Trust and Obey

Adam and Samantha - Trust and Obey from Adam Sandoval on Vimeo.

I (Adam) am not much of a singer, in fact it has been over 4 years since I sang a special. So when I saw that my name appeared on the schedule along with Samantha, fear and trembling set in. :-)

Now dont get me wrong, its not that I dont like to sing, but I just figured I would leave the singing to those with better voices.

Normally its Samantha that sings, not me. She has sung specials pretty much all of her saved life. God has really blessed her with a beautiful voice.

However when you work in the teen minisry, you find out very fast that you have to sing your heart out just to get the teens to sing along. If you want the kids to sing on a bus route you have to be the one to get them started, and you have to be willing to sing alone if need be. If you want kids to sing in a Sunday School class you have to sing with passion and excitement and again if need be you have to be willing to sing alone.

Most teens have a hard time singing hymns, mostly because they think that singing is not "cool". Added to the fact that they are already shy and embarrassed about their looks or persoanlity, and really dont want to draw attention to themseleves.

But if you can get a youth group sining good God honoring songs then you can have a youth group that is on fire for God. When the youth of a church get on fire for God almost always the church has revival.

Merry Christmas

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

Each day I am married, it reminds me that I am not living just for me, everything that I do will either effect my wife and future children, for the Lord or for the world.

This is our first Christmas together married. One year ago today Samantha, her family and I drove to Arizona to celebrate Christmas with her grandma, grandpa, and uncle Jeff.

One year ago toady

Back then we had been betrothed (engaged) for just about a month. It was a very exciting time.

This year has been just as exciting. Having our first Christmas in our home, with our tree, and opening presents. Sharing this time with Samantha has been pretty amazing.

I think that because we have done so much, by way of ministry and traveling in this short 9 months, people forget we are still newlyweds. It is very important to spend the holidays with family, but it is equally important for Samantha and I to be able to have/start traditions of our own. For us to build special personal memories, things that we can look back on with joy.

Last night was one of those moments. After dinner at Mom and Dad Leeders, we drove out to a little town just north of us, where they put out thousands of little candles placed inside of a brown paper bag. They are called farolitos.

Image courtesy of  Steve Immel Photography

.Based on Las Posadas, the hispanic celebration of Mary and Joseph's search for lodging and a place for Jesus' birth, the families of Velarde have been lighting the roadway for almost thirty years.

This morning was another special moment as Samantha and I got up early to open presents. It was pretty fun just to see the little gifts we got each other. Most of them just small things that we knew would mean a lot to each other.

NASCAR!!!

Through out today I have been thinking about how blessed I am. To be Saved, to have a wonderful wife is Saved, to serve in the ministry, to have my immediate family (both sides) Saved.

This video was a blessing to us, we hope it will be to you too.
Merry Christmas!!

Happy Birthday Samantha

Samantha, from everyone who knows and love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!