Sunday, February 7, 2010
Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to be invited to Lakeland, FL for the Gaither Reunited Tour. It was a four hour event of fun, laughter, music and incredible testimony of redemption and forgiveness.
I am not a “country” music lover. Funny as this is, I worked at a country music radio station for 7-1/2 years in Northern California. All I remembered from being a kid was the twangy sound of country that my father loved. The Grand Ole Opry and Hee Haw. Hated it growing up! After working at the radio station, I grew to acknowledge the “grass roots” of it all but much preferred my Rock-n-Roll. About that time country came out with “country pop”. That was more my style. I did enjoy that and am so surprised when I still say I hate country music today. I believe that to be far from the truth. I still love Rock-n-Roll, but do enjoy country music up to a point.
My Aunt Betty used to sing the old hymns and gospel songs when we used to talk on the phone. I didn’t really enjoy/appreciate that type of music as I am more into the Contemporary Christian music. How I miss her southern drawl and her singing to me on the phone now.
So, when I was invited to go to the Gaithers with my loving sisters from church, I said yes. I did not know too much about them as a musical group, but knew there was some reason I wanted to go. I had heard their name over the years and knew of their gospel music and the gathering of family and its importance.
When we arrived at the Lakeland Center it was the typical getting inside, parking the car, etc. I was in for a surprise as we sat down. As I laughed and listened to the show it was good. I was thinking it was only going to be a couple of hours. As in any concert, there is a “pre-show” before the big talent comes on stage. I didn’t think that this was that type of concert. I thought it was just the Gaithers singing and comedy.
Then the stage went dark and the lights came on with a group of men on stage. I asked my friend. “Okay – who is this”? and she replied “It’s the Gaither Vocal Band”. I was like okay more gospel country. But then they started singing together and then individually and I was blown away. I did not know anything about the Gaither Vocal Band, nor its members. It was astounding and blew me away.
During the course of the afternoon/evening that went on for 4 hours, I learned that the old hymns and the gospel sound is the root of the south and music. This is where my Dad and Aunt Betty got their love of music. They were raised in the church and their love of music was rooted in belief of our Savior.
A wonderful surprise was that Michael English was back with the Gaither Vocal Band (I did not know he had been with them for 10 years before his solo career took off). I knew a little about his fall from grace and Bill Gaither touched upon it and Michael mentioned it as well with great emotion on the stage.
It was a day and evening full of God’s Love, His Grace, and His Beauty. So we came home with songs in our heart, knowing the love of our Savior and I went to bed.
This morning I woke up and wanted more background on the Gaithers and Michael English. So I started surfing and read up on the men in the Gaither Vocal Band and Michael English. I have a true appreciation of this group of men and the Love our Savior has for us.
In one article on Michael English he had referenced a song by gospel legend Dotti Rambo.
Roll back the curtains of memory now and then / Show me where you brought me from and where I could have been / Remember I'm human and humans forget / So remind me, remind me, dear Lord
In the article, Michael English said that the song's message made it clear to him: "I started realizing, you know what? If God has to remind me of where I came from to keep me on course, then I say, bring it on." His book is penned The Prodigal Comes Home.
It got me thinking about our weight issues and how we struggle each and every day with the stronghold we are trying to break free from.
We are the prodigal daughters coming home with The Eden Diet. Coming home to what is natural for our bodies, to worship God and not food, understanding how incredibly unique we are and how God formed each and every one of us in our mother’s womb before we were born.
That we think, like Michael English did in that article, will it ever be over where we don’t have to think about it or address it again? I truly believe that God does remind us where we have come from and where we are now to remind us that we need Him and to keep us focused on Him and freedom will only come in Him.
So if and when you do get off course, know that God is there to not condemn us but to gently remind us to get back on the right track. He does it with love as He wants the absolute best for us in our lives.
We are welcomed home after we stray, each and every time with open arms, a robe of royalty thrown over our shoulders, and the best of feasts.
We are the prodigal daughters coming home to God’s promise and His faithfulness in us, his daughters.
Let us continue to look at this journey as staying on our path with God. Looking at His reminders of our past to keep us on His path for our lives. To be healthy and whole and to shine His light in this dark world. To be yoked with Jesus and be Free in Him to live, love and laugh while we are here on this earth.
Let the music sing in your heart…..
