Unfortunately slavery still exists. Right now there are over 27 millions slaves around the world. In brothels. In factories. In quarries. Working as slaves. In 161 countries. Including our own.

Slavery is wrong. You know it. We know it. As a country, we’ve officially known it since 1863. So why does it still exist?

I have felt more than a bit rebellious in my faith recently; unusual for me, but there you have it. Things prick at my conscience more than they used to. I feel overly sensitive to the politics and policies of our churches. I find my blood boiling at the various injustices that I see happening, and it takes more than one deep breath to calm me down. And in full confession, it sadly doesn’t always lead me down a path of change, just a path of anger.

Sometimes I look around at the faces walking by and am amazed that each of these chosen people has an individual, beautiful story designed by God. We were created to bring unique worship before the Lord and live out the specific calling God has for our lives. Each of us is special gift belonging to the Lord with the task of making God famous right where we are, in the moment we are in.

I’ve found that I have an incredible capacity to holding on to things. My husband, Michael, knows this gift well. No matter how much I try to shrug something off, it holds on, making it’s presence felt in relationships and my right upper shoulder – a problem in which the “Thumper” (one of those home back massage doohikies) has proven to be one of my most advantageous purchases. I have a hard time remembering where my phone is or what state we happen to be playing a show in, but yes, I can absolutely remember what sort of glance so and so gave me or what conversation with that friend was two years ago. Relationships are at the core of who I am; they can put me on cloud nine or run me straight into the ground. So often, I wish I were the introverted, aloof-loner that is self-sufficient and most often found hunkered down in a cabin; writing some brilliant post-apocalyptic, sci-fi novel…unconcerned about the glance or missing the last family reunion or birthday party. It seems so cool, a much more weightless life to be unconcerned…but I am.

Have you ever gone for months, or even years, without hearing God’s voice? I have. And I have seen dear, faithful friends and believers, other women who desire intimacy with God, do the same. It can be incredibly frustrating, painful, and discouraging, as I know from experience.

“Pure” and “love” are not two words that we often put together. Maybe it’s because most of the love we experience is anything but pure. As flawed people, we rarely love without somewhat impure motives. We have probably all “loved” someone because we wanted something from them, and I’m sure we’ve all been “loved” because someone only wanted something out of or from us.

With Thanksgiving only a couple of days away, and Christmas trailing quickly behind it, this reflection from singer, songwriter and worship leader Sarah Hart seemed so appropriate.  This time of year can be really hectic, with our ministries, jobs, and home life.  I hope this is an encouragement to you, to remember why we celebrate, and mostly, what we have to be truly thankful for, which is the redemption that comes in Christ Jesus.  Be sure to click on the link below to download a free MP3 and see the chord chart of a song off of Sarah's new album! Be blessed this Thanksgiving!

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Thankfulness - By Sarah Hart

Three days after Halloween this year, I went shopping at Target, just for a few half-off skeletons and light-up pumpkins at 75% off…though by next year I’ll probably forget where I put them. Anyhow, the Christmas decorations were up already, and I overheard the lament of someone an aisle over; “CHRISTMAS! Come on, I hate this! It’s not even Thanksgiving!” I feel like I’ve heard that lament a lot recently. I even noticed that Nordstrom’s had a special advertisement this year that, in the “spirit of the holidays”, Christmas decorations would not be put up until after Thanksgiving.

My thought?…. “Why not?”

I’ve been thinking a lot about this; this strange protest that people have in waiting until after Thanksgiving to begin to put up Christmas decorations. OK, so maybe November 3 is not exactly anywhere near Christmas, or even the beginning of Advent for that matter. Still, to me at least, our humble wreathes and Evergreens, ornaments and candles, and yes, even those giant paper candy canes hanging from the ceilings at Target, point to the miracle that is about to take place; Christ will come. To me at least, the decorations are not – nor will they ever be – about mere merchandising. The decorations are a reminder for me, for my family, for all those who will gather with us, of a miraculous expectation; they invoke a sense of comfort, warmth, light, and charity.

And, perhaps above everything….thankfulness.

What is there to be more thankful for than the coming of our God; the divine Love made humble, condescending Himself, to walk with us so that he could rescue us. The love that reveals and leads us all to our belonging…I for one am happy to be reminded of that at Thanksgiving.

