Kim McLean, CTTF Songwriter and Worship Team Singer

Kim, you're a professional songwriter and singer and also an ordained minister who loves the Word of God and loves to preach and teach. What is your favorite Scripture and why?

Choosing a favorite Scripture is no easy request! The amazing thing about God's Word is that it's always new. It's like mining for the real gold, and no matter where I am in my life, He speaks to me through His Word. But if you insist, I'd have to say Romans 11:33-36. It says, "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him to receive a gift in return? (and here's the juicy part) For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen"

I love this passage from beginning to Amen. The riches of revelation and insight that the Lord gives when we love Him whole-heartedly and seek His Truth are immeasurable. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us now more than ever. Our country is not moving in a holy direction. Our government is not creating policies that are based on godly principles. Divorces officially outnumber lasting marriages. I know more people without jobs than with them. There are so many things I could name that concern me these days, but it is in our individual lives, in our Christian homes, in our day to day movement that we contribute to these problems, or help solve them. I believe they are only solved by God's wisdom, and by us standing up for and living holy lives. We carry His light into all that we do, and all that we do culminates in Him.

God's world is still beautiful, because it is still His. That's what Paul is conveying in this passage. God is in charge. I find comfort in that unshakeable reality, and I also feel a call to action. I think of 2 Peter 1 where the Word says God's divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him. That's those riches again! We are invited to participate with God in bringing "His will on earth as it is in Heaven."

And finally, I think the key to the whole thing is in verse 36. Jesus is the means and the end - "from Him, through Him, and to Him." There's an old hymn my Mom use to sing, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." If you know to do that, you've got life's greatest treasure.

The Lord has gifted you to write beautiful songs that relate to each year's Come to the Fire theme. How is the Lord leading you, this year, with a theme song for, "Enter His Rest"?

This year, I began thinking and praying about a theme song as soon as I knew the direction God was taking us. I collected notes, poured over scriptures, and plunked out a few "restful" chords. But then God gave me a vision. He guided me to invite the CTTF worship singers to write for the conference.

I teach songwriting, and mentor some writers here in Nashville, and I wanted to give a gift to my Singin' Sisters in Christ. Devon O'Day is a co-writer of mine who has written many "hits" as well, so I asked her to help me put together a writer's retreat for the CTTF worship team.  

We all went to a beautiful mountain in Mont Eagle, TN and wrote. This year's theme song, "Enter His Rest" was one we all wrote together. We had a keyboard set up in the living room of the lodge, guitars, a mandolin, Bibles, pens, pads, and the Holy Spirit. We were prayed up and over. Once I shared the musical ideas, the words came quickly, chorus first, the first and second verse, then the bridge. We made sure every line, every word, lined up with God's Word. It was quite an experience as we shared scriptures and worshipped! A sweet time. God gave the song!!!
                                           
Kim, how do you practically enter God's rest?

For me, to enter God's rest is a place in the heart. It is a mind set.

I always keep my Bible by my bed at night, so I always pick it up first thing, and read. Typically, that turns into an hour or so of devotional time. I like to choose a special passage from that reading time to ponder all day, you know, to make a point to keep "thinking on these things." I like to watch how God's Word pans out in the moment by moment living. Does it still count when a traffic jam makes me late? Does it still matter when the world is coming at me full force? And, of course, it does. This is my rest.  

I often pray by writing in my journal. It keeps me focused. During the day, things can get hectic, and so I keep my Bible with me. I give thanks throughout the day - there's always something to give thanks for. That keeps me reminded of God's presence. He is my rest.  

I also keep a guitar by my bed for random acts of worship. He does sing over us, you know, and I find great joy being in God's band.

I've always thought it curious that the Word says to labor to enter into His rest. But the older I get, the more I understand. There are many distractions. It's kind of like getting exercise so you'll sleep better. I "work out" with the Word, prayer, worship, and staying in tune with the Spirit. That last one can be tricky. Little regrets, resentments or fears come along to steal our joy, but the Spirit taps on my shoulder and gets my attention back on Him. This is my rest.

