Proverbs 3:5-6 - He Will Direct Your Path!

And He will make straight your path! And He will make straight your path?

I have been a Christian since the age of five. I have trusted God and worked for Him almost my whole life. I have been what I would call a faithful servant. I love ministry and I know He called me into it. I have never questioned that, but I have struggled from time to time when to change my paths. Some things I have done have been just seasons and letting go of those seasons have been tough, what I’m suppose to do next even tougher to know.

Moving to Georgia has been an amazing journey but has left me in the wilderness. Everything I knew had changed! Where I live, people I know, my church, my surrounding and the list goes on. At the same time there were changes going on in how I was doing in ministry. What I found was, I was lost. It was almost like what I think people with children feel when their children leave home. I think they call it empty nest feelings.  I was in such a panic to figure out my life that I did what I do best. I kicked in. I started working at how to move forward, how to make things happen and find what God wanted for me. God as given me a desire and that desire sometimes overflows and doesn't always lead to the best directions for my life. Not that they are situations that are good or bad, but just maybe more waste of my time kind of things.

I am not a waiter! I don't wait to make things happen! That has always made me who I am and it has always opened doors for me. God didn't design me to wait.  That honestly isn't something I really understand and can annoy me. If I asked someone to do something, I'm not asking people to do it tomorrow. That is why I just do it myself.  You can ask my hubby, the poor guy totally understands the waiting thing and he's married to a person who is NOT a waiter.  He knows when I ask him to do something I'm probably not meaning when he finds time, or when he sees fit. I mean for him to do it now. He has no concept of time. He needs deadlines; I am more of a self-motivator. That's what makes us work well together believe it or not.

But then, a few months ago as things began to unravel in my ministries with the move, with a women's group I had and with my own personal ministry, a couple of artist friends I have said during a conversation. "Why don't you just wait to see what God might have for you?  See where He leads? Don't do anything and see if he directs your path."  WHAT? I mean that's all well and good for other people but that's not how God designed me. Had they completely forgot whom they were talking to?  He leads me through my hard work. LOL! I'm a huge believer that God expects us to show up and that we don't just stand around waiting for Him to make things happen. I know how waiting on God to make the first move works, and that doesn't get too many people in ministry very far.   Anyhow, I gave a half OK; I might do that but wasn't really committing to it.  Then somewhere after the move I just gave up. I thought OK, maybe I am supposed to wait, maybe I'm washed up and this road is now the end. So I did it, I waited and waited and waited. I also found out looking back that God was putting things, people and opportunities in front of me as I was waiting that didn't connect to anything and I wasn't really moving forward with. But over time they would begin to connect.

God began connecting me with people. Some people I didn't really know I was supposed to connect with. We had a musical connection but I just didn't see that God wanted us to connect beyond that. Not for any reason really other than I wasn't paying attention. And maybe I wasn't supposed to pay attention. I think He needed to work at this for a few months, in small steps so I could put it all together, you know let me work it out in my brain. Before I knew it, I was back in ministry. Not that I was out by all means but as the pun is used, "We're Back in Business".  God had connected me to people, ministries, and organizations and I did nothing but watch till it was time for me to engage. He carved my path as I was sitting back and trusting Him and not leaning on my own understandings. He also allowed me to look back and see that He had worked things out for the good of me. I didn't work it out but the He did. I needed to see that.

How many times have you taken a situation, a feeling or a direction into your own hands rather than just praying and waiting on God to step in for you? Proverbs 3:5-6 clearly says Trust and Acknowledge Him. Those two things will lead us down the right path. Those two things aren't that easy to apply in a heat of a moment or when changing a direction. So, this week try to apply Trusting in the Lord with ALL your heart and wait, then acknowledge Him, let Him direct your path. Life is so much easier when God is in control rather than when I am in control. He saves me from heartache, time and um, a few failures.  But most of all, waiting teaches me that I'm not all that! I need God, His leading, His strength, and His guidance. It's not always the right thing for me to be in control if I'm not allowing Him to take the wheel. We are in ministry together and together we shall work. When He says wait, I will wait!

Just thought I would pass along my personal lesson for the week. :)

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Happy Friday Everyone!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

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Smile When It's Raining!

