Words of Encouragement - Archived message

Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. Proverbs 12:1-2



The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. Proverbs 12:5-6

The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. Proverbs 12:13-14


The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. Proverbs 12:19-22


This entire chapter 12 of Proverbs is comparing two types of people. The first is a righteous man (or woman). Let's list the characteristics of the righteous person.


1. Loves instruction - Means that not only will you take instruction but you have a great desire to have instruction, even if it hurts to take it. Because you know that the reward for taking instruction is knowledge from God about godly things.


2. Right thinking - Means that you are conforming your thoughts to be godly. What would God have you to do in any given situation? Because the reward for right thinking, is godly living or holy living.

3. Speak words of deliverance - Means that the word from your mouth are to encourage, to correct when correction is needed, to speak truth at all times. Because as you do this, you will help those that need deliverance from sin or what keeps them down. And your reward is that you bring about the work of God in your life.


4. Delivered from trouble - This means that as you follow God, He will deliver you from the snares and traps that the enemy tries to set for you. And your reward is being in the safety of God.


5. Your words of truth shall last - When you speak the truth of God, it will not go to nothing. For God's truth is eternal. Your reward is that you can be established in God's word.


6. No evil shall happen to the Just - God will reward you with His peace and His joy, to those that follow Him. The just are a delight (pleasure) to the Lord. He is the protector of those that obey Him. Your reward is you can be secure in God's power and in His will.


Now the other person listed in this chapter is the wicked man. Let's see what happens to him.


1.Wicked are comdemned - When a person refuses to except God's instruction, he is refusing to follow after the things of God and his lot for this action is condemation. That also means even as you walk this life, your action will not be blessed by God. So you are condemned here in this earth, as well as condemned eternally.


2. You are deceitful - If your thoughts and actions are pure and truthful, you are being deceitful. You are planning ways to trick or misprepresent something. Scripture says that you are lying in wait to take blood. Well even if you are not killing in the flesh, you can be killing the spirit, or killing the name. This will bring to you, God's disapproval. For He knows what you are doing and He knows the heart of man.


3. You are caught in your lies - Scripture tells us that those that deceive or lie, will be caught in their own lies. Yes a person may go a long time and not be known, but God knows from the very moment that the thought is formed in your mind. You will receive for this action, God's judgement. For God is all knowing and all seeing. He knows all that we think or do. And God's truth will shine light on the lies of the lips.


4. You will be filled with mischief - As I read this scripture it struck me two ways. First the wicked will have in their hearts mischief (conduct that annoys or vexes, trouble, damage, harm). They will do things that destroy, bring about trouble, annoy people, or as the older generation said, vex people. Damage relationships and harm people. So the scripture says they are filled. The other thought that crossed my mind is that just as the righteous is filled with peace and joy because of obeying, then the wicked is filled with trouble in their own lives, they are damaging themselves and their relationships with others, the are doing harm to themselves spiritually and vexing their own spirit. So the resolute of this behavior is no peace or joy in their lives. They are filled with worry, and trouble.



So what is this scripture telling us. That their is no behavior that goes unnoticed by God. He rewards those that are faithful to Him, and he punishes those that disobey Him. He gives us warning and if we make the decision not to follow, then we choose what we will receive, punishment or promises.


So today, let's check ourselves and make sure we are on the right side of this Proverb so that we can receive God's promises and not God's punishments.


Prayer: Lord help us to live righteous, holy lives. Help us to live in a way that is pleasing to you and in doing so, we become avenues for others to see your work in his people and in the world. Help us to flee from any unrighteousness that would cause us harm and harm to our witness. This is our prayer, Amen.

The Week in Review

Psalm 133 - a Psalm of Harmony

Notes from the Show Yourself Friendly Retreat - February 21, 2009 (Part 2)

Harmony – agreement in feeling or opinion, accord.

This harmony means we are united. We are united in our purpose, which ultimately is pleasing to God. He calls us to love him, first and then to love one another. We are also in agreement with the plan of God. We want to walk together in brotherly love and share in the mission of Christ together. We have the same feelings one for the other. That feeling is love. Which in this context is more than feeling but a choice we make to love.