Arla Mitchell, Come to the Fire Flautist and Testimony Speaker,

Our 2011 CTTF theme is about entering God’s rest taken from Hebrews 4:11. As a mother of two young boys, active church worker, wife and friend to so many, will you tell us what it means to you to enter God’s rest? What benefits do you receive by resting in God?
I have found that I have to continually return to God's Word to stay at rest. He often brings just the right Scripture for those moments when I could choose to rest in Him or become unsettled in my spirit. One of my favorite verses, and one I think on almost daily, is "Those who trust the Lord shall not be disappointed." When I am faced with an opportunity to become disappointed or worried, I say, "Lord, in this situation, I choose to trust You." Trusting him completely is a decision, not an emotion or feeling. When I do that, the turmoil goes away, and I again experience His rest.

You're an accomplished flautist. Women attending Come to the Fire enjoy hearing you play so much. Can you tell us about your musical background?
I began playing the flute in fifth grade and had previously begun piano lessons around the age of six. I was fortunate to attend a small church so even when I was just learning the flute, I could play in the church orchestra--which was sometimes just the piano, organ and myself! They also gave me lots of opportunities to play specials. I was somewhat shy, so I loved being able to express my love for the Lord and the messages of songs through my flute playing. Later, it seemed natural to follow in my mother's footsteps and major in music in college.

You and Kris adopted two babies from Viet Nam. When did God put adoption in your heart and how are Peter and Jack changing your lives?
God first gave Kris the desire to adopt when he was about 13 years old as he watched a video at his church about Chinese orphans. From that point on, he knew his children were to come through adoption. When we got married, God also made clear to me that adoption was His best plan for our family.

We adopted Peter, now age 9, and Jack, age 4, as infants from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. What a privilege to know that out of all the millions of orphans in the world, God hand-picked these two for us to care for.

For the past two years, I have home-schooled Peter and have loved this time with him. Now Jack is eager to have his own school time. As I am on this journey, I especially like praying Isaiah 54:13: "I (God) will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace" (NLT).

Patsy Lewis, Prayer Coordinator

  I enter God's rest daily by
~committing my day to Him in a Sunrise Prayer,
~through quiet, listening prayer,
~by prayerfully reading His Word.

Every morning when I awaken, I pray:

Heavenly Father, may I behold the wonders of Your creation and see through Your eyes and heart the world around me and everyone you choose to cross my path.

Precious Jesus, may I exalt You in all that I say and do and may my lips praise You for Your blessings and saving grace.

Breath of Heaven, breathe afresh on me today, and may I be aware of Your presence every waking moment and even as I lie down to rest at the end of the day.

Holy God, Three in One, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I commit this day to You.

 
Soon after I arise, I spend a few minutes listening for what He may have to say to me. Spending quiet, listening time in God's presence has been transformational for me.  Even if I hear no words to record, I am flooded with peace as I sit at His feet.  Presently, I am on day twenty of a twenty-six day trip to special events in five states.  Before I left I sensed Him saying:  "The tasks ahead will be challenging but thrilling.  Prepare with diligence.  I am very much aware of the longings in your heart."  A few days later, He said:  "A new vision is being birthed in your heart.  Move forward."  Along the journey, I recorded these messages that kept me focused and filled with peace no matter how full the schedule:  "Although yesterday was filled with the unexpected, your change of plans became a blessing.  Accept whatever happens with this new development as from Me.  Focus on Me.  Be Patsy--no pretense--no need to impress. Reflect and rest."

Often God speaks to me as I prayerfully read His Word.  Today I have been reading from Luke 24 and Acts 1 where Jesus advised His followers to wait for the promised Holy Spirit.  He has reminded me that I am to be His witness wherever He sends me, and just yesterday I recorded His message:  "You are a part of an army of women that I am mobilizing to be a force for delivering the message of holiness, cleansing, and transformation that comes from the anointing power of My Holy Spirit."  I have learned to rest as I read the Bible with an open heart, wait quietly in God's presence, and commit each day to Him.

Cheryl Roland, CTTF Coordinator

March 4, 2011 we had a glorious memorial celebration for my mother who died suddenly from a stroke.  She was a Christian.  In fact in our last conversation, just days before her death, she urgently expressed her belief that Jesus was coming soon.  She was right.

My childhood memories and deep grief collided with the task at hand.  I must remain alone in my mother’s home until her estate was settled.  Being the executor of her will created unspeakable challenges as unsaved family members strongly expressed their desires.  However, bills had to be paid, paper work filed, her furniture auctioned and house sold.  Miraculously all of these things were accomplished within 40 days.

