Here is a subject that I am very passionate about – "Women Worship Leaders". What a blessing it is to be able to come before the Lord with songs of praise, and to lead our church in worship. I
have been a worship leader for over 13 years and I can tell you, there is nothing more satisfying to me than seeing those of our congregation in a state of worship of our Creator God!

But it hasn't been all bliss though. Through the years I have come across individuals who are against women in the "worship leader" role. Some have even gone so far as to threaten to leave the church because of me being a worship leader. A pastor of mine told me about an experience he had with someone threatening to leave our fellowship if he didn't remove me from a leadership role in worship. Here is what he asked this person:

Do you know who the very first worship leader was? The man scratched his head and said, "You know…I don't recall". The pastor replied…."Miriam"! God didn't have a problem with her leading worship so why should you? The man blustered and said….but women shouldn't be in the position to teach or even pray; they are not supposed to teach men! Pastor replied….this woman is not teaching us anything other than to become a better worshipper of our heavenly Father and I can't see God finding fault with that. If you feel that you can't continue with this fellowship because of your issue with a "woman
worship leader" than I will be sorry to see you go.

The man decided to stay but these issues crop up from time to time and can
even push someone that is called to the position to leave. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. Preserver and do not fret because in the end you will KNOW whether you were called to the position or not.

I find that a woman, while leading worship, can reach a heart and be effective on a different level than a man. I have found that woman have the ability to move people into that deeper place of worship by the tone and softness of her voice. What is music? I feel that music is a strong conduit to our memories and has always had
the ability to take us back to places that are dear to our hearts; it could be that when you hear a certain song it will take you back to a place of remembrance like high school or your wedding day.

Worship on the other hand takes us to the Father. The definition of worship is "the reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object". The purpose of worshiping God is not to experience the hand of God but to see the face of God; it is FOR God and all TRUE worship has God at the center! In singing our love songs to Him during a time of worship, He in turn blesses us with His love, peace and understanding and opens us up to hear the Word.

My hearts desire is to mentor women who are gifted worshipers to move into a worship leader position; whether they play an instrument or not. There are always ways to be a worship leader without knowing how to play a guitar or keyboard. Back up tracks can be used or seek someone out on the worship team that plays an instrument.

Being a worship leader is a calling and not only something that you have a desire to do. God has to choose you for the position. God choose me for the position. Did I seek it out? NO! If I had my way, I would have stayed firmly worshiping God with everyone else in the congregation, not on the front lines leading the congregation in worship!

When I first started in worship leading, I was a back up guitarist for our women's retreats (I was shy back then). Then they heard me sing and wham, I was pushed into the leadership position for all of our women's retreats, bible studies, etc. That evolved into leading worship for the mid-week study, which later evolved into leading worship for two Sunday services.

I am now a worship leader at my home church and leading worship for
retreats and events and I go out to Christian Coffeehouses and "lead"
worship at those venues. Keep in mind also that as a worship leader, we need to live a life that is pleasing to God. We as humans are not perfect but we have to strive to live our lives as though we live in a glass house and everyone that passes by can see how we, as a follower of Christ, really lives.

If you feel that God is calling you into the position of "worship leader" pray and seek answers in His word, He'll show you the answer. And when you DO step into that position, here is a scripture that has always kept me grounded….

Ephesians 4:1-3 says: I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness
and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

If you keep that scripture in your heart and apply it to your daily walk, you will go far as a worship leader.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Kat

Here is the first song form my new album From Hull With Love. It's called Worthy Are You Lord. If you would like chord charts please e mail me at angie@newlifehull.org

Thanks

Angie

One of the things I love so much about the song WITH EVERY BREATH (from my SHARMANE cd) is the very opening line that proclaims, “Alleluia from the heavens”…On this Ascension Sunday I just can’t stop singing this song. Every word, so cleverly crafted by Christine and Mark Byrd (the songwriters), really illustrates the beauty of the risen Christ. So with everything we have, with every breath, we praise the Lord because He is our pathway to eternal life.

I’ve been thinking about heaven a lot lately. I think about it when I look at the beautiful star filled sky at night over the ocean. I think of heaven when I see the puffy white clouds amidst the blue sky. I think about heaven when I see tears of joy and hope in prayer. Sometimes I feel like I’m “in heaven” when I come home from a road trip and my children are waiting at the door ready to greet me, or when my husband encourages me when I tell him about a new song I wrote. Sometimes I feel like I’m “in heaven” when I get a prayer request from someone and I pray for them and they write me back sharing how their prayer was answered, or when I hear good news of a friend who is healing after a life threatening illness.

At the end of April, I had the opportunity to perform my song, I SURRENDER (which was recognized as a final nominee for Song of the Year) at the 2008 KCCM Awards in Kansas City. The awards and “concert of friends” was a multi-faith event held at the Bell Cultural Center at Mid America Nazarene University in Olathe, KS. It was a gorgeous venue and sound check went so smoothly (which doesn’t always happen) that I heard many comment, “wow…this is heavenly.” In addition to performing I was also nominated for two awards. I was so excited just to be there for this event (…and it was fun to get dressed up too!-LOL!) Needless to say, I was shocked when they announced my name as FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR. Suddenly I felt that little piece of heaven…again. I quickly composed myself and went up to accept the award-but not for one minute did I forget to give all glory and honor to Jesus…not only for showing me the light in regards to my music ministry, but more so, for giving His life so I could have that very moment in time.

I guess we all have “in heaven” moments, in our lives. For some they come daily. For others they don’t come nearly as often-but we learn quickly how to embrace the moment. But what we shouldn’t forget is that those “moments” are a gift from God and gentle reminders to us of the glory that will be revealed to us when we do get to heaven-if we are faithful to Him.

Do you have a time in your life when you felt you were “in heaven”? Let me know so I can celebrate that moment with you and pray that you are blessed with more times like this in the days to come!

Peace & Hugs-

SHARMANE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Artist wins 2008 KCCM Award!

Pensacola, FL, April 28, 2008-Prayerful Hearts Ministry is pleased to announce that  Contemporary Catholic/Christian performing artist-SHARMANE-was recently recognized as an award recipient at the 2008 KCCM Awards held in Kansas City on Saturday, April 26^th. SHARMANE received the award for FEMALE VOCALIST of the Year. This is the first-time award for SHARMANE-who also was invited to perform her 2007 radio single titled I SURRENDER, (which spent over 20 weeks on the Christian Radio & Retail Weekly I-chart), at the multi-faith awards presentation. I SURRENDER was also recognized as a final nominee for the Song of the Year category.

The KCCM Awards are sponsored annually by KingCat Music based in the Kansas City area. This organization serves to recognize artists who are part of the KingCat Music network in a variety of award categories including Artist of the Year (in each music genre), Group of the Year and Song of the Year.  KingCat Music includes local, regional and national independent artists that perform in the Christian music genre. The awards are held each spring at a Kansas City area venue.  Sponsors for the event include notable businesses, professionals in the Christian music industry, along with several radio stations, and news periodicals. For more information on the KCCM Awards visit www.kingcatmusic.com.

For more information on SHARMANE visit www.sharmane.com or www.myspace.com/sharmaneadams

We wanted to thank mycrossfactor for having such a heart for us Indie Artists. We continue praying blessings upon this ministry and all of it's artists.

Have a blessed weekend,

just the 2 of us