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Foreign.
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Welcome to the Lead Worship well podcast. I'm your host, Chris Baker, and I am thrilled to have you join us today for a very special episode. Today we have the incredible honor of speaking with Lizzie Morgan, a dynamic singer and worship leader whose journey in music is nothing short of amazing. We'll dive in and discuss her collaborations with artists like Lauren Daigle, Mav City Music, and Red Worship. Also, talk about an upcoming solo project. Get ready to be inspired by Lizzie Morgan's incredible story and music. Let's dive in. Welcome to the Lead Worship well podcast. I'm your host, Chris Baker, and today we are going to have an incredible, incredible conversation with. I call it my Little Sis, but it's more like I'm like ump now because I'm old. Lizzy. Lizzy Morgan. How you doing, sis?
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I'm doing good. I'm so excited. I'm so excited that I get to do this with you. This is fun.
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B
I know, I know. Listen, Lizzie came to our church. This was back in April, and our church has not recovered yet. I mean, the way you led us and it was just an amazing thing. So I'm excited about this conversation, so we're going to jump right in. And I always like to start from the beginning. First of all, you're young, so we're going to. Let's go back. You've been singing since you was, like. You probably don't even remember you were five when you sang your first solo or something like that.
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A
Yeah, I really don't remember. I mean, I grew up in church. My whole family sings, so you're weird if you don't sing in this family. But I do know that my first solo was Kurt Carr. I almost let go. I think I was five. Yes, yes.
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B
The fact at five years old that you're singing that. But I'm not shy.
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A
I almost let go. I know it. What, girl?
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B
What? You let go of your passy.
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A
I know. Exactly.
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B
I know. No, listen, I. I love this about that. You've always said this. You said over everything. I hope people describe me as a worshiper first. How. Why is that so important to you? Just as a singer? Why is it. Why is that important?
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A
Well, I just think, like, there's so many things that we can find our identity in, and I think, like, it can be really confusing sometimes, especially our generation. There's just so many things that we're always competing with or just trying to find ourselves in a world where there's so much comparison and so many different things. And so I think, as I've struggled through different seasons of trying to figure out who I am. The thing that has always been true since I was little is that I'm a worshiper. And so I think when I feel confused about who I am or what I'm doing with my life, I can always go back to that foundation and it reminds me of who I am and what's important to me.
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B
Dude, that's incredible, because there's. They would be amazed at how many people that don't know the difference between, like, an artist and a worship leader. And so you are not an artist now. You can sang. Sang, I mean, sang with an A. But your thing is, like, you have to tap in. It's a totally different thing. When you get a mic, kind of unpack that. I know you was born in it. You've been doing it your whole life. But to a lot of people, they don't really understand the difference between, well, if I sing, what's the difference between an artist and being a worship leader?
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A
Yeah, you know, it's funny, because when I was younger, I did not want to sing Christian music at all. And I think it was because I watched. I watched my dad go through a lot. He's a gospel singer. And so I watched the different struggles that that came with. And honestly, the different, like, standard that you're held to when you're that. And so when I was younger, I was like, nope, I want to be a pop singer. I want to be Hannah Montana. I'm trying to have fun.
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B
I can see that.
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A
I can see that. And so I really did. And I think my dad always knew that I would eventually come to it. So when we were younger, we would. I remember just sitting at the kitchen counter crying, arguing with my family about what I to do. But I think it was because I hadn't experienced the feeling of leading worship yet. I didn't know what it felt like yet. And so move a little bit further on, like, youth group days, we had a youth band. And I remember just kind of starting to get my feet wet and the feeling that I felt when I would lead worship, and I think once I experienced it, that's when I realized singing just would never compare to that feeling. And I think worship, for me personally, has just been something that's gotten me through so many different seasons of life. And so when I realized the impact that it has and how it can actually change people. You know, people love singers. They love songs, but worship is something where it's like they remember that their lives were changed forever. In that moment. And so I think that that feeling, in a way, it's addicting. It's like, I want to do this forever. And I remember when I was younger, like, praying a very, like, risky prayer, but it was just like, God, if I'm not doing this and your presence isn't here, then make me miserable. And I think he has. I think there are seasons where I can drift away or I can forget about what the purpose is. And even in the worship like world, you can lean too much on the artist side. And I think anytime that that's happened, I remember that prayer and I start to get that miserable feeling. And I remember that you gotta be really careful what you pray for. But it's true and it's been true. So I think, like, I've just fallen in love with what worship does.
