Happy New Year!

Happy NEW YEAR!

Full of food and rather uninspired to write something profound or thought provoking, I'm going to share some things we (my husband and I) have planned so far for 2011:

1. Visit to family/friends in Chicago

2. Charlottesville,VA for a Jimmy Hendrix tribute my husband is playing.

3. First time going to the Atlanta, GA (woohoo) for a little recording session with my husband's producer/friend.

4. First trip to Haiti to visit with the in laws!!

5. Getting some business plans together; my husband and I would like to develop an after school, non-profit organization that offers under-privileged children guitar, vocal, and other musical lessons at no cost! Aside from that, my long time friend and I are developing a t-shirt company that funds community service projects and families in need (visit our blog at www.radevotionblogspot.com)

6. Continue eating healthy and learn new & healthful recipes!

What do you plan on doing better, different, or the same for 2011?

Just a Day, Just an Ordinary Day

Got out of bed, excited as usual to see our fireplace mantle covered in shimmering silver garland and soft white Christmas lights, then just as quickly got slightly disappointed at the thought of taking them down. That's always such a bummer...

Reaching for my favorite red mug, I look outside and am reminded of how cold it must be out there as I see frost on the kitchen windows. I poor myself that cup of Java not knowing how strong my husband made it...well, let's just say it almost reach out of the cup and slapped the sleep out of me :)

I take my coffee to our cozy little eating room that is great for reading, studying, or just enjoying the view outside. I'm comforted by the warm sunshine that reaches through the cold window and onto my face and reminds me that God has created everything for a purpose and it all works together perfectly. With that thought, the cold bitterness of winter somehow seems less threatening and more prophetic of the warmth and 

blooms that are coming!

After finishing up some reading and thinking, I decide today is a day full of opportunity; nothing I can do about yesterday and nothing I can do about tomorrow because tomorrow has it's own worries! I quickly gulp my last bit of strong now-cold coffee and already my mind is in my closet :)

I decide on something very "me" with a STEELERS colored sweater, white button down shirt dress, gray leggings, and some new black leather boots. Accessorized with my favorite delicate gold leaf headband, paisley scarf, and some pearl accented bracelets.

I love doing make-up, so I always save the best for last! Starting with a Clinique pale pink eye base, I follow up with a light brown shimmery shadow (using only on the outside corners of the eye)

 Slowly working from the outside of my lid inwards I apply my favorite voluminous waterproof liquid liner, and clinique mascara- voila!

Out of the corner of my eye, I see my husbands vows from our wedding on an index card and stop to read them yet again :) It brings a tear to my eye as I think about his smile and I get excited to see him already!

Reaching for the Burberry he bought me, I spritz some on as the smell makes my nose tingle and reminds me of late summer nights in Chicago with friends..

I'm reminded of the girls I spent so much time being girls with and look forward to my next visit :)

After all the primping, pampering, and spritzing, I walk out into the brisk cold and take a deep breath as my lungs fill with the fresh mountain air. My dad's words ring in my head as I can hear him say "The world is your Oyster!"

Chuckling to myself, wondering exactly what an oyster has to offer,

I'm excited to face a new day with a new outlook!

For The Mus♪c In You

    If you go to church or most any religious service, there's normally that first 15-30 min. worth of music at the beginning of service. Maybe you've seen the guy who takes a rip-rocking guitar solo every chance he's got or the girl who wants to sing every single song but makes you feel super awkward watching her, or the drummer that has such terrible rhythm you don't even know what song it is anymore! Trust me I understand.
    But, I will say DON'T BE TURNED OFF BY THIS. Is it a show sometimes for people?YES! Are they human too? YES! Is the music so bad sometimes you just want to take out your lighter and yell "Free bird!" YES! 

    Philippians 3:3 says "...worship in the

Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH."

    I think that people honestly don't take praise and worship seriously because they don't enough about it. Why do we raise our hands? Why do we sing songs? Why do we clap? So in asking these questions myself, I thought I'd share with you where my searching has landed me...

