Artist On The Rise: Why Will McMillan's 'My Story' will be the "Best Thing" in Your Music Library

If you've listened to gospel music at all over the last decade, chances are, you've heard Will McMillan...even if you haven't heard of him. If you're not familiar with eOne Nashville's newest signee, read on to find out why his debut album, My Story, will be the "Best Thing" you've heard in a long time.

Will McMillan - My Story (2018) / Amazon

While he is technically the "new kid on the block" at eOne, 29-year-old McMillan is no stranger to the gospel music industry. A multi-talented musician, he's played keys and organ for some of gospel's finest, including Jonathan Nelson and Tasha Cobbs-Leonard. He also directed the music on William McDowell's Dove Award-winning album Sounds of Revival (2016) and Travis Greene's Stellar Award-winning album, Crossover: Live From Music City (2017). A few years ago, McMillan decided to transition from the background to the forefront, embarking on his own music career. As the frontman of Willmband, a collective comprised of himself and a group of friends who share his passion for music, he released two singles, "Never Get Tired (Running)" (2015) and "You'll Never Leave Me" (2016).

Now under Tenth Child, Inc.'s management, McMillan will release his debut album, My Story, on July 20th. If you pre-order on iTunes, you'll get two tracks automatically: The single, "Best Thing," a fresh spin on the James Cleveland classic, and the Disney-esque "See You." The latter features Will's sister, Julia McMillan, a vocal powerhouse in her own right who is currently touring with Travis Greene.

Will McMillan's sound is carving a unique niche in gospel. He's bringing a fresh transparency to the genre that gets to the heart of the matter, to the heart of God. I was introduced to his music in 2017 when "You'll Never Leave Me" was available as a single under Willmband. Rarely do I ever purchase a song after listening to it one time, but it was that good (if you haven't heard it, it'll be re-released on this album)! Struck by McMillan's hard-hitting lyrics and beautiful melodies, I bought it immediately, learned the words in about three hours, and covered it on SoundCloud the next day. It was then that I realized his gift was something special, but I wondered why I hadn't heard of him before. Turns out, I had heard him, I just didn't know it. To say I'm excited to hear this full project is an understatement. Honestly, I haven't been this excited for an album release in a long time.

God is doing a new thing through the fresh oil that is being released in his Kingdom, and Will McMillan is just one example of new wine in the gospel genre. Take a listen to his single, "Best Thing," below. If you like what you hear, #SupportKingdomMusic and buy My Story. You'll be sowing into good ground.

Lifting Le'Andria Johnson: The Perks and Pitfalls of the Spotlight

By now, you've probably heard about the controversy surrounding Grammy-winning gospel artist Le'Andria Johnson. Last weekend, she went on a tirade about corruption and wrongdoing in the church. Names were called, profane words were spoken, and as a result, she was removed from the gospel lineup at Essence Festival. I've seen the videos, but I won't post them here because more exposure will just add fuel to the fire. All weekend I watched as people inside and outside of the gospel music industry weighed in on Johnson's spiel, stating whether or not they were on her side. Unlike those posts, the only side I'm taking here is the side of Christ.

Image source: Le'Andria Johnson's official website

As a gospel music enthusiast, while I have met a plethora of gospel artists, I've only seen the industry from a supporter's perspective, and even that has allowed me a glimpse of how unforgiving the business can be. Johnson was right on that point: Gospel music is a business--and so is the church, to some extent. This is where a separation needs to occur: First of all, we need to separate Christ Himself from those who claim to be following Him. Secondly, we need to separate the gospel artist from the person.

The truth is, a lot of people claim Christianity, but very few of us live it. If we're sincerely striving to live righteously, we should naturally expect for every other Christian to treat us respectfully, speak to us cordially, etc. Right? WRONG. Some people in the church are corrupt, while others genuinely want to win souls for Christ. The good news is, it's not our job as Christians to point fingers at those who are doing wrong. God will deal with them. Our only assignment is to do what is right. In order to fully appreciate the Church (with a capital "C") we have to know the difference between Christians who are doing God's work, and people who look like Christians, but are actually just pushing their own agendas.