It was almost as though I was suspended in a supernatural body.  Every day I worked so hard, lifted heavy boxes, and moved mountains of stuff.  Every day I discovered new depths of love, joy, peace and patience for my family.  Every day Jesus extended an invitation to me, “Come … you are weary and burdened … I will give you rest.”  He went on to say, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Praise the Lord, every day I received rest for my body, mind, and soul. When we are in the yoke with Him, He lightens our load and teaches us to trust, adjust and obey.

There is also a yoke that chokes, the yoke of slavery, as mentioned in Galatians 5:1.
In the past Satan has used the yoke of fear and self sufficiency to rob me of rest. Throughout this great trial, Jesus reminded me again and again that He had set me free from fear.  I was to stand firm in Him and not let myself be burdened again by a yoke of fear.

With the help of God’s powerful Holy Spirit and God’s Word, I stood strong. Psalms 91 was a daily delight.  When angry words were spewed at me, I rested in the shadow of the Almighty while God silenced the enemy.  His strong army of angels surrounded me so I did not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow by day.  It’s true, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and they are safe” Proverbs 18:10.  That’s perfect rest!

Dr. Rondy Smith

My call into full-time ministry came as a complete surprise to me.  In the midst of a very  rewarding career as a Professor and Administrator at Trevecca Nazarene University and Management Consultant to a host of clients, God began speaking to my heart through a series of in-depth bible studies that I was engaged in.  He was so gentle and patient with me as He began a process of prying my hands open...to let go of my own dreams for myself because He was dreaming bigger dreams for me!It took a period of six years from the first planting of the seed in my mind to the completion of the calling.  I believe that God sometimes does His best work slowly!  He used that season to prepare me in ways I never could have imagined.

 Here are some of the subtle, yet challenging messages I received from the LORD as I studied His Word from the fall of 1994 until the fall of 2000.  Like Mary, I "treasured up all these things and pondered them in my heart" (Luke 2:19).

• Hebrews 11:24-27 "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the King's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible."And God's question to me was, "Would you be willing to leave your life of position and prestige to be a deliverer of my people?"
• Genesis 12:1 "The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people, and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."And God's question to me was, "Are you willing to leave your comfort zone behind and go to another place I have picked out for you?"
• Romans 1:1-17 "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God."  I knew in my heart those words weren't just about Paul...and when I reached verse 6, "And you also are among those who are called..." I heard "and you also, Rondy Smith, are among those who are called..."  And then when I reached verse 16, my heart was pricked."I am not ashamed of the Gospel..."I knew then, I was a called woman of God destined for full-time ministry.

That six year journey culminated in a year of wrestling with the LORD over this call.  Finally, after a very difficult year of no peace in my life, Jesus took me so sweetly to Isaiah 48:18 "If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea."  WOW!  Rest comes in obedience!!  That is my personal testimony about rest...find it in obedience to God's Word and His Call.  I continue to rest in the knowledge and experience that the only place I am safe is in the center of God's will.

Melinda Priest

How and when did God call you into full-time ministry?
From a very young age, I loved to sing and write songs. When I was seven years old, at Indian Lake Nazarene Girls Camp in Vicksburg, Michigan, I asked Jesus into my heart and He became my personal Savior. However, God called me into full-time ministry, during my junior year of high school, while attending a Contemporary Christian Music Artists Camp in Estes Park, Colorado.

I was listening to a missionary preach on top line/bottom line Christianity. The top line is God's love for us, and the bottom line is our responsibility to share it. The missionary challenged everyone in attendance to live our lives on the bottom line.  As I prayed, I knew God had saved me from my personal sin, but now I had to give Him the right to my whole life if He was going to be able to use me. My job was to remain open to His leading. I fully surrendered my life to God that day and He confirmed in my heart, in that moment, that He was calling me to be a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I did not know at the time what that would look like. However, the experience is as real in my heart today as it was those many years ago.

You're a passionate worship leader God uses so beautifully to bring the body of Christ into His presence. How does that make you feel?
Humbled. One of my favorite scriptures is 2 Corinthians 4:6: "We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show the all-surpassing power comes from God and not from us." God has allowed all believers to be carriers of the greatest treasure in the world--the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We carry the light of Jesus every place we go.  It still amazes me that God would entrust me with this great treasure. Any good you see in me, is from Him. He is my source and my strength. I am called to be an usher. I want to encourage people to enter into His throne room and spend time face to face with Him.

