For a musician, it’s the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, I’m told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right. Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing.

It was a fun, low-pressure gig – I was playing keyboard and singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion instruments. We mostly did pop songs from the ’40s to the ’90s with a few original tunes thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from me. She was swaying to the beat and singing along.

After the tune was over, she approached me. “I apologize for singing along on that song. Did it bother you?” she asked.

“No,” I replied. “We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?”

To my delight, she accepted my invitation. “You choose,” I said. “What are you in the mood to sing?”

“Well, do you know any hymns?”

Hymns? This woman didn’t know who she was dealing with. I cut my teeth on hymns. Before I was even born, I was going to church. I gave our guest singer a knowing look, “Name one.”

“Oh, I don’t know. There are so many good ones. You pick one.”

“Okay,” I replied. “How about ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’?”

My new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, “Yeah. Let’s do that one.”

She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to sing.

“Why should I be discouraged?
“Why should the shadows come?”

The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were doing to listen. The song rose to its conclusion.

“I sing because I’m happy;
“I sing because I’m free.
“For His eye is on the sparrow
“And I know He watches me.”

When the last note was sung, the applause crescendoed to a deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, “Oh, y’all go back to your coffee! I didn’t come in here to do a concert! I just came in here to get somethin’ to drink, just like you!”

But the ovation continued and I embraced my new friend. “You, my dear, have made my whole year! That was beautiful!”

“Well, it’s funny that you picked that particular hymn,” she said.

“Why is that?”

“Well,” she hesitated again, “that was my daughter’s favorite song.”

“Really!” I exclaimed.

“Yes,” she said, grabbing my hands. By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual. “She was 16. She died of a brain tumor last week.”

I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence: “Are you going to be okay?”

She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands. “I’m gonna be okay. I’ve just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and everything’s gonna be just fine.” She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone.

Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that particular coffee shop on that particular November night? Was it coincidence that this wonderful lady just happened to walk into that particular shop? Was it coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that was the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before? I refuse to believe it.

God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of time, and it’s no stretch for me to imagine that he could reach into a coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival. It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting him and singing his songs, everything’s gonna be okay.

The next time you feel like GOD can’t use YOU, just remember:
* Noah was a drunk
* Abraham was too old
* Isaac was a daydreamer
* Jacob was a liar
* Leah was ugly
* Joseph was abused
* Moses had a stuttering problem
* Gideon was afraid
* Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
* Rahab was a prostitute
* Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
* David had an affair and was a murderer
* Elijah was suicidal
* Isaiah preached naked
* Jonah ran from God
* Naomi was a widow
* Job went bankrupt
* John the Baptist ate bugs
* Peter denied Christ
* The Disciples fell asleep while praying
* Martha worried about everything
* The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
* Zaccheus was too small
* Paul was too religious
* Timothy had an ulcer…AND
* Lazarus was dead!

God can use you to your full potential. Besides you aren’t the message, you are just the messenger. God bless.

[A friend sent this to me via email this morning. Every week our newsletter mentions our need to trust God and that His eye is on the sparrow. So we thought this appropriate to reproduce it here (and we don't think it is copyright).]

We wish you and your family a very merry Christmas celebration and a Happy New Year. We wish for you, in 2010, the greatest prosperity and blessings.

PROSPERITY does not consist in the quantity or substance of the things we possess, or how much money we have in the bank.

Over two thousand years ago, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be born like one of us – to die for all of us. He paid the price for our sin. Our sin is in our nature and our nature is to reject God and His authority; and we cannot pay for that, not even with our own blood. But God, Himself, came to earth, became one of us. He willingly left His splendor in Heaven and suffered death at the hands of men – the hands of men He created, in order to bring us back to God. That is why Jesus said, He came to give us life more abundantly (John 10:10).

This is why birthday parties for Jesus really miss the point: Christmas is not a celebration of Jesus’ birthday. We are not celebrating another year older, nor are we celebrating the date of His birth. We are celebrating God’s greatest gift to man, the gift of Himself and His willing sacrifice – we are celebrating Christ’s triumph over sin and death, so we can live with Him forever; and He gives us freedom on earth, no matter our lot in life.

In the days of old, and Bible times included, it was common to celebrate with song, festivities and the giving of gifts whenever a people received a great victory, military or otherwise. So, too, in our giving of gifts to family and friends, we are celebrating the salvation and redemption God has given freely to man. This is why we give – not to fulfill some materialistic lust, though it appears we have devolved into this as a society. When we give our gifts, let us remember the reason for the giving – Jesus has conquered death, and that is our greatest victory.

The best way to celebrate Christmas is to receive the gift God has given to men (read John chapter one). This gift was God who became man, who died for our sin in our place. Everyone who repents of their sin and receives this gift will have everlasting life. This is true prosperity and the greatest prosperity, indeed.

