Can't think of a title!

As most of you already know, I gave my testimony on Sunday at the Spring Valley Corps. This past weekend was the 3rd annual Future All-Stars weekend! I have been there every year and plan to keep going for as long as I can lol. Every year I go to it and I learn so much musically and spiritually. It is soo amazing and your in the same boat as everyone else. And it's with the New york Staff Band! Even if you don't really prefer brass bands you still love them! I sure do! Anyway Aaron Vanderwheele asked me to give my testimony..It was about allot of stuff going on in my life particularly temptation in school. Tonight I was in Senior Soldier prep class and God gave me this verse.... 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyong what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."l
The scripture Verses I used in my testimony had allot to do with trust. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord will All you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowldge Him and he will make your paths straight." I also used Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope nad a future." and Pslam 37:3-4 "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Yeah this doesn't really make much sense but..all I have to say is that I was Blessed over and over!!!!

I like this story!

Your Son For A Quarter...

Several years ago, a new preacher moved to Houston, Texas. Some weeks
after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the bus from his home to the
downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had
accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give
the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh,
forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little
amount?

Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it.
Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet."

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he
handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much
change."

The driver with a smile replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town? I
have been thinking lately about going to worship somewhere. I just
wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see
you at church on Sunday"

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the
nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son
for a quarter."

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really
almost scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and will
put us to the test! Always be on guard and remember (as I try to
remember) that you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you
call yourself "Christian."

Have a great day!

Territorial Vocal Convocation

So this past weekend was the first ever territorial vocal convocation. It was geared toward the adults but since I am in the songsters and Our GNY youth chorus was singing, I went. Now I'll be perfectly honest when I first heard about it I thought it was a pointless weekend. I thought that we were just going to show off to eachother how good we are. Obviously I was completely WRONG! Major Lenn Ballentine lead the weekend. He taught me so much about music and singing and how to reach the audience and different styles and everything!

Saturday night was the concert. Many different styles of music were portrayed and it was awesome. My corps songsters sang the song psalm 91 in loving memory of Normajean Honsburger. She attended Hempstead with her husband Al. Although I was young at the time they were very happy, loving people and had such hearts for God. Sadly both Normajeann and Al died of cancer. So that night we all sang it for her. I know that she was smiling down from heaven Saturday night. Many of us in the songsters who knew her got emotional.
psalm 91 says 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a] 2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.4 He will cover you with his feathers,and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night,nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Our brand new GNY Youth Chorus sang as well. Now this was our first real debut. We sang for the Christmas Spectacular but that wasn't Gavin's chosen music. We sang two of the greatest songs ever! We didn't use music and were encouraged to interact with the audience. Talk about awkward, haha but I did it. I had never had so much fun singing before in my whole life! It was such an amazing feeling! We sang this upbeat song called we are not ashamed. The chorus was - we are not ashamed, no we are not ashamed of the gospel, the truth we will proclaim. We are committed and we chose to tell the world the good news, the gospel, we are not ashamed! We also sang an arrangement by Gavin. It was a mix of We fall down and Holy Holy Holy. It was very powerful.

This weekend I realized how much of the time that I just sing the notes on the page and don't really think about the words I'm singing and who I'm singing it for. Especially with the song book. I am trying so hard to figure out how the tune goes that I don't even think about the words coming out of my mouth! On Sunday morning we did allot of singing. Allot of it was from the songbook. Instead of attempting to find the melody I just meditated on the words. They were very powerful. From the point on for the rest of the meeting I thought about the words I was singing. We sang the songs Heart of Worship and Breathe on me. I was very moved and God spoke to me in a new way. Once again, I was blessed.

Ofcoarse I can't forget about the fellowship I had with all the people that I don't see allot. I amalwayss blessed with my awesome friends from all over the territory! I love them!

Come To Jesus

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

The moment I heard this song I fell in love with it. Tabitha will be dancing to this song at the "Be A Hero" Program on March 11th. This song is also the star search dance test piece. And yes I am in it..Haa I know what you are thinking, Allison Dancing? I didn't say I was good at it, but yes, I am dancing. Anyway a bunch of us are dancing to this song the weekend of the Hempstead Reunion. I just love the words and the song is soo moving.


Just another reminder! The Be a Hero program is going to be awesome! So much work has gone into it. The information is on the poster but there is going to be dancing, singing, Drama and much more! Admission is free but we will be taking a love offering in which ALL the money will go to TAM's efforts in building a childrens home in Nigeria. Our ultimate goal is 50,000 dollars by August of this year. right now we have about 20,000? Anyway we have alot more to go so please don't forget! If you can't make it you can always contact a TAM member and donate :)



Be Blessed :)