732 - We interrupt the regularly scheduled program

Hello Friends!!  

I just realized that I totally forgot Whole Heart Faith yesterday.  I tell you what, when I miss one regular day in my week all seems to go haywire!  If you will let me explain you might feel a tad bit more understanding and then we can go from there!  ha!

1) Thank you all for praying for my dad and for asking again and again how he is doing thus far.  Your concern and genuine interest sure can make a heart rest easier when your rock is going under the knife and not feeling so well!  He is doing so much better and just about all recuperated!!  He is very, very healthy and in shape for his age, my momma too.  As so as he can he will begin training again along with my mom for the next big Senior Olympic Basketball tournament.  I think this next one will take them to Australia - yes, they are beyond good and talented!!  

2) Resolution Conference - things are still going well for the planning and execution on that conference coming on Sept. 26 to Marion Civic Center.  I am so very excited, but getting a bit of fear about me as well.  I need to stand more on the One that called me to this mission instead of doubting that people will not show up.  It is going to be awesome, now if I can just get the word out and convince the people to come!!  Ticket sales are happening, but need to sell a whole lot more!  

3) Tennis Camp - for anyone in the area the week long tennis camp will take place the 3rd week of July.  It is Monday thru Friday from 9am to 10:30am and is $45.  Space is very limited!  Grades completed K - 8.  Contact me soon to get your name on the list.  Thx!  July 13-17.

4) Radio - I am kind of in a holding pattern with the station.  I have set a goal of having a once a week 2 hour program until school starts - then possibly moving to everyday.  The problem is that I can not figure out the programming.  I have a Mac and it just does not act like the PC program and no one else has a Mac.  Love my Mac, but not right now.  So i am kind of stuck at going forward.  I know this is the direction the Lord has for me and I am excited to get started, but this one hurdle is just about to do me in - ha!  Where are all the Mac peeps when you need them?  

5) Did I tell you I have been invited to go on a Compassion International trip along with my ministry partner Ginger More and a few other speakers?  Tentatively we are going at the end of October.  I am so so sos sosososoooooooo excited about this opportunity!  I have wanted to get more and more a feel for what Compassion is all about since I share it with so many other people and this I know will do that.  It will help me to develop more of a passion for the ministry and a greater understanding for what they do!  I am pumped and honored too!  

6) Last but not least, my 2 year project with my cousin Heather Hargis of writing a book is finished.  We have set a release date  for all major bookstores as Sept. 6 I think and I actually received my first set of copies yesterday for presale!!!!  AND i actually had someone come by last night to get one!!!!!!  It was kind of surreal!  "Loving God, Loving People   Living out the Vertical in a Horizontal World"  They are $11.99 plus shipping if you are interested!  I have a limited number, but would be glad to get one to you before I run out!!  I would even sign it for you - that sounds kind of funny.  ha ha!  

I am so very excited, but not sure I would ever do it again.  I don't really enjoy writing for a deadline and do not feel very confident in my writing.  I am too passive and let too many things slide.  Many thoughts of.........."awe shucks, I am sure they know what i mean, I don't have to explain any further!"  Not so good in the writing world.  At least I had my incredible cousin to help pull and pull details out of me that I just was thinking everyone knew and understood.  She was fabulous and so patient!!  With Heather I would consider writing again, but I am not sure she would consider me!! ha!  

7) A Woman Inspired  - I will be speaking at this conference next week.  Leave a comment today and you will be in a drawing for a free ticket.  I am very excited on this opportunity too.  Last time the ladies were so awesome in keeping in touch and sooooooo kind in their comments.  It will be fun, but I am so excited about the topic.  Go to the website to find out all the information!!  

Today is our last day of school.  We go to each school and receive report cards and then are home for the day...............yeah!!!  I have so much to catch up on and so many emails to return and FB messages too.  I have not forgotten all you people out there!!!  Just so you know I am not as regular on my blog in the summers.  I will be waking to run 30 minutes later than normal and QT and stuff.  My home ministry to my family takes much more of a front seat in the summer because they are right at my feet and I love it!  We have so many things already planned plus I will be moving into the new house too!  Keep praying for a buyer for the current home.  I know it is not a good time to do this 2 home thing, but I am trusting He will send the buyer in His time!  He has always done it before!  

Phil. 4:5 says, "Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near."  Oh Jesus, help me to remember that!!  Help me to show that - help me to be that - help me to show YOU!  I love you!! 

Don't forget to leave a comment and be eligible for a free ticket to A Woman Inspired!  

Thanks and Love, Leigh

You are kidding me!!!

Oh Lord, you have knocked my socks off again!! I received an email from a church in Alaska - BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR, makes me chilled just to think about it - that is considering me, along with others i am sure, for a retreat in Feb. OK - I was blown away they would consider me, and found me. Then I was blown away at the extent God is reaching my calendar - how far off He is scheduling me, that is a great thing! Then I was blown away thinking of Alaska in Feb. Once again, brrrrrrrr. Then I asked some questions about her church, previous retreats and all. OK - are you ready..................................... The last retreat they had BETH MOORE as their speaker. Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????? What, I am going to follow Beth Moore? You said who?????????????? Huh???????????? Are you sure you want Leigh Gray????????? What about Alice Gray that has written all those Chicken Soup books?????????? Can you say that again????????????? OK OK OK, come back to earth, Leigh and whomever is reading this........................ It was Beth Moore in a box. hee hee, got cha!!!! It was one of those new retreats in a box, but it was Beth Moore. I think it is called Living Well or something like that. But anyway - it was fun going there........... ha ha, i cracked myself up.

