Hey it's me! Just showing up again. It's been a while since I've written. Today, I read through some of my old blogs that I've shared with you and I was amazed. So much has changed since I wrote, An Ugly Honest Post. That one was written when I still lived in Maryville, TN, and David lived two hours away when we were just newlyweds. I prayed so hard that he would find a job where I was living so that we could be together, but God did not open that door.
What God did do was open the door that we had hidden deep inside of our hearts. A door that we didn't think was going to open so soon, or would ever open. We wanted to move to Nashville, but we didn't think the timing was right. But God had other plans and He closed every door in Maryville and swung wide the hidden door in Nashville, Tennessee.
We were shocked and a little afraid to be making such a big move, but we were so excited to finally get to be together after 4 months of long distance newlywed marriage. So we started searching for homes with only 2 weeks to find one before David’s job started. I got very discouraged because I couldn't find one in my favorite little town just outside of Nashville called, Franklin. David's new job was only a few minutes away from Franklin & I had my heart set on living there. It just felt right.
I decided to pray. I knew God opened the door to live there so I knew that He wouldn’t leave us without a home. So I asked in faith for a place in Franklin. Sometimes you just have to ask.
And then I found it…a tiny upstairs apartment in an old renovated house in downtown Franklin. The bottom part of the house was rented out by a sweet older couple who were also Christians, and we immediately clicked with them. It was much smaller than our previous house, but we knew it was the place. Later, we found out the tenant who lived in our apartment before us was the lead singer of the band, We Are Messengers, and his family. It seemed like a fitting history. :)
So on October 1, 2016 we carried all our stuff up the stairs into this tiny little apartment and moved to Franklin, TN. We could hardly believe it! Fast forward several months and here we are in April of 2017. It's been like a roller coaster with plenty of ups and downs. There are great days when I see how it all comes together, and then there are days when I don't know why were here (oh me of little faith!).
But when it's all said and done I know we're here for a reason, and God brought us here. He opened the door, so we're going to keep putting one foot in front of the next with grateful hearts.
Back about a year ago, I had the idea of starting worship live streams from home, and we very slowly got started with it. David wasn't too enthusiastic about being on live camera (who could blame him?), but I convinced him (thanks honey), and we tried it a few times. It wasn't until about January that the Lord laid it on my heart to make it more of a consistent thing.
I thought to myself, “Well I don't even know if anyone will watch, but I guess I'll start showing up week after week in obedience to what God’s put on my heart.” We started doing it on Thursday nights at 7:30 from our living room to the living room of whoever was watching.
I am so glad I said yes to the live streams and started showing up once a week. I didn’t realize the need for people to be able to connect to a live worship gathering in the comfort of their home. I knew that I would have to be vulnerable and follow the Holy Spirit in belief that someone needed the songs I was singing or the words I was speaking.
It’s also good for my heart too. It’s good for David & I to commit to intentionally posturing our hearts in worship once a week, and that has been the most encouraging thing for us in this season.
There's no audience or crowd. There's no auditorium in a mega church full of people. There's not even a small group. It's just us singing to the Lord in our home.
And then there’s you guys who show up with us...the ones who stop and take the time to spend with the Lord. It may just be for a minute or two, or you may be watching the replay later, but the best part is that we get to talk to you. You start sharing in the moment with us. It really has started to feel like a community, which is what I had hoped for all along. I wanted to provide a place, and moment for you…and for your heart.
It feels so small. It's not a big event that you go to. It's just us sitting our living room connecting to you sitting in your living room. But that is the beauty of it all. I love sharing my heart and helping people by spending time with God together, worshipping Him, and praying.
There's no timeframe. We just try to remain open to go wherever the Lord leads us. So I just do what He leads me to do, I say the words He leads me to say, and I sing the melodies He puts on my heart. It has been the most fun and vulnerable thing that I've done. I love worshipping together and sharing life with you even if it’s just a small part of the bigger picture. I hope the nights of worship bring hope, peace, and joy into your lives.
So that's where we are at right now. We're traveling to lead worship at churches and conferences, we're live streaming every Thursday, and we are also deep in the process of recording new music. Keep an eye out for more information on that coming soon!
We are just putting one foot in front of the other and trying to serve the Lord the best way we can with each step. We are just working and waiting, praying and believing. I’ll let you know how it all turns out! ;)
This new season is definitely stretching and growing us. It's been so encouraging to have so many people join us on this journey and watch it unfold with us. I think that's the best thing right now. I feel so honored and blessed to have you a part of our lives and I love that you share a part of your lives with us in return.
We really love getting to meet you in person when we are on the road leading worship. Make sure you come say hello if we come to your church! But until then, you know where to find us. We’ll see you every Thursday night ready to worship together from our living room to yours.
That’s all I’ve got for now. I know we’ve got a lot of exciting things ahead of us this summer. I’ll try to post the next update soon!
Oh and don't miss the great take-away from all this: Sometimes when things don't work out the way you want it's because God has something better. He knows the things you hide deep in your heart. A disappointment may turn out to be a blessing! :)
In all the love and full of hope,
Jenna Grace