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I read this article today about a musician that raised all the money for her album: $75,000 in a few months! I have nowhere near that budget, but I thought that I might open it up for people to sponsor my album as well.
I'll have several gifts available to sponsors:
$50: listed as an Executive Producer
$100: signed CD and above
$500: living room concert (in TX, unless I'm in your area) plus above
And, of course, you can sponsor my album with any amount.
Sorry, I can't offer the $10,000 prize of singing a duet with me on the record like the girl in the article (the recording's all finished).
But, I'm open to other suggestions!
Thank you so much to those who have already donated!
I'm doing a book study with the ladies at my church through "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment," and I'm so thankful for the wise and challenging words of Jeremiah Burroughs. It was just what I needed to read yesterday as I've been fretting about music stuff since I got done recording.
There were such good reminders that being content is a duty, something as Christians we are called to. It is also a mystery, and an art form, a muscle that must be exercised. It's not something easy that we give ourselves over to.
My fretting has mostly been about some surprise expense that drains my whole budget (which God can replenish if He desires) or the CD awful (which I doubt, since the people working on it are incredibly experienced and talented) or no one wanting to buy it (which is ok, they'll be paid for, and I can just give them away). I'm having to remind myself that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:50), and nothing is too hard for Him (Jer. 32:17).
It's also a little funny to me how I've been quoting back the truths I sing about in my songs. I'm having to preach to myself: "Leslie, God's working wonderful things in ways you cannot imagine!" (from my song "None Can Compare." I'm so thankful for all these lessons that God is teaching me and that He is working that contentment muscle pretty hard!
Well, the week has gone good so far. I've laid down all the guitar and
vocals for most of the songs. There's one song I'm going to have to
wait to sing and play to after the band finishes it tomorrow. Seems I
wrote a pretty tricky song...that's b/c I'm a musical genius :-P
After singing all day, I'm feeling a lot better about my voice. I've thought in the past "I wish I sounded like her" or "I wish my voice sounded more this way" I came to realize last night that by doing this I'm basically slapping God in the face for the gifts he has given me. I've also come to realize that I think I have these distorted views of myself, that aren't true. Bottom line, I need to be thankful and humbled, not bitter or ask for something else when what God has given me is already so amazing. I'm such an Israelite!
I had a minor setback tonight, not with recording or anything. It's with the budget. But, after getting really discouraged and contemplating for a second that I should come home and forget about this whole thing, I realized God is bigger than a little setback, and can work everything out. So, I'm not worried (well, in this moment).
thank you again for your prayers and support! I can't wait for you to hear the final product!
I'm in the studio all week recording my very first album. It's been a blast so far; I've loved every second of it, even if my fingers are raw and my back is a little sore from sitting too long. It's been an awesome experience.
Ross King is producing it and I just think it's God's providence leading me to work with him. It's been so great to work with someone who is on the same page musically and spiritually. It's also been great getting to hang out with wife and kids during lunch each day.
I know lots of people are praying for this project, and I really appreciate it! Please continue to pray for me to stay well, for the equipment to work properly, for these songs of mine to glorify God and lead people to Him (in way only He can do).
I'm thinking it's going to be called "Redemption," but I'm not quite sure. I'll be doing vocals all day tomorrow, so please pray I'm not too hard on myself, but that I'm thankful for the gifts God has given me, instead of telling Him (in one way or another) that He should've given me something else.
Since February 25, I haven't watched TV. Well, I watched 5 minutes of 13.3 digital channel (only weather) and one clip online from Access Hollywood, which proved to be a waste of time.
This has been the BEST week for me that I can remember! I've been listening to more sermons, pastoral interviews, Christian radio programs (Al Mohler & Focus on the Family) and various podcasts (Ask Pastor John). I know that all of these resources and the absence of TV have focused my mind on Christ in a way that I haven't done since college. I encourage you to not waste one moment on futile things, things that will steal your soul!
I battle with reading a lot of news and political resources and being knowledgeable of these things. I think it is very important to be aware of what's going on in our country, culturally, politically, & economically. But not emerssing myself in these things, and replacing it with resources that point me to Christ has caused me to love God more and be more aware of the Holy Spirit's conviction.
We have so many ways to learn more about God other than through reading (which is harder for me, I learn better by hearing), so why not take advantage of those things?
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