Now to my second point, separating the artist from the person. As I said, I've met a lot of gospel artists. I'm familiar with some more than others, because I often go to multiple shows in support of the same artists. The same way the Church is filled with both real believers and perpetrating "Christians," the stage is full of people who either sincerely sing for God, or sing about Him and live for themselves. I make it a point to stand in line after gospel concerts, not just to buy products, because most of the time, I already have them (#SupportKingdomMusic) but to see a little bit of the person behind the music and find out how they're doing.

Image source: Clipartix

Most of the artists I've met seem to genuinely be doing Kingdom work. Yes, they want us to buy their CDs, because that's their livelihood. Yes, they'll take pictures, because they understand that their music is ministry. They care about winning souls and they want to hear about how their music makes an impact, but I see how tired they are. I see how much the constant traveling, time away from their families, comments on social media, and industry politics (much of which we, as consumers, don't see) drains them. You'd be surprised to learn how uncommon it is for supporters to ask artists, "How are you?" to care about their wellbeing. We need to realize that before these people are our favorite artists, they are human.

In Matthew 7:3-4, Jesus asks, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye" (NIV)? Gospel artists have ungodly, unhappy, frustrating moments where they drink, smoke, curse, etc. just like everybody else. The only difference is, because of their platform, they don't have the luxury of a private fall from grace. If they don't have anyone to vent to, the emotions they are forced to bottle up can reach a very dangerous (and very public) boiling point.

I saw Le'Andria Johnson in concert about a month ago, and while I didn't get a chance to meet her, I could tell in her performance that she was going through something...but she still sang to God like nobody was watching. Despite whatever it is she's battling, I genuinely believe she loves Him. I think she just needs to rest and regroup.

Yesterday, Johnson issued an apology via Instagram. She owned up to her comments, saying in the caption, "I accept full responsibility for what I communicated out of frustration." From her apology, it's clear that she deeply regrets some of the things she said in those videos, not just what she said, but how she said it. She's still one of the most anointed voices in gospel music, and I hope that this controversy will not overshadow that. Instead of shining the spotlight on her shortcomings, let's give her grace.

Let this post serve as a call to action. Cover your favorite psalmists in prayer, always. Even if they're not strong enough to admit that they need prayer, especially if they're not asking for prayer, they need it! Even if you don't know what to pray for specifically, just speak their names into the atmosphere. The weight of the gifts they carry can bear heavily on their hearts. Before you judge them, ask yourself if you could handle the pressure.

Queens Don't Chase: The Dangers of Pursuing Potential

A while ago, a friend of mine asked me why she always seemed to attract the wrong guys. We listed all the things she had going for herself: She's intelligent (with two degrees under her belt), funny, she can cook, and she loves Jesus. I added, "You're pretty, too!" The smile melted from her face and she said, "Yeah...but I'll never have a shot with [insert name here] because I'll never look like that," comparing herself to the "models" she's seen on Instagram. She explained that, while she was proud of her accomplishments, she felt "overqualified" for a relationship because most guys she liked didn't care how smart or ambitious she was. In fact, she told me some of them were turned off by her passion for success. She said they only cared about girls with perfectly filtered bodies and fake personalities to match, and that each time she'd like a guy, the relationship would end before it even started, even if it seemed like there was "potential." As soon as she used that word, I understood why none of those would-be situationships lasted. Sisters, I've got three words for you: QUEENS DON'T CHASE (and we definitely don't pursue potential)!

Image source: Pinterest

I explained to my friend that when you know your worth, you know that potential is just that...potential. Potential is not the same as progress. If it's not going anywhere, you owe it to yourself to move on. The problem wasn't just that my friend attracted the wrong guys, the problem was the ungodly environment she found them in. The environment, quite literally, separates the men from the boys. So I said, "Sis, you need to be around guys who will appreciate what you have to offer, who know what a privilege it would be to 'have a shot' with you." Then, I reminded her of who she was. "You're the prize. The prize doesn't present itself to the prize winner. The winner works to earn it."

