Monthly Archives: February 2015

The Heart Behind STS Ranchwear

THE SMITH FAMILY

For those of you that know me at all, you know I spend a lot of time on Facebook. I have been introduced to a lot of wonderful friends, ministries and businesses. I was scrolling through my page one day and found STS Ranchwear on my Facebook The first thing that caught my eye was the cross. I believe in supporting Christian Businesses with all my heart so when you mix the Cowboy Lifestyle and that together you have won my heart over for sure!!

I started following STS Ranchwear and I realized they are way more than a clothing line. STS is about sharing Stran and Jennifer Smith’s Faith with others through their own lives. You will find Ranchwear, Fashion tips, Recipes, Fitness tips and Testimonies of God’s love on their website and Social Media. We all need encouragement from one another and I sure know I need help with fitness and fashion. LOL…..

I am all about Dreams and encouraging others in theirs. This is one of my favorite things about STS and the heart of Stran and Jennifer Smith.

THE HEART BEHIND STS RANCHWEAR

Jennifer and Stran Smith are best known for their long standing careers in professional rodeo. Stran has 11 Wrangler National Finals Qualifications and was the 2008 World Champion Tie-Down Roper. He is best known for overcoming hardships in and out of the arena.

Jennifer was Miss Rodeo America and worked as a television correspondent in the western & equine industry for 15 years for networks such as ESPN, CBS Sports, and Outdoor Channel. Jennifer also spends time as a designer and consultant in the Western fashion industry.

What is not highly publicized is their background in ranching. Stran and Jennifer strive to carry on Stran’s 4th generation ranch in Tell, Texas. When not on the road, Stran, Jennifer, and 3 children, Stone, Scout, and Selah raise Black Angus cattle on the family ranch.

I am very honored to share with you a few questions and answers with Stran and Jennifer. A look into their heart and Dreams.

What inspired you to begin STS Ranchwear?

The combination of growing up on a 4^th Generation ranch and spending the last 20 years in the rodeo and western fashion industry, we have an idea about what we want in Ranchwear. When we went looking for it, there was nothing on the market quite like what STS Ranchwear is today. Our partner, Chad Fairchild with Carroll Original Wear has spent years perfecting the quality of outwear and sourcing quality leathers that fit the true western buyer’s standards.

The handbags were a vision of passion as well. I wanted to create a line of bags that not only utilized luxurious leathers and western design, but also had all the organizational needs of today’s western woman.

What is your vision and targeted audience for each of your blogs?

We love EVERYTHING about the western life that we are so blessed to have been raised in. We feel it’s important to honor a legacy of the true working cowboy and family life, educating on skills, equipment, livestock, and wildlife. We, more importantly, strive to emphasize the principals that this country was built on: HONOR and INTEGRITY while being TRUE to your faith, your family and yourself. Anyone that is or just wants to be cowboy can find great stuff on STSRanch.com.

http://stsranch.com/strans-blog/

http://stsranch.com/jens-blog/

How has faith played a role in your family, being on the road rodeoing and running a business?

In every way, Faith is the center of our life. In every venture in our life, whether it’s rodeo, ranch, and especially our family we want to be in God’s will. We wouldn’t attempt to do anything with out His confirmation… not just in our business, but in every part of our life.

What three tips could you offer to tell us how to stay focused Spiritually, Mentally and Physically?

A goal without a plan is just a wish. It is very important to have a plan so you know what direction to go. Write down your goals and look at them often. Be consistent and stay the /coarse. It is a marathon, not a sprint. It is so important for us to have a Purpose in our goals beyond “us.” Like we’ve said, if God is at the center of everything you do, you have a bigger purpose and responsibility in obtaining your goals. You never know who is looking up to you or who you will inspire in the meantime. Stran said it best in his interview when he won the World Championship. If your heart is still beating than God’s has a plan for your life.

Thank you STS Ranchwear (Stran and Jennifer) for this great interview.

To learn more about STS Ranchwear and Stran and Jennifer Smith please check out their website below and be sure to follow them on Facebook.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER STS RANCHWEAR

Dream Catcher 3:20

Cassie Gilman

Do you have battle fatigue?

In today’s time were faced with busy schedules, topped with a negative world around us. Everywhere you look on the news there is war, violence, new disease outbreak and so much negativity.

You have to focus on Gods goodness, mercy and love in order to make it through the battles. With out staying focussed on these things and relying on Gods strength you will have battle fatigue.

Battle fatigue is an obsolete term which may refer to:
Combat stress reaction, a military term for an acute reaction to the stress of battle commonly involving fatigue, slowed reaction time, indecision, and other symptoms

Post traumatic stress disorder, a medical term for a chronic disorder associated with psychological trauma

Shell shock, a term used in WW I for an uncontrolled strong nervous reaction to the battle’s horrible and extreme unhuman conditions

We experience similar reactions to our fatigue. When our bodies and minds are tired and weak we find it harder to made decisions. We’re slower at speaking life and standing in faith.
We might find ourselves frozen with fear with an attack that normally we would have waved off as nothing. We find ourselves being controlled by our emotions verses our spirit man.

Were a spirit who has a soul and lives in our body.

