Author: Elizabeth Joy

  • Worship in Spirit and in Truth

    Worship in spirit and in truth

    I haven’t led worship at my church for fourteen weeks. In fact, I’ve honestly barely used my voice to sing in all that time. It has been a season of silence for me, my worship so private and hidden from the world.

    Worship in the quiet

    I have worshiped more deeply and sincerely than ever before in the secret. No platform. No livestream. No lights. No one even singing, and yet, worship. In fact, I almost didn’t write this because it seems too public, but I feel prompted that someone else is worshiping in the secret too, and needs to be encouraged.

    I have not been singing with my voice, but I have worshiped.

    • Making hot tea – worship.
    • Reminding of God’s presence – worship.
    • Choosing to laugh – worship.
    • Injecting pain meds – worship.
    • Processing hard news together – worship.
    • Motivating to try another step – worship.
    • Reminiscing – worship.
    • Changing bedding – worship.
    • Encouraging care workers – worship.
    • Holding weight when legs are weak – worship.
    • Not hiding from the reality of death – worship.
    • Telling that same story again – worship.
    • Choosing intentional conversation – worship.

    Serving the vulnerable

    Many people serve the vulnerable every single day, and worship Jesus through their service. But for the church worship leader, it can be easy to get so caught up in arrangements and production and scheduling and the skill of it all that our worship rings hollow.

    I needed these fourteen Sundays. And I may need the next fourteen as the Lord reframes my perspective of true worship. For now, I choose to fix my eyes on Jesus and stay present in each moment as we walk my mom through her twilight days.

    It’s here that I worship in spirit and in truth.

    “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

    Matthew 25:40

    How then will you worship?

    Have you experienced seasons of private, quiet, hidden worship? Tell us about it in the comments!

    Elizabeth JOY

  • Worship through tears and when there is no stage

    We love to lead worship

    Our family has always enjoyed our calling to be worship leaders. We are grateful to have the privilege of using skills we’ve worked hard to develop as a vehicle to help others connect with each other and with God through singing, Scripture and prayer, silence, and story. The kind of intimate community that forms as hearts open up to each other is beautiful.

    We’ve been privileged to get to lead worship in small churches and large, campgrounds and conference centers, on beaches and cruise ships, too. And wherever Jesus’ name is lifted up, we’ve encountered His presence.

    Worship when there is no stage

    But it’s in the quiet rooms with no stages, lights, livestream, or applause where worship leading is sweetest. The deepest wells of joy are discovered in living rooms and hospital rooms, together with people in hardship and dependence. And joy means a lot to us.

    From the moment we are born, joy shapes the chemistry, structure and growth of our brain. Joy lays the foundation for how well we will handle relationships, emotions, pain and pleasure throughout our lifetime. Joy creates an identity that is stable and consistent over time. Joy gives us the freedom to share our hearts with God and others. Expressing our joyful identity creates space for others to belong. Joy gives us the freedom to live without masks because, in spite of our weaknesses, we know we are loved. We are not afraid of our vulnerabilities or exposure. Joy gives us the freedom from fear to live from the heart Jesus gave us. We discover increasing delight in becoming the people God knew we could be.

    Joy Starts Here: The Transformation Zone

    Worship through tears

    You won’t get to hear these moments of ours. These are private moments of worship through tears – just for the Lord and us, as we build one another up. But I pray you have your own moments like these. Times where song bubbles up out of sadness as you declare dependence on the Joy-Giver, where the melody that carries the name of Jesus from your heart to His soothes your wounds and binds your hearts with trusted people. I pray sweetness surprises you, and you are shaped for hope again.

    Because you’re designed to let your difficult life experiences rest on a foundation of joy.

    Elizabeth JOY

  • I Want to Dream with Purpose

    Dream With Purpose

    I have been thinking and talking a lot about purpose lately. Over the years, I had developed a way of living that was more reactionary than purposeful. I existed in response-mode rather than with true intentionality and didn’t really have the self-awareness to see it. But it sure made me tired and oftentimes discontent.

    Asking Focused Questions

    Slowing down

    My lens has been sharpening my focus over this last season. Some of the questions that have helped me are:

    • What brings me joy?
    • What am I good at?
    • Where has my life left an impact on others?
    • What is my natural rhythm and pace?
    • How can I best bring Jesus to other people?

    When I answer those questions, it is both revealing and life-giving. It helps me slow down my reactionary response to the waves coming at me and be more intentional in creating my own. It shows me where I have neglected to build margin into my life. And it shows me where I have labored in vain, doing what others said I should do rather than what God had uniquely called me to.

    But thankfully, it also shows me the times my God-given design and my investment in the world around me have collided to bring the most Kingdom impact and personal fulfillment. This opens me up to dream and look toward my future with greater purpose and intention. And it makes me believe in a future that capitalizes on my gift-mix but has a healthy margin and adapts to my seasonal rhythms. And best of all, it will include respite and water, worship, hospitality, and overall wellness.

    Dream and Move Ahead with Purpose

    This dream is not completely clear yet, but it’s percolating. And I am diligently pursuing it. I continually pray that the Holy Spirit will bring wisdom, refreshing, clarity, and understanding.

    The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,

        but one who has insight draws them out.

    Proverbs 20:5 NIV

    Do you have a seed of a dream you are watering? How are you dreaming with purpose? Tell us in the comments!

    Elizabeth JOY