There's nothing worse than when a direct box dies and you don't have another one in the storage closet! Or a cable is shot or a guitar string breaks. 

We have learned the hard way to keep a back of supply of equipment and supplies so that when the inevitable happens, there is a quick replacement. 

Though I like to buy instruments, speakers, and monitors at a music store so I can hear their quality in person, I have taken to shopping for our back-up supplies at Amazon. My favorite thing is that it comes so quickly with Prime. 

So here are the supplies we keep on hand (except for the last one--a multi-guitar stand which I added because it's so helpful to have on stage). 

I usually pick up AA batteries at Sam's or on Groupon, but I found these great rechargeable batteries at Amazon that my son-in-law recommended. 

From guitar picks and cables (which we need frequently) to keyboard pedals and direct boxes, these are the items we keep stocked in our storage closet because we know that before too long, we will have to replace it. 

How about you? What things do you keep on hand? 

Happy Worship Leading! 
Love, 
​Meredith Curtis

Disclosure: This blog post may contain affiliate links from my participation in the Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Have you ever been shopping for a wedding gift? If you are like me, you find out where the bride is registered. Why? Well, I want to give the bride and groom something that they really want, especially if I am spending a lot of money. 

Right now with two brides-to-be under my roof, I am thinking a lot about registries. If truth be told, I would buy everything on my girls' registries and wrap them up. I love them both so much and I want to bless them in every way. 

When it comes to worship, I am amazed at how many people don't think about what God wants. 

"This is the style of worship music I like," I often hear from Christians. 

"I don't like old hymns. There too boring." I hear from my brothers and sisters in Christ, while others say, "Clapping and shouting are just not my style." 

I am always dumbfounded. Maybe because I am more concerned with what God wants than how I want to worship.

​So, what is it that God wants. What is His worship registry? 

Another wonderful Christmas. It all went so quickly. Instead of flying home to California, Aisha was with us for the holidays. We enjoyed having her in Florida and appreciated her family lending her to us.

We had our usual traditions: decorating the house and tree together as a family, Christmas devotions, traveling dinner, and festive Christmas dinner. Everything was delicious and fun.

Best of all, everyone was off from school, college, and work. We enjoyed full days together without meetings or very many responsibilities. It was so nice to relax with my children.

I  love to see pictures of the earth from outer space.

Wow! It looks like a bright shiny blue ball. That beautiful blue earth filled with life-sustaining water is a glorious to look.

It reminds us of the Creator who lovingly formed the blue sphere we call home. 

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it; the world and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1 NIV).

Everything belongs to the Lord because He made.

Everyone belongs to the Lord because He made them.

It is so simple, yet profound. It means our lives have purpose.

​We live for the Lord, to bring God glory. ​

Glorious God, Reflecting Man

"And Ebenezer Scrooge learned to keep Christmas well," we are told at the ending of  A Christmas Carol. What does it mean to keep Christmas well?

Does it mean to know all the words to at least twenty Christmas carols? Does it mean having the most lights in the neighborhood? Does it mean decorating every table top and wall space in the house with sparkly decorations? Does it mean having the tallest or fattest tree? Or is it buying expensive presents for everyone you know?

Keeping Christmas well begins in your heart. It starts with an understand of the miracle of Christmas, that magical moment when Heaven came down in the form of a newborn infant. Very God of Very God became flesh and all of Heaven gazed in wonder, though only a few were privileged to witness the event. You see, the miracle happened because of a very loving Father, a very Generous God filled with grace and mercy. He loved so much that He gave.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to sing! What better way to thank God than to sing Him a song.

There are so many ways to praise God. We can dance, shout, speak, declare, lift our hands, and rejoice. But, almost all of those worship commands are coupled with God's call for us to sing Him a song.

So, what are some great worship songs and hymns to sing at Thanksgiving?

Here are some worship songs we love to sing at our church at Thanksgiving. I love to sing these in my Quiet Times.

Here are some of my favorite Thanksgiving worship songs.

