B-A-Light Productions

I have the distinct privilege of reviewing the newest release from Yancy “Have a Fancy Yancy Christmas.” Two words “ROCK ‘N ROLL” (“n” does not count as a word!)

Click on the picture to order now!

The album is a mixture of classic Christmas carols and all time favorites (like “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney!) Totaling ten tracks, one being a medley of 4 songs and 3 originals, 2 penned by Yancy herself, this album speaks Christmas time. The fun, traditions, and reason for the season we all love is expressed in the upbeat arrangements Yancy has put together. My wife (who it seems has taken over my blog) likes the arrangement and performance of “Wonderful Christmastime” from Yance over the original (scandalest, I know!) If you have children who like Christmas, and what kid doesn’t, get this album. I guarantee it will become a Christmas favorite. Don’t just take my word for it, hear what kids are saying about it.

Pierson age 5 “I think that she is the best singer”

Peyton age 10 “I think that she has a great voice” ” I really enjoyed Wonderful Christmastime”

Teresa teacher/mom “We really liked them!”

So act now and get “Have a Fancy Yancy Christmas” today. I’m sure will become an instant classic in your home, car or wherever.

God’s Love and Peace Out!

My husband has been battling with beginning his ministry and was hit today with what he thought was a brick wall.  So many times in ministry you hit them, and you are left to wonder am I doing the right thing?  What was I thinking that I could do this?  That is the problem right there…YOU cannot do this.  The most amazing part about your calling is that it requires God’s help to make it happen. 

I think the first major key is to know your calling.  If you ever start to doubt get on your face before God and actively seek his direction.  Your calling is not your calling unless God called you to do it. 

The second key is to know your God.  Know that God is not going to give you a passion and calling only for it to waste away.  And he is not going to guide you out of your comfort zone to do something only for you to fall flat on your face.  God wants you to succeed.  The great commission and souls are dependent on your success. Do you honestly think he would sacrifice that?

I think about Peter when Jesus called him out of the boat and he began walking on water.  What happened after that?  He lost focus!  He starting looking at all of the chaos around him instead of focusing on the one who called him into the middle of the chaos.  Did Jesus let him drowned for that?  No, He picked him up and helped him safely get back into the boat.

And lastly, after you have done all of that, if you are still stuck, and need guidance, remember who the real author of your calling is. Ask Him for guidance and help.  Find buddies who will agree with you in prayer and support and fasting until the problem is resolved.  I think sometimes God puts up road blocks to see just how serious we are about following Him and the calling He has placed before us. 

Are you serious?

For a number of years, and now recently, I have worked a full-time secular job and led ministry. Those of you who do this know how difficult it is. I can’t imagine being in this situation with kids of your own. I want to take a moment and offer some encouragement to you. YOU ARE GREAT!! I LOVE YOU!! KEEP IT UP!! YOU SMELL NICE!! OK that last one was just for me (I smell like Krispy Kreme doughnuts.) Seriously thank you for your work. I know it is very tiresome work, but believe me it is definitely worth it.

I do want to offer some suggestions for when you have had it up to here.

• Worship – take time to retreat to a peaceful place and commune with the Father. Psalms 23 tells us about resting and renew our strength. Isaiah 40:31 trust in the Lord, you will not grow weary. By worshiping you are placing God as the center, focusing your attention on Him and not your to do list. His strength will come as you lean on Him.
• Prayer – spend time in the closet in prayer. 1 Corinthians 14:4 says personal prayer is personal strength.
• Give it to Christ – Philippians 4:13 Christ is your strength.
• Mind your priorities – Luke 16:10 Jesus teaches be faithful in little things. Keep God first, your spouse and family second & third and your ministry last. It sounds weird but the pay off is fantastic!
• Use your gifts – Do only what you are called to do and what God has gifted you to do. Don’t say yes to something just because “If I don’t no one will.” The reason no one else will is because there is no need for them to.
• Delegate – Be organized and delegate responsibilities to others. You maybe surprised what some one can do if you ask and instruct them.
• Have fun – take time to laugh and have fun. Find ways to relive stress and foster joy & happiness.

I know these are common sense, but sometime we need to be reminded of the simplest of things. What you think? Do you have any suggestions to help? Comment below.

I want to send out a challenge to all my full-time children’s pastor friends drop some lines of encouragement to those who pull double duty.

God’s Love and Peace Out!

I know when you hear that phrase you think of tree hugging’ hippie liberals. ‘I don’t fit that demographic’, you say. What is a Christan’s response to “Being Green?” In Genesis 1:28 it says God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” God has given us christians the earth to take care of. What have we done about it? Do we go the extra mile to conserve, reuse and recycle? I’m guessing like me many of you will say NO. Well its time we start. The earth has underwent drastic changes since the beginning of the  industrial revolution. Man has made more progress in the last 150 years, then in all of history. With the progress has come much carelessness. It has only been with in the last 30 to 40 years have industries been concuss for the negative impact they were making. It has only been with in the last 5 to 10 years have they realised they can make money at being environmentally concerned. Yes going green is the hip thing to do right now, however that does not take away any of it’s importance.  As christians we need to take steps to be environmentally aware of what we do.

I love the outdoors, living here in paradise on earth (Alabama Gulf Coast) we have the most beautiful beaches in all the world and a short car ride will take you to peaceful pine forest. Fishing and hunting we have it all right here in my back yard. I believe you can have all of these things and still be “Green.” Taking care of what God has given us means enjoying it. Being conservative with our resources and energy is not only “Green,” but saves us green too. Recycleing help keep unwant trash out of the ground and money in our pocket, so try to recycle. Reuse, it seems that buying from the thrift store is trendy as well. Go for it while your at it check out my friend Keith Glines at Restore and their “pull tab to save  lives” campain. A misson trip to Nicaragua changed his life and gave him a life misson and passion to reuse and save lives. I encourage you to read about Restore’s misson and buy a bracelet from our store. So join Restore and go green!

God’s Love and PEACE OUT!

As someone who has experienced having and then losing a child, I understand what pride and joy is, and then the emptiness that follows when it has been ripped from you.  This morning as I went through my normal routine I considered the question of how does a couple obtain pride and joy in their life in the absence of children?    Whether you have lost your only child or you feel “Barren” because you have yet to be blessed with that gift, I believe the emptiness is the same. 

My life for the past few years has been empty and meaningless.  I have just existed only doing what is necessary to keep the relationships around me healthy but shutting out the rest of the world.  I have tried to fill that emptiness with everything imaginable, tv, games, books, internet, anything to keep my mind in a perfect imaginary world and out of my painful one, but all of those things only made my life more miserable and empty.  Today, as I pondered that question, I thought to myself, “Why do we have this overwhelming urge to reproduce?”  For me, it has been a dream since childhood to be a mommy, so why did God give me this dream only for it to feel crushed after so many years of trying?  Unfortunately, I do not have the answer for that one, but I believe I have found an answer for the emptiness that stems from it.  Fill that void with God and LIVE YOUR LIFE!  Take advantage of not having to chase after kids and start chasing after God, read your Bible, Pray, and then do something productive and that brings joy to your life.  Figure out what talent God has given you and do it.  Make new friends, and spend time with Family and people who make you laugh.  Don’t spend too much time in the four walls of your house moping and depressed and lonely, get out!   Go for a walk.  Do something other than just exist.  God created us to do so much more than what we are doing. 

So my prayer Lord, is that you will fill this void in my life, and help me to chase you, for your dream is bigger than mine.