As I walked down the hallway, I would glance into the rooms and see the people that now call this place home. People who once raised families, held jobs, and just lived life are waiting out their remaining days. It always breaks my heart to see them just lying in bed or sitting and staring into space. I saw two little ladies in their wheelchairs holding baby dolls, moving their chairs with their feet, and talking to themselves. They appeared to be looking for something that is now only in their memories.

As I walked toward my mother-in-law’s room, I saw a decorative plaque hanging on the wall. The sign read Angels Gather Here. Was the sign referring to the precious people in those rooms, the dedicated staff taking care of them, or could it be that angels really do walk those hallways? When I entered my mother-in-law’s room. I saw her sleeping peacefully in her chair completely unaware of her surroundings. I decided that all of those things were true. There are angels that care for these dear ones daily. I believe there are angels from God sitting at the bedsides keeping vigil. And believe me, there is definitely an angel in room 301.

We’ve just returned from our trip to Norway.  It takes a couple of days to feel normal, but I think we’re getting there.  We always enjoy seeing our friends in Norway and it’s amazing how much at home we feel there.  We have gotten to know many people and renewed our acquaintances from the last couple of years.   Here’s a shout out to Aud, Johan, Marita, Aud Karin, Mette, and Roger.  We always have such a good time with them and this year we also spent time with our friends Reggie and Ladye Love Smith.  Reggie and Ladye were on the program with us along with several Norwegian groups at Singing in the City in Stavanger, Norway. 

 The one thing I always come away with when we travel out of the country is that no matter where we’re from, we are all the same.  Our customs, traditions, and even food may be different, but human beings are the same.  Life’s issues that we deal with are global.   During a prayer time with our hosts, it dawned on me that as we were praying together in our different languages, God didn’t have any problem understanding any of us.  There was no interpreter needed because prayer is a heavenly language.  The only barrier there is is the one we erect by not talking to our Heavenly Father.  Whether our prayers are in a different language, or beautifully crafted words or just a simple cry of the heart, God hears each one.  The only prayer that is not answered is one we never pray.  Whatever your prayer is today, be assured God hears each one.

As you open your gifts this year, give thanks for your blessings and remember with each one you unwrap the greatest gift every given to man. Jesus Christ, our Lord. Merry Christmas!

It made me think that we as Christians are a lot like that young man. We are walking through this dark world amid all the hustle, bustle and noise, but God walks every step with us. He is at our side giving us instructions to navigate the dangerous paths we are sometimes on. If we listen, we will get to the other side safely. If that young man had not listened to his instructor, he could have gone off course and out into a path that could have left him in a dire situation. He didn’t do that and neither should we. Listen to that still small voice that is guiding you today.

This year at Singing in the Sun, a new event was added on Friday morning. We had a morning conference just for women! Candy Pfiefer did a wonderful job of organizing the event. You never really know what to expect at a first time event, but about 500 ladies came out that morning and they were charged up.
Candy opened up the event by introducing all the participants; Ivan Parker, TaRanda Greene, Lauren Talley, and Mary Jane Carter were the featured soloists. Candy, Susan Whisnant, and I all spoke. We all came on stage to open up the morning with praise choruses. Ivan then sang and everyone loved it. He really did a great job of setting the tone for the service. TaRanda Greene, one of the greatest voices in gospel music, sang next and captured everyone’s heart with a song she and her daughter, Isabella, did together. TaRanda also shared a testimony and then continued to lead in worship. I don’t think there was dry eye in the house. Susan was introduced next and just before she stood up, she looked at me and said, “God has just changed everything I was going to say, what do you think?” I said, “well, you have to do it then.” She stood and shared her testimony of how God brought her through some voice issues and healed her from a vocal cord cyst. She ended with a song from their newest CD and it was a powerful moment. Lauren sang next and did a great job continuing in the flow of the service. She then introduced me and I spoke and shared some of my testimony about following God’s voice and knowing what your purpose is in life. Mary Jane and Candy ended the service with more praise and Candy, who is a gifted Bible teacher, challenged us to know who we are in Christ and how powerful we, as women, can be for Christ.
I can’t begin to tell you how many comments we received from the ladies and even a couple of the men, (yes, a few men sneaked in) telling us it was one of the best events they had been to and they would like to do it again. If you were there, thank you for taking your time to come. Tell us what you thought of the event and if it had impact on your life.
Also, Lauren and I are in the planning stages of some women’s events and would like to know your thoughts. What topics would be of interest to you, would you be interested in a day event or possibly a two-day event. What is important to you at this type of event? We will be doing the same event as Singing In the Sun in Gatlinburg in September, so make your plans to come.
Let us know what you think.

Now I’m preparing to leave on another ten day trip this week.  Things must be taken care of  before leaving again. Satan loves to keep us preoccupied by the stuff of life.  It keeps our minds off of  what is really important. But find myself not worrying if things will get done, because they will.   I keep thinking who will be the next to be invited by a friend and touched by God to receive His Son!  We’re leaving soon, so I’ll go put in another load of wash.  You go and invite someone to the concert.  We’ll watch God at work!

