite a week here at the Taylor household, with transition and turmoil in our closest friends’ lives. One family is moving out of state with their family of 7, one family is experiencing setbacks with the process of opening a new business, and yet another received news that no family ever wants to hear, “your cancer is back.”

At the same time, we’ve been preparing our home and our hearts for Easter and finishing up our 40 Day Prayer Challenge as a couple.

Emotionally, I’ve felt a little “all over the place.”

Music is one way I process things and reflect when my heart and head just can’t seem to get on the same page. The melodies melt my anxiety and the words speak truth into the weary places.

These words.

♪ The same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in us.

♪ You plead my cause, you right my wrongs. You break my chains, you overcome. You gave your life, to give me mine. You say that I am free, How can it be?

♪ I want to be close, close to Your side. So Heaven is real and death is a lie. I want to hear voices of angels above singing as one. Hallelujah, holy, holy. God Almighty, the great I AM. Who is worthy, none beside Thee. God Almighty, the great I AM.

And so, after letting the music wash over me and heal my heart, I begin to surrender my presumed grip on the outcome of the uncertain pieces of my life and those of my friends.

These lyrics point me to Truth and I rest in the reminder of the power of celebrating Easter today. Jesus’ resurrection makes all the difference.

My prayer for you this Easter is that you also rest in this reminder.

Jesus is risen. Risen indeed!

Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship

December 4, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Tonight, the living room is quiet. The Christmas tree twinkles and reflects on the picture window, a rainbow of colors infusing joy in the space we call home.

The littles are all tucked warmly in their beds after an evening ending in snuggles and stories of jingle bells and The Christmas Promise.

I sit here with the flame from my orange thyme + cardamom soy candle flickering softly, the scent providing evidence of the season that is upon us. Advent, a time of waiting, a time of reflection, a time to remember He is coming, He has come.

December, my favorite month, arrives promptly each year after an intentional time of gratitude. Thanksgiving gives way to a plethora of family activities, experiences, and memory making moments through the remainder of the holiday season.

If we’re not careful, this opportunity for a time of reflection as we await the Christ child’s birth can become a whirlwind instead, one filled to the brim with shopping and traffic and bouncing from party to party, activity to activity, with little recollection of the true significance of the celebration we’re anticipating.

For me, it’s the sights and sounds of the Christmas season – the lights, the scents, the music, the people – that draw me back into the story of Jesus’ birth. All around me the world screams red with desire and green with envy as purchases seek to fill the emptiness inside people’s hearts.

At times I need a reset, a reminder of the true nature of the season. For me this year, that reset has come in the form of Chris Tomlin’s newest album, Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship.

I realized quickly how much I was going to adore this album when in the middle of the very first song I found myself listening with hands raised in praise. There is something immensely special about Christmas music that leads you right to into worship while reflecting on the birth of Jesus.

This album is heart-stirring, a compilation of traditional Christmas music with a contemporary worship twist. I’ve loved listening with my kids and singing along as we learn the songs together. Chris Tomlin is known for singing in a vocal range that makes it easy to sing along in corporate worship and also with your family.

Many songs are recorded Live and several feature other artists including Lauren Daigle, All Sons & Daughters, and Kristyn Getty.

Songs:
1. He Shall Reign Forevermore
2. Adore
3. Midnight Clear (Love Song)
4. Noel featuring Lauren Daigle
5. Hymn Of Joy
6. Silent Night featuring Kristyn Getty
7. What Child Is This? featuring All Sons & Daughters
8. It’s Christmas
9. A King Like This
10. Bethlehem
11. A Christmas Alleluia featuring Lauren Daigle & Leslie Jordan of All Sons & Daughters

I really can’t recommend this album enough! Grab a copy on iTunes or Amazon. ~~Also, thanks to FlyBy Promotions for providing a copy of the CD to one of you lovely readers so that you can also enjoy a worshipful Christmas!~~

Click to enter to win:
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Giveaway is open until Friday, Dec 11th. giveaway has ended

More about the album:

Official Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

iTunes

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Affiliate links are present in this post.

Hillsong United – Empires {review + giveaway}

May 29, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

This week marks the release of Hillsong United’s latest album, Empires. When I was given the opportunity to listen to a copy before the official release, I jumped on the chance since I enjoyed their album Aftermath so much a few years back. The lyrics were thoughtful, sending me into a reflective mood each time I listened, and the music was powerful.

The newest album Empires also includes tracks with well-written lyrics, and Even When It Hurts (Praise Song) is my favorite, as it is a low-key, relaxed song that reminds us to continue to praise God even in the midst of our pain and suffering.