We are on one accord in our purpose. This means we seek what is best for the other’s welfare; we promote one another, and we delight in each other’s accomplishments. That means I don’t get jealous because you achieve success or something good in your life. In fact I learn to rejoice with you when you rejoice and I feel your sorrows when you are sorrowful. However, there are things that stand in our way of living out this mandate to be harmonious in our lives one toward the other.

What are some things that destroy harmony?

Quarrelling (Proverbs 17:13-15; Proverbs 17:18-20; Proverbs 13:9-11; Proverbs 25:17-19; Proverbs 19:13; Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 21:9, 19; Proverbs 22:10; Proverbs 25:24; Proverbs 26:17; Proverbs 26:20-21; Isaiah 58:4; Isaiah 45:9; 1 Cor 3:3; 2 Tim 2:23-24; Titus 3:9, James 4:1-2)


If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house. Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the LORD detests them both. – Proverbs 17:13-15


You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? – 1 Corinthians 3:3

Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife… Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife. Proverbs 21:9, 19


Devouring one another (demolish, destroy, consuming each other with our negative emotions) – Exodus 15:9; Psalm 83:4; Proverb 11:9; Proverbs 11:11; Galatians 5:14-16

The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. – Galatians 5:14-16

With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape – Proverbs 11:9

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. -Proverbs 11:11


Lying about each other (false witness) – psalm 5:6, psalm 10:7; psalm 62:3-4; psalm 119:69; proverbs 6:8-9; proverbs 19:9; Deuteronomy 19:17-19, Proverbs 14:5-6


A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. – Proverbs 14:5-6


How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down—this leaning wall, this tottering fence? They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. – Psalm 62:3-4

Let me give you a footnote here. We often want to defend ourselves against the lies told against us and it is hard not to try and stop the rumors. Yet, we must take comfort in these next scriptures about what God will do to the liars in your life.

the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you. – Deuteronomy 19:17-19


You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors. – Psalm 5:6

Envy – (resentment, jealousy, spite, desired what he had) proverbs 14:30, Mark 7:21-23, Mark 15:10; Galatians 5:21, 26; Philippians 1:14-16; Titus 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:3-5; James 3:14-16; 1 Peter 2:1-3


knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. – Mark 15:10 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God… Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. – Galatians 5:21, 26

Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy (greed/jealousy/spite/resentment) and rivalry (competition), but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. – Philippians 1:14-16

-------FINAL POINT--------


We’ve looked at the negative influences that keep us from being in unity with one another. Let me ask you a few question before we move on.


===Do you have control of the person that sits next to you in church?


===Do you have control of your husband?


===Do you have control of your kids, friends, co-workers?


===Do you have control of yourself?


The point to these questions is, you and I do not have control over what anyone else will do. We really don’t even have control over ourselves without the help of the Holy Spirit helping us to do what is right. The point? At some pivot moment we have to acknowledge these negative behaviors from others but we cannot allow them to keep us from doing what is right.


Come back next week for the next installment

The Week in Review

S A L A V A T I O N

                                                                                                                                S Is for the sin that you are washed clean of

A Is for the almighty, who forgave you from above

L Is for the love he showers on you

V Is for the victory given so true

A Is for always the Lord stands strong

T Is for how he turned your pain into a song

I Is for the innerman he has blessed

O Is for on his strength I can rest

N Is for the new creature, doing God’s best


Written by Min. Jewel D. Williams

Words of Encouragement

Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; - Psalm 98:1-4

As I read this scripture I began to think of how the writer expresses his love for God.  The writer first tells us to sing a new song unto the Lord. What should be in this song? And why should we sing it?

It should express our gratitude for the great things God has done in our lives. One of those wonderful things that God has done is given us the gift of salvation. God did not stop there.  He offers salvation and then he makes it known to the world.

This song expresses how God remembered his promises to the people of God (Israel).  It was through this promise that God used the one nation to bless the many. It was through the people of Israel that he sent out to be the light to the nations.

God has always been a sending God. He sent his one and only Son for the many to become his sons and daughters. This is what this song we sing should be about. That God has a plan for us to be in a right relationship with him. He sent Israel to show the world what it was like to be the people of God. He sent his Son to show us how to become the people of God.

