Top Billy Graham Quotes

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Mark Cole

Billy Graham needs no introduction. He counselled world leaders and preached to hundreds of millions of people in 180 countries. He was named “One of the Ten Most Admired Men in the World,” a record-breaking 59 times. He was known through the years as not only a world-renowned evangelist, but as a kind, non-judgmental, accepting, and humorous soul. Here are just a few of his words of wisdom.

“The cross shows us the seriousness of our sin—but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God.”

“We say to our children, ‘Act like grown-ups,’ but Jesus said to the grown-ups, ‘Be like children.’

“God never takes away something from your life without replacing it with something better.”

“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.”

“Knowing we will be with Christ forever far outweighs our burdens today! Keep your eyes on eternity!”

“It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge and my job to love.”

“Sin is the second most powerful force in the universe, for it sent Jesus to the cross. Only one force is greater—the love of God.”

“Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone – except God.”

“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”

“Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.”

“Ask God to show you His plans, not bless your dreams.”

“To be peacemaker, you must know the Peacegiver.”

“Believers, look up – take courage. The angels are nearer than you think.”

“Quit beating yourself up. We all live under grace and do the best we can.”

“The very practice of reading [the Bible] will have a purifying effect upon your mind and heart. Let nothing take the place of this daily exercise.”

“Every day is a gift, no matter how old we are!”

“Spend more time in study and in prayer, that’s the secret of successful evangelism!”

“The New Testament says nothing of apostles who retired and took it easy.”

“Someone asked me recently if I didn’t think God was unfair, allowing me to have Parkinson’s and other medical problems when I have tried to serve Him faithfully. I replied that I did not see it that way at all. Suffering is part of the human condition, and it comes to us all. The key is how we react to it, either turning away from God in anger and bitterness or growing closer to Him in trust and confidence.”

“When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.”

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Promotion Comes From The Lord

Posted on July 8, 2018 by Mark Cole

by Mark Rutland –

Young people today spend way too much time trying to force their way into opportunities. In fact, nobody is really immune to this. Whether we’re fresh out of college or twenty years into a profession, when we see even the hint of an opportunity, our initial instinct may be to push the door open ourselves.

We dare not promote ourselves to our next job. We cannot force others to see what only we can see, or think we see, in ourselves and kick-start our destiny into a higher gear. Promotion doesn’t come from us or even from others. Promotion comes from the Lord, and the Lord only.

You are where you are right now because where you are is where God wants to use you right now. Maybe you’ve been told you’re going to be the next king. Are you king now? David wasn’t. David did his job there, right where he was. He was a shepherd, and he did it well. He was gifted in music, and he used it well. When he was given an opportunity to sing and play for – of all people – his demon-possessed predecessor, he did it well.

Wait on the Lord for your next opportunity. When that opportunity comes, don’t get caught in the snare of assigning too much significance to it. After David sang Saul to sleep, he didn’t snoop around and start planning a hostile takeover. He didn’t say to himself, “God has finally brought me to my destiny. It’s time to start my kingdom!” He did what he was brought there to do and then went home to his sheep.

David had an opportunity to serve the king, and he did it well. That is all God wanted from him at the time. His moment to become the ruling king had not yet arrived.

Follow David’s lead. Learn to wait on the Lord. Let God guide you to Saul’s camp. Let God work on Saul. Let God work on you. Let God work on Samuel. Eventually, all these lines intersect at just the right moment. At God’s moment.

This is an excerpt from David the Great by Mark Rutland. Copyright ©2018 by Mark Rutland. Published by Charisma House.

 

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When To Keep Your Mouth Shut

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Mark Cole

Here is some valuable wisdom and insight on when not to speak.