Merry Christmas!
/s/ Dean and Robin

Even with the high quality of this furniture, you will be pleased by the reasonable prices. We might not be priced as low as Wal-Mart but we are much less than the furniture stores down the street!

There is a good selection of end tables, hall tables, desks, buffets, bookcases and benches. I have sat in their chairs and they are very comfortable, too. Styling will blend in with traditional, colonial, old country, country and modern. Colors range from red, antique white, dark and medium brown, chartruse green and more.

This furniture will add quality, color and appeal to your home or office. Come in today and see how we can help you purchase quality furniture for your home at a reasonable price.

UPDATE: FREE FURNITURE. High quality, solid, kiln-dried mahogany. The more you buy, the more you save – up to 100%! Come see the new line of furniture available at Unique Motif in the Prairie Shopping Center, Hwy 95 and Prairie Avenue, in Hayden. Tues-Sat 10am-6pm. Products to enhance your living environment at prices you can live with.

Small businesses and local enterprises are the backbone to our local economy and our national economy. Without them, our economy will flounder (even worse than during a recession). The same thing is true for our local retail merchants. They need our support.

It is the local businesses that get involved in the community. Sure, big businesses funnel money into the community to get their name out there and to create an image of community mindedness. You will always read about their community activities and see their banners – and that is the point of their involvement. The small businesses and the people who work for them are neighbors – they get involved without waving banners and issuing press releases. Local merchants get involved because they love their communities.

Small businesses work to promote our freedoms. Most small business owners understand the free market system and the importance of the liberties we have in our nation to create our own future and make opportunities for the next generation. On the other hand, big businesses spend vast amounts of money lobbying for new regulations to get rid of their competition. Most these laws are labeled in the interest of consumer protection, but the real intent is to help the big get bigger and keep the small guy out of the picture.

So, when you go shopping at the Big Box and Warehouse stores, you are tossing your two cents in to aid those who are working to eliminate competition in our nation. They are working to eliminate your neighbor’s store – the same neighbors who are actively involved in your community, making it a better place to live.

This week, bring your receipts from three local merchants in to Unique Motif, along with the coupon above, and receive 40% OFF three items of your choice. No other purchase is necessary (but will be appreciated). For more information on local businesses, go to http://uniquemotif.com/decor/local-businesses/

In the former days, local retail shops were all there was to pick from. It was the responsibility of the merchant to advertise his wares and his stores and to provide the best service to retain his customers. If he failed in this, it was his own fault. Around the 1930s, grocers began to for coops. This enhanced their buying power and the coops spread across regions and the nation. Many of the local grocers belonged to these coops, so the stores retained that local flavor.

Then, along came the 1953 and McDonalds and the age of retail systems and national branding came alive. Soon chains of huge warehouse stores and franchise businesses grew out of the wake of the national branding explosion. It has become nearly impossible for local merchants to compete for marketing position against huge retailers and mass marketing. Huge chains and franchises have huge budgets for advertising. Small merchants do not. For this reason, local merchants need the help of their neighbors to be successful. It truly takes a team effort for local shops to be successful.

What does the consumer gain by shopping at huge chains and franchises? A lot of eye candy. They can be awed by the selection – but who is going to take a hundred of something home with them? They might be seduced to thinking they are getting low prices – which may be true on some items, but not all. And they get to shop at stores and shops that all have a similar look and feel – boring!

What do you gain by shopping at your local merchant? You get the satisfaction of knowing you are helping a neighbor and reinforcing your local economy. You shop in a diversity of atmospheres – and it is the local merchants that give a town flavor and character. You are able to meet and talk with the owners of the store – they will listen to your suggestions and service you better. You will discover that local merchants usually have competitive prices and where they don’t, they are willing to negotiate to help you have a pleasant shopping experience.

This week, stop in at three local stores and see what they have to offer you. Then, bring your receipts in to Unique Motif, along with the coupon above, and receive 40% OFF three items of your choice. No other purchase is necessary (but will be appreciated). For more information on local businesses, go to http://uniquemotif.com/decor/local-businesses/

ANOTHER LOCAL MERCHANT IS CLOSING THEIR DOORS. Anna Leigh’s is located in The Plaza Shoppes (across from the resort on Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene). They offer fine styles and great prices on women and children’s clothing. But they are closing their doors the end of October. This will be a great loss to our community. But let’s not ignore them these last few days – THEY ARE OFFERING 40% OFF EVERYTHING. Let’s help them out – it may be too late to help them stay in business but let’s help them close out with dignity.

