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Just a thought today from my Facebook friend, Sheila Walsh:

You say you have questions? That’s okay. My plea to you even in the midst of the questions is simple: talk to God and take time to listen. No matter how “vertically challenged” we may believe ourselves to be, God is listening and talking to us all the time. We only need to learn to stop and listen.

We are living in difficult times. War and terrorism are no longer a million miles away from home. Cancer and heart disease are waging an unprecedented battle against younger and younger people. The financial “golden days” of the 1980s are long gone. People worry if they will have enough savings to help their children through college or if they themselves will have enough to retire on. The bottom line is, life is hard.

God knows all about it. And more than that, right in the center of the tornado of our lives, he offers a quiet place, a shelter where he waits with open arms and an open heart to embrace any of us who will come. Whether you are young or old, full of hope or full of fear, angry or excited, bitter or grateful, this remains my conviction: God is listening.

Excerpted from Get Off Your Knees and Pray © 2007 by Sheila Walsh. Published in Nashville, Tennessee by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

More later……

Shari

Maybe a lot of you are like me, and would love to know how to break into the gospel music industry. I guess having sung with my family for so many years, just on a local basis, I’ve always wondered how to do more. I was just doing some wandering around the Internet and found something new and really interesting.

I haven’t completely finished it yet, but I am deep into my new copy of The Beginner’s guide to the Gospel Music Industry by Monica Coates.

So far, it is the only book that I have ever seen the addresses both the practical AND spiritual issues surrounding one’s involvement in the gospel industry — either as a creative person (artist, songwriter, producer, etc.), or as an industry executive. It is a great read and very upfront, a true education on the business of gospel music, written by someone who knows whereof she speaks. Monica Coates has worked for nearly 2 decades on the careers of such people as Fred Hammond, and a very long list of people, filled with names of those artists that many of us love.

There is a short promo video on youTube for the book, or just go to your local christian bookstore or http://www.monicacoates.com for more information.

More later…

Shari

I haven’t done this in a while, so we might as well get caught up a bit. I try to feature all types of Christian music (praise and worship, gospel, southern gospel, contemporary, etc.) here on the blog. If there is anyone I am missing, please write and let me know. Heck, just write and reassure me that I have some readers!

The financial crunch has hit all of us, unfortunately, and the Gospel Music Association is no different. According to an article on the latest Gospel Music Channel website (by the way, DISH Network needs to get this channel!!!!!!!!!), this past Sunday night, several of gospel music’s top artists gathered together in an intimate Nashville setting in an attempt to help raise a substantial amount of money for the GMA, which is the gospel music industry’s primary mouthpiece. Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Kirk Franklin, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Natalie Grant, and many more artists were there to perform, and the event was streamed live, so don’t be surprised if a video is not out soon! (I hope so…)

The Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 to serve as the face and voice of the christian/gospel music community, citing the mission “dedicated to exposing, promoting, and celebrating the gospel through music”. The GMA serves it nearly 3,000 members in part by producing its annual televised awards ceremony, the Dove Awards. Designed to recognize achievement in all genres of christian and gospel music, the Dove Awards ceremony is the culmination of the GMA’s annual GMA Music Week convention, during which artists, agents, radio, retail, managers, promoters, record companies, publishers, media, marketing and PR professionals, and many others join together for performances, educational seminars, spiritual enrichment, and networking oppotunities. Talk about invaluable!

The GMA has also produced annual music training programs such as GMA Music in the Rockies, GMA Academy, and this year’s new IMMERSE event, a talent competition and training program for up-and-coming christian artists, songwriters, worship leaders, and future music business professionals. The GMA also operates the Gospel Music Hall of Fame through its sister organization, the GMA Foundation.

Let’s pray that the financial burdens that the GMA has held for nearly five years now will be taken care of, through the love of artists and other music professionals, all of us, and the grace of God.

Speaking of awards, gospel duo Mary Mary has been nominated for TWO American Music Awards. The group was given a nod for the favorite artist award in the Contemporary Inspirational category (other nominees include Jeremy Camp and Brandon Heath). Plus, Mary Mary is nominated in the soul/r&b category for Favorite Band, Duo, or Group, against the Black-Eyed Peas and Day 26.

The awards will be given out Sunday, November 22nd at 8 p.m. ET, live on ABC. And here’s a tweet from Mary Mary…their own line of products is set to launch in February of 2010. Can’t wait to see what that is all about!

Gospel music’s favorite brother and sister duo BeBe and CeCe Winans will be featured on Gospel Music Channel’s new hit series REVEALED this Sunday night, October 18th at 8 p.m. ET. The REVEALED series features an hour of performances and storytelling from the featured artist, so this is going to be a great episode!!!!

Know the secular comedian Steve Harvey? I’ll bet you don’t know what God is doing in his life. Check out a youTube video about Steve introducing Jesus. That’s just a warm-up. Steve has written a book that has been on both secular and christian book sellers top lists for 27 weeks now, called “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man”. He’s also featured in a new hit radio program in the morning on various stations….search your dial. For more information, go to www.steveharvey.com and read up on the news. God has changed the life and heart of this man and he is still a riot! Also, check out the October 5th TBN broadcast of PRAISE THE LORD, hosted by one of my favorite pastor/singers, Donnie McClurkin. The interview with Steve Harvey will bless you and watching Donnie McClurkin laugh will crack you up. Go to http://tbn.org/watch-us/archives
to find the tape of the program.

That’s about it……more later……..

Shari

This week my blog is just a heads up and a call out to all of our Godsway staff members…I need info from you to blog about! If you want me to make this a devotional blog strictly, I can do that with no problem. But I want to help you out. So if there is ANYTHING….product, service, etc……that you need to get word out about, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

God is so good to all of us. Don’t neglect to thank Him this week, even for the small things in your life. A word that God gave my husband and I was to “not despise our small beginnings”. God gives you the very breath that you take, and you take it without notice, don’t you? Thank Him even for that!

More later….

Shari

It’s finally happening, and I hope you will all be in prayer for a small group of people in Napoleon, Ohio (NW part of the state). A week ago this coming Wednesday night, the Assemblies of God (and, no, I’m not afraid to tell you who did it) shut our church’s doors completely. We knew for a quite a while it was coming, so plans have been made…

This Sunday, we offically open our new work, Restoration Fellowship, in, of all places, an indoor shelter house right along the Maumee River. It is a beautiful location, and we could not ask for better. We are continuing on, just as if nothing ever happened, except to say that we are now an independent church, with our own articles of incorporation, etc. Our authority is the Lord Himself, with my husband as pastor and God’s voice.

It is an exciting week, and I hope you’ll all remember us in prayer. I am the worship team, and my prayer is that by this time next year, I’ll have at least five on that team. I have no doubt that God is honoring all of his words to us, and we will start to grow. We have so many churches standing firm behind us, it is unreal, and we praise the Lord for that. Monies are short, but God is big in his providence and protection, that we already know.

May God start to pour in those who need a restoration of heart…