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Sleep In Heavenly Peace
Against my better judgment, today I went into the war zone otherwise known as Walmart. As I inched through the poor, tired, huddled masses and collected my groceries and last-minute gifts, I couldn’t help but chuckle at a few of my fellow patrons who were clearly not in the Christmas spirit. I passed one bewildered man talking on his cell phone. He didn’t know what size his wife wore, and was terrified to buy anything labeled “large.” I rounded another aisle and encountered a woman threatening her little boy to stop fussing or Santa would not deliver the very toy she was placing in her cart at that moment.
In our commercial, fast-paced world, the idea of a “silent night” is nearly unthinkable, and maybe even scary. The darkest hour of the night can be lonely and uncertain. Mary and Joseph were all alone out in the stable, and they must have been scared to death, even as God lived within her. But how relieved and happy they must have been to hear their baby cry for the first time, and what peace His tiny presence must have brought.
The greatest things can come out of silent nights. In the middle of all the stress, excitement, worry and joy, I hope you celebrate Christmas this year with the knowledge that He has always been there with you, and all is calm.
Very well written !!!!
Amen! Lauren! Merry Christmas!
very very true lauren What a wonderful God Given gift you have.God Bless you. Wayne
SO TRUE AND VERY WELL WRITTEN ! LOVE TO YALL AND PEACE ON EARTH GOD BLESS
Amen! Merry Christmas to you and your Family.
Merry Christmas! Very well put. We let ourselves get stressed over Christmas shopping and forget the real meaning of Christmas. As we celebrate His birthday,I hope we all stop and remember that He is and always has and will be with us now and forever!! I pray for our troops and my grandson who is serving in Afganistan this Christmas that they feel His presence and our prayers!!! May God Bless You and Your Family!!!!
My 18 year old cousin, Cameron, is in boot camp at Camp Lejune, SC this Christmas. He joined the Marines this fall and this is his first December away from home. Please keep him in your prayers as well as all of our troops!
I pray for all our troops now and since most of my nephews are in the military and 2/3rds of them are Marines I can understand your feels. Thank GOD they have all pulle their time in the warzone and come home safe for now. Maybe some of the verses I sent you a while back might help you now.
Bless you it takes real courage to go to walmart at this time if the year.
That was great! I am going to the mall either today or tomorrow to do the bulk of my shopping
. Was listening tou your Christmas CD on the way to work today… Love it!!
Merry Christmas to you
Barbara
You are brave! Merry Christmas
Thanks
I love your great spirit and your wonderful songs.
Merry Christmas Lauren! I’ll see you guys at Shady Maple on New Years Eve. Take care!
Sam Kerfoot
Wow that was an unusual experience for me. I felt as though I was shopping with you.I was awaiting our next move. Possibly a candy cane coffee at Dunkins. Merry Christmas Lauren. I love your new website as well as the othewr one. Godbless you and yours. Mike
LOL a candy cane coffee….wish I’d thought of that
As people rush about maxing out their credit cards searching for the perfect Christmas present they seem to forget that the Greatest gift ever given was given on that starry night in Bethlehem, our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. And this gift is free for the asking. May you have a very merry Christmas and a Happy new year.
Keep spreading the Gospel until we meet again.
In Christ,
Art
It’s in the solitutde of silence, when I focus on Him, I hear Him the best. May your Christmas include silence broken by whispers of heavenly voices reminding you you are loved
I hope that ALL the Talley’s have a wonderful Christmas and the happiest of New Years too. Thank YOU for ALL that you do.
Forever & a day, gfs
that is very well put. knowing that christ is with us at christmas as we enjoy the holiday with love ones. we all must know that christ is with us he was born to bring peace and joy in our hearts on this silent night that is the greates gift or all bring christ into someone hearts. Merry christmas and have a happy new year
Jeremiah
I feel like Walmart is a war-zone year-round! You’re a brave woman…..Hey, you think you’ll be going again before Christmas? I have a few things you can pick up for me while you are on the frontlines of battle. Ashley and I finally finished Christmas shopping. Now, we just have to prepare for everyone to come to our house for Christmas Eve dinner, it will be anything but SILENT!! Merry Christmas and hope we see you soon.
