Me earliest memories of music in my life, are of me Mum playing piano when I was only about four. Then I can remember when I was about six and me Mum would play the piano and me four-year-old sister, Sarah, and I would sing along. We'd sing songs like "Jesus Loves Me" and "God is Good." I sang in public for the first time at the Homeschool tallent show when I was seven. It was also while I was seven that I started taking piano lessons from me Mum. (Click Here For Pictures.)
I would go through stages of enjoying the piano, but there were many times when I practiced only because I would not get me allowance if I didn't practice me daily 30 minutes. And that's the way it was for several years. I liked listening to music and enjoyed praise and worship at church, but I wasn't really into it--And we NEVER listened to rock music of any kind.
I had been thinking I'd like to learn guitar, and my friend I visited had a guitar! She had been playing for about two months. I had never held one before and was thrilled with the chance to. Me friend taught me a couple of basic chords which I played over and over and over. Although it seemed awkward at first, and me fingers became very sore and cracked, I loved it. It gave me a thrill to be playing. (Click Here For Picture)
When I got home I told me parents that I wanted to learn guitar. They were surprised since I had shown so little interest in piano, but they thought it sounded great. However, they didn't have enough money to buy me a guitar and I didn't have enough money either. So I prayed that some way, somehow, God would provide one.
DC Talk came to our town about a month after we got back home from visiting our friends. The show was free because it was at a Billy Graham cusade. Sarah and I went with our youth group and our parents went seperately. Sarah and I were thrilled by it. It stirred within me the excitment of our own band. Our parents were far less impressed--especially our Dad. Though we were permitted to buy "Jesus Freak" (one of DC Talk's alumbs) we quickly found out we had better not play it around our parents. They just didn't understand at all. I still didn't have a guitar. (Click Here For Picture)
One night at youth group I prayed, "God, I really think it would be awesome to start a Christian rock band and reach lots of teenagers through my music, but is this what you want for my life?" I asked God to give me some kind of conformation if it was.
The very next day at church, there was a special speaker visiting. At the end of the service every one lined up to be prayed for. For some people he just prayed a general prayer and for others he gave a prophetic word. When he got to me, he said, "God wnats to use you to save many souls through music. Persue that route." I could hardly believe it! How could it get any clearer than that? I told Sarah first. And then worked up enough courage to tell me parents. I was surprised that they were receptive to the "Christian Rock Band" idea which we had not shared with them up until this point.
