About Created2Praise

Isaiah 43:7 (NKJV)

“Everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

Bringing Hope through Music: The Story Behind the Blog!

I began sharing inspirational contemporary Christian music during the beginning days of March 2020.  Since our church was shut down due to the pandemic, I felt the need to support and comfort my church choir, family, and friends, who had been very special to me over the years.  I came up with the idea to offer a weekly contemporary or traditional Christian praise song to accompany my friend’s morning/evening devotion, online message, or weekly moment of praise.

With this music selection, I added my thoughts regarding the music’s message, perhaps the artist, its relevance to our lives today, and our Father’s mercies and love towards each of us.  Knowing that many found themselves alone, isolated, confused, frustrated, and angry with what was going on with and around them and their loved ones, I thought having a song sent out weekly might offer comfort, hope, assurance, peace, and affirmation of our Father’s love and continued provisions even through our most difficult seasons.

In a society often driven by self-interest, I aim to be an instrument of our Father’s selfless love. My purpose is to deliver a positive message and bring moments of peace into others’ lives, freely and without expectation.

My passion for Christian Praise music spans the decades. I have been deeply involved in church music ministry, experiencing its evolution firsthand. I’ve had the privilege of leading traditional music while also being at the forefront of introducing contemporary worship, from the early 1970s to the present day. Throughout these years, I’ve learned that music is powerful. It breaks down walls, unites unlikely people, softens hearts, and teaches biblical truths of sacrifice and redemption. Most importantly, music enables the indescribable and undeniable presence of the Holy Spirit during praise and worship, allowing us to honour and glorify our Heavenly Father. In the beginning, artists like J. W. Peterson, Don Wyrtzen, and Bill & Gloria Gaither paved the way for a new format of gospel music. This was further expanded by artists such as Keith Green, Amy Grant, and Michael W. Smith, whose contemporary music helped us gather and praise God through praise and worship segments. Today, our repertoire of Christian music has expanded significantly with the works of artists such as Darlene Zschech, Kari Jobe, CeCe Winans, Chris Tomlin, and Canadian artist Matt Maher, among others. Their songs help us enter into deep, personal moments of Praise and Worship and, very importantly, lift high our Lord, Redeemer, and King.

The Holy Spirit has inspired composers across generations. Traditional classics such as “How Great Thou Art” and “To God be the Glory,” as well as new contemporary worship songs like “Holy Forever” and “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone),” spark a spirit-filled worship.

My intention for this site is not to dazzle as a great preacher, theologian or writer (this will be clear) but simply as an everyday person trying to bring comfort, hope, and joy to everyone I can. I want to point you to praise songs that can help you, as they do me, sing, pray, and praise our Lord and Creator.

My heart desires that you come back over and over to this website, to your favourite praise song for encouragement, for comfort, to reflect upon the mercies and blessings upon your life, to feel the presence of our God’s living Holy Spirt through worship, to sing, pray, laugh, dance, cry, but mostly to praise our Lord and Father as we were indeed created2praise.

The idea to create this music blog site came from a nudge from the Holy Spirit. I am not sure how it will be received, but if this endeavour encourages you to be moved by the Holy Spirit for a work He has set out for you, please let me know. I will be thrilled to hear from you and offer encouragement.

I also understand we come from many religious denominations and backgrounds; I realize what I write of and believe may be different from your understandings and teachings, but I hope in such cases, this blog will prompt each of us to think about what we believe, learn to defend our faith and allow us each to search for our promptings from the Holy Spirit which will ultimately strengthen our faith and relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

What beautiful moments when we feel the holy presence of the Holy Spirit in our offering of praise and worship for our Heavenly Father, Lord Redeemer. The Alpha and Omega Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

About Founder/Blogger Lou-Anne Mayville

I began my musical journey at four years of age. “I can honestly tell you that I do not remember a time that I was not playing the piano.”  My first song chorded from the Hymnbook was “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”

When I was eleven, I played for my first cantata (a 45-minute Christian musical presentation) at a small-town Baptist church. A funny story: probably from a mix of excitement and nerves, we performed the musical in record time—safe to say with very few, if any, tender moments! Still, my piano proficiency and eagerness to perform were evident. From then on, I performed in two musicals yearly, playing alongside my mom, the church organist and music director. Our entire family was involved in the music of that small hometown church. Music was a true family affair.

At twelve, I took over playing for Sunday School each week. While I am sure my accompaniment was a little rough, the teachers seemed happy to have me fill the void, and I began developing the skills for my next musical endeavour. Around age sixteen, I started a small junior choir. We had many opportunities to sing in morning services and yearly musicals, and I began acquiring the directing skills that would set me up for the next stage of my life.

At nineteen, I attended the local university, began a piano teaching career, and accepted the role of Music Director and Pianist at a Presbyterian Church in Windsor, Ontario (1980–2000). During these years, I matured as a church music director, leading the choir in cantatas and junior choir musicals. We soon established a contemporary worship style with a praise team and enthusiastic congregation participation. This modern approach was becoming popular in contemporary churches. Our church became a shining light, demonstrating how this style could bring spirit-filled worship to a Sunday morning service. At this same time, I began my university studies with the organ but quickly found my passion when I transferred into a four-year Honours Piano Performance Degree.

After this era ended, I accepted the position of Music Director at a United Church in Essex County (2000–2020). During those twenty years, I introduced contemporary Christian music to an eager choir and congregation. It didn’t take long to establish a growing choir, and once again, we brought the praise team worship style to a congregation that willingly embraced the musical changes. With the Spirit alive amongst us, our church became a beacon of light to the community through music of praise and worship to our Lord Jesus Christ.

A Final Thought

My deep roots began in the Baptist denomination, and I have since shared a music ministry in Presbyterian and United churches. I have also participated in many Catholic services with my husband’s family over the past 35 years and have been incredibly blessed over recent years by the teachings from a Pentecostal pulpit. I currently serve as the Music Director at a Lutheran Church in Windsor.

I feel confident sharing my belief that, at the end of the day, even though denominations have differences, we are far more similar than we are different. I have personally experienced the Holy Spirit alive and present within every single one of these denominations: Baptist, Presbyterian, United, Catholic, Pentecostal, and Lutheran.

My prayer is: May we sing together, may we continue to lift the name of Jesus above all others, and may we continue to give praise and worship to our Lord Jesus Christ for all that He has done for us.

Please Help Me Share This Site

I am still working this website out and need people to partner with.  If you feel led, please pass the word around about this site.  I am not a social media socialite or media whiz, so I will greatly appreciate your help and any other ideas or thoughts you can share with me.
I also have business cards that I will be glad to pass on to you if you could help me put them out or up in various places.