Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

good stuff

YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES

You say: "It's impossible" God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired" God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me" God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on" God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out" God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: "I can't do it" God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able" God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it" God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself" God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid" God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I'm not smart enough" God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone" God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Christmas Blessings








Christmas is almost here!
I am finally starting to get things together. Different things has happened this year in the economy, and with jobs and money. Its been a very tight Christmas for so many people, myself included. I talked with one of my friends in California today, and they were struggling too and had to borrow some money from family to buy her girls some presents. I usually have a great shopping spree the day after Thanksgiving. This year my mom did all the shopping and I didn't buy a thing. It was sad. I had no money extra this year. I have friends who have asked me for weeks now if I was done with my shopping, and I had to say no.. I havent even started. We were needing to wait on Jim's city bonus. Well...this year when I was reading our paper, the headlines read that our little city was doing really great and the revenue was up compared to last year. As I read on it stated that one of the city counsel ladies decided that the 400.00 bonus the police and fire, and city workers got was too much. If it were up to her we probably would have got a turkey and thats it. A couple other councel people decided upon 300.00. That is a great bonus dont get me wrong, but here is where I have the problem...If the city was doing so good, and renues were up, why did the most important people in the city(Fire Department, and Police). The ones who protect, and serve, and put their lives on the line for others, get docked 100.00? It should have gone to 500.00. I dont even understand their logic, but I will consider this when the next election comes up. I will know who not to vote for. As for now we are thankful for what we have.

Ok I vented, now on to other stuff... Christmas blessings.... Yesterday I got up at 4:30AM and drove my mother to the airport so she could spend Christmas with my Brother and his family in California. When I dropped her off she gave me money for me and my friend Candy to go see one of our favorite singing groups, Avalon. I was so happy!(1)I got home went back to bed for a bit, and woke up at 7am to get Haylee up and going. I got ready and went to her school program at 9am. I stopped by the cafeteria to pick up my moms check, and her boss Linda gave me apples and oranges to take home (2.) Next I went to Curves and picked up my check. I was expecting a small check due to Dr. appts. I opened it and it was bigger than I expected(3).I also got a small bonus from my boss(4). While I was there she gave me a Christmas card. I opened it and inside was a 100.00 bill. I was stunned! I asked her if she gave it to me and she said no. I dont know who did it. I cried. I really could use it for Christmas.(5)Needless to say I will be putting a sign up at work thanking my secret Santa for a wonderful blessing. Also while I was there at Curves, my friend Tonya blessed me with a bag full of new shirts.(6). I called Jim and told him what had happened. I told him that even with us pinching pennies right now, I made sure to tithe Sunday. I said we have all these blessings because the Lord is blessing us back! I believe it!





Next I went to Garrett's concert. It was really good to see his choir teacher back again, after she has been out with her son who developed a rare form of Leukemia. Her son is doing great, and so she was able to come back. God has done a miracle there! I got home and found a Christmas card from Jims brother who we havent heard from in 3 yrs, in the mailbox. It was very nice. I got a phone call from a teacher who goes to the church where Avalon was going to be singing, and she said they were all sold out. I said Noooo! I want to see them. I called the number on Avalons website and asked them if they were indeed sold out, and they said no, I could purchase the tickets at the church. I picked up Candy and we prayed that we would still be able to get tickets.We got to the church, walked in and got our tickets no problem(7). Candy and I waited for the doors to open, and we went in. We got front row seats!!!(8) It was an amazing concert, and afterward we got to meet them and take pictures with them. (9). Candy was in front of me and she was telling them that she had remembered meeting them last time they came to our town. Greg told her that he had a soft spot for our town, because thats were Jeremy (new addition to Avalon) started singing with them. He told Candy that there was a lady who asked Jeremy to sing "You were there", and Jeremy sang it for the first time. I leaned over and said I am that lady. It was me who put Jeremy on the spot. Anyway they remembered us. Jeremy told me he had been looking at me during the concert, and he was trying to place where he knew me from. I said well you saw me 3 weeks ago in the front row at Casting Crowns concert in Tulsa, and I meet you in our town 2 yrs ago at your first concert singing with Avalon. Anyway it was so cool to be remembered. I will try to go to their concerts whenever they are in my area! Candy and I had a blast!


I had a wonderful day and the Lords Blessings were evident all day to me!

Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!!!!

Have a very Merry Christmas, and remember Jesus is the reason for the season!!

Monday, December 15, 2008

December


Here we are the middle of December. There are 10 more days until Christmas. I havent bought any gifts yet. I am normally more prepared but we have felt the money squeeze this year. I was planning on going shopping with the hubby yesterday, but he threw his back out vacuuming for me. We will have to go later this week when he can walk...Anyway... I am trying to get into the Christmas spirit. My tree is up and looks beautiful. KXOJ is playing nothing but Christmas songs! ( I Love it).

