Inspiration & Music Pick: All This Time – From Britt Nicole’s Upcoming Album GOLD
In her new single All This Time from Britt Nicole in which she reflects on part of her story, of a moment of pain as a child when God’s presence became so real to her, and inspires us to share our stories too. The song resonated with me so much because I can relate to her story, and I’m sure so many others could too, even if the details of ours are different…
Britt’s story behind the song:
“All This Time is my salvation story. It is the story of how I met Jesus, and a reminder that whatever we face in life, we don’t have to face it alone because Jesus promised to never leave us or forsake us.
Here is a glimpse at my story and I hope one day I can hear yours.
When I was seven years old my parents were going through a divorce. I remember running to my room with tears running down my face and opening my big, pink, Precious Moments Bible (I know some of y’all had one of those too! haha). I grew up hearing my grandpa preach about Jesus and in that moment I needed Him to rescue me. With barely any words I cried out to Jesus and right away I felt His presence fill my bedroom. I knew that He was real; I knew that He was with me and that He would never leave.
Be sure to download “All This Time” from iTunes, the first single from Britt’s NEW album GOLD coming March 27, 2012. I’m excited to hear more from the album!
Britt Shares a Message from the Studio
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Manipulation – Official Music Video from Group 1 Crew
You can get “Manipulation” on Group 1 Crew’s album Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition. Watch Manwell talk about the story behind the sing below:
I got one verse to make you, see past the fro and the shoes, and feel the reason for the heatin up inside
of this room, I’m like the messenger who, told you about the good newz,
And soon you downloadin this single I approve on I tunes,
And so you pick it up, move a little more and switch it up,
Take it to the floor and burn it up, wanna get it free so you burn it up that’s what’s up…
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Spoken Word: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus by Jefferson Bethke
This spoken word piece from Jefferson Bethke where he shares his views on religion has been making waves around the web:
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Hawk Nelson – My Next Breath
Hawk Nelson’s song “My Next Breath” is from their latest release Crazy Love and speaks so much on how much we rely on God for life and redemption:
Lyrics:
Just when I thought I was gone,
Too far, too far gone and no one cared
Just when I thought I was lost,
So lost I’d never be found
I turn around and you’re right there,
You’re right there
You open up your arms and give me a new start
I need you, I need you more than my next breath
I know that I am loved, cuz you bought me with your blood
I need you, I need you more than my next breath…
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Phil Wickham on Pursuing Purpose and Finding God’s Will
“You are not to young to find out and seek what God wants you to do with your life right now…your voice isn’t too small…” – Phil Wickham
Each day is a new opportunity to pursue purpose and use our gifts to serve God and others. I’m inspired by this interview with Phil Wickham on Seeds TV where he talks about how he hopes to use music to move others and how young people can find and follow their purpose right where you are:
“It’s more than just knowing who God is, it’s seeking Him with your heart…”
Phil’s latest project is Response and he’s gearing up for another Singalong live recording which will take place on March 30, 2012, in Cosa Mesa, CA. Find out more about how you can attend at http://www.philwickham.com/singalong2, and watch Phil talk about the event below:
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Impact 2011: The Remedy Photo Recap & Reflection
By Julene Fleurmond, Editor of SOAR
Impact 2011: The Remedy made a real impact and brought healing to hearts in New Orleans for their 11th Annual conference December 28, 2011 through January 1, 2012. I keep telling myself that I have to make it out to the Impact Conference ever since my friends from church shared how amazing it back when I was in college.
Though I haven’t made it out yet I was excited when Impact first introduced the live broadcast in 2010 (click here for my previous recap). Even through an online stream I was able to experience the powerful effect when college students around the country gather together to spread the truth and love of Christ.
During the online experience you get to see the behind the scenes activity of the event while getting to meet the leaders who make Impact a reality, attendees, special guests. The chat room allows the online audience to interact with each other, the speakers and music artists when they are interviewed – so if you’re not in New Orleans this year you’ll miss out on the in-person impact but will get some exclusive sneak peeks. Here’s a little glimpse at the Impact online experience:
Wednesday Behind the Scenes Pre-Conference
Above: The Impact 11 LIVE Broadcast was hosted by Rebecca Gilmer (far right) wife of the Impact Movement’s founder Dr. Charles Gilmer. Above she’s talking to the event’s co-emcees, Impact Alum Francine Saunders and Steve Gaskin Jr. (Impact Fellow & Stv G of Level 3:16) who talk about their own Impact involvement.
“What does it look like to look for Biblical community when it doesn’t just fall into you lap?” – Francine Saunders (left) speaking on what she’s learning and how she’s found community training with a modern dance company.
