Not So Desperate Pastors' Wives

Meet my beautiful sister-in-law Sharon Phillips..... She's the tall beauty on the left......

Sharon is a pastor's wife, too. She is married to my husband's baby brother Don. They have faithfully served the congregation of Calvary Baptist Church in Camden, Arkansas, for almost 30 years.

As most of you know, Paul and I have been honored to serve the Gospel Lighthouse Church in Floyd, Iowa, for 30 years.

But that's not the only similarities in our lives.... Here is some fun trivia to transplant a smile on your face.........

Guess what Sharon's maiden name is? FLOYD.....

And guess the name of the little village JESUS has called Paul and I to serve HIM? FLOYD..... **GRIN**

Are you seeing a connection here?

We were born the same year and have shared the same last name for more than 30 years. **TEE HEE**

Have you connected the dots yet?

Sharon's middle name begins with and L and so does mine. **Amazing... don't you think?**

Some people might consider Sharon and I desperate pastors' wives, but we don't. We can both testify that we don't regret a mile we have loved God and served His people.

Now that we're WEST OF FIFTY.... we've asked the Lord to help us FINISH STRONG for HIM.... With more years behind us than ahead of us, we've asked Him to use us in this season of life in a way that brings glory and honor to Him.

And HE PUT A SONG IN OUR HEARTS.......

We've both loved gospel music and realized early in our ministries the power of an anointed song, but the thought never crossed our minds to write a song together.

We've asked ourselves why it took us soooo long to join musical forces and the only answer we can come up with is because it wasn't GOD'S TIMING YET....

But a few months ago something shifted in our souls....... Sharon was praying in Arkansas and I was praying in Iowa. God heard our prayers. The Lord led Sharon to start www.tunemylyrics.com.

I sent her some lyrics and she tuned them. We gave our little "musical" lunch to JESUS and we have some very exciting news.

Drum roll please.....

Tada..........

Our song HOPE WAS CARVED IN A ROLLING STONE placed in the 2011 Singing News / Solid Gospel Songwriters Search. Woo Hoo!

We are humbled beyond words and very thankful for God's blessing in our lives.



Here is an article from Singing News about the contest.......

Nashville, TN - The 2011 Singing News / Solid Gospel Songwriters Search has concluded and the winners have been chosen. The two first place winners will have their songs recorded by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound and Gordon Mote.

The First Place Winners, listed in alphabetical order are:

"Another Soldier" - written by David Pike - to be recorded by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

"When I Rise" - written by Boyd Hoops - to be recorded by Gordon Mote

The five Runners Up are listed below, in alphabetical order:

"Believe In Mercy, Trust in Grace" - Brian Bowers/Tara Williams

"He'll Be There" - Frances Barrier Bryant

"Hope Was Carved In A Rolling Stone" - Dixie and Sharon Phillips

"Lord It's The Journey" - Mark Hawkins

"When My Ship Comes In" - Brian Bowers and Tara Williams

Congratulations to everyone who submitted songs for the 2011 Singing News / Solid Gospel Songwriters Search. There were many great songs and the judges debated at length in deciding the winners. Many of the entries will be posted as MP3's on www.SingingNews.com for everyone to listen to.

Southern Gospel music, the music with an Eternal Difference, is alive and well, as evidenced by the many entries in this years Songwriters Search. Keep on writing folks!