GOD'S GRACE COVERED ME

 Preface:

In the churches today, testimony service has been eliminated.  In many instances, I understand the reasons.  However, Psalms 107:2 says "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so". If and when individuals do not know how to testify of God’s goodness, rather than eliminate the process, teach folks how to properly testify for edification and encouragement of the people and glorify God’s work in our lives.  So, since there is no platform for this activity in the church, I will use this time to share a testimony to encourage young mothers, especially single parents, to stay focused on God’s will for your life and use all the gifts that God has given and incorporate time management into the process. Then step back and watch God work for you and your family.  He is FAITHFUL that promise!  (Heb 10:23)

GOD’S GRACE COVERED ME!

While reading an article posted on the page "Beautifully Made Woman" on Facebook, I began reminiscing over my life as a single female parent.  So often, we forget some of the ways that God has blessed us and carried us through periods of our lives with and by His Grace.

A Brief Portion of a Testimony - When I moved to Austin, TX I was a single parent with three children, the youngest being 4 yrs old. The Lord blessed me to manage and train a choir that started out with 20 voices and developed into a 50+ voice choir, a 25-30 voice youth choir, a 15-20 voice children's choir, developed a 9 voice praise team, prayed up a 5 piece instrumental band, and a 6 piece orchestra.  All while going to college carrying a full 19-hour course load (freshman year) and working an internship with Austin's Opera Company.

My week days went something like this; I went to school from 8am to 1:30 pm, went straight to work for the Opera, left there and went to retrieve my latch-key children from home when school was out and got them situated with homework and chores, then on to the church (around the corner from church) to teach piano lessons.  By 6:30 we had youth and adult choir rehearsals on Wednesday nights, Thursday night was praise team and band rehearsals, of which I always had my children with me. After a full day and night, onward home to go to sleep until the next morning and then I would start all over again.  Thank God for Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights – no rehearsals!  However, those nights were spent doing tons of homework that I didn't have time to do Wednesday and Thursday nights. Phew!   Writing this sounds unbelievable – but this is really what it was like!!!

When I look back at that time, I now wonder to myself, how in the world did I do that?  One thing I discovered during this four-year period is that God covered me with His grace to such an extent that everything that wanted to come against me, could not and did not prosper.  Oh yes, I had many obstacles but because of His grace everything that came at me, rolled off me like water off a duck's back. One of the rewards, amongst many, is that none of my children have suffered from my busy schedule, none have been incarcerated, none are strung out on drugs, and all are in music ministry.  Are they perfect, by no means.  Am I perfect - certainly not, there is none perfect but one and His name is Jesus Christ.  But that is what is so good about God.  In our imperfection, we receive His Grace not because of who we are or what we do.  It is all because of His goodness and the result of what Jesus did on the cross.  Glory to God for His Grace that Covered Me then and still covers me today!!!

To all, especially single parent Moms with extremely busy schedules, His Grace will sustain you through hectic times and is available to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You can receive it and experience His grace today.

 

Music – The Effects on the Soul

       The recorded history of Western art music properly begins with the music of the 
Church.  However, all through the Middle Ages and even to the present time artists
and intellectuals have continually turned back to Greece and Rome for instruction, for 
correction, and for inspiration in their various fields of work.

       There was a special reason for the disappearance of the traditions of Roman 
musical practice at the beginning of the Middle Ages: most of this music was connected 
with social occasions that involved lascivious and intoxicated behavior on which the early 
Church looked with horror, or with pagan religious exercises which the Church believed had
to be exterminated.  Consequently, every effort was made not only to keep out of the Church 
that music which would recall such abominations to the minds of the faithful, but, if possible,
to blot out the very memory of it.

       Greek mythology ascribed to music a divine origin. They named as its inventors and 
earliest practitioners gods and demigods, such as Apollo, Amphion, and Orpheus.  In this 
dim prehistoric world, music had magic powers.  People thought it could heal sickness, 
purify  the body and mind, and work miracles in the realm of nature.  From earliest times,
music was an inseparable part of religious ceremonies. 

      The Greek philosopher, Aristotle says, “Music directly imitates (that is, represents)the    passions or states of the soul; gentleness, anger, courage, temperance, and their opposites and other qualities. Hence, when one listens to music that imitates a certain passion, one becomes imbued (filled) with the same passion; and if over a long time one habitually listens to the kind of music that rouses ignoble passions, ones whole character will be shaped to an ignoble form. In recent years, it has been argued that much of the urban rap music of the late 90’s have encouraged incorrigible and inappropriate behavior. This notion is the same as was recorded by the great philosophers of the Middle Ages.

       Aristotle continues, in short, if one listens to the wrong kind of music, one will become the wrong kind of person; but conversely, if one listens to the right kind of music, one will tend to become the right kind of person. Consider this in relation to why God commands us to sing praises unto our God. Music that is filled with praise and adoration to and of God can only bring one into a realm that acknowledges the goodness of God and His grace. Hence, ones life can become overflowing with joy.

       Music affects character and different kinds of music affect the character in different ways. 
As believers in God and followers of Christ the music that we sing and listen to, should 
be selective.  It should be music that will give praise to God. It should also lift our spirit 
to exemplify the attributes and nature of God in the earth realm.

        I submit to every reader that is called by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, consider the kinds of passion that is stirred when you listen to your favorite music. Consider this, as Christians the music we listen to should encourage us to continue to live daily a lifestyle that shows forth praise and worship to our God according to 1Peter 2:9.

Language - Edification or Debilitation

Language, according to Webster, is the organized system of speech used by human beings as a means of communication among themselves.   I recently began paying more attention to how people communicated with each other.  I observed two definite kinds of response.  Each response was very dependent upon the language communicated.  There were positive responses as well as negative.  Unfortunately, of the two, I have heard more of the latter.

            The every day common language, used as I believe it is meant to be used, fulfills its purpose; which is communication, education, and edification.  It is always nice to speak when spoken to, to give a compliment, to respond to a compliment with “Thank you”, or just to speak kindly to ones fellowman.  Someone may say this is simply good manners; however, the greater part of good manners must be communicated through language.  If one inadvertently stepped on someone’s toe, though it may hurt, the injured person responds differently when one quickly says “I’m sorry” opposed to when nothing is said at all.   We know quite naturally that the pain does not decrease, but the person is gratified, (through your form of language), knowing that it was not intentional.

            The American writer, Dale Carnegie purports “ There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it." Interestingly, I have had the privilege of being surrounded by persons that used words and phrases so gracefully; I could listen to them at length – putting them in a class of their own.

Words can be used to encourage and uplift people.  When one has been told, “one can do it”, or “one can make it”, one will try just a little harder.  On the other hand, people can use language that discourage others by communicating little words or comments that weaken their faith in their abilities.  Whether we realize it or not, there is a calming affect when one is spoken to in a pleasant manner.  Whenever someone is stressed out, sometimes all it takes is a kind word from a brother or sister.  If one happen to be on the verge of a rather heated discussion that could get out of hand, it simply takes just one soft word to turn it completely around.  Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.”

            Though the English language is enriched by words and/or phrases for specific areas of expertise, it is also debilitated by certain words and/or phrases when used in the wrong context.  Those very words can weaken a strong person particularly, if heard often!  Life and death are in the power of the tongue.  If one speaks words to put someone down, it affects the listener.  Consider children that have been told throughout their childhood that they would never amount to anything, or never go anywhere.  Statistics prove that these are people who are not living up to their potential.  More than likely, they are people of low esteem and have accepted the words spoken to them in the past.

            Matthew 12:34b says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.”  Could it