While the lyrics definitely have more depth than the average praise and worship song, I wasn’t as fond of the music this time around. It may just be that my preference currently is for more traditional Christian praise music like Hillsong Worship instead of the electronic sounds of Hillsong United’s most recent album.

Don’t get me wrong though, the album is definitely top notch for those of you out there who love their style of music.

I also appreciated the sentiments regarding the meaning behind the name of the album:

“EMPIRES is the story of two worlds. Our prayer and desire has been to simply create the most honest project we could. Songs that seek to listen first, and then with God’s breath speak the good news reality of Jesus and His grace into the dichotomy, tension and hopeful-collision of this broken and fragile world we see here and now, and the unshakeable and mysterious reality of the Kingdom we can’t see, but no-less know is here — and NOW.”
– Hillsong United

If you think you’d like this album, I’m excited to be able to offer you the chance to win your own copy of the CD! Enter using the Rafflecopter entry below or leave a comment. Winners will be chosen Friday, June 5th.

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If you have friends who might also like to win, take a minute and use the social share buttons below to let them know about the giveaway!

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

It’s Okay to Not be Okay

May 21, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Have you ever felt like you just can’t keep it all together? That all the moving pieces of your life just don’t fit into a neat little puzzle?

It’s in those times that my control-seeking, keep-it-all-together nature kicks into high gear. I start looking for solutions to every perceived challenge in my schedule, convinced that all I need is to find the perfect planner or the newest organizational hack and I’ll be able to remedy the burdens of my overwhelmed heart.

Here’s the thing though.

Over and over I forget to seek the only One who can soothe my scattered spirit. Before Googling for an answer or chatting with a friend or asking my husband for his input, it is God’s face I must seek first.

I’ve been a Christian for over 20 years, yet this basic truth still escapes me in certain seasons of my life.

Somehow I feel if I can’t do it all, be it all, have it all together in my own strength, then something must be wrong with me.

Have you felt this same way, dear friend? You are not alone.

I was reminded recently of a simple truth I often forget.

It is okay to not be okay.

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Rest in that for a minute. Take a breath. Maybe even say it out loud.

It is okay to not be okay.
It is okay to not have it all together.
It is okay to not be able to live this life well in your own strength.

If you’re a rule-following, structured type-A person like me, this concept may feel so unsettling. It does to me at times. But I’m learning that it’s the times when I’m the weakest that I learn the value of submitting to the Spirit’s work in my life.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Instead of measuring our value by our performance, let’s measure our value by God’s perfect love and Christ’s power in our lives.

Sometimes I need a tangible reminder though.

Lately I’ve soaked in this reminder by listening to the Christian music artist Plumb’s new CD, Exhale. So many words in the title song speak life into my heart. Her powerful lyrics remind me not be to afraid, not to hold on to shame, that there is still hope, and that everyone, yes everyone, is welcome in the arms of Jesus.

Later in the song I find myself pleading with her.

♪ Spirit come tear down these walls that only You can. ♪

Today I encourage you to take 3 minutes to watch this video and soak in the truths in her lyrics. If they speak to you and you’d like to listen to more, you can find the whole album here. You’ll find your heart encouraged by the themes of grace and hope, and if you’re like me, you’ll be singing along with her powerful voice as worship to our God who provides so richly.

If you’re reading in an email click here to view the video.

About PLUMB:

Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, better-known by her stage name Plumb, is a songwriter, recording artist, performer and author. Plumb has sold more than 500,000 albums and over two million singles worldwide, co-penned songs for numerous other artists, including Michelle Branch, Mandisa, Mandy Moore, Jaci Velasquez, and Natalie Grant, and had music placed in many films and television shows.Originally signed as a Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) recording artist in 1997, Plumb is now known as well as or better in alternative rock, electronic dance music, and for the use of her music in film and television than she is in the CCM market.

About the album:
EXHALE, the seventh studio album from acclaimed multi-genre singer, songwriter and author PLUMB, expresses a new focus and vision. After the runaway success of NEED YOU NOW (the album, title track and book), which coincided with her own moving story of brokenness and ultimately healing, Exhale brims with worshipful songs of gratitude and hope.The defining concept of EXHALE was born from a sermon at Plumb’s home church, wherein her pastor Pete Wilson expressed the notion that the Church doesn’t exist for itself. Rather, believers come to church to breathe in grace and truth, be changed, and then go out and “exhale” that hope into their surrounding community.“That idea of exhaling hope hit me right away and I couldn’t get to the Notes section on my phone fast enough. I started writing the chorus of Exhale right then and there,” explains Plumb. “I have been made new by the ultimate hope, and I want to share and exhale that hope in every way I can.”