While in full-time ministry, a wife and mother, and the CTTF worship leader, how do you find "rest" for your soul?
That is a daily challenge. A quote hanging in my office says: "The lasting value of our public service to God, is measured by the depth of intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him."
-Oswald Chambers

A few years ago, I realized that people don't need to hear what I have to say, they need to hear what God has to say. Without having a daily encounter with my heavenly Father, I am very aware that I have nothing to offer my family, friends, church, and community.

I LOVE God's Word. It is the bread of life to me. As I read the word, sometimes three or four chapters a day, I also journal. I ask the Lord to breathe on His word and make it come alive to me.  I write down how God is speaking to me through His Word. This morning James 4:8 reminded me to "come near to God He will come near to you." I thank God for His promises.

I often begin my time in His presence by listening, asking God what He would want to say to me, before I present my requests to Him. I write down the distracting thoughts that come to my mind, so my mind is clear to hear from Him.

Solitude is a very important spiritual discipline to me. Since I have noise around me almost every moment of my day, either with a busy four-year-old or at my church, where I serve as a worship pastor, the Lord has required me to carve out time with Him. Early mornings work best for me. You should see me try to tiptoe past my son's bedroom so he does not hear the wood floor creak. If I'm unsuccessful, I do the best I can. I don't recommend trying to read your Bible at the table while your child finger-paints! Projects with glue sticks are a lot less messy.

I truly enjoy God's creation, the water, the trees, the snow. It also provides rest to my soul. I love exercising, but finding time for it is really difficult in this season of my life.

Jason, my wonderful, supportive husband, is an incredible partner in ministry and a great dad. He helps to make sure I am balanced with church work and family. Jason and I prayed for many years for children. We adopted Ty four years ago and He is our primary mission field. We both feel very blessed that the Lord has entrusted us with him. We would love more children, but it is all in God's timing.

 Years ago, a mentor told me I did not have to die for Jesus. I had to live for Him. Of course we die to ourselves, but she meant I did not have to literally die.  At that time, I was heading for burnout trying to save the world at the expense of my own health and family. I have learned that, in order for me to continue to live out God's purpose for my life, I must find rest for my soul.

Dr. Carolyn Johnson

This year’s CTTF theme is “Enter His Rest.” Carolyn, what does it mean to enter God’s rest using a Biblical perspective?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

Whether a busy mom, a weary career woman, an exhausted student or a tired re-tired widow, the precursor for rest, according to Psalms 37, is committing and trusting in God. Rest comes by fully committing to trust Him. Instead of being driven by worry or fear, by performance or insecurity, by responsibilities or everyday circumstances, “resting” is trusting that God is fully aware of what’s happening in our lives. It believes His word, “Never will I leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). To rest is to confidently believe (trust) that He will “uphold you with His righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

On a personal note, how do you “enter His rest?”

This question hits me at a personal level. The past four weekends I’ve traveled and recently spent nine days in Guatemala where I was on high alert caused by the soaring rate of violent crimes - I am in need of physical rest! Like many women, I have a demanding schedule and my endless to-do list of things and people demanding my immediate attention can keep me so busy with the “external” that it often gets absorbed into my “internal” being.

The great benefit of growing older knows more fully the assurance of God’s faithfulness. I cling to God’s promises and seek Him in prayer, but I also have a deep settled peace because His “track record” serves to remind me that I can commit to and trust in Him because He is faithful!

God’s Word guides my understanding of His adequacy and moves me beyond human understanding to enter His rest.

Have you been traveling? For what purpose?

Amazingly, God opens doors for me to speak in places I would have never dreamed, such as in Canada, Ukraine, Guatemala and Russia.

My purpose is also my passion: To share God’s Word. People don’t need to hear about my experiences or my thoughts as much as God’s Word and its transforming power. People are starving for God’s Word!

How did you become involved in speaking? Did you plan to speak as a young person?

Twenty-five-years ago I grew passionate for God’s Word while attending a Bible study. Then, I might have been voted “least likely to speak to a crowd” because speaking in front of “faces” absolutely horrified me. But when God Called me to share His Word twelve years ago, He knew I’d have to lean heavily on Him! Over the years, I am convinced we both have liked it that way.