Episode 450 - Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)

Welcome to Voices in My Head, the official podcast of me, Rick Lee James. I'm a recording artist, a singer, a songwriter, an author, a worship leader, and an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene. The Voices in My Head podcast is where I discuss music, movies, books, pop culture, theology, and more with friends, colleagues, and sometimes just by myself. Now make sure to let me know what you think of today's episode by leaving me a review on iTunes or by tweeting at me @RickLeeJames on Twitter. And please join my mailing list at RickLeeJames.com where you can receive an email every time a new episode is released. By the way, in case you're interested in a daily dose of kindness and encouragement beyond this podcast, I also run the Twitter account @MrRogersSay where I post daily quotes from Fred Rogers, one of the voices in my head. Well, I guess that's it for the intro, so sit back, relax, and listen to the latest episode of Voices in My Head.

Hello everyone, welcome back to Voices in My Head. As always, I am your host, Rick Lee James. And I'm so glad that you are back with us again for what I hope will be a week that you're going to enjoy. I'm really excited about the content that I'm going to share with you this week. It's going to be an excerpt from a new book that I am so excited about called In the Presence of Jesus, written by two amazing authors, Paul Bain and a good friend of mine Matt Litton, and I'm going to be sharing some of this book with you because I want to do all I can to amplify it. It's such a good book. It's a 40-day guide to the intimacy with God you've always wanted, and it's really an incredible book. And so in just a few moments, after I give the intro to the show today, I'm going to be sharing a little bit from this book with you because I I so want you to be able to find out more about this book, and hopefully you will seek it out. I've even bought a few copies for some friends, and they have, as they've been reading it, been telling me that it's been such a help to them already. I agree, because Matt Litton, the co-author of this book, shared a copy with me as a gift, and I have found it to be such a blessing. My family has found it to be such a blessing. We've been using it as family devotions together, and I wanted to share some of this book with you on this podcast because I hope that you will share it with others. And I really believe in it that strongly. It's one of the most powerful contemplative prayer books that I have found, and it's a brand new book. And I think as we are moving rapidly into what is going to soon be the season of Lent, I think that you will find this to be maybe something that you could use on your journey in the coming year and maybe in 2022. So I'll be getting to that in a moment, but I wanted to tell you about just something that is unbelievable that has happened as we are about to close out the year. And maybe it's appropriate that this is the 450th episode of Voices in My Head for this to happen, something that has never happened before for me and something I wasn't looking for and something I didn't expect. A couple of big things as we close out the year. First of all, um, as you know, if you've been listening to the podcast, I've been a student at Loyola Institute of Pastoral Studies working on my master's towards medical chaplaincy. Finished my first semester and was able to finish with A's in both of my classes.. And so I now have a 4.0, first time ever, which is amazing. I would have been happy with just that news. But then, you know what, something strange happened. I released an album in 2016 called Hymns, Prayers, and Invitations. So this is another, a second blessing aside from getting good grades to end the year out. That would have been a good blessing just in itself, and I'm so grateful for that.. But then this album I did with Lifeway Worship, which I'm so grateful to Lifeway, and I'm so grateful to Craig Adams who produced the album and who at the time was working at Lifeway and served at Lifeway for so many years and is now teaching at Trevecca University where I graduated from. He is an amazing producer, an amazingly talented person, believed in this project and wanted to do it. Through Lifeway enabled me to do this project. We did it, and it became this little indie project that Lifeway did a lot to help me make. And they have the publishing on the songs. I was able to release it as an independent artist. As you know, we've played a lot of the songs over the years. The album enabled me to do things like play at the National Worship Leader Conference I was able to get some play through places like CCLI and Worship Leader Magazine. I was able to get some recognition in places like that. As an independent artist, that's great. It doesn't happen all the time. That's been good. Over the years, it's helped. I was able to make some really great music videos, but it's all been independent, sort of under the radar stuff. Stuff that's happened since then. I've released other albums, I've released new singles, and even this last year had, had some pretty good radio play out of songs like Shine a Light in the Darkness. Have even had probably some of the best royalties as a writer just this past year that I've ever had, and it had nothing to do with the album Hymns, Prayers, and Invitations. It's all been just independent stuff that I've released on my own. So I kind of thought that Hymns, Prayers, and Invitations, as much as I love that album and I'm so grateful to Lifeway, I thought, well, maybe it's run its course. That's what happens with albums. They kind of run their course. That's just what they do when you have music, especially in today's landscape, especially with worship music, which is what that album is. Usually, especially in churches, unfortunately, they have a life and they go for a couple years and it seems like they find an audience or they don't, and then they're gone and you don't hear from them. Well, something strange happened. I uploaded the album to PlayNPE, which is a global distributor to radio stations, which I did it because PlayNPE AMPE, which I have worked with before to distribute songs to radio. They are a great distribution company. I strongly recommend them because every time I have released with them, I've always had great success and I've always had great relationships with the radio stations that play my songs. And every now and then you get lucky, or grace, whatever we want to call it. Every now and then, not very often, but occasionally a song that I've put out will arrive on a top 20 chart through PlayNPE. And what that means is that globally radio stations will be either downloading or streaming a song from that, that you are distributing at that time. And enough of them are downloading or streaming your song that you are putting out at that time that you get onto PlayNPE's charts. And they are the ones that are distributing, and they distribute them to like something like, say, if it's Christian radio stations, something like over 19,000 stations globally. So I don't know if that helps you understand what that means. So PlayNPE had something where they sent out to artists that have worked with them before. They said, you know, you might consider older albums, maybe uploading them, because every now and then a station or two may decide that that they want to use a few songs from their