Haley Montgomery

So Long 2010. HELLO 2011!!!

2011-02-18T23:49:00.000-08:00

2010 was full of so many beautiful moments: bliss, trials, victories, new songs, old songs, new friends, CHANGE, deep worship, conviction.

Only 21 yrs. old still and feel like I am going on 30yrs. A lot of life seems to have happened. A few moments ago, my fiancée (Brian) came up and kissed my cheek. The words, "I still want to do so many things...." left my mouth. This past year I have gotten to see so many young men and women, sons and daughters of the King encounter God in worship. A few months ago, I was leading worship at The ROCK CHURCH here in SD. I was singing a song by Chris Tomlin called, "God of this City". There is a line in it that says, "Greater things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done..." In the last service that Sunday, the Holy Spirit fell on me a spoke to my heart. The words I had been singing, the truth I had been believing for years FINALLY seemed to hit the bottom of my heart. That lyric shook me to my core and I have never been the same since.

For years I have been guilty of running after a dream, a vision in my own strength and limited understanding. The weight of all that I hope to see, do, touch, and taste all the sudden felt so far away and unattainable. In that moment I realized that somewhere in the last couple of years, I had begun to depend more on my ability to accomplish GOD'S VISION for my life than GOD Himself. I remembered God doesn't call the able, He enables the called. Nothing I had seen in 2 albums time and 3 years on ministry was in my own doing AND nothing I will see the years of ministry to come have anything to do with what I earn on my own. Grace is a gift to me and you.

I WAS REFRESHED. I am being refreshed. My heart is so full.

The last 3 months of 2010 I decided to take a step back and return to my roots with music, my secret place with Jesus, pure worship. I recently went back and listened to my last two albums and some of my early tunes, first songs. I wept. I began to remember what it was like to sit down and just sing to Lord because I LOVED IT! There was no other place I would rather be. No agenda, just an overflow of my heart. Not writing for a label, to meet an expectation, my band mates, producer, not anyone, just... spontaneous worship to my King.

All this said, my music has not been on hold... if anything it has been moving forward! I have had to return to the place where I believe and am content only sharing my heart and songs with Jesus. It's been so good. I KNOW God is faithful to complete every good work He has begun in me. I am working on a new project with an amazing team on people. I am uncertain of the release date and in no way am going to attempt to rush the hand of God. I will take the perfect will of God over any record deal ANY day! Please be praying for strength to wait and trust in the Lord with all my heart, to never settle for anything but the best!

So to you- I pray that as you read this, you will be released from any hovering expectation or oppression. God desires to see you, know you, and bring you into freedom- His glorious light. There is so much ahead that we can’t even fathom or touch. I pray for an increase of faith in all of us, so that we may see that HE is able to do exceedingly more than we can ask or imagine. Let’s move forward and believe that He is God of the impossible! Open up the heavens on us God.

Things to come:

A Happy New Year!

New Worship!

A wedding <3

Greater Things...

"Lord I give You my heart, I give You soul. I live for you alone. Every breath that I take, every moment I am awake- Lord have your way in me!"

I love you all and I am excited to share many new songs and Jesus encounters with you in 2011.

-Haley <3

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CHORD CHARTS!

2009-12-01T03:09:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let you all know that I posted chords charts to some of my songs on my MySpace Blog (www.myspace.com/haleymontgomery), where they are easy to copy and print off! I want my music to be as accessible as possible, so let me know if you would like to see the chords to a song that isn't already posted... I will do my best to get them up as soon as possible. I hope you enjoy learning and playing these songs and are blessed! Please feel free to share them with your friends, family, worship team, etc...

You can find all my music on iTunes :)

LOVE.

Not About Something New

2009-10-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

Working on this album project has taken me to all kinds of places in my walk with Christ. It has been a crazy time on lots of levels: emotionally, spiritually, and physically. If you ever want to redefine "Who You Are" (no pun intended ;) and be reminded of where your identity truly lies, record an album! ha ha. This thought has been brewing in my mind and heart now for a couple of weeks. This idea that life, music, the songs we write with our story really aren't about something NEW.

Ecclesiastes 3 talks about how God has set eternity in the hearts of men.

This true statement is crazy, but at the same time makes so much sense. Everything that is happening now is all pointing to a future with Him. Everything that is a product of our existence, a fruit of our life now, effects the Kingdom that we will see and be apart of someday. This is something that I can't fully grasp, but it is what I want to align myself with and submit to as TRUTH.

As an artist, there is this struggle I am facing in wanting (feeling like I need) to create something new. Something fresh and never been heard. I have concluded this is a struggle of my flesh. Maybe myself just wanting attention. As I have been coming to terms with this, a few things come to mind:

The only thing "glorious" about me as a being is Christ who lives in me. That He, who has called me out by name, chooses to inhabit and rein in my flesh- making it a temple of the Holy Spirit. This alone is praise worthy. Anything I am wanting to say, a sound I am wanting to make, an image I am wanting to portray on my own, apart from THIS beauty... doesn't compare.