Think about it, ladies. Drive, ambition and real, useful skill sets are a turn-off to a shallow guy, not a guy who has his priorities in order and knows what type of woman would really be beneficial to where he's going in life...assuming he has real dreams and aspirations, that is (because let's be real, not all of them do 😂). And not only is the guy who finds those things to be a turn-off really shallow, he's also really weak. A lot of times guys who are turned off by your accomplishments are really intimidated by you, and don't know how to approach you. If he's turned off by your accomplishments, he might have an inferiority complex. A man who's confident in who he is is not intimidated by a woman with a good head on her shoulders.

I write a lot about the hurry-up-and-wait tug-of-war in what feels like a perpetual season of singleness--and I'll continue to write my way through it until marriage. The struggle IS real, but this conversation was a necessary reminder of why I won't settle for less than a Godly man. I need a man with GODfidence--a confidence that can only come from God. He should be secure in his gifts but only boast in the Lord. My Godly man will see who I am in Christ and won't be intimidated by where I'm going, where God is taking me, because he'll see himself going in the same direction.

The bottom line is, looks DO matter...but they aren't everything. The right(eous) man will find beautiful parts of a woman that go beyond her face and body. He'll see past "pretty" on the surface and fall in love with the praying, purpose-driven woman that will one day raise his children. Shallow men stay in the shallow part of the water. They don't dive deep beneath the surface because they're afraid of what they'll find...not in the person they're looking at, but within themselves. Queens, what's for you will pursue you. Stop running after a man! Pick up your crown (and your cross) and run with Christ instead.

#WednesdayWisdom: From 'Yes' to 'Amen'

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God." - 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV)

If you grew up in church, you've probably heard this scripture phrased as, "God's promises are yes and amen." The first time I heard this as a child, I, of course, asked, "What does that mean?" Adults explained to me that it simply meant that God will fulfill His promises for my life. It wasn't until adulthood that I realized the meaning of that phrase, when I added a ellipsis: God's promises are yes...and amen. This week's dose of #WednesdayWisdom sits on the ellipsis of almost but not quite.

Image source: The Praying Woman

Yes is an agreement. It's approval, affirmation, a sure and definite answer. If God promised you something, YES, it is guaranteed, YES, it will happen. Amen means "it is so." It's the verification of the God guarantee. When we give God our "yes" in exchange for His and seal it with "amen," we are proclaiming that the promises are fulfilled even before their fruition. This is where it gets complicated: Amen declares, "It is so!" but life's 'what ifs' often change that declaration to a question: So...it is?

Sometimes, we feel like there's a long distance between giving God our yes and seeing, grasping, a tangible "amen." We see the "big picture," the overarching purpose, but the problem is, we don't know how to get to the "amen" that seems just out of reach. So we hang on the ellipsis between yes and amen, lunging for it and reeling back empty handed. I've been in the lunging position for a long time, and honestly, I've worn myself out.

We spend so much time wondering how and when we'll see the "big picture" that we forget to look for beauty in the details. Constantly straining towards the amen tells God we don't trust Him enough to wait for Him to bring us to it, we'd rather skip the process and bring it to us. This word is for you and for me: Stop straining!

God doesn't need your help to fulfill His promises. He's God all by Himself, and He knows what you're purposed for. Instead of trying to figure it all out right now, live in the right now. Take it one day, one step at a time. Stand on the promise of the expected end, but don't focus so much on getting to the end that you miss what's in the middle. That's where the good stuff is. Even when you don't see it, it IS so! #WednesdayWisdom

The Perks of Being Called 'Friend'

I debated on whether or not to post last week's blog because I always want to use this platform to be a light for the Kingdom. As an optimist, I try my best to look at life from a glass-half-full perspective. The post had a "happy ending," but was, for the most part, pessimistic. I decided to post it anyway because I'm called to show people a God who will meet them where they are. People need to know that following Christ is the best decision they can ever make. God is marvelous, matchless, gracious, all that and more--however, even in following Him, especially in following Him, there will be days when you cry. There will be days when you're frustrated, when you don't know what's next, when you know there's a light at the end of the tunnel, but you're just tired of being in the tunnel...and that's okay. God loves you enough to "meet" you where you're tired, but here's where you hold up your end of the bargain: You have to be willing to let Him take care of you.

