2013 going!

As the year is running to an end, I want to encourage you to count your blessings see how much God has been faithful to you... Yes!! you may still have some unanswered prayer requests but that doesn't mean God has forgotten you. Thank God for everything including the things you are yet to receive. About 24 -29 hours left in 2013... Set your goals for 2014  if you haven't done that , commit your ways unto the LORD and He shall bring it to pass. God is forever faithful... Enter into the new year believing God for the very best....
Thanks for all your comments, feedbacks and encouragement on this blog :)
I thank God for everyone including you reading this blog. 
Happy and prosperous 2014 in advance... see you in 2014 by God's grace...pls  join me on fiscoyadahpraise.com
Shalom!

William Mcdowell - @Houston Worships Concert

The first Noel....

Christmas on the way :)

I listened to a message by  Bishop David Oyedepo and I remember he said "never say what you do not want to see in your life" He said this is a quote by Kenneth Hagin and that  he was taught at the bible college never to say what he doesn't want.... Now, I came across this video and I concluded also that we should also be careful of what we say when we are asked to make requests. Ask and it shall be given unto you.... just say it the way you want it to happen and God will make it happen for you, if Santa can make this happen for some people :) how much more God! The Creator of the whole Universe.
He can do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ever ask or think. May God crown this year for you with His goodness and grant your heart desires amen. I pray you have a Merry Christmas in advance.

MimikmeNation

Mimikme is an impressions and mimic video-sharing website that specializes in short-form mimic video entertainment in the categories of movies, TV, music, sports, comedy, politics and random videos. It is a global social media networking platform for all ages coming out soon...watch out  for more information!

Aladewura by Soji Israel (official music video)

Soji Israel , award winner, international gospel music artist.
He is the writer of   "Baba Ye" and Wonder wonder that has blessed many people across the globe.
Connect him on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SojiIsraelFansPage
                                            https://www.facebook.com/soji.israel?fref=ts

The Experience/8

The glory of God and His presence was so strong as thousands of people praised and worship God at this year's Experience/8. Convened and hosted by Pastor Paul Adefarasin, The Experience is an Interdenominational Gospel concert that features some of the best-known musical talents of our time. In December 2006 ,over 70,000 persons were in attendance. The Experience has now become known as the largest musical concert in Africa.
The Experience  runs through the night starting at 7.00pm and running till 6am the following morning; a colossal 11 hours of uninterrupted prayer and live music!
At its inception, the Experience was simply an opportunity for Nigerians to put aside tribe, tongue, class, and creed; multitude of people coming together and lifting one voice in worship to God.
This year’s concert was held at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Onikan on Friday, 6th December 2013
 Theme: HEAVEN ON EARTH .Don Moen, Lenny Le Blanc, Deitrick Haddon, Sammie Okposo, CeceWinans, Frank Edwards, Donnie McClurklin,  Tyre Trebbitte, Yolanda Adams, Don Moen, Midnight Crew among others and the comedian Akpokoro were present.

 Cross section of the audience

 Donnie McClurkin ministering

 Cross section of audience

 Lagos Metropolitan  Gospel Choir

 Don Moen and Lenny Le Blanc ministering

 Akpokoro

 Cece Winans

 Don Moen ministering

 Frank Edwards ministering

 Lenny Le Blanc

Tye Tribett

The Experience/8 continues next year....
Source : The Experience http://theexperiencelagos.com/portal/

Beautiful (New Single release) by Stacy Egbo

Beautiful - Stacy Egbo ft. Mateo Vic Official Music Video 2013, will be released on 12-14-2013
Artist information: http://worshippersclub.org/about-stac...

Precious Jesus -Sinach

Precious Jesus I thank You for the blood
Precious Jesus I thank You for Your body broken for me
(Repeat )
I remember all You've done for me
Your perfect sacrifice and victory
I remember all You've done for me oh my God
I worship You today

The name of Jesus -Sinach

How majestic is Your name oh Lord
In all the earth
 Your name is a strong tower
The righteous runneth unto it and
They are saved

Chorus:
The name of Jesus higher than other names
King of all Kings no other name like His
The name of Jesus higher than other names
Alpha and Omega no other name like His

Your name like Sweet Perfume
Poured upon my soul
In His name we overcome
In His name there's victory
His name is powerful
Chorus.....