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B
Yeah, that's so great. What are some of the biggest challenges as a worship leader that you see that a lot of worship leaders are facing today?
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A
That's such a hard question. I think the fact that worship has become an industry has made it very difficult on us. Not that I think it's bad, but I think it's made it difficult. And not even just the industry. I think, like, how big worship has now played a role in the church has also made it difficult. Because when you walk on that stage to lead worship, you have a choice to make every single time of am I going to please the people? Am I going to please my pastor, or am I going to do something that's pleasing to God? And you have to make that decision every single time.
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B
How do you navigate that tension?
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Yeah.
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B
Using that word. Really? How do you navigate that?
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I think the first thing for me that I've been blessed by is I chose pastors who want me to do that.
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B
That's good, Lizzy.
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A
I think, like, there's probably a lot of worship leaders that maybe don't have that, but I've been really blessed that whether I'm leading for my grandparents church or if I'm leading for Pastor Ron and Hope, I know that they want me to follow what the Holy Spirit is telling me to do. And I know that we have that mutual trust as well. And so I think that I've been super, super blessed in that area. So that's one area that I haven't had to have as much pressure in. But I also, I think it's super relational. Like, I can look at Pastor Ron's face and know if he thinks that I'm leaning in the right direction and if he Doesn't I can pivot. And so I also trust my leadership. Like, I can look at his face. And we. We got relationship enough to do that. And so I think that that helps a lot. But I think when it comes to the congregation, I would just say one thing is, like, people are always going to be more inspired by something that's authentic. And so if I'm authentically worshiping the Lord, I will trust that that will get them to a place of worship more than me pleasing them with their favorite song. That's popular at the time.
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B
Okay, so you just dropped a bar right there.
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A
Okay.
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B
Authenticity. Yeah, it sounds great. A lot of us talk about it, but that's hard, Lizzie.
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So hard. Yeah.
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I think a lot of us struggle with just being comfortable in our own skin. And so we. We're. We're like. We're like, you know, when David is getting ready to go into battle and Saul is like, hey, put this on. You need to wear this. This is what you need to wear. And David is like, he tried it on, and it was like, it does not fit me. But many of us will go into battle with somebody else's clothes. So it's. I. I want you to kind of dig into that authenticity. Did you ever struggle in it? Was there a time that you struggled with really coming to the table, coming to God, coming to the worship experience with your authentic self?
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A
Gosh. I mean, I pulled from so many different types of worship leaders growing up, and I think a huge part of the reason I am today is because I watch certain people, and I don't think that's a bad thing. I'm. I'm like, a big advocate for young worship leaders to find somebody that they feel drawn to and pull from them. But I do think the tough part about that can be that you're trying to pull inspiration but still bring yourself versus mocking what somebody else did. And that. That's a, like, a thin line, I feel like. But I think the thing that I've just learned over the years is that if I'm not bringing my most authentic self, then he can't actually, like, get in there and do what he needs to do. And I think all the people in the Bible, like, I've always loved Hannah in the Bible because I love the way that she, like, talked to God. Like, she was so broken before God, and she didn't care to let him see that and let him see that. She was disappointed and she was frustrated. And I've always been drawn to people like that in the scriptures. Because I always feel like those are the moments where God says, okay, I'll show up. I'm ready. Like, you're being real with me. You're being a daughter. Yeah. And so I've just, like. I've learned that that always gets his attention more than a facade or religion. Like it really does. And so, yeah, I've had struggles. I've had moments where I've wanted to put on a mask or I've wanted people to think that I'm. This. When I'm really broken. But what I've learned works is being very real and raw and even broken before the Lord. And I feel. I've seen that when I do that, that he becomes the most real to me.
