What’s the weather today (understanding the seasons)

I live on the rather blustery North coast of Ireland – and you can’t always tell the season by the weather (that’s largely because it rains nearly every day) – but the fact remains, that the seasons change with reassuring regularity – and so it is in our lives too.

I’m just starting what feels like a new season of taking a little more on than before.

I’m learning that when God says He’s going to do something – He’ll just do it! We don’t need to engineer it, or short circuit what He’s doing in us now because we don’t think it ‘fits’ with what He’s said.

I’m learning to trust in the abundance of God – His favour isn’t going to run out because I chose to say yes to looking after my girls, and helping pastor my local church, rather than pursuing the call to lead worship in other parts of the world at that time. But there were days when it did fe ... Read More »

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Its All Worship Kathryn Scott

Mum’s the word

I have two beautiful girls – one is 6 and a half (very important ☺), and the other is almost 4.

They are the joy of my life – and they are a huge part of the reason I’ve had to learn the juggling act. (All of you who have kids will know this feeling).

I had just started to become known for recording ‘Hungry’ when I got pregnant with my eldest. At the same time, our little church started to grow – in fact, it doubled in size twice over the next two years. It was possibly the most bonkers time of my whole life.

For the first time I was being presented with opportunities at every turn, and yet here I was with more responsibility than I knew how to handle – much of which meant I needed to be at home.

I found myself saying no to almost everything that involved being away from home – (and some of those things were things I’d dreamed of ... Read More »

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Its All Worship Kathryn Scott

Great expectations (dealing with disappointing others)

Learning to say no is an art! We are brought up to say no to bad things, (we get pretty good at it ☺) - but we aren’t always brought up to put in boundaries when what we are being asked to do is good!! It seems rude ☺

I think I found this the hardest thing of all when we started being asked to do all sorts of ministry all over the place – whilst at the same time trying to plant a church at home, and starting to raise our own little family.

I want to tell you something that I heard right at the beginning of this journey though, that I’ve come back to time and again as I’ve walked this through.

It was something that Brian Doerksen taught us way back in 1998. He told us how in a real vineyard, the gardiner knows that a vine can produce over 60 branches with hundreds of grapes per branch – and behind each grape that grows, there is an embryoni ... Read More »

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Its All Worship Kathryn Scott

Just say ‘no’

I get asked all the time about this – how do you balance being a Mum, a pastor’s wife, a songwriter, and a worship leader both at home and away. I smile, and then think for a moment about all the parts of my life that are full and at times a little crazy. The truth is that thanks to a very sensible husband, I’ve learned to say no to a lot of what I’m asked to do. What we need in life is a ‘balance buddy’ – someone who loves us and understands what we are called to do, yet won’t shy away from telling us to stop and reassess where we are at periodically. I wouldn’t even know where to begin without the wisdom of my husband.

These are the questions we always ask when we’re approached to take something on – is this a good thing to do right now for our family first; next does it work for our church; and thirdly do we sense this is something that’s just part of what we’re called to do.

If it’s yes to all t ... Read More »

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Its All Worship Kathryn Scott

My wife loves surprises. Not the pop-out-from-behind-the-bush type of surprises. She likes the "I was at the store the other day and this made me think of you" type gift. The song "Finding You" describes how God has a way of revealing Himself to us in the "while we were yet sinners" moments.

The love of God does not send us Care Bears in the mail, His revelation is brought to us at the very point of our need. He is working on our behalf even when we're not calling on Him. This kindness has one result in my life. It leads me to worship and the elimination of sin. I hope it does the same in you.

-Jared

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Its All Worship Jared Anderson

One thing I'm learning right now is that sacrificing yourself for opportunity or for the sake of someone else's need can be just as much idolatry as the blatant sin of pride. Laying down your life for any community, cause (other than Jesus), good deed, or bright idea becomes the secret weapon of the Deceiver to replace the voice of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

I realize this when I get super frustrated that someone isn't doing what I need them to do or when plans are falling through and I'm stuck with the short end of the stick. I'm tempted to call this persecution or an "attack" when really I'm the one who has lost focus on why I'm here. I'm here to give understanding, hope, and a cup of cold water. This is the path of Jesus. This is life.

-Jared

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Its All Worship Jared Anderson

What kind of price must be paid for something that can’t be bought or sold? How do you place a value on what is invaluable? Why would you want something like that anyway? God needs to hire an advertising agency. Let’s face it, the whole “I will write my laws on their hearts” isn’t exactly working out.

Maybe the Presidential Candidates could serve as an example about how to get a message across to people. I mean, wouldn’t people pay a lot of money to come see the creator of the universe give a stump speech?

Speaking what cannot be heard.
Showing up where no one is expecting you.
Taking up what no one is taking to.
Now all I want is you.

That is the summary of the song. Maybe now the onus is on us to pursue him? And what will I require of myself to gain what it is I say I want? Enjoy.

-Jared

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Its All Worship Jared Anderson

I just saw a video that my friend in Florida sent to me. A mom in their church video-ed her daughter in the back seat of their car singing this song. The mom is filming her through the rear-view mirror while she's driving. This would result in major injuries if I were driving. I hope to post it on Myspace soon.

Child-like innocence seems to evade me so quickly. I start focusing on the details of accomplishment and productivity and forget to take time to play cars. My boys are sooooo into cars right now. Hot Wheels cars in case you were wondering. We got them this 4 lane sloped track at Wal-mart the other day. It's actually pretty fun to play with. When we gave them this race track, it had the effect that I want Jesus to have on me.

Lord, take my breath away today.

-Jared

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Its All Worship Jared Anderson

Glorified – The phrase “Praise belongs to you” must have rattled around in my head for three weeks. I wanted to write a song that says we’re here worshipping not because it’s cool or we get to do it with our friends but because it ought to be done. Because our Christian gatherings are so enormous these days, it becomes easy to lose the sense of urgency that God somehow requires something of us. It becomes easier to watch the people on stage worship and be distracted by this, that, and the other.

Our pastor said the other day that “God is the only one allowed to be impressed with himself”. I love that. We identify with Jesus when we worship. His only purpose was to bring glory to His father. When we lift our voices on Sunday morning, we are associating ourselves with that purpose.

The first time we ever played this as a band, we were in Kalamazoo, Michigan at a church I’ve labeled “Ikea Church” because everything there is so effortlessly smooth. As we began work ... Read More »

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Its All Worship Jared Anderson

So having succeeded in being intentionally ambiguous to date, it's probably overdue of me to expand on that which is "the I heart revolution"...
 
 Let me break it into 3 parts...
 
 The first and second really serve as a precursor to the third and absolutely most important part.
 
 But first a bit of the "why?"
 
 Our travels have led us to some of the most amazing places in the world, and allowed us to meet too many remarkable people to give adequate reference to. We've experienced humanity in all it's beautiful diversity; a people spread across different nations - different cultures, differing circumstances and facing different challenges. Yet for all our differences, one thing remains constant. People are people. We are all united in our humanity and in our need for truth and faith. - Geography, ethnicit ... Read More »

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Its All Worship Hillsong United