In His Light, Love, and Joy, Debbie
Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to be invited to Lakeland, FL for the Gaither Reunited Tour. It was a four hour event of fun, laughter, music and incredible testimony of redemption and forgiveness.
I am not a “country” music lover. Funny as this is, I worked at a country music radio station for 7-1/2 years in Northern California. All I remembered from being a kid was the twangy sound of country that my father loved. The Grand Ole Opry and Hee Haw. Hated it growing up! After working at the radio station, I grew to acknowledge the “grass roots” of it all but much preferred my Rock-n-Roll. About that time country came out with “country pop”. That was more my style. I did enjoy that and am so surprised when I still say I hate country music today. I believe that to be far from the truth. I still love Rock-n-Roll, but do enjoy country music up to a point.
My Aunt Betty used to sing the old hymns and gospel songs when we used to talk on the phone. I didn’t really enjoy/appreciate that type of music as I am more into the Contemporary Christian music. How I miss her southern drawl and her singing to me on the phone now.
So, when I was invited to go to the Gaithers with my loving sisters from church, I said yes. I did not know too much about them as a musical group, but knew there was some reason I wanted to go. I had heard their name over the years and knew of their gospel music and the gathering of family and its importance.
When we arrived at the Lakeland Center it was the typical getting inside, parking the car, etc. I was in for a surprise as we sat down. As I laughed and listened to the show it was good. I was thinking it was only going to be a couple of hours. As in any concert, there is a “pre-show” before the big talent comes on stage. I didn’t think that this was that type of concert. I thought it was just the Gaithers singing and comedy.
Then the stage went dark and the lights came on with a group of men on stage. I asked my friend. “Okay – who is this”? and she replied “It’s the Gaither Vocal Band”. I was like okay more gospel country. But then they started singing together and then individually and I was blown away. I did not know anything about the Gaither Vocal Band, nor its members. It was astounding and blew me away.
During the course of the afternoon/evening that went on for 4 hours, I learned that the old hymns and the gospel sound is the root of the south and music. This is where my Dad and Aunt Betty got their love of music. They were raised in the church and their love of music was rooted in belief of our Savior.
A wonderful surprise was that Michael English was back with the Gaither Vocal Band (I did not know he had been with them for 10 years before his solo career took off). I knew a little about his fall from grace and Bill Gaither touched upon it and Michael mentioned it as well with great emotion on the stage.
It was a day and evening full of God’s Love, His Grace, and His Beauty. So we came home with songs in our heart, knowing the love of our Savior and I went to bed.
This morning I woke up and wanted more background on the Gaithers and Michael English. So I started surfing and read up on the men in the Gaither Vocal Band and Michael English. I have a true appreciation of this group of men and the Love our Savior has for us.
In one article on Michael English he had referenced a song by gospel legend Dotti Rambo.
Roll back the curtains of memory now and then / Show me where you brought me from and where I could have been / Remember I'm human and humans forget / So remind me, remind me, dear Lord
In the article, Michael English said that the song's message made it clear to him: "I started realizing, you know what? If God has to remind me of where I came from to keep me on course, then I say, bring it on." His book is penned The Prodigal Comes Home.
It got me thinking about our weight issues and how we struggle each and every day with the stronghold we are trying to break free from.
We are the prodigal daughters coming home with The Eden Diet. Coming home to what is natural for our bodies, to worship God and not food, understanding how incredibly unique we are and how God formed each and every one of us in our mother’s womb before we were born.
That we think, like Michael English did in that article, will it ever be over where we don’t have to think about it or address it again? I truly believe that God does remind us where we have come from and where we are now to remind us that we need Him and to keep us focused on Him and freedom will only come in Him.
So if and when you do get off course, know that God is there to not condemn us but to gently remind us to get back on the right track. He does it with love as He wants the absolute best for us in our lives.
We are welcomed home after we stray, each and every time with open arms, a robe of royalty thrown over our shoulders, and the best of feasts.
We are the prodigal daughters coming home to God’s promise and His faithfulness in us, his daughters.
Let us continue to look at this journey as staying on our path with God. Looking at His reminders of our past to keep us on His path for our lives. To be healthy and whole and to shine His light in this dark world. To be yoked with Jesus and be Free in Him to live, love and laugh while we are here on this earth.
Let the music sing in your heart…..
In His Light, Love, and Joy, Debbie
