I sort of had a day off today.  Kelly Graham, my trusty sidekick, was leading with the band at Exchange this week and his set for Thursday night worked really well for this morning with a few little tweaks.  He had already rehearsed the band, so I asked him on Thursday if he minded leading today.  I’m so grateful for Kelly and his heart to serve Jesus and the local church.  Kelly will be the worship leader for our north campus when it kicks off in January, so I’m trying to get as much use out of him now as I can before he goes.  

Since he was leading our worship band services, it freed me up to help out with our sanctuary services.  I always love playing with the choir and orchestra, and I particularly love leading beside Dean Henderson.  Dean asked if I would lead one song and play along on another since I was “off” today.  And I was more than happy to oblige.  Here are the songs I led in the sanctuary:

1. Hallelujah, What a Savior - the Bob Kauflin (Sovereign Grace arrangement), this is one of my all time favorite hymns.

2. Praise God - also a Bob Kauflin arrangement of the Doxology and Psalm 117

Kelly’s set for this morning was:

1. Everlasting God

2. Jesus Messiah

3. Here is Love

4. To You (Words Can’t Describe) - this song was written by Billy Foote.  Billy is the writer of songs like You Are My King and You are God Alone.  Billy is also Kelly’s brother-in-law.  Pretty cool, huh?  If you have any of Billy’s recordings, that amazing female voice is Kelly’s sister. 

5. In Christ Alone

6. Let Me Be - this is a Caedmon’s Call tune.  I love these lyrics:

Let me be open, let me be humble
Let me find the joy of my salvation in Your cross
Let me be broken, whenever I stumble
Let me remember the great mercy of my God

All I have needed is laid at Your table
All my achievements, I lay at Your feet
Alive in Your presence, I’m willing and able
You make my joy complete

I also had the opportunity tonight to play at the church I grew up in, Abner Baptist in Spartanburg, SC.  It was a special moment for me to play a song tonight I the spot where I first played guitar in front of people.  I’ll write more about tonight later this week.  I played a song I wrote a couple of years ago called On Your Kind Arms I Fall.