This was funny, well written, and had a good message. Thank-you for sharing. Merry Christmas.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas with your families.
Thank you the wonderful music.
Have a blessed New Year!!!!
Merry Christmas Lauren…Love your music and your humbleness and making us feel special, that you would share your life, through your website.
Lauren, Merry Christmas! Thank you for sharing your moments and thoughts. It is such a joy to know you and be a part of your world. Thank you for giving a slice of Silent Night to a heart crying out for peace in a world of anxiety. Thank you for being a friend in every way possible,
I wish you and your family a Merry Cristmas. I just love your Christmas album. It brings me loads of holiday spirit and love.
God bless you and all your music and all your endeavors.
Greg
Lauren, a former boss of mine who hailed from the great and LARGE state of Texas referred to the rampant secularism and commercialism in our once great country as a penchant for “Bigger, Better, More”! I am reaading William Bennett’s new book, “The true St. Nicholas” and find myself going back to simpler times as a young boy growing up in the 50’s. My grandmother told me that St. Nicholas lived in her town in Italy and had passed along a tradition of giving small gifts like a fresh orange or apple along with a few nuts in the stockings hung by the chimnies of central Europe. She and her siblings were ecstatic to open their stockings on Christmas morning and to enjoy the sweet and simple gifts left by St. Nicholas.
I hope that you and your family have a Christ-filled Christmas in Morristown and give our former pastor, Brother Dean Haun, a big hug for us!
John and Tona DiTore
Charleston, SC
Thanks Lauren, I needed that!
I can’t wait untill I can get your new CD, I just love the way you sing, Keep up the good work. God Bless You and have a great Christmas.
YIKES! Rachel is at Walmart right now! Thankfully I have the baby at home with me! Now I am soooo dreading going tomorrow……. I had hoped if I went early in the day I could miss most of the crowds but it doesn’t sound like it. Sometimes you just have to go get groceries tho!
Hoping everyone has the Peace and Joy of Christmas!
It really breaks my heart to see people running around trying to ‘buy’ the happiness of Christmas when what they are really seeking is the joy and peace only Christ can give them. Our family broke away from the frenzy of Christmas a few years ago and made some changes and it seems we ‘are doing less and enjoying it more’! We made some new traditions such as going to see the Living Christmas Tree production by Sevier Heights and spending time with our family who live out of state and can no longer travel. We just visit and do things for each other while we are together and cherish those memories until we are together again.
We also choose to give throughout the year not only to each other but to those around us……and even those far away through mission opportunities like KARM and especially Operation Christmas Child. This Christmas we were also blessed to help send two students to China and also sent hats, gloves and mittens to a missionary we support in Jordan. It makes the Christmas Season much less stressful to know you have already given and what you do on Christmas Day is just a little ‘icing on the cake’!
I see all around Lost, Lonely, Homeless, Grieving and Needy people and wonder “Did Christ come to deliver a new Gameboy or flat screen T V. He came to die. I have a hard time celebrating Christmas for thinking about the trgic easter events. The 3rd. day is what I celebrate!
In quietness and confidence shall be our strength…perfectly stayed in Him.
I am normally have very chipper and happy person this time of year. However I seen my self in your story as I read it. (one of the ones NOT in the spirit) This is the first year in my entire life (48yrs) that I have not been able to give any one a gift for CHRISTmas. Not my mom, brother, children or grandchildren. It has been very hard on me because I am a giver. That is the heart that God gave me. I know the reason for the season and I share that with them all year long but, this is that time of year when you get to say thank you for putting up with me and all my little quirks for another year.Thanks for sharing I needed to hear again the reassurance that he is there and in control.