Every other god they are better than dead
Jesus died and rose again
We lift Him higher
In Your name every knee shall bow
In Your name all men are saved
We call upon Your name
Call His name
Jesus Jesus  Jesus ohohoh Jesus

chorus.......

Shirley Caesar You're Next In Line For A Miracle

PROSKYNEO

Finally Finally.. Dec14 @ Maryland

FINALLY!FINALLY!!FINALLY!!! #HOPE DAVIES LIVE IN MARYLAND the long awaited event to end this year is here. All roads lead to HIGH POINT HIGH SCHOOL BELTSVILLE MARYLAND on the 14TH Of DEC 5pm. ENTRY FREE

Glory to God!!

Welcome to December, we are getting close to the end of 2013. We have been kept alive till now by His grace and mercy. May the Lord crown this year for you and yours with His goodness and may your paths drop fatness, amen.

Sinach @Christmas now available!

Anywhere in the world , you can get if from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_0_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sinach+at+christmas&sprefix=sinach+at%2Cdigital-music%2C317

Honoring God in worship concert - pix!

Minister Ronke Adesokan leading worship.

Some of the back-up singers at the concert.

William Mc Dowell during the worship session, I actually saw him singing "This kind God oo,I never see your type ooo"

Cross-section of the congregation.
It was a glorious event, 2011 was Alvin Slaughter, last year was Don Moen,this year William McDowell was in the house. David Adesokan, Kunle Meshida, Daniel Dee Jones, Ola Kuku, Nkechi Azu ,etc were also present. We look forward to the coming year. May God bless Minister Ronke and the Team .

Houston Worships with Ronke Adesokan & William McDowell -clips

Honoring God with worship Concert was a great success ,it was an awesome time in God's presence.

Here is a glimpse of the worship event,enjoy. DVD is now available get your copy by sending a mail to Ronke Adesokan on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ronke.adesokan?fref=ts

Happy Thanksgiving

It's another time of the year when everyone is getting ready for "Thanksgiving Day".  Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It is a tradition in the United States and this is done yearly, it is one of the major holidays of the year. Family and friends come together for a special meal.
The meal often includes turkey,stuffing,potatoes, cranberry sauce,gravy,pumpkin pie and vegetables and each year at Thanksgiving, the President of the United States receives a gift of a live turkey.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, remember to be thankful to God for who He is to you. Be thankful for everything He has blessed you with and for what He will bless you with.
Let this mind be in you to always give Him thanks not on Thanksgiving Days alone,He is worthy of Praise.
 Thanksgiving Day is a time for many people to give thanks for what they have, I am thankful for the gift of life, my family and friends,everything! what are you thankful for ?

The EXPERIENCE/8 @ Lagos!!! Save the date

Funke Akinokun - Jehovah Mi (My Jehovah)

New Album from Funke Akinokun will be out on Sunday 24th November 2013.

Houston Worships with Ronke Adesokan &William McDowell

Night Of Worship @ Houston ,Texas

Sinach at Christmas ...unloading

Christmas songs (album) from Sinach available online from December 2, 2013. Get your copy !!!

Backstage Contest @ Open Heavens Concert 2013

Open Heavens Texas 2013 is going to be an exciting time with ministrations from many great worshipers like Israel Houghton, Dare David, & more! 

There will be a  Backstage Contest! This is a chance to meet Israel & The New Breed,Dare David and the Groovecode. All you have to do is to make a video (2 minutes or less) telling how they have impacted and ministered to your life and why you should be given the opportunity to meet them. 

Send your entries to info@openheavenstx.org with your name and phone number or email your YouTube link to your video submission info@openheavenstx.org

 

• Multiple entries will be disqualified
• Entries must be submitted by December 20th and the GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be announced December 27TH, 2013.