Wednesday Evening Session
Rasool Berry Brings the Word
Message Notes
- 3 stages to being able to experience a remedy – a diagnosis, a prescription, and a treatment – paralleled to the hurricane that occurred in New Orleans
- The world gives the wrong remedies – money, sex, fame
- Diagnosis in the Bible Roman 10 – no one seeks God, they have all turned aside.
- The world is sick and needs a remedy. The prescription is Jesus Christ.
- Jesus healed the deaf man. We are plagued by deliberate deafness
- You need to spend time with Jesus. God took the deaf man aside privately.
- Are you open to what God is trying to say?
- Weapons of “mass distraction” have apps, make it hard to focus. We’re too distracted to hear Him.
- The remedy is Jesus. Be opened to what God wants to tell you. Are you open?
Click here for more detailed notes on Rasool Berry’s The Remedy Message
The evening continued in moving worship with Brandon Camphor and OneWay…
Thursday Morning Session
Thursday began with reflections on the effects of Hurricane Katrina, and people sharing their experiences behind the scenes.
Pastor Keith Battle Gives a Dose of Encouragement
Later Pastor Keith Battle brought a message about letting God use situations in your life as lessons for your growth:
Message Notes:
- What’s been troubling you? What situation is in your life that you want to change?
- God can turn the worst situations around. Sometimes God uses the situation to change us, we look for an escape but God wants us to endure. Preach a sermon to these dry bones as in the book of Ezekiel.
- God’s going to use human instruments like you and I to be apart of the remedy for hopeless situations.
- Whenever God does something radical in our lives His ultimate goal is for us to know who He is.
- God will form a thing before He fills it. He wants to strengthen us before He uses us.
- When you’ve been in a dead space so long when a door opens it’s hard to go through it because you’ve been dead for so long. You need God to help you go on.
- God waited till they got to the end of themselves. In your own strength can’t change it. You’re not giving up on the situation, you’re giving it up to God.
- We have to be able to say to God, “Whether You do it or not, I will still trust You, because if You don’t fix it you’ll give me what it takes to get through it.”
- God is working through the situation, and there’s some good in it even if the good is bringing us closer to Him.
- Let’s not marry the outcome we want to see. It is what it is. You can do everything you can and it may not happen. It may stay this way, but it’s all good because God is still with us.
The members of Level 3:16 their their journey of becoming “musicianaries” through Impact Music
Thursday Evening Session
Impact Theatre
Thursday afternoon began with the premiere of Impact Theatre with the production “If the Pillow Could Hug Me Back.” Below Candace and Steve of Level 3:16 play friends in a dramatic scene. The play had multiple story lines with both humorous and serious themes about the things people use to to find fulfillment or comfort, yet how those distractions can become idols that destroy relationships with God and others.
Jada Edwards Challenges Us to Check Our Rep
Jada Edwards brought a message about making sure our lives are a true reflection of the Remedy…
Message Notes:
- The remedy is the fix in our lives, our plays a role in how we portray the answer…
- Maybe your reputation is why the remedy is not making an impact in your life? What if your life contradicts, not compliments what you’re saying
- We think we can just ask for forgiveness because we are under grace
- You’ve got to know the word of God. Delight in the law of the Lord. Not taking one step without God’s guidance.
- Pursue a reputation that supports the Remedy…
Below: Behind-the-scenes live stream host Rebecca Gilmer (center) chats with NBA player Carl Landry and his cousin Priscilla Eubanks who is on the Impact Team. Carl talked about his passion for God and supporting the movement even after a game that week.
Below: Snapshots from a lively Level 3:16 concert with Bethini Williams and t.Jay.
Friday Morning Session
Below: The morning kicked off behind-the-scenes with interviews of some of the attendees, including Shalyssa Mitchell who has been involved in various parts of Impact’s music ministry and says it has brought her closer to God. Tim Swain shared an encouraging spoken word piece and how Impact has taught him so much about finances, being smart about saving money and raising funds for ministry.
Pastor Keith Battle on Purity: “Imagine how your ministry would be if you were clean?”
Below: Pastor Battle was raw and real about purity and how every aspect of our lives matter, not only the physical. He illustrates the importance of dealing aggressively with sin, not even giving our flesh a small foothold and making a new commitment to purity and righteousness in our lives.
A Word of Encouragement from Mali Music
Mali Music shares how God has been faithful in his journey and how he places ministry first and lets Him open the right doors…
Mali Music’s encouragement to others who wonder if God can use their gifts: “I just want to say do it. You know what it is, there’s a whole lot of reserve, a whole lot of insecurity and whole lot of things built up just because you are who you are, but that will be the one thing that causes you to catapult more than you ever have before. I’m a witness, I’m not asking you to do it for me, I’m asking you to do it for God because for you to suppress it is to be ashamed of the very thing you were created to be. So flourish, thrive, be the tree and produce the fruit that God gave you and you alone so that we all can benefit as a ministry and as a body…there’s no time to fear it’s time to let faith dominate.”