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B
Yeah. That is so good. That is. That is so good. Many of us struggle. I think a lot of creatives, whether we acknowledge it or not, we struggle with the. This identity crisis, this. This sense of, am I enough? And I always say this, you better watch out. Because when you get on stage, whatever the insecurity is, it's going to come through the microphone.
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It's so scary. I know.
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So if you are struggling with the I am not enough, then you will have this proclivity to. Or tendency to overcompensate. And so you're filling every hole you're seeing in so many runs. You're putting so much stuff in there, because what you're trying to, like, you're trying to really overcompensate for you not feeling like you're enough. I love this part of that con. I love this conversation because we really don't talk about it a lot, Lizzy. We like to hide behind our gift as if we are totally okay. But many of us are broken. Many of us really struggle with this sense of identity. And God is like, I can't bless who you want to be. I. I can only bless who I've called you to be. That's where the anointing, that's where it lies. It's not in this imposter syndrome version of yourself that you want to kind of put on display for people. So I. I love that, sis. I love that. And then you talking about Hannah Ou. That's a. That's a powerful story.
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A
One of the best.
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B
Okay, so I. I know you've been singing in church your whole life. You' your whole life. Who are some of your, I'll say, artists or worship leaders that have helped shape your sound? I know you talked about your grandparents. Your father's an incredible singer. You know, your granddad is a great musician, all of that. But who are some singers that have really kind of influenced and shaped you as a worship leader and a singer?
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A
It's always surprising to people because I feel like I have these, like, secret people in my back pocket that I've pulled from. But when I was. When I was younger, I definitely, like, I grew up on all gospel music, so stylists, basically. Like, I grew up on the Clark sisters. I grew up on Fred Hammond. I grew up on all of that kind of music. Leandrea Johnson, Jessica Reedy, like, those were the people that I really loved growing up. And then when I got in, like, that youth group era, I learned about Stephanie Gretzinger and Amanda Cook and some of these big worshipers, and so I really pulled from them. But in this season of my life, who I look up to has changed so much. I've gone back to my roots in a lot of ways. I. My grandmother is my biggest inspiration. Your mother in law, Pastor Cheryl Brady, is somebody like, I literally watch her and I'm like, God, give me what's on their lives. Because I just see them and I see the anointing that they carry, and that's what matters to me more than how good I sing or how catchy of a song I sing. I want to walk in that. Just this heavy anointing that these women have, and it matters to me that I have that. And so I would say then there's a lady named Bonnie Lopez. I love her.
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B
Yes.
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A
Yeah. So if you, like, see the women that I look up to in this season, in my life, there is kind of a similarity between them all. It's this very heavy anointing and this wisdom that they have that I know I'm not there yet, but I really, really desire to be.
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B
Yeah, yeah, yeah, That's. That is so great. You've worked with Mav City and you tour with them. What was that season? What was that like? You know, you were in Nashville and you started tour doing that. Let's talk unpack that.
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A
I'm laughing because it was crazy. It was a crazy season. It was crazy because I was doing what I had always dreamed of doing. And I really struggled in that season, if I'm being honest with you, because I felt like God had started fulfilling a lot of my dreams. But a lot of the issues that I had were coming to the surface more than they ever had before. And I just remember being on stage and singing and being like, this is what I've always dreamed of. I'm up Here with Kirk Franklin, like, this is crazy. And then I would walk off stage and just be so miserable, and I didn't know why. And I look back on that season, and I think I was so enamored with everything that was happening that I kind of had that little moment where I forgot what I was really doing it for. And I want to say it was Kirk Franklin who said, if you live by the applause of people, you'll die by their silence.
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B
That's good. Good.
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A
Yeah. And I really, like. I really struggled with that. I really struggled with that because you can't sustain that kind of experience. Like, there's not going to be people cheering for you all the time. There's not going to be the stages all the time. And so I was trying to navigate that balance of, like, doing that and then walking off stage and. And being okay, and I really, really struggled with that. Even though it was like this awesome season, I felt like the Lord, you know, was fulfilling dreams for me. I honestly feel like he allowed that to happen early on so I could get a grip on everything before my world even blew up more. And so I know that was like a learning lesson for me. I learned a lot about myself during that season.
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B
Mm, mm, mm. It's so great that you learned that lesson so young.