Don’t open your mouth:

  1. In the heat of anger. Proverbs 14:17
  2. When you don’t have all the facts Proverbs 18:13
  3. When you haven’t verified the story. Deuteronomy 17:6
  4. If your words will offend a weaker brother. 1 Corinthians 8:11
  5. If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family. 1 Peter 2:21-23
  6. When you are tempted to joke about sin. Proverbs 14:9
  7. When you would be ashamed of your words later. Proverbs 8:8
  8. When your tempted to make light of holy things. Ecclesiastes 5:2
  9. If your words would convey a wrong impression. Proverbs 17:27
  10. If the issue is none of your business. Proverbs 14:10
  11. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie. Proverbs 4:24
  12. If your words will damage someone’s reputation. Proverbs 16:27
  13. If your words will destroy a friendship. Proverbs 25:28
  14. When you are feeling critical. James 3:9
  15. If you can’t speak without yelling. Proverbs 25:28
  16. When it is time to listen. Proverbs 13:1
  17. If you may have to eat your words later. Proverbs 18:21
  18. If you have already said it more than one time (then it becomes nagging) Proverbs 19:13
  19. When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person. Proverbs 24:24
  20. When you are supposed to be working instead. Proverbs 14:23

Proverbs 21:23 – Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.

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8 Guidelines For Talking While Leading Worship

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Mark Cole

By Jon Nicol –

When a worship leader opens his mouth to do something other than to sing during the service, he’s either popping a throat lozenge or is about to talk. Most of the time, we’re better off if he’s going for the Hall’s.

Let’s face it: we worship leaders aren’t the most eloquent bunch. So we need to have some boundaries when it comes to becoming verbose on Sunday morning. Here are eight guidelines for talking while leading worship:

1. Don’t Wing It

It’s OK if you’re not great at talking “off the cuff.” It is actually good that you have acknowledged it. Plan out what you’re going to say, and only go off script when you really feel the leading of the Holy Spirit.

2. Keep It Brief

Verbosity can kill momentum, stifle the mood, and cause people to check out. “Don’t use seven words when four will do.” (Rusty, Ocean’s 11)

3. Have A Point

And preferably just one. I know this sounds a little snarky. But we’ve all been in a service when we wonder if the worship leader remembers the point he was making. So ask yourself as you’re planning, “What’s the point?” And in the spirit of #2, figure out a way to get there as quick as possible.

4. Don’t Sermonize

Your church has a teaching pastor. And he would love it if you’d let him do his job.

We CAN teach as a worship leaders. But we have to look for ways to do so in memorable sound bites, versus a sermonette between songs.

5. Use Scripture More Often Than Not

We cannot go wrong using God’s word. It is not only true but it actively changes people through the illumination of the Holy Spirit:

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. (Hebrews 4:12 NLT)

6. Enunciate, Especially If You’re Talking Over Music

People may not hear us as clearly as we ourselves in the monitors. And keep the music sparse when talking.

7. Let The Songs Speak For Themselves

Often times, a song doesn’t need a verbal segue or set-up. If you’ve planned a well-flowing set, let the lyrics and music do the work.

8. When In Doubt, Keep Quiet

If you have any question about something you are about to say, don’t say it. It’s better to have awkward silence than to fill it with blundering words.

For discussions: What guidelines would you add to this and why?

The original post is found here.

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How to Negotiate a Worship-Leader Salary

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Mark Cole

By Jamie Brown ~

Several years ago, I posted some thoughts on a “worship leader’s job description and pay.” And of all the posts I’ve ever written in almost five years, that one post has gotten the most hits, the most Google searches, prompted the most interesting conversations (especially from one guy who’s apparently sold more records than The Beatles) and emails to me from various worship leaders from around the country asking for advice about how to negotiate their salary.

Since I am not currently having this conversation with my church, I thought it might be a good time to share a few thoughts (for whatever they’re worth) on negotiating a salary when you’re serving in full-time ministry. I just received a question from a worship leader about this yesterday, and here’s basically what I said:

1. In principle, your church should pay you around the average income in your area for a person of your age, with your experience and education, and taking into account whether you’re single, married and have any children. Wikipedia has this info for most cities, I think! It’s not unreasonable to ask your church to pay you a fair salary. Too many church employees think that it is.

