Words of Encouragement

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." - Jeremiah 1:4-10

The Message. The Prophet Jeremiah – God Calls. This is the calling of the prophet Jeremiah. The Lord is speaking to Jeremiah and reassuring him that he was formed in his mother’s womb with a purpose. That purpose was for him to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah’s response isn’t much different that others (such as Moses) when called for such an awesome task.

His response is, But God I cannot speak I am only a child. Maybe our response isn’t the same as Jeremiah, but we can relate. Maybe your response to God when he spoke his purpose to you was, I can’t do that, or will people listen to me, or even I don’t know enough, I’m not good enough. Whatever the excuse is, God’s answer to us is the same as it was to Jeremiah.

God told Jeremiah, do not say you are a child, but you must go and speak everything I command you to say. Do not be afraid to speak the words I give you for I will rescue you. In other words, I will be with you as you speak the words I give you to speak.

Then God reached out and touched Jeremiah’s lips and said, I now put my words into your mouth, so go forth and do as I have commanded. God’s word comes through us to uproot and tear down those attitudes, behaviors and beliefs that would set themselves up above God. God’s word also comes to build up and to plant, to build up his people for the fight ahead and to plant the good seed that will take root and bring forth fruit.

Today, God is calling. He is calling for his people to step forth and walk in the truth as he sets forth. He is calling his people to pick up their armor and begin to run this race, his way. I pray for us today that we allow the truth of God’s word to set us free from the sins that so easily besets. God has a message for us, are we listening?

Words of Encouragement

We look to the hills, from which cometh our help.

We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. – Psalm 20:5-7

You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! – Psalm 68:35

He is Risen, What Next? We receive power. One of the most difficult things in our lives is facing those things that disappoint us, hurt us or devastate us. Some how we want those things to simply disappear, but no amount of wishing will make life’s situations go away. Some may even believe that when you become a Christian you are exempt from the tragedies, disappointments and upsets in life. The truth is Christians are not exempt from life’s situations, but are equipped for them.

God will grant to us our requests or prayers for his power to help us through our situations. Sometimes we may pray for him to remove them, but he sometimes says no I will not remove them, but I will strengthen you to go through so that I can make you better in the process. We do not always understand the reason, but we must simply acknowledge that God’s ways are above us and his understanding is higher than ours.

We do not have to feel defeated because of our situations because we are not in them alone. God is there in the midst of the situation with you. The scripture says that God will save his anointed. We do not have to trust in chariots or in other words, physical power and might, but in the power that comes only from God.

God promises that he will give his people the power and strength they need. Today my heart is heavy for those that are being defeated by the tricks of the enemy. Satan wants someone to think, they don’t have enough inside to be able to stand. He wants you to think that what you are facing will last forever. I come to tell you this season you are in won’t last forever. God will keep you in the protection of his mighty hand. He will not allow you to bear more than you are capable. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When you feel weak or unable to hang on, trust in God’s strength.

I pray for us right now, may the spirit of the liar be revealed for what he is, a liar. Lord do not allow your people to be tricked into giving up their victory. You already gave us the victory the day Christ died on the cross. Help us to see the truth. Give us spiritual eyes to see clearly. Satan does not care what lie we believe, as long as it is not the truth. Today, I speak

life back into the heart of your people that are feeling burden by their trials. You Lord will not leave us or forsake us. You are truthful and you would never lie to us. So you tell us we can trust you, so help us to trust you completely, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart. Help us to know with clarity that you have the final say in every situation, and we can trust you to do what is best. Help us now to receive the strength back into our very bones. Help us to receive your power. We need your power to stand, to stay the course and to walk in the victory you have just for us in our situations and circumstances. This is my humble prayer for your hurting people, Amen.

Someone You Should Know!

Michelle with her sisters and brother (now deceased) at the recording.


Jewel - How does your music inspire you?


Michelle - Well, I don't know if my music inspires me so much, but I'll say God definitely inspires me. He'll take an everyday situation and all of a sudden in the quiet, in the stillness of a moment...literally--He will place words and a tune in my heart and mind and it just will keep on coming and flowing. That's what happened when I found my brother dead in my deceased parents living room. After reflecting...it felt so empty, cold, lonely, hopeless...but God--placed His presence and love in the midst of the void and He kept on pouring the words in me. The same happened during on of the last times I saw my dad alive in the hospital...in the hospital bed...where he deteriorated to a sub-vegetated state...God right there flooded my soul with John 14:27 or 26, "Peace I leave with you...not as the world--giveth--give I unto you..."


He gave the melody along with the words instantaneously and I had to literally run out of the E.R. and ask the guard for the location of the hospital's chapel and I found it and hopped on the organ minutes after...so I wouldn't lose the revelation. God gave me the entire song in a matter of 5 minutes...I know it sounds weird, yet it was as if He was giving my dad a last song--to play--before He took him on to glory! Praise God! So I will say the inspiration is from God-Himself and the awesome opportunity He gives me to express His glory in a very tangible manner.


I thank Michelle for taking the time to answer my questions. Her answer were insightful. I don't think it's strange how God inspired her to write her music. I was rejoicing because that is how he does me with my writing. He will take the every day things and show me something. I have to sit down and write it as soon as he gives it to me, not because I'll lose it, but because it will continue to play in my thoughts until I put it on paper. I've sat down and written entire plays in one sitting, because I could not stop the flow of the words. I often tell people, I am just the typist. So again, thank you Michelle. Her current project as she mentioned is to do a musical. We will keep you abreast of the developments of that.