I posted below that the best gifts are the ones you can’t unwrap. Giving of yourself and your time is far more valuable than something bought, and I’m sure your family would rather have you than anything else! Hope you and your loved ones have the best Christmas ever.
Hey Lauren I enjoyed reading your story, and I was thinking to myself at least you did not order yours online and like me still waiting for it to arrive. There is a chance it may not arrive until after Christmas. I will never do this again. I ordered it in November too. Have a very Merry Christmas.
Singing worshipful songs to Jesus, during those dark times seems to always bring peace to my troubled heart. “He inhabits the praise of His people”. Amen!
Lauren thank-you for the timely message today. We wish you and your family a very Blessed Christmas. God be with you in the New Year as you travel around proclaiming the wonderful messge of our Savior in song.
Bev & Darwin
thank you. i would like to see christ put back in christmas.
i am 79 years old on 12-22 and believe that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world. If your world is messed up, pick up a Gideon Bible in any hotel room and Read Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, and Romans 9: 10–13. “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved.” Jesus died on the Cross to PAY for your sins, but you must accept Him as your Lord by faith. “Behold he is standing at your heart’s door and knocking and if you hear his voice and open the door, I will..”.
Rev. 3: 20-22. Merry Christmas, Rev 4: 11 Love in Christ,
Lewis C. Price
Happy Birthday, Mr. Lewis
and thanks for sharing.
Did anyone threaten with the fact that Santa still had the receipts?
LOL
I cannot read any of this. The background is a very, very light blue with white print. The print does not show up at all. Please, Lauren, fix this. I would love to be able to read the comments and your posting. Thanks, barbara
I will pass this on to the webmaster and the tech guys…they do the hard stuff, I just contribute the content
We’ll try to get that fixed so you can be in on the conversation.
The problem has been fixed!!! Yeah!!! I just use a different browser and all is okay!!! Can’t wait to read everything.
It seems like every year the real reason we celebrate Christmas becomes less and less and that is so sad. As nice as all the gifts are none of them can compare to the gift that was given to us on that Holy Night. We need to remember that Jesus Christ is the only reason for the season, without Him we we would not reason to celebrate Christmas at all. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I hope ya’ll come back to Texarkana again real soon.
Lauren, From my family to yours, we wish you all a Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Please everyone, pray for this great country of ours. We are on the verge of losing it, it is not the country I grew up in. Lauren, we’ll see you and your family here in West Texas, in January. Looking forward, to seeing ya’ll in concert again/
I totally agree, Walmart is a scary place this time of year. lol
very nice story though. Merry CHRISTmas Lauren!
I hope you and your family have a joy filled day, and Happy New year too!
May God continue to bless you and your family!
love,
Jess
Lauren, My daughter and I went to Hanes Mall yesterday along with 20,000 other people and it took us 1 hr and 20 min to go 3/4 of the way around to get out of there. Next year I will do Christmas shopping in July. Enjoy your new web site.
Merry Christmas to all the Talleys.
Awesome keep up the good work.
Oh so true Lauren!! Off to the JOY Circle party at Smyrna United Methodist Church. “You were there in September and we made our picture with you flexing our muscles!! haven’t exercised much lately though. Merry Christmas to you and your wonderful parents!!!
That was the only muscle-flexing I did all year
Merry Christmas!
Thanks Lauren!! Tomorrow night we need to make a trip to Walmart against our better judgement!!! With the high unemployment in our area, people seem discourage. Our prayers are that regardless of the situation we face, we all can experience God’s Peace. Merry Christmas!!
Amen !!!!!! Ms Lauren I really wonder if people actually stop and think of all the Silent Nights They Can have….and Just be still and know that He is God….Have A Merry Christmas
I know you don’t I?
Thank the Lord for that night and for reminding me.Merry Christmas.
