The Isaacs At The Ark Encounter 2026

 Hey Friends,

Friday, we had a fun day at the Ark Encounter. It was day 39 of the 40 Days Christian Music Festival. We had visited the Ark in 2022, but not during the Music Festival. 

I was so thrilled we could make it there this year. Sadly, my friend Emmalee had the day off from her job at the Ark. She definitely deserves a day off!

It was wonderful to see The Isaacs in concert! It was our first time seeing them in 2026. I was long overdue for my Isaacs fix! More on that in a moment. 

Before the concert, we went through the Ark. It is an amazing place. It is always refreshing to see something dedicated to the Bible. They don't shy away from the gospel message of Christ! It is always a busy place. 

The whole place is beautiful. We did not take time to enjoy the outside parts. It was extremely hot!

We did snap some pictures outside. 

After we explored for a couple of hours, we went back to the Answers Center for the concert. While waiting for the doors to open to the auditorium, we got food from the cafe in the lobby. I must say the chicken salad croissant was yummy! I highly recommend the chocolate caramel cheesecake cup! 

Soon it was time to find our seats. We were seated around 3:20.

We had time to catch up with our friend, Kelsey. It was so good to see Kelsey and Samuel! She used to be a nanny for Sonya Isaacs.

We had a little pre-concert. The trio Testimony sang 2 songs. They did very good. 

Rick Francis of Singing News Magazine was representing the magazine. 

Ray Flynn of Abraham Productions. They promote of the gospel message in word and song. 

We extremely enjoyed True Song the resident group at the Ark Encounter! They got the main event kicked off at 4:00. 

HighRoad was also singing. That was a special treat. They are very talented! I have listened to their music for several years, but never seen them live. 

They also have a message each evening. Friday’s sermon was from Pastor Tyler Gauldin. 

Over 1,600 people were saved during the 40 days this year. 32 people said they were saved Friday!

Then it was time for the best part of the night, the Isaacs! Wow oh wow from the start of “Get On Board” to the ending of “It Is Well With My Soul”, and all the points in between, I was smiling. 

Their talent and ability to play and sing flawlessly is amazing! It never gets old! I am always glad to experience The Isaacs live! I did not want it to end. 

It was great to see Faith! I am glad we got to visit for a minute. 

Of course, I got to see Ben! That makes any day better!

We had a fantastic day. I am so glad we got to see Aunt Lily, Ben, Sonya, Becky, Levi and Greg Ritchie. We love you all! I will savor awesome moments from this day for a long time. Hopefully we will cross paths again before to long!

That wraps up this visit to The Ark Enconter in Williamstown, Kentucky. Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow. 

Odie

Flashback Friday The Ark Encounter

 Hey Friends,

Mom and I are headed to the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky. The Annual 4o Days of Christian Music Festival is in its final days for the year. 

We are going today to hear The Isaacs. I am anticipating a great day of fun, family and top-notch music and singing!

I have been remembering our first adventure at the Ark Encounter. It happened in July of 2022. It was absolutely a day full of memories.

I will never forget that day! It was an adventure, but we had the best family day. Dad documented it for our YouTube Channel. 

The video can be found below. I hope you enjoy this Flashback Friday moment.

See you tomorrow!

Odie

Word For Weary 5/15/26

 Hey Friends,

Just a quick check in. We have had a busy day. The funerals continue. Our friends joke that we have been on our funeral tour. 

This one was close to home. We said see you later to a dear Aunt today. We will miss our Aunt Faye. We grieve for the family left here. They lost their Mom, Grandmother, Sister and Aunt. We love this precious lady that we called, Aunt Faye!

Here is a scripture that brought comfort to my heart today. 

Odie

There Was Jesus Lyrics

Hey Friends, 

Thanks for visiting! We have just two more songs in this song lyrics series. It has taken me a few weeks to cover all ten songs. 

Today we are visiting track number 9. The last two songs might be the best two songs on the whole album. 

There was Jesus is a special song to us. It is a song that we have loved for a while. The words have taken on a whole new meaning to us since Dad's passing. 

No matter what situation in life we are experiencing. Jesus is always right there! Oh, what a comfort to cling to!

Ben Isaacs made this project possible. He encouraged us to keep singing and recording. He offered his production expertise and amazing equipment to us. 

He also provided amazing background vocals on 9 of the songs. We cannot adequately thank him for giving of his time and talent. We are honored that he loves us and believes in us!

On There Was Jesus, Ben made it incredible!  This song is all my Mom and a choir of Ben! We both love the way this song turned out. I tease Mom all the time. Her favorite song on the album... is the one that I do not sing on. 🤣

Below are this song's lyrics. You can find our new album, The Next Step, by Kelly Jo and Odie today. It is available for download on all streaming platforms. You can contact us to order physical copies of the project. We have CDs and USB drives available for a donation to Boggs Family Ministries.