S O C I A L • C O R N E R

Official Website
Official Facebook
Official Twitter
Official Instagram

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of Plumb’s Exhale CD from FlyBy Promotions as a review copy. Also, some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Funds generated through affiliate commissions go toward our family’s Compassion International sponsorship of Eva, a little girl in Columbia. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Parenting With Purpose: Day 13 – Memorize Scripture Using Music {Giveaway}

October 16, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Be sure to read all the way to the end for an INCREDIBLE giveaway you won’t want to miss!

Looking for more ideas and resources for Parenting With Purpose as you create a God-centered home? You can find the whole series here.

It’s Sunday afternoon and I realize we’re going to be late (again) to our discipleship group. I grab the diaper bag, just hoping it actually has diapers in it, and shoes for the still groggy kids I just roused out of their Sunday afternoon naps.

It’s an act of will and a healthy portion of God’s grace that helps me maintain my composure instead of giving in to the rising frustration I feel in these rushed moments headed out the door. Finally, the kids are safely strapped in their carseats and I’ve verified that we do, indeed, have two sets of matching shoes and a diaper bag stocked with wipes and at least two diapers.

I breathe a sigh of relief, thankful for the 10 minutes of relative peace in the van I will have before joining our group as we discuss whatever deep meanings we’ve gleaned from the text this week in our “read through the New Testament in a year” plan.

I turn the key and the CD player, left on from our last excursion around town, quickly spurts out a tune.

Remembering my husband was the last one to drive the van, I’m fully prepared to hear lyrics from Jimmy Buffett’s Cheeseburger in Paradise, since my daughter has taken a liking to the tribute song to all things beef and toppings.

Instead, I hear these words floating through the speakers…

Call to me, and I will answer you

And tell you, great and unsearchable things, you do not know

Call to me, Jeremiah 33:3

My soul, previously anxious and frustrated by all the rushing, in a moment’s time calms. I am almost instantly transformed from a momma caught up in the whirlwind of our schedule into a momma remembering who I need to be calling on in the challenging times.

Music and Mood

As parents, we aren’t particularly effective at creating warm, happy memories with our children when we’re stressed, anxious, and in “whirlwind” mode.

When we’re trying to cultivate a God-centered home on top of the warm, happy memories in the middle of the stress? Well, sometimes we just need something to “reset” our minds and hearts.

For our family, we’ve discovered the easiest way to quickly change everyone’s mood and turn our hearts back to God. It’s MUSIC!

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that music can significantly affect our mood.

While we all can turn on the Happy Song and change our family’s mood in a minute, one simple way to change your family’s mood AND direct their hearts to God is listening to music that focuses on God’s truths.

Music and Memorizing God’s Truths

My swift attitude change in the car that Sunday afternoon wasn’t a product merely of a catchy tune changing my mood from sour to sweet. Instead, it was the words of TRUTH spoken into my heart that changed me that day.

I’m a firm believer in the importance of daily remembering and reflecting on God’s truths. In this series we’ve talked about the value of having God’s word in your home.

For me personally, that often means investing in my morning quiet time.

For my kids, since they’re so young and the oldest is just learning to read, this means scripture memorization. While my husband and I have worked with our daughter to memorize a few scriptures and I’m now using tools like printable lunchbox scripture cards to reinforce them, I love that we’ve found a gem of a tool to plant seeds into our children’s hearts through music.

Seeds Family Worship

I’m thrilled to share with you our favorite resource for hiding God’s word in my children’s hearts using music – Seeds Family Worship.

Seeds Family Worship is a music-based ministry that creates modern, relevant word for word scripture songs for families. I absolutely LOVE that my kids are singing their way to memorizing scripture.

Music creates a connection between the mind and the heart and I fully believe these songs they’re learning now will translate into God’s truths being deeply planted in their hearts.

I love this testimonial I found on the Seeds Family Worship website about their newest album, Word of God. It speaks volumes about the power of these songs and reinforces the fact that both kids AND adults love this music!

The musical diversity, energy, and synergy they have going on this album is unmatched in my opinion. My appreciation for it only grows with each listen. My heart is drawn to the heart of God and his Word more and more through these songs.” ~ Rachel

4 Ways to Listen to Seeds Family Worship Music

We all consume music differently, so I wanted to share a few options for ways to listen to Seeds Family Worship music in your home or on the go!

1) Order the CDs or download the mp3 files.