Don't we all? I mean no one likes to be around someone that's just negative all the time. It's easy to be negative. I see that all the time on Facebook. Some people only post when they are mad, hurt, angry or aggressive. Sometimes I think Facebook has just become an outlet for people to vent.  I also think that Christianity shows up on Facebook as finding fault, adding failure, looking for hope and whining. There I said it, Whining! If God is all we need, is bigger than any problem or care we might have then why are we whining all the time? I hate to even write this because my first paragraph is negative. But, hold on. There is a point!

For those of you on my Facebook page, you know that I moved to the Atlanta, GA area about a year ago. It almost seemed like we moved over night. We left a house in Ohio to be sold and we really thought that God would make that house sale overnight. I mean we were 100% sure that this was God's direction for our life so he would make it easy on us by selling the house quickly. NOT! I can't tell you how many times over the last year I have said... We just need to get this house sold. Everyone's always asking me and I always have the same answer. Every night it's the same prayer and every day goes by and we still own a house. This house is not allowing us to let go of where we were. It's not making life down here easy. It's not helping us make plans for our future. It's made me question our direction and honestly God at times. I think we all get to the WHY place from time to time and I certainly have been there with this house. This house as become my thorn in my flesh. I just don't get all the why's but I'm also not going to allow satan to bring me down. I have chosen to "Smile in my Rain".

Lately the theme that keeps coming back to me is...I am a positive person and I'd like to think that I am. I have a lot of reason why I'm like that. I'm not positive because I don't have struggles, or don't hurt. I have all those things, but I've always been the bounce back girl.  I don't wallow in misery. I kick in, find answers, move forward and get the job down. I draw closer to the one who will walk me through it, God. If I have to work harder I will. I'm not going to post how life stinks for me right now. (Haha, I might write a song about it though) God just didn't design me that way. If I believe in a God that knows all, then I'm going to do my best to smile in my rain because I know He sees it and He'll get me through it.

This last year has been an amazing time of seeing God show up. Seriously, if you only knew what we have been through and some of the stories of how God brought us through some situations that were just out of our control. It's really been a time of Smiling in my Rain.  God brought us to Georgia and for whatever reason our house hasn't sold. It would be easy to focus on that one thing but life isn't about my house selling. Writing that is just as a reminder to me as it is an encouragement to others. Timing is everything and God's timing is perfect. I don't want to wake up every day with a negative attitude because of a house that hasn't sold. I want to smile in my rain and bring humor, support and hope to those that might need it. I want a joyful life filled with enjoyable moments.

So, I guess my question for you is... are you smiling in your rain? Do you need to turn your negative into a better outlook? I'm not saying we need to plaster on a smile all the time and not face what we are going through. I'm just saying we need to give our rain to God so we can do His work and have a joyful life inspite of what the world hands us. Negativity is a tool satan can use to spoil anything. Positivity shuts the door for satan to creep in and steal our life.

Here's hoping we all find our happy place today!

Well, here we go! I've worked on my new blog look all day. I thought about removing some of my past writings but then thought, no they are what they are. So, I'll apologize now for the uterus. LOL! Don't bother looking any further if you get grossed out easy but it was a huge part of something I went through. My blogging is going to be a lot like how you know me. Simple, funny, challenging and I guess you can say...Who I Really Am. So, I can't wait to get started. Nothing is going to be forced. No writing every single day, just when I get inspired. So, if you stopped by, let me know! I'm not good at writing to myself. LOL! Tell your friends! The more the merrier!

Leah

Pain FREE?

Jun 28th I got up really early, did all my prep work and headed out the door with my hubby to the hospital. I was scared but calm and a bit in a daze just taking one second at a time. I remember the little cubical they gave us and trying to chit chat with my hubby doing everything I could to avoid anything surgery related. They hooked me up with the IV stuff and started to wheel me out. All I remember is getting to the nurses station which was pretty much right across from my little cubical. I guess that's when I zoned out but apparently my husband said I started getting weepy when I got closer to the surgery area. The nurse said oh, don't cry we'll take good care of you. My hubby Jan said leaving was the hardest thing he's had to ever do in his life.