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Yeah.
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B
Because you have a lot of people, Lizzy, that are constantly there chasing the applause.
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Yes.
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Of the crowd. And it's just in the lineup of work that God has called us to serve in. The applause should never be about us.
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I know.
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I know it should never. Now, again, celebrating the gifting, celebrating the talent, celebrating the anointing, all of that is great. But when I begin to crave that or I. I obtain my identity, that's what it is.
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That. That part.
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It's that part that. I mean, it's as old as time, you know? Yeah. It's like, okay, let it be about me. And then. Then we. We get in a lot of trouble. It's so crazy because, you know, you were just talking about that and you said, I would leave off stage and I would be miserable. And I go back to where you open with that prayer. Like, Lord.
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Exactly. Oh, yeah.
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Lord, if I ever get it twisted, make me miserable. That is. That is a very, very sober. Because who prays that? Like, who really prays? God, If I start to get off center, make me miserable. But I think there are certain people that when God's hand is on your life, when there's an assignment on your life, there is a price. And that's the price that you have to pay where you cannot do what everybody else does and be totally fine. There is something in you that's missing that you're like, something is not quite working. And. No, but thank you. Thank you for being transparent because I think a lot of us, we need to hear that type of story because we think it's about the glitz and the glamour and the big stage and all of that, but there's a whole nother thing that's happening here. Let's transition. I want to talk about Red Worship now. You guys are doing some incredible stuff. Oh, my God. First of all, shout out to my best friend Terrence. The dean, the archbishop. He's incredible. But you guys are doing some incredible work. Incredible music. Pastor Ron and Pastor Hope talk about that just a little bit.
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A
It's been so fun. Like, fun and life giving. And we just went to London and I just. I can't explain it. It is like literally the best thing I've ever been a part of because I'm surrounded by people that are actually family. Like, these people are my friends. I do life with these people. We cry off stage. Like, we're really friends and we do so much life together. We really know each other and we trust each other. And I really feel like we all have our minds set on this one thing. We know why we're doing this. We know why we're called to this. And if we get off track, we have enough relationship to say, hey, this is the point. And I feel like sometimes you don't always have that safety between such a big group. There's a lot of us and. And when we were in London, you know, we were just hanging out and I was like, oh, wow. Like, this is what it's supposed to be.
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B
Like, this is cool.
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A
Yeah, it's so cool.
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B
How did you guys foster that environment? I know that's a dream and it's a goal for a lot of teams and worship teams and different things, but it's a goal, but many don't really achieve it. How do you foster that environment?
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A
I think we don't avoid conflict. I think that's the biggest thing. Yeah. If I'm just honest. Like, we have gotten in brawl out fights where we are just ready to, like, do this and we've made each other cry. We've done all the things, but there's enough relationship there where it's like, okay, I trust you and you can make me mad, but I know that you see something maybe I'm not seeing or I'm gonna trust you in this area. And I think we've just been very, very good about not avoiding the things that if you avoid it, eventually it's gonna blow up. We're like, no, we're gonna deal with this right now because it's how you create a healthy environment. And I think we're also different, and that's what makes it cool. So naturally, we're going to have different opinions on stuff. But I think when we all come together and, like, it's like, you know what? I'm going to trust you on this one. You, like, you got this one. And so I think it's like a give and take. It really is. I'm not married, but it feels like it's a marriage. It's a lot of give and take and, like, a lot of like, all right, you win this one.
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B
You got this one.
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A
Yeah. Yeah.
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B
Because when you have a lot of talent in you all, oh, my God. You're superbly talented and just really great. Trinity, all you guys, how do you not get into the whole competition thing?
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A
To say we don't would probably be a lie. We probably have moments where we do.
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B
Okay, okay.