There is legitimacy in wanting to bring a message in a fresh way... especially if the message is thousands and thousands on years old. The beauty of the Gospel and that makes it different from any other story in history, is that is has life on its own- apart from you and me. It doesn't need us to ring through the earth, it chooses us. The mystery of God is infinite. We can babble forever to try and describe who He is, who He has been, who He will be forever and never come close to encompassing those things... let alone in a single song.

When people ask me about my songwriting, I am always stumped over giving them a straight answer. "How did you write this?" "How did the song come about?" "What inspired this message?" "What came first: the melody, the lyrics...?" -are all examples of common questions that I have been asked. Sometimes there is a distinct point of inspiration I can talk about, but most of time I feel like I’m simply sharing a song I have heard before. Maybe in dream. In silence before God. In moments of worship. It is as if these songs I'm writing and getting to share with you all are songs that the angles have been singing for eternity. My time with God has become so precious. My songwriting is contingent on it. With out tuning in, I don't know what to say... I don't know what the melodies sound like... there is a sense of lost purpose.

So, the task is laid out. If the song on my lips and the song of life reflect even just a small part of eternity... it is good. Facing feelings and the pressure of 'I need to create something new' has been an inspiring thing to reflect on. This misconception has taken on a new skin and become an empowering statement and reality for me. 'I am continually discovering truths about a God who has always been and I am responsible to shine and share this light before men.'

"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually
be in my mouth."
Psalm 34:1

<3

Summer 2009- What's happening?

2009-07-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

Hey all.

First I just want to say, Happy Summer. I have loved it so far and I hope you have too. There are a few things going on that I would like to share… So this Saturday, July 11th I am off to a worship conference in Nashville, TN. To check out where I will be, you can go to: http://www.pureworshipinst..itute.com/home.html
I am so stoked. It should be a good week to experience right before... drum role please… I go into the studio! That’s right!!!!

July 20th is my first day recording the new album! I am so so so excited. Words can not express... well I guess these are words. :) I will take pics in Nash and have some video updates for you from the studio when I get back. It has been and is going to continue to be a crazy July, but when summer is all said and done- I will have lots of stories and a boo-ya recording to share with all of you <3

That’s all for now.
Grace and Peace lovely folks.

h

Photoshoot with Stephen Knuth!

2009-06-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of doing a photo shoot with a friend named Stephen Knuth (stephenknuth.com). We had such a good time! We hit up the streets of downtown little Italy and found so many good spots. To view these photos, go to Stephen’s blog:

http://www.stephenknuthblog.com/

Stephen is a really talented, upcoming photographer. If you are in need of some new portraits of any kind… he is your guy!

GMA's Adventure - SO Airport.

2009-04-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

DAY #1

So I find myself heading back out here... Good ol' NASHVILLE, TN. Or as soon people call it, "Nashvegas". I’m sitting in the Denver airport totally snowed in. Outside is a blizzard, absolute craziness. I don’t think I have never been snowed in anywhere, kinda cool…. ish.  Let me just tell you how good God is…

Hold the phone. Before I do that I just want to let you know that I have faithfully been up for 45 hours straight! The world looks different at this point…. Kinda fuzzy and everything is really funny. Everything makes me laugh at this point. 

Ok………….
Alright. I didn’t sleep at all last night… pulling a Haley, doing EVERYTHING at the last minute. What was I doing? Making copies of GMA demo (3 new songs…. Will be up on the myspace ASAP!), packing, copywriting new songs… from totally important BIG things - to the small stuff, I had once again found myself pulling an all nighter’ getting it all together. BUT I finished!!! Should not have happened…

*In case you don’t already know this about me I feel like I need to confess: I do not have the best time management skills and procrastinate far to often. I think it’s because deep down I enjoy the excitement of being spontaneous, not being bound by a schedule. Truly a dumb reason to lack structure. Structure and balance I know bring us freedom…. some how. It is becoming more and more obvious that my life won’t function well if I continue this pattern. Hehe. Learning…. Oh, growth.

The week leading up to last night and this moment has just been ridiculous. So busy and difficult. Anytime God is about the do some thing cool in my world things always get tough before they get better. I think that is how it is for most. All that said, I felt the enemy near this last week… but God was closer. I found rest and comfort in knowing God’s hand was on my life. Man, even when we feel like the world and everything gross in it is swallowing us whole it is refreshing to remember: He who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. All things work together for GOOD for those who are in Christ Jesus…. And no matter how much I fight for control of things, God is smarter than giving me control. What a bad idea! He is sovereign in any and all of my circumstances.

I almost missed my flight. It was a work out sprinting to the gate. The door to the plane was closing when we got there. By WE I mean myself and my friend Chris (lead singer for Relentless Pursuit), my trusted travel buddy for GMA’s this year. BUT again, God is good and we made it when we should NOT have.