Open Heavens 2013

                                      Register here http://openheavenstx.org/

A RED CARPET CHRISTMAS

Christmas Worship -Paul Baloche

Some thoughts on Christmas worship from Paul Baloche  

For chord charts and more, available on iTunes & Amazon http://t.co/8Myh2Doc4R

Honoring God in Worship- Worship Concert with Ronke Adesokan & William McDowell

William McDowell- Withholding Nothing

For more info on this artist:
http://www.williammcdowellmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WilliamMcDow...
https://twitter.com/williammcdowell
I do not own copyright for this video, this is for promotional use
only.

Branding and effective Music Ministry -TOSINGER (Excerpts fro W4)

Hello Worshipers . I am glad to share with you today . I hope these tips on branding will make you an effective musician and minister. A 'Brand' is not just a corporate marketing term; and it is not just about logos and song artworks. It entails much more, the artist and their artistry, the worshiper and their act of worship, the container and the content. It is also how your audiences sees you, your consistency and interconnection of the following elements across board.

 All these elements work together as an interconnected branding unit: Name, • Visual Representation/Identity , • Message/Mission Statement , • Narrative , • Values.

• Name – The name is the central brand component, should be clear, unique and Google-able and surely not similar to another persons’ own. Be creative and ask God for wisdom for a befitting brand name that matches your message and values. 

• Visual Representation/Identity – This is a very important brand component and the one most people are familiar with. The visual representation will be identified through a number of elements: your style and presentation/appearance, your logo (if any); website look, cd covers; song artwork, official posters; official music videos; official photographs circulated for marketing purposes; costuming and makeup. On Personal styling /Image - Make your look match your sound. Clothing brands have a style, a favored cut, a personality. Consider the cuts you wear, colors and color scheme connotations , accessories, makeup, hairstyle and make sure they match your message.
Get a professionally done ALBUM COVER ART: This cannot be stressed enough. Album cover art is the container of your content. It adds panache to your work. A very well designed album art breeds prestige and class and draws people to want to hear your music. Get professional designers, be creative, not all worship music song artwork need to have a dove flying across the clouds. Make it stand out, above all, make it relevant to your brand’s message, which is the next factor.

• Message/Mission Statement - What do you strongly believe? What are you trying to tell the world? Can you incorporate your other interests? I want to believe as Gospel musicians, whatever is being sung about, should have a kingdom focus.

• Narrative - Now it’s time to apply your storytelling skills to developing a broader narrative and establishing a unique persona for your brand. Your genre is also your narrative, the way you tell your story. Are you passing across your gospel message basked in hip hop, soul or RnB sound?. Stick to one and be known for one. Every Gospel Musician’s story should be about God, the word or have a Kingdom end. Whether you are singing about love between a man and a woman, or everyday life happenings, it should still reflect Godliness. Your narrative is one of the most effective forms of social currency. They build powerful connections between ideas, people and action. They give context and robust understanding to your message. They generate urgency and motivation. What is the call to action of your message? Your narrative? When people hear your music, do they dance, fall in worship, enter the holiest of holies or linger in the courtyard? This is part of the narrative element of your brand.

Last but not the least of the elements of a brand • Values - What do you stand for? Values are a statement of what a brand stands for. The success of the values component will also be measured by how well the artist’s expressed values align with what the public seems to believe those values are, based on feedback and audience response. Do you sing about honesty but have a questionable integrity? Have you let pride set in because your album sold millions yet you sing about a God that lifts the humble. Your value is part of your brand. Your character, personality and attitude matters. How you carry yourself among everyday people is part of your brand.

Visual Graphics (Cover photos and display photos) – be consistent with your graphics across all social media platforms so your audience will easily recognize it is yours. Make sure they are well done and consistent across board with the right pixelation and dimensions. (You can search google for this) This is called Brand Recognition.

Research Research Research. Researching others (not entirely copying others) gives you a tremendous advantage as it identifies stories or perspectives that people aren’t exploring, and allows you to create a new voice that appears distinctive and refreshing. Remember that there's  a lot of artists out there, but always room for someone confident enough to think a little differently and stand out uniquely.