Now he wants to send you and I into the world to be the light of one for the many that are still lost in darkness. He wants us to share the light of his Son in us and then he will draw them unto himself. When we are willing to be sent to tell the world of God's blessing we help others to be able to then sing this new song.  This song of salvation and this song of deliverance.

This week I challenge you, who will you be willing to show the light of Christ to?  He is God sending you to?  And when you go, go singing your own song of deliverance and salvation.

Prayer: Lord today we are thankful for your gift of salvation. We are thankful that you were always seeking us to be in a right relationship with you.  Help us to do things your way and when we do, we can be the light you want us to be to the darkened world.  Help me this week to share the good news to someone that is in need of you. This I pray, Amen.

The Week in Review

Psalm 133 - a Psalm of Harmony

Notes from the Show Yourself Friendly Retreat - February 21, 2009

Psalm 133 (New living translation)

(1) How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! (2) For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. (3) Harmony is as refreshing as the dew (4) from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. (5) And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.

To live in harmony means we are one in purpose, feeling and action. We have chosen to love in spite of what the situations, circumstances or surroundings look like. We have decided to follow the example of the triune God on what it looks like to be in harmony.

The Triune God shows us that we must be:
One in purpose
Uniquely different, but uniquely blended
One is not greater than the other
They all work for the fulfillment of the other



Jesus said when you see me, you have seen my Father. So when you see me, you should also see the Father in me. I cannot be in harmony with you, without first being in harmony with God. This scripture says it is wonderful and pleasant to live together in harmony this is so because this is what pleases God. He mandates it so we have to learn to live it.


Scripture tells us harmony is like precious oil. The precious oil...

· Is Fragrant – you can smell the fragrance and it is pleasant. We should be a sweet smell first in the nostril of God but then our love for one another should be a sweet smell to others.

· Is Plentiful –it was so much oil it ran down Aaron’s head. Our love should be like pouring sweet oil over someone so they are completely covered in our love not our bitterness and backbiting.


· Is Consecrated / Holy - The priest had to be set aside first with the anointing of oil. We cannot be set aside until God’s anointing is upon us and then we can go forth and live in harmony, which is to show forth the love of God to others.

· Is Costly – It was a great price to prepare the oil. Yet this was God’s requirement. It had to be done his way. It cost Christ a great price to present us with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Yet it is God’s requirement so we can be his vessels of honor to show his love to each other.

· Is Empowering - Aaron did not have the ability to stand before God before he was anointed with the oil and had followed God’s procedures. When we follow God’s way and allow his love to dwell within our hearts we are empowered to love, to forgive, to seek the best in others and live in harmony with one another. If we are not empower and cannot live with each other, do we need to check ourselves and see just where we stand before God.


Scripture tells us that living in harmony is like dew
…Harmony is as refreshing as the dew…

· Is Abundant – the dew falls in multiple droplets, so many we cannot count them. Therefore we are to seek to live with one another without number. We should not keep account of how often we have to forgive a brother or sister. We do it from the abundance of love within our heart.

· Is Refreshing – Like a cool mist that cools you on a summer day, we should be that refreshing element to those situations that would cause others to be “heated”. We don’t go into situations causing havoc instead we come in and bring the cooling effect so that we can live in harmony in the situations.

· Is Fruitful – The dew causes that which it falls on to grow. Our love should be that which allows others to grow. We become the water to the seeds in each other’s lives. Our gifts are not for ourselves but to help equip others for the work God has for them.


…as the dew from the Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion…

Dew of Hermon - a common hill – This is brotherly love in our civil, everyday lives. This is our relationship with friends, the gossiping co-workers, how we treat people we meet, and the nasty neighbors. If we are willing to show ourselves friendly in our common areas we become like dew that pours off the Mount Hermon (our common places) and it falls on the mountains of Zion. What does that mean?


Mountains of Zion represent A holy hill – In scripture we see often how the writers say this is the place where God dwells. So this means when we show ourselves friendly first in our common areas that dew that was poured out there can contribute greatly to the fruitfulness of sacred relationships. We are called to show ourselves friendly so that we can be like dew upon the unsaved, that they may shift to being our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to love both those in our churches but also those that are not part of the family. God requires this because then we become what he wants us to be, reconciling others to him. It is important to understand that both Hermon and Zion will wither without dew. If we do not live in harmony both the relationship in our common places and our sacred places will die, they need watering.