Minutes later or what I thought was minutes later that was actually hours later, I woke up. First thought? I remember thinking OK, I'm in pain. Wait this isn't so bad. Hmmmm, I can handle this. It was like really, really bad but bearable cramps. WAIT, cramps? Ok, that's weird I just had everything removed and I'm laying here with feelings of cramps? I found humor in that and also found peace in my pain. It wasn't unbearable and my fears of this moment were gone. Yes, I was under a lot of drugs and I welcome them. I have no idea just how much pain I was really in because of the wonderful, I love you pain killer they gave me right into my veins. They wheeled me to my room were I might have dozed off from time to time but pretty much stayed awake all day talking to my hubby and a friend. I felt pretty good.

Day two I was still on the IV of drugs but was bound and determined to walk on this day. They wouldn't let me on the first day because I was all hooked up to a few things so I would stay in bed but today they were removing some of those things so I could walk. I was told by my doctor, my hubby and nurses that the best thing you can do in the hospital is walk. So, I was ready. No matter how much pain I was walking the floor. First time getting out of my bed was a hoot. They had to show me how to roll myself out and with an IV and that little cart of stuff you have to take with you everywhere that wasn't fun. The pain however reminded me of just what I had been through. It was a consistent reminder of what I could and couldn't do.

I have been told that I can be very convincing. I had made up my mind that I was getting off all the tubes, IV, etc on Thursday. I was preparing my case for when the doctors arrived around 8:00 am. And would you believe it, I talked the doctors into removing everything. I mean everything. They even removed my IV thing in my hand. My one doctor the oncologist was so impress with my walking and stuff that he was all in, my other surgeon who put the colon back together, not so much but he reluctantly went with it. That would come back to haunt me later in the day. I was in pain but I wanted to be in pain. I didn't expect to have surgery and not have pain. I wanted to heal and the pain meds slow that process down. My walking was getting better and I now wanted to go home. All day I was doing great! I was told if you throw up 1 time you are back on everything. Then a nurse came in and gave me this big ole horse pill. I took it but didn't ask what it was. Several hours later, it all came back up. She came back and this time she gave me 2 of those big ole horse pills. This time I asked, what is this and she said just a couple of pain meds - VICODINE. I didn't say anything and took them. Later, several hours later that too came back up. My skeptical doctor got a phone call and then the fun began. Tube her! The nurse came in and said the doctor has requested we put a tube down to your stomach. Earlier in the day my oncologist doctor told me I was an awesome patient, I followed the rules, I didn't just lay in bed and I was easy to take care of. That ended the moment I heard tube! I'll be honest, I didn't want the tube, I felt like it wasn't necessary and the only one nurse I really didn't care for seemed to be really looking forward to doing this thing. I said nope! Not going to happen. You guys aren't tubing me. They left and then came back and said the doctor said if you don't do this you need to sign a form that you are are not going to follow his request. Long story is I gave in. Short story is they messed up. I wasn't sick because I couldn't hold anything down. There was nothing wrong with my stomach or colon. I was sick because they were giving me Vicodine on an empty stomach. I hadn't eaten since Sunday and now that the IV was out they started me on pills like Vicodine and my stomach couldn't handle that. It took me awhile to connect the dots but when I did I started on my next plot of getting this thing removed. That was the day I said NO MORE PAIN MEDS! Done, I'm not taking them, I don't need them and it's crazy you keep bringing them to me. I'm done with the pain meds put that in my chart. They did and from that day on I was pain med free. Not pain free but med free.

So what is my point here? I didn't want to be completely out of pain. The pain was something that told me where I had been, how I needed to be careful, what I needed to do to get better. As long as I was out of pain, I was going to be less motivated to do what I knew I needed to do to get better and to go home. I never expected to be pain free. The pain I was in wasn't really bad unbearable pain so why take something for it? I didn't want to rely on stupid meds that people got addicted to. I wanted to allow the pain to be a reminder of what was ahead, what my goals were, what I could have and that was healing. The pain was a reminder that the more I worked the closer I was to healing. The day they finally said I could go home, I asked them not to write me out a prescription for any kind of pain meds. Yet, when I was home going over all my stuff they gave me a prescription for 40 Vicodine. That was so unnecessary. I never filled it, never needed it or wanted it. It did open my eyes to the responsibility both hospital and doctors have to many addictions we have in this country.