Vicky
Hi, Lauren. I love reading your writing & can’t wait to get your book & CD. You are blessed with multiple talents with which we are blessed. I know you will have a Very Merry Christmas & want you to know I will, too, with your post in mind. Thank you for reminding us what it’s all about.
Thanks Lauren.
We dont have Walmart in our Counrty ( Wales The UK), but we hear so much about it here. However its so true that remebering why Jesus was born and using a modern day setting for that helps us undersatnd the true meaning of Christmas.
Thanks again Ceinwen
Well imagine a zoo with flat screen TVs.
Have a wonderful Christmas in the UK!
Lauren,
How about saying a prayer for me. Headed to the dreaded( hey, that rhymed) war zone now. Merry Christmas.
Stephen
Jesus is the greatest gift of all! I haven’t been able to buy any presents due to financial restrictions! Which has given me the ability to have things made when I can. But, ultimately our mind should only be on our Lord and Savior who is the giver of everlasting life, for which I can never begin to tell you what that means in my life and anyone who has Jesus as their Savior. Thank you Lauren for sharing your gift of music not only because you and your family sing so beautifully but your walk with God is so apparent. I’m glad you come to North Carolina. Hopefully, you will come again. Merry Christmas!
AMEN! KEEP COMING TO NORTH CAROLINA!!
Lauren………….So Wonderfully saId sweet heart!!! I dId not kow you were such a deep thinker???…………I shood have known that tho………You do love to sIng songs with so much meaning…………God bless You & Your FamIly & Merry ChrIstmas !!!!!
Lov U……[~;~]………Lynn
You’ve hit it on the head, Lauren. In all the hectic rush to get all the stuff we just have to have, we seem to push further and further away the greatest gift ever given: God’s Son. And Walmart sure isn’t where one can go to find it–though it’s a great place to go and show it. In the last two weeks I’ve made 5 trips to our local Walmart and on each trip I’ve had to opportunity to show Christ: from helping load an elderly woman’s groceries in to her car to giving a few dollars to a youngster who came up short at the register and even by calming down a customer who was angry at a cashier. Each time I ended by saying “God bless and Merry Christmas.”
That’s what I’ll say to you and your family; God bless and Merry Christmas.
I’m so proud of you! When I read your account of the Walmart expedition, I was really glad you were getting groceries instead of me.
I love the way you write, of course, I’m not at all prejudiced.
Don’t I know you?
DID YOU GUYS GET ANY SNOW? I HAD TO DRIVE HOME FRI NIGHT IN THAT MESS!TOOK 45 MIN TO GO 23 MILES
You are just like the lady called Debra!!!!!
Merry Christmas to you and your Mom and Dad.
Love you
I loved the last line that you wrote. We know that all is calm in the midst of this chaotic world as we trust in HIM! The Prince of Peace! Your writings are excellent. Looking forward to the next cd! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Great blog, Lauren. Unfortunately this season brings more stress than peace, what a tragedy.
Very Well Written !!!! And That Is So True:)
How true, Lauren! We are so blessed to be able to experience that calm that only a life in Christ can bring!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I thank God for your gift of song! Keep the spirit and keep singing! Merry Christmas!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ,HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE A VERY MARRY CHRISTMAS . SO NICE TO SE YOUNGER ARTIST KEEPING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS WITH LOTS OF LOVE THE STARNES FAMILY
Thank you for the reminder in the midst of busy times, wrapping paper, winter weather, festivities, of the beauty and greatness of God in the silence.
This is amazing!!,..even in the darkest night,..Mary knew she was safe. She had faith in the one and only,..God her Saviour!! We to as believers having Jesus Christ in our hearts can experience that beautiful Silent Night. It is wonderful to know the calm that God can bring. “Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm”
Merry Christmas to you all.
Thanks Lauren. You are great. God bless you and your family. Hurry back to Portland!!