2. Bill Hybels says that “facts are your friends.” So, get your monthly expenses really organized and categorized. Put down what your monthly and/or yearly expenses are. Do it in transparent detail. Rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, bills, savings, gas, insurance, etc. Does your spouse work? Put that down too. Get a complete picture of the facts of your financial situation.

3. Do this so that you can know what you NEED to make in order to be comfortable and to provide for your family. Throwing out a figure, or just guessing, or just wanting MORE, are not good ideas. But do some research on the average income in your area. Then get your facts straight. Then put it down in a succinct, to-the-point letter to your boss and your pastor, and have a very specific ask. Ground it in the fact that it’s what you NEED, not what you WANT. Do it humbly, but don’t feel guilty.

If they respond positively, then well done. If they respond negatively, then you’ll need to prayerfully (and with wise counsel) evaluate whether God is calling you to a situation where you’re not paid enough, or whether it might be more wise for you to look elsewhere.

Of course, God calls people all the time to serve in ministries and capacities where the compensation isn’t all that they NEED, and they have to rely on raising support, or having a second job, or having their spouse work. If God has called you to this sort of ministry, then he will provide for you.

This advice is for the full-time (or even part-time) worship leader who’s serving at a church that’s relatively stable financially and able to pay him/her a salary. If that’s you, and you’re entering into those awkward salary discussions, then get your facts straight, put it down on a paper (in a memo, not a novel) and ask for what you need. And pray a lot too.

I forgot to add a very important thing: Very often, when churches can’t afford to pay you the average salary for your area, they can make up for it in other ways. Perhaps they have a house you can live in, or perhaps (and this is how my wife and I are able to survive in Northern Virginia) there is a family in the church who will rent you a place for a less-than-market-value rate. These are two examples of ways a church can help you and your family survive and be comfortable, even if they can’t pay you what a spreadsheet says you “need.”

Jamie Brown

http://worthilymagnify.com/

Jamie Brown is the Director of Worship and Arts at Truro Anglican Church in Fairfax, VA. Before coming to Truro, he served at The Falls Church Anglican for ten years. Born into a ministry family and leading worship since the age of twelve, Jamie is devoted to helping worship leaders lead well and seeing congregations engaged in Spirit-filled, Jesus-centered worship. He’s currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Religion through Reformed Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Catherine, have three little girls. Jamie regularly blogs at WorthilyMagnify.com and has released three worship albums: “A Thousand Amens,” “We Will Proclaim,” and “For Our Salvation.”

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Getting Ready For The Next Level

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Mark Cole

In 1998, my wife, Anna and I were asked to accompany a group of Christian students from Pacific Academy on a missions trip to the Philippines. We spent a few months helping prepare the group for the two-week trip. Anna was on staff at Pacific Academy and it was part of her job to organize multiple teams of kids to travel for missions experience on their spring break.

The Lord was also preparing me for what He wanted me to do in the future. I was seeking the Lord and God challenged me to fast. Normally when I fast, I spend three days seeking the Lord but this time I felt like I should fast longer. I decided that I would try to fast the longest that I ever done. I would try fasting for two weeks.

Weird thing though.. when I finished fasting 2 weeks, I felt like I shouldn’t stop. So I decided to go for three weeks. At the same time, I was doing my work as the Worship Pastor for Glad Tidings Church in Vancouver, Canada and also working with the team of school kids to get ready for the trip to the Philippines.

Around the end of the three weeks I began to realize that God was calling me to do a 40 day fast. Fortunately He didn’t tell me that at the beginning because I would have thought that would have been impossible. I love eating too much!

Finally the time came for us to go the Philippines. I told the team leaders I was fasting but I really wasn’t telling anyone else besides my family. The trip to the Philippines was a good trip. We journeyed to some remote islands and ministered to tribes of people in the jungles. I remember hiking through the jungle to the top of a small mountain in 30C heat to talk with a tribe. The strange thing is that even though I had not eaten in weeks, I felt strong. Hiking in the heat was no problem. I remember some of the Filipino guys travelling with us climbing a coconut tree and getting coconut water for us to drink. So… good!

