Thoughts from a guy just trying to chase after God!

So me and the guys have begun pre-production on the new Matt Blair album that will be out in October. Let me just tell you it is going great!! We have done rough demo’s of 4 of the songs and I think everyone will be well pleased with what you are going to hear.

All that said, the plan had been to go to Griffin, GA outside of Atlanta on the night of July 20th and record until the 30th with Jason Hoard, producer of Steve Fee’s last album and a super guy. Well plans have changed and now we are staying right here in good old Wilmington, NC. I had some investor issues as well as the more we prayed and the more we looked at it we want this album to be the best we can offer God and to do that it is going to take time. So we have decided to use our great friend Lee Hester and his studio here in Wilmington. Lee is an amazing guy, great musician and a super talented musician and producer. So we will be recording throughout the month of August and the album has a tentative release date of Oct. 19th so mark your calendars.

One more thing keep checking back on the blogspot here to see some video blogs from our time in the studio. It is always some hilarious and awesome times when we all get in the studio. Keep us in your prayers as investors get in place and God allows us to do this project. I am so excited to have some new music and ministry to share with you all.

Matt

So we have now been in Wilmington for 2 weeks. What is crazy is it seemed like life and days crawled in Clarksville, and being back here it feels like time flies by. So it is safe to say we are so stinking happy and pumped to be back here. Now on the flip side that doesn’t mean everything is great, quite the opposite at times. Positives, I am working some odd jobs which I love because for the first time I really feel like I am doing whatever it takes to provide for my family and not just sitting around waiting on someone to book me. I helped install my first irrigation system yesterday and today. That is right I put sprinklers in someone’s yard so that they can water there grass. It is odd because I am not the manual labor kind of guy but I really enjoyed it. Only downside is it is pretty rough on the old hands and that is no good when you have to play the old guitar. I also have interviewed at Myrtle Grove Christian School, which is where I worked before we moved, I would be teaching Bible, SUPER PUMPED, and history if I get the job. I should know in the next few weeks. So you can keep that in the prayers, not that I would get the job, but if I am the right fit to pour into 6th-8th graders then God would open that door. I also have another potential job delivering pharmaceutical’s to at home patients I am waiting to hear about. So God has been so faithful in the job area since we got back.

On the music front, the guys and I start Monday doing pre-production on the new album so I am super pumped about that. I am actually playing at a local coffee shop in 45 minutes tonight. I am about to hit the road next weekend for an FCA camp in Franklin, TN outside of Nashville, so I am really excited about that. While there I have a couple of writing appointments to write songs for the new album, so I will keep you posted on that. So God continues to show us his faithfulness in the music as well.

The only downside to the 2 weeks actually occurred today. When God is moving Satan hates it so he attacks the most vulnerable spot, your marriage. So the wife and I had a huge blow out about the financial stuff. We are still waiting on our house in Clarksville to sell, as well as when I totaled the Suburban the gap insurance claim has not fully gone through, which means 2 car payments. It is my fault for not checking up on that more, but all of that came to a head today and I had to see my shortcomings in needing to work very hard to provide and take care of the family. So Satan sorry buddy you may have helped cause a fight but you only helped draw the wife and I closer. That is the great praise that God never allows us to sit in our crap, He causes us to see our faults and pushes us to work on them and push on towards Him.

Other than that we are just pushing on towards him. The girls are great. Abi is getting big and Kaylee is growing into this beautiful little girl for God. Very humbling to see what Erin and I try to do to help her grow in God come to life. We love being back at Port City Community Church, it has been great to plug back in to community and ministry. I have led worship at Overflow, the 20 something’s ministry twice which has been awesome. So mainly wanted to write and say God continues to blow us away and we are so thankful for all the prayers, the encouragement and support. We love you all.

MATT BLAIR

So this morning was the last service for our family at Grace Community Church here in Clarksville, TN. On the one hand I am pumped because this time next Sunday we will be back in Wilmington @ Port City Community Church again. But on the other hand it was very emotional to say goodbye to the body that has embraced us for the last 17 months. Grace has been just that, a place of Grace. A place where people took us in and showered us with love and grace. This morning I had the chance to sing the last song of the morning. I sang the song called, “The Living Years”. YES the old Mike and The Mechanics jam, good old Don Henley. When I first found out I was singing the song I was kind of like, man I have to sing a cheesy 80’s song, why couldn’t I get a sweet worship song. Then something happened, I felt God tell me to truly embrace the song and sing out to Him, after all that is the point of leading people in the music side of worship. So that is what I did, I put everything I had in to that song and something amazing happened. People connected!!! I mean really connected to the message and to God. So God forgive me for thinking You only use quote-unquote worship songs to draw people unto You.

I had a lady come up afterwards and look at me and say, “I have been here since the beginning of this church and that was the perfect song since we have been doing this.” I am thinking really, the cheesy 80’s song is the best. But then it hit me, it wasn’t the song, it was she has an authentic encounter with the living God and in some small way I was a part of that. Now talk about getting shut up talking about cheesy 80’s song. God said see I told you embrace it pour yourself into it, sing to me and I will do the rest. So I can’t think of a better way to end our season in Clarksville, TN then that. To have someone say thank you for helping me encounter God, really encounter Him, for maybe the first time. That is why I do what I do. See in the same conversation she said, “seeing you up there so professional and polished, give it more time out here it will happen with that voice.” But see that is just it, I am not leaving because I didn’t get a record deal, I am leaving because God has called me back to Wilmington to help people connect like she did with God back at Port City and to use Wilmington as my home base to keep going and out and helping people connect with the living God like that.

See what she doesn’t realize is that is a WIN! Her connecting with God is better than any record deal or radio single or any of that. The goal is introducing the lost into a relationship with Jesus Christ and helping the believer grow deeper in their relationships with Him. When the focus is not on that, which is has been for me at times, then I am missing the mark. Now if God opens the door where a record label offers to help me connect with more people then I would consider it but it is not the focus anymore. We are going back to Wilmington to lock back in with our community of Faith at PC3 and to help that body grow through our service. I desire to write songs to help the body there connect and grow and if they effect the church abroad then bonus, if not no big deal. My wife and I will be leading a small group with other married couples so that we can do life together and help each other grow. My wife is going to lead a group of young women struggling with body image issues to help them find victory in Christ. Our daughters and future children will be raised in a community of other children going after God, so they want have to wonder what the answer is, they will know it is Christ.

Could we do all of that here? Yes. Is that where God has called us? No. So we sadly back up a rental truck Thursday and start our move Friday morning. A quick stop in Greensboro to see Erin’s dad and step-mom and step-sister and then on to Wilmington Saturday.

Praises and Prayers:

Prayer – 1) The house is still not sold. 2) Financial provision for the move. 3) safe travel for the move. 4) We will be living with my mom for about 6 weeks. Great relationship just would rather have our own space. 5) Last one for now, just that we would continue to be obedient to God.

Praises - 1) We were unsure of where we would live when we move back and a buddy of mine called today to say one of his tenants was moving out end of July, hence the 6 weeks with mom, so we can move in end of July. It is more room then we thought we would have for the exact price we wanted. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath 1400 square foot Condo. THANK YOU GOD!!!! 2) That the album is coming together. Studio is booked July 18-25th. Album will be out Oct. 19th, 21st on iTunes. 3) We are healthy and happy and in love with each other and Jesus!!!!!!

Check back in soon. Thank for reading!