Image source: Alexandria First Baptist Church

Last week, I said I was tired of being in timeout, but I realized that only part of that was God allowing me to stay there. The other part was simply self-inflicted frustration, kicking and screaming.

O, what peace we often forfeit

O, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

This excerpt from the old hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" has been ministering to me so much in the past week. We complain to God that we have no peace, but the truth is, WE rob ourselves of peace when we try to be in control. In John 15:13‭-‬15, Jesus says: 

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (NIV)

A friend is someone you can trust, someone you can lean on in times of distress, someone who will listen to you and be honest with you, who will not tell you what you want to hear, but rather, what you need to hear. God is the best friend we could ever hope to have. He wants to see us flourish, but before we step into the things He's promised us, we have to be pruned.

If God is taking you through something, it means He wants you to grow, most likely in anticipation of the next season. A good friend wouldn't send you to a new level unprepared. If it hurts now, it's because God is equipping you! Ask Him to open your heart and mind so He can speak to you in the pruning season. Ask Him to open your eyes so that you can see beyond your current situation and look into your future, but in the meantime, figure out what you're supposed to be learning. There is a lesson to be learned in every season. As James 1:2‭-‬4 reminds us, there is joy even in the in-between:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (NIV)

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

You don't have to bear the pain in this season. Relinquish the hold, trust Him and turn your frustration into expectation. You've got friend privileges. Use them!

Trusting God in Timeout

I used to think the most frustrating part of the Christian walk was talking to God and not being able to hear Him, feeling like He wasn't listening. I've been there, and when I was there, it felt like I would never come out. Thankfully, I've been delivered from that, but in the years since, I've discovered something I think is even worse. So far (at least for me), the most frustrating thing in the Christian life is knowing full well what God has promised and having to stand on those promises even when you don't see the manifestation of them.

I grew up in church. I accepted Christ at the age of 6. I went to the altar by my own volition, but I based my need for salvation on what I'd heard from my mom, my aunt, and grandma, and who they told me God was. Around age 20, at what I thought was rock bottom, I got to know Him for myself, but even before then, I knew what He said about me. Prophecies of greatness have been spoken over my life since before I was born. I've always been told that He would use me to do miraculous things. I know what God has promised me, but I haven't seen it yet. In last week's post, I said I didn't mind waiting, but I retracted that statement and admitted that I actually do mind. I'm waiting for so many things, and the truth is, I mind all the time. I get frustrated because I know who He's called me to be, but I'm still figuring out what I need to do and where I need to be to carry out the assignment that He's given me.

The Church teaches us to trust God and lists all these things He'll give us if we put our lives in His hands. They don't tell us that accepting Christ as Lord means entering into a perpetual tug-of-war between flesh and spirit, heart and mind, holiness and worldliness...prosperity gospel doesn't cut it anymore. Spiritual warfare is REAL.

Image source: Kids First Pediatrics

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't trust God. It's just, I'm growing tired of being stuck in limbo, in the distance between the declaration of the promise and the fruition of it. I want to see it, and I want to see it NOW...but the thing is, I know good and well it doesn't work like that. I know that "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV), but that doesn't make it any easier. In fact, I think that makes it more difficult because it makes us want to ask Him, How much longer? When will it be my turn? It's like being in timeout. I feel like I'm facing a wall, and every time God hears me grumble under my breath in complaint, he adds another minute, another day, another month, another year to my wait.

I strive to live life on fire for God. There's nothing I love more than spreading His light and His message, but it's hard to encourage others when I feel stuck. The other day, though, still in "timeout," I realized something: This "I don't mind waiting...but hurry up!" attitude is basically the same as being lukewarm. Even in the in-between stages of life, this walk is all or nothing. In or out. Hot or cold. Black or white.

