Encouragement For Your Day From A Talented Young Singer

If you’ve read any of my blog posts from the past, then you know that on occasion I love to feature Christian music.

Music is a big part of my life, especially Christian music.

Psalm 30 comes to mind.

¹¹You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
¹²That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. – Psalm 30:11-12, NASB.

Recently, as I was searching for new songs and talent, I came across a young boy who has the voice of an angel.

Perhaps you’ve seen him on YouTube where over 36 million viewers have tuned into his channel.

His name is Steven Samuel Devassy.

I don’t know about you, but I see and hear joy when he sings God’s praises.

So Many Reasons

We have so many reasons to praise the Lord.

The lyrics to Matt Redman’s “10,000 Reasons” comes to mind.

Here’s Steven Samuel Devassy singing this beautiful cover song.

Keep an eye on this talented young singer, now an 11-year-old, who also plays the drums. I do believe he has a future in Christian music!

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Respect For The Elderly

Recently, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit with a dear couple at an assisted living home.

We’ve known them for many years, and just recently reconnected after their move to the facility.

The time we all shared together flew by.

Not only did we enjoy a delicious meal together at a local restaurant, but we went back to their place to sing and play music. I can’t even begin to describe how much fun that was!

My husband and I drove back home thinking about what a wonderful visit we had just had with these two wonderful “young-at-hearts.”

One thing they mentioned was how much they wished more people would visit, and not just at Christmas when the choirs would perform.

But all throughout the year.

Their request got me thinking and remembering how much I enjoyed singing with a small group at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. They are the best audience and often sang along with us.

The reason I’m writing about all this is to encourage everyone to not forget our senior adults. Their wisdom, sense of humor, and engaging stories are a joy to experience.

And . . . they appreciate our prayers.

a prayer for the elderly

A Prayer For The Elderly

Stephen Wong, a fellow Christian writer, wrote a prayer that speaks volumes. I’m happy to share his prayer here as a model for all of us.

by Stephen Wong

02/25/19

Lord God,

I thank you for the elderly in our churches,

I thank you for the wisdom you have given them,

And for the skills and experiences they have gained over the years,

But old age can also bring many challenges,

Such as loneliness, loss of loved ones, health complications and mobility loss,

So Lord, in all the challenges our elderly face each day,

Please give them your comfort and grace,

And remind them of your unfailing love for them,

I pray that you would help them not to give up meeting with other Christians,

And that you would give them opportunities,

To keep connecting with a community of believers,

Give them the strength to keep serving you faithfully each day,

And to keep preaching the gospel to the lost,

Please help them to keep humbly learning from your Word,

And to pursue spiritual growth and godliness,

So that they may be godly role models and mentors to younger generations,

I pray also that as they approach the end of their lives,

You would give them your peace and the confident hope,

That death is not the end,

But that they will one day spend eternity with you,

So please help them to keep setting their eyes on Christ,

That they may continue to run the race with perseverance until the end.

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*Poem shared, courtesy of Stephen Wong, from url: https://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=185177.

Our Exceptional God

Why Not Phone A Friend?

April 24, 2019 Gracie

Why Not Phone A Friend?

Are you “all thumbs?”

You may be, and didn’t even realize it.

It’s time we talk about your problem.

Okay, I’m kidding, let’s talk about “our” problem.

Many people I know text a lot.

Or, at least their teenagers do.

Don’t get me wrong, texting is necessary sometimes … but all of the time?

With all this “convenience” technology, aren’t we losing something?

Generally, I’m not a fan of texting.

This dislike developed over time and it took a comment from my amused better half to make me realize I was falling into a bad habit.

There have been instances when a friend and I have texted back and forth for quite awhile, prompting my husband to ask a good question: “Why don’t y’all just call each other?”

He has a good point.

Texting has easily become a mindless habit.

Even though I text a lot, I realize that I do miss hearing people’s actual voices.

Does anybody else out there miss personal telephone calls?