So, though Thanksgiving is not exactly what anyone would refer to as a “Holy Day” (unless you might count Football as sacred somehow), please don’t hold it against me if I set the gravy and cranberry sauce on the table between my light-up ceramic tree and my mismatched angel collection, and give thanks a little early for the Love that knows no season.

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Check out this promo video for Sarah's new Christmas Album, This Winter's Eve, available in stores now.  And check out "What Love Has Done" for a free MP3 and Chord Charts.

 Website: www.sarahhartmusic.com

Worship leader and songwriter, Reuben Morgan, on the importance of holding in mind our own limits as well as God’s potential. 

It was never really about the numbers. Even though there were 24,000 hands lifted high throughout the 97 minutes of 136 decibel worship, nothing could compare to the planet-shaking power of the three little words that were burned in our hearts that night: God Is Able.

This was the recording session for God Is Able, our latest live album recording. The venue was full of people working to the best of their abilities, but like every one of the live Hillsong album recordings that had gone before, this one had its own unique balance that left its own unique impression upon us. As 12,000 hearts were carried back out into the night, we knew that the evening had taught us a valuable set of lessons.

Like this one: God’s presence is robust. He’s not nervous or timid, and He is always present, never failing, never out of time or out of action. So when the first chord sounds and the hands go up we’re not doing it to try and get His attention in the hope that He might stop by if His schedule allows. We can sing will heads thrown back and hands held wide in the knowledge that God is already among us. It’s not a matter of asking did God show up to our meeting. The question to wrestle with is this: did we show up to meet with God?

Here’s another truth that landed on us as a team as the album was created: generous hands will never be empty. The song God Is Able was written to encourage our church family in their giving, reminding them that our Lord is able to do great things with even the humblest of offerings. Then the cyclones and the floods hit our homeland, and we watched as innocent lives were devastated overnight. And in one of those beautiful ironies that God seems to delight in, the song which started out life as a call to give ended up becoming a source of real inspiration and encouragement to many in our church. There’s nothing quite like hearing the roof lifted by the words ‘God is able’ to turn back fear and calm the tears.

Maybe I’m so taken with this whole idea that God Is Able because like so many worship leaders, writers and musicians these three words represent one vital, essential truth to which we must continually return. It’s entirely natural for any creative to look back at our work and exhale the words ‘it is good’. But there can be a temptation to go a little further, to add some more words, to praise ourselves and celebrate our own abilities. And while that doesn’t look so out of place when the actors take a bow, that kind of ego-polishing has no place at all within the church.

So people like you and me need to remind ourselves of the wider context in which our abilities sit. Yes, it is important to work hard to be great at your craft. And, yes, it is important to do everything we can to create sounds and sights and songs and sensations that help people connect with the one true God. But we must never forget the fundamental truth in all of this: that the very best that we can create can never come close to matching the impact and power of God Himself. You, me and these humble shadows which flow from our hands, they can never change lives – not in the way that God can.

And isn’t that what we’re about? I mean, strip it all away – the lights, the albums, the internet sales and buttons we click to show what we like – aren’t we all just hoping to take whatever small part God allows us to play in the transformation of those He loves and calls by name?  As worship leaders we might use music as a tool, but music is only ever just that – a tool with which to encourage lives to be renewed and awakened to God. And if all that is true, how can we be anything other than utterly dependent on God to bring the change we long for?

This album reminded me of one final, simple truth – that the life transformation within a worship experience happens because of God. Not because of the songs or the singers, but because of God. Nothing more. And if you want me to be really honest, I kind of suspect that all this good stuff happens in spite of me.

Isn’t that the most encouraging, beautiful truth of all – that in spite of our failings, our mess-ups and our mixed up motives, God is able. Isn’t that worth singing about?

Written by Reuben Morgan, Worship Pastor, Hillsong Church 

“Restless,” written by Audrey and Matt Maher, was inspired by the confession of St. Augustine and is one of our favorite tracks on her new album, The House You’re Building. It compels us and gives us words to address our need for God and reminds us of the peace that can only be found in Him.

Make sure to watch Audrey’s brand new video on WTv discussing the idea and importance of silence in worship with a few of her friends.

Listen to “Restless,” download a Free Lead Sheet, watch the New Song Cafe video and let us know what you think in the song conversation!

Our good friend Matt Maher has put together a great collection of 7 videos that guide us through Holy week.

As we go through this Easter week together, our hope is that these videos will help us focus our hearts on the impact and reality of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection as we prepare to lead our churches this weekend.

Checkout WTv every morning for a new video!