Someone You Should Know!

Some proud parents sitting and watching our children (that's me in the blue/green outfit).





This minister working with the children also signs during the recording. She has often offered her time to teach the children sign language during the VBS (Vacation Bible School) season.




These children were all prepared to do their part. These two that are leading this song are top students and are involved in many programs that they excel in.




We had many proud grandparents and great grandparents as well. This is my mother-in-law smiling at the children. There are some other proud grandparents seated next to her.

Come back for some more of the pictures from the Smart Museum taping.

Words of Encouragement

then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, - Proverbs 2:5-7

What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Wisdom. This Proverb is titled in one Bible reference as the moral benefits of wisdom. The writer starts with an encouragement for the reader to hear these words and to live by them. He tells the reader to turn his ear to wisdom (good judgment and insight) and apply his heart to understanding (thoughtfulness).

He tells the reader that it is wisdom that will hold them and keep them blameless before the Lord. He warns do not allow the wicked or those that turn from the truth to influence you to do what is wrong. He says it is wisdom that will keep the feet of the godly from turning after the things of the wicked. He even states in verse 16 that if your spouse moves away from the truth of God, do not follow them because the path they are on leads to death and destruction. The writer wants us to understand we are not to allowing anything to stand between godly wisdom and us.

The important question for us to ask is if wisdom is important for us to obtain, how do we get it? This is one of the provisions we are offered through the gift of Jesus. When Jesus went to the cross he opened to you and I a way to God. This gift of Jesus is salvation for all that will come. It is also for us to be able to obtain what we need from the Father to walk in this way. God provided the way and then the ability to stay in that way.

This is another reason why we do not have to be afraid of the challenges we face. We can find comfort in the Lord because we have access to godly wisdom. This Proverb warns the reader to seek wisdom in all things. We need wisdom in our choices, in how we handle our relationships, how we allow others to influence us and how we face test and trials. We need wisdom even to help us deal with the challenges of dealing with others. The enemy tricks us and uses us sometimes (if we are not careful) by how we respond to things. We think we may be doing what is right, and if we do not test our thoughts and actions against godly wisdom we will find ourselves having to apologize for our lack of wisdom.

I pray for us today and say as the writer of this Proverb, the Lord gives us wisdom and he will give us victory when we us that wisdom in all that we do. It is God’s wisdom that allows us to be able to walk blameless. It is our pursuit of godly wisdom that helps us to keep in line with what God wants us to do and it helps us to see the devil at a distance and uncover his tricks and traps he sets for us. Today, let us thank God for wisdom. Let us meditate on the wisdom of God so that we can be victorious.

Someone You Should Know!

The children are receiving their instruction for the recording.

I had the opportunity to ask Michelle some questions about her music and we will share them this month. Let's get started!

Jewel: Michelle, how did you come up with the different songs and what period of time did this happen?

Michelle: I came up with those songs in a 3-5 year period of time. Some stretched back from when I worked as a sixth grade teacher. "I'll Acknowledge You", was in 2002-03 school year. The others have been throughout the last few years. Many through a lot of tests and trials.

I remember writing "Singin' Praises to Your Name" based on Psalms 92 because at the time, someone or something was getting on my nerves. The Lord told me to start counting my blessings and quit complaing about the minor stuff...and then two months afterwards...he took my mom home to be with Him. That's when he told me to add 1 Thessalanians 5:18 "In everything give thanks"...no matter what happens there's always an element to thank God for even in the midst of the most treacherous of circumstances.

Minister Mario Jenkins leading "I'll Be Still".

The same is true for "I'll Be Still". I was wrestling with the future of my marriage, my son, finances--asking "shoud I do this or that" and the Lord was saying (in my own lingo--'chill & be still Michelle'--cux your little pint-sized peanut thoughts can't compare to my great mind).

"Celebrate" (which is also the video clip from 2/29, take a listen) was from when I was hired for a job at a college where God graced His unmerited favor in my life. Again, I was jut thinking of all His benefits and reflecting on His faithfulness...I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

Jewel: As you listen to the words of her songs you hear the Word of God brought to life through the music and it does something to encourage you when you facing your situations. Michelle uses the words of scripture in her songs in a fresh way. She allowed many of the youth to sing either solo's or to be a part of the song. This was also something great for them as well.

Michelle is a generous writer. Even though these are her songs, she is open to God to allow others to add to the creation . On the song, "I'll Be Still" the lead singer, Mario Jenkins also played a part by adding an additional line in the song. This song has become one of my favorites. We all can understand what Michelle mentioned about us wondering what to do in the midst of our own sitations. We need a reminder to "chill and be still" because God's ways are far above our understanding.

We will continue this interview with Michelle, so come back and read what else she as to say about her music.

Words of Encouragement

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. – John 14:26-28

What Jesus’ Gift Brings. Peace. Jesus in this 14th chapter of John is preparing his disciples for what is about to happen. He tells them he is going away and what he does it lets them know he is not leaving them alone and unprepared for their life ahead. Jesus comforts his disciples with the knowledge that they will see him again if they follow his ways.

He also comforts them by telling them the way to get to the blessings of eternal life with God and that is through Jesus. He lets his disciples know they can get to the Father through him because he is the way that God has prepared for all men to come to the Father.