I would love to go to Alaska though. I am suppose to hear from another WI church by Friday. Have not heard from the other WI place. Hopefully soon. Just like to have closure kind of thing. Thank you Lord. You are so much fun!

I am on my way to the radio station this morning to talk about different things like 1 minute radio spots or podcasting, etc............ Lord, I pray for something very revealing or unexpected or something to happen during this meeting. I am praying big!

I have got to go get a shower and all. I have to take Emmajoy to the doctor today - her fever is back and just punny. Bless her - she is so sweet though. Be back this afternoon.

I just wanna praise Him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

298 - #2 - Radio, This is in Your Hands

I just wanted to post something to those that read this blog and of course in prayer to my Lord. I know He has called me to do a radio 30 second or 1 minute spot like Max Lucado, Ann Graham Lotz, Proverbs 31, etc............. I just don't have the foggiest how to get started, nor what all that entails............... But I will never forget the day in the car driving home from a retreat in Indiana when I asked Him what He wanted next. He did not say book, He did not say magazines, He did not say sing (ha ha), He did not say dance (even bigger ha ha) - He said radio. At that moment a short radio spot from Max Lucado came on and I felt the confirmation in my heart. I can not explain how I know, I just know. I know when He confirms something in my Spirit. I looked for radio to pop out in the scripture, but it has not.......... But I know.

So I do have one friend that is in the radio business. I asked some question and the following is her response. It is edited as to not expose her or those she works with.

First of all, if God is calling you to this, that’s awesome! He’s going to make it happen, then. I just want to provide you with a realistic view of what a project like this entails. It’s very time consuming, very expensive, and very difficult to get radio stations to play new short features unless you’re a well known author and speaker, an established ministry like Focus on the Family, or something like this.

Also, stations typically don’t pay people or ministries for their spots. In fact, it can often be the other way around. It can cost $100.00 or more per minute to purchase air time on commercial stations or even as a cost-of-service fee for a non-commercial station. Many stations play ministry spots free of charge. But, this isn’t always the case especially with stations that are supported through advertising rather than by their listeners.

Another big cost is production. To get something that would be broadcast quality you really need to produce the spots in a professional studio. Unless you know someone with an in-home studio you’re looking at hundreds of dollars in studio time and post production every time you record. A typical volume of programs would consist of 20-40 installments. So, you’re looking at recording every 6-8 weeks or so.

Just to give you an idea: For every 40 spot volume of the one-minute spend lots of hours writing scripts which edited to appeal to the target demo at an Adult Contemporary Christian Music Station. then spend more time rehearsing the scripts before the recording session. The recording sessions (20 programs each) take 2-3 hours. This is just recording reading the scripts. Then the producer spends several hours the next week polishing each segment and putting the music behind the voices, etc. Then have to get the master disc reproduced for all the stations who want to get the program on CD rather than by satellite or FTP Site download and get them in the mail at least 3-4 weeks in advance. also have to send out replacement discs when one gets lost in the mail or arrives to the station damaged, etc. So there’s an idea of the time commitment. As far as cost there’s about six hours of studio time, post production, consulting fee, CD duplication, and postage. Probably spend at least $1,000 every two months or so just on the one minute radio program.

Well, there ya have it. If after all this you’re still interested in moving forward it could be a God thing! If you want to ask more questions, let’s set up a phone call. Sound good? God bless as you seek His will!!!!

Now does that sound overwhelming or what. Once again I am not an established speaker nor an author - I am not a big name. I don't have a book out or anything along those lines. Just a girl that has been called out and wanting to do what I can to make His name great. Just a girl that has never been through much. Just a girl that is not related to anyone that can "get me in". Just a girl with basic education. Just a girl with small kids and one hot hubby. Just a girl that has made many mistakes and regrets them all. Just a girl that loves Jesus and that is it. Should be enough, right? With Him all things are possible. So - lets see Him work. Can He do it tomorrow - sure, but I am not sure how long it will take. I would have thought a cruise would take years and years, but lo and behold, He gave me that this year. We don't have many signed up so far, but He did give me the opportunity regardless of whether we set sail or not!

So for those of you that are reading this - pray.

Pray for Him to make things evident and obvious.

Pray for Him to show me the way.

Pray for Him to provide the resources.

Pray for....... if you are to be involved in any way. Editors, producers, contacts, dreamers...

Pray............ for my husband and family to grasp this passion far greater than they ever have.

Pray for me to have patience and understanding.

Pray for.............those future listeners that He will touch through the "air".

Pray for STM (Speaking Through Me) to obtain non-profit status so not to hinder one from giving because of lack of tax benefit - the way it is at this time.

2 Chron. 16:9 - "The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. " Jesus, may my heart be fully committed to You. I need Your strength, find me committed. I love you. I believe.

So what can you do - send my name and ministry information to your church decision maker or any other church that you know, big and small. The more I get out there the more likely i am to run into the right person that can be a God-send. I really mean that. Send this blog info to anyone who might be able to give me more wisdom. Send this info to anyone that might be looking for a good "thing" to support - are their those people out there just looking for something to do with their money? - I guess so. (Out of the blue the other day I got a $25 check from a lady that just wanted to say thanks. It can happen again and again, over and over if He wants.)

Here we go Lord - I am ready.