Understand that It takes time - it will take time to build an audience and cultivate long-term relationships. Making a big splash with your album release and tour will establish a good foundation, but what happens after the buzz fades out? It is going to take prayer, faith dedication, focus and consistency to truly build an audience online worthy of sustaining a career. My best advice: engage, engage, engage and keep engaging. Be relatable. Reply tweets, say thank you, support others, if you don’t have the time, hire someone who does, simple manners like this go a long way. Remember as Gospel Musicians, you are ambassadors of Christ. Represent accordingly.

Be aware of new technologies or get someone who is tech savvy on your team. For example - Mobile compatible website: You might not have a website just for mobile users, but you should definitely have something that loads quickly and is to scale for mobile users. The amount of traffic coming from smartphones and tablets will only continue to grow and if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, people will look elsewhere.

In conclusion; Above all Consistency is Key.
Building a brand takes a lot of time and effort but once you put in the work to build a good, consistent reputation, it will continue to pay dividends into the future. When you brand yourself successfully, you empower yourself. You are fortifying your self-awareness, confidence, and taking control of people’s perception of you (to a point).

Those who are afraid to label themselves are afraid to commit. Let your inner self match your outer self. It has to be reconcilable. Your Personal brand has to be consistent with your music brand. To establish your brand, you need to be able to answer the questions: What is my message? Who is my audience? How can I help them and what makes me different? When it comes to artists, even gospel musicians, good branding appears to have far more to do with knowing one’s self as an artist, and goes on make sure that the audience experiences the core items of your uniqueness. This is your music career so you should be investing the time, energy, and money into making the most of it. Marketing yourself in a way that your target audience appreciates and understand will go a long way in getting your music message across effectively which glorifies God at the end of the day.
  Connect with TOSINGER www.facebook.com/tosingersings or www.tosinger.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @tosinger .

The 11th Month!

God be praised we are the eleventh month and our God is in the business of blessing people and doing the impossibles. Yes! He can do exceedingly abundantly above all we ever ask or think. About 59 days to go to the end of 2013. Hmm....hasn't God been faithful? He is the ever present help in times of need and He has you in mind...Yes, YOU!! If He created the whole universe in 6 days, then 59 days are more than enough for Him to bless you :)
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion Eccl. 9:4
 Be encouraged and keep hope alive. May the Lord crown this year for you with His goodness. Give thanks for the past and your best days are ahead of you,amen.

The Music ,the Minister and the Ministry

Many gospel singers are known now and many are upcoming and more are yet to start! We should constantly remind ourselves of why we are doing the Music Ministry in the first place so we don't lose focus.  Constant evaluation of myself as a music minister, my ministry and the music I produce or the songs I write is very important. Am I doing it the right way God called me to do it?
 Am I following the blue print God gave me when He called me into this Ministry. I think this is very important so that we as music ministers can fulfill the real purpose of God's calling upon our lives. Have you been called to write songs to encourage, teach ,lead others to praise and worship God through songs, reproof ,win souls, don't loose your focus. Whatever it is you are doing for Him, don't lose your focus and do it well. Our works will be tried by fire!! may God have mercy on us ...Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is
 I Cor 3:13 (KJV)......
their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work (NIV).

The One who gave you the gifts and the calling is watching..... what are you doing with those gifts and callings?

Towards Stardom Concert @ Sugarland Texas

Living your Best Life with Tomika Webb...

Hope Davies Live in Maryland..Date to be announced later

This event will be coming up later, new date will be announced.

Intense Worship Training & Impartation by Ron Kenoly

If you are in Ohio or close by this is an opportunity to be imparted by Dr. Ron Kenoly.

31 Oct - 2 Nov 2013

The Academy of Praise & Worship in Columbus, OH

Additional Sessions added for Sat, Nov 2, 2013 at 10:00AM —

Dieko live in Concert @ Lagos,Nigeria!