We get to Vegas and had some good God time in the word. I had no idea you could fit soooo many slot machines in the airport. It was truly and airport/casino. Then we were of for Sacramento. I know what you’re thinking… “Wait, you’re going back to California?” Yeah. We did. From Sac we flew into Denver, the crazy blizzard A.K.A.- Vortex of Death. Landing was intense. So here I am- writing to you, waiting for our next flight, and remembering how good God has been and will continue to be. His thoughts and ways are higher than mine. Totes.

On the Radio: "Homegrown Praise" on wsradio.com

2009-03-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

HEY FRIENDS!!!

http://www.wsradio.com/internet-talk-radio.cfm/shows/Homegrown-Praise/archives/date/selected/03-28-2009.html

In the 4th Segment:

Interview with Caz and Bill... and Steve Arthur :)

I hope you enjoy it! I'm excited to share this with you all....
love love love.

-h-

April Edition of the "Good News Etc."

2009-03-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

Hey friends.

GOOD NEWS about the GOOD NEWS!
In April's edition of the GOOD NEW'S ETC. you will find an article featuring my most recent trip to Nashville... Ohhh what good times it was. I am excited to go back mid April for the Gospel Music Awards -AND- I'm excited for you to read the article!!! Shoot, I'm excited to read the article! So go ahead and pick up your copy at your local christian book store.

God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.
And that's His nature. :)

That's all for now.
love love love.

-h-

"Merry Go Round"

2009-03-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

Here I am. Sitting at the fire place. My back is pretty warm and my feet a little cold. Dilemma. But hey, things could be much worse... much. I'm sure I am the only one that feels this way ;), but this last week I have just been restless.

Yesterday, I took a day off and it was ridiculous how crazy rest was making me feel. It was like I wasn't OK with standing still for a second. Part of my "day of rest" was laying on the beach with a dear friend. Sounds great right? Well I couldn't sit still. I could not, would turn off my brain and to take in the moment... it was like I forgot how. All I could think about was the emails that were waiting for me, the phone calls I had to make, that song I needed to finish, that show I had to get ready for.
My flesh was screaming at me, "Get your butt up and MOVE! The world is going to stop rotating if you don't take control of all these thing and DO it all. You are letting everyone down by not doing your part... your failing right now."
And then, there was a still small whisper from my spirit saying, "Just BE STILL." That was truly the place I wanted to be. I DID want to turn it all off and just BE in communion with God, with the crazy beautiful place I was in, with my friend.

"What is keeping me from stillness God? Why can't I get to this place?"
I was taken back to a sermon I heard on Sunday about idols. The things we fear become idols. Our idols condemn us. As we bow down and worship an idol that is not God, we feel trapped and bound. All these thoughts were popping up in my head.

"What am I worshiping more than you God?"
So I began to identify my idols: Everything I have been holding on to, has just been a reflection of my desire to maintain control. The truth is- my schedule, my conscious (where all my standards and expectations make themselves at home), my fear, this Marry Go Round I'm spinning on are only temporary securities. It will only fill me with peace for a moment and then IT WILL all slip through my fingers again. It's crazy how I can convince myself that I am doing all the right things by running as fast I can. It makes me feel productive, proud, admirable, worthy of attention, like I'M doing something with my life. A big LIE.

So whats the truth?
My fastest will never be fast enough.
My best will never be good enough.
My voice will never be loud enough.
My day will only have 24hrs.
My life will end someday.

The truth is I am in desperate need of help, of a Savior... in need of someone who's love isn't going to be dictated by how much I get done. The list (most of the time) looks ridiculous, booked minute to minute... leaving me with an empty gas tank and an empty spirit because I avoided stillness, I ignored God's pursuit. I can get through everything on my list today, but that doesn't change how much God loves me.

Go back to the last time you were on a carousel. Let's note some Truths: Carousels are eye catching and grab your attention- most of the time they are loud, have blinky lights, bright colors, a sort of draw to them. The horse you mount isn't real. You are staying in one place even though you're moving. If you focus on something inside the carousel, like the horse your riding, your OK... BUT if you try and look anywhere out side the carousel, it's almost impossible to focus. The world out side that spinning circle is a blur.
When you or I are in need of an eternal perspective, we need to remember we can't get it until we make the choice to get off the ride.

I want to see straight again so I can respond truthfully to the world around me.
So here I am at my fire place, taking a much need break from the Merry Go Round. :)

"Worth It"