In the 40 days of fasting I lost 18 lbs (which all came back quite quickly when I started eating again). I remember how my body adapted by conserving my body oils. I normally have good supply of body oil to my hair and skin but my body stopped producing the oil. Our bodies are ‘fearfully and wonderfully’ made. It was amazing to me how well my body adapted to the lack of food…. God has given us amazing bodies!

So what did I learn from this experience?

I learned that God prepares you before He brings you to the next level. In the next short time I would be involved with the start-up of an internet business (Praisecharts.com) that would bless thousands of churches (see: Can God Really Supply My Needs?) and I was also involved in seeing a national revival where thousands of people per day were coming to the Lord! (see: Can God Touch A Nation?)

God doesn’t usually tell you why He is preparing you. He just asks you to be obedient and trust Him!

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)

I love this quote on how God works in our lives and challenges us to go to the next level with Him.

If you want to see supernatural innovation in your life and ministry—something that can only be explained by the hand of God and changes people’s lives for eternity, you must be a consecrated servant leader. I’m not talking about being perfect, for we know only One has lived a perfect life. I’m talking about striving for a life of personal purity and holiness and dedicating our whole being to the will of God…..God may be wanting to do a “new thing” in your midst…. but He is urging you (like He did Joshua) to “consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow.” ~ (‘Consecration’ by Greg Atkinson)

Question: God might not call you to an extended fast, but what is He personally speaking to you about? What area is He challenging you on to go to the next level? Are you praying and obeying?

Check out my new book: “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’. It is now available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

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Chord Charts or Lead Sheets?

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Mark Cole

By Ryan at WorshipArtistry.com

Edited by Mark Cole

Chord charts or lead sheets?  Every situation is different, every musician is different. In order to find the best fit for your needs, you need to understand the unique purposes for the different types of printed music.

Chord charts or lead sheets? I’ve heard this question debated for many years. To simply say, “use chord charts” would be bad advice. Let’s look at the different styles of written music because each form of printed music serves a different purpose.

Chord Charts

This is probably the most common chart that churches use today. It contains the song lyrics with the ‘chord symbols’ written above. It does not contain any music notation, rhythms, staves, etc. The sole purpose of this chart is to remind you of the chords to play. Because it’s only chords and lyrics, it doesn’t tell you specifically when to play the chords. You can guess your way through it by watching the lyrics, but it doesn’t give you specifics.

The prerequisite for using this kind of chart is that you are already somewhat familiar with the song. If there are syncopated rhythms, rests, holds, etc, you have to already know those by way of listening to the song itself, because the chord chart isn’t going to tell you any of that. However, if you have listened to the song and are familiar with it, the chord chart is a great (usually one-page) solution for musicians, especially those who play by ear. If you have musicians who need to read notes, then this is not the chart for them.

Lead Sheets

I would say this is the perfect ‘all around’ chart. Lead sheets include one staff with chords, lyrics, melodies, and rhythms, so musicians and singers alike can use them. If you have never played a song before, or even heard it for that matter, you can manage about 90% of it with the lead sheet. A down side is that they are almost always more than just one page (usually 2-3+ pages), but they are better than a full piano/vocal chart that potentially could be 10+ pages.

A lead sheet can provide the melody along with the harmonies for the singers. They always include the lyrics, and they’re great for musicians because they show specific rhythms, chords, and melodies. If there’s a guitar lead line, it’s probably written out. If there are specific holds and stops, those are written as well. This is what makes the lead sheet a great all around chart to use for your team. I almost always use this for my teams when learning a new song. Once they have it, I’ll switch over to chord charts simply for reminder.

Mark Cole: If you have worship team members who don’t read music. Consider it your mission to help their music education and teach them to read a basic chart.

