Inspiration Gospel Tour Blessings!

Happy Tuesday! Happy 4th of July Eve! I am excited for the holiday. A day off in the middle of the week? Hallelujah! I'll take it. These last few days have just been filled with blessings...

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity, thanks to Mocha Moms Inc. Blogger Network, of attending the McDonald’s Annual Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour at at Ebenezer AME Church in Ft. Washington, MD. The concert featured the Grammy Award winning gospel singer Fred Hammond with special guests Byron Cage and the Stellar Award-winning gospel threesome 21:03.



in line treat

 

Cherry Berry chiller!



I brought along my lovely little sister, Nae, to enjoy the show with me (after Gigi stood me up, lol). We arrived, what we thought would be, early only to have to stand in a line that wrapped around the building. It was ridiculous, but that is just a testament to how amazing everyone KNEW this show was going to be. As Nae and I stood in line, in the blazing heat, McDonald's representatives walked through the line passing out free samples of the new Cherry Berry Chiller from their McCafe line. Talk about relief! It was 100 degrees outside and that seriously hit the spot... blessing!

The show was hosted by Praise 104.1 personality "JC", funny guy. He really kept the crowd entertained between the performances. Mary Hopkins-Navies, spokesperson for Ronald McDonald House charities came up and said a few words about the work of the charity and how the charity works to improve the lives of children and their families in our communities.



The show got started with (2 members of) the group 21:03, talk about a party! I'd heard of them, heard their songs on the radio, but have never seen them perform live. I would not have known what they looked like before I saw them this past Saturday. And truthfully, I would not have expected what I did see. Two young, black men with "snap-backs and tattoos", sold out for Christ! They sounded so good, and started the show off nicely, had kids up front dancing. And of course (I hope I don't get in any trouble for saying so, but...) Nae thought Torrance of 21:03 was nice looking. "Make sure you get a picture of just him." Really Nae? Focus! 



Byron Cage



Byron Cage followed 21:03, pure worship experience. I wish I would've thought to take notes on the names of all the songs performed, but I was way too busy enjoying myself and worshipping. Byron Cage did sing "Great and Mighty", I love that song. He covered some of his new songs and also older songs. He did not do "Breathe", which is one of my favorite songs. I am not complaining though, or am I? :)

Headlining the tour was FRED HAMMOND! I have loved Fred Hammond since I was a child. My mom played Fred Hammond in the car often, she had ALL of his cd's, and he is just my go-to source of Gospel music. He has a song for every need and I feel like he played a portion of all of them on this night. It was so amazing! Gigi says "it was the best Fred Hammond concert I have ever been to." I always enjoy Fred's performances live, and this one was no different! I smiled, teared up or sang through every song. A blessing forreals! :)

"Prodigal son come back to my love, you are the one that my heart seeks for..."

"no weapon formed against me..."

"you loved me still and I know this is real. And I am running back to you, I see you're standing there for me..."

"you're Lord of the Harvest and we worship You, we worship You this day..."

and any other song you know and love... I feel like he performed it! Ok, maybe not all of them (he has a lot of greats), but it was an awesome time, praise happened, worship ensued... Blessings! I felt good. He took some time to talk about the work of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

He performed songs from his new love songs album God, Love and Romance. Before he performed, he put the scripture Ephesians 5:22-28 on the screen. We've all heard this scripture, but I've never read it before in the Message Bible Version.

22-24 Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

25-28 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.

On this particular day, my husband and I were not having a "good day". We did semi make up before I left for the concert, but Fred Hammond and this scripture right here... conviction! I felt so called out and guilty, but I took is as a Holy Spirit tap on the shoulder reminder to go home and LOVE, and more importantly, respect MY HUSBAND.

I think Fred Hammond played a little Chuck Brown, a little Frankie Bev and Maze and then he sent us home BLESSED! I am glad I got the opportunity to attend this concert, it was right on time.

All my followers. friends and family, make sure you to go The Ronald McDonald House of Greater Washington, DC 's page on Facebook and hit the "Like" button. Special thanks to McDonald's for sponsoring the event and to all the McDonald's volunteers who helped make it a success!

And on top of being blessed all night by some Gospel music greats, I ran into an old friend of mine, Christina, along with her aunt Beverly and her new fiance (shame on me, I don't even know his name). Now wasn't this just a good night!? :)

That's my (Gospel partying) peace!

Love, Tam

Nae and Tam enjoying McDonald's Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour





Fred Hammond's "All of the Lights!"



Specifically for Nae, photo of Torrance of 21:03



Praise 104.1's JC and MC for the evening

Kids having fun!

The McCafe Cherry Berry Chiller guy :)