Finally, Living in harmony brings blessings.

…And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting…

If we want to receive blessings from God we have to be willing to do things his way. His mandate is for you and I to live in harmony. First with him and then with each other. Let us say together, How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

The Week in Review

Where He Goes I’ll Follow

I said to the Lord “This road I do not know
Where does it lead, where will it go?”
Can its destiny to me you please show.


And in his voice of wisdom he spoke,
“Do not fear,
be ye of good cheer.

I will never leave you alone.
The way to you will be shown.”


I asked him then,
“The way I am to go, you will tell me when?”


This is frightening, I must admit.
“Answer please my King”, my prayer I submit.


And answer he did.
He said, “Do not fear,
be ye of good cheer.

I am the way, the truth and the light.
I will show you what is right.


I will light your path. Now look down my child”
I looked down,
A set of footprints were before me on the ground

This way I had not walked before,
From the Savior an answer I employed,


“Whose footprints are these?”
This promise he gave to me
“Those are my footprints you see


Place one foot into mine
And you’ll be in line
to follow me.


Do not venture to the left or the right,
Walk with me in your sight.”

So go, for I am sending you.
You have my power to see you through.



You have my strength and you I will protect.
My will never neglect.


I am sending you, be of good cheer
Your way I will make clear


As I placed my first foot into his print
he said,
“Remember my child, you I will not leave
so to me you must cleave.


So Go!
For you are not alone.”



Written by Jewel D. Williams
In dedication to Rev. Al and Rev. Arnetta Ivy

Words of Encouragement

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" - Psalm 42:1-3

There is a song, actually two songs on a CD named "Thrown Room" by CeCe Winan that I truly love. The first song is Thirst for you and the second one, Come fill this thirst.  As I listen to these two songs I am reminded of my inability to make it without God.

I am reminded that I am like a deer that seeks for the water to cool the dryness of his thirst. We as humans have this terrible tendency to try to make it on our own.  Oh we don't think we are doing that until we find ourselves parched and unable to go own.  We often find ourselves hitting a brick wall and wondering why we can't go any futher.  We find ourselves in a dry land.

How do we get out of this dry desert we find ourselves in?  It is only when we recognize that our thirst cannot be met in ourselves.  I cannot figure it out or work it out. I have to simply come to the source of the water.  The deer was drawn to the edge of the water.  He begins to sniff the air.  He is seeking to use his senses to direct him to the water. In his thirst, he pants to conserve his energy and knows this is the only way that he will be able to keep pushing until he can get to the waters edge to cool his thirst, to fill his need for the drink of the refreshing water.

We must be like this deer. We must pant and use all our energy to sense with our spirits the place where we can go to meet God.  The psalmist ask, where can we go to meet you?  Where are you?

The beautiful thing is this, we need to only stop, stand still and call out and God will see about us.  He will come and fill our hearts that are dry from the heat of this life.  He will fill our lives and make our lives complete.  He comes to bring us real life, not a substitute but the real thing.  We must be like the deer panting for nothing other than Jesus.  We are waiting on you Lord to come fill our hearts.  You are the only one that can fill it.  That's the line from CeCe's song.

She says, "Lord I am ready."  Are you ready?  Are you ready to let go of it all?  Are you ready to let go of the trying and continually missing the mark?  Are you ready to have the hunger, the dryness, the need filled in your heart?  Nothing will ever do that but God. 

My heart breaks often as I see God's people fill their lives with "stuff" to try and fill their lives with something that will sooth their brokenness.  I know, I was one of those people.  But one day God showed me that nothing but him would ever bring me wholeness and joy.  I wouldn't find true joy in anything other than him.  Did you know we can't find it in relationships (even our marriages), in our careers, our churches or ourselves.  Those things often have a way of letting us down.

Jesus, however never lets you down and he is able to keep you in a place of peace and joy even when those other areas do.  This week I ask that you take the time to really ask God, are your seeking him as you should?  Ask God, have I become comfortable doing things myself and in doing so, I have placed myself away from your waters edge, away from the source that fills my thirst.

