Step out in faith.

Do you ever find it hard to step out? We're always so fearful of making the wrong decisions or pursuing something because we're afraid that it may not be in God's plan for us, or dreaming big because of the fear of failure..

Being a worship leader has always been something that has been on my heart.
 Talking and loving on Jesus through music has always been my favorite way of expressing my love for Jesus because there are no limits and there is nothing more intimate.

I prefer to sing praise to Jesus instead of speaking praises to Him.. Which are both very highly important.

I prefer Singing in tongues instead of speaking them because singing I feel clears my mind more and allows The Holy Spirit to move.

In fact If my life could just be a musical where I sing every sentence I feel as though my mood and insight on things would always be better.. However, I think eventually I'd drive everyone nuts!

I love to worship but have always doubted the fact that a worshiper was my calling. Maybe it was because I compared myself to easily to other worship leaders.. Speaking poison over myself by saying I wasn't as good as others, and that I wasn't qualified to lead.

One thing I have learned on this journey my friends is that Comparison is the main thing that can keep you from doing what God has called you to do.

It has for me for a long time. I got so easily lost in watching leaders worship God.. And instead of getting lost in worship with them I would throw myself a party with Pity and claim that I would never be good enough..

Comparing. It needs to stop! It's such a worldly thing that is encouraged in our generation so much.. It's in magazines, TV.. Pretty much anything media. I believe it's one of the enemy's biggest tools. But you don't have to be affiliated with that. When things pop into your head telling you "You'll never look like that!" You'll never be as good!" Start speaking truth over yourself!

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. -Phil 4:13

I think another thing is that we go about waiting on the Lord all wrong.. We sometimes believe that we just need to sit here and expect God to hand everything to us. But it doesn't work that way at all. and it has taken me a long time to process this.

I believe we sometimes get so caught up in whether or not this is our calling that we miss our opportunity to bless God. I don't believe it's God's will for us to be a couch potato.. I actually know it's not!

He wants us to live, and step out in faith.. He can't guide our footsteps if we don't start walking.
We need to stop thinking about whether or not something is our calling and just start moving, and stepping out in faith. God will be blessed and He will bless you.

If you feel led to be a worshiper don't just sit there and wait for them to call you and ask if you would audition but get in there and get involved and if it happens to not be your calling well then at least you will know and can open your mind and allow The Hold Spirit to plant you elsewhere. And the same goes for everything else. Acting, writing, painting. (etc) He's gotta plan for you girlfriend, but He can't move if you don't.

I totally feel like this post is like popcorn.. It's everywhere! So sorry about that. I'm feeling quite passionate about this right now because I actually did it.

For almost two whole years I have debated, questioned and wondered whether or not being a worship leader was my calling. I've always had a desire to do so but never had the guts to just step out of my comfort zone.

But two weeks ago I stepped out. I was tired of this feeling of missing out, I was tired of excuses, and tired of waiting.. And I'm positive Jesus  was done with waiting on me too!

So, after thought and prayer I sent my pastor a message on facebook.. (professional right?)

This is what I wrote Him.

Heather: Hey Pastor Joe!! I was 100% positive I had your email address in my email book but I can't seem to find it anywhere! Tried to be more professional but that didn't quite work out lol.. Anyways, I have been praying and thinking (a little too much!) About my calling in life.. I know I have a calling with ministering to women of all circumstances and I know now I also have a calling for worship. Worship is something I have always had a heart for.. But I spent a lot time wondering whether or not it was an actual calling.. And doubted it was my calling when I compared my voice to others because personally I don't really like my singing voice. But if God does and if He can use it so be it! A lot has kept me from stepping up into volunteering my voice at church. Fear being the biggest issue. Because I have never led worship for a Church so thirsty for Jesus. It terrifies me.  Anyways, I feel like I'm all over the place here.. I just want you to know that God has put a calling on my life to worship and I'm not 100% sure I'd be dependable of being the actual worship leader until I no longer depend on a ride there so I was thinking until then just singing a song every now and then and see where that goes. What are your thoughts Papa Joe?

Just so you know He's not my real papa. He's more like a Spiritual dad to Leon and I. Evelynne calls him Grandpa Joe. This was his response.

Pastor Joe: You are so precious Heather, I will stand in agreement with you concerning your calling. Lets set up Sunday the 29th as your first opportunity to sing a special song for us. This should give you some time to select a song and prepare for the service. Thank you for sharing, you are a blessing to all of us.

Heather:  Sounds good!! 

The whole "sounding good" part was a totally step out in faith! After he said "two weeks" my whole insides shook.. I haven't sung publicly in three years and never in front of my Church family whose love for The Lord means so much to me along with their desire to go deeper in His presence daily. I wanted God to use me to help with that! So, I rebuked nervousness and decided and turn it into rejoice. And the last two weeks I rejoiced, practiced, and rejoiced again. And the 29th of Sunday quickly came.

Before I knew it I was sitting there in the front. Seconds before my name was called out I totally forgot my lyrics.. So, I kept repeating it in my mind and  received the Holy Spirit to help me remember.. He did a great job and we make a great team!

I realized yesterday that even if a worship Leader isn't my calling in life. At least I'll know by stepping out. It is not a situation where I'd lose. Because God would have the glory of my stepping out in faith and He would be pleased with the worship I brought Him.. Besides I believe we are all called to worship. It's why He first created us is it not? To love and adore our One True God? I know it's why I was created because I can't get enough. Worshiping Him is what I long to do for the rest of my life.

Darlings, today I want to encourage you to step out. I want to encourage you to chase your dreams with every strength that God has put in your body and just run and keep running until you win.