Every year International gospel music diva, DIEKO, will stage an event tagged ‘DIEKO LIVE IN CONCERT’ Lagos.
The concert brings together 200 of Nigeria's biggest acts, and is dubbed by the media as the BIGGEST CONNECT CONCERT.
The concert is geared towards using the power of music, arts and creativity to Redeem love as positive values in the achievement of societal growth and progress.
The concert, which will feature performances by A-list artistes, comedians and dance team takes place on Sunday 3rd of November, 2013 at Lagos. Red carpet opens at 4pm and the main event commences at 5pm.

  

Beyond Infinity ( Olori oko ) Album Launch

Infinity's Sophomore Album Launch will be taking place at Lagos this weekend. Be there!!

Dannetta Lynn Rivers -excerpts from W4

The Relevant Music Minister: Busy but Worshiping.

    In my years of music ministry and worship arts, and my more recent experience as an artist in the music industry, there are a few simple; yet profound lessons that God has allowed me to learn. Some of these lessons have been learned by hardship, and others through more positive experiences, and the privilege of being exposed to other people who are not only EXCELLENT at what they do, but they have HEARTS THAT SEARCH AFTER GOD!!

   As I share these basic "points to ponder" please feel free to comment with your experiences and how you've learned/ or are learning these lessons as well. The Holy Spirit is the expert, so we ALL benefit when we share what God is teaching us by His spirit!

"Point to Ponder" #1
How can a musician/artist/church/worship leader remain relevant in an ever changing world and culture?

Let's remember 2 Corinthians 4:7
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

This is my life scripture as as a woman, a minister, an artist, and most importantly A PERSON!

Often, once God reveals some of His plans for our lives, we begin to add the work to our faith by doing various things to sharpen our skills and learn how to reach not only our individual cultures, but also other cultures. THAT'S A LOT for a human being to figure out how to do!!!

Many times, we begin with good intentions, but end up lost and confused, not knowing where to go next. STICK WITH the CREATOR. Our FIRST priority should be cultivating our relationship with the ONE who gave us the gifts and the desire to use them in the first place.

Let's ask ourselves this:

1. Before stepping out into ministry; how much time do I REALLY spend communing with God and getting his specific instruction?

2. Do I really believe that God can give me an effective plan to win souls for HIM that is relevant to those He has sent me to reach? Or do I think I have all the answers?

In short, my first point is, GOD has the answers to what we need to do to reach HIS people with our gifts, How much time are we REALLY spending seeking His face so that we remain close to his heart and do His work with integrity and POWER?.......

"Point to Ponder" #2

Has my ministry/music career/project/church become and IDOL in my life?..............

I was recently challenged when reading "God's at War" by Kyle Idleman. This book speaks about how we often have idols in our lives that we don't even realize have taken the place of God. Your career/ministry/church can become on Idol in your life!!!

Yes I said it!!

It is SO EASY to lose focus and begin to worship the Work we are doing for God and totally loose track of the GOD we are doing the work for!!!

HOW does this happen!!!??? EASILY! If we all examine our lives we could surely find many examples of how we have neglected our most important relationship because we are SO BUSY. I will be the first to cry out GUILTY!!

The solution:

We must ask God to help us to DISCIPLINE our minds first, and then our behaviors and time management will come into alignment. So today I pray for myself and each one that reads this that we will learn to PAUSE, PRAY, and PLAN properly so that we won't be guilty of doing a whole lot of working that ends up fruitless compared to the harvest that could be reaped when we are properly connected to our SOURCE and aligned with HIS WILL!! We can do this!!!

Take a minute and ask God, what does this mean for me? How can I get my schedule right and spend more time with you?

the third and final "Point to Ponder" is this.......

"Dream with Heaven"

During a recent conversation with a fellow music minister, he reminded me of this simple statement. Dream with Heaven!

God loves His people WAY more than any of us EVER could. HE loved us and He chooses to use us for His glory! He is the one that can give us the strength, the resources, and the organization to carry out our lives in a way that will please HIM. Many of you; like me, are juggling multiple things. And some of you EVEN more because you have families to manage.