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A
But one thing that I've learned about, like, jealousy, envy, competitiveness is that if you don't shy away from it and you bring it to the light, it kind of helps kill it. I think what makes it really hard is when you have that stuff and you let it foster and it's just you. But I think it's different if I'm like, hey, Trinity's about to do a song that I want to lead. I'm jealous. I'm going to be like, trin, this is killing me. And then you know what? We kill it together because we're actually sisters. And, like, you know what? It's like, you know what? This is? This is. I feel like this is a good season for you, and I'm gonna have your back on this, and then vice versa. It'll be a good season for me. And I think that's what family really is. Like, it's like, you know what? This is your season. I've got your back. And then it'll switch at some point. And I think that we've been really good about that. I also think, like, the best way to kill insecurity and competition and jealousy is actually just, like, bring it to the Lord. Like, he's. He's a good enough, like, father that he's not gonna just let you sit with it. I think a lot of the time, like, shame Creeps in.
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B
Yeah.
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We're like, I'm too shameful, that I'm jealous. Like, that's ugly.
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B
You try to hide it.
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Yeah. Versus just being like, God, I'm jealous, and this stinks, and I don't like how I feel right now, and can you just help me fix it? And I feel like when you take that approach, that's when the Lord's like, absolutely.
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B
That is so good. That is so great. I know. Friends, if you're listening and you're a part of a team, this has to be, like, gold. It is such great information because the shame thing is real. We want to act like it doesn't exist.
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A
Yeah.
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B
I don't feel this. And God is like, yo, when you gonna be real with me and tell me that you're struggling with this insecurity? You're struggling with this jealousy thing? When I asked that question, as it pertains to competition, you could have easily said, yeah, we don't really deal with that.
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Yeah.
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B
And everybody would have taken it, like, okay, cool. That makes sense. But I appreciate that transparency to say, no, it happens. It is a part of it. We get into fights. Not like fights fights, but we embrace conflict. I think conflict. I think it was Patrick Leoncione. He said this. He says, conflict is not negative or positive. It's neutral. It's when you get your ego involved, which makes it negative or positive. You need to embrace healthy conflict, which is a difference of opinions. Hey, I view it this way. You view it this way. Hey, we may have to agree to disagree.
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A
Yes.
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B
Go. I separated on this issue, but I think that's brilliant as it pertains to conflict and being okay with it.
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A
Yeah. Yeah.
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B
That is so healthy. And you don't hear it discussed now. Talked about Rev. We talked about Mav. Girl, you doing your own thing. Not my will. This record is crazy. Come on. Like, first of all, thank you. Let's talk about this whole process. When did you know it was okay? It's time for me to write, to produce, to get out here. Just kind of express what God has placed inside of me. Yeah.
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A
I think because I was in so many groups, I struggled in the beginning because I didn't really know what my identity was as a solo. Like, just what I wanted to say, as someone who was doing it by themselves, what I wanted to sound like, I didn't know because I had pulled from so many different things, so many different people. And part of my story that's really interesting is, like, I sang background for Lauren Daigle, which is one of the top artists. And then I was up there with Maverick City, top artist. So I was doing the comparison game like crazy, just trying to figure out how to make, you know, create something that I was proud of. And so I really, really struggled with that in the beginning. And I think we kept struggling. Every right was a struggle. Everything was a struggle until I just finally sat down and I said, okay, we're gonna do a live worship project. And once we made that decision, everything just started working out. And it.
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B
Wow.
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A
It was crazy how it worked out, but I think, like, I didn't know what exactly I wanted it to look like. But when I just went back to that root thing where I was like, I'm a worshiper first, that was when the song started coming together, the band started coming together, and everything just started making sense. And so I think that was the biggest thing that we had to figure out, though, was like, it has to be a worship project.
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B
It has to be a worship project in order for this to work.
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A
Yes, exactly. Exactly.
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B
Take me to a moment in the record that was like, maybe it's in the writing process or the live recording where it was marked. I'll never forget this moment. This was when it clicked.
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A
It's funny, like, Not My Will on the Record was not the song that I was, like, the most excited about. I liked it, but it wasn't the one that I was drawn to the most until we were singing it. And the bridge says, I'll say yes. I'll say amen. You just ask, lord, here I am. And I remember singing it and looking back over the last two years of my life. And when you grow up in church, you hear it all the time. Not my will, but yours be done. You say it since you're a little girl, but you don't know what it means until you really walk it out. And I'll get emotional just because, like, it's been really hard to walk that out. And I don't know if enough people talk about that, and it's not that on the other side of saying yes to God, that it's not so good and so worth it. But when you're standing on the other side of the yes, and it requires you to say no to things that you really want or these dreams that you've had since you're a little girl, that is very, very difficult to do. And so I think I had that moment when I was singing that bridge where I felt such conviction, like, lord, no matter what, I'm gonna say yes. No Matter if it hurts.
