Reality Check with Ann Downing...

Guest blogger this week:  Karissa ​I'm not going to get into anything majorly complicated... no deep theological truths except to say that the Lord provides.  Now that everyone has collectively said, "well, duh."  Moving right along. June was a ridiculous month here at Downing Ministries.  The van was in the shop twice totaling almost $2,000 in repairs, my GPS went out, my cell phone croaked, my computer had to be replaced because of a $3 part, and we would typically have 12 or more concerts / events scheduled in a given month... no, not June 2016.  How many did we have?  3.  T-H-R-E-E.  Tres.  Trois.  As in 4-1.  I'll say it again; June was ridiculous. To be honest with you, there is no way we should have pulled through the slump.  On paper, it absolutely doesn't add up.  Been there?  We had some wonderful friends of this ministry who stepped up in a big way.  You know who you are, and I...

I’ve always been grateful that God planned for me to be a singer all of my days.  Well, as long as I have a voice that can be tolerated :).  When considering careers, I’ve never really wanted to do anything else. I believe that’s because singing is my calling.  May I add that I don’t think I’ve ever taken that lightly.   Coming with that career/calling is quite a bit of uncertainty.  During the month of June, Karissa and I worked 3 scheduled dates.  Typically, there would have been at least 10 – 12.  Of course, that didn’t mean that the ministry was on hold.  There are always dozens of things to be done here at home in order for the ministry to continue; however, you know that income for the ministry comes from being “out there.”    Needless to say, these are the times of trusting in HIS provision and not trusting what’s in the bank account.  Have you been there?  You may have been quicker to remember and trust His promises tha...

I’ve just had another birthday…and I say “Yeaaaaaaaaa…I’m still here!”   Seriously, God help me please to always be grateful for yet another day.  On those worst days, they are a big deal…life is precious.  As long as God is alive, so am I…..HE SAID THAT!    I have a good friend, AnnieB, who each year, in referring to my birthday, says she wants me to have a birthday present from her in honor of my Mama for giving me birth.  Now, that’s a special “gift” indeed!   I want to purpose this next year to give my life as a gift to Jesus…He gave me my second birth.  I am alive physically because of Mama….am alive spiritually because of Jesus.  Now….THAT’S LIFE!!

We’ve all heard and used (I'm sure!) the phrase, “When it rains it pours.”  We're usually referring to the onslaught of challenges, frustrations, and aggravations we've come to term as "attacks on our daily lives"... and they are! Remember the little girl on the box of salt who is standing under her umbrella?   She reminds  me of what we must look like when the world rains heavily on our parade.   We’re trying to protect ourselves from all the things that force us to our knees seeking God’s mercy to help us get through the day.  To be honest, today has been one of those "seeking" days for ADM.  I'm thankful our Father reminded me of a verse I memorized from the King James Version a long time ago, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him”.  Isaiah 59:19b I’m thinking that the “flood” of challenges that have entered our lives today can’t hold a candle to HIS standard ...

Yesterday, as I sat quietly inside working away at the daily business of Downing Ministries, I heard the buzz of lawn mowers off in the distance, a typical sound for Wednesday, and continued on with the task at hand.  Suddenly, I was jolted from concentration by a very hard something that bounced off some part of the house; thankfully, not a window!  The mowing never stopped, and I'm still not 100% sure what got flung or where or what it hit.  I only know that it most definitely did! As I gathered myself and determined that there was no way to know if the flying object hit my house, the neighbors house, or if it even hit a house at all, the thought occurred to me that life is a lot like the act of mowing.  The person doing the mowing pushes or rides the machine all over the place basically oblivious to the consequences of their actions, except for the shorter grass which is their intended goal.  In this example, think of mowing as decision making.  We ...

I have a special little place that I love…probably no big deal to anybody but me, but that’s because it’s just for me.    I could share it, but honestly, my little courtyard in the morning is a “one woman therapy place."  Now, my courtyard isn’t decorated with beautiful fountains, awnings, or the latest in patio furniture.  The little plot of grass is fairly well-kept, and the birds sure do like my little sanctuary.  I think they really really really like my trees.  It is a beautiful little world for devotions.   This morning was a spectacular one at my umbrella table.  Reading in the Word about the goodness of the Lord, then looking up into that azure blue sky while being serenaded by cardinals, mockingbirds and whoever else.  His goodness on display…now that’s the way to begin a day!    I hope you have a “one person therapy place.”  If not, just think about tomorrow morning and create a special place for you and God…and maybe...

We are responsible for ourselves, aren’t we?  For anyone who cares to notice, it is no secret that a huge shift toward entitlement mentality has taken place.  When did this begin? History demonstrates that those before us were diligent pioneers.  From staking homesteads to laying the groundwork for today's infrastructure, they were proud of hard work and created a new way of life for themselves and their families.  They didn’t sit around waiting for someone or something to do it for them, and they certainly weren't waiting for government to step in and provide.  They were simply thankful and did all they knew to do for this new world because they’d sacrificed heavily for the opportunity.  Hard work was normal, not exceptional.  People were grateful for healthy bodies that were able to do SOMETHING.   They were thankful for the help of others, but they didn't expect it, and while I wasn't there, I have a feeling there was far less bitterness a...