Yesterday I went to church. The choir did their Christmas program. It was so good! The lighting was beautiful, the choir was amazing and you could feel the holy spirit thru each song. There was a Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus. Tears filled my eyes as I thought about the true meaning of Christmas. I am so tired of the hustle and bustle of the "Commercial Christmas." Take me back to the old days of Christmas, like when I was a kid! There are so many kids who have nothing, and others who get everything and don't even appreciate it.

I sat there in church yesterday and was thinking to myself that this was the first time in 9 years that I hadn't sang in a Christmas program. It was kind of a strange feeling sitting there without actually performing in it. It was nice enjoying it!

Yesterday I wore a sparkly tank top with a black jacket and skirt. It got up to 75 degrees and by the time I got home I had peeled off the jacket and just had my tank top. I was comfortable. 2 hours later it was around 23 degrees and sleet started falling. Not only did the sleet fall but we had thunder and lightning too. Its amazing how things can change so fast with the weather around here in Oklahoma. Now we will be in the deep freeze for the next 4 days. The kids even got a day off from school today.

Anyway...I have to start making something for lunch. I am thinking Chicken and noodles.


Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!

Until next time....God Bless ya!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Wednesday, December 10, 2008




As most of you know I am a Christian music fan! I have been called a groupie by some.
I was so excited a few weeks ago when I noticed a contest on my Christian radio station KXOJ. The contest was you had to write about a Chris Tomlin Fan. I wrote about my Mom who loves Chris and his music.
Well we ended up winning 2 tickets to an exclusive concert with just 300 people there. It was amazing! The concert was one of the most worshipful times I have had at a concert. It was great. We got his new CD too. I recommend getting the new Hello Love Cd by Chris Tomlin it is great! My Mom had a wonderful time and she kept thanking me for winning the tickets for us.







The next night after Chris, my Husband Jim and I went to see Bethany Dillon, Shane and Shane and Natalie Grant. Theis concert was AMAZING!! We sat on the second row, and got a free tee(that was cool). Bethany was very good, and she sang my favorite song..Beautiful. She is so cute.
Next out was Shane and Shane. Ok I will admit I had heard a few of their songs before, like He is exalted . I had no idea what I was in for. They sang their first song and I looked at Jim and said WOW!! The Harmony between the Shanes is AWESOME! Every song they sang was so worshipful, and man they can sing!!! Needless to say I went to their merchandise table during intermission, and I bought some CDs. Their CD's are awesome too!
Next was Natalie Grant. She came out on the stage and started singing my song.. I will not be moved. It was awesome! She sang alot of other songs I love. She was great!
.
Anyway moving on...Next month in October My mom and I and Jim are going to the Unity Concert with Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith. I cant wait! Its going to be Amazing with both of them together.
In November Jim and I are going to go to see Casting Crowns at Tulsa's New BOK center. I cant wait! Jim bought me front row tickets, for our anniversary. It will be soooo awesome! I LOVE CASTING CROWNS! I just found out Avalon is opening for them! They are cool too!
I got to go to several FREE concerts this summer. Mark Harris, Connersvine, The Afters, Chris Sligh and Meredith Andrews.
If you get a chance to see Meredith Andrews do so. She is awesome and she puts on a very worshipful concert. I saw her at the Riverwalk in Jenks, and there was the Arkansas river behind her. She sang The River (which is on my page) and it was so awesome thinking about the River of God watching an actual river go by.
Anyway... I will keep you posted on other concerts. Thanks for reading
God Bless


Update, The Unity tour was AMAZING!!! STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN- He was so good! I was blessed to get us 7th row tickets. Steven had such a heavy heart. Still mourning the loss of his daughter Maria. Its been a rough year on him and yet the Lord has given him the strength to keep singing. He sang Cinderella and I dont think there was a dry eye in the place.

MICHAEL W. SMITH - He was very good! He sang the songs he is most famous for, and the cool thing was that Steven and Him sang each others songs, and they were on stage alot together. Such a great concert. My Mom was so happy to go with us!

November 20th I got to go to the Creation Festival at the Spirit Bank Center. I worked with the Bible across America gang. It was one of the most awesome experiences of my life. Bible Across America celebrated 30 yrs of the NIV Bible by handwritting a bible to come out next year. People at different locations across America would get an opportunity to handwrite a verse for the bible. It was great! I worked for them and I got the job of writting out certificates for everyone who wrote.It had their name and the verse they wrote. So cool. People were lined up in the room where we were, and the line spread out the door. One testemony that one lady told me was that her daughter who had been diagnosed with cyrebral palsy was told she would never write. That little girl was there and she wrote her verse. It was amazing! God is so good! That little girls handwritting will be in that bible forever. So cool!