What are you doing to cover your pain? What do you have in your life that you use to cover up your pain? It could be anything, it doesn't have to be something bad even. But, it's something that you have put in the way of God's healing power over your life. Something that is slowing down your healing process because you are hanging on to the pain meds of choice in your life. God doesn't want us in pain all our lives! Not dealing with it though prolongs the pain, slows down the growing process we could learn from and keeps us from healing. My challenge is to find the pain you have been covering up, deal with it by facing it, hand it over to God and start to move forward and remove that thing you use to cover it up. That's when you will find healing, peace and the road to a joyous life.

Seeing Easter A Different Way!

Yesterday, I was leading worship for our Life Support group. It was yet another gloomy, gray, wet, depressing day. This week it dawned on me that it might have been a day like today that Christ died. If not, these days sure do remind me every year around this time, when the weather gets what seem exceptionally gray of what he went through for me. But this year I saw something completely different.

Jesus came down to earth perfect! He had his life in check, his emotions in check, his walk in check. He didn't hold on to baggage, didn't have mental issues, wasn't addicted to anything and yet, everyone's issues brought him to the cross! Not only our sins as we know them but the sins of those around him back then. Christ wouldn't have died that day if everyone had their lives together. From the time Jesus was born, there were problems with him because of the leaders around that country and their own personal insecurities. No one would have been after Jesus if they didn't think he was some kind of threat to their own leadership. Pilate could not only find fault with Jesus, but he really couldn't or won't make the decision of his fate alone. He really let the people make that decision.

Even way back then people struggled with issues! They held on to their past, hide from their shame, covered up their weakness's. If you go back and read this weeks sad events, you will see all the dysfunctions that lead him to the cross without Christ having any dysfunctions at all throughout his live here on earth. That was so powerful for me to read, because for the first time I saw just how much destruction goes on when we don't allow God to lead our lives and take away our issues. I saw just how destructive we can be not just to ourselves but to the people around us. I saw just how sad of a live some of those people that made the way for Christ to hang on that cross just were. And, until they themselves died they lived a very unhappy live knowing what they did.

I guess if you could ever say that somebody's sins or dysfunctions paid off for you it would be right now. If it wasn't for those people back there with Jesus and all the sins they had in their lives they wouldn't have walked Jesus through the streets to that cross. In the end we're all the same, there's nothing new under the sun. Sin then is the same sin now but we can have hope, joy and strength in Christ as he leads us past our past and into our new future with him. April 20th,2011 Leah Martensen

Where You Go, There You Are!

I've always loved the saying...Where you go, there you are! Life is about this moment, these lives around us, our purpose! When you combine those three things you have ministry and that's not just something I've been called to, we are all called to it! Look around see where God planted you and seed there.

2011 - Another Blog To Start The Year

Well...it seems as though I'm right here every year at this time trying to start a blog journey. Only to give it up right after I post my first January blog. So, I won't make any promises to be better about this, but just give you all some personal updates. How's that for a New start to a New Year.

2010 was the most awesome ministry year. I hit over 18 different state throughout the year! I was on the road for over a month this last summer traveling with my ministry from Ohio to the west coast. Something I have always wanted to do. It was excited to see what God had in store. I met so many wonderful God filled people who walked through a lot of fire and was on their way to healing. A healing only God could do in their hearts. I was so blessed to hear so many stories and look people in the eye as they were sharing their hearts, struggles and joys. Man, that just doesn't get any better!

I also want to take this time to thank all the groups, organizations and churches that took a risk in having me in. In a time when money is short for everyone, faith is a little weaker to some and doors aren't as wide open as they use to be, you brought me in. You followed your heart, you stood strong and you moved forward to growing towards God's plans for your groups and your own personal lives and didn't allow anything to get in the way. I always say that God is so much better than money but sometimes money is so hard to get past. Satan has a stronghold to our pocketbooks and sometimes getting past that is tough. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to share with your groups or church. It was such a blessings to me and along the road in 2011 I grew from it. I learned that God has a lot of love and it shines through his people. That sometimes people will let me down but it's OK! That things I don't always understand just aren't for me to understand but none the list God is still in control. I learned although I'm in ministry God uses that ministry too, to reach me, grow me and teach me. It is about me at times! LOL! I give and God gives back though you all! I love that!

