Libby | Lifesongs.com

“Throw Me Somethin’, Mister!” That’s the cry heard all over New Orleans today, by kids and adults alike, hoping coconuts, rubber chickens and plenty of beads rain down upon them. Sometimes it feels like those float riders are holding back. Other times, they are unhinged – freely dumping the goods.

The thing about most of those throws, though, is that no matter how badly you thought you wanted it in the moment, once you get home or even back to your car, you realize that you’re saddled with a useless rubber chicken or weighed down by a million beads. (Unless, of course, you can save them for next year and, in turn, generously recycle that haul!)

(This is probably a weird way to talk about generosity, but hey, it’s New Orleans. And it’s Fat Tuesday.)

What if we could be generous in ways that mattered? Not just excess stuff, but freely giving to others by dedicating time to them, purposely being kind, using our talents to help those around us or donating financially? When you take the time to sit with someone who needs it or encouraging someone who’s going through a tough time, that’s giving. That’s being generous. And there’s something pretty awesome about being on the giving AND receiving end of kindness. It’s like a feel-good infinity loop!

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

So, as the excess broken beads on the streets are washed away and we prepare our hearts for Lent, maybe we can do so with a realization that it’s not just “stuff” we can be generous with. We can ask God to give us a benevolent heart, one that encourages us to cheerfully and freely give to others, motivated by His great love for us. That is so much MORE (in 2024) than plastic throws!

P.S. – Thank YOU for so generously giving to support the ministry of LifeSongs. We’re incredibly grateful to serve our community by sharing God’s love together!

It’s not hard to find something to be thankful for. God has given us breath in our lungs and a new day! Family, friends, jobs, homes – the list goes on and on. And yet, if I’m being honest, it’s not always praise and thanksgiving that I’m spouting. Why is it so easy to focus on what we think we’re missing vs. all that we’ve been given?

Life is crazy busy, maybe busier than it’s ever been. I think maybe that’s part of it. We’re so busy “doing,” that we feel overwhelmed – and that can lead to complaining. If we don’t keep that in check, it can become our default setting. Yikes!

Can we challenge ourselves instead to be purposeful in our gratitude? When our days feel like one big blur that leaves us exhausted, let’s thank God for the gift of today, the day He has made. When life feels hard and we’re in a season of waiting, let’s thank God for His perfect timing as He works it all out for good. Those days that feel filled with setbacks and aggravations? We can thank Him then, too. Thank Him for being present, even in the smallest of trials.

When our perspective shifts away from ourselves and onto God (who is so generous He gave up everything for us!), we can find fresh hope, beauty, joy and purpose all around us. Thank God! And thank you for joining me on this journey of thankfulness. I’m grateful you’re part of this LifeSongs family.

And if you’re thankful for God’s generosity and looking forward to celebrating the Greatest Gift ever given, be sure to join LifeSongs for your Christmas soundtrack, beginning Thanksgiving evening at 8pm. Why Christmas music? We know just how many people are searching for some comfort and joy these days. Our prayer is that those who may stumble upon LifeSongs and hear a familiar holiday tune would find the true “thrill of HOPE” in our only source, and in the reason we have to celebrate: Jesus. Please pray that they stick around, even after Christmas, to continue hearing messages of good news and great joy on LifeSongs. We have so much to be thankful for!

Sometimes, we fall short. That’s true in life, and in Share-a-thons.

We wrapped up our recent fundraiser falling just a little short of where we hoped to be. (Just 3%!) Still, our hearts are incredibly grateful.

As for me, I fall short what feels like constantly. Example? My parenting skills. I wish my son ate more fruit/veggies. We try! And he’s a willing participant. He just doesn’t really seem to keep going. (More than 3% short on that one!)

I get frustrated in traffic. I over-schedule my days. I get stressed out by finances and overwhelmed by my circumstances. I’m simultaneously not doing enough and doing too much. You get it. I fall short. (A lot.)

When I do, I know I need more fruit in my life. And not the kind Gus needs to eat more of. I’m talking about the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Those things are a result of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. Which means, I need more of Him.

Spending time with God may feel daunting when we’re already overwhelmed and tossing out unused produce. But the reality is, He’s always with us, always ready to spend time with us. It doesn’t have to be some formal, planned out event. We can spend time with God when we read His Word. We can spend time talking to God on our commute. We can listen to His voice as we’re preparing dinner or taking a walk.

LifeSongs has been a huge part of reminding me of God’s constant presence. I spend time reading His Word daily through the LifeSongs Uplifting Word emails. I spend time in prayer as I drive through those school zones. I listen for Him to speak to me through the songs I hear on my drive each day, and I get to talk to Him during that time, too. Which means YOU help me plant the seeds that lead to that good fruit in my life. Thank you for giving to support this ministry, and for helping to make those moments possible each day.

