September Music Notes

WOW.....so much is happening weatherwise in our country.  Down in Texas with the aftermath of hurricane Harvey and in Montana with all the fires.... I'm grateful for all the prayers, as my daughter Cheryl and her family live in Woodsboro, TX and had some damage at their property.
Woodsboro is close to Refugio and Rockport, two towns which had a LOT of damage and other small communities who are also trying to climb up out of the damages.  Then Houston of course where I also have friends who thankfully only had to deal with minor issues.
Daughter and family are ok, property lost most of the trees and their house has windows blown out and some roof problems and now they are dealing with mold forming (due to rain blowing in through the busted windows) and NO electricity to run the air conditioning to keep the house free of humidity and air moving  until maybe this coming Friday ...   They really need to dry things out....
Thank you for keeping them in your prayers as well as my friends in Houston who still have some repairs to do and of course all affected there and in Montana.
Photo:  Courtesy of Bumble-B-Photography/Cheryl Breaker

PERSONALLY:
Compared to the issues mentioned above, we are doing ok.  We are healthy and are grateful for God's provisions for us.  After our summer events which were tough physically and mentally (for some reason this year) and not productive as we had hoped, we are praying for provisions to climb out of the aftermath of a bad decision with the fireworks sales and weather related issues for the BBQs.
However....I'm just so thrilled for all the veggies I just picked up this morning (Labor Day) from a farmer friend where we also get our eggs.  I got Eggplant, a Zucchini, yellow tomatoes, broccoli and brussel sprouts!!!  Yummeeee....  I also have some mint steeping for fresh mint tea!!!
Just when we had need - God provided!
One thing I'm learning in all this....TRUST GOD and quit worrying!!!

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UPCOMING EVENTS: 

Date: Saturday, September 9th, 2017
Time:  7-9 p
Place:  Lighthouse Christian Coffeehouse
315 S. Main Street
Town: Rice Lake, WI

We are first time musical guests at the Lighthouse this coming weekend and are SO looking forward to meeting everyone and spending time together in God's presence and sharing our music and from our hearts!   Hope to see you there!

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Date: Friday, September 15th, 2017
Time: 1-3 pm
LIVE MUSIC
Place:  The Steeple Coffee House
102 E. Lafayette
Town:  Monticello, IL

Also a first time for me to be at this coffeehouse to play music.  Enjoyed a frappe there twice when I went down to visit a friend and just love the atmosphere and the owner and - now I got a date there and I'm super excited to share my music with the folks stopping in!
That same day there will also be a Citywide Garage Sale, so come down to Monticello to find some treasures and then stop in at The Steeple Coffeehouse to refuel your energy with one or two of their awesome coffees, frappes or espressos and listen to live music from 1-3.    Come join me!!

Date: Saturday, September 16, 2017
Time:  10-6
Monticellobration FestiFall
STREET VENDING - Jewelry, CDs, Book
Place:  The Square - Downtown Monticello
Town:  Monticello, IL

For this event I will actually just be a vendor, displaying my jewelry and I'm so thrilled I was able to still get into the festival.  The Town Square has 30 light poles which will each be decorated with a different scarecrow, sponsored by a business or individuals who "buy" a light pole and then decorate their version of a scarecrow.  Of course there will be food by local food businesses and vendors - and lots of arts/crafts vendors as well.  So if you are in the area or live not too far away, or just want to make a daytrip, come on down!

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Date: Saturday, September 30, 2017
Time:  4:30-6 pm
Place:  Ride For Hope at Place Of Hope, 511 9th Ave. S
Town:  St. Cloud, MN

Annual Motorbike Ride For Hope Fundraiser for Place Of Hope Ministries. 17th Annual Ride For Hope which was renamed Walk, Ride, Bike for Hope.
I've been invited to provide music for the event. It is open to the public.
Participants:  Registration begins at 12:30 pm.
You can just come for the concert/music/food part beginning at 4:30 pm or you can participate in the fundraiser by entering the walk or you can ride your bicycle. You can also participate with your Motorcycle and join the biker group to go out on a ride. Hope to see you there!

For more info: www.placeofhopeministries.org. Email: [email protected]

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MUSIC:

Last month I had a very light music/event schedule, due to every weekend pretty much being a BBQ event.    So after all those were done, we both had a weekend with absolutely nothing scheduled and decided to take a breather by visiting my friend Sue in Sheboygan Falls, WI and enjoying some lake/beach time in Sheboygan, WI at Lake Michigan with her and her dog Raji.  We took wonderful walks and it was nice to have some re-coup time!

Part of our time away also included playing music at the Upper Room Christian Community in Sheboygan with our longtime friends there who have been part of my music ministry for over 17 years now!  It's always like coming home and the Lord is always there, so we enjoyed just singing together and visiting with everyone. We also were able to see a few folks we haven't seen in a LONG time who just happened to come in that day!  WOW!  That was so God!  Love those divine appointments!

IN ENDING:
With all the events going on and especially with my daughter affected with Hurricane Harvey and seeing all those pictures and videos of people's struggles with this weather (including Montana), my heart has been heavy....plus adding the things we are also dealing with now....

So it's been interesting.... as I've been praying and reading the Word, I've been getting encouragement and reminders from the Lord. 
First - it started with Psalm 34:7-10
Second - talking to a friend on the phone who said:  "TRUST GOD, He will provide"
Third - I get a FaceBook Message from a church friend with a picture and inside the picture were the words:  "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart". Psalm 37:4

Fourth - So this Sunday..... the message was so appropriate, especially towards the end.  At our church we are going through the book of Revelation.  We are in chapter 13 and this Sunday's topic was "The False Prophet" from verses 11-18.
At the end of the message Pastor Larry asked "What should we do?"
1.  Avoid Greed.  1 Timothy 6:9
2.  Trust God:  Matthew 6:25-26.
Jesus said:  "DO NOT WORRY" .... about ANYTHING!  So, if you are prone to worry (like me), it actually is SIN and so we must ask God the help us with this!  If Jesus said don't do something, well, then we must obey!  Otherwise we have the sin of UNBELIEF!  Gulp!!    We have to believe that He is who He says He is and that He will take care of us!

So in light of what is happening in my daughter's life (and I shared that with her), my life and your life -  or what may happen in the future, use your smarts.  Hebrews 5:11-14.  There are so many deceptions out there, so many things we hear even from pulpits or from other religions.... and FaceBook is a rumor mill...  We must check everything in the light of God's Word.
Fall in love with the real Jesus and His Word and follow only Him.

Stay encouraged!
Sam