Blessed Assurance

I haven't had a lot of time to blog lately, but wanted to post something today. As Thanksgiving approaches, it reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for. The most precious gift is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are so blessed to have been "born of His Spirt, and washed in His blood."

   
¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and having a High Priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19-25, New King James Version)

Let's continue to be faithful! I posted a James Ingram song earlier this week and thought I would post his version of Blessed Assurance, which I love.



Everyone have a blessed weekend!

Nay

Back to School/Work Music Mondays

Here is another artist whose voice I love! James Ingram - Just Once



Nay

Back To School/Work Music Mondays

This song will definitely jumpstart your Monday morning!!



Have a blessed week!

Nay

Back To School/Work Music Mondays

Well the results are in and Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" won as the best version. Thanks to everyone for voting!

Well this week I thought I would post a song from one of my favorite singers. It really hurt when I heard that he passed away. I actually got to see him in concert once. You definitely get your money's worth when seeing Luther Vandross in concert. It is hard to pick a favorite song of his because he had so many. So I've decided to post two. One of his older songs and one of his most recent. I am sure Luther will end up back on my "Back To School/Work Music Mondays," but here are the two for now.

So Amazing


I'd Rather


Have a blessed week!

Nay

I'm Available - Use Me Lord!

 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.   
³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. ⁴ For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; ⁸ he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:1-8, New King James Version)

God has given us all gifts, and we should humbly use our spiritual gifts to glorify Him. These verses bring to mind one of my favorite songs. This is "Lord I'm Available To You" by Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Choir.



I've also included the lyrics, if you would like to sing along.

Verse 1
You gave me my hands to reach out to man,
to show him Your love and Your perfect plan.
You gave me my ears, I can hear Your voice so clear;
I can hear the cries of sinners,
but can I wipe away their tears?

Verse 2
You gave me my voice to speak Your word,
to sing all Your praises to those who never heard;
but with my eyes I can see
a need for more availability,
I've seen hearts that have been broken,
so many people to be free.

Chorus
Lord, I'm available to You.
My will I give to You,

I'll do what You say do,
use me Lord to show someone the way
and enable me to say,
my storage is empty and I am available to You.

Verse 3
Now I'm giving back to You
all the tools You gave to me
my hands, my ears, my voice, my eyes,
so You can use them as You please.
I have emptied out my cup
so that you can fill me up.
Now I'm free, I just want to be more available to You.

Bridge
Ah

Vamp
Use me Lord to show someone the way
and enable me to say,
my storage is empty and I am available to You.

I hope enjoy the song as much as I do. Have a blessed weekend.

Nay

Common's "Testify" Short Film Music Video

This is one of the songs that I really enjoyed at the concert. The video has some well known actors including Taraji Henson. Here is the longer version of the video:



If you are short on time you can just watch the music portion of the video here:



Let me know what you think!

Nay

"The Element of Freedom" by Alicia Keys

Her new album will be out this year on December 1st. Have you heard her new song "Doesn't Mean Anything?" I love it. Check it out!



I look forward to hearing the whole CD.

Nay

"Number Ones"

I've been to a few....okay maybe more than a few concerts. One of the concerts that I rate in my top five was the Velvet Rope Tour by Janet Jackson. I would love to be able to see her live again.

She has a compilation of her number one hits coming out on November 17th. It will be nice being able to have all her great music on one CD. You can pre-order at Amazon.

Nay

Back to School/Work Music Mondays

Well last week I mentioned one of my father's favorite singers. This week I thought I would post one of the favorite duos of my mother. In fact somebody sang a Carpenters song during my parents wedding. This happens to be one of my favorite Carpenters' songs.



Enjoy!

Nay

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel "Iz" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole

I heard this song a few times while in Hawaii. I really do enjoy this song. May he R.I.P.



Nay

Michael Jackson's "This Is it"

Who hasn't heard the song yet?



When I listen to it, I have to admit it makes me a little sad. I am still missing him. He was one of my favorite entertainers.

Here is the official movie trailer.



Lil Mama didn't know anything about Michael Jackson until after he died. She just loves anything he does including his role in "The Wiz." I plan on taking her to see "This is It" at the movies. Hopefully we will see it the week it's released.

I had every intention, if he had ever gone on tour again, to make sure that I was at one of his concerts. He was at the top of my list for people that I wanted to see live. That wish will never come true for me but I will still look forward to seeing this movie.

Boy do I miss him!

Nay

Have You Ever Looked Back and Wondered How You Got Over?

Sing some of the lyrics with me!

Chorus:
How I got over,
how I got over,
my soul looks back and wonders
how I got over.

Verse 1:
Soon as I can see Jesus (oh yes),
the Man that made me free (oh yes),
the Man that bled and suffered (oh yes),
and died for you and me (oh yes).

I thank Him because He taught me (oh yes),
I thank Him because He brought me (oh yes),
I thank Him because He kept me (oh yes),
thank Him ‘cause He never left me (oh yes).

Thank Him for the Holy Bible (oh yes),
thank Him for good ole revival (oh yes),
thank Him for heavenly vision (oh yes),
thank Him for old time religion (oh yes).

Bridge:
I'm gonna to sing (hallelujah)
You know I'm gonna shout (troubles over);
well I thank Him for all He's done for me.

We all go through trials and tribulations, but once that particular trial is done do you ever look back and wonder how you go through it? Well it's through God's grace and mercy, that we were able to get over that hump in the road of life. I am ever thankful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all that He has done for me and how far He has brought me. If you are feeling down about the situation you are in, then pray that God will grant you the strength to overcome it. We may not see it while we are in the trial, but the trials indeed make us stronger, and our goal is to have learned important lesson(s) from them.

Philipians 3:14(NKJV) -I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ.

We need to press on even in our darkest hour, and continue to give God incessant praise. What a joy it will be to look back and wonder how you got over, and be able to SHOUT your troubles are gone.

I recently purchased Vickie Winan's newly released CD "How I Got Over." I love listening to the title soundtrack. Vickie's music has always been an inspiration to me and I just wanted to share the video of "How I Got Over."

I hope you enjoyed the video. I am going to leave you with part of the last verse of the song.

Coming from the north, south,
east, and west, (oh yes),
on the way to the land of the rest (oh yes).
I'm gonna join the heavenly choir (oh yes),
gonna sing and never get tired (oh yes).

Remember your prize!

Nay

Back to School/Work Music Mondays

This week's old school song is one of my father's favorite singers. Ms. Dionne Warwick - "I'll Never Love This Way Again." This is a top notch performance by her.



Enjoy!!

Nay

Back to School/Work Music Mondays

I thought I would make Mondays the day that I post some old school jams. I can remember signing "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone in my college talent show.



Can you remember Whitney Houston also doing a rendition of this song?



Which do you prefer? Enjoy the old school jams.

Nay

Music Speaks To The Soul

I come from a family full of musicians. I grew up listening to lots of different music. My father always used to joke with me when I would say a song was my favorite. He would say, "they are all your favorites." That's probably the truth. I just love good music. It has always been a dream of mine to be proficient on an instrument or an accomplished singer. Alas, the musical gene didn't pass down to me. One of my goals in life is to take vocal lessons, so at least my singing voice sounds better than what it currently does.

I listen to music whether I'm happy, sad, or even angry. It soothes my soul. Earlier this year, my divorce became final. I thought I would be really sad about it, but it was more like a relief that it was over. It feels like life has begun again, and I am certainly living it. I want to share song that has become my theme song following the divorce. This girl is talented!! I am actually very excited to see Chrisette Michele tomorrow, along with Maxwell and Common. Let me know what you think of the song.