Let's pray: Lord this week I ask that whomever reads this will be touched by you.  Somebody this week will need to be reminded of who they can place their trust in.  Some one will need to be reminded that regardless of their situation and circumctances, you are the one that has come to release them from the prisons that would hold your people captive.  This week I pray a breakthrough in the life of your people.  May you touch the heart of someone that has come to the edge of giving up.  Draw them back to you.  Somebody that has had to face some things they don't think they can get over, draw them back to your waters edge.  This week God I ask you to fill the thirst of your people.  This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

"Be Filled"

The Week in Review

The Road Trip

Written by Jewel D. Williams

11/20/2005

I started on a trip today yet the end seemed so far away.

I wasn't sure what to pack or how long I was going to stay.

I wasn't sure what I would face as I traveled this road.

Would I have a smooth ride or would I carry a have load.

As I traveled on my way,

I met a man that day.

He asked me if he could travel by my side,

I thought to myself, why yes come along for the ride.

He then made a peculiar request of me.

He said, "Let me drive and you experience all the beauty you can see."

Out of the driver’s seat I came and with new purpose I quickly moved,

He took the wheel and gave me a look that said he approved.

On the road we went, this new friend and I.

And in my heart I felt like I had wings to fly.

It didn't matter any more what lay ahead.

My new friend would help me, he said.

So I put my complete trust in him today

And all my fears were put away.

I started on a road trip today.

The end didn't seem so far away,

Because on this trip I knew, I was going to stay.

Words of Encouragement

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. – James 1:2



Count it all joy. When do I count it joy? I was listening to a song by BeBe and CeCe Winans’ called, count it all joy and I began to think about this scripture. Sometimes when we are in some situations it is easy to count it all you, but what about those times when you cannot see anything joyful about it? What about those difficult times, those hard times, those times of lack and need? When do we count it joy?

James says, “Count it all”. So how do we do that? How can I be joyful in a time that has no joy? It first must start with where we are. Are we holding so tightly to things that if something comes along and bothers it we will be affected? Are the cares of this world so foremost that we have tied our emotional stability on them? Then first we have to let go of it ALL. We have to let things go and stop trying to fix them and give away our joy in the process.

Our true joy cannot come from what we have: relationships, money stability, health, etc. Our true joy must come from the pleasure we derive from having a relationship with God. It does not mean we do not find happiness in our marriages, families, etc., but it means they cannot be the total source of our joy.

In this life we must look at our circumstances and situations as opportunities for God to show himself even greater to us. I can count all that I go through joy even when I am feeling down because those circumstances and situations do not have the final say on where I will find my pleasure. I’ll look for that trace of sunlight (or better yet SON’S Light) so that I can see clearly.

My prayer for us today is this, Lord everything may not be ours to understand so help us let go and let you take care of us. Help us to rest in you so that we can allow you to use our situations and circumstances to grow us in the midst of what seems like it would hurt us or destroy us. You are not a “wound waster”. You take even our wounds and use them to make us better. Today we pledge to give you control. Do your perfect work so that we will be lacking in nothing. Help me today, COUNT IT ALL JOY!!! We can count it all joy because you promise never to leave us or forsake us, you are right there in the midst of my storms and no circumstances or situations can move me from your love.



When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; wherefore we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. – Psalm 126



Count it all joy. When you receive God’s forgiveness. The children of Israel through scripture have shown us what the patience and mercy of God really looks like. He forgives them and again they would turn to sin. In this scripture the psalmist talks about receiving the forgiveness of God.

When God releases them from the captivity caused by their sins the people have much to rejoice about. Where there was once no dream, now there is a dream to be had. When their mouths were once filled with weeping, now laughter and singing is found. Even the unsaved marveled at the good things that God did for his people. Those that were in tears receive joy for those tears. God has exchanged those seeds of bitterness for a crop of plenty. No more weeping but rejoicing.