Your spirit man is where Jesus abides. This is where we find our strength, joy, peace and all the Good God is. But we sometimes find that instead of filtering what’s coming against us from the outside through our spirit that we’re letting our mind, which is our will and emotions handle it and that takes a toll on your mind and your body.

With the job I have I don’t get much sleep in the week what sleep I have is not restful. The more tired I get the more thoughts seem to flood in. If we are not feeding the spirit man during this time our flesh, our thoughts,and emotions can get away from us so fast.

I realized that I had gotten away from filling my spirit man up I was in tears and coming home grouchy and on edge. About two weeks ago there was a day I was so exausted that I was ready to walk out the door of my job and throw my hands up in every area. I got my smart phone out to read my bible app and was too tired. I decided that to turn on Joyce Meyers. I listened for like 3 hours Just to make it through that day. It reminded me that in order to win the battle and not be in shell shock I had to renew my mind.

If we are tired it’s hard to be a light to others and to walk in love.

In Galatians 6:10 it says
So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. (‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9-10‬ MSG)

When your wanting to shut down and give up take a step back look at Gods word and remember what He says about you and who you are. Do something for someone else in need instead of focussing on all the stuff coming against you. Somehow God uses that to bring a spring back in your step.

Take time to rest physically, mentally and spiritually.

EXAMPLES

(1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8-11‬ ASV)
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does

If we stay focused on Him and refreshed in Him, take care of our bodies, and rest our minds we are able to stay alert and on guard.

Don’t ever let condemnation set in for being fatigued. Everyone goes through those times.

Isaiah 40:30,31 says Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in The Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

So when you find yourself growing weak and tired fall back into His wings that cover you and let Him carry you and get ready to soar.

Dream Catcher 3:20
Cassie Gilman

Interview with Dave Powers

I have been doing interviews for a few months now. I have to say it is one of my favorite things I have ever been blessed to do.

My sweet friend Richard Frazier introduced me to a great Southern Gospel singer named Dave Powers. I feel very blessed to introduce Dave and his ministry and music to you.

Dave Powers, Southern/Country Gospel Singer
Dave is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through songs and personal
testimony. Dave was born and raised in West Chester, PA, and now resides in
Lemasters, Pennsylvania. Dave has been singing for over 25+ years. He grew
up singing in his home town church and fell in love with the “old time”
hymns that the church sang. In his teen years, he heard many southern
gospel singers and began to love the sound of the quartet style music. He
attended a Gold City Quartet concert that was made up of Brian, Ivan, Mike,
and Tim, and knew during that concert he wanted to sing for the Lord. At
that concert, he prayed that the Lord would use him to spread the gospel in
song. When he moved to Chambersburg, PA, in 1988, he started singing bass
with The Towne Singers, a local vocal group. With the Towne Singers, he
had the opportunity to travel over seas and do many concerts. Then in 2003,
he began singing background with David (King) Grove doing numerous “Elvis”
concerts and had the honor to share the stage with the legendary
Jordanairres. In 2005, he continued with David, but they were led by the
Lord to do outreaches to win souls for the Lord. When David accepted a
pastor’s position in 2009, Dave continued on his own because he loves
singing about his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 2013, Dave was asked and
honored to open up for the respected southern gospel quartet, The Kingsmen,
at the 38th PA State Singing Convention. In December of 2014 he had the
opportunity to travel to Nashville Tenn. To record Amazing Grace with Doc
Holiday and his A-team production company. 2015 is shaping up to be a great
year of sharing the Gospel in song.

INTERVIEW WITH DAVE POWERS

How long have you been singing Southern Gospel Music?
A: Pretty much my whole life, I fell in love with it when I was around 12
years old but started to really sing it on my own around 4 yrs ago.

What artist would you say has influenced your music the most?
A: The Kingsmen Quarter was the first group I ever listened to, but Gold
City and Mr. Tim Riley has been a big influence on my life. Mr. David
Grove (King) my pastor has also been a big influence in my Ministry.

What was your first song to hit the air waves? And which station started
your adventure on air?
A: The first station to ever play my music was WURL 760 AM out of Alabama.
I befriend DJ Richard Frazier from the Richard Frazier Show via Facebook.
He included a song of mine on his hour program and for the first time ever I
heard myself singing “Thanks To Calvary”. Needless to say, I did tear up
and thanked God for that moment in time.

What would you say was the defining moment in your music ministry that you
knew that this was what you wanted to do?
A: I have been singing pretty much all my life, in Church choirs, groups
from around our area and then on my own, but felt God’s calling to sing
around 14 yrs ago at a Southern Gospel Concert in Lancaster Pa. sitting in
the back row I really felt God’s calling on my life to go and share the
Gospel in song. This wouldn’t happen for a few more years, but believe me
it has been worth the wait.

What motivates you to keep going when your tired?
A: My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s because of Him why I sing.

Do you have any new projects in the making?
A: Looking at doing a new CD sometime this year.

What’s your current single on the air waves that we might hear?
Right now I have the Song Amazing Grace which I recorded in Nashville in
December. It is on Amazon music.com and Google play. Digital download,
with in around 2 weeks going out to different radio stations.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DAVE POWERS

Thank you Dave for this interview.