Archive for May 2011
You are browsing the archives of 2011 May.
HeartBlooms – Don’t Miss Those “Ones”
Often we seek out crowds to influence but sometimes there could be one person placed directly in your path who you can impact through love; don’t miss those “ones” around you. The difference could be deeper, truer, longer lasting.
You never know how much influence you may have on one person with your words and actions…
– Julene Dreamfleur
Morning Worship: I Will Exalt You – Hillsong
Everytime we sing this at my church, am amazed how much it can mean when your words are few…
Brooke Fraser leading worship at Hillsong in Australia, from the Live album Faith+Hope+Love.
Dreamfleur Inspiration & Envibrance Dream Creations Updates
Dream Creations: Savor the Little Moments in Life
Life is full of little moments of joy but sometimes we miss them in a rush or in pursuit of the “bigger and better…”
HeartBlooms – Don’t Miss Those “Ones”
In your circle of influence, your career, your everyday life – don’t miss those “ones” around you…
Where Am I Called? – Post Grad Ponderings
It’s a question many of us ask at one point in our lives: What is my calling? Where does God want to use me right now; in ministry, in a certain career? For me the question was most urgent after I graduated from college (which I wrote about earlier on Dream in Soul). It was the typical post graduation anxiety – “uh oh – I’ve got be an adult and face the ‘real world’? What do I do now?”
I was confused as to where God was leading me, if I should pursue studying in a certain area of ministry (in my case I felt it might be youth ministry) and I searched my heart and prayed to God to show me which direction He wanted me to go. After a campus ministry conference a few months after graduation I asked one of the leaders Pastor Sample, a youth pastor at a local church, what his advice was to someone who felt they might be called into youth ministry. His answer and how he broke it all down was a blessing to me, especially how he explained how you have to hear clearly from God where He is specifically leading you. I thought his advice was fitting for anyone who was questioning the path of their calling so I wanted to share:
Question: How Do I Know if I Am Called To A Certain Ministry?
A: Special training for ministry is great and so is Bible college or a ministry school…but the main thing is that you really hear from the LORD.
He will call you (it sounds like He is) He will give you specific instructions. Do not run out ahead of Him and do not be behind Him. Go at the pace He wants you to go.
You do not need a special degree or anything…you need a confirmed word of the LORD. He never calls the qualified, He only qualifies the called.
When the Lord calls there are usually 5 steps:
1. Calling – divinely dissatisfied with what you are doing – you know you are being called to a specific direction.
2. Training – this is usually done by man…ie..bible school, training school…
Inspiration from the PS22 Chorus and Their Teacher Gregg Breinberg On the Impact of Arts In Schools
The PS22 Chorus became a Youtube sensation a few years back with their soulful videos of students singing covers of popular songs in class. Watching their videos make me smile and I love the emotions the kids show while performing. In the video below Gregg Breinberg, the teacher who started PS22 and some of his students talk about how it got started:
The confidence built in the students just goes to show how much of an impact the arts and wonderful mentors can make in their lives. In an interview Gregg Breinberg, the teacher who started the music class talks about how singing changes young people:
“It’s all about self-confidence. That is what the arts has to offer, especially to kids that aren’t necessarily succeeding academically. Throughout their chorus experience, my students recognize that their musical achievements are something they earn for themselves through hard work and dedication. That is a life lesson that does not restrict itself to music…
“Focus, concentration, and stamina are undeniably strengthened as well. Music and the arts are just the tool to unlock the hidden potential, and as it manifests, it carries over to all other areas of school and hopefully ultimately life…
“…I do hope as they move on that the memories of these unbelievable experiences the PS22 Chorus kids have earned for themselves will be a continued source of inspiration that they can call upon throughout their lives. I always try to remind them that they themselves have become living proof that through hard work, anything is possible.”
– Gregg Breinberg, Click here for the full interview on Open Education
Here is one of my favorite videos from PS22 featuring a talented young lady Denise; her cover of Chris Tomlin’s “How Great is Our God” is unique and beautiful:
