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Growing
up my parents taught me about God, prayer, & sent me to Vacation Bible School/Sunday School, however, I was unable to
attend very often due to my mother didn't drive, & my father was in the Air Force & we traveled extensively. I
asked the Lord into my heart in 3rd grade while living in Okinawa, Japan, but being a child, didn't fully comprehend the meaning
of a true, personal relationship with God until later in life. I was extremely blessed to have good representation
of devout Christians through my family and friends. I was fascinated with music & loved to sing from the time I
was a baby & imitated artists from every genre of music, however, was very shy, so I never considered singing as a career
(God had a different plan, lol). I took beginning band in Jr. High to learn music, & was in choir & a madrigal group
called "Eurydice" in high school. I liked being in a group due to my shyness. I began college at age 16 & married
my husband at age 18. We had a son almost to the day a year after we were married. We began attending church regularly in
the church my husband grew up in. I accepted Jesus as my Savior, now as an adult, & was baptized. I learned what it truly
meant to call Jesus my All, my Rock, & my Salvation. I joined the church choir when my son was around 3 or 4 years old
& the Choir Director asked if I would sing a part in the Christmas Cantata we were going to have. I accepted, & soon
discovered why God had blessed me with a voice to sing: For Him & His glory!! From the time
I opened my mouth to sing in the cantata, I knew music ministry was my calling. No more sitting on the pew listening to other
singers share their hearts for Jesus through song; no more being afraid or shy to share the gift God had so graciously given
to me! He wanted me to be on the front line for Him! The devil loves to make people feel unworthy and afraid-that way God's
gifts are wasted. If you're one of those sitting at home or on the pew wondering where God wants to use you, don't let the
devil claim a victory! Pray for God to reveal to you the gift He has given you, & ask Him to show you where & how
that gift may be utilized. Maybe your gift is hospitality, Sunday School, missions, etc. ? How exciting the days ahead are
going to be! God has a plan for each of us! Don't be discouraged! Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me! God has utilized me through the years & opened doors that I could've never imagined. I've sung to as
few as 3 people in prison ministry & as many as 250,000 at Baptist Conventions, been on TV, radio, shared in Homeless
Shelters, Coffee Houses, political campaigns, & the list goes on and on. When God calls you to minister for Him be ready
& hang on! Our purpose in life is to serve Him & I'm honored and excited to continue on the journey He has set forth
for me. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know He is in control. To God be the glory! Great things He has done!
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