If, like me, you're waiting for something, ask yourself this: If God gave you what you're asking for right this second, would you be able to handle it? Could He trust you with it? For children, timeout is often a consequence of wrongdoing, but for Christians, that's not always the case. Sometimes, God puts you in the corner so that you will have no choice but to take time out to hear from Him. The season of "timeout" teaches us several lessons. First and foremost, it teaches us patience. It forces us to stand still and know that when the time is right, we will no longer be confined, limited by what seems to be in our way. Not only that, it also makes us appreciate the freedom that is afforded to us when we can finally come out of the corner.

The good news is, timeout is temporary. It might feel like punishment right now, but it's actually for our good! Romans 8:18 says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (NIV). So, don't get discouraged. It may not be comfortable at the moment, but take comfort in knowing that every promise God made, He will keep, no matter how long the wait seems. Timeout is almost up!

In the meantime, let's shift our focus to show Him that we can be trusted. As my granddaddy and I used to sing, "I'll just say, 'Thank You Lord' / And I won't complain!"

The Wait: Practicing Contentment

Birthdays have a funny way of triggering self-reflection. My 24th is tomorrow (June 7th), so I guess now is as good a time as any to update you all on my relationship status: I'm still single...but practicing contentment. In last year's birthday post, I spoke openly about my virginity and my decision to remain pure until marriage. I've always wanted to get married, but I didn't mind waiting...until 23 stirred up something in me. Suddenly, almost overnight, singleness wasn't comfortable anymore. In the last 363 days, I've learned a lot about being "okay" with waiting. My biggest lesson was differentiating between learning the art of contentment and practicing it.

At the beginning of this year when singleness was weighing heavily on me, I was scrolling through my recommendations on YouTube and I came across "Don't Mind Waiting" from William McDowell's 2016 release, Sounds of Revival. Since I'd never heard the song before (I know, I'm late lol), I didn't know what to expect...and I certainly didn't expect it to affect me the way it did. "Don't Mind Waiting" is a declaration that the worshipper will wait on God, no matter how long it takes. Instead of becoming impatient, the closer God comes to fulfilling His promise, the louder their worship will get. While they wait, desperation will increase, but they won't be desperate for the thing they're waiting for. They'll be desperate for God. Check out the video below:

I found this song exactly when I needed it. It really comes in handy on the days that I DO mind waiting.

The problem wasn't that I didn't know how to wait, I've been doing that all my life...literally. The problem was, I started dwelling so much on the "when" that I began losing sight of the "why." The only "why" I cared about was why I was still single when it seemed like everybody else was "Boo'd Up" (shout out to Ella Mai). Then I remembered that the promise is so much bigger than a "boo."

This year, singleness is my birthday present. Literally, it defines my present relationship status, but it's also a tremendous gift. In singleness, I am, of course, living for God, but I also have the freedom to live for myself. I can take as much time as I want to do what I want. I don't have to account for anyone else's needs. Marriage, on the other hand, won't allow me to be so selfish. I'll still be submitted to God, but I'll also have to submit to my husband. When he finds me, singular will become plural and two will become one. Our individual relationships with God will branch into collaborative service, a collaborative prayer life and collaborative worship. While I wait, I'm realizing that a happy marriage doesn't start in marriage. A happy marriage begins with practicing contentment in singleness--and practice makes perfect.

If I'm not careful, impatience in this season could lead to settling, and settling would be doing a disservice to my purpose. I might be tired of waiting, but there's too much on the line to mind. So Lord, for the remainder of my wait:

I need You...even on days when I don't mind waiting, and especially on days when I do. I never want my desire for anything else in this life to outweigh my desperation for You. The closer I get to You, the louder my praise will become. While I wait, I won't grow weary, impatient or doubtful. Instead, I'll focus on walking in your will, confident that You will fulfill Your promises. I won't forfeit the gift of singleness to satisfy myself, but one day, I will exchange that gift for a union ordained by You. In the meantime, thank You for blessing me with 24 years of life. Part of practicing contentment means knowing that You are responsible for writing my story. I can't wait to read the next chapter.