There was Jesus

JONATHAN SMITH / CASEY BEATHARD / ZACHARY WILLIAMS
\ANTHEM OF HOPE EMI/BE ESSENTIAL SONGS EMI/ WISTERIA DRIVE EMI/CASHAGAMBLE JET MUSIC EMI

Verse 1

Every time I try to 

Make it on my own

Every time I try to stand

I start to fall

And all those lonely roads 

That I have travelled on

There was Jesus

Verse 2

When the life I built 

Came crashing to the ground 

When the friends I had 

Were nowhere to be found

I couldn't see it then

But I can see it now

There was Jesus there was Jesus 

Chorus 

In the waiting in the searching 

In the healing and the hurting

Like a blessing buried 

In my broken pieces

Every minute every moment

Where I've been 

And where I'm going

Even when I didn't know 

Or couldn't see it

There was Jesus

Verse 3

For this man who needs 

Amazing kind of grace

For forgiveness at a price 

I couldn't pay 

I'm not perfect 

So I thank God every day

There was Jesus there was Jesus 

Chorus 

In the waiting in the searching 

In the healing and the hurting

Like a blessing buried 

In my broken pieces

Every minute, every moment

Where I've been 

And where I'm going

Even when I didn't know 

Or couldn't see it

There was Jesus

Bridge

In the mountains in the Valleys 

(there was Jesus)

In the shadows of the alleys 

(there was Jesus)

In the fire, in the flood

(there was Jesus)

Always is and always was

No, I never walk alone 

Chorus

In the waiting in the searching 

In the healing and the hurting

Like a blessing buried 

In my broken pieces

Every minute every moment

Where I've been 

And where I'm going

Even when I didn't know 

Or couldn't see it

There was Jesus

There was Jesus

Mighty Big God Lyrics

 Hey Friends,

We have reached track 4 on our new project. The song is Mighty Big God. It was written by Jimmy Yeary and Sonya Isaacs Yeary, but recorded by Karen Peck and New River. 

This song has been a regular in our song lineup for many years. We have sung this song in services from coast to coast. It is a great faith-building song. 

Our dear friends Bro. Bruce and Sis. Priscilla Mayhan has reminded us a lot that God is still big, even in our uncertainty about life. They have encouraged us to keep singing this song. So when we were compiling songs for The Next Step, we knew this would be included. 

Below are the lyrics to the song. I hope and pray this message continues to encourage many people to believe God is big. I know He can do anything!

Mighty Big God

MIGHTY BIG GOD WRITERS: JIMMY YEARY AND SONYA ISAACS NASHVISTAVILLE SONGS BMI/SONYA ISAACS MUSIC BMI/EMI BLACK WOOD MUSIC INC BMI/SONY/ATV

TREE PUBLISHING BMI/BEATTYVILLE MUSIC BMI

Verse 1

He brought down a giant

With a boy, a stone and a sling

He swallowed up an army

When He parted the Red Sea

He shut the lion's mouth

When they threw Daniel in the den

He hasn't changed

He's still the same

Today as He was then

Chorus 

Cause He's a big God

There's never been nothing 

That He can't do

He’s a big God

And He knows just what 

You’re going through

No matter how big the 

Hopeless helpless 

Problem is you've got

Don't worry He's a mighty big God

Verse 2

You might be facin'

Some steep mountain 

You can't climb

You might be drowning

In a sea of tears you've cried

You may be praying

For a miracle right now

Well, go ahead and claim it

He's already worked it out

Chorus 

Cause He's a big God

There's never been nothing 

That He can't do

He’s a big God

And He knows just what 

You’re going through

No matter how big the 

Hopeless helpless 

Problem is you've got

Don't worry He's a mighty big God

Tag

Don't worry He's a mighty big God

Don't worry He's a mighty big God

The Next Step is our latest music project. It is available for download on all streaming platforms. You can contact us to order CDs or USB drives. Click HERE to view the official album artwork.

I Choose To Believe Lyrics

Hey Friends,

Thanks for visiting today. We are looking at song number three on our Next Step Project. 

I Choose To Believe was first recorded by Phillips Craig and Dean. We sang it back then. Then it got filed away. 

Last year while we were looking for songs. I went to a P,C and D concert. When I got home, we were discussing their songs. Mom said what was that song we sang? We looked it up. Soon it was added to our project song list. 

I love the message in this song. We have lived this message in the past, amd continue to do so today! 

"Even when my world is shaken

Even when my heart is breaking

And even when it seems 

He's taken so long 

I choose to believe

And never give up hope

God is good

And He’s in control

I'll keep the faith

Trust in His way

Even when His face is hard to see

I choose to believe"

 

I hope this song encourages many to make the choice to believe. Even when life is hopeless we can and should believe in God. Below are the full lyrics. 

 I Choose To Believe

WRITERS: TONY WOOD / DON POYTHRESS / DAN DEAN

DUDEDABLE MUSIC/EIGHT OAKS MUSIC/ INTEGRITY WORSHIP MUSIC/SONY
ATV CROSS KEYS PUBLISHING/ ASCAP

Verse 1

It didn't take long 

For my whole world to change

One phone call 

Now life will never be the same

It's like I'm watching 

My whole world go dark

Nothing makes much sense

But still with all my heart

Chorus 

I choose to believe

And never give up hope

God is good

He's in control

I'll keep the faith

Trust in His way

Even when His face is hard to see

I choose to believe

Verse 2

It's easy to believe 

When everything goes our way

But we are all gonna go threw fire 

That test our faith

Life hurts so much

 We can barely breathe

We're begging to know why

But it's such a mystery

Chorus 

I choose to believe

And never give up hope

God is good

He's in control

I'll keep the faith

Trust in His way

Even when His face is hard to see

I choose to believe

Bridge

Even when my world is shaken

Even when my heart is breaking

And even when it seems 

He's taken so long

Chorus 

I choose to believe

And never give up hope

God is good

And He’s in control

I'll keep the faith

Trust in His way

Even when His face is hard to see

I choose to believe

Tag Chorus 

Oh God is good

He’s in control 

I’ll keep the faith 

Trust in His way

Even when His face is hard to see

I choose to believe

The Next Step is our latest music project. It is available for download on all streaming platforms. You can contact us to order CDs or USB drives. Click HERE to view the official album artwork.