Giving Thanks vol. 2

Happy November frans. It’s that time of year again. The Fall/Winter season spanning November and December is quite literally my favorite time of year. I love the ambience. I love the music. I love hearing stories of my loved ones as they count their blessings and share all that they’re thankful for. I love sharing my own stories of thanks, blessing, hardship and overcoming. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I truly am blessed beyond anything I deserve.

This month marks a year and a half of being self-employed as a musician. I honestly never expected to be here – at least for the majority of my life. And then finally, I KNEW that I was called to leave the 9-5, corporate world and pursue music. I didn’t have all my ducks in a row, but I just knew I had to take a leap of faith. Point of advice: if you are convicted and aware of your calling, of your spiritual gift, sometimes it’s just best to jump in. After all, it’s not a leap of faith if you spend years planning for every scenario and potential pitfall. I’m not saying to not be prepared, but ultimately nothing will ever be perfect and you may spend years spinning your wheels before they simply just fall off. Then you may be left in the same place as you started, but with a sense of defeat and sadness. It’s never too late. But if you don’t ever make an attempt, you’ll always be wondering “what if?”

God has been working on my heart SO MUCH over this past year. I’ve grown in so many ways. He’s broken the chains of so many personality flaws and opened my eyes to so many things. I’ve grown as a person. I’ve grown emotionally. I’ve grown spiritually. I’ve grown as a worship leader. I’m not where I want to be yet, and I’m not sure I will ever get there. But I’m certainly striving daily, as best I can.

This has been my most rewarding and happiest year yet – even with a steaming pile of heartbreak thrown in for good measure (get the music pun? Measure? [sad trombone]). Through that period of brokenness, God reassembled me in a miraculous way. Since then, my community that I do life with has grown substantially. The people that have been placed in my life are just the greatest folks in the world. They are my family. Having a community that you can be transparent with, do life with, be held accountable by, and yet NOT be judged by… it’s the greatest thing ever. And I’ve only just discovered this existed within the last couple of years. Don’t let yourself become secluded and isolated from these types of loving friendships. They are among the most important things in life.

I can’t wait to see what 2014 has in store. I’m hoping to tour a bit to promote my new record (The Sound). Ideally I’ll get to TX, LA, GA, and TN. I’ll be releasing the Stages EP for free via NoiseTrade. I will likely be moving studio locations and continuing to produce artists between my own stints as a performing artist/worship leader. But it’s all in God’s hands. Wherever He leads me, I will go. He’s gotten me this far, and to Him be the glory.

I am thankful for the life I get to live. I am thankful for my family, who loves me and supports me unconditionally. I am thankful for my friends. You ARE my family. It’s a blessing and an honor that you let me into your lives. I don’t deserve you. I am thankful for my career. I am thankful for my church community. I finally feel at home for the first time in my life. I can’t imagine being anywhere else (and for those that are church shopping, might I suggest The Park Community Church in San Antonio, TX!). I am thankful for my band. You are my brothers (and sister – here’s looking at you Katie!). I am thankful for Local Coffee, Gourdough’s donuts in ATX, music, Silly Putty, and chocolate milk.

I am overly blessed. And for this, I am thankful.

I love you all.

Matt