Praise the Lord....if you are in the correct building and you mop the floor after the service!

Do you attend a church with multiple services in more than one location?  If so, are all the locations treated equally as a sanctuary where members worship God together?  Does your church welcome anyone who desires to worship God as a family in whatever manner suits their tastes? 

I have filled many leadership positions for my church and consider it an honor to Glorify God with my imperfect service.  If anyone bothered to ask me about my preferred form of worship it would be something akin to "black gospel" with great rhythm and subtle movement with reverence and grace.  I love the old southern gospels with an African American flare.  It's my favorite form of music of all time.

Please don't misinterpret me.  I love the old Baptist and Methodist Hymns and the new contemporary praise music!  I love, love Sandi Patti and Larnelle Harris and Amy Grant and Lynda Randle, Michael W. Smith and most of all the Gaither Vocal Band.  I love movie show tunes, opera, ragtime, big band and disco.  I could watch and listen to the Eagles for hours. 

My biggest regret in life is that God did not see fit to give me a great singing voice!  I love to sing God's Praises!  Unfortunately, I do not sing well but I do sing loudly!  Didn't God say, "Make a joyful noise!?"  That's what I do....I make a joyful noise and I move much as I am worshiping. 

It must be a family trait.  On a recent visit to my brother Joe's I noticed he was quite animated in the choir.  Everyone else was very properly still but Joe was bouncing and swaying to the music!  I always try to sit in the back of the room so I'm not quite so obvious.  I just can't help moving and swaying to the music. 

That brings me back to my first paragraph....do you attend a church where the congregation honors all forms of worship.  Do you worship in the "correct" building or is there an acceptable sanctuary and a separate and inferior building where members who worship in a "traditional" manner are right and everyone else is simply tolerated?  I am very, very happy to be part of a church where everyone and every form of worship is welcome?

Occasionally, we are all gathered together in one place to sing, pray, read the Bible and Praise the Lord together.  I love those occasions!  I love my "hugging" congregation and I love the Lord God Almighty!  Thank you all my life long friends who invited me to join you at this "Church on Fire to serve generations with Christ's Passionate Love! 

Women of Faith Event in Orlando - October 12 & 13

I have been hearing about "Women of Faith" from friends and family for many years.  I have heard only rave reviews for the organization, the speakers, the musicians, the entire experience!  I have always been a little envious of those who have had the opportunity to enjoy this potentially life changing event.  Now "Women of Faith" will be in Orlando in October and I do not intend to miss it!

I received an email with a personal invitation to attend and perhaps you did too.  We are planning to attend as a group and there will be a link to register with our group soon.  There is a group discount so be sure to wait for the link before registering. 

Here are a few of the featured speakers and musicians: 

Mandisa - She's come a long way from singing in her bathroom with a curling iron "microphone"! The former American Idol finalist survived childhood abuse and an eating addiction to become one of the most promising new talents in the Christian music industry. She's been nominated for a Dove Award and TWO Grammy Awards (so far!)—and we expect more to follow. These days she sings with a carefree confidence about feeling more alive than ever. Through good times and bad, Mandisa has learned that God "can bring us out of whatever we're going through and even use it for good, and for His glory." She lives in Tennessee

Sandi Patty - You're probably familiar with Sandi's magnificent voice. You may know she's a Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee with 39 Dove Awards, five Grammy Awards, and an armload of platinum and gold albums. But did you know she spent much of the last year performing with symphony orchestras across the country—when she wasn't at Women of Faith events, of course—including a concert at Carnegie Hall? Or that she's such a die-hard Indianapolis Colts fan she refuses to sing the National Anthem at their games? ("They lost every time I sang," Sandi mourns. "I love them too much to risk it again.") Sandi, her husband, Don, and their younger children (they have a total of eight) live in Oklahoma.

Andy Andrews - Andy is an internationally known speaker and novelist whose works have sold millions of copies worldwide. Andy lived a relatively normal life until the age of nineteen, when both his parents died—and he found himself literally homeless, sleeping under a pier or in some one's garage. Then he asked the question that would ultimately affect millions of people. "Is life just a lottery ticket, or are there choices one can make to direct his future?" Andy has spoken at the request of four different U.S. Presidents and works with people from all walks of life, including the military. He lives in Alabama, with his wife, Polly, and their two sons.

Patsy Clairmont - Every year women go home to regale their friends and family with the latest "Patsy story" and we expect this weekend will be no different. Patsy has a poet's gift for making words dance as she shares her adventures and God's overwhelming love. Who'd have thought the teenage runaway who spent later years housebound with agoraphobia would grow into the gifted communicator and best-selling author you see and read today? (Certainly not Patsy herself!) A proud mama of two boys and "nana" to two more, Patsy and husband Les live in Tennessee

Amy Grant - No description necessary!

Marilyn Meberg - At first glance, you might think Marilyn was a serious, wise, well-educated counselor. (And you'd be right!) But she's also prone to break into giggles at the slightest provocation and tell stories you'll still be laughing over years from now. With the weight of not one, but two Masters' degrees behind her, Marilyn tackles the most difficult subjects with aplomb. Her biblically-based brand of common sense and good humor is cherished by women across the continent. Marilyn claims California as home but has been on what she calls an "extended visit" to Texas since 2005.

Elisa Morgan, Brenda Warner and more to come!

I can hardly wait for October.  The event begins on Friday evening at the Amway Center at 7:00 until 10:00.  Then on Saturday morning we begin again at 9:00 until 5:00.  There is a prepaid lunch available for $10.00.  (The menu is posted on the website.) 

We are hoping to have at least 30 women join us for this fantastic event so spread the word!  I'll post again as soon as our group is set up and we have our group link.