Happy Spring, friends!!!!  

from Ron, Jana and the band (Jonathan Ahrens, Curtis Herron, Tim Neinhuis)

'Hope your 2009 is off to a great start.  With our economy in the pits, I am all the more reminded that God's economy is completely different, and could be thriving in these times!  Our silly habit of placing our identities and our hopes in things that can melt like wax is being put to the test, as so much melts down around us.  May we truly find our hope in the "Father of Lights with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow"  (James 1:17).  I like that....He is always the same....always completely true and right; the Light in the darkness who shines continually.  One day we'll really "get that," but for now we can at least count on it! And we can live like its true, because it is!!!!

Here are some of the great things we are looking forward to at Jana Alayra Music in 2009:

*Concerts teaming with precious kids and their families (see our "concerts" tab).  How we thank GOD for every one of these!  Come see us! 

*Performing on the main stage and doing seminars at the annual INCM Children's Pastors Conference (see www.incm.org), the Northwest Christian Educators Confrerence in Seattle (www.nwcec.org), and the Kids in Focus conference in Escondido (link to come). We would love to see you at any of these terrific conferences!!!! 

*Speaking engagements (I love these!!)  Also see concerts tab 

*Writing and recording projects (New Children's CD, that elusive Christmas CD (!), a new testimony CD); also filming instructional-type DVDs like "Look Out Now" for our other children's CDs

*Being featured in preschool curriculum by Craig Jutila's Empowering Kids (see www.empoweringkids.net/contact.htm).  This stuff is terrific!

*A NEW website design!  In the final stages of development!

*The unknown adventures ahead!

I'm more convicted than ever that our FIRST love needs to be for God--studying His word, prayer, and falling deeper in love with Jesus.  When we are close to Him, we "get it" that life, with all its uncertainties, is an adventure in fulfilling the purposes HE has for us....whatever that may look like!  So actually, thing I am looking forward to this year the most is unknown to me, but known to Him!  May we all have our eyes and hearts open to what He has for us! 

How thankful Ron and I are to have the thrill of serving this Savior of ours by singing about him...to children, families, whoever will listen. 

Check out this wonderful update.  Some of you have been praying all year for a friend of mine named Stacey Burg who has struggled with leukemia.  Here we are (along with my friend Georgette) at a Starbuck's recently.  We were just gabbing after hearing a great message about teens by Jim Burns (gotta check out his resources if you haven't).  Last year I wasn't sure Stacey would ever be well enough to do all the normal things of life again, but she is doing great (She is the cutie in the middle with the scarf).  I am SO inspired by her outlook, her faith, her desire to reach out and help others going through similar struggles.  She SHINES!  

Ministry Moments of late:  What a blast we had last weekend at Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Virginia!  They hosted a children's workers' conference and our great friend Craig Jutilla (www.empoweringkids.net) was speaking there, so having our families hang out was a bonus.  We were blown away by the enthusiasm, dedication and joy there at WGB church.  A few weeks before that I went to Houston by myself (Ron couldn't fly with that kidney stone).  Weird to be without Ron, but the people at New Life Fellowship in Houston were amazing....SO full of faith in Christ and exuberance in how they live out that faith.  They have a powerful missions department-- reaching out and serving countries all over the world--and have used our music on their trips.  Did we ever "connect" and have a terrific time celebrating the Lord together. And God gave grace in providing people to cover all the technical details. 

The Entreninos conference (for Spanish speaking children's pastors from around the U.S. and abroad):  I was thrilled to be part of it and VERY eoncouraged to find out that our songs in Spanish are being used in far away places.  What answered prayer!  One particularly poignant moment for me was when four beautiful girls from Montclavo, Mexico ran up to me, speaking only in Spanish, thanking me for the songs.  They proceeded to sing "Toma mi Mano" for me, with the exact same hand motions I had made up.  How mind-blowing to think that somehow (by the hand of God) that song made it from Irvine, CA to some village town in Mexico and children way down there are praising the same Lord, with the same song (different language) as we do thousands of miles away. I got similar reports from Honduras and El Salvador.  Those stories in and of themselves made the struggle of getting that Spanish CD all worth it!

In the midst of such busy lives, we must NOT forget, nor forget to teach our children that we were created to love and worship the Lord, first and foremost. Remember how Christ summarized the most important commandment as recorded in Matthew 22:37-38:  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind."  When we seek Him and a thriving relationship with Him, we will a) find Him and b) "all things will be added" to us (Matt. 6:33).  Everything will fall into place.  He is first....

Blessings,

Jana

p.s. Haley is doing great in Seattle!

"Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving; safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting, "Wow! What a ride! Thank You Lord!"                     Beth Moore

Hey, friends!  Well, the above quote certainly seems to fit our lives these days!  It is all fast and furious, but a great adventure serving the Lord!  I can scarcely begin to sum up all that has gone on since I last updated, but here are a few photos to give you some idea:

Graduation day for Haley!  Above, Haley with Brittany and Chandy, Ron and me.  Below, my mom and dad.

VBS at Mariners Church...what a blast leading 2000 kids (and leaders!) in praising Jesus!

Below, Our bass player, Jonathan, with his WAY too cute little Brooklyn.  Baby boy due early August!

Signing some well-loved VBS shirts!    Brittany helped lead the worship with me (so did Chandy, but I don't have a single photo of her!), along with dozens of other amazing kids!

You can't tell by this little photo, but the stage was PACKED (3 rows deep) with men doing the motions at the Friday closer/concert! Way to be a blast, guys!

As you can tell, this VBS was a pretty enormous production and a complete honor to be part of.  Hundreds of kids made commitments to Christ, deepened their faith, and took all that joy home with them to their parents and homes.  I've had SO many conversations around town about how families were affected in such a positive way!  Ron and the band and I loved being part of such an amazing week.

Thanks for your patience with me in updating this website.  Life is sooo busy, and keeping up with this site is such a challenge for me.  I don't know how you guys with Facebook pages keep up with them (Neither Ron nor I have one...but we're being prodded!).

Our NEW Website coming soon!!! Our friend Mike Cranford and his amazing team at Ninth Degree are cooking up something brand new, bright, fun and super efficient for us. 

I'm in a writing season again...getting inspired seemingly every day with new song ideas for a new children's CD.  We have 5 songs done and it seems every time I study the word of God, lyrics to songs jump of those pages.  I would covet your prayers that the songs come out simple, profound, full of God's truth, and done with excellence (pray for Ron as he produces and engineers these babies).

What a thrill it is to serve our Lord.

In His mighty love,

Jana

PRAYER REQUEST UPDATES.....

*Stacey Burg...she has passed the 1 year anniversary of her bone marrow transplant and is doing great!  She is busy again taking care of her family and getting stronger.  Praise God!  What a fighter and what an amazing family!!!!

Thank you for your continued prayer for my dear friend Stacey Burg who is fighting the good fight against leukemia (see