2009-02-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

Worth It

"I want to be the man that my father couldn't be. I want to be the role model that our children rarely get to see/ I want to be the husband that my mother looked for but settled for less so her heart broke more/ I watched this with clinched fist and my heart tore/ therefore I want to make my wife secure and reassured that I will never love any one more/ in times of happiness I will cherish, in hard times we will endure/ If my wife happens to be the type that's been hurt in life it is my job to restore/ if she is more insecure then usual everyday I will reinforce her worth and not just tell her but show her that she's beautiful/ Heavenly Father make me so far away from usual/ I want to be there in the classification of rare/ to prepare a generation that make's MEN and transforms them form a rare occasion to the expectation/ Now ladies let me ask you a question. Are you humble enough to take a rebuke or would you dispute?/ I don't care either way cause I'm going to tell you the truth/ if you are continually mistreated and you refuse to give him the boot that's on you/ you need to be smart about it. next time a dude comes your way with some rico suave game to say, before he gets to talkin' stop him/ ask him for a resume tell him you need references. if good character isn't evident and integrity prevalent don't except it/ they say they are a Christian. that could be fiction. / you need to quiz them pertaining to the Word and biblical wisdom/ to see if they are mature or a novice/ how can they know what love is if they don't know who God is/ Because that's what God is "LOVE"/ In your life time you will come a cross a multitude of dudes that say they love you but it's not true/ other will subdue the fraze manipulate it in was were only part of the characteristic is portrayed that kind of love will fade/when you are looking for love do not settle for anything less then that ride or die love/ that always going to try love/ that no matter if you gain a little weight. not quite that same shape as our first date but make no mistake i love you a hundred time more this date then that date kind of love/ that 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 kind of love that John 15:13 kind of love/ that i will die for you. lay down my life for you kind of love/ that Love like Jesus does/ if a man cannot present you pure and holy with out blemish before the Father you shouldn't bother/ Your heart you should cherish. make them work for it because your worth it."

-Clister (SD, California)

Oh Nashville... "The City of Music."

2009-02-11T12:28:00.000-08:00

So here it is.

I leave for Nashville in less than 4 days (this Saturday to be specific.) "The City of Music". More and more I am coming to realize I am just another fish in this fat fish bowl. Questions to ponder: What kind of fish am I? Hand down there are bigger fish, but how much bigger? Is a shark a fish? :)

I'm a little nervous, but more than nervous- excited. I love people and I know I'm going to be meeting lots of them. I get to play 3 or maybe more times while I'm out there, which is super sweet. My new found friend Art, who is a sound engineer in Nashville, is going to be showing me the city and be doing most of the introducing. He is a pretty cool guy.
I don't own any cowboy boats...whoops, hehe. I meant boots. I don't think I want to. My Van's will do. I think it’s more about being you and sticking out, than trying to blend in. Some other things I have been thinking about as I get ready to go.

"...You belong to God and have overcome them, because he who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

I love this verse. It lifts my spirit. There is nothing in this world that has a hold on me. God has THE hold on me and nothing, no one is this world can take me from that place. No matter how intense or crazy the battle gets, He has ultimately won my victory. And that's it.

"In quietness and trust is your strength." It's TRUTH- whether I get it or not. In my everyday thinking, spinning and doing always seems to be the answer. I want God to change my way of thinking and give me His way of thinking. A God centered perspective, and eternal perspective. It is just so easy to get caught up in the logistics and details the world throws at you. I'm ineffective when I am living in this place. When I am living in this, it becomes about my kingdom and THE KINGDOM. In the stillness, God meets me and reminds me of these things. I'm not a big deal, I'm apart of a big deal.

So I'm thankful that this is where my heart is right before I go. I can't wait to see what God does in and out of my time in Nashville... because the TRUTH is, "He is Faithful to complete every good work He has begun..." Philippians 1:6
Thanks for reading and being apart of my journey :)

"Westmont Song..." FREE Concert: Jan 12, 2009

2009-01-02T15:35:00.000-08:00

So this last month, fires blazed there way through nor. cal hitting the Santa Barbara area...

One of my best friends attends Westmont, a Christian College in the area. 1 day prior to the fire hitting, I was actually visiting her on campus. In that time I got to see the campus grounds and all the beauty this campus hosted. The people I got to meet that were in here dorm were wonderful. It was a great couple of days.

The next evening I had heard about the fires on campus. My heart right away began to grieve the loss with all those faces I had just so recently met. Weird. This had never happened to me before. As a matter of fact, the very room I slept in the night before had been burned. That whole building went up in flames. So many things lost. My heart was in communion with my brothers and sisters in such a real way- a song was born.

In that next few days I was reminded that this world has nothing for us in comparison to all that is waiting for us in eternity; but at the same time, there is this very real struggle our flesh endures as we live out our days here on earth... we feel tied and bound to worldly things, possessions. It's difficult. I was reminded of HOPE.

Here are the lyrics to "Invisible Solid" (c) 2008
I pray you are reminded of hope through this song:

Verse 1:
Lord I'm tired of playing all these empty games
Won't you take me out so I can start again
Lord I'm growing weary as my legs keep moving
Faster to keep up with the room that's spinning

Chorus:
So wont you speak a word
Into my broken world
I am desperate for truth
So wont you speak a word
Into my broken world
I am desperate for truth

Verse 2:
The earth has fallen beneath my feet, but I
Am standing on and invisible solid
A firm foundation, I'm held up by you
Into Your hands I commit my spirit

Chorus

Bridge:
There is a Life, there is a Hope, there Joy that can't be broken
There is Peace, there is a Love, that can not be taken
No matter what comes today
Your blood has paved my way to eternity
Where I will be home and know freedom

And that's it.