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Artist Snapshots & Music Pick: Level 3:16
Started as a part of the Impact Movement (a ministry geared toward college students) and now in partnership with Cross Movement Records comes Level 3:16 bringing a fresh, energetic and spiritually uplifting sound. The group blends the sounds of Hip Hop, R&B and urban gospel, and is made up of six members – two male MCs, a female DJ and three female vocalists. I love that their music brings beats that you can enjoy and move along to, and still is lyrically full of substance that can move the heart. It’s also not just about the music for Level 3:16 – they see themselves as missionaries or “musicianaries” who are called to creatively share the Gospel where ever they go.
You can connect with Level 3:16 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/level316. They will also be at the upcoming Impact Conference 2011: The Remedy, taking place December 28, 2011 through January 1, 2012. Read more about the conference here on SOAR, and visit www.theremedy11.com to find out more. Click here to watch Impact 11 streaming live during the conference.
Music Pick: Love – t.Jay & Level 3:16
Another artist, t.Jay (check out more of his music here), collaborated with Level 3:16 on a song called LOVE. In the video below t.Jay and the members of the group talk about what inspired the song:
Watch the video for LOVE below:
More About Level 3:16
Answering the call of Scripture to use their God-given talents for the purpose of promoting the gospel as urban missionaries, new group Level 3:16 enters the scene focused and determined as musicianaries (music-missionaries). Uniting this unique collection of young, energetic artists from all across the country is one common mission: to elevate their culture and generation to the next level of reality that goes beyond what is seen to what is unseen; that level begins with embracing the gospel message of the quintessential/renowned Bible verse John 3:16 as both the means and goal of life itself…
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Ministry Spotlight: The Dream Girlz Gathering & GLAM Camp Founded by Melinda Watts
Recording artist Melinda Watts, winner of the Gospel Music Channel’s singing competition Gospel Dream, knows firsthand about the power of dreams and the importance of being given the opportunity to grow into one’s purpose. As a former teacher her heart has always been geared toward youth, especially girls who grew up in difficult social and financial situations where dreams often seemed so far away.
Those experiences with young people are what led Melinda to start the Dream Girlz Gathering Foundation which supports girls from underserved neighborhoods and hosts high-energy, power-packed empowerment conferences designed to uplift, inspire, and teach girls ranging in age from 8-18. Full of pampering, fun, worship, workshops, prayer and more, girls everywhere are experiencing a life-changing encounter.
Below: Watch Melinda Watts and the Dream Girlz Gathering in action at one of their 2011 events in Seattle.
In November, during National Adoption Month, Melinda’s charity hosted 75 enthusiastic girls at her Foundation’s G.L.A.M. (Girls Leadership and Mentoring) Camp at the Pinebrook Conference and Retreat Center in Pennsylvania. The girls who attended G.L.A.M. took part in a variety of activities, from swimming and hiking to inspiring workshops and creative arts. Each attendee enjoyed a special time of bonding, sharing, praying, and worshiping, in a fun, safe environment. Testimonials poured in from girls who said it was a life-changing weekend.
According to Melinda, a greater number of girls and their parents desired to participate, but the Dream Girlz Gathering staff was unable to accommodate a larger group—something Watts is hoping to change with donations and support from individuals, ministries, and groups interested in linking up with her cause.
“There are so many young girls who need love and guidance and I want to be able to help as many as possible,” Watts, who is currently working on her new album to be released in 2012, tells EEW Magazine. Through the sale of the charity single and charitable donations of “Dream Girlz Gathering Angels,” the name designated for supporters, Watts anticipates the day when the Foundation will be able to assist more girls.
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Word: Nothing Is Impossible With God, Luke 1
Just as Mary let the Holy Spirit dwell in her to bring about God’s dreams through her life – plans that were larger than she could imagine – let’s do the same and remember in this season and in the upcoming year that with God, nothing is impossible.
He is a God of miracles, marvels and great love for you and I, represented in the present He sent to live among us – God incarnate, love personified…
May your dreams be merry and bright this season and in the New Year!
– Julene Fleurmond, Editor of Dream in Soul & SOAR
Word: The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Luke 1:26-38 – Read More in Context
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Dream in Soul is a new media site for the young-at-heart and purpose-full, inspiring you to live and use your talents passionately for God. To learn more, 
Click Here for our Interview with Music Artist & Producer TJ Pompeo on Dreams, Faith & Trust
