About the Good
Deeds
People
often
ask us how we got started in
our music ministry. It
was an outgrowth of our
experiences with bluegrass
music. Why we got
started in bluegrass music is
still a mystery to us!
We don't know what prompted us
to attend our first bluegrass
festival, but we were
immediately attracted to this
spirit-filled music.
Attending
bluegrass
festivals and jams sparked our
desire to play bluegrass
music. At first Marilyn
and our twin boys started
playing bluegrass music
together. Gary had never
played an instrument in his
life, but not wanting to be
left out he figured he needed
to get involved. Since
the "family band" didn't have
a bass, that was Gary's chosen
instrument.
We
played together as a family at
bluegrass jams and
festivals. As we were
drawn into the music we found
ourselves playing more and
more "gospel bluegrass".
Then
it
happened! In 2002 God
called us to share our gospel
bluegrass music. We were
not sure at first if this was
a true calling, but soon we
began to receive
confirmations.
*
Friends, bands and festival
promoters gave us words of
encouragement to get out and
share our music.
*
People commented on
Marilyn's beautiful
voice.
*
Another confirmation is an
interesting story. We
were in Toronto, Canada at
an RV campground playing our
music outside our motor
home. A lady came over
to talk to us and asked if
we had ever been to the
Bible Conference in Indio,
California. Here we
were 2500 miles from home
and were told about a
conference practically in
our own back yard! Was
God speaking to us through
this stranger? The
following January we
attended this conference and
the speaker really spoke to
us. His four main
points were:
Always
follow God's leading with
faith
Always
believe God's promises
Be
patient to wait for God's
timing
Always
keep God first
Imagine, being so
far from home and having
someone tell us about a
conference near us,
attending it and hearing the
message that we needed to
hear?
*
Another confirmation: One of
Marilyn's bridesmaids from
over 40 years ago started
emailing us and wanted to
know if she could send us a
copy of The Purpose
Driven Life. At
the time we had not heard of
the book. Upon reading
it our desire to follow
God's purpose for our life
was reinforced.
*
Probably the most amazing
confirmation was when
Marilyn started receiving
songs. She would wake
up in the middle of the
night or early morning hours
with melodies and lyrics
running through her
mind. Marilyn had
never written poetry or
songs in her life.
These songs came to her
totally complete. At
first she dismissed this as
merely a dream, but the
songs kept coming. So
she began writing them
down. She really
believes they are a gift
from God. Over a three
year period she has received
over 150 songs!
Before stepping
out into the music ministry
we were busy raising five
children, serving in the
United States Marine Corps,
starting several business,
teaching elementary school,
painting in watercolors,
sailing on San Francisco
Bay, converting a Greyhound
bus into a motor home and
building a house.
As
you can see, we have done a
variety of things, but we are
finding that our retirement
years are some of the most
fulfilling. To be serving
God through our music ministry
is so rewarding. We share
our music at churches,
retirement homes, assisted
living facilities, skilled
nursing facilities, gospel
jamborees, bluegrass festivals,
campgrounds and community
centers. |