IF YOU ARE A WESTMONT STUDENT (and if your not...)-
I look forward to sharing this song with you. I will he hosting a free concert:

WHEN: Jan 12, 2009 (First day back at school!)
WHERE: Montecito Covenant
671 Cold Springs Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
TIME: 7 pm

Anyone and everyone is WELCOME! Please bring a friend! It is going to be a special night of worship, a time where we get to respond to who God is, has been, and will be in this next year. Lets bring in the new year the right way! Yay!

All my love,

haley

On the RADIO!

2008-10-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

Hey folks!

Happy to share that this past weekend (10/11/08) I had my very first radio interview :) It was super fun and quite the experience. I am so stoked and humbled to share it with you all. I am in the 4th segment of the show. Check it out!

http://www.wsradio.com/internet-talk-radio.cfm/shows/Homegrown-Praise/archives/date/selected/10-11-2008.html.

Much love and many blessings!

Until next time-

<3 haley

A short version of the story...

2008-09-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

QUESTION:When did you get saved? Tell me a little about yourself and your music... (I have been getting asked this one a lot lately.)

ANSWER: To tell you a little bit about my self... I grew up in the church.Saved mom- unsaved dad. So it was pretty much a single parent deal. I gave my life to the Lord when I was in middle school. I have known the truth my whole life, but it was at this time that I realized and decided that walking a life with Christ meant picking up my cross. The next four or five years were awesome and a grew a ton in the Lord. I was in leadership at my church in the youth group and was really involved in worship ministry. I got to a fork in the road when I was about 16yrs. I also grew up in an ice skating rink as a competitive figure skater. This was my life! My identity. God wasn't cool with that obviously, because HE wanted to be my identity..... SO He called me to give it all up. All the fame and affirmation that was associated with it. ONE of the hardest things I have ever had to do. This time in my life is a BIG part of my testimony. It was when God taught me as a WORSHIPER what it meant to bring my sacrifice. Worship is something we do with our life, not just in song...I didn't know this then, but this lesson would continue to play out as God called me to be a full time worship leader and artist.

I was never super great at singing or one particular instrument- but to God that didn't matter. This is what he created me for :) As soon as I gave up ice skating, God began to fling open doors. I began writing music, singing more, playing more,and my heart yearned for the presence of God like never before. I came out with my first CD fall 2007... and the rest is history in the making!

I am so humbled by God grace and calling on my life. Why would he ever used somebody like me for ANYTHING, i dunno. I don't deserve His love,but He continues to pour it out on me. I love sharing this message with the church and especially this next generation of worshipers. We cant help but share our story. More than anything I want to see them encounter the reality of God, who he is first hand, taste His goodness and love. I didn't think God could do anything with my life- after all... all i was good for was ice skating. LIE. I want the church to know that God can and WILL do immeasurably more than we can think or imagine if we just let go. We are all made to play a unique and special role in the kingdom... and this is the message I hope come through in my ministry and music.

My life in nothing but a LOVE song of redemption and grace.

A Living Sacrifice.

2008-09-11T12:48:00.000-07:00

I have been learning a nlot about this lately. There is a:
Sucky truth.

The Christian walk is not cupcakes and flowers all the time. A common misconception. Its easy for people to get that impression... Of Christianity, the church, and the people in it. As believers we are called to a life of worship a life of SACRIFICE. There is a part of my heart that says, "Sacrifice? Who said anything about sacrifice? I didn't sign up for this God." Maybe I don't word it quite like that in "real life", BUT it comes out in my actions for sure. Bottom line I am selfish person and giving up that way of thinking an life is really hard.

So what is true worship? I have to ask myself this question all the time... i get asked this question all the time. To passages int he bible help answer this for me. On my own, this answer in complicated and runs full circle in the ground. I always have to get back to the roots of my faith, the word.

Romans 12:1-2 (New Living Translation)
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

The NVI words it this way- "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer up your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship."

When ever I am doubting what it means to truly worship God the way he desires, it's right here. He wants ME! He wants all of me. All the good parts, all the bad parts. Psalms 51:17 says that, "The sacrifices of God are a BROKEN spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Whats contrite? (I dint know what it meant for the longest time, I just pretended...) but having a contrite heart just means being repentant- recognizing and desiring atonement for my sin. It come down to this, God wants me leave myself behind and step into NEW skin, a new life in Him.

Luke 9:23-24 says,
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For who ever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

So all these thoughts began with me stating this "Sucky Truth"... really though, how sucky is it to end up in heaven with God? To really find and experience life while I'm still breathing? Yeah there is some cost involved, but God sees me- He sees you...making the choice to walk this life. Oh mylanta how he will bless it and there is glory, BLISS waiting for us. I promises it's worth it! See for Yourself...

Die Today.

