One Voice Children’s Choir

Are you tired of all the negative news?

Wouldn’t it be nice to hear something life-affirming, joyful, and uplifting for a change?

I saw this video recently on social media and could hardly wait to share it with you.

It’s just over 4 ½ minutes long.

MercyMe lead vocalist and songwriter, Bart Millard, originally wrote this heavenly song and it will always be one of my favorites.

Surely you know by now I’m talking about the timeless, “I Can Only Imagine.”

This version of it from the award-winning One Voice Children’s Choir has quickly won my heart.

If you’ve ever tuned into the TV show, “America’s Got Talent” then you’ll probably recognize them. They were quarter-finalists!

I hope you enjoy.

One Voice

Under the direction of Masa Fukuda, over 500 children have been a part of the One Voice Choir since it began back in 2002 at the Winter Olympics.

I love their Vision Statement:

Through music, we inspire, enrich, uplift, and serve our global community, while building youth as One Voice. – *One Voice Children’s Choir.

I’m encouraged to see so many children exposed to positive messages. Thankfully, there’s no “Rise up!” and “Resist” charges here.

Let kids be kids!

Today’s youth are exposed to way more adult content and violent messages than they ever should be.

Let’s hope and pray value-based programs and activities will always be offered and that there are positive choices for our younger generation.

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* Vision Statement, courtesy of One Voice Children’s Choir. [About page]. Retrieved from http://onevoicechildrenschoir.com/about-us/. n.d., para. 4.

Why Should We Pray For Our Enemies

Prayers To Disarm Your Enemy

Recently, a reader searched on my blog for the term, “Prayers to disarm your enemy.”

I have to applaud this person for seeking answers using Prayers, rather than some type of payback.

It’s hard sometimes to pray for our enemies.

A few years ago, I interviewed a local pastor for his insight. The name of that article is “How To Pray For Someone You Don’t Like.” You can find it by clicking the link.The pastor’s biblical insight about praying for our enemies is just as valuable today as it was back then.

When someone launches an attack against you, even if it’s verbal, it can hurt really bad.

You feel blindsided and you want answers.

And, you want it…to stop.

As Christians we should pray for those who hate us and/or do us harm. We also know as Christians, that the hate towards us, as believers in salvation through Jesus Christ, is on the rise.

We must continue to pray.

God hears our every words. They don’t have to be eloquent words either.

If you’re suffering at the arms of an enemy, cry out to Jesus in your heart.

Psalm 69 in the Bible is an excellent example of a prayer for help in times of anguish.

Prayers To Disarm Your Enemy

If you need some inspiration when praying for your enemies, I found another resource that may help.

I contacted the author, Beth McLendon, and she has graciously given me permission to share this prayer with you.

I love the plea towards the end for God to heal the wounds of our enemies. As mean as they are, there is something going on inside of them that causes them to act out like they do.

Prayer For Enemies

Lord,

Be with my enemies today as they make decisions.

I ask that you would bring them your thoughts so that they can see

and evaluate their life situations through your wisdom.

I ask that you would help them to clearly hear your thoughts on

what they should do today and every day.

Guide them to recognize the right decision every time.

Help them to recognize the blessings that come from

making good choices and from developing a deep relationship with you.

I pray that they will realize the lightness of heart that they can have

if they will do the right thing.

I pray that they will realize the relief that they can have

when they do the right thing.

Bring your lovingkindness to rescue them from being unkind today.

Urge them not to sin against me or anyone else this day.

I ask that you would heal the wounds inside of them that pressure them to hurt others.

Let them begin to realize the joy of treating others in a godly way.

Bring them thoughts that would help to soften their heart toward you and your will for them.

In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

For more inspirational prayers, you can visit Beth’s website at the following URL: http://www.inspirational-prayers.com/

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*Opening photo courtesy of photographer Ben White on Unsplash

Our Exceptional God

What Happened To Sin?

August 15, 2018 Gracie

What Happened To Sin?

Have you ever heard the expression, “Give ‘em an inch, and they’ll take a mile”?

It reminds me of the compromises taking place in some modern churches.

These ungodly distractions enter into a church and pretty soon the whole Gospel message takes a tumble.

How sad it is when we read news items like:

Churches wanting to remove gender pronouns in their teachings.

More churches are letting the culture dictate what’s taught in God’s house. Messages about sin, forgiveness, the end times, and salvation are bumped for more “feel good” sermons about what nice people we all are.

You can’t make this stuff up. It’s really happening.

As discerning Christians, we need to be aware of deceptions like these, and not fall for them.

That’s some downer news for our faith, right?

But God is with us, no matter what.

What happened to Sin

No one knows His divine timeline, but we do have the triumphant return of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to look forward to.

No secular movement, false gods, or future political agendas will ever be able to change or delay His return.

Praise the Lord!

All Sin Is Against God

As Christians – we must be discerning.

Changing the gospel message to satisfy cultural movements is a deception.

Can you believe the depth of the disrespect and irreverence towards God this all is? Changing God’s inspired Word?

Thoughts about the news items mentioned above prompted me to write a poem called “What Happened To Sin?”

It’s been on my heart and I was finally able to put pen to paper.