Then Jesus promises them with the comforter. He tells them that even though he must go back to the Father, he is not leaving them alone. The difference is the world cannot see him or know him because they will not accept him to live in them. The comforter will only be shown to those that seek the Father through the Son. There was one that asked, why would you show us but not the world?

Jesus answers and says anyone that loves him will obey his teaching and the Father will come and make his home with them. But those that do not obey his teaching cannot see the Father. So after Jesus has comforted his disciples with what is to come, he again reminds them of what he is going to do.

These verses tell them that Jesus is sending the comforter so that they will have what they need. He will teach them all things, he will remind them of all that they have been taught and he will guide them. This promise then is topped off with the promise of godly peace. Jesus promises them peace not as the world gives but a peace that can only come from God. Jesus shows them in these verses how peace will be enacted through the Holy Spirit (comforter). Because the Holy Spirit will guide you, teach you and remind you of what you have been taught, it takes the worry from you on what to do and how to do it. You and I don’t have to worry about having ALL the answers for the “test”. Have you ever prepared for a test and you crammed trying to keep everything inside, but sometimes it just didn’t work out. Well we can go into our “test” without the stress of thinking we need to have all the answers remembered, because this test is different. The Holy Spirit’s job is to come alongside of us in the midst of our test and to bring back that which we know and then to teach us that which we do know. He is the one we go to for the answers. He has the correct answer key to every test; we just need to trust him.

This is why we can have peace and not be afraid in our life’s journey. I pray that we take the time today to thank God for his gift of peace. Let us thank him for the opportunity offered to us through the cross of peace. We can be still when the world around us is in unrest. We can find tranquility and calm when the pressure on our emotions would want to make us feel like a ship beaten by the heavy waves of the ocean. We can find that secret place, that sheltered place that only comes from our trust in God’s Spirit. He leaves us peace, peace that the world cannot give. The world cannot give this peace because the world does not know the Father and they have no part with him. Jesus gives us the peace through his gift of the cross. His gift to know the Father is given when we allow ourselves to know him.

Someone You Should Know!

This was at the Smart Museum's taping of the CD. Take a listen!

Someone You Should Know!

This is Michelle with her son.

I believe this is someone you should know. Michelle had a vision to produce a CD. She has been writing music for many years (even though she doesn't look old enough to have been doing so). One would think with the many things that happened along her journey to making this come true, she would have stopped. In fact it was just the opposite.

This is my daughter singing lead (the other two in the picture are mine also.)

With the loss of both her parents, she still went forth with her project to produce the CD. The Warriorz of Praise CD was produced in 2007. It involved many children that were willing to come and sing and participate in the project. The turn out was wonderful. We will talk to Michelle in March to find out how the process went for her in this venture and what is ahead for her. If you are interested in purchasing one of the CD's to help support the Wazelle-Priscilla Murff Foundation, please send me your information and we can forward it to Michelle.

Short Video of my middle girl and the song she co-lead, Fruits of the Spirit.

Words of Encouragement

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me. – Psalm 56:3-5

Can God be Trusted? Trust replaces fear. This psalm of David is written regarding the time when the Philistines had seized him in Gath. You can image the fear one would face when being pursued by those that want to destroy you and keep you from reaching what your purpose is? David, however, says when he is afraid he will trust in God.

There are two important things we need to see here. The first thing is we must be real about what it is we are feeling. I have noticed this trend that states Christians should be these really strong people that have no problems (or look like it) and are always “right on”. However, I don’t see it as such. We are not to wallow in our emotions but if you have ever had to deal with an emotional matter you will understand it takes time to gain control of that thing. We are instructed to take captive our emotions and thoughts but it does not say we never have any. So David is acknowledging first his humanness. He states when I am afraid…what he does next is determine what he will do with that fear.

We also have the opposite side of what I mentioned about Christians, and that is the belief that because you are feeling hurt, or mistreated you have a right to allow your emotions to run rampant and others should simply understand. This is not an option either. When one has been hurt or mistreated those emotions are real and must be dealt with. No one is asking that they be ignored. However, we still must take control of those emotions otherwise they begin to exalt themselves above God. So David makes the decision to turn his fear over to God. He does this when he decides to trust him. He simply states it, I’m afraid, I’ll trust. As he goes further he also begins to think about what that trust entails. If I trust in God, what can man do to we anyway? Or stated differently, what can man do to me that God doesn’t allow or that God doesn’t have enough strength to overcome? He says there are those that are always plotting against him and twisting his words and we can amen that from some of our own experiences.

Yet, we must do as David did and make the decision to trust God instead of completely focusing on our problems. This becomes a faith issue. To trust in God requires us to make a decision to believe what he says is true. It is more important than simply acknowledging that God exist (he already knows that), it is what makes the relationship between man and God. We can trust him for more than where he has taken us, but also for where he is leading us.

Today I pray for us as we step forward in what God has for us. I add (and hope he doesn’t mind) a special praise of rejoicing for one of our brothers, Rev. Kevin Earley, as he has just become Dr. Kevin Earley (he just finished his Doctoral Degree at Anderson University, I believe, sorry if I’ve got it wrong). This just shows us what trust can accomplish. So when we go to worship this Sunday, let us go rejoicing and knowing that God has a path and a purpose for each of us and we can do as David (Kevin) did and determine to trust him, even when fears try to come and stop us.