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B
Yeah.
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A
I will say yes. And so I think that moment. That's why we named the record what we named it, because I think, like, I want to be a voice for people to really understand. Like, it's not just something that we quote. It's something that we live out, like, every single day. And it's hard and it's difficult, but if you can make it on the other side of the yes, that's when you realize how worth it it is. And so I think, like, that's been the last. The last two years of my life, I feel like, are the. The first time I've really, really learned what that meant. And I looked at my siblings. I have younger siblings. They're in the crowd. My grandparents are in the crowd. And I see the generation that was before me that. That. That made that decision, and that's why I am where I am at today. And then I see my little sister who's 4, and I'm like, you know what? I draw a line and sand, like, I am making up my mind. I'm going to do this for the people that come after me. And so it was just a very heavy moment. Singing that bridge over and over again.
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B
Yeah. The cost of it.
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A
Yep.
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B
That. Yes. Will cost you something. But that's why you carry what you carry.
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A
Thank you. Yeah.
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B
That's why you carry what you carry. It is undeniable that there are certain people that when they stand up, God stands up. And it's just. It's a sound within a sound. You cannot explain it. It's not about runs, and it's just different.
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A
Yeah.
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B
And I'll never forget when I heard you for the first time, I didn't even put it together. I didn't. You know, because I've known your dad for years.
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A
Yeah.
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B
I didn't know you was. I didn't know. I was like. I didn't know.
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A
I know all the pieces.
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B
It all clicked. And then, you know, your. Your grandparents, your. Your dad. And then watching you. And then watching you steward this, not just for you, but the generation that's coming behind you.
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A
Yeah.
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B
It is so beautiful. I want to. I want you to talk to me about the alabaster break.
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A
Yeah.
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B
Why did you lead with that?
- [28:43]
A
There's so many reasons. I think on a very practical level, Alabaster Box was the first song that I really remember experiencing the Lord on when I was a little girl. I remember being in the backseat of my car, like, while my parents were driving, hearing CC wine and seeing that. And Getting chills and feeling the Lord. And so there was something so nostalgic about it for me that felt like home. And then it is the one song on the record that really is about just giving the Lord everything. It's that straight up vertical song. Like, we give you everything that we have, Lord. We just lay it at your feet. And I thought, like, that was a really great way to start off a record with just like this is yours. Before anyone hears another song. This is yours, Lord. And this is my alabaster box. Like, this record is my offering to you. And so I just thought it was a good way to start it off. And I've really just in the last couple years been so drawn to the people I grew up on, like Clint Brown and those songs.
- [29:51]
B
CC1 oh, my God.
- [29:54]
A
I grew up on that stuff and
- [29:55]
B
so I like incredible writers. Incredible.
- [29:59]
A
I think I loved the idea of the first song also having something that was nostalgic to other people. Like it has a new song, but there was something nostalgic and old school that I wanted it to reach both generations. And I felt like there was a piece of some part of this eight minute song that would reach somebody. And so. Yeah. Yeah.
- [30:21]
B
Oh, it's. It's powerful. It. It is so powerful. It really, really is the fact that you, you, you know, like Clint Brown. Oh, my God. Oh, I can go like through so many songs that he has written that is like, oh, classic worship songs. The Binions. They are. They are. I. I say the Binions are a national treasure.
- [30:44]
A
They are.
- [30:45]
B
They really are. They are a national treasure of just when it's a different culture than when it comes to worship, writing, Kingdom music. Kingdom has a Kingdom sound. They're really great. And it's great to hear someone of your generation that is not looking at that as something that's just old or it's passed on. We don't do it anymore. It's got to be something fresh. You are doing what the Bible you are is old and new. And that is why when people hear your music, it's not just for a young generation, it's not for an older generation. It's just for anybody that really understands the true power of worship music. It is so beautifully, so beautifully done. Okay, so you dealt with Surrender a little bit, but I want to go a little deeper.