-h

Kaleo 2008 (August 22-24)

2008-08-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was amazing! Me and the guys made a trip up to Yreka, Ca for the annual "Kaleo Conference". This is a gathering where various youth groups from through out the community come to worship as one. There is something so powerful about this. When walls between denominations, towns, individual churches, and people are broken down... it is a glimpse of eternity. Romans 8 talks about future glory- eternity. This past weekend reminded me of this passage.

Romans 15:5-6 says,
"May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I feel so blessed... I got to be a part of God doing that this weekend. There is nothing more beautiful than hear a congregation of people worship the Lord. It is my favorite part of leading worship and writing music. When I no longer need to be at the mic and we become one voice. As the church we make up the body- God being the head. You may be the right hand and I may be the left, but when we are in the presence of the Almighty, we are no longer concerned with what each other is doing. I'm not looking at the toe's, the right leg, the belly button :)... and neither are you. When we worship together, we are ALL looking into the face of God.

I love that focus. God presence will forever be mankind's common ground. We are all the same in God eyes, His love covering all sin. So with that, I will leave you with this line from a new song I'm am working on- inspired by this encounter with God and the church:

"We are the body, different Parts.
Working together, moving forward.
One melody, assigned harmonies
Singing the same song."

-haley

YOUR story...

2008-07-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

... is powerful. Your story, my story, is real. People connect with one another because of story's. As Christians, "our stories" are also known as "testimonies."
Oh man, churchy words. So intimidating sometimes...
Testimonies. I have always seen them as a super scary, on the spot sort of thing. Up until recently, I didn't feel like I had the nerve or reason to share mine. Or maybe I had just convinced myself I never got the opportunity. Either way, FEAR or lack of opportunity is a lame excuse to not reach out to people. There is always someone to share your story with... whether it's a friend, family member, stranger at the store, another surfer out in the water, etc.

Something that has been a helpful tip to me- Find common ground.
"Hey I like those shoes. I have some kinda like that..."
"That's my favorite cereal. Nice choice..."
"I like your skateboard."

OK, cheesy...
WHATEVER! It helps bunches to get a conversation flowing. It is the key to facilitating these opportunities. I have to step out side myself and express interest in somebody else, besides ME. Seems basic, but I really struggle with this. I get so focused on Haley and what I have to do, that I completely lose sight of my purpose. To be the hands and feet of Jesus... in real life. Not just when I am on a stage singing.

More and more I am realizing THIS: There are people everywhere that are dying to know there is hope. Being a new creation is Christ and being in a relationship with the Almighty God, I carry that hope with me where ever I go. I carry this light, a reflection of who God is. Sometimes people can just see it and are drawn to it, BUT sometimes we have to open ourselves up, be vulnerable, and step out for people to see it. I like it when God makes it easy and it is the first option :)... but as I grow and develop it seems the second choice is the popular one.

It's tough stuff. I get so frustrated with me. Some days I am fired up to connect and spread this joy the Lord's goodness fills me with... and then there are other days when I just want to isolate and seem to forget how good God has been. How can I forget?! But i do. Man, oh man...

Lord,
You are so worthy of my praise. Forgive me when I forget who You are. It's in this place I fall into sin, settle, and become complacent being distant from You. This is the TRUTH- When I remember who You are, I remember who I am. Who you have called me to be. Father let Your light shine down on me, through me. No matter what today or tomorrow brings... No matter what the circumstances are... Let me be a reflection of Your love. Fill me to the point I overflow with stories of how You saved me. Of how You continue to save me. Unbutton my lips, despite my unwillingness... Use me to reach those You want to reach. Teach my heart to be more like Yours.

<3

*h.

Calvary Church- Los Gatos!

2008-07-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was so much fun! Me and the band got invited to open up for artist Andy Gridly. Andy and Jack (electric guitar player...) go way back. The night was held at a church in Los Gatos called "Calvary". Let me tell you this church is gorgious... and huge. To be honest it was probably the biggest stage I have ever set foot on let alone play on. I felt so small... literally and emotionally. I had one of those moments with God where I got to remember who He is. And that I am nothing with out Him. I couldn't believe I was there on that stage, with this amazing band, getting to lead worship... who am I. God calls each and every one of us to a life that is greater and better than we can fathom. It is hard to put into words how thankful and blessed I feel and am... this summer has just been a beautiful picture of God grace played out. So humbling. That was bit of a tangent...

So Sunday morning we got invited to play for the youth at the church. It was so rad. It was out side, kind of on the corner of the street. In a weird way it felt like that was how church was intended to be. My brain went to bible times and thought, "Well they us have worship a lot outside..." So in a nutshell we kicked it old school. This group of people was super mixed, ranging from up coming jr. highers to college age.
It is always a cool and unique experience leading for that broad of a group. The youth pastor, Steve. Holler!

(I would just like to take this opportunity to point out that he is proud owner of a NEW Haley Montgomery T-shirt. Be cool- be like Steve and get yourself one!)

