On Worship...

It has been one of the most joyful experiences to be apart of the Apex worship team. Ever since joining the team, I have experienced a renewed desire to dig deeper into what it means to genuinely worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24)...Being on stage and leading in front of a lot of people shouldn't be the driving force of what causes you to take a deeper look at your life and the state of your heart...that desire to live a life of genuine worship should always be there whether you're on stage or not...but I have to admit that along with this new calling of musical leadership in my life, I have felt challenged in a good way to evaluate my life, my heart, my words, my actions, and ask the Lord to "search and know my heart...and see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24) And of course, when we ask God to show us the offensive areas in our life, it's not a surprise when he brings them to our attention pretty quickly which I have experienced. In my recent pursuit of the true meaning of worship, I've been reading "Worship Matters" by Bob Kauflin. It's simple but challenging when he says:

"It doesn't matter whether we're leading a congregation, driving our car, or sitting alone in our bedroom. Everything we do should be governed by one goal--to see Jesus Christ praised, exalted, magnified, lifted up and obeyed." 

A.W. Tozer says basically the same thing in a different way...

"So I’ve got to tell you that if you do not worship God seven days a week, you do not worship Him on one day a week. There is no such thing known in heaven as Sunday worship unless it is accompanied by Monday worship and Tuesday worship and so on....We come into God’s house and say, “The Lord is in His holy temple, let us all kneel before Him.” Very nice. I think it’s nice to start a service that way once in a while. But when any of you men enter your office Monday morning at 9 o’clock, if you can’t walk into that office and say, “The Lord is in my office, let all the world be silent before Him,” then you are not worshiping the Lord on Sunday. If you can’t worship Him on Monday you didn’t worship Him on Sunday. If you don’t worship Him on Saturday you are not in very good shape to worship Him on Sunday."

I am challenged, humbled and made aware of how I all too often fall short of worshiping Him with every area of my life. The honor and privilege I've been given to lead worship at Apex has reminded me how worthy He is of my constant worship and adoration and how unworthy I am to represent Him...but it's his unrelenting grace that has allowed me to use one of my greatest loves, music, as one form of worship & ministry in my life. 

My Prayer This Week

"I need You, to soften my heart; and break me apart. 

I need You, to open my eyes; to see that You're shaping my life.
I need You, to pierce through the dark, and cleanse every part of me.

All I am, I surrender. 

Give me faith to trust what You say,

That You're good, and Your love is great.

I'm broken inside, I give You my life. 

I may be weak, but Your spirit's strong in me. 

My flesh my fail, my God you never will."

-Elevation Worship

Rwanda

"Rwanda is a verdant and beautiful country, often referred to as, “the Land of a Thousand Hills” and, “the Switzerland of Africa”. Rwanda is about the size of Vermont, but hosts a population of about ten million; its population density is the highest of any country in Africa and currently has one of the world’s highest birth rates. Unfortunately, UNICEF estimates that there are nearly one million orphans and vulnerable children; children are primarily orphaned due to poverty."

-www.visitingorphans.org

And I'm going!!!

This summer, June 27-July 8, I have an amazing opportunity to visit several orphanages in Rwanda, Africa.  Through a lot of prayer,  Andrew and I both feel strongly that the Lord is leading me to be a part of this trip. This mission trip is organized by a Christian non-profit ministry called Visiting Orphans.  Our team will use music and worship to build relationships with the children at the orphanages. We will also bring food and other items that the children need such as shoes and school supplies. The main purpose of the trip is to spend time with these children who are in desperate need of love and attention.

If you would like to be a part of this team through your prayers, encouragement, and financial support, it would be a great blessing to me and the children I will minister to in the orphanages.  

Prayer Requests: Please pray that I will be able to communicate God’s love to the children we meet. Please pray for safety for me and my team throughout our travels and that we will remain healthy.

Financial Support: The cost for me to go on this trip is $3,900. This includes my flights, transportation, lodging, meals, insurance, translators, and the food and supplies that we will purchase and bring to the orphanages. If you are able to support me, donations can be made online at www.visitingorphans.org under the DONATE link. Under Fund Category-choose Rwanda June/July 2014 Leader: Wilson and where it asks for you to preference your donation to a specific team member, type Jenny Brochu. 

"Pure religion in the sight of God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress..."

James 1:27

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. 

Black & White NYE

"It's weird, there are only black and white in this room, and yet everything's so…so colorful." 

-J Harvey Vanderbilt 

Black and White Ball 1966

When I got word from the lovely Rebes & Ash that they would be hosting yet another New Years Eve party in their dreamy Chicago apartment, I couldn't imagine anything as spectacular as Great Gatsby NYE 2013, because after all, in the words of the great 
F. Scott Fitzgerald, "You can't repeat the past." But if anyone is capable of re-creating a party as classy and epic as Truman Capote's Black and White Ball of 1966, these girls are. What better way to welcome the new year than with friends you love and live life with near and far, and we did just that in the form of The Modern yet Classic Black and White NYE 2014. 

With any fabulous party comes a photo booth to capture the faces of friends, old and new, so to make sure to keep the memory of Black and White 2014, I put together a little video.

And a few other party pics…

pre-party set up

the balloons have arrived!

ready to party

Little Louie made his appearance in the photo booth 

Love this Rebes 

Brittters!

Auld Lang Syne  

Happy 2014!

Reflecting on Christmas

This holiday season was different than any before, and spending a part of that season in Dayton was unique and magical in it's own way. Reflecting on Christmas 2013 and and the memories made, there were several moments that built lasting impressions in my heart and mind. For example, that moment that I realized we have friends in Dayton :) The Lord has been so faithful in providing those meaningful relationships & genuine friendships that A and I both prayed we would find. 

The people of Dayton that made this season so merry and bright...

We kept Christmas going all the way into January and made more memories with family in Texas...

Thankful for time spent and memories collected with family and friends this Christmas. And may the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, illuminate my heart and dwell in me richly throughout the year. 

Happy Winter

"In the midst of winter, I found that there was within me, an invincible summer." 

-Albert Camus

Embracing every warm moment.

A Snowy Saturday

I always get this excited/nervous feeling when I hear snow is coming. Growing up in Texas, those mornings that you wake up, peek outside your window, and discover a winter wonderland, were far and few between, but here in Dayton, Ohio, we have already seen that there is no shortage of snow and I'm excited for the many winter wonderlands to come!


This snowy Saturday was off to a great start when we traveled to a nearby Christmas Tree Farm and cut down our own tree, something I had never done before. I was super giddy about this experience and couldn't help but to frolic, skip & weave in and out of all the trees as we were trying to pick which one we would chop down and take home. 

The day continued to get better when our Baylor Bears played their last game ever in Floyd Casey Stadium, sported the coolest 1950s throwback uniforms, stomped UT, and won the Big 12 Championship!!! BCS bowl here we come!!!

The day ended on a high note with A's ENT Christmas party. Andrew feels extremely blessed to be a part of of this incredible group of surgeons and he is truly learning from and working with the best. In addition to being a talented and smart group of docs, this group knows how to have some serious fun!  

ENT Residents

Residents & Attending Physicians 

Ready for another snowy Saturday!