Rhythm Charts

These are used more in a setting where a rhythm section (keys, bass, drums, guitars) is accompanying a choir and/or orchestra. They are almost identical to the lead sheet except that they don’t contain lyrics, melodies, and harmonies. A single staff will have slash bars to indicate beats while chords will be written above the staff just like the lead sheet. If there are specific rhythms or melodies to be played, those will be notated. Usually, the rhythm chart is about the same length as the lead sheet, so it’s just as effective to use the lead sheet, since seeing the lyrics can help keep you on track if you get lost for some reason.

Piano/Vocal Score

This is typically used in choral settings as well as for pianists who have to read notes. It can contain four staves (two with vocal parts and a grand staff for the piano). It’s the most comprehensive chart out of those mentioned. It contains all the same elements as the lead sheet with the added bass clef for the pianist to read.

These charts can be quite long depending on the song, which means there are a lot of page turns! The only time I’ve really used this chart is in choral settings, vocal rehearsals where there are more that 3 parts, and times where I’m required to play exactly what’s in the sheet music. Other than that, I’ll take the lead sheet any day!

(Nashville) Numbers Chart

This can be any of the first three charts, but instead of seeing chords with letters it uses, well, numbers. Every chord in a specific key has a specific number attached to it. For example… in the key of C… C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim would be 1, 2m, 3m, 4, 5, 6m, 7dim.

The reason for this is due to the fact that Nashville studio musicians often have to record a song in a different key. Rather than having multiple charts in different keys, they could have just one chart with numbers and transpose on the fly. The ability to think in terms of numbers is one of the greatest techniques any musician can develop (but that’s for another time 🙂 If I do use a chord chart, I almost always will use a numbers chart because it allows the flexibility of changing keys without changing charts.

Conclusion

Which chart is best? Whichever chart works the best for you! If you are a keyboard player and need to read the notes, then the Piano/Vocal Score is probably your best bet. Are you a guitar player who plays really well by ear? Then the Chord Chart is for you. Are you at a small church with a small budget? Lead Sheets may be your ticket. It all comes down to your needs and situation. Hopefully these distinctions can help you give your the team the music that suits their needs the best.

The original post is here.

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When To Be Silent

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Mark Cole

Have you ever said something and then later wish you hadn’t? Here is some wisdom on when it is good to be silent.

1. Be silent and control yourself in the heat of anger

Short-tempered people do foolish things
Proverbs 14:17

2. Be silent when you don’t have all the facts

Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. Proverbs 18:13

3. Be silent and don’t make judgements until you have heard both sides of the story

The first one to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and cross-examines him. Proverbs 18:17

4. Be silent if your words or actions will offend a weaker person

You must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. I Corinthians 8:11

5. Be silent when it is time to listen

A mocker refuses to listen to correction. Proverbs 13:1

6. Be silent when you are tempted to make rash vows or comments to God

Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2

7. Be silent when you are tempted to joke about sin

Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.  Proverbs 14:9

8. Be silent if you would be ashamed of your words later

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23

9. Be silent if your words would convey the wrong message

He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words. Proverbs 17:27

10. Be silent if the issue is none of your business

Interfering in someone else’s argument
    is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears. Proverbs 26:17

11. Be silent when you are tempted to tell an outright lie

Put away from you a deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth, and put devious lips far from you. Proverbs 4:24

12. Be silent if your words will damage someone else’s reputation

A worthless man devises and digs up evil, And the words on his lips are like a scorching fire. Proverbs 16:27

13. Be silent if your words will damage a friendship

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. Proverbs 16:28

14. Be silent when you are feeling critical

Sometimes it (our tongue) praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. James 3:9

15. Be silent if your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family.

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps. He committed no sin, nor was deceit ever found in His mouth. While being reviled and insulted, He did not revile or insult in return. I Peter 2:21-23

16. Be silent if you may have to eat your words later

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words. Proverbs 18:21

17. Be silent if you have are constantly repeating the same thing

A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping. Proverbs 19:13

18. Be silent when you are tempted to flatter a wicked person

He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” Peoples will curse him. Proverbs 24:24

19. Be silent when you are supposed to be working instead

Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! Proverbs 14:23

20. Be silent when you are tempted to make fun of your neighbour

It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor. Proverbs 14:21

21. Be silent when you want to hear from God

Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

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How Does God Correct Us?

