WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:05.440 Welcome to the It's Life podcast where conversations about faith meet real life. 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:09.679 We are a ministry here of Liberty Live Church in Hampton Roads, Virginia. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:15.919 So whether you follow us along, maybe you're here for the first time, we just want to say welcome home. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:18.480 And you always have a place here at Liberty. 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:24.640 And today I would like to introduce you to Lucas and Mel from Liberty Live Worship. 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:26.079 Welcome to the set. 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:26.559 Thank you. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:27.600 Thanks for having me. 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:28.800 Yeah, you're welcome. 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:36.479 Y'all, today we have a special bonus episode of the It's Life podcast because Liberty Live Worship just released a new album. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:38.079 Tell us about it. 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:41.600 Yeah, it's uh it's a 15-track album. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:47.840 Um, and it's designed for people to experience God through the experience of the record. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:52.560 Um, and so it's not necessarily like your Sunday morning worship vibes, everybody's gathered. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:54.320 Let's go and worship God together. 00:00:54.479 --> 00:01:02.000 It's more of like a um a time for your prayer closet or you're you're spending time with God individually and kind of having a soundtrack in the background. 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:02.399 Nice. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:03.439 Nice. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:04.560 So why now? 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.680 What's so special about the album coming out now? 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:13.439 So the cool thing about this album is it came so organically. 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:20.959 Um, our church has been doing 21 Days of Prayer for six years now, and it felt like the natural next step. 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:29.040 Um, but what we were writing, and I feel like started uh last 21 Days of Prayer, like back in August a year ago. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:41.359 Everyone just started writing these songs that weren't congregational and they were more like your prayer songs, like more like, hey, this is what I'm walking through, this is what the Lord's teaching me right now. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:43.280 And then we're like, okay, let's write that. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:45.040 And that's kind of all we were writing. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:48.319 And so it kind of like made itself, yeah. 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:49.200 Yeah, yeah. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:54.480 So when, like you said, you were all kind of feeling it on your own the last 21 days of prayer. 00:01:54.640 --> 00:02:03.040 Was it like you were writing independently and you came together and you're like, Oh, I've got this song and I've got this song, or did you sit together as a group and do it all together? 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:03.680 How does that work? 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:05.040 There's kind of a mix of it. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:23.599 So uh most of us like we would come to um church and we we write on Tuesdays, and so we would come to rights a lot of the time, having spent time with God in in our own, you know, individual time, and we would have written a song out of that time, whether it's like a chorus or it's a verse or it's just a thought or an idea. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:24.000 Right. 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:25.759 And we'd bring that to the team. 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:31.439 Um, and it it the rooms depended on the the size of the room kind of depended on whoever was there. 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:34.960 Uh, and everybody would kind of collaborate and bring the song to life. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:40.159 And um, so that's why you got, you know, multiple writers on most of these songs, and yeah. 00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:44.000 So, like Mel, what has the Lord taught you through this process? 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:59.360 I think um everyone brings in their own ideas, and it's cool to jump in uh into what the Lord's doing in someone else's life and see how we relate. 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:06.560 Typically, we're all kind of walking through the same season, but the Lord is showing us different things at the same time. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:11.599 So it's really taught me to like lean in to our staff. 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:16.240 It really has made us family because we've been so vulnerable with each other. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:18.719 And really, when you're writing a song, like that's your baby. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:18.960 Yeah. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:23.199 And and when the Lord is like telling you something, like it's really personal to you. 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:36.960 And so it teaches you like together how to protect one another and how to love one another well and how to get this to the finish line in a way that honors each other and honors the Lord. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:37.280 Yeah. 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:42.560 And it really just builds a deep uh sense of trust and intimacy. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:49.599 And I think that's what makes it good is we all we all want to see your, we all want to see your baby thrive, you know? 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:54.960 Like we all wanna we all wanna get it to where it can be the best. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:04:16.800 Um and it it just teaches you how to not be selfish and like you always strive to uh help that person's idea and that person's theme like grow and flourish without like taking over or making it something different, but really knowing like this is is this the intent you had? 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:22.879 Like really just protecting each other's intent and what their vision is and what they want to see. 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:25.680 And it just makes us closer this family. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:31.839 I think when somebody brings an idea like that into a room of other people, it's very scary, you know. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:41.199 Yeah, um, but also I think when you're brought into that room, it's such an honor because it's like you're you're being let in on some almost like a secret that that person has with God. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:41.680 Yeah. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:46.480 And you get to incorporate and kind of shoot ideas and see, you know, where it would go. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:50.160 And so it's there's always an honor to be brought in on somebody's time with God like that. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:50.800 Yeah. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:57.600 I wasn't really gonna take the conversation here, but you answering the question that way kind of made me think of it and wanted to bring it back. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:02.240 So, how do you, when your role is so creative, right? 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:04.959 Liberty Live worship, you're putting out music. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:09.199 People want to hear the music, people want to worship along with the music, pray with the music. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:18.800 How do you fight against this is just a job versus like a calling and the constant need to keep being creative? 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:20.959 Such a good question. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:22.959 I know, I know, it's so hard. 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:28.879 I think uh one, I think your call and your job can work hand in hand. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:38.959 Um and so uh I think I I spent a lot of hours outside of my job hours uh working on this record because I know that's what I'm supposed to do. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:39.519 That's cool. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:45.839 And so um it to me it was like it didn't producing this album didn't feel like work to me. 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:48.399 It felt like I was doing exactly what God gifted me to do. 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:49.199 That's awesome. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:51.600 Um, and so it gave me a lot of life. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:56.000 And so at least with this, you know, project, I felt like those things kind of worked hand in hand for me. 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:56.879 Yeah, that's cool. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:02.160 I can't remember if it was uh Pastor Grant or Pastor Dalton who said this. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:04.000 He says this is a school of ministry. 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:06.319 You're not called to a job, you're called to a people. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:12.720 And the cool thing about writing for our church is you know your people. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:13.120 Right. 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:17.759 And so even when we're writing, I'm thinking about people. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:20.160 I'm thinking about who's gonna need this. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:23.839 I'm thinking about the family I just talked to on Sunday, yeah. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:30.319 Or that family that I know they're going through such a rough time, and I know this song is gonna hit for them. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:31.920 Yeah, this is gonna be the one. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:37.839 And so it keeps things in perspective when there are people connected to what you're writing. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:38.800 I love that. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:47.199 So, what are y'all hoping that the people of Liberty and now maybe people beyond Liberty uh will encounter as they listen to the album? 00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:52.560 Um, I would say uh peace and and slowing down. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:54.399 That's kind of a theme throughout the record. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:07:00.240 Um, because I think, you know, it's so easy to be distracted right now. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:00.720 Right. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:11.759 Uh and so we intentionally made it a longer project uh so that in order to kind of get through the whole journey, you have to kind of spend an hour and kind of dig in for a while. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:21.519 Um, and so I I hope people take the time to do that and see kind of the fruit of uh and the reward of spending that much time with God and doing it consistently. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:34.000 And and so we just kind of put this out as like an aid, as like a if you want a little soundtrack to your quiet time with the Lord and and you want to stay in that, um, is kind of a a gift that we're trying to bring to the church family. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:34.959 So yeah, yeah. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:36.240 And it is that. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:39.439 Do you have a favorite song on the album? 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:42.800 How do you how do you is it the one with your kiddos? 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:43.439 Yeah. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:45.600 That's I thought those were your girls. 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:46.319 Oh yeah. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:46.879 Oh yeah. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:47.680 Oh my goodness. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:48.800 That's such a sweet one. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:54.720 But I I feel like there are moments in each one that I love so much. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:59.920 It's so hard to pick a favorite because we know the stories of everyone. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:00.160 Yeah. 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:06.000 And so it feels like every single one is my favorite because I know where it came from and I know the stories behind them. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:11.920 Um, so I don't know, but like I will say I listened to What a Friend probably way too much. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:12.959 Like that is a good thing. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:16.000 That song is so special to me. 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:23.920 And um, and just the way that we arranged it and all the things, like it always just ministers to me whenever I whenever I listen to that one. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:26.000 So that's probably one of my top ones. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.399 And Jeff Ask you on Still. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:29.040 Of course. 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:29.680 Yeah. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:30.160 Of course. 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:40.480 Also, a fun little story on that is uh I was I was working on kind of this instrumental outro to the song Rest that Mark sings on the record. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:50.399 And I was like, man, I want somebody like somebody with a really sweet, like seasoned voice to just like speak the word of God over this instrumental. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.080 And so I literally just called Jeff. 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:55.519 He was upstairs, and I was like, You want to come like read Psalm 23 over this? 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:58.000 And he was like, I'm at lunch, but yeah, I'll do it when I get back. 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:04.320 And so he got in there and I kind of explained what it was and played the instrumental behind him, and he went in there and he did one take and we were done. 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:04.720 Wow. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:10.480 And he came out of that room and he said, Uh, I got I got a little emotional and teary-eyed during it. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:10.960 Is that okay? 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:12.080 Would you do we need to do it again? 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:13.600 I was like, that is perfect. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:16.720 That's uh it's it was just such a genuine sweet moment. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:18.879 And so I'm I'm thankful I got to experience that. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:19.840 That's amazing. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:29.360 And even like hearing it in 21 days, uh, I'm looking around the room and I'm seeing it ministering to people like that moment. 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:32.080 And I was like, this is why, like this is why we do it. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:45.200 Yeah, it's been really cool in the room to hear that track instead of you know, other artists, even though there's nothing wrong with them, but to hear Liberty Live Worship in the room as people are praying for our church, for their families. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:47.679 Like you said, you're ministering to our people. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:47.919 Right. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:50.080 And it's been neat to be a part of. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:51.600 So thank you guys for doing the work. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:53.120 Yeah, it's been really neat. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:56.879 Still Waters is out now wherever you listen to your music. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:09:59.600 The full track is on YouTube, I think, right? 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:01.120 So you can go all the way through it. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:03.440 Uh, thank you guys for being on the set today. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:06.960 If this has encouraged you, share it with your friends. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:12.480 We love you, Liberty Family, and those that want to join the Liberty family, you're always welcome here. 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:15.600 Melissa, would you mind closing out with our prayer promise today? 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:16.240 I would love to. 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:18.159 I would love to. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:29.919 It says now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:37.759 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:38.639 Amen. 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:44.879 That's it for today's episode of the It's Life Podcast, where conversations about faith meet real life. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:52.000 If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to leave a review, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs a little encouragement. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:54.799 Thanks for tuning in, and we'll see you next time.