GOD KNOWS THIS! This is not to difficult for Him to show us how to navigate through. He DOES NOT intend for us to neglect ourselves, or our families!!

If will will really get step one down, and that's seeking Him daily in an honest, simple, and transparent way; He will SURELY show us how to navigate through even the most difficult schedules, and situations,

See, God doesn't just want our ministries and businesses to "look" goo and polished; He wants them to be pure, focused, and POWERFUL from the inside out!

I could try to give you 10 steps to a powerful ministry on here today, but the reality is; The HOLY SPIRIT IS THE EXPERT for YOUR life. He knows the details of your family dynamic, past experiences, present challenges, brokenness, strengths, weaknesses. You name it HE KNOWS it.

Let's spend time with HIM. He will show us how to be Relevant: meaning effective and powerful for change in this world. And he will show us how to MANAGE our busy lives BY HIS SPIRIT.

My CHALLENGE to ALL OF US:

1. Sometime TODAY; spend a few moments talking with our God SPECIFICALLY about our ministries. Ask HIM the questions that are tugging your heart. Be on the lookout for a powerful answer!

2. Within the next 3 days, spend some time really examining your daily, weekly, monthly routine as it relates to how you schedule and spend your time. I believe God has some life changing and season shifting insight to share with you that will yield GLORIOUS harvest in the days to come, not just for you, but for your loved ones, and your circle of influence.

3. Last; examine your circle of influence. Who has God blessed you to have an impact on RIGHT NOW? These people are an absolute gift to you. And God loves them WAY MORE than you do! Isn't that awesome!? How much more could you be a blessing to them if you were really tuned in.....to Heaven?


You can find my music page on www.facebook.com/officialdlynn or www.dannettalynn.com

 

 

LARA GEORGE DANSAKI (OFFICIAL VIDEO) ENJOY!!!

Dr. Panam Percy Paul ...Oct 20 @ Lagos, Nigeria.

LAGOS CITY ARE YOU READY !!!

Watch out for more information on the tour !

What are your Motives?

We should be careful about the way we do things as believers. God is watching our hearts, He sees every thought before they become actions....When you stand before people leading praise and worship songs, when you  serve in that ministry what is going on in your mind? What are your thoughts? Do you do what you do to show off your voice or skill, dress, shoes , fashion trends, etc ...God is watching. Our motives in doing whatever God has called us to do should remain right and flawless so we don't end up offering strange sacrifices on our altars to God. May God help us all.
"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve."
 Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV)
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (King James).
What are your motives, what are your intentions.... Search within so you don't loose your reward!

  

Video Clip -Sinach Live Concert @ Houston.

 All things are Possible with You!

Enjoy video Clips from Sinach Live in Houston
http://www.sinach.org/index.php/liveinhouston

Johnny Praise

John Francis Olajide also known as Johny Praise is a dynamic and anointed praise and worship leader. Born in the United States but raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. Connect  via Facebook : John Francis Olajide.

God is raising one of the end time army - ZERA!!

Are you a young music minister in Lagos, this may be one of the opportunities you have been waiting for . ZERA! 

 Zera Mass Choir is a non-denominational international mass choir based in Lagos, Nigeria. Powered and fully endorsed by Midnight Crew Music Ministries and E.M.I., this choir is set to take the world by surprise. With the goal of taking God’s redemption message to the ends of the earth through music, Zera’s target is to be the pride of Africa and an internationally recognized gospel mass choir within 5 years of its creation.   This is an audition in which the successful applicants will be trained and prepared to become seasoned music ministers to be released as seeds  into the world for God's end time agenda. To recreate the atmosphere of praise and worship so God’s presence can continually dwell on earth until the day He chooses to take the saints away. Hence the name Zera, the Hebrew word for seed.