I thought it very interesting that many of you wrote that you are not giving presents this year due to financial restrictions. Thought I would also add that my mom’s side of the family also decided not to exchange gifts this year, as the family has simply grown too large to buy everybody a gift. But this past weekend spent with them was one of the most fun Christmases we’ve ever had, because we were just focused on laughing and having fun together. So don’t feel like you have to unwrap something to have a good Christmas…the best gifts are the ones you already have.
Isn’t that the truth! I receive God’s greatest blessings everyday, by being in His presence. (Not getting any presents, less stuff). Love you all, salvation, reading my Bible, being in prayer and receiving encouragement are the greatest gifts. God is Great, God is Good, God is Merciful. It doesn’t get better than that. Sound familiar? lol.
Hi Lauren
It’s Timmy Smith in Oklahoma – am enjoying your new site. Love the Wal-Mart story. See you in Yukon in January. We pray for you and your family. God Bless You.
Timmy
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Jac
Thank you Lauren.
Luk 2, 10-11.
Wish you all a blessing Christmas.
Love from Marita
Amen Lauren. We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping. I know I’m guilty. What a nice story to share with us.
May the Lord Bless your Christmas holiday as well as your family. May all have a Merry Christmas.
Great message Lauren! Hope you and your family have a Blessed Christmas. Look forward to seeing you at Singing in the Sun!
Thanks Lauren- – you made my day with your humor and wit. Wishing you and the family a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in Oklahoma soon!
I love your site. Meeting you and your parents in Alaska in 2007 has truly been a blessing for me. Seeing you again in Texarkana was an early Christmas present to myself. I hope you and yours have the wonderful Christmas you so richly deserve. I found myself in a small WalMart yesterday hoping that I would not have to go into Bossier City to a supercenter. I was blessed in finding the gift I was looking for so I can relate to your story. May you and yours be covered in the blood for protection as you travel.
Alaska, Texarkana, and Bossier City? Odd combo. Where on earth do you live?
Thanks for sharing your war zone experience with us, Lauren! Also thanks for reminding us how beautiful a “silent night” can actually be! Merry Christmas
Here’s wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and New Year that will bring many of Gods Blessing as you continue to spread Blessings with your talent. Norman & Kathryn Talley (Same name & Possible Distance ancestors from Eastern Tenn.)
Cool…who are your ancestors from my neck of the woods?
Great Grandfather was Washington Talley, Not Sure, of any farther back, but he or other had nickname of (Wash). also was William W. Talley that was mentioned. Watching Schedule for appearances. God Bless
Hmm. I believe my great-grandfather’s name was Thurmon Talley. Ring any bells?
Hi Lauren – thanks so much for sharing your faith. I love your music and have had the opportunity to see you and your parents in concert. I look forward to seeing you in Conyers, GA in March 2010. In the meantime, I wish you and your familiy a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May you be blessed with great joy, good health, and prosperity!
Merry Christmas Lauren! Your such a sweetheart. I wish you the very best in the up and coming new year.
Merry Christmas Lauren, and to your parents as well, and Happy New Year. I hope to get your copy of that book ” Songs In The Night”. I’ll bepraying for ya’ll as ya’ll go in concerts, and in churches.
Lauren, In the words of an Old Smokey Mountain blessing – May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.
Lauren,
You found the world like it is so many times. We love Christmas at our house and we decorate enough for 2 or 3 houses. We feel like it praises the Lorc. Have a great Christmas!!!
Becky Jones
Lovely sentiment and so true.
LOVE TO ALL AND A VERY VERY BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Every year, around the beginning of December, I begin thinking of Mary, and the anticipation of her impending delivery. I think of that ever since I had my first child, Dec. 12th, 21 years ago! He, too, was a boy, and, although, not the Saviour of the World, Daniel has been a joy and a blessing to our family ever since. Every year, I think back to what I felt as we were waiting for him to arrive, and marvel at what Mary went through, as she was pregnant under less-than-ideal circumstances, and I am thankful even more for Jesus’ love and grace! Merry, Merry Christmas to you!
