Hi friends~ I’m so excited to finally be able to pass along this link to you!
Since this past April, I have been hosting a local cable show that runs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 on MS Delta Cable channel 7. Our church had that time slot purchased and nothing was in it, so our minister of music and media asked me to pray about doing my blog in a live version during that time. {I must tell you, though, that I’ve always laughed at those local cable access shows… they never were quite up to par with what the major national networks had to offer, and now I know why. It’s tough! 😉 God has made me eat lots of crow in the past 6 months. haha.}
The funny thing is that years ago, I felt God’s call to some type of ministry via media. Radio was what I really had in mind. I wanted to have a morning radio show entitled “Smelling Coffee” where we would talk about all things Faith, Family, Food, Fun, Life, Love, and Living it all in the aroma of the knowledge of Jesus Christ (based off of 2 Cor. 2:14). But radio never materialized. As I began to pray about this Smelling Coffee Radio ministry, the Lord led me to start a blog/writing ministry with the same name. Shortly after that, SmellingCoffee.com was born… That was in 2008. May I just tell you that blogging has been such a fun and rewarding ministry? My life has been blessed tremendously through SmellingCoffee.com, and I’m so glad that God opened this avenue of service to and through Him. (And as always, I’m so thankful for YOU, dear readers… thank you for coming back again and again to read what God has used these fingers to peck out and send into cyberspace!)
I was completely happy with the blog ministry when our minister approached me about the TV show. Our church airs a Sunday School lesson at 10, and the church service at 11, but nothing from 10:30-11:00 each Sunday. In all of those years of dreaming about a radio show (where it wouldn’t matter what my hair and make up looked like, or how I held my head, or if my clothes made me look fat or not… all of those “important” things) I never once imagined a Smelling Coffee TV show. But that’s exactly what God has brought about. (His ways are always higher than we can imagine! Isaiah 55:8-9)
We began recording in April and the show has been airing every Sunday since then. It’s been a learning process for all of us!!! I think that the first show (which is only a 20-25 minute show) took several hours to record. We are getting quicker about it these days, and I’m learning to keep rolling, even if I mess up. haha. Oh the blooper reels we could produce!
Our church is heading into a renovation soon, and when it is finished, we’ll have a true studio. For now we are “making do with what we have.” To God’s glory, we are all learning and improving with each episode. 😉
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord in this local platform, and also grateful that we’ve finally figured out how to put the show on YouTube so that it can be shared. With that said, I’m also a little nervous about opening it up to the public, because I know how mean and critical some people can be. Not that they would be the least bit interested in Smelling Coffee TV, but in the back of my mind, I’m imagining how people and shows like SNL could make fun of it, and of me, and of the Lord. I know the reality of critical people, because I have been and am one of them myself, I loathe to admit.
However, I KNOW that God can take care of Himself and any criticism that comes His way, and as His child stayed under His wings, I am safe and secure there. Unless it hurts the testimony of God’s work in my life, I know that I needn’t worry myself with what people might say about me. It’s not really about me, anyway. So… I will 1) take my focus off of myself and cast it and all my concerns upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7) and 2) send out this link to a recent Smelling Coffee TV episode. (Only one is on YouTube right now… I’m still learning the process.)
As I began preparing for our first recording session this past Spring, the Lord gave me a beautiful verse to hang my heart upon as I nervously thought about this new venture.
“ Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”
Zech. 4:7, NLT
Therefore… without further ado, I offer to you the first YouTube-linked version of Smelling Coffee Today TV, where we seek the aroma of the Lord Jesus Christ in every place. May the Lord use it as He so desires and for His glory alone!
{This episode aired on 10-13-13, and my sister, Rebecca Turner was my guest. We made Amy’s Fall Mix and talked about how God uses various “ingredients” in our own lives to make who we are – a gift to Him and to others.} (If you are reading via e-mail, click here to see the video.)
Edited to add the second episode on YouTube – this, too, is with my sister, and she shares a testimony about the blessings that come from difficult seasons of obedience. May God use it to encourage many!
(If you are reading via e-mail, click here to see the video.)