And that brings us to Sunday night...
Everybody we got to work with was fantastic! James, "Sweaty" aka. Scotty, all the guys in Andy's band... to many to count. The stage was legit as well. I mean, there was an astronaut hanging from ceiling! Enough said. Oh and there was a fog machine... we didn't use it but we got to see it be used :)

So in short:
*new friends
*new t shirts (shirts)
*new place
*The worship time was awesome...

Good trip!

How to build a pedal board.

2008-07-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

by Jack Roan

Building a basic pedal board is surprisingly easy, and will save you time, money, and wear and tear on your pedals. Having all your pedals prewired on a board helps keep setup and set change times to a minimum, and the on board power supply sets you free from the hassles of 9V batteries. I built this small board for Haley in an afternoon, for under $50 (not including pedals).

The first step is actually the last thing most people think about - you need to find a suitable carrying case for the board. This doesn't have to been anything fancy, and old suitcase, a toolbox, etc. We used a cute little toolbox from Sears for Haley's board.

It helps to have a general idea of how your board will be laid out when selecting your case. I like to mock the pedals up on a piece of cardboard to ensure a fit before cutting any wood. Don't forget to allow room for connectors, both 1/4" and for 9V power.

A piece of plywood is all you need for the board. I used 1/2" but 3/4" works as well. Keep in mind that it will need to be thick enough for you to screw into for your rubber feet or any serious cable clamps. Painting the board makes it look nice; I chose black since most of the cables and wiring are black as well.

A few other tricks of the trade are wide industrial velcro (this will attach your pedals to the board) and various zip ties. I'm especially a fan of the small 4" black zip ties for keeping cables and wiring nice and clean.

I prefer to put the hook side of the velcro on the pedal, and the loop side on the board. This is a personal preference, but many of the pedals I've bought on eBay have it done this way as well. It seems to be a bit of a standard.

The final thing to tackle is the 9V power. The easiest way is probably to buy a OneSpot or similar AC adapter and wire it to your pedals. If you've got a lot of pedals, something like the Voodoo Labs or Dunlop power supplies might be your best bet. These usually come with plenty of patch cables to connect up all your pedals.

If you or a friend are handy with a soldering iron it's very easy to make your own 9V power supply. For example, I bought this 9V adapter at Sears for $3, and it even came with a 1 million candle power flashlight! (ok, it was on clearance)

When choosing an AC adapter there are three things you want to pay attention to: the voltage, the current rating, and the polarity.

* The voltage part is easy - you want 9V DC. Sometimes instead of saying DC it will have a symbol like this: - - Don't use an adapter that says AC or has a squiggly symbol like this: ~

* The current is the next number you'll see. In this case 300mA. Most guitar pedals take between 10mA and 100mA. The important thing to recognize about the current rating is that this is not the maximum current the power supply will put out. Rather, it is the rated current at 9V, meaning when you pull 300mA out of this power supply, it will be at 9V DC. If you pull less than 300mA, the voltage will be higher, perhaps 10V DC. If you pull 0mA from the power supply, for instance if you just plug it into the wall and not to any pedals, the voltage could be as high as 12V DC, even though it says 9V DC on the supply. Try to match the load your pedals will pull to the number on the supply. An adapter with a higher current rating will likely have a higher voltage for your pedals. Up to 10V DC is probably ok for most pedals, but I wouldn't go higher than that. You may have to experiment with a few before you find an AC adapter that will give the right voltage for your pedals.

* The final thing to look at is the most important and where many people go wrong. Polarity. You'll see a little + and - and a symbol indicating which one is "tip" (inside) and which is "ring" (outside). Most AC adapters, like the one I picked up at Sears, have the + in the center of the plug and the - on the outside. Most guitar pedals are not set up this way! Check your pedals and you will probably see that they expect the - to be in the center, not the +. Reversing the voltage to your pedal will damage it! If you are building your own power supply out of an off the shelf adapter like I have done here be certain you have the polarity correct for your pedals.

After you get that sorted out it's very easy to cut the wires to the correct lengths and build a little daisy chain for your power supply. Building your own supply as I've shown here is the cheapest and usually the neatest way to power your pedals, though be sure you understand the issues above, and always check your work with a volt meter before plugging into any of your pedals.

Once you've got the power and 1/4" cables ready to go, wire up the board, slap the pedals down on the velcro and rock and roll!

Breakthrough now on iTunes!

2008-06-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

Haley's debut EP album Breakthrough is now available for instant purchase and download, thanks to the fine folks at Apple iTunes!

Breakthrough Tour Testimony

2008-06-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

This is rad.
Below is a true story from my first tour. I love moments where I am reminded that I am nothing apart from God. It is only by His grace and love for me, that my life becomes worth something. The more churches I visit and places i sing, I realize we will never know the fruit of our ministry. Even when it seems or worse... FEELS like we made no difference or impact, God is faith to move and speak despite us. DESPITE ME! Even though I might mess things up sometimes... OK, a lot of the time... God can still and CHOOSES to use me. Crazy.

Anywho, read this story :) It is very cool.