“With our digital wands — TVs, smartphones, iPhones, iPads, etc. — we trick ourselves into believing that we are better connected … But are we?” – Times Union Online article.

Something To Think About

Smart phones, Smart this, Smart that … in our homes, in our cars, at work.

We have so many conveniences available to us to make our lives easier.

Even though some of the latest medical and scientific breakthroughs are amazing, others are downright creepy – like the Big Dog robot.

Is that menacing-looking thing really necessary?

It also makes me cringe when I hear news headlines about topics like:

Artificial intelligence

Implanted chips

Genetically-modified whatever

Whoaaaa.

When it comes to those kinds of advancements, I want to say “slow down, mankind!”

We are not God.

When you really think about it – is that what life is all about?

Is that what God desires – for our lives to be easier and more convenient?

Christians should know the answer to that one.

The growing “disconnect” in our communication with each other makes me sad, even though I’m sometimes guilty of it myself.

Ultimately, this isn’t heading to a good place.

So, I think I’ll go phone a friend right now – the old-fashioned way.

A Prayer For Biblical Discernment

God, in this time of incredible technological advancement, give us clear eyes to see what is happening through a biblical lens. Give us the mind of Christ. May we be wise and careful in how we employ emerging technologies.

May we not invest them with out-sized importance.

Set our hope on the coming kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will heal every disease and give us glorified, resurrected bodies. – Dr. Robert Jeffress, First Baptist Dallas.

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* Quotation from Times Union Online, “Techonology Only Hurts Interaction.” Web. Accessed April 5, 2019. https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Technology-only-hurts-interaction-4392687.php

**Quotation from Dr. Robert Jeffress, Bible teacher, pastor, and author. Taken from Worldview Today with Dr. Robert Jeffress. “Prayer.” Accessed April 5, 2019.

Our Exceptional God

Happy Easter 2019

April 17, 2019 Gracie

Three Days Later

What a difference three days makes.

When Jesus was put to death on the cross, His Glorious Resurrection became the single, most pivotal, truth-affirming foundation of our Christian faith.

³¹For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” – Mark 9:31, NASB.

Happy Easter 2019

We can rest in the truth that over 500 witnesses saw Jesus after His Resurrection.

Over 500 people.

Oh, to be one of the 500 on that day.

He is risen!

He is risen, indeed!

May you and your families have a blessed celebration.

Happy Easter 2019

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Our Exceptional God

Rejoicing In Heaven

April 10, 2019 Gracie

Is There Anything Sweeter Than the Rejoicing in Heaven?

There’s a Bible verse I’m thinking of right now about rejoicing that always warms my heart.

It’s in the book of Luke in the 15^th chapter.

¹⁰Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” – Luke 15:10, (ESV).

Did you catch that?

There is rejoicing in Heaven among the angels every time a lost sinner comes to Christ.

This beloved verse appears where Jesus is teaching about salvation through the parables of the lost sheep and the woman searching for that one lost coin.

Just as in those examples given by our Savior, the salvation of all of us matters to God.

Some day we will join the rejoicing angels in Heaven to praise our Lord and Savior in His Holy Presence.

What a blessed day that will be!

Rejoicing Angels

Fellow Christian writer, Kenny Whiting, wrote a delightful poem about rejoicing angels that I’d love to share with you.

by Kenny Whiting
10/26/16

Since Jesus came from Heaven above
and died for all the lost,
The angels dance and sing each time
one sinner finds the Cross!

Their praise and worship for My Lord,
sounds many times each day;
When Jesus finds another lamb,
who’d somehow went astray!

See, not so very long ago,
myself was lost in sin;
But Jesus broke the devil’s binds,
‘fore satan reeled me in!

So now I think about the joy,
when angels got the news;
I know they danced with joy for me,
I know they’ll dance for you!

Let’s give them more to shout about,
tell other’s ’bout Our King;
Let’s keep those angels on the move,
they love to dance and sing!

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**Poetry shared from article url: https://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=185177

Our Exceptional God

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