Here’s to more fruit, in our diets and in our lives!

PACKED. What comes to mind when you hear that word? Maybe it’s lunches and book bags. Or maybe bottled water, snacks and batteries in your hurricane kit. Or maybe you feel like it’s your schedule that’s jam-packed. Margins are more than just what’s on college-ruled paper. And some days, it feels like those “margins” don’t exist.

We’ve hit the point in the year when our days do feel packed, like there is zero margin. Just me? Between back to school shopping lists, child care schedules, hurricane preparations, pre-season Saints games, and trying to PACK in all the fun in what’s left of these summer days, I feel like there’s nothing left. The days whiz by with me feeling like I’ve barely scratched the surface on my many to-do lists. It can feel overwhelming to say the least.

So, how do we find peace in the midst of the chaos of this season? What can we do to help us focus on what matters and leave the rest to the margins? I’ve got some good news for you. Jesus is already carrying the weight of the world on His shoulders. Know what that means? We don’t have to! That backpack is too heavy for us, but nothing is too much for God!

We may not be able to control the sheer amount of things going on, or what happens around us or even to us, but we can choose our response. The schedule that feels packed, the days that whiz by, they can leave us feeling dizzy or depleted. But what if our response was to ask God for help and encouragement? LifeSongs is here to remind you to do just that, and to help you keep your focus on Jesus, no matter what may come. To allow Him to carry those burdens, and walk beside Him along the way.

Thank you for making that hope and truth-filled encouragement available to anyone struggling with feeling “at capacity.” You do that through your support for this ministry. We’re so grateful for you, and that we get to do this together.

I recently took my 6-year-old shopping for a toy he’d saved up for. While I was worried about how long we were taking and if the people in line behind us were annoyed, my son was simply excited to count out his dollars to purchase a toy. He was thrilled to get change back, and even more excited to rip open the packaging and play.

What says “freedom” to you? Summer’s here, and I feel like I’m hanging on for dear life. But when I think back to the days before I was simply trying to manage ALL THE THINGS, summertime signaled freedom. When I was my son’s age, the end of the school year meant unscheduled days of riding my bike to Time Saver or the neighborhood sno-ball stand and staying outside until the streetlights came on.

Naturally, we grow, things change, and we add more and more responsibilities to our plates (and bills – if only my pocketful of change I had then could go as far now!). But sometimes I wonder if I’ve added too many things to my to-do list. Sometimes, I think I’m carrying things I’m not meant to. Things like worrying about what others think of me, whether or not I’m doing it “right,” or thinking I need to know exactly what the future holds. Maybe you’re carrying things you weren’t meant to. What would it feel like to be truly FREE?

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” -2 Corinthians 3:17

The good news is, we ARE free – in Christ! I’m doing my best to let go of the things holding me captive and truly embrace the me that God created me to be. To rest in His love and trust Him with the things that weigh down my heart (and my secondhand ten speed bike that got me to Time Saver). In letting go and embracing God’s grace, there is true freedom. And the beauty in that is that when we live in freedom, we are free to love others well, too.

Psalm 119:45

Darren Mulligan got up EARLY to hang out at the LifeSongs Studio and chat about The Healer Tour – TONIGHT – at the Pontchartrain Center!

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NEW DATE! NEW VENUE! AWESOME CONCERT!

Get ready for an amazing spring – Casting Crowns has extended The Healer Tour and are bringing the show to New Orleans!

Tickets are on sale now!

What: The Healer Tour featuring Casting Crowns, We Are Messengers & Ben Fuller

I was shoving the last handful of red and green holiday M&Ms into my mouth when I received an email notice that my gym is officially closing. Mind you, I have not stepped foot in this gym since maybe November 2019, but still. It’s officially now no longer an option – much like those seasonal mint M&Ms. Great. How am I supposed to get healthy now?!

The good news is, it only takes a little bit to get fit. It can be as simple as making a small adjustment here and there to create a healthy habit. How does LifeSongs fit into your routine this year? Join us as we start this new year with some healthy habits – like regularly listening to LifeSongs for doses of hope! Download the FREE LifeSongs app, and take us with you – as you focus on getting fit physically, we’ll help with the spiritual encouragement along the way! Maybe “getting fit” looks like exercising more or drinking more water (or putting down those M&Ms), or maybe it looks like taking a few deep breaths, writing in a gratitude journal, or starting your day in scripture with the LifeSongs Uplifting Word email.

Would you join us? Let’s kick off this year with some healthy habits, like listening to LifeSongs each day! Not only are we starting 2023 with health, hope and encouragement together, but you could also win a Fit Bit and hang with Lauren Daigle at an upcoming exclusive live event! Click here to get started! And keep listening to LifeSongs to hear encouragement on your journey to get fit, try healthy habits and start the new year UPLIFTED!