How has your new year started out? Does the news of impending doom and gloom weigh heavy on you? We all worry from time to time about finances, family, world situations, and a million other things that can come up in our lives.

Recently, I was asking a friend how their Christmas was and he began to relate to me how their holidays had not been very good. There was a difficult family situation that had been upsetting and it had worried them to the point that they could not enjoy the season. He said his wife had told him that he worried too much about things that could not be changed. He said, “I know I worry, but I don’t know how not to.” Does that sound familiar? I have to admit that I feel the same way at times. Every time I find myself worrying about something, I am reminded of a poster I saw in a church lobby once. Over the water cooler was a sign that said, “ You cannot worry and trust at the same time.” I am sure that I needed that at that particular time, because, it has stayed with me for many years. When you think about that statement, its truth is clear. Worry and Trust are opposites. If we trust God for everything in our lives, even the small things, we cannot worry. If we worry about everything, even the things we have no control over, we leave God out of the picture. There are some people who wear their worry like a badge. I have another friend that says, ”I’m just a worrier, I can’t help it. It’s just who I am.” If that’s you, how’s that working for you? Has worry ever accomplished anything? Has worry ever helped your situation? Worry only increases stress and depression and gives us more to worry about.

God knew we would face difficulties and trying circumstances in this life and He gave us specific words to encourage us in His Word. Read Matthew 6:25-34 for a dose of anti-worry therapy. He knows us. He loves us and his grace is more than sufficient. When life looks impossible, instead of hand wringing and worrying, try praise and prayer. Your situation may not immediately change, but your outlook will. When things look the worst, that’s when God is at his best!

May your 2009 be happy, healthy, and hopeful!
Debra

In just a few moments, a lady began to tell me about her church, located in Oxford, Mississippi. In a few weeks there will be a Presidential debate at Ole Miss and the world will be converging on that small southern town. A few people in her church decided they would use that event to reach people for Christ by renting every billboard in and out of the city with a gospel message without political or denominational connection. They have had other signs made to put in people’s yards and businesses all over the city. She was telling me about how God was providing finances to fund this project. She also said that two days after they had secured the billboards all over town, both political parties had called the sign company to rent them for the event, but God had already given them to their church for His purpose. She was requesting prayer for their church and their city that God would honor their efforts and use them for His glory.

A few months ago, I posted a story on this site about a little girl named Angel that was saved after a concert. I was helping some people last night with some product and I looked up from signing a picture and there was Angel smiling as if to say, here I am, you know me! Of course I did! I went around the table to give her and her mom a hug and to meet her little sister Dakota. Her mom told me that Angel has been listening to the entire new project on the website. I asked Angel what her favorite was and she said very enthusiastically Jesus You Are. We had not sung it since recording it, but we sang it last night since the author, Jarred Myers, was there. I noticed that Angel sang every word with us. What a sight to see a little girl that God saved at one of our concerts singing Jesus you are, you are our Lord, you are our King, the One we adore!

Only moments later, another lady came to me and said that a group of young girls from the French Camp Academy, a children’s home, were there and these girls ages 12 to 14 had adopted Orphans of God as their song. As I was sitting up in the seats of the arena listening to the other groups, a couple of the girls found me. One of them knelt beside me and said that she had written me a letter, but never mailed it. At 13, she had been abandoned by her parents and had come to live at the academy and Orphans of God had meant so much to her. I told her we would sing the song especially for them that night. On the second half, as Lauren introduced the song, fifteen young girls left their seats in the back and stood at the edge of the stage and sang it with us. What a moment, I couldn’t even sing on the first chorus. To see those precious young girls standing in front of us weeping and singing, there are no strangers, there are no outcasts, there are no Orphans of God, was more than I could bear. Before the night was over we had met each of the girls, hugged several times, took pictures and met the house parents. I asked for a list of their names and ages so I could pray for them.

Another lady told me that the Broken Ones had meant so much to her after losing her brother and his entire family in a house fire and then within two weeks of that, losing two more family members.

After I had talked about Roger’s mom having Alzhiemer’s a man came up with tears in his eyes and told me he had lost both of his parents to the same disease. He said he was uneducated and couldn’t read or write, but he was a multimillionaire and God had blessed him and given him a wonderful life even though he now has Alzheimer’s disease. These were only a few of the stories shared with us last night.

After the concert, Lauren and I were in the back of the bus talking about all of the things that had just taken place. There were so many stories and requests we spent about an hour just talking, sharing the things we had heard and witnessed. What did it all mean? Why that place, that night? Why so many in one night? I’m not sure, but I know that what started out to be another concert turned into, as Gloria Gaither puts it, a divine interruption. God used every one of those people last night to sharpen my focus. It’s not us, but Him. He is constantly at work all around us and we can be a part or we can stand by and miss it. Ministry doesn’t just happen on a stage or pulpit. There are opportunities in the moments of our lives. We can prepare to sing and deliver a song, but are we prepared to listen and respond when God whispers through the people we encounter? My prayer is, as Samuel said, Lord, here am I, send me.