Merry Christmas, and Happy 2003 to everyone, and I hope that the new year gives everyone a fresh start for a great year of blessings!!! 

 

If you have been reading my column, you know that I am a keyboard musician and have a recent gospel CD that I recorded “on faith,” and through special guidance that I felt was from the Lord. So very many blessings have come from this, and we are very grateful! 

 

Also, if you read my last article, you know that my husband Jim and I are recovering from bankruptcy after the loss of a 16-year-long business. So, knowing this, I think you will appreciate this story about our college student daughter and how we were hoping to be able to help her with an upcoming note payment on her car...this story is a praise report and it’s neat how God used my music to send another special blessing our way.

 

Erin is independent and living on her own in another state, putting herself through college and working. But she is having a hard time making it, and we feel helpless at times knowing we cannot offer much money toward her support. Jim and I have been praying that God would meet her needs, in whatever form, whether through us being able to help her meet her car note again this time since her tips have been down so low on the noon shifts at her work, or whatever else. 

 

Erin had called me the night before I was to have a big event to play music for a department store. Jim and I prayed together about our concern for Erin that night and simply turned it over to God. We knew she needed financial help and right away, but we knew it was in God’s hands, for we did not have the money available. The next morning we awoke and Jim said, "I have a good idea. Have you thought about dedicating any CD sales you make today toward helping Erin, since you have already met your quota for this week?" I thought that was a splendid idea. 

 

I have a professional duplicator, we got the mechanical rights to the songs paid so everything is nice and “legal,” and I do the entire production of the CD’s myself until we can do something different... so I carried all the CD's I had on hand to the store that day. The owners of this popular home-owned department are sweet Christian people, and they allow me to sell my CD's there and even offered to let the customers with accounts charge the CD's to the store and they would pay me in return. Another huge blessing! They even invited me to advertise FOR FREE with a little insert in their monthly bills, saying I have "fans" in the region. So you can see they are very supportive.

 

I did not know what to expect, but we thought any sales at all dedicated to Erin would be a help to her. I hung a sign about having my CD's on my keyboard that day but left the rest up to the Lord. Turns out that I had a very good day of sales.....I took in $205 in CD sales, more than I could have ever dreamed, and enough to help Erin finish her car note! Praise the Lord! I had sweet little ladies come into that store saying they had read in paper or heard on radio that I would be there, and they were wanting my CD's!  I was blown away!!!!!!! I had not even advertised them there at that time!!

 

We called Erin to tell her what we had done and how we had turned it over to the Lord, and she became quiet and I could tell she was "sniffing"....she could not get over the Lord's awesome power and love. I think this really gave all of us added SPIRITUAL STRENGTH. 

 

Nothing can take the place of God’s love, and I cannot tell you what His blessing mean in our life. I am grateful God has used my music to honor him, and if this story touches you, I hope it will help give you added strength and hope.

 

Until next time, God bless you!!