This year also came with some scary moment. Easter this year my husband was in the hospital. Many of you don't know that he has a heart condition that he picked up when I was tour with him in South Africa. 2011 his heart wasn't doing so well and it landed him in the hospital. That began our journey to healthy living for both of us. I'm glad to report that my husband(Jan) has bounced back 100% since April! His heart is doing really well and he's walking, biking, exercising and I can't keep up with him. But, that journey in April stopped my world for a few weeks. I wasn't sure how I was going to get through my husbands illness. I had fear I never knew before. Fear I never want to know again but fear that will probably come into my life at some point again. Fear is something we all have at one point or another. We can deny we have it, we can cover it up, we can lie we don't have it or we can step up to the plate and simple say...YES, I do have fear. What's important is what we do with that fear. If we hold on to it, it will bring us down. If we walk with Jesus and give it to him to carry we live a fuller life and allow him more control.

What do you have in your life that's controlling you or bringing you to fear? Today, you can hand it over and allow God to hold on to it. I'm not saying you walk completely fearless. I'm just saying you allow God to be your partner in this fear and allow him to comfort you, to direct you and to lead you down the right path. Things are going to happen in our lives that we simple aren't going to have control over anyhow so why not just allow God to have the control that we don't have. It will make our lives so much easier, bring more joy, more hope and more trust. I learned that in 2010. That right there brings me to a better 2011. Are you ready to have a better 2011 simply by letting God be your guide? We can all do this together. We can all join in and say...I'm working with God to make my future better than my past. I hope and pray you take my challenge for your life today.

I'm excited about 2011 as you can see and I want you all to be just as excited. Leave 2010 behind and move on with God as your driver.

Blessings!

Leah

(P.S...look for a NEW CD for 2011) - GOOD DAY!

Neither Snow, Nor Rain, Nor Sleet...

Wouldn't you know it! Snow! Yes, this year I decided to book several January concerts while I was home here in Ohio. I knew that January could be hit or miss weather wise, but we can't let snow get in the way of anything around here. So, first night out and BAM! Snow! I think it snowed all day. Not a big flake kind of snow but a small you almost can't see it kind.

I kept looking out my window going, really? Snow? First concert of the year and you're already challenging me to see if I'm going to let snow get in the way of what God called me to do? Well, that's not even a consideration so have fun making my little world look beautiful with this nice white snow.

Last night was a wonderful time of sharing. First time in a long time that I was able to go back out with hubby by my side and have him running the sound for me. I miss those times! We don't get to do that much but this year we're working on getting back out there together more. That's why I love going out around the area because those are the times he can be with me. Last night he was able to do the driving to the event and help with lots of stuff I needed help with so that snow was not a challenge for me. God had it covered! I love that! You know God always has it covered! Sometimes, we just don't stop long enough to see that whatever we are going through he's got us covered. We're to busy not listening, trying to fix it or just not paying attention to him to see that God is trying to help us.

So, today look for him! When you run across that small problem you think you can solve all by yourself, or you have that huge huddle to take care of today. Look for him! You don't have to fix anything by yourself, you don't always have to have the answer. You just need to stop, pray and wait to see where GOD is going to lead you. Let him take care of you! He's pretty good at it, has lots of experience with it and always has the perfect answer to whatever it is we're going through. He is the one person you can depend on for the rest of your life who will always come through for you.

Blessings!

Make Every Day CHRISTmas!

Well, I hope you all had a great CHRISTmas, didn't forget Christ and learned something new about him! CHRISTmas is always special! I don't think it's because of the gifts, the food, the snow or family coming together. I think there is something special that comes over us every year where God is trying to speak to us. Where he's trying to get our attention.

Though all the musicals, the messages, the gifts and everything else that comes with CHRISTmas, God's love is there. Trying to reach out to those that are lost in a time that brings them closer to searching. In a time where they are the loneliest. There's something magical about God's presence.

