The book of Second Corinthians Chapter 12, verse 9 says, “My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  This verse speaks so much into a life…

As I was driving along on a Sunday afternoon, my ipod was on shuffle, and suddenly one of my favorite songs came on.  Being that it’s one of my favorites, I have listened to it hundreds of times.  However, for some reason today, this one phrase spoke to me, “Your grace, it covers me. Your love, it covers me.  Oh God, you cover me.”  Yes, I was singing along at the top of my lungs and all of a sudden got choked up. Tears started streaming down my face as I began to think about the beauty of the grace of God.

So many times, we take it for granted.  We tell ourselves, “Oh it’s ok if we choose to make this one little mistake…God’s grace will cover me.  I’ll just ask for forgiveness when I’m done.  Let’s face it…sin is fun.  It makes us feel good….in the moment, that is.  The world has made it look so attractive.  At every turn, we are bombarded with lures and enticements of the “lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.”

But God called us to be IN this world, not OF it.

We are all guilty of taking advantage of the grace that the Lord has afforded us.  But we, as Christians have a duty….to share God’s love and His grace with those who feel like they have no hope. My prayer is that the hope of glory wraps you tight on this gorgeous day!

Now I think I’ll hit the snooze button

Love all of you!

During the first week as part of the team, I was completely baffled by some of the things I heard these young children saying. It made me realize that the battle we face is beyond serious.  As Christians, we become so distracted and so worried about our lives and what God is doing in OUR life that we lose focus on what God wants to do in the lives of others THROUGH us. Since I started volunteering, God has fueled my passion to help and reach others. It has also prompted this question: Is the church so caught up in planning the next “big event” that it has lost sight of the importance of the small things, such as reaching out to those who can never repay?

A family that lives less than a block from my church participates in the afterschool program with KidTech. When I realized this, it made me so angry with myself.  I was suddenly jolted that I don’t even know the community that has been at my fingertips for the last 7 years.  Rather than beat myself up, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity that God has afforded me through this program.

As Bible believers, at times, we are so concerned about doctrine, which is important to salvation, yet we forget about its foundation. Some have even taken these matters to the level of competition constantly trying to determine who is right and who is wrong.  Yes, I believe the Bible in its entirety and that it is the infallible Word of God. But I also know that at its core is LOVE.

Why do we worry about God’s calling on our life? Why do we try to make it so complicated?  Amen to the fact that we should continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Phillipians 2:12) But at the very root of salvation, at the creation of the universe, at the moment of redemption is the main ingredient. It is simply to love. God called each and every one of us to love. When we love others and care for others, then they will see Jesus in us. Then we can tell someone about Jesus and his wonderful mercy, grace, and LOVE.

“For he that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” I John 4:8

Truly,
Hayley;)

About a month later, on a cold night in the Nashville studio, I was sitting on my mom’s knee.  Along with my producer, we were reviewing the songs I had just finished recording.  We began to notice a common thread to all of the songs.  They were ultimately saying one thing.  The words Lead Me echoed among us. At that moment a stillness came into the studio.  It was that God moment for which we had all been waiting.

On my 19th birthday, about 4 p.m. I heard a knock on the door.  Boxes of the finished product were delivered.  The new EP Lead Me was complete, yet just beginning.