In the past few weeks, we have offered several suggestions for shopping locally and we have asked you to share your suggestions. This week, we had a few more responses (we are still looking for yours):

KAREN K wrote: “I really like shopping at the Flour Mill.  They are very helpful and knowledgeable.” [Ed note - my wife and I can second that. We find Rob and his crew to be very friendly, helpful and the prices are competitive with bigger stores.]

MARTHA M wrote: “I love to shop Pilgrims Natural Foods . . . Paris Flea Market (on 4th, CDA) . . . Wiggett Antique Mall (downtown CDA) . . . Mary Jane’s Farm retail shop (the Plaza Shoppes) – her philosophy on supporting rural America is awesome.”

JUDY H wrote: “Grays Print Shop – owner Rhonda Gray is friendly, personable, honest, sincere, accommodating, and does excellent printing . . . even delivers to your door. . . Katie Mans sells Mary Kay skin care products. Katie is friendly, enthusiastic, hard worker, a leader in her field, and will deliver products to you at any location you wish. . . Airco Mechanical repaired my air conditioner promptly . . . polite, respectful, excellent customer service. . .

For more information (including contact information) on these and other local businesses, go to
http://uniquemotif.com/decor/local-businesses/

ADD YOUR TWO CENT’S WORTH: Please send us your suggestions for shopping local. We are neighbors and we are here to help each other.

LOCAL SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON LOCAL LOYALTY. Thank you.

1 – Send us your picks for favorite stores and we will post them.

2 – Read about local businesses – and take their literature from the Greater Hayden Community Board in the Unique Motif store and/or post your business on our Greater Hayden Community Board at Unique Motif.

3 – PLEASE FORWARD THIS NEWLSETTER TO A FRIEND AND ASK THEM TO SIGN UP for our newsletter.

We are in this together. Read more about shopping local on our website: http://UniqueMotif.com/decor/

HERE ARE 9 REASONS WHY UNIQUE MOTIF IS YOUR STORE!
1) Email Specials Every Week.
2) 10% Bring-A-Friend-Discount (friend must sign up for newsletter).
3) Gift Cards – no fee, no expiration.
4) Discounts for Special Orders .
5) Shipping to Family and Friends.
6) Layaway at no extra charge.
7) New Products all the Time!
8) Online Store – http://uniquemotif.com/store/
9) Clock and Furniture Repair.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT SHOPPING LOCALLY is local merchants are your neighbors. If they fail, it affects our whole neighborhood. Sure, some will fail due to their own stupidity – and we can’t help that. But the single most critical factor for a local business is that they cannot buy enough advertising to overcome the Big Box marketing budgets. This is where we come in – neighbors helping neighbors, as the Spokane-local Alton’s Tires likes to phrase it.

It seems ingrained in our psyche to shop at Big Boxes, where selection appears to be larger and prices seem to be lower. But these are not always the case – and Big Box stores all have that so-similar look and feel. Local merchants often have more unique products than you will find in the Big Box stores and most are willing to work with you on the price, if they are higher. You will benefit from better service at most local merchants and you will enjoy the distinctive flavor and environment of the local store.

In the past few weeks, we have offered several suggestions for shopping locally and we have asked you to share your suggestions. FEW HAVE RESPONDED – We are in this together. So, please send in your suggestions for favorite local stores. Thank you.

Last week, Deborah O gave high praise for PET STOP on Government Way, and we published that. Since then, two more clients have responded with praise for PET STOP. Amanda R wrote, “I, too, shop at PET STOP. Better quality, better prices, more excellent service then ‘Big Box’. I wish more people knew that local businesses can be an affordable and rewarding alternative.” and Linda F wrote, “I, too, am only giving my business to PET STOP, they are great!  I will not step foot in [Big Box - name withheld, but you know]!!!!

Today, I stopped in at PET STOP to see if we could do a write up for the store. The owners were on vacation, so we will talk to them later. The store was pleasant, friendly and clean; smaller than Big Box, but they seemed to have everything you would need for your pet.

As for other recommended favorites, Amanda R gave a second suggestion, “Also THE FRESH SPICE MARKET in Post Falls behind Walgreens. Bulk spices, loose leaf tea, and locally made and created sauces. A better way to keep your spices fresh and diversified without buying large containers that are expensive and expire before you can use it all.”

ADD YOUR TWO CENT’S WORTH: Please send us your suggestions for shopping local. We are neighbors and we are here to help each other. LOCAL SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON LOCAL LOYALTY. Thank you.

1 – Send us your picks for favorite stores and we will post them.

2 – Post your business on our Greater Hayden community board at Unique Motif.

3 – Working together, we can build a strong local economy.

4 – PLEASE FORWARD THIS NEWLSETTER TO A FRIEND AND ASK THEM TO SIGN UP.