I was thrilled because the guys from Kutless came thru and I got to meet them and give them their certificates, along with Fireflight. I got to take some pictures with them. My husband Jim came and he was in line 2 hours before he got to write his verse. I got to write my verse right after his, so we will be together in the bible. We wrote a verse in Samuel. My verse was about little Samuel hearing the voice of the Lord thinking it was Eli. Eli said I did not call you go back and lie down. I love that!
I got my tickets to the concert and our tickets had meet and greet passes on them so I got to meet and take pictures with Thousand Foot Crutch, Pillar and Kutless. The concert was good!

November 30th, Jim took me to the BOK Center in Tulsa to see Casting Crowns. We got there really early and we brought food for the John 3:16 mission. We were going to go Christmas Caroling with Natalie Grant. We had to hurry and walk about 5 or 6 blocks, and it was freezing outside. I ended up with a asthma attack right in the middle of walking down there, and had to take off some of my layered clothing. We finally made it down there. I caught my breath and we sang Carols for all the homeless folks. Natalie was great! It was alot of fun! On the trek back to the BOK, I got to walk alittle slower so it was better.



We got back over there and went over by the outdoor ice skating rink. It was really cool! We got to listen to Andy Christman sing out there too. He used to sing with 4 him. He has a wondderful voice!
Inside we ran into a few of my friends from church Charlene, Nancy and Bill. We went down the stairs and went to the usher and they escorted us to our front row seats. I was so excited!! The concert started and we were right smack in front of the stage. Excellent seats..my honey did good!
The one thing about the concert that I loved was the fact that everyone mingled together. For example..Avalon Backed up Natalie Grant, Jana from Avalon sang with Micheal English, it was so cool!
Ok... I have seen Casting Crowns another time, and at that time, Megan was gone because she had a baby. This time Melodee was gone because she had a baby. We hope sometime we can see them all together, the whole group! We wont go unless we can sit in the front row now, we are spoiled. (Ha)

Anyway the concert rocked! Jim thought it was the best one we have been too. Let me tell you Casting Crowns has been the group to help turn Jim around. he used to listen to Metallica and other groups like that. I started liking Casting Crowns, and he listened to my CD one day, and I never saw my CD again. He loved it! He even put Praise you in the Storm on a fire video.
Last week he told me that some of his friends had gone to the Metallica concert, and I asked him why he didnt go. he said he only likes Christian Music now! I was thrilled! He has gone to alot of concerts with me, and if I have anything to say about it we will go to alot more this next year.

AVALON was great in the concert! First of all The all have fantastic voices and their harmony is tight! The new guy who took Jody's spot is doing awesome! Thety are coming to Owasso Dec 18th and 19th I plan to go see them again. I love them! Avalon is a wonderful group! I have seen them several times and come away blessed everytime

I had never seen MICHAEL ENGLISH before. He was very humble and sang Mary did you know...it was wonderful! The boy has some pipes!

PURE NRG did flips and danced, Haylee would have loved them!

DENVER and the MILE HIGH ORCHESTRA, They rock! They were so good! Denver is a young guy who sounds like Harry Conick Jr. He has that crooner voice. He was really good!

CASTING CROWNS was Awesome as usual!!! Mark and Megan and the boys did a great job! I loved I heard the bells on Christmas Day with the little Tulsa Boys Choir. So cool! I love While you were sleeping too. Megan did an awesome solo too! Ok....I am gonna admit it...I love everything Casting Crowns sings...There I said it! (Haha).

Andy the drummer of Casting Crowns came up with singing the Grinch Song. Andy sang the high part it was so funny. Andy can sing higher than me I think .
Even Juan sang a part of the song it was really good!

NATALIE GRANT ...WOW! I got goosebumps when she sang O Holy Night!! Jim and I thought it was awesome!!! She always does good! What a voice she has! Amazing!!

Tiffany Thurston- She is Natalie's back up singer. She is awesome! I met her at the concert back in October when they were with the Shanes and Bethany Dillon. I talked to her then and I told her she sang great! I told her I had sang on a praise team and I was alto and I thought her harmony rocked! She hugged me. Anyway she was at the Casting Crowns Concert and she did Melodee's part for them since Melodee is out with the baby. I thought she did a great job! We did miss Melodee really bad too!

Well I could say a bunch more, but I have got to go.
Till next time... Have a blessed Day