This year take this CHRISTmas moment with you throughout the year. Wake up every day as though it's a CHRISTmas morning. God doesn't want you to just see and feel him at Christmas but feel him every single day of your life.

Sometimes he's the loneliest throughout the year because he's waiting to hear from us. Don't wait till Easter to catch back up with him again and then again at CHRISTmas. That doesn't make for a lot of good days in between. Make a effect to connect with him daily in 2010.

The Genealogy of Jesus!

Thought this would make a great read just before Christmas. Have you ever taken the time to read his genealogy? Here it is! Enjoy!

Matthew 1
The Genealogy of Jesus
1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,

4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,

5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,

6 and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,

7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,

8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,

11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah[a] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12 After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,
Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,

14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Eliud,

15 Eliud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,

16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Galatians 1 - Dieting?

This morning I decided to head over to Ephesian for devotions. Once I got over there I saw Galatians and thought hm, I'll just start there. Not really knowing why there, just doing it.

So I started with Galatians 1 and read. It started out with a greeting from the Lord, Paul's new life then went into why he was doing what he was doing and that by no means was he trying to please men but to please God! Then he ended with If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ!

See that's not new to me! I totally understood it the same way I've always read it but today something was added. Keep in mind that I was going to read Ephesians but apparently God directed me to Galatians. Was it for the actual scriptures? Yes and No!

Once I stopped at the end of the chapter I began to read the side notes that came with my new bible. Here is what it read:

Paul was intent on please God --not others--so he didn't change his message to please the crowds. what does this have to do with dieting?

That's where I went WHAT? What does that have to do with dieting or where did it even say I was looking for something on dieting? They really pulled that one out of the blue!

Reading on:
Because we like how it feels when people notice and say we look good...so others will find us more attractive...so we can win their approval.

But God wants us to focus on pleasing him. Women diet for many reasons, Ask yourself: When I diet, is my goal to gain human approval or to please God by improving my health?

OK, I wasn't heading in that direction today. I have been almost every other day but not so much today. I mean every day I start a new diet and I fail, I lose sign of my goal and I quite hoping to start back the next day.

I really didn't know what my true goal was. In my head I've always said I'd feel better but I wanted to look better to. But today God opened a new door of thinking for me. It's not about how I look to others it's about what I do with this body he has given me and honor him by making myself as healthy has I can for him.

I had the wrong goal. I didn't know I had such a desire to please others when I was dieting. I really hadn't thought about it that much. But I did like the notices. Who wouldn't like it when someone told you, you look good? But maybe I liked that more than I was even willing to admit and put more on that then I should have? People's approval matter to me, always has! So, dieting fits right into that bad thinking.

God clearly directed me to Galatians today. I have a new goal! A goal to please him in my dieting and forget about appealing to others. That's going to take some work I'm sure to keep reminding myself that my focus is not how I look but how I'm making myself healthier because God is asking me to be healthy to continue serving him as I know I've been called to do.

Let's take this challenge together!
Leah

Back In The States!

Ok...so I had some time to spare and decided to once again changed my blog. I keep thinking it's going to motive me to write something really creative but so far I can't seem to really get motivated here on Blogger.

I just got back from Denmark a few days ago and the sleeping thing has got me but I think I'm finally bouncing back. It was great to visit like always but there always seems like something is missing there. Well actually there is a someone missing and that's God. Denmark feels like such a lonely place for people. There's not a lot of peace, hope or love. There's a lack of emotions. Even Jan my hubby can feel and see it all around him.

People are honored for what they have or accomplished rather than just saying hey I love you to them. They just can't seem to bring those words out regularly.

Going to Denmark revives me to work at growing closer to God and what he has called me to do because...I'm free to do that! Not all nations are and I want to take advantage of my freedom to do so and reach others for Christ.

So...as I get ready for this next tour I'm praying for God to do some big things with the people that come our way. I want to see lives changed. Not by me but by him. I'll let you know how it goes or I'll at least change my template again. LOL!

I'm Sorry Was That A Truck That Just Hit ME?