albums just to play in their backlog. And maybe you'll find a song or two will play, or maybe somebody will put something on their Spotify station or something like that. So it might be worth your while to upload some of your older music. And I thought, okay, I'll do that, no big deal. Always looking for a few more plays. And I've, you know, songs like Advent Hymn, Watching, Waiting, Longing Thankfully, bless the Lord, this year it won a Songwriter's Award, which was wonderful news. It was really more of a runner-up, but it got in. Things like that, it keeps getting recognition each year, and it keeps seeming to find a new audience each year at Christmas time. And that's wonderful, that's nice. So it's not like the album doesn't have some radio play each year. But I just decided, okay, I'll just upload the whole album to Play MPE. So when I did that a few weeks ago, I noticed every Sunday on the chart— sorry if this story is going on too long— every Sunday Play MPE puts their charts out as far as what radio stations are streaming and downloading, and it showed up on their chart, which means a lot of people were listening and downloading it. And I thought, oh, that's good. And it'll be gone next week, no big deal. And then this past Sunday, the new numbers came out for the new chart. Another week had gone by. I really expected the album to be gone. It's an old album, and I expected it to run its course, and anybody who was going to listen to it or download it was done listening to it or downloading it as far as radio stations. Well, of these 19,000 stations that the songs go out to, where I was expecting maybe one or two would pick up some of the songs. The album is charting for both downloads and streaming at number one. It surpassed Skillet, Kane, Jordan Feliz, Abbie Robertson, Evan Craft, Blessing— I mean, if you could— on the list, Newsboys, Natalie Grant, Matt Carney, TobyMac, Ben Rector, um, Ellie Holcomb. I mean, it surpassed— it's number one. It's above all those. I mean, I'm like, I had to refresh the page because I thought there was a mistake. I couldn't believe it. I've never charted that way before. I shouldn't be charting. That does not make sense. I am not one of those artists that if I get on a chart, it's like way down the list ever. I'm never number one on any musical chart. That does not happen. So all that is to say, especially even an old album, it was not something I was looking for. It was not something I expect. I don't expect it will be there next week again, by the way. This is all grace. So to all the radio stations who, for whatever reason, I don't know if it's timing for Christmas or whatever, just some songs were resonating with you and you just decided, um, this week I'm gonna download it. Last week all those artists were ahead of me. So I don't know what happened and why this week I pulled ahead of them and radio stations decided this was going to be the top album this week for downloads and streams. But it charted at number 1 for both streams and downloads on Play MPE for all the stations globally. That just doesn't happen to me as an artist. It has never happened. It probably will never happen again. But I do not even know quite how to even rejoice in it, or even, you know, I do not even know how to be thankful sometimes in a proper way. I usually just flinch and go, "That cannot be real." As a matter of fact, I have been refreshing the webpage all week because I still, I go like, "Really? Did this actually happen? Is this happening?" So I'll end my story there and just say how grateful I am to all of you who listen. I'm so grateful to the radio stations where the album and the songs are finding an audience. I'm so grateful again to Lifeway Worship, to Craig Adams who produced the album, who sang on the album, who did so much to get this album made and has been a true friend. And even this week has contacted me again and just been such a blessing in my life. My life. So many people who made this possible, all the musicians that made this album. And God's timing is so strange sometimes that this album that's been out for several years now, who I thought was just— it was done and people had forgotten about, but all of a sudden it would come out and be charting at number 1 on these radio charts. It's just beyond me. So whatever the Lord would like to do with it, God, it's yours. Have your way with it. And I hope it will be for the glory of the kingdom of God and whatever use it would be. And so that's my good story for the week. All right, well, speaking of good things and something else that's good, if I am having a moment now at all,, and if I do have a chance to amplify anyone else's work at this moment, I want to amplify the good work of my friend Matt Litton and his friend Paul Bain. They have written this incredible 40-day guide to intimacy with God called In the Presence of Jesus, and it is a truly amazing book. And I, I'm not trying to oversell this book to you. If you are interested at all in contemplative prayer, the way I have been describing this book to people that I have given the book to, to people that I have read portions of the book to devotionally, whether it be praise team practices, the way I've described the book to other people when I've told them about it is, "It is as if Jesus is leading me in prayer." when I read this book. And it's the way that the book is designed. You can tell that they have taken some time, and I know because I've talked to Matt on the phone, and he has told me about his experiences in the presence of God in the writing of this book, and his experiences. And Matt was very close to death, and I hope to have him on my show soon to be able to tell some of his own story. But it wasn't long ago that he was in the hospital close to death's door, and he has had some really amazing contemplative experiences with the Lord. And I think you can really tell it in his writing in this book. So what I'm going to do in the remainder of the show today is I'm just going to go to chapter 1 of this book. And I hope this is okay with them. I want to share with you what this book is like by sharing with you some of the book. And I'm not doing this in any way to like— this is not my writing. This is from the book, from Paul Bain and my friend Matt Litton, In the Presence of Jesus. And I'm reading this in the hopes that you will hear this, that it will resonate with you, that you will experience being led into the presence of God, and that you will want to go and find this book for yourself, maybe share it with someone else, and that maybe your life will be enriched and nourished, and that you will be drawn more closely into the presence of God. And, and that hopefully you can maybe do as I have done and buy a few copies for people in your life and share it with them. And that is my whole goal for sharing this book with you today. So I'm just gonna start with chapter 1 and share it with you, and I hope that it will be as beneficial to you as I have found it for myself. Chapter 1: I am always at your door. Invocation: Dear Jesus, may I be still and aware that your enduring love is always present and waiting on me. Listen up, I stand at your door and knock, and I promise that in every moment of your life, I am present and and patiently waiting to commune with you. Since the beginning of time, my eternal blueprint and my deepest desire has been to walk closely with you through every step and every season of your life.

