Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Good morning from the Mariposa mountains! The summer light has shifted, a breeze has come, and a few leaves are taking on an orange glow... It's fall, y'all, and I am not complaining! I'm looking forward to completing the few touches of fall decor at our house by picking up a pumpkin or two today when I'm in town.  Gotta have those cuties on the front porch to officially declare that a new season has indeed arrived! Throw on a scarf and start sipping lattes! 🎃

There's an upcoming CD release and a concert or two passing our way come October. Being that we've only got a few days left of September, I figured we would all be better off if I would stop thinking about sending off an informative blog and actually do it!

For starters, the Collingsworth Family is headed west and working their way up the coast!  The dates and times are listed below. By the way, were you to attend one of their concerts, you'll probably get to meet the newest member: Winston James Blair. Brooklyn's now got two kiddos! He's a cutie and appears to have some red in his hair, much to his red-haired Aunt Olivia's delight, I'm sure!

Oct 6, 2017Tucson, AZEast Side Assemblyhttp://www.itickets.com/events/380459.html520-790-44267:00 PM
Oct 7, 2017Riverside, CAMagnolia Baptist ChurchLandon Beene/IMC Concerts LLC800-965-9324 or http://www.itickets.com/events/380460.html6:00 PM
Oct 8, 2017Sun City West, AZChurch On The GreenLoren Gerdes623-546-6386 or http://www.itickets.com/events/381294.html6:00 PM
Oct 11, 2017Modesto, CABig Valley Grace ChurchScott Butler209-577-16046:30 PM
Oct 12, 2017Roseville, CAPleasant Grove Community ChurchLois Coady916-771-44476:30 PM
Oct 13, 2017Red Bluff, CAHigh Point Assembly of GodCarla Fultz530-200-06156:30 PM
Oct 14, 2017Vancouver, WAVancouver First Church of GodLandon Beene/IMC Concerts LLC423-239-5463 or http://www.itickets.com/events/380461.html;5:00 PM

The Gaither Vocal Band has recorded a new CD that is due to be released on October 13th.  Based on the two songs that I've heard so far, it seems like a rather promising record! One of the songs, Chain Breaker, written and originally recorded by Zach Williams, is particularly special to me...

One day back in August, I had to sit in on some local court cases.  Our courthouse is a beautiful old building with worn hardwood floors and creaky stairs. The main courtroom is on the upper level. In fact, it is the upper level. It is one room with raised wooden benches that have backs that are just a little too straight.  I entered this courtroom and sat towards the back. Within minutes, one of our two local judges came out and the cases began.  He quickly went through the first few cases and then the side door opened. In came a prisoner with literal chains around his wrists and ankles. He was a young guy, with buzzed blond hair and an orange jump suit.  Judge W. had obviously dealt with him before, and he was kindly encouraging him to try a certain drug that the psychiatrist prescribed, saying that perhaps it would help him feel better. After a brief nod of agreement, Judge W. dismissed him, telling him that he was looking forward to seeing him in a month. As this young man left, two other prisoners shuffled in, one after the other, both bound with chains. I sat there watching these people and felt such a heaviness.  What had happened in their lives to get them to the place where they were literally chained, with their only chance of seeing something other than those prison walls was to go to a courthouse, and then right back again to their cement rooms?  As the cases came to a close, I walked back down to my car and started the drive home.  I could not shake the sight of those chains or the way they sounded as they drug on that old floor.  Suddenly the words, words of life, started drifting from my speakers:

If you need freedom or saving
He's a prison shaking Savior
If you've got chains
He's a chain breaker

I knew then, without a doubt, that our God was telling me through that song that He was well aware of each one of their cases, and that it didn't matter how hopeless it looked because He is more than able to break those chains and set them free... because He is the chain breaker.


~Where words fail, music speaks~

Until next time,
Mizz Babs







1 comment:

  1. I loved reading that story! "There but for the grace of God go I..." Keep posting everything, I am now subscribed!!!! :D

    -Katie

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