1. Why Raise The Roof?
    
    Raising your hands as a sign of "adoration" or surrender goes back further than Jay-Z's "H-to the Izzo" believe it or not. People have been raising there hands to gods, kings, political figures, and more for many years. People to this day still do it at concerts, events, and clubs but find it awkward or even "outdated" to raise their hands in church as a worshipful gesture. I'm not saying everyone in church HAS to raise their hands, but once I understood why, people did it, and as I started giving myself over to GOD in worship and not to the MUSIC in worship, it became an action more out of thankfulness than out of obligation.

"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless

the Lord." Ps. 134:2

2. Why Put Your Hands Together? 
          clap- to clap the hands, as to express approval; applaud

    More than a built-in instrument or a way to keep time, people often clap as a sign of praise. Right along the lines of lifting our hands, it is an action of our thankfulness, surrender, and appreciation for the one whom we're clapping for!

"Oh clap your hands, all people; shout to God with a voice of joy." Ps. 47:1.

3. Why Sing?

         sing- to tell about or praise someone or something in verse or song

   If you have ever had a song written about you, you know how much the value the person who wrote it or sings it, places in you! The same is with God...Our songs, or time of praise & worship, show the value we place on spending time with God and is a means of our expression of love, thankfulness, appreciation, gratitude, awe, and so much more!

 "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises."
-Ps. 98:4

   So, next time you think of Praise & Worship as that "extra time" to get to church, think again! When you want to be distracted by what's on stage-don't! Shut your eyes if it helps you focus and think of something God has done for you. Sing along even if the band is terrible--but, whatever you do....

 DON'T MAKE WORSHIP ABOUT YOU!

::Your Name::

An authorized fallacy; a legacy; fame
To some it is life; to others a name...A measley few letters, leaves much to be said
Does with it come impact?

Will it once you're dead?

The memory left imprinted by

those every day people and life's passer-by's

The sound of some brings anger and strife
Another's causes one to give up their life
And once in a while, there are those with such ease
That cause men of valor, to fall to their knees
The formation of words that humble a man
Remind him of who had courage to stand
An unfettered warrior? A fearless King?
A benevolent hand or the feel of greed's sting?
Will others be stunned at the sound of your mark?
Will the sound resignate with fear in the hearts,
Of the people who's lives were within your reach?
Or will your brand never cross that comfort-cased breach?
When all's said and done ,while none have the same Will yours leave you guilty with none else to blame?
Will your heart be satisfied, or hang you guilty in shame?
Just a few whispered sounds

leaves it ALL IN A NAME...

-Audrey Hamilton 2009

Merry.Happy.CHRISCHANKWANZNEWYEAR!

     Sincerest apologies for my recent MIA'ness :)---the winter season really brings about a busyness with it! A few job changes (for the better), Thanksgiving, several singing gigs with my husband, and now Christmas preparation have left me with little fumes left to delve into this holiday season. But, amidst all of the sweet Christmas cookie-baking aromas, searching for those last minute online deals, and fervently wrapping that tacky wrapping paper around a heartfelt gift, I'm making an effort to take a deep breath, enjoy the day-to-day, and show my gratitude for what has been given to me.
   Our pastor challenged the congregation on Sunday to take just 5 PEOPLE and do something selfless for them in the spirit of giving & with the intention of the true meaning of Christmas.
    So, in this next week I will divulge the 5 projects I have underway to, in thought and action, bring to someones remembrance what this holiday season is all about. Whether you celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or any other holiday I challenge you to do the same! Who knows those 5 people may help another 5 people, who will help another 5 people and so on...

With that said...

PROJECT # 1:


   I have purchased an extra large box of hot cocoa (with the little marshmallows of course!) and am making little baggies of decorated sugar cookies that will be handed out on our local gas station street corner to passing joggers, people getting gas and other passer-by's. I also purchased more $5.00 Starbucks gift cards that a random few will get. With each batch of cookies and hot cocoa given will also be a little business card-sized note with what Christmas means. We'll see how it goes and I'll post after the weekends events to let you know!

I'd love to hear any ideas you may have!