There is something important to notice about this scripture and that is we don’t hear complaining about the punishment of the sin, but the rejoicing of forgiveness. It is important that we understand that we sometimes find ourselves in captivity or bondage because of our disobedience to God. When we do, we have to seek God’s mercy but we also have to understand we very well may have to go through the process of coming from that bondage. And when we come out of that thing, we should count it all joy because God in his mercy did not allow us to stay in the bondage but released us. We cannot be angry because our actions have causes us to be in difficult situations. I’ve heard people say when faced with financial difficulty, marital difficulty or issues with the law, “why has God allowed this to happen to me?” It is not always that God has allowed it, but that we refused to move in his direction and therefore we brought the bondage upon ourselves. Whatever the case, we should count it all joy because of the relationship we have with God. His love for us is so great that he willingly comes to get us and restore us, even if we got where we were out of our own disobedience.

I pray for us today that we rejoice in the grace extended to us. Let us be thankful for God’s forgiveness that he freely offers to us. Let us also rejoice in knowing that whatever situation we find ourselves in (our doing or not) God will not leave us there alone. He will take those tears and turn them into rejoicing. He will take the wounds and bind them up. Count it all joy; you have received the forgiveness of God.


And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Now the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. – Romans 14:10-13


Count it all joy. Gift of Salvation. Paul admonishes the Gentiles to rejoice in the great gift they have been given. Paul speaks the words that the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said there would be a root of Jesse that would rise and reign over the Gentiles. Jesse was king David’s father and this is the lineage of the savior. The savior came for the people of God, the Jews, but salvation was made available to everyone. Those that would accept Christ as savior would be grafted into the family of God to become the people of God.

Because of this opening up of salvation to all mankind, we can now have the joy that comes only from God. I like what the scripture says the “God of Hope”. The God of expectation, the God of trust, the God of looking forward are all titles that come from this understanding of the God of hope. We now have an expected end that we can joyfully look forward to. We can trust in God’s word and his promises because he is trustworthy. We can look forward to this new life he has given and what it entails. That which was behind, the sin and disobedience has been forgiven and now we can be filled with the joy and peace of the Lord.

Oh what a glorious future we have! We can continue to abound in hope, joy and peace through the working of the Holy Spirit within our lives. Today I pray for us to continue forward with the God that takes us forward. God does not take us backwards, so we should stop trying to go back into that which we have been delivered from. Stop trying to go back in to “Egypt” because the wilderness seems too hard and we have forgotten just how difficult our bondage was. Stop trying to turn back to what you had and like Lot’s wife turn into a pillar of salt. We surely can get “salty” when we think about what we have to let go of at times. So instead today Lord we ask you to help us look forward and count all things joy because we have been given a new chance, a new life and a new start.

Week in Review

Thankful

I thought, how can words of thanksgiving on him I bestow?
I thought about all the wonderful blessings I know.

I could show my thankfulness by listing all the good from my life
But even the unsaved can be thankful for times when there is lack of strife

As God’s child how am I different from the world in which I live?
How do I to the Mighty King, true thanksgiving give?

Then I dropped to my knees and to God I began to pray.
Thank you for my foot that won’t bear my weight when I wake to the new day.
Because it reminds me I can lean on you to carry me all the way.

I’m thankful for my times of lack and when I was unable to see its end,
Because you showed me you are faithful and on you I can depend.

I thank you for the child I loved within my heart but life I was never able to give,
I better understood how you willingly grieved your son’s life so I could live.

I’m thankful for broken promises, lost relationships and lost dreams,
You showed me that you would never leave me nor forsake me no matter how it seems.

I’m even thankful for the sickness, the pain and the aches,
You showed me you are my strength in those times when my spirit would break.

To be thankful for the good is quite easy you see,
I must be thankful for all things to become what God wants me to be.

Why am I thankful you might inquire?
To please him is my greatest desire.

Be thankful no matter what life situation you are in,
For with Jesus in all things and through all things you can win.

For both my good and my bad I can say thank you,
Simply because the love of God is so true.

Written By,

Jewel D. Williams

11/20/2005

Week in Review

Worship styles

Written April 11, 2006

How we worship within the local body has become a topic of heated discussions at times among believers. How should we worship? This is one of the questions on the minds of believers today. What is the correct way of worship?