                         There's this sign at church that I absolutely love that says:
                                                         perseverance:
               Our greatest glory lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Don't be afraid to fall  Lovelies, because Jesus will always be there to pick you back up every time! 
But have perseverance and never give up! God's gotta plan for you but you need to start taking steps so that He can direct you.

                                              Much love xoxo- Heather Leigh 

Do you hear the scream?

 If you have followed me for a while or have even checked out my "About page" Abortion is something I am extremely  and deeply passionate about! And I believe my passion to end abortion is even stronger now ever  due to me experiencing pregnancy.  

 Have you seen this video... It's called "How Do You Kill 11 Million People"? Based on Andy Andrews' book, How Do You Kill 11 Million People?  If you haven't I seriously recommend that you watch it before you finish reading.

The video is about Hitler and the Holocaust and standing up against what is evil.
 As I listened my heart began to sink into my chest as I was watching it and hearing a few people talking and telling the story about how they could hear the trains full of innocent Jews screaming for their  lives as they were brought  to the concentration camp. And as they passed through their village they could here their screams. And eventually they knew what was going on.. And they knew when they heard the train coming and the whistle blowing. They knew they were carrying men, women and children on their way to death. And as the screams got louder, so did their singing voices.

"Week after week that train whistle would blow. We would dread to hear the sound of those old wheels because we knew that the Jews would begin to cry out to us as they passed our church. It was so terribly disturbing! We could do nothing to help these poor miserable people, yet their screams tormented us. We knew exactly at what time that whistle would blow, and we decided the only way to keep from being so disturbed by the cries was to start singing our hymns.

By the time that train came rumbling past the church yard, we were singing at the top of our voices. If some of the screams reached our ears, we'd just sing a little louder until we could hear them no more. Years have passed and no one talks about it much anymore, but I still hear that train whistle in my sleep. I can still hear them crying out for help. God forgive all of us who called ourselves Christians, yet did nothing to intervene."  
-A man's description from the video.

Brothers and sisters, Do you sing to drowned out what we call "today's Holocaust"? It makes me sad that this is happening once again but this time it's happening in our own country.. And even worse their children.. Children being slaughtered a horrible death by their own mother and the abortionist who deceived  to them..

Church.. I believe this video is for us more than anyone else! We are called to make a difference and to open the eyes of the ignorance.. Why are we just sitting here and singing our hymns until the screams fade? I know Jesus would rather us live His worship instead of just singing them and ignoring the whispered scream of a child out of complete fear.

We believe abortion is murder yet, we don't do anything about it.. Most of us even forget to pray (Which is the most important thing to do btw!) 

We know innocent children are being ripped to pieces everyday yet, we keep silent so our ego won't be ripped to pieces.  

We know fearful and deceived  pregnant women are thinking about aborting their child and yet, we don't go to clinics to comfort them.

It makes me so mad when people try to "Sugarcoat" abortion.. Sadly even Christians do it! The one's who should be protecting the innocent is turning their backs on them..

We get so caught up on what is and isn't a "passion" I hear people say all the time 

"Well, I know abortion is wrong and all. But it's not really my passion". 

But it should be everyone's passion to end it! Because it's not about you and your passion. It's about God and His Passion.. 

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. Proverbs 24:11

God has called us to be His warriors. To protect His innocent and  children are the most innocent of all.. Isn't it about time we do something? It's pretty horrific that a baby is facing death before he/she even gets a chance to live.

This has caused quite a stir every time I say this but it's truth. Friends, we are living in a holocaust. We are in the midst of one. But there is ignorance in the air. Ignorance that denies it. The same demonic ignorance that flew through the air when it took place with the Jews. And just like Christians in this generation they were silenced with fear and their ego.

Do we really not want to intervene while children are dying for the cause of selfishness?

 "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." 
- Mother Teresa

Do we really  want to have to ask God for forgiveness for standing by and covering our ears as we hear the children scream of pain?
Do we really want the blood of millions on our hands?

I should hope not! Sisters and brothers.. Lets stand, lets fight! Lets take back what the enemy has stolen and say "You will no longer take what is ours! You will no longer take our children, our innocence, our life. Not in our nation! We declare life and abundant life!

Four Months!

                   
Four Months already! It's just so hard to believe sometimes. There are many things I still don't understand when it comes to being a mom.  Like why is it that my days always feel so long and yet my weeks and Months feel so short. Will the rest of my days as a mom feel like this? Or is it just the days of having a child that needs me much more than often.  And how a beautiful smile from my little girl when I wake up in the morning could make me more refreshed from a night of four hours of sleep..  God's grace is never ending.

It's so nice to know that God has my back in all circumstances. Especially in Motherhood. It's quite obvious I couldn't do this without my Beloved Father. He gives me everything I need to complete this wonderful mission of Motherhood. Without Him I'd be lost with no direction and certainly in no condition of raising a child.


If I were to tell someone the secret to a successful mother I would tell her that there is no secret. I would tell her that the answer to this question is the answer that every Mom should know and that the answer is "God"  In fact He should be the answer to all things shouldn't He?  Yep He's that Awesome!

It takes God in your life and in your spirit to be a Mom. His love, His Joy, His Peace, His Patience, His Kindness, His goodness, His gentleness,  His Faithfulness, And His Self- control. And very important His Grace. Remember apart from God we can do nothing. But with God, we can do everything! And of course we'll never be the perfect mom but that's okay. Because God doesn't look for perfect moms He looks for obedient ones.

 Happy Monday Lovelies!!