I love it when you are going along thinking life is great and all is well and then bam! In one moment everything changes. How come that happens? Why do we have to have ups in our lives and downs? I'm an even keel kind of person, well at least I think so. I don't like things going up and down for a lot of reason. I sure hope tomorrow is different. I know I'm being vage just don't want to go into it but man I had no idea that this thing was going to hit me so hard like a truck hitting a wall.

Denmark!

Well...in a few days I'm headed for Denmark! Like Denmark, Europe. My hubby is from there and his parents are celebrating their 50th anniversary! Yeah, for them! That's an accomplishment anyone should be proud of these days!

The flight is long and once we get there it will rain alot and be cold but one thing I can be sure of, we'll have great food. I love danish food. Other than fish there isn't much I don't like. One thing I like is Danish Hot Dogs! They are nothing like American Hot Dogs. They are so great! Hard rolls and liver pate'(yeah sorry for that) is one of my favorites too.

I'm singing over there. I've been requested for the party to sing something. I still haven't as of yet decided what that should be. I hope I can figure it out before I leave. LOL!

Next month I head out on tour. I'll be heading to Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. If you are in those area's please let me know. I'd love to meet you.
Blessings to you all! LOL! That might just only be me the typer! LOL!

Lovin' These Templates!

I can't believe I finally found a template for Blogger. Man, this has been the process. There use to be hardly any choices and now I have the world to choose from. For all you people out there that don't care for purple much you are going to hate my site. LOL! It's ok! I hate green so I totally understand you! Just dropping by on this freezing cold bright sun shiney day to say HI!

Hubby sick! It's only a matter of time!

Man...this has been the year of sickness. From November to now both myself and my hubby have been sick. Now...he's really down and I'm counting the next couple of days down because it's only a matter of time before his bug will be my bug. We have a trip to Columbus planned and by the way he's reacting, there is no way I'll be leaving this house. LOL! Ok...off to take some stuff to beginning fighting this. Proactive! Is it possible? I sure hope so!

Don't Be Offended!

Well...as you can see it's 3:54 am and I am up. Hubby had a coughing fit and woke me up. Don't worry about him though because he's sound asleep and I am not. LOL! I finally found a blogger template. I guess it took me being up early in the morning to do that. But I noticed I lost all my links. I didn't have many but I did lose a couple of links to other blogger sites. So...if that was you please let me know and I'll put you back up. For now you are lost forever and I have no way of finding you. I'm sure that no one is reading this. I haven't been good at all keeping this up. I'm going to try harder this year. Hopefully, I'll have some great things to say. LOL! Let me know if you are reading. That will help me keep coming back and posting. Hope you all are having a great 2009. Blessings!

IT'S BEEN A PRETTY BIG YEAR!!!!!!

I haven't taken the time yet to count how many concerts I have done this year. I can say that I never ever expected to do what I've been doing in the last few year. I just wanted to be faithful. All I wanted to do was use the talent I was given. I knew I wasn't the best singer ever, I know I didn't fit a lot of things people tried to tell me I had to be. I knew I had passion and desire. I knew that all I ever wanted to do is reach people and use my talent to do that. So...today I was reflecting. God has been so good to me. I don't take what I do for granted. I'm humbled that he's allowing me to serve him. I've worked hard to get to this place along side him. I'm just so excited to be where I am and do what I do.

Last week on tour Beth and I spent lots of hours in the car. We wrote I believe 3 songs. Three GREAT songs. I know GREAT! I know the difference between ok, good and great. I don't push my songs because I know the difference. God placed Beth and I together for so many different reasons. We haven't figure them all out but you can see it in the writing, in the serving and in the heart of what we have been called to do. But more importantly you can FEEL it. You can feel God's arms around what we are doing. There is joy and peace and love all wrapped up in this journey.

So what am I saying? I love this place I'm at right now. It's peaceful!
Thank you God for investing in me and allowing me to serve you in the way I get to serve you.

I pray that all of you at some point in your life get to experience the closeness of serving your maker as I have. Invest yourself in people! When you do you'll see a return you can't explain.
leah

Verse for the Weekend!

I love this verse! You'll see me post it from time to time. It's a reminder to me that God doesn't just call us to do something he calls us to do it well. But not for anyone but him! A lot of problems could be solved with this verse in the world today.

"Whatever you do work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men"
Colossians 3:23