You can order all the CDs on Amazon. This is especially great if you have Amazon Prime since you get free shipping. If you don’t have Amazon Prime, you can get a free trial with 30 days of free shipping.

Order them directly from the Seeds Family Worship Store.

2) Download many of the digital music files for free!

For those of you who use Amazon Prime like me, I’ve recently found out about a program called Prime Music. Prime Music gives you unlimited, ad-free access to over a million songs and hundreds of playlists.

There are almost 100 digital music files from Seeds Family Worship on Amazon Prime Music – here is the list of the 60 songs available for FREE!

3) Create a Seeds Family Worship playlist on Spotify.

I’m new to Spotify as a way to listen to music and maybe you are too. Most people are familiar with Pandora and Spotify works in much the same way. Choose your favorite music and create a playlist or listen to one already created. The service is free although there is a Premium service available as well. This is a great way to play music using your phone, tablet, or computer.

4) If you are really strapped for cash and aren’t able to purchase the CDs or MP3 files, there is still an option for you!

The Seeds Family Worship team has made many full length songs available directly on their website. The newest album won’t be available to listen to online until November 16, 2014, but you can still get a feel for the music by listening to the other albums.

The Heart Behind the Seeds Family Worship Team

One thing I love about Seeds Family Worship is their heart behind everything they do.

From their website:

[We created this music] to especially bless and encourage everyone, young and old to plant God’s Word deep within our hearts so we can genuinely proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord! We believe that no other book is “living and active, sharper than any two edge sword” given by God to instruct us and speak into our very own lives as nothing else can.

Everything they do centers around planting God’s word in people’s hearts and impressing God’s truths on their lives. As such, they include two awesome bonuses with their music.

Planting God’s Word – Buy 1 – Give 1:

When you purchase any Seeds Family Worship album, you will receive two identical full-length CDs. One album is for you and one is to give away.

They want you to be a ‘seed planter’ and encourage you to pray about who God wants you to share the second album with.

Scripture Memory Cards

If your children are old enough to read, you will love this bonus.

FREE Scripture Memory Cards are available on their site to go along with each of the albums. You can print them out on colored card stock and keep copies around in your home or in your car to reinforce the memorization process.

Enter to Win All 9 of the Seeds Family Worship Albums

Remember how I mentioned I love the heart of the Seeds Family Worship team? I wasn’t kidding! They are incredibly generous and have offered The Mosaic Life readers a chance to win the entire set of 9 Seeds Family Worship CDs. Remember, each one comes with an extra copy for you to give away, so you’re really winning two copies of each CD.

Click on the Rafflecopter widgit below to enter. Email subscribers may need to click over to the blog to enter.

There are lots of ways to enter and you’ll get extra entries for sharing the giveaway with your friends!

Giveaway runs from Thursday, October 16 – Monday, October 20th.

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This post contains affiliate links {full disclosure}. Sharing today with Fellowship Friday, Faith Filled Friday, and Essential Fridays.

Exploring the Importance of Soul Care

September 28, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

I sat still, so close to the keyboard and the microphone with the melodies floating through the air in the old barn, my soul transfixed in the moment of worship. Surrounded by beauty, the beauty of the place and the beauty of the people, my soul stirred within me as the evening darkened around us.

I found myself grateful.

Grateful for the space, for the time away from the mundane, for space for my soul to breathe.

The words of the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” slipped past my lips, a harmony rang out and my heart swelled with the truths in the ancient words.

Yes. This is what I desire.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

It is true that the day to day sometimes squelches our souls.

On our best days, we care for our body with proper nutrition and exercise and then in the same day, neglect our spirit. And we wonder why we feel empty inside.

Instead of that emptiness, today my soul experienced life.

What a gift to be in the presence of life-giving souls like Emily Freeman and Christa Wells for the At the Barn: A Day for Writers event. Emily and Christa offered truth through story and song with humility and refreshing authenticity. They’re faithfully living out God’s calling on their lives, using the gifts and talents God’s blessed them with and sharing their lives openly with others.

Their lives are a beautiful picture of how God uses our own brokenness and imperfections to continue to draw others closer to Him. Often much to our surprise, He uses us in spite of our weaknesses and sometimes even because of them.

So friends, I implore you. It’s time to prioritize the care of our souls.

God created us in His image, we are to be His image-bearers. To carry out that calling on our lives, we must pay attention to the status of our souls. We must listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit within us and allow His presence to be our Guide and Comforter and we learn to calibrate our souls once again.

Join me in reflecting on these words and the music and determine what small step you will take today to care for your soul.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.