Posted on March 3, 2018 by Mark Cole

By Leon Maiolo (edited and updated by Mark Cole)

How does God correct His children? Does God correct us by punishing us with physical, emotional or financial trials and adversities? Are sickness and disease, trials and tribulations God’s way of helping and correcting us, if and when we go astray?

The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. For He knows how weak we are; He remembers we are only dust.

Psalms 103:13-14 NLT

God is our Father, He loves us more perfectly and completely then we love our own children. The Psalmist says He is compassionate towards His children. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows we are not perfect like He is. He remembers that we are but dust.

Jesus – “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NLT

Jesus told His disciples in the world there would be trials and grief. We are not isolated from every problem in the world, but they are not punishments.  God is love and light, and wants us to live and walk in His light.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

I John 4:8 NLT

If any of us have been blessed to be parents, we know we always want the best for our children. God always wants the best for us.

 Jesus- If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.

Matthew 7:11 NLT

What about correction then? We may need to be corrected at times, to help us grow and mature from children into the kings and priests our Father intends us to be.

 If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all.

Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness.

Hebrews 12:8-10 NLT

The author of the book of Hebrews states that God disciplines us for our good, to be partakers of His holiness. How does He go about correcting us?

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. 

II Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

God does not beat His children, with pain, or sickness, or punishment of any type. Our Father gently corrects us, by sitting down and explaining our errors through His Holy Word. Picture a father who kneels down, takes his son or daughter by the hand, and gently corrects by explaining.  You might be thinking, what if the person does not listen! What if this gentle approach is not severe enough to get our attention. If this describes us, the Bible says we are being foolish.

A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding  than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

Proverbs 17:10 NLT

If God were to beat a hard-headed person with a hundred stripes, that person will curse God and become all the more stubborn. This in not our Fathers way.

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

Romans 2:4 NLT

It’s God’s goodness, not His sternness, that leads us to want to repent and improve and become more like He is.

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your help and gentleness make me great.

2 Samuel 22:36 AMP

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT

God will correct us, encourage us, instruct us, lift us up, and teach us about Himself and about who we are in Christ. He will do this all through His Word. We need to spend time in God’s Word to see how good God is and how much He loves us.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105 NLT

The original post is here: How Does God Correct Us?

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8 Tips On How To Improve Your Singing

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Mark Cole

By Natalia Sander, M.A.

Singers are a very special kind of musician. While guitar players, drummers, and pianists rely on their physical instruments, singers have their tool inside them. Maintaining its quality is a special task.

You can learn how to care for your voice and get the best out of it. Here are the 8 best tips on how to improve your voice. Some vocal tips may seem obvious, some might be new for you. Let’s get started.

Who are these vocal tips intended for?

Of course, it makes a difference if you’re a classical singer or a pop singer or no singer at all. The following tips are suitable for all kind of musicians and non-musicians. These are the basics of singing. The basics which will teach you how to use the instrument inside your body.

1. Take care of your health to improve your voice

  1. Make sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. The membranes which produce the sound function best when hydrated.
  2. Whenever the throat feels scratchy, stay silent and let your voice rest.
  3. When having a cold, try not to sing. Drink some tea, eat cough candy and be quiet instead.
  4. Quit smoking if you want your voice to be better. Smoke damages your lungs and throat. You don’t need it for the smoky voice either – learn how to sing with smoky voice without cigarettes.
  5. There are also some foods that might affect your voice. Those are spicy food, coffee, alcohol, milk products, and nuts. Try cutting them out to see if they harm or effect your voice.

2. Warm up before singing

Are you having cracks in your voice when singing? Does the throat hurt after singing? That’s a sign you need to warm up (more) next time. Your vocal cords need a warm up, just like your body muscles before doing sports.