- [31:35]
A
Yeah.
- [31:36]
B
What does surrender look like for you in this season in Gosh.
- [31:44]
A
I've always been a dreamer since I was a little girl, and I've had a big imagination and I think that it has been My greatest gift. But it has also been the thing that the enemy has tried to use to kill me, if I'm being honest, in multiple ways. I think when you're a big dreamer, you have great ideas. And you also can have these horrible ideas that cause anxiety and all these things. And so I think I used to deal with it in that way, but I think because I had all these ideas of what I wanted to be. I'm about to be 28. Where I wanted to be when I was 28 years old. I think what God does, is he like. He's like, okay, that's cute. That's a good idea. But then you realize that it's like, nope, you're not gonna do that. Okay. So here I am, and I have. I'm at a crossroad. I have to make a decision. Because you can do it your way. Yeah, you can, but it's going to hurt, you know what? And, like, this is a very honest thing for me to say, but I've had that moment where I'm like, am I going to just do it my way? And I think the Lord has been very kind to me in the sense of right. When I get ready to go do it my way, he will do something that, like, makes it impossible. And I don't know if he's that kind to everybody, but he has been that kind to me. I look back and I'm like, I was this close to wrecking my life, and the Lord literally refused to let me. Or even, like, the Lord will send someone and give a prophetic word, and I'll be like, I hate this. You know what I mean? But I. I really do think it has not just been in my own strength. I really do think the Lord has kept. Gripped his hand on me and been like, I don't care what you want to do. You ain't gonna do it. Like, yeah. And for me, that's been my testimony. For real? For real. Like, if it was up to me, I don't know that I would have been able to say yes every single time. But he has kept his hand on me and pulled me back when I was getting ready to do stuff. Or he's given me just enough glimpse of what his plan is that would cause me to be like, oh, I don't want to miss out. I do not want to miss out. Yeah. And so. So it really has been. When you realize you don't have to do it alone. I think that's what helps a lot. And I think the Lord has been so gracious in that way to be like, you're not having to go through this alone. I'm not evil. I'm not making you say yes to all these things that you don't want to say yes to. And just chilling on a seat, watching you, like, that's not who he is. And so I feel like my testimony has been over and over again that, like, when I wanna do what I wanna do, he yanks me back up. And when I feel like my plans are better, he gives me just enough glimpse to see, like, no, you don't wanna miss this.
- [34:41]
B
You don't wanna miss this.
- [34:42]
A
Yeah.
- [34:43]
B
That's so beautifully articulated, Lizzy.
- [34:46]
A
Thank you.
- [34:47]
B
I'm sure that is something that many people need to hear that. Need to hear. To hear it that way.
- [34:54]
A
And, you know, the thing is the last thing I'll say. Cause I could talk about this forever. Cause I really. No, go ahead.
- [34:59]
B
This is so great. Go ahead.
- [35:01]
A
I think one thing that makes it very difficult for people my age to trust the Lord with plans is that we have had fathers that have not put the best plans for us in the natural. And I think it's made it very, very difficult for our generation to trust something that they can't see when the father figure in the natural realm has not always, you know, been so great at that. And so that's one thing we've talked about a lot. Like, especially with Red, like Jonathan Stamper, some Emmy Moore, different people that are in this world that I'm in that are my age. We're like, we want to be discipled so bad. We want fathers so bad, but we don't know how to always deal with that because we haven't always had it. You know what I mean? And so I think. I think that's one thing that's made it really difficult sometimes for people to trust God's plan because they look back on their childhood and they're like, well, what happened there? Now I'm done. Sorry.
- [36:03]
B
No, no, no, no. This. This, when I tell you this is so, so powerful. It's a conversation that needs to be had between the generations. Because the fact that you said. You said you're 20. 28.
- [36:14]
A
About to be 28. I'm a couple days away.
- [36:16]
B
I was 28 almost 20 years ago. So I. I get it. I. I get it as it pertains to growing up and not necessarily seeing that pattern.
- [36:28]
A
Yeah.
- [36:28]
B
So it's hard for me to become something that I did not see. So you wind up pretty much just shadow boxing.