"Haley, Kevin & Band: I wanted to write you this email and tell you something that happened after your concert. Our youth just loved you guys and it really meant alot to them, Haley, that you justed messed around with them a bit and had some fun with them afterwards. I know I had fun with you all! I was dancing more than all the kids and told them they needed to learn how to have more fun and dance and learn to enjoy the Lord! There were only a couple kids that came I did not know, but that was what I was hoping for....only lots more of them.

Tuesday morning, the day after your concert here, This a woman called my office while I had someone in my office for a counselling appt. I rarely answer a phone when someone has an appt with me; but for some reason I picked up the phone to answer this time. She was crying and asked me if our church had some kind of youth event or concert last night. She lives somewhere near our church, she said, and thought it was us. At first I thought she was calling to complain that the music was too loud if she lived close by (never loud enough for me ). But then she said, "I just wanted you to know that someone there touched my son last night." Then my fear turned to panic taking what she said the wrong way.

I asked her what she meant and she said, "I have a teenage son who is very angry all the time and resentful. She said she had no control over him and for whatever reason he was yelling at her and took his sleeping bag walking out the door and said he would never be back." He intended to run away from home and when he walked by our church he heard the band and saw all of our youth and came in. He stayed for the concert and then afterwards talked with some of our youth about what he was going through. The few of our youth he was talking to told him he was making a mistake to run away and that he needed to "suck it up" and go home, make it right with his Mom, and give God a chance. And that is what he did. His mother told me her son came home changed and calm and talked it out with her.

She was crying while telling me all this and said, "I just wanted to call and say "thank you" that your church touched my son when he heard the concert and stopped and she was so grateful because she was fearful of what might happen to her son when he ran away."

So even though the turnout was disappointing, just maybe it was all for him. In that case....it was worth it all. But truthfully, it was not all for him for those of us here really loved you and do want to have you back. Anyhow, I wanted to share that with you about the mom who called. "

First Steps... "2008 New Beginnings."

2008-06-02T23:58:00.000-07:00

2008... the Year of NEW BEGINNINGS.

Numbers totally have meanings. Like 7 is the number of completion. Well, 8 just so happens to mean new beginnings. This number seems to be a trend in my life, but I didn't realize it until this year... so that explains the title :)

"Northern Cali Tour!" (May 26 - June 4)

The past couple of weeks has been unreal! I am out on my FIRST tour ever and I can not explain fully how amazing it has been. The band is here with me to... they are all so awesome. Oh and BONUS- two bass players. (not at the same time, just different parts of the tour.) So I have gotten to work and be close with some of the most amazing musicians known to man. I am so blessed by them musically and seriously at a heart level. I go to band practice some times just asking God, "How, when, and huh? How did I get so lucky?" OK, so back to the tour stuff...

It has always been one of my favorite things to hear all the voices in worship at church. For a really long time I wouldn't sing on purpose, just so I could hear every one around me cry out this the same God. There was something about it that tugged on my heart and drew me in to the same place... seemed like home. I grew up in the church but I am pretty sure this is how I FIRST met the Lord, truly experienced Him... in worship.It is something else to see fruits of your ministry. The fact that God would use us at all in mind boggling. I have had so many moments on this tour where I just realize how fortunate and undeserving I am. I remember when I first started writing music... (I was a little turkey) and just trying to picture other people knowing or even singing a song a had written. Impossible. Well OK, maybe my mom would know my songs, but only because I sang them all around the house 24/7. This tour it was like I got to experience that miracle.

Straight up GRACE. There was so many times where I just had to stop singing and pull away from the mic because it was so overwhelming. There have been so many thoughts that have been going thought my head. Maybe you can relate to some of them:

"God, how could You use me. ME, Haley... What have I done up until this point in my life to deserve this experience. I'm so average. There's nothing special about me... I am just as messed up as the next person. Why do you use the broken. Your able to do anything and everything on your own, but you still choose to use us. Not only do you choose us but You call us by name. By name. Our name is important and significant to you... What?! I don't get this crazy LOVE of Yours."

It is crazy to be in this process. You dream dreams for so long... and then what? You wake up and your living them. That's what this experience has felt like. I am kinda scared. A little nervous. WAY excited! Its rad to think the God begins preparing us for what He has called us to way before we are aware of it. Like domino's. Good events, bad events, all leads us to Him it seems. If we are able to see it that way. That's what I have been praying... that I would have those kinds of eyes. I remember being about 5 yrs. old and learning this verse-

"For God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7

I used to pray it every night as a girl. Well here I am, a young women now... praying that same prayer every time step on to a stage or stand in front of a mic. Its been nice to realize this past year or so that I will never be perfect, meet my expectations, or other peoples expectation of me. And that's OK, God doesn't call that version of me. He calls the broken, dorky, imperfect, smack your head on a microphone on the way back up from dropping a pick in the middle of a show... Haley. It is what it is. I am who I am... and God loves who that is. So truth of the matter-I should to. Definitely takes some pressure off.

Well these are just a few lessons I have been learning and felt like sharing. More to come, I'm sure of it.

*h