I am a wife, a mother, a singer, a songwriter, and most of all, I am an adopted child of God who wants nothing less than to be His vessel to share His light and His hope, love, and joy!


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Expecting Good Things

Hello all!

It has been too long since I've written, probably because I haven't been feeling well. But I haven't been feeling well because I am expecting my second baby sometime near March 8, 2010! It's interesting how before a mother can have a baby, she must endure a lot of trials, morning sickness, inability to sleep well, aches and pains, and of course the big hurdle of labor and delivery! It's also interesting how the worst pain comes right before the blessing...I have been fortunate to hear the preachings of Evangelist Danette Crawford of Joy Ministries many times, and she speaks a lot about how God prepares us for our calling in life, and for the next phase in life. At one of her conferences in Virginia, she illustrated how sometimes there is just a thin paper (metaphorically) between us and our next breakthrough; we just have to break through it! When things get tough, if we knew we were so close, we wouldn't so easily give up. A laboring mother knows that baby is coming out any minute, so she doesn't give up. Likewise, we should always know and trust in God that our next breakthrough is coming. Keep the hope and never give up!

This concept has kept me going lately, because the process leading up to recording my songs has been a difficult road. This is something that's been in my heart for well over a year. Really, it's been probably at least 10 years, but over a year since I started writing the songs. I'm someone who didn't have the money, the confidence, or the ability to do anything besides write the lyrics and sing the melody. I don't write chords or play any instruments so it's tough for someone in this position to go anywhere with their music. It would have been easy for me to give up on the idea altogether or settle for something less than I knew what God had for me...but I feel led by the Holy Spirit to keep pressing, and when obstacles arise, I still feel a peace and feel encouraged that in the end, it is going to be great and my labor will not be in vain! Please pray for me during this process of music making, and most of all, that the music will be annointed and that God will open the doors for the music to be heard so that it can draw hearts closer to Him. I would also like for people to join me in faith that these few songs I am recording right now are not the end, and that I will be able to do more in the future.

One thing coming up locally, in the immediate future, is a Christian Coffee House night. It's at the Westminster First Church of God on August 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. The location is 27 North Center Street in Westminster, MD. There will be musical performances, poetry readings, and light refreshments. If you write or are musically inclined and are interested in participating, you can contact Sister Brenda Clarke at 410-596-2097. Or you can contact me (sarahvministry@gmail.com) and let me know what you're thinking and I can pass the information onto her. In any event, I hope you can make it! I hope to be singing one or two songs myself. Admission is free, and the church will be collecting donations to help cover the cost of refreshments.

God bless you!

Love,
Sarah

Thursday, July 9, 2009

God uses the willing, not the qualified...

Hey there!

I haven't had much to speak of lately because possible doors are opening, but I never know if they're going to shut back up so I don't want to speak of something to come too prematurely. I was told I would be able to participate in something this month but it fell through, and that's why I'd rather wait until something is happening until I let you know!

This brings to mind an important point in the Bible in Matthew 5:34-37: "But I tell you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." This means there is no need to swear or promise because we should be people of our words! Don't you ever get tired of people who don't follow through with what they said? Be a person of integrity and do what you said! When people tell me they're going to do something, I really count on it, maybe naively at this point, but because I always strive to follow through with my word, I take people at face value.

I haven't been up to that much lately for the ministry. I've just been trying to perfect my songs and get them ready to possibly record. I've been studying the Bible and Bible-based books. The Bible says to study to show yourself approved, and that's exactly what I'm working on!

I have also had the priviledge to start working with a young girl in our church for private voice lessons. I got a very timely blessing of vocal technique CD's that I am working with her on. After I agreed to help her, God provided the CDs! The Lord will provide when you take a step of faith! I'm also working with a friend to help our church teens with putting together songs to perform at church. My friend, Trish, and I did not feel ready or quite knew how this was going to work with the teens, but just as I knew He would, the Lord is working through our willingness and through those teens! They have already blessed Trish and I tremendously with their enthusiasm and hearts of worship and praise. I believe big things will come of this in our church!

Know that God uses the humble and willing, not necessarily who the world would consider "qualified"! So I encourage you to have a willing heart for whatever the Lord would lead you to do. He will show you a need or give you a vision of something to come. He will plant the desire in your heart...

Well, keep in touch with me and keep me in prayers! God bless!

Love,
Sarah