Emmanuel!!!

This has quickly become one of my most favorite Christmas songs!! Chris Tomlin has a gift in music, and I LOVE that he uses it to glorify our Father!! We've been singing this in our 1WORD Christmas set, and it gets to me every time!! I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas with family and friends, but please don't forget to remember Christ as you're celebrating. Without Him, we would be nothing!! Please take a moment to listen to this song, but don't just listen to the music...focus on the words, and put yourself at the feet of Jesus. "The son of God here born to bleed, a crown of thorns would pierce his brow..." HE IS OUR EVERYTHING!! Praise be to God for saving us!!! I hope you all have a blessed Holiday Season!!

Where's The Line To See Jesus?

I received this video in an email the other day, and the song really hit me. So many times we "forget" Jesus at this time of year because we are TOO busy shopping, buying that perfect gift for a loved one, going to Christmas parties, cooking, cooking, cooking,etc. For me, I know I get caught up with all of the parties, festivities at work, practices and 1WORD gigs, that I don't take time to spend time with God. Am I proud of this?? Certainly not, but ashamed. I wish we would not let the "things" of this world cloud our vision that we forget that God is the only reason any of us are able to celebrate not only THIS season, but any wonderful time in our lives. I hear people talking about all their parties, their shopping, having "Breakfast with Santa", what about having Breakfast with God? Don't get me wrong, I think all of these things are great, but it seems to me, God is always taking a back seat to all of our FUN. It's easy to make time for the FUN in our lives, but we can hardly give 2 hours of our time to God on a Sunday morning, and even then, we're watching our watches. I don't understand when God stopped being our top priority, but we need to put Him back in first place. Please take a moment to watch this video, I think it pretty much says it all, and how we forget what the real meaning of Christmas is. I'm also attaching the link to Becky Kelley's website that will tell you the whole story of how this song came about. Long story short, Becky's nephew was standing in line with his mom to see Santa when he asked, "Where's the line to see Jesus?" Kids "get God" more than we do. I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do, and spread this video around. Please take a moment to spend some time with God, and thank Him that you live in the country you do, and for all the blessings you have during this season. Christmas is not always a happy time for everyone, so remember how blessed you are. I hope you all have a blessed day, and you're keeping warm!!

Becky Kelley

Christian Women's Job Corps!

1WORD has been blessed this weekend to sing three gigs. I always enjoy singing anywhere, but sometimes certain places we sing touch me more than others. Although we've been doing alot of fun Christmas Parties, the place we sang this morning touched me more than any Christmas Party. It was for an organization called Christian Women's Job Corps (CWJC). I was not familiar with this organization until a few years ago, but am amazed by what they do. I'm attaching a link at the bottom of this blog that will give you more info about what they do, but long story short, it is a faith based organization where a group of women volunteer their time to reach out and mentor to single mothers who struggle on a daily basis. They help them get their lives back on track and help them overcome some traumatic things that have happened in their lives. To hear some of the stories that these women have gone through, and to see how they've overcome their trials is simply amazing. We think we have bad days...my bad days do not hold a candle to what these ladies have been through. It's just awesome to see where they have been, and how they've overcome through the ministry of CWJC!! CWJC helps these ladies achieve their GED's and ESL (many are Hispanic and speak no English when entering the program). Today, 1WORD was honored to sing at the CWJC Graduation. 14 young women received their GED Diplomas. Some are planning to go on to college, and some have achieved employment. Upon entering this program, they are required to take Bible Classes, as well, so not only are they getting an education to better their lives here, they're also being educated in Christ which will help them achieve their Heavenly home. One girl said today, "When I first enrolled in the program, I was told I had to take Bible Classes. I didn't want to take Bible Classes, but once I started going to those classes, it was very interesting to me. I now read the Bible on a daily basis." I mean, how cool is that?? It is just awesome to see how God uses His people to change the lives of other people who have had no hope, and never heard about Jesus. CWJC's motto is..."A hand up, not a hand out...", I think that says it all. Many women have been impacted through this program, and it just continues to grow. The women who have been through this program inspire me, and humble me. I've not had to deal with ANYTHING that these ladies have. I pray that 1WORD touched someone as we sang for them, but somehow, I think they may have touched us more today. Please take the time to check out the link I've posted to see what an incredible organization this is! I hope you've all had a blessed day!!

Christian Women's Job Corp

Good Ole Tennessee!!!

So...today was "interesting". Work wasn't so bad, but after work, I had a couple of errands to run, and little did I know I would not arrive home until after 7 p.m. One of those errands I had to run after work was stopping by Walgreens. No big deal, I work close to downtown, so I stopped by one on my way home. If I'd had any idea what was going to happen to me, I would have stopped at the one at home. Everything was fine until I finished my shopping and came out to start my car...or should I say TRY to start my car. Um yeah, you know that feeling when it just keeps clicking and you know you're doomed!! haha! Well, there was an elderly woman getting in her car when she noticed my issue. She came right over to my car, and offered to help. She saw a policeman and asked him for help, but cops don't carry jumper cables anymore. Not sure what that's about, but anyway...she took my number, and called me later on to make sure I had help, and if I didn't she was coming back with her jumper cables. She was so sweet to want to help me. The Walgreens manager even tried jump starting my car. We didn't have any luck, but it was so nice of him to leave his job to help out a customer. I called Triple A (and they were all very nice on the phone), and even though it took awhile for someone to get there, the guy was SO nice that helped me (and cute! haha!). He said they were so busy today that all their trucks were dispatched, and he was off duty when he came to help me. I mean, really?? How nice was that?? I was a little agitated having to wait for over 2 hours, but when this guy "came to my rescue" off duty, that meant alot to me. He told me about going to AutoZone, and to call him if I had any trouble on my way there. I mean, how cool is that? Well thankfully, I made it there without any problems. So then I walk into AutoZone and feel rather out of place being the ONLY female in there. haha! You should have seen the looks I was getting like "What is SHE doing in here?" haha! Well, a teenage kid helped me out, and he was just as nice as everyone else I'd encountered today. He tested my battery and put in a new one in the FREEZING cold. He never once grumbled or complained, and was even joking around with this OLD woman. haha! It just hit me on the drive home after living here 8 1/2 years how courteous and helpful so many have been to me down here, from my church family to complete strangers. I can honestly say I've never lived in a State that has been so friendly, welcoming, and helpful as right here in Tennessee. I've NEVER felt like a stranger here, and I can't say thank you enough to all of the people who have made me feel right at home from the very start, and to those I talked to today that I may never see again that don't know how much they touched my heart. It just does my heart good to know there are still good people out there coming to the aid of someone who needs help! So I tip my hat to good ole' Tennessee, and all those who have helped me in some way. What could have been a really rotten afternoon turned out to be just fine thanks to all of these good hearted folks! I hope you all have had a blessed day!!