What is a vocal warm-up? A set of exercises which prepare the voice and body for singing or speaking. It includes the following:

No worries if you haven’t done it before: It’s not difficult and many people have recorded tutorials showing warm up exercises.

How deep or high you start, depends on the type of your voice. Make sure to warm up both, the chest and head voices. This video brings it to a point and shows a set of exercises. Here’s another nice video so warm up to:

3. Sing at least 30 minutes a day

How to improve your voice? By practicing! Just like every other workout, you need to train your voice daily. A short daily practice will make your vocal cords stronger. Day by day, your voice will become better. If you can make the time, try to sing for a couple of hours daily.

Take care before important gigs and auditions: Don’t overdo the night before. You need your voice smooth and rested when performing. Better sing just a little the day before.

4. Record your voice to listen to yourself

In order to know how you really sound when singing, you need to record yourself.

  • Use the computer or smartphone or even an online free song recorder.
  • Sing a song you know well – so you can concentrate on HOW to sing it instead of what to sing.
  • Listen to the recording you made. At first, you probably won’t like it. Get over it and listen to your mistakes to learn from them. Notice what you did well, too.
  • Compare the way you’re singing to the original recording. What does the singer do better? What can you change to sound more unique?
  • Practice some ear training exercises – the better your ear, the better you’ll be singing

Alternatively, you can use this famous trick. Close one ear to listen to your voice the way others hear it.

5. Sing songs you are comfortable with

Respect your limits and choose songs you are capable of singing. When exercising, choose something a little challenging but manageable. For performances and auditions, it’s even more important to stick to pieces you’ll manage.

6. Express emotions while singing

This is one of the dullest tips I ever got from my vocal teachers (get yourself a teacher, by the way!): You have to feel the song. And she was right! You can totally hear the difference if somebody is singing from the heart or simply repeating the words and the melody. So singing with emotions is a huge factor to improve your voice.

Try those steps:

  • Choose songs you can relate to.
  • Use your facial expression to stress what you’re singing about.
  • Sing in front of the mirror and look for eye-contact of your audience.
  • Try out different stressing, record your voice and check which one you like most.

7. Sing quietly

Singing quietly is probably the most challenging part of the singing process. Many amateur singers try to sing very loud to make up for wrong notes. Try to avoid this. It will damage your cords. Additionally, too loud singing sounds cranky instead of powerful.

In any case, avoid screaming and don’t strain your voice. A soft voice is achieved by correct body language and breath (point 8).

8. Use your body & breath to improve your voice

  1. The body is the most important instrument for a performer. The best tips are to avoid tensions in neck and shoulders. Unlock your knees and control your breath.
  2. It’s best to breath into your belly (diaphragm) instead of your chest. Don’t move your shoulders when breathing in. Ken Taylor explains how it works in a pretty nice way: 
  3. Think down when you are singing high notes. There is the tendency to lift the chin at high notes. Resist the urge and also think of adding some weight to the notes to support your voice.
  4. Keep your chin down to sound better. You can practice in front of a mirror and record yourself to hear a difference.

How to train your voice to sound better? – a quick exercise

  1. Stand in front of the mirror.
  2. Stand upright, without tension in your knees or neck.
  3. Start slowly breathing in and out through your belly (diaphragm).
  4. Start singing some scales in a comfortable pitch to slowly warm up your body. First, sing them with a closed mouth and the letter “m”. Then move on to “na”. And then to a “la”.
  5. After you warmed up, choose a song you can comfortably sing. Sing it in front of the mirror and watch your body language and mimics. Try to sing the text of the song to yourself, as if you would talk to a lovely friend. Do you notice any difference in your voice?
  6. Watching or recording yourself might be odd in the beginning, but it will truly help you. Especially, if you are not taking vocal classes with a teacher.

Those tips were collected for you by Natalia, Yalda and the rest of the sofasession team. We hope you find them a useful summary to help improve your voice!

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