What Happened to Sin?

Who is Man to twist God’s Word?
Oh, haven’t you heard?

“The Bible’s too convicting,
let’s put it away, or we won’t grow our church,”
the false teachers say.

“Let’s only preach Love, and helping the poor
Just forget that Hell is real with an open door.
Talking about Sin will just turn them off
We must grow our church at any cost.”

“So what if our sermons are not “sound” preaching?
Our coffee is good and our influence far-reaching.”
We exclude parts of Scripture, so people feel good,
Jesus came to make us happy, right?
Don’t you think we should?”

“Why give a sermon about God’s Final Judgment?
The church will empty, they’ll find the message repugnant.

Keep it lighthearted and throw out the hymns
Crank up the amps, keep the lights dim.”
Light some incense to set the mood,
Leave the End Times out of it,
It will all be good.”

To those preachers, I say,
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
Those external trappings aren’t what churches should be pursuing.
We’re to share the Gospel and reach the lost.
Our salvation as sinners came at such a high cost.
Jesus came to save us – a Ransom for you and me,
His Word is absolute truth — just…let…it…be.

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Brooks And Dunn Believe

August 8, 2018 Gracie

Sounds Like Heaven

One of my favorite things to do on this blog is to share new Christian music.

These are songs whose lyrics have meant a lot to me in some way, or the hook is appealing.

If it’s a Christian song with a good beat and meaningful words, then I like to sing it out loud to the delight of the neighbors.

I will spare you that concert for now. 🙂

This time I’m sharing a song that’s a bit of an oldie.

The message is timeless and emotional.

It’s a subject that points towards the great hope that we all share – seeing our brothers and sisters in Christ again who have gone to Heaven before us.

Seeing Jesus is more than enough.

Knowing that our saved loved ones will be with us as well is yet another example of God’s grace and incomparable love.

Have I piqued your interest?

The song is called “Believe’” by award-winning country music artists, Brooks and Dunn.

Have you heard it yet?

Brooks and Dunn Believe

*Brooks and Dunn photo credit at the end.

“Believe” came out in 2005 and won three top CMA awards the following year.

If you have five minutes to spare, turn up the volume and watch as the poignant story line unfolds.

I posted “Believe” on my social media account and friends responded how much they loved it too.

If you’re missing a loved one who has passed, I hope this song will bring you some encouragement.

God bless

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*Source: “Brooks and Dunn – Bama Jam 2009,” by “justjennifer.” Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC-BY2.0). Accessed 6 August 2018. https://flic.kr/p/6w52NP

Our Exceptional God

Who Is God?

August 1, 2018 Gracie

Who is God and What is He Like?

If someone were to ask you that question, would you have an answer?

It’s a pretty important question, judging by the amount of people on their computers asking it.

According to the search engines, they number in the thousands every single month.

Can you see what an opportunity this is?

As Christians, we can’t keep the knowledge of the Blessed Savior to ourselves.

When an opportunity to share our testimony presents, please tell someone!

Look Heavenwards

Have you ever visited a place that is jaw-dropping in its beauty?

For my husband and me, it was the view from a mountaintop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It took my breath away and it wasn’t from the altitude.

The realization that God created all of that for us is too extraordinary to comprehend sometimes.

Author of the Universe

This treasured verse from the opening lines of David’s Psalm 19 speaks volumes.

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. – Psalm 19:1. NASB.

The heavens declare His glory

Fellow Christian writer, Sandra Boyte, wrote a beautiful poem about this I thought you might enjoy.

God Is

by Sandra Boyte
06/13/10

“God is kinda boring!”
I heard the young man say.
And I wondered at our message
Which made him feel that way.
Do our orchestrated lessons
Reveal or conceal His Glory,
Honor, strength, and wisdom,
The wonder of His story?

The Sculptor of deep canyons,
And Painter of the skies,
Maestro of all music,
Composer of lark’s cry…
Conductor of the thunderstorm,
Source and Designer of creation,
Dreamer of the rainbow’s arc,
Architect of every nation!

“God is simply irrelevant!”
I heard the Academic rebuff.
And I marveled at the void
Of a live without hope or trust.
Where love, faith, right and wrong,
Are held as empty conceits,
Ideals can have no anchor
But drown in unbelief.

Oh, Author of all languages,
Instructor of all knowing,
Mathematician, Physicist,
First Gardener of all that’s growing…
From anthropology to zoology,
All that is seen, or felt, or heard,
Atomic to astronomic
Begun with just one word!

“God has been replaced!”
I heard the politician preach.
Supposing that man could control
Things placed outside his reach.
Sinfulness exalted,
Righteousness ridiculed,
God’s laws met with scorn,
His word is over-ruled.

Eternal God and King!
Judge of all mankind!
Great Warrior in battle,
Outside both space and time!
Ruler of all beings,
Of earth and heaven above,
Administrator of justice,
Your name is Truth and Love.

God Is Who He Is,
Beginning and the End,
Alpha and Omega,
Master, Father, Friend.
Mere words can never express
His Grace and Majesty
Whose Presence fills the heavens,
Yet stoops for one like me.

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

Our Exceptional God

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