Give Thanks (Henry Smith ©1970)
Blessed be Your Name (Matt Redman ©2003)
Let Everything that Has Breath (Matt Redman ©1999)
Desert Song (Brooke Fraiser/Hillsong ©2008

Would you like to listen to them? And then it's on to hymns.

I am sorry to tell you that often, when God's children are in trouble it's because they have ignored their Heavenly Father.

If only we had paid attention to the Lord's commands and plan, we would find ourselves in a different place.

We have a hard time listening to the Lord because we have our own plans and our own agenda. Sometimes we hear from the Lord and know God's plan for our lives but we run ahead of God's, wanting to do His will in our timing rather than His plan in His time.
​

Next week is Christmas! There is so much left to do. By now, homeschooling is finished until after New Years Day except for that child that is "catching up" on math or some other subject because they are so behind! But is school ever over? What things does God have to teach us and our precious children this holiday season.

Gather around, dear friends, and let me share some Christmas lessons. 

There's not always time to do everything we want to do!

So many Christmas dreams beat in our heart! If you are like me, you want to be the "perfect mom" doing all the perfect Christmas things and making our family enjoy the best of everything Christmas has to offer. There is simply not enough time to do it all.  As God to show you what beats in HIS heart and to order your schedule. No one will be heartbroken if you do not make Aunt Edna's Cole Slaw on Christmas Eve, but maybe the homemade eggnog is just too yummy to not make. Try simplifying recipes and traditions so that preparation time is shorter and family togetherness time is longer.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps," (Proverbs 16:3).

God often supersedes our plans for better plans!

We made our plans, tie them snugly to our heart, and put our whole heart into bringing them to pass. When inconveniences or surprises happen, they catch us off-guard, making us hurt or angry. But, God is on the throne of your life! Only what He allows to happen, happens. Even if it is an attack of the enemy, it has to get through God's protective hands, so relax when your plans change. I hate this as much (maybe more!) than you! But I know in my heart of hearts that when God disrupts my plans, He is often testing my heart. Will I respond with a submissive, obedient heart or will I fail the test. Make plans, work to bring them to pass, but, ultimately, leave the results to God. He is good at running your life!

Christmas is all about worship!

When you think about the Christmas story, it always brings us to the act of worship. The Shepherds came to see the baby Jesus because worshiping angels announced His birth! The Wise Men followed the star to bring gifts to the baby Jesus (worship!). When Mary was informed by the angel that she would give birth to the Messiah, she worshiped, writing a lovely song that songwriters for centuries have adapted in one way or another. When Elizabeth saw Mary (with Jesus in her womb!), the baby in her own womb (John the Baptist) lept for joy (worship)!  Anna and Simeon waited at the temple to see the baby and when they did, the worshiped God. Every part of the Christmas story leads to worship!

Christmas is the season to worship at church!

One of my favorite stories about Jesus takes places after He is baptized by John the Baptist.

Two of John's disciples show interest in Jesus and ask Him where He is staying. Jesus invites them to come and see.

​The three men spend the day together and when the day is over, Andrew says to his brother, Peter, "I have found the Messiah. You have to come and meet Him." Well, Andrew says something like that.

Jesus' heart was: Welcome to my world! He opened His heart to those who wanted to know Him.

​I want to imitate that day in this blog. I want to invite you to come home with me and see where I live. Meet my family, meet my friends, meet my precious Savior, Jesus.

So, welcome to my world! Sometimes, my world is a gentle, peaceful place of pink roses, white picket fences, and cheerful smiles. Sometimes, it is a rough-and-tumble place of conflict, mess, and confusion. Most of the time, it is both. My life is filled with sticky kisses, mistakes, successes, good books, walks around the block with people I love, and new lessons learned all the time.

Here is my new blog and website. Make yourself at home here. Take a look around and get to know me. I hope to get to know you too. Hope that this is the start, or rekindling, of a beautiful friendship.

Recepcion a mi mundo!
With love & affection,
Merey
(Meredith Ludwig Curtis).