A Word Of Hope For 2008

The last day of 2007 -- what a day!

I'd driven back from Oregon on Sunday. It was the usual 7 or so hours so I was tired. Even though I was tired, we had plans for New Year's Eve so I had to get us all home.

Yes, New Year's Eve was a beautiful night. My church has a great New Year's Eve party that we call "Showtime At Liberty". It's a great show, featuring singers, dancers, musicians, lip-syncing, with lots of fun and worship.

My daughter has been practicing for weeks. She's a singer and she has truly been Blessed with a big voice. I'm Mom and yes, I know, all moms think their kids can sing. But my daughter can't just sing, God blessed her with a VOICE and she can BLOW!

Anyway, we spent some time with her vocal coach, Jonathon, then her best friend flat-ironed her hair and they got ready to go. We arrived at the church on time and many friends were there. It's always good to go in the doors, I feel the worries of the world drain out of me when I get to church.

Anyway, my girl was fifth in the lineup. I enjoyed the other young people, a pianist, another singer, a flutist, a hip-hop dance group. But I was waiting for my girl.

I was so proud.

I am so proud of my child.

She got up there and was so beautiful, quietly waiting for her introduction. Then, the music started and she opened her mouth and her spirit and her soul and she sang. OMG she SANG! She sang a Word of Hope for 2008 for me and my Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

Be Blessed, sung by Yolanda Adams is an awesome song. Sung by my girl, it moved the church.

"Cause I spoke to God, I called out your name
And on your behalf, I just asked if He would be there for you"

I could feel the power of His Spirit moving her and moving across the church with her voice, soaring above us. He was there. The angels were moving through the crowded pews, touching hearts, minds, souls, spirits.

Her best friend was crying.

When the last note faded, my Brothers and Sisters were on their feet, clapping and cheering and praising God.

The Spirit moved. He moved.

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I am such the proud mom.

But that's not all.

In Blessing us with her singing, she was also Blessed. She was so focused on singing, she forgot that this was also a talent show.

Yes, it was a tight competition, because there was other wonderful Talent. But my girl WON!

And not only did she win that gift certificate, but she's been invited to sing at another church in San Francisco in February, at a Black History Celebration.

AND we have two people at church who have recording studios and she's been invited to record FOR FREE!

Hallelujah!

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AND that's not all!

Part of "Showtime At Liberty" is a fundraiser so our teens and young adults can go to Encounter in January. The young people were selling water, candy, pizza and had a raffle for two bicycles.

Now, my youngest son had his bicycle stolen a couple of weeks ago. He took half of what was left of his birthday and Christmas money and bought 7 tickets. Sure, he wanted to win a bike, but he also wanted to support the fund-raiser. Being the sweet kid that he is, and knowing that with about 1100 people in the audience, his odds weren't good, he still bought the tickets, knowing that he was blessing the teens (including his big sister).

Yes, I know you know where I'm going with this.

Yes, he WON!

And I won too, because I also have had a Word of Hope for 2008. All that we've went through this past year, and at the very end of the year, I've been blessed with that bright light shining Hope into my life.

All will be well.

Storms will come. Storms will come and they will pass. And when the Light shines through the dark clouds, I'll again be reminded of how 2007 ended, with joy and hope and the Spirit moving in our lives.

And I will praise Him. Through the good, through the bad, I will praise the Lord God Almighty, because despite how things may look at the moment, it's going to be all right...

(And I can hardly wait for the video. Her dad made it to the church and taped her singing, so I'll be able to share with family and friends. I'm so excited!)