"Worth It"

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."

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

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!

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...

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.

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)

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