Saturday, April 14, 2012

Two wonderful trips






(These photos are of one of the places we went, Moody Gardens, on Galveston Island)





I was recently blessed to go to two different places..... one was a trip of several days, to a Music Conference in East Texas; the other, a day trip to lovely Galveston Island......and I am so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to go...... my health is not always good, so I am always afraid when I leave home, of getting sick...... but Jesus kept me! Even though I didn't get much sleep on the East Texas trip, my Lord was with me and gave me strength and health! And the day trip to Galveston was fun, too......


I've just got to share something the Lord did for me at the Music Conference..... first of all, I was priviledged to attend with my Pastor's wife ( a wonderful Musician in her own right, and very annointed by God through Music) as well as my Sister, and some other fabulous Musicians that are from our Church.....



Now. for the "God - thing"! I have a confession to make..... I am a perfectionist that is soooooo far from perfect...... I am SO hard on myself....... and, when I went to this music conference, I was feeling rather down...... worrying about some things...... . But Isn't it wonderful how Jesus cares so tenderly for His children? What an Amazing friend and Father He is........ I had taught some classes before at several Music Conferences..... but the last time I did was in 2003.......... Nine years ago! Well, I was just enjoying the Conference, going around learning and listening and soaking it in...... and a minister's wife came up to me, and said: "your name came up in one of the classes" and I said "IT DID?" she siad: "Yes, some people that had taken your classes before were discussing how good they were, and how much they learned when they took them..... and how they had saved all the handouts from your classes....." (now remember, dear friends, the last time I had taught at a conference was NINE years ago.......




Well, I kept my composure and thanked her for sharing that with me, and then later, just cried and thanked my Lord...... He knew just what I needed to lift my spirits and let me see that I had done some little bit of good in this world and helped SOMEONE.......He is so good! and it made me think of Proverbs 25:11, which says "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver....." because that minister's wife ministered to me with her words...... and it makes me want to use my words carefully..... so that they will uplift and encourage someone like she did for me........ Words are powerful, aren't they? So I think God taught me something through this little object lesson, too, along with encouraging me.................


May He strengthen you today! I hope you are all having a wonderful week!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

He's Risen! A Joyful Easter!

(This is a photo of some chocolate - dipped Peeps marshmallow bunnies that my sister fixed for Easter. She got the idea from Phyllis Hoffman's Celebrate magazine. Aren't they cute?)


Hello, dear friends! I hope each of you is having a wonderful weekend...... we have been out of town on two trips since I last blogged, (more about all of that later) so I have missed reading your blogs and seeing what's going on in y'all's worlds...........

Oh my! Today was simply gorgeous! Not too hot, and just beautiful, with breezes and sunshine and green grass and blooming flowers and singing birds............ went to choir practice this afternoon...... and had some lovely time talking with Jesus in the sanctuary, before everyone arrived..... and then, as we sang songs about His birth, death, burial, resurrection, and steadfast love....... I just began to feel something stirring in my spirit...... and it was all I could do to stand still and sing! That Joy just began to feel like it was going to bubble over out of my soul...........

Another song has been on my heart today, also...... along with the ones we are singing for Easter..... it's called "He's Alive" and the original one was done by a man named Don Francisco???? The Chorus has just been running over in my head.....

He's Alive!

He's Alive!

He's Alive and I'm Forgiven

Heaven's Gates are open wide

He's Alive

He's Alive

He's Alive! He's Alive!

Do y'all know that song? I surely hope so!

Well, I must go and wash my hair and get ready for tomorrow..... but please know there is Hope today because Jesus Christ did not stay in the manger, on the Cross, or in the Grave....... He's Alive, and is still forgiving hearts, washing people's sins away, and filling souls and lives with His Precious Holy Spirit!