My birthday is the day before Daniel’s, although I’m a few years older
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.
God bless you for sharing your wonderful gifts…music and thoughts. How very tragic that many don’t “get it!” The JOY of the season is CHRISTmas. Love, The Bees
LAUREN,YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VOICE AND SOUL I LOVE YOU SONGS AND SING ALOT OF THEM KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MAY GOD BLESS YOU.YOU ARE A INSPIRATION TO ME
Merry Christmas!
I work in the retail industry and sadly the season of “peace on earth” becomes “I want a piece of you!”. I think that most people are just so empty inside that they are looking for something….some item….to satisfy them…..of course that only lasts for a short time and they are looking for something else.
Now I KNOW that “Christians” and “church people” can get pretty grouchy as well….yes, including myself…..but I’m so glad that the emptiness inside of me is filled with my Jesus! I try to always remember that….even when I’m getting impatient in the store…….
God bless you and all who read this post.
Continue making music and singing for our Lord…
He IS the reason for the season.
Remembering that God is STILL God,
WendyJoy
Couldn’t agree with you more Lauren. With all the hustle and bustle of the world. We quickly forget the true meaning of Christmas… Love. “For God so loved the world. He gave his only begotten Son.” Jesus gave all of us the best Christmas present ever. He died so that we can have everlasting life. May You and your Family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Well said Lauren! Merry Christmas to you!! Love your music & your ministry!! God Bless!!
HAHA you and I did the same thing today. I always do my Christmas shopping at the last minute at Walmarr
. But yeah I agree with what you were saying. I hope you and your family have a very merry CHRISTmas . God Bless You.
*walmart*
the Lord is with us always; All is calm.
yes. thank you Lauren for your simple, yet very much to the point wisdom. funny and soothing stuff after a long, hectic day of shopping, then on the road for Christmas with our kids and families. GOD bless you and your family for walking the walk; and being living testimonies for HIM. >>>> the Ohio platinum blonde guy 
Spike my friend! Been waiting for you to show up!
Oh Lauren, God bless you again! more family Christmas again today on the 25th, and in retrospect, i had to admit to myself i was burned out with it . not that i didnt enjoy everybody, but…. you know. wife had gone to bed, so i took a quiet drive in the country, and your soothing words of Christmas testimony came to mind. i tiredly prayed those words to God, came home to the ‘puter to your website, and lo and behold, here you are
He answers prayer!! i needed that ~ do you realize just how much you and your families’ testimonies mean to thousands and thousands of people? God is awesome! and you guys are great! its almost 2am, and i have a sat. morn. bible study at 7am. but now, i will go with a smile, and a light-hearted happiness once again in our Lord ! Thank you! …. Spike 
and i would be glad to sometime share my testimony in here, after meeting your family on consecutive weekends in Detroit, then Defiance, Ohio…. if it’s needed
That’s a great idea- I’ll get back to you on that with details. Say hi to your wife for me- talk soon!
Thanks you Loren. It has been such a pleasure to see the beautiful young woman the cute little girls ,I used to see at Kempton, PA at the Blue Mt. Gospel Festival,become.
I hope you and all your family is having a wonderful, joyous, and blessed Christmas. One that is full of the peace of that Christ Child, born so long ago.
See you in Bradendon in Feb.
Sylvia Dufford
That is very true.. Merry Christmas! May you have a Christ-centered Christmas. God bless you!
Lauren, Ilove you and how much you enjoy sharing with us. I suffer from depression at times and reading what you write us lifts me up. I love Jesus so much and when I think of how it was His birthday today fills my heart up to the top. You are truly a blessing. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Diane Guerra Modesto, Calif.