When people think about worship, the thought is normally “what type of music” will we listen to? This is only one point in the worship service. Some people choose a place to worship based on similarities to themselves and what they are comfortable with. Therefore, some churches play music that they feel is suitable for their congregational makeup. It is not uncommon to find churches where rock music, gospel or contemporary music is selected as the worship music of choice. Are any of these choices wrong? The web site www.carm.org, posts an article titled The need for unity in the church states, “It is all right to have differences of opinion on the non-essential matters like worship styles…Whether you believe one or the other does not affect salvation. Yet far too many Christians use these non-essential differences as justification for division and sometimes even insight anger” (1).

On the website, www.reality.org, Julian Doorey the writer of the article titled, Christian Worship: Culturally relevant or Culturally Captive states, “Creating an intergenerational service is difficult. How do we provide church worship where everybody comes away feeling satisfied? Contemporary songs can leave the older people alienated, just as traditional songs can leave the teenagers and twenties totally bored. The worship leader has a tough job” (3). While several people suggest that the music needs to be changed to fit the times we live in, I do not completely agree with this.


While I understand that each generation has it’s own style of music, I do not believe the traditional hymns need to be put away because of it. As the body of Christ, we must teach the next generation the importance of the hymns of the faith. If you asked different people the reason why some of the hymns of the faith were written, you would have a difficult time getting an answer. Why would anyone hold something dear, that they do not understand? While I am not against using contemporary music or styles for the generation, I believe these time-honored songs should continue to be taught as well.

The differences in style are vast. Some churches sing congregational songs and some do not. Some churches have praise dancers or interpretive dance and others do not. On the website, www.AllAboutGOD.com it an article titled Christian Worship – Praise to God it states, “Christian worship begins with discovering and admitting what we have been worshipping in our lives. All us worship something, whether we know it or not. We may not physically bow down to it, or offer it songs of praise and adoration, but whatever we devote most of our time and attention to is often what we worship” (1). As believers, we need to understand why we go to worship. We come to worship God and his goodness. “Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, ‘Amen! Amen!’ Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground” (Nehemiah 8:6). The purpose of our worship is to praise God. It should not matter if it is done with piano, organ, drum or a bass guitar.

The site www.carm.org states, “The Christian church, as a whole, needs to repent. We need to look at ourselves. We need to look at our churches. We need to look at one another and decide that we will stand on the essential doctrines of the faith and that we will be united against the enemy. Those of us who are united by the blood of Christ are not enemies with one another whether we be Presbyterian or Baptist or Lutheran…Remember, it is the devil that wants us to fight each other so that he can be freed up to deceive the world. If we are fighting each other then we are falling prey to his tactics” (2).

Maybe my belief is to simple, yet I believe we spend too much time arguing about how we worship. On the web site, www.carm.org it states, “There is a time for division in the body of Christ. When an individual or a church group is denying clear scripture and remains unrepentant after being admonished, then it is time to break fellowship with that group” (1). Our differences in worship do not fall within these guidelines of separation. While I may not listen to rock music, I have no problem with worshiping with God’s people and watching them show their love for the Lord. In that arena, I would have no problem feeling the presence of God, regardless if the style is different that one I am accustomed to.


“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness” (Psalm 29:2). When this is our motivation for worship, it should not really matter if our worship style differs from time to time. Sometimes our music may be more pleasing to the younger generation and at others it will be more appealing to the seniors. Let us simply come together with the heart of worship unto the Lord. In conclusion I take this quote from the website www.carm.org, “We need to look at our hearts and our own minds and compare them to Jesus and the Scripture. Where ever the two are not an agreement, it is we who need to change. We need to pray that the Lord would provide opportunities to work with other Christians across denominational lines. We need to recognize that we have differences of opinions and worship styles and that is okay. But we need to lift each other up and be united in Christ” (3). This is true worship, where we are called to worship in spirit and in truth.

Work cited

AllAboutGOD.com: Christian Worship – Praise to God. 2006. 12 April 2006. http://www.AllAboutGOD.com/christian-worship.htm.

Carm.org: The need for unity in the church. 2003. 12 April 2006. http://www.carm.org/church/unity.htm.

Reality.org.nz: Christian Worship: Culturally Relevant or Culturally Captive? Julian Doorey. 2006. 12 April 2006. http://www.reality.org.nz/article.php?ID=208.

Thompson, Frank Charles, D.D., PH.D. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, 5th ed. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbridge Bible Co., Inc., 1988.