- [36:34]
A
Yes.
- [36:35]
B
Trying to. Trying to figure it out. And with that, there's collateral damage. There is the mistakes. There is the. Okay, God, what exactly is this? But I love what you said. That God's plan sometimes is so. What it is on your life.
- [36:50]
A
Yeah.
- [36:50]
B
That he won't let you mess it up. Up.
- [36:54]
A
Yeah.
- [36:55]
B
He won't let you mess it up. And whatever you didn't get from, whether it be a father or former mentor, he'll cause you to get it in another season from a totally different place that help you to understand it and walk in it. And so now that you've gotten that, I want to ask you this. What is something that you have taken or that you have seen that you are saying? I want to be intentional about passing on to this next generation of worship leaders that I'm mentoring or that I'm pouring into to.
- [37:25]
A
Wow. I think the thing that is most important to me is that people know that worship is a place for you to bring everything and show your scars. And I think that worship is a place where it's like. I don't know where we got the idea that God would be mad at us for bringing our disappointments to him or that he wouldn't want you to talk about the areas where you feel like maybe he failed you. Like that, to me, is the. It's the thing that produces the best worship. Because when I, like, am in my darkest moments or when I'm questioning what. What God is doing or where he is, that's when he shows up. And so I think that in a world where people want you to think that you have to be this perfect thing in worship, I really believe that God is like, please don't. Like, please don't. And so I think that. I just think we live in a very, very harsh society where people are like, you got to be this and you got to be that and don't come until you're this. And I feel like God is, like, screaming at us, telling us, don't do that. Like, that's the opposite of what I'd ever want you to do. And so I think, like, the most inspiring thing you can do as a worship leader is to show people real, authentic relationship with the Lord and make them feel safe enough to bring down their walls when it comes to the Lord. And so I would say that that's great.
- [39:00]
B
It's something that you model.
- [39:01]
A
Yeah.
- [39:02]
B
So that they can see it as opposed to telling them. It is like, let me show you.
- [39:06]
A
Yes.
- [39:06]
B
I think that was. That's the beautiful thing about David. David was jacked up. He was all messed up, but David understood when I mess up, Lord. Okay, I did this. I'm so sorry. Okay. Let me go write this song. Yeah.
- [39:19]
A
Yes.
- [39:20]
B
Oh, I did it again. I'm okay. Let me go write this song. And it's that. It's that process of constant repentance and saying, I am a work in progress.
- [39:29]
A
Yeah.
- [39:30]
B
But thanks be unto God. Thank you for your grace that covers me. And not only does it cover me, it empowers me to live the life that you purpose planned and designed for me to live. So that is so great. And when I tell you, I am so hopeful and just for the generation that's coming behind you, first of all, you all are doing your generation. You're doing an incredible job.
- [39:52]
A
Thank you.
- [39:53]
B
An incredible job of just carrying the mantle. But you all, you. You get the responsibility of. I'm not gonna drop this mantle. I'm not going to let this thing fell on my watch. I want to steward it well so that I can pass it on to this next generation. I think that's amazing. And, and Lizzy, you're like an old soul. I mean, you're. You're 28, going on like a 68 person, you know, year old person anointing. And it's just gu. Never experienced. Lizzy, just in a worship service is something super special and it's real, it's authentic. It's a beautiful thing. Lil sis, thank you. And I just want to encourage you to continue to do what you're doing, continue writing, continue to sing and leading us into worship. It's really, really beautiful. And so sis, thank you so much for your time today. Just super excited about the record, the songs. I had a chance listen to some stuff and just like, goodness gracious, thank
- [41:00]
A
you for real, for real, for real.
- [41:03]
B
Like, incredible job. And so, sis, again, thank you for your yes. I say this, but I. I mean it. Thank you for your yes. Thank you for paying the price. Because we are recipients. We are on the receiving end of what you've said yes to God for. And I just want to say, God, listen, girl, you keep doing what you're doing, all right?
- [41:24]
A
Keep allowing.
- [41:24]
B
Got to use you. And thank you so much for your time, sis.
- [41:28]
A
Okay, thank you for real.