Photo Recap – Winter/Spring 2024

by the Roadie on May 7, 2024May 7, 2024

Here’s a look at our Winter/Spring travels so far…

A 2019 Look-back – Ministry and Music…

by Russell on August 24, 2020August 24, 2020

Christmas Tour 2019 – ‘Love is Here’

by Russell on December 26, 2019February 12, 2020

2019 has been an ongoing celebration of milestones. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in October! 2019 also marks the 20th year of full-time ministry for our duo. So, to add to the celebrations, the release of our first ever Christmas album – ‘LOVE IS HERE’ – happened on December 1st!

‘Love Is Here’ is a collection of Christmas songs both old and new. The title track – Love is Here – is an original written by Russell and clearly shares the wonder of Christmas and the reasons to celebrate the wondrous gift of Emmanuel, God with us!

In addition to the album, we set out on a Christmas tour. The ‘Love is Here’ tour made stops in…
Houston, TX
Katy, TX
Lindale, TX
Texarkana, TX
Fort Smith, AR
Van Buren, AR
Myrtle Beach, SC
Murrells Inlet, SC

Every stop on our tour was an opportunity to share the Hope we have in Christ – The Prince of Peace coming as a child to save the world! Wow! Aren’t we thankful for Heaven’s Perfect Gift – JESUS!

‘LOVE IS HERE’ can be found anywhere you buy music (Apple Music, iTunes, Google, Amazon…etc….)
OR – for a Physical copy of the CD – CLICK HERE!

You’ll also find the ‘LOVE IS HERE’ – T-shirt! Like this one…

Our daughter Sidney sporting the ‘Love Is Here’ T-shirt!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! Love is Here – His name is Jesus!

Russell and Kristi

What’s the Rush??

by Kristi on December 7, 2016December 7, 2016

I learned something from my dog, Rivers, this morning…well, really from God but through my dog. We were out on our morning walk and I kept doing as I always do, nudging her to keep walking and she did as she always does, kept right on sniffing areas for way too long in my opinion! This time, though, I was reminded of the fact that she hadn’t been out on a walk for several days due to rain so I was trying to be a little more sympathetic and give her a few more seconds of sniffing pleasure.

That’s when it happened…I felt my Lord saying to me, “Why the rush? Rivers isn’t rushing and what do you have pressing that requires so much rushing through this time? Enjoy this.”

WOW! How many times do I have to be reminded to just stop rushing?! I KNOW this but I don’t act on it. I know that there are not people that say on their death beds that they wished they had rushed through life just a little more. NO…truth be told we probably all need to stop rushing through life and “stop to smell the roses” (to use an old adage).

Sometimes, too, we will be able to hear the Lord speaking a little more clearly. As I was just reminded at beachCHURCH this past Sunday through our pastor, Todd, God doesn’t speak with a loud, thunderous voice. He speaks in a gentle whisper.

Thank You, Lord, for using Rivers to show me how to enjoy moments You give us. Thank You for helping me to see that time already flies so fast that I don’t need to miss it. Help us all to let up on the leash just a little bit and allow You to speak into our busyness, allow You to help us enjoy life just a little more. Thank You for loving us even when we’re rushing and loving us too much to let us stay content in the rat race. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

All By Myself?

by Kristi on July 14, 2016July 14, 2016

The other day I was getting ready in our bathroom and I “felt” the Lord speak to me…

I have always been a person who wanted to do things ‘by myself.’ My family always kidded me, “Oh don’t try to help Kristi open that jar. She wants to do it by herself!” It’s true. I wanted to open the jar, the can, the whatever, by myself. I guess, in this way, I wanted to be independent. I wanted to feel the accomplishment. I wanted to be proud of what I could do alone. I’ve always looked as this personality trait as a plus, something I was kinda proud of, something that meant I would always give everything to try my best. I still think it can be a positive trait; however, as I felt God speak to me the other day, I started to think of it in a different way…

I have a daughter who is the same as I was (am) in this. Sidney wants to do everything ‘by herself.’ She wants to be independent when she wants to be independent, if you know what I mean. I’ve told her many times over the years that she’s just like me. Lately, though, I have seen Sidney not wanting to ask for help, even from the Lord. She seems to think she doesn’t need to ask for help.

Maybe I was thinking about this the other day or maybe God just needed to tell me while I was in one place doing one thing, brushing my teeth. He impressed on my heart that even though I’d always wanted to do things myself, He never created us to be alone. He created us to be in community, to need others…most importantly, to need Him.

WOW! I had never thought of my need to do things ‘by myself’ as a form of pride…until then. I had never thought of my need to not ask for help as something that was keeping me from allowing others the privilege of helping someone…until then. Until then, I had prided myself in the fact that I had always wanted to do things, sometimes over and over again, with no one’s help, mind you! God spoke, though. He told me it’s okay for me, and Sidney, and you, to want to try to do things on our own. It’s okay to even try to do them over and over again, as long as we know that we know that we know we need others, most importantly, our Lord and Savior, to help when we struggle.

We were not made to be alone. In Genesis 2, God even said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

We were not made to be alone.

We need each other.

Let’s help each other.

Let’s let others help us.

We Told You It Was a Crazy Idea! Fall Tour Wrap-up

by Kristi on December 29, 2014June 10, 2015

We had a great experience during our first ever ‘House Concert’ tour! Taking us as far west as Texas and as far north as Pennsylvania, with stops along the way in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana & Mississippi. A very big ‘Thank You’ to everyone who hosted us in your home – or church! We are grateful for your hospitality and support! These concerts were filled with warm moments of worship along with great fellowship and a whole lot of laughs and fun! Your response to this tour blew us away!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
We told you from the beginning that we had a crazy idea… Well, you’ve asked and we are going to do it again! We had such a wonderful time this Fall that we are announcing a Spring House Concert Tour – Remember, these concerts can be inside your home or in your backyard! All you have to do is invite some friends and maybe supply some snacks! These dates will fill up quickly so let us know if you’re interested and we can send you a PDF file that will give you all the details for you to host an event like this! Email us at kristi@rkpraise.net or call us at 843-446-2983.

Here’s a look back at our Fall tour! Enjoy!