Why?

Because I want to reveal my love to you, to share my grace with you, and because I never want you to feel alone or helpless. But you should also know that I will not kick your door down. I will never force my way into your life. I understand how crazy your living space can feel behind your closed door. I know about the restless thoughts that keep you awake at night. I recognize the anxiety you feel for your loved ones and how you— how often those worries invade your entire being. I know that you feel you have so much to do, so little time to do it. I hear you when you wonder if you will ever get a moment's peace. I know how loud and overpowering life's uncertainties can seem as they swirl around you. But even when you are too distracted or overwhelmed to hear me, I am still here calling your name. And when you are ready to let me in, you simply need to open the door and I will be standing there. You do not have to clean house or prepare dinner for me. You don't have to dress up or try to put your best foot forward. You don't have to worry about where you have been or what you have done when you invite me in. Leave all those worries to me. I just want to be with you. When you invite my presence into your life, peace, comfort, and abiding joy will rush into the depths of your soul. My work of true salvation begins when you encounter my love and ask me to reside in your heart. I cannot wait to dwell with you and be a part of every aspect of your life. Remember that I am the creator of all the stars in the sky. I am the author of time. I am the Alpha and Omega. And yet I have come to stand at your door because my deepest desire is for us to be together. I am always patient and steadfast in anticipation of your invitation. I am forever longing to share my love with you. I want to move into your life so that you can witness my resurrected glory the way the Apostle Paul did. This very day, this very moment, in this very breath, even in the most chaotic moments of your life, I stand at your door and knock. Are you ready to welcome me? Scripture: Look, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20. Be as though you were waiting for your Master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. Luke 12:35-36. Reflection: There is something invasive about even a loved one coming into the intimacy of your home. It can be extremely stressful to try to get your house perfect before someone visits. But consider the profound revelation that the God of the universe did not wait for you to come to him. But he patiently waits outside your door. The truth is that Jesus longs to be invited into every moment of your life. Whether you are experiencing stress, worry, grief, or joy, he wants to bring his presence and unconditional love to every aspect of your existence. As you go through the busyness of this day, Quiet yourself to listen for Jesus' gentle knock. Consider what anxiety, need, relationship, and moment he is patiently waiting for you to release to him. What areas of your life are you trying to keep hidden from Christ? Daily prayer. Lord Jesus, please help me hear your gentle knock today. Clear my mind of anything that distracts me from responding and inviting you in. Thank you for patiently waiting. I will let go of the illusion that I need to do anything to get my life in order before I open myself to you. I invite you into the living spaces of my life. In this very moment. Forgive me for shutting you out. Fill my life with your Spirit and bring me the deep and abiding joy that you have promised. Amen. Today's blessing: May you boldly invite the God of the universe into the living spaces of your life today. May you sit in silence as he moves throughout each day of your life And no matter where you go, may you always be aware that he gently knocks at your door. Thank you so much for listening to Voices in My Head this week. Again, that book is In the Presence of Jesus by Paul Bain and my good friend Matt Litton. I'm gonna make sure and have a link to it in the show notes of Voices in My Head podcast this week. Uh, so please check it out there. Thank you for listening. God bless you, and I hope you have a wonderful week, and I'll look forward to talking to you again very soon in the near future. God bless.

Thank you for joining me here this week on Voices in My Head. I hope you'll visit me on my website at rickleejames.com where you can find out more about me Get my music on vinyl and CD, follow my blog, and even schedule me for a concert or a speaking engagement. Better yet, even a book signing in your neighborhood. You can find all that and more at rickleejames.com. Also, it would mean a great deal to me if you could write a review of this podcast on iTunes. The more positive reviews that we receive, the more visible this podcast will be online. And now for the benediction: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. God bless you, and thank you for listening to Voices in My Head.