CONGRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhhhh, the beauty that is Congress at Crown. After about three months of practicing, praying, and just pure agonizing TORTURE that is waiting, Congress is sadly over. Oh, words can not even describe how wonderful this Congress was. In this last year, the thing I have learned the most is that if you keep your focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing can make you nervous. For the first time in my life, I walked on the stage (three of my girls at my side) and sang without a single butterfly in my stomach. Nothing besides my Salvation has ever felt that amazing! Of course I have been taught to "Focus on the Lord" but until this last year, no one has actually explained HOW you are to do that when a ton of people are staring you down. Last night and today, we stood upon the stage, sang for the Lord, and nothing could put us in a bad mood. It caused such a peace to come over me that I can not explain. My whole life, I have DESPISED singing in front of people by myself for the fact that they might possibly judge me. Just within the past few months, God has been teaching me one thing: I AM NOT UP THERE TO BE JUDGED! If anyone judges me, that is because their heart is in the wrong place. It is such a undescribale joy to truly serve the Lord.
This afternoon, I rededicated my life to the Lord. Bro. Pauley preached a message entitled "Are You Ready?", and it made me realize that I am not ready to serve the Lord because of hidden sins and just not doing what He has commanded me to do. I just praise the Lord that He is a God of second chances. God was truly working on the hearts of everyone in the Congress last night and today.

HAPPY BOXING DAY!!!!!!

Well, I wanted to update this yesterday and the title be "Merry CHRISTmas!!!" but I sadly ran out of time. lol
This week is going to be so wonderful! After about three months of countless hours of practice with our girls, Redeemed is ready to sing at Congress! How I praise the Lord for the talents He has given us as well as the opportunity to sing for Him. I am so excited and anxious for tomorrow night to get here. Although Congress does not begin until Monday night, tomorrow night is the beginning of our "Festivities". lol Our schedule is as follows:

• Sunday, after evening church service, the girls in Redeemed will head over to our "fearless leader's" house to have a sleepover and watch "Gladiator". Even though most of us are quite girly and love movies like "Pride and Prejudice", we all love a crazy awesome battle film! This evening will be filled of amazing fun!
• Monday morning, after probably sleeping in, we will start practicing. We will practice for hours until we need to get dressed, primed, and polished for the services. We actually have matching outfits! (I'll post pictures soon.)
• Monday evening at 7 o'clock, Congress starts. I encourage anyone in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area to come. The cost is $15 per person. This includes meals and a Christian Life Journal. It will take place at The Crown Southwest/ Norris Bible Seminary in Fort Worth. I'm not sure how many songs we will be singing Monday night.
• After Congress, we all (including our Jr. High girls) will head back to the Fieseler's house where we will watch "Up" and possibly "Singing in the Rain"! (love that movie)
• Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, services start. During this session our Jr. High girls will join us onstage for a song that we all sing together called "By The Way of the Cross". Such a gorgeous song! Also, we will be singing several songs just as Redeemed. This will be followed by a few hours of break.
• Tuesday evening, we will meet back at the school for another session.

I am looking forward to this week!!!! Bro. Scott Pauley will be preaching all of the services, and I adore to hear that man preach. God has blessed him abundantly! I would like to ask you to pray for us, as well as Bro. Pauley and Bro. Knickerbocker.

Well, Good Golly, Miss Molly!!!

I apologize for the month-long absence from my blog! My family went out of town for a week to see my grandmother before she had a complete knee replacement, and I have been up at the church practicing, practicing, and (you guessed it) practicing some more for our Junior High/Senior High/ College and Career Christmas play entitled "Mary's Journey". This play shows a "behind the scenes" look at everything that took place in Mary's life once discovering that she would give birth to the Son of the Most High God. In the play, we are people who are putting on a church Christmas play! (Ironic, isn't it?) There are some very comical parts throughout the first act. Once our little characters begin to practice, the message in this play is astounding! It speaks of everything from the actual visit from the Arch Angel, Gabriel to Mary explaining the visit to her mother (played by yours truly!!!) to visiting Elizabeth. The second half of the play is the opening night, and everyone is serious. You meet Abigail, Mary's niece, Nicodemus, his wife, Haleigh, and various other characters. This play is absolutely amazing and I am so pleased to be a part of it!
This week, I will be at our church practicing for a total of 10 1/2 hours! Wow, that is an awful lot of practice! It will be a very tiring, but exciting, week!!!