(Why Zera? : The word Zera (2233) is the Hebrew word for seed – used many times in the Old testament for offspring, descendants, posterity, children of moral quality or practitioner(s) of righteousness.(same as the Greek word for seed – Sperma (4690) in the new testament)
For more : http://emi.com.ng/index.php/zera-mass-choir 

    

The Act and Art of Worship 2 - Minister Motara (Excerpts from W4)

Just like this video, we heard them singing something else, and meaning something else and still flowing with the emotions. Like, saying "I EXALT THEE" and meaning "I EXALT ME"

As a worshiper/minister, Worshiping God in Spirit and in truth means that I have to seek out God's heart. I need to know what He is saying, what He wants to do in and through me. I need to be broken so I can deliver His total counsel. I can't continue to live in sin. I can't go contrary to His own guidelines. I need to stay constantly in the place of  His presence. Above all, I need to carry His presence everywhere I go because, Hey, I cant take anyone to somewhere I have never been!

On the other hand, as an ARTIST, or say, "Worship Artist", my priority is to be skillful. I need to apply my skill generously. At the end of each performance, my works must be appreciated. I want to entertain, be my best. I want to flow with the emotions. I want to focus on my package, my brand, everything that just would portray me as beautiful, great, awesome. I want to focus on MY song, NY voice, MY audience, MY pedigree, MY personality, MY market, blah, bluh, blah

I will NEVER underestimate the place of Skill, because of course, God deserves our very best. He is a God of Excellence. He Himself gives us skills, talents , abilities and all that have.

However, we need to be sure to strike the right balance. None of this should ever take the place of worshiping in Spirit and in truth, because by God's standard, that is who a worshiper is. Not the best singer, not the best soloist, not the best soprano, not the best alto or tenor, but the best of the best who would ultimately give Him the best with a broken and contrite heart. The one who would give Him His place, acknowledge Him, glorify HIM and HIM ALONE.

Needless to say is the fact that, as humans, we could easily slip into the art and dwell there, especially when the accolades are pouring in, and be like, oh my God..."Nobody hits them notes like I do". And then, we begin to take His glory. And then we can wake up from the bed of adultery, or steal, or tell lies or not just bother to RELY ON GRACE anymore because, "Once I show, I will scatter the place". Hmmm, that's dangerous.

That's why some worship and there is healing, deliverance, words of prophecy, chains are broken, signs and wonders take place. However, some worship and all we can take a way is, "wow, what a singer/dancer/entertainer and everyone leaves empty.
You know why? God will not share His glory with anyone...not even the best singers. 

Today, I encourage us to be steadfast, continually rely on His Grace at every point in time. Let's strike the right balance, give God His place. Worship Him in Spirit. Worship in Truth.
Trust me, The ANOINTING will always make the difference.

Finally, I love the way The Message translation expresses John 4:23-24. It says "It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”

I guess that says it all. Do not let us get it twisted friends! God is not mocked. You can deceive us with the ART, but God will only acknowledge the true ACT OF WORSHIP.

Connect via Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/motaradiva?fref=ts

The Act and Art of Worship 1- Minister Motara (Excerpts from W4)

Let's define the word ACT. An act, when used as a verb, means to take action; do something, behave in the way specified.

Relating this to worship, I'd say that the true act of worship is worshiping in the specified way. This brings me to the question....what is the specified way?

Our answer is in John 4:24. It says "God is Spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

The true genuine act of worship is one that flows from the Spirit, and that is also done in truth

I can also say that true worship is NOT worship in Flesh and falsehood.

An art is the EXPRESSION or APPLICATION of HUMAN creative SKILL and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

So, I can say that the Art of worship is the application of human creative skills/understanding,/knowledge/ability and imagination to produce "Music/worship/songs to be appreciated primarily for the beauty/emotions/acceptance/fame/popularity and what have you.

So, simplifying both, let's just say that The true ACT of worship is rooted in "SPIRIT and in TRUTH". However, the true art of worship is rooted in human reasoning (flesh), skills, abilities, wanting to be appreciated, wanting to be celebrated, and all of that.

I could also say that the ART of worship is rooted in emotions too. That's why we have so many "EMOTIONS ON DISPLAY" during worship, instead of true brokenness, transformation, connection with the Spirit of God.

Honoring God in Worship- Save the date!!

Sounds of Overflow !