Random thought. Me personally, I cannot sing. Hell, I cannot even talk while playing my bass or I lose my timing. Due to this, I am usually dead silent while putting my band in order and keep them on beat during wonky parts of the service.

The one things that moves me the most is when the band as a whole plays as one person. The choir and congregation is also singing their hearts out, to the point where they overpower me hearing myself through my monitor. At that point, I close my eyes and get lost in the music. I forget that I am leading a band and we all simply praise God. It can be rare at times that I can stop focusing on leading a band and I can focus on praising God, but when it does happen, I almost have to stand back and just listen in awe.

Just my two cents, nothing more. :)

Let go ... and let God!

How awesome!
They say that God inhabits the praises of His people!

Your cents is on the money.....Keep on being used and leading! God gets the glory!!!

My husband was a musician. He played bass, guitar, harmonica, sang and wrote his own music. He never cared about leading once the Spirit came. Because it is the Spirit that takes over the whole congregation. He would open his eyes & be facing wall lol.

I used to play drums, guitar, accordion, piano, trumpet and baritone. I played for God but preferred to sing even with my ummm voice....

I'am sure you could do both; the leading and singing if you tried to. I have seen band leaders sing along with the choir, so why not you? You can do it Rasmus!:)

Honestly, I know I am tone deaf when I sing, I have even taken singing lessons and it just don't happen. Also when I do try to sing, I lose my timing and well, ask any bass player and drummer, 90% of the time, we have an internal metronome in our heads that we live by. Last thing I want to do is throw that little badboy off by trying to do something else other than keeping up with it. :P

Just chill. God isnt asking for perfection, If this gives you anxiety about your leadership skills, remember you are available to God and He can use available humble people. I am sure He is more than satisfied. Dont be concerned about what people think

Knowing I don't sing hasn't given me anxiety at all in all honesty. A few years ago, I decided to try something new, whenever anyone in the church asks a favor of me, without hesitation, I agree to it. I go where I am needed without ever telling God that I am too busy. So far I have been needed to lead the band and nothing else. You see, our band is filled with musicians who range from beginner to advanced. I was told that I was picked because I seem to be the only one who can take each persons strengths AND weaknesses musically speaking and make the band sound amazing.

I have a longer story than that to tell one day (a few pages of a read depending on how I word it) but the general gist of it all is that God has put it on my heart that I will give him 100%, not 10%, 100%, even in times like now when I have no money and I am not making any money at all. I give him my all, starting with my music. If the band is not up to my standards at minimal, I work with the band until we sound like a band in the highest regards that I hold them up to. They all seem to enjoy my leadership, but have also learned a few tell tale signs of how we are doing as a whole, myself included when there is problems.

When we are rocking out so to say, I found out I uncontrollably dance on stage. I have tried to stop from some people saying it is distracting, but I simply cannot, when I get moved by the spirit, I let the spirit take over. On the days where it may be a rough day, the band may be off time, someone may be playing off key, whatever the reason is musically, my band knows if I am not moving, it is time to button up and figure out where the problem is.

My band knows my #1 rule though, when we come to even practice to praise God, we leave our drama at the door. If there is something that is bothering you to the point where you cannot focus on playing and praising God, you are not needed that week. Get your heart right first, then come to praise. At times, I have had to lead by example using that one, and again, my band seems to respect and enjoy the fact that I lead by example instead of lead verbally and nothing else.

Way to go Rasmus!

Indeed 100% is what God requires from us. Look at the parable of the Talents in the Bible. Matthew 25:14

Matthew 25:15, "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey".

Matthew 25:24-25,"Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine".

Matthew 25:20, "And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more".

I enjoy playing piano for God. I play piano each of every service mostly on sundays. It pays to serve God with your talent.

Praise Him..Praise Him.. I love to Praise His Name!! !

Singing and playing to God is apart of my life....whether the piano, keyboard, drum set, or guitar.....but the most touching time is when i am at church playing the piano or keyboard in praise and worship and i just let go of all that is around me and just focus my attention on him...also when i'm stressed or confused or just want to write a new song or just practice and i take up my acoustic guitar or keyboard and just start singing to God and praising him, it seems that every trouble just goes away....worshiping God through music is wonderful...and i believe that there are persons who are anointed to do so :-)