Words of Encouragement

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, - Romans 8:1-3

The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. – Psalm 18:24-26


He is Risen, What Next? Our records are clear. I was speaking with someone on yesterday and this thought came to my mind. When we accepted the gift of salvation from Christ we also accepted a new start. The old life, our life of sin, lies; backbiting, etc. were erased and removed from our records. We were given a new start, a new record. As we walk this journey, all the things that need to be changed in us are not instantly removed. God’s longsuffering ways grants us his mercy to cover us as he gets our attention to those things that need to be changed.

When he gets our attention, he reminds us there is no condemnation now, you are free from this sin because you have seen it and repented of it. He then tells us go forward and come this way no more. I also began thinking, how are we called righteous, or faithful or blameless? Is it because we have always been righteous, or faithful or blameless in our walk? I can dare to say no. We are these things because our records are clear. They are clear because of the power of the blood. It washes away our sins. It washes away the sins we commit, even when in our hearts we thought we were doing right. It was the mercy that said, I will hold you today…and each day, until you see the full picture.

I have a question for us, when we finally see where we are not living up to God’s standard, does he beat us over the head with it? Does he bring back what we did wrong several years ago to remind us of how wrong we are; is he still judging us by our lack of understanding from 1999? No. He simply reassures us that he loves us and our records are clear. What we should take from this is, we as believers need to be more like God when dealing with each other. We are good at holding what someone did wrong, and not letting go of it. We want to forever see them through what they did wrong (real or perceived). Yet, we can take comfort in this, God says our records are clear! So even when someone wants to tell you about all the wrong you have done, you can say to yourself, “well if you check with God, he’ll tell you, my record is clear”. That thing isn’t even on the list anymore. That is how we are called faithful, righteous and blameless. It is because the blood continues to wash away the stains, leaving us spotless before God.

I pray for us today that we would rejoice in knowing that we have a clear record with God. Not so that we can boast, because the record isn’t clear by our own power, it is clear because of the power of Christ. We can rejoice and know when the enemy comes to condemn us; we can tell him there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, because his gift is continually perfecting me.

Someone You Should Know!

Jewel - How do you want your music to affect people, or what do you want them to get from it?

Michelle - I must say your questions are very insightful...I think--you should also go into journalism...well, you're already a writer so you can actually say 'been thre, doing that'. Anyway, I want people to hear hope. There was a day where I was feeling really heavy and after work I wanted to have some music minister to me...just like the shepherd boy--David ministered to Saul's emotions...well, I think I finally found some music where the Spirit of God penetrated through the stress and burdens I was experiencing. Afterwards, I felt light and God's love and grace and in turn experienced His promises and numerous benefits.

Michelle's music does help you to find hope as you listen to the words. There are many that I love, so I cannot pick a favorite, you simply have to listen to the entire CD. Come back and read the final answers to this interview.

Words of Encouragement

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. – Matthew 6:14-15

He is Risen, What Next? We can forgive the unforgivable. Sometimes it seems impossible to forgive the mean and hurtful things people say and do to you. This is especially true when those hurting you say they belong to Christ. It is hard to reconcile the things people assume and then speak as if it is truth. I must be honest; this was an area that was very difficult for me. I could not understand the saints saying the mean things they did to me.

I could not understand the hurtful words that come from their mouths, instead of the words that should encourage. I could not understand how do we claim to be Christians and do such mean things. Sometimes the hurt and struggle does not come from outside the church, sometimes the struggle comes right in the midst of the place that should be a place of worship.

Well what does that mean? It means that regardless of what others do, we must be like Christ. It means that when some one lies on us, we must continue to be like Christ. It means that when others would say mean hurtful words, we must continue to be like Christ.

This is not something we can do in our own ability. I could not forgive those that hurt me, lied on me and misused me in my own ability. It took the risen Christ living in me to enable me to do so. It takes the Holy Spirit helping me to be able to forgive the unforgivable. To be able to forgive means you do it, even when the other party may never say a thing, or acknowledge their need for forgiveness.

I pray for us this week that we seek God to help us forgive those that have hurt us, talked about us, lied on us and mistreated us. Help us to show love even though others may not be showing it in return. Jesus showed loved to an angry mob as he hung on the cross. He could have rightly called angels from heaven to stop what was happening, but he knew that it was all to fulfill God’s plan. We must look at the mistreatment of others and ask the same question, what is best for me? Is it best that I move from this area, or is it best that I allow you to bring me through? You’ll find out that God many times wants us to go through because he is using these times to bring about something in us. So let us turn to God when people mistreat us, or do us wrong. If we are not willing to forgive what others have done to us, we then cannot expect God to forgive our sins. For our sins against God is far greater than anything anyone else could do against us.

Someone You Should Know!

This is my middle daughter singing with another one of the children.

We want to finish the interview with Michelle regarding the recording of her CD.

Jewel - What do you hope to do going forward with your music? I have some ideas, don't forget I'll be needing someone to score my movie.

Michelle - That's great that God has planted so many wonderful ambitions in your heart...and He will surely bring'em to pass as you continue to consult him. Well, all this initially was of course--merely an annual Scholarship Benefit initiative. So even though the first year featured piano performances from summer students and the second year was the CD production, I feel the Lord is leading me to produce a Music/Production/Play where there will still be another CD release (with approximately 17 more songs) but incorporating a story/drama in the production. Again, the Lord was speaking to me at last year's Youth Convention, this time--from the Grapevine, Texas area and I was pretty much asking Him what His specific will was--for '08. So pretty much the overall future looks like...to continue providing artistic venues for youth to express themselves as they honor their Heavenly Father--and ultimately benefit their futures by raising funds from these annual events--so they can enroll in various music classes that will partly be funded by some of the available monies.

Come back again for the rest of this interview.