Hi Diane,
It is very easy to get down sometimes and we all are susceptible to that. If you look back through Scripture some of the greatest servants of God struggled with that too. You’re in good company
but like the song says, we can choose to sing songs in our darkest hour and think about how good God has been. We can have hope in His plan for our future because of who He is and what He has already done. My music and writings have come from my own valleys, so I hope you find a lot of encouragement here. You’re welcome back anytime and Happy New Year!
P.S. I’ve never been to Modesto, and I’m always curious to ask people, so where did you find me?
Lauren,
“Songs in the Night” is absoutely and beautiful and lovely song! Looking forward to this new CD! Trust you and your family had a very blessed and joyous Christmas! May God richly and abundantly bless you and your ministry in 2010!
Many blessings,
Angie
speaking of silent night, i really got a look at how many people back in the day went without heat and electricity expecially in the winter. i dont know if you’ve been watching the weather but that huge snow storm that hit eastern kentucky, yea, that was me lol, no heat or electricity for a week, just candle light and many many blankets haha. needless to say there was alot of praising going on when the power came on haha. but i did enjoy the time spent with just my parents and i, it gave me a real perspective on the true meaning of christmas, family, friends, but most importantly the birth of our heavenly father. anyways forgive my longwindedness and since i was late on the merry christmas, HAPPY NEW YEAR lol.
Wow that is interesting. We really are quite spoiled. To most people a week without power would be the end of the world, especially at Christmas. But I’m glad to hear that you and your family are ok and that it even made your Christmas! Happy New Year
Yes in this fast- paced world a glimpse at the serenity and calm of ‘that’ night refreshes us. I wish I could experience that heavenly peace every moment in my life .
Well I won’t say that the life of a Christian is immune to stress and frustration. But you might find this Scripture helpful:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Lauren, I work in retail, and believe me, I see and hear it all. But I think the most enjoyment I receive is helping the older generation select the items they need. And all the while in the back of my mind, praying that someone out there is doing the same kind jesture for my mother. I really enjoyed listening to you, and your family at our little country church in Ellery Center, N.Y. I love your CD’s, and play them all the time, even my nine year old grandson listen’s with me. May God Bless you, and your family this coming year. And keep spreading the word of Jesus Christ through your singing, It works.
Dear Lauren, The first time I learned of you I was going thru a trial. A close friend had deeply hurt me. I was consumed with heartache. I cried all the time. I did’nt want to go anywhere or do anything. My kids noticed something was wrong. It had started affecting my family. Weeks passed and I just could not get over it.
My husband is my best friend. At times, he is my life coach. He selects songs for me to sing at church that have a real Spiritual message. I will never forget the first time I heard your song/video over the Internet. I was crying at the kitchen table. Rick brought over the laptop and placed it right in front of me. He turned the volume up loud. You were singing “His Life for Mine”. My focus was immediately taken off of myself and my pain. I watched it over and over. You sing that song with such passion. My pain and anguish was gone. I watched it everyday. I started to sing with you. A few months past. I first sang “His Life for Mine” at our church, Trinity Baptist, on a Wed. night. People were screaming and raising their hands! Wow! It was awesome! Never had I seen so much excitement. I was asked to sing it for Easter Sunday at the morning worship service. I was honored. The Friday before Easter we watched “The Passion” by Mel Gibson. I wept thruout the entire movie. I had seen it before, but now I was watching it thru the eyes of your song. I realized I am not worthy to sing this song. I am not worthy for Jesus to give His life for mine. I was humbled. Easter was a success. I have had the honor to sing “His Life for Mine” two more times. One night during the week of Jubilee and another time at our Pastors Tent Meeting. So many people have shared with me how this song has blessed their hearts. I just want to take this time to thankyou for blessing my heart. Thankyou for getting my focus off myself and back on Jesus.
Many Blessings, Rachel
wow, ms. talley, that was powerful. i see there were a lot of responses to your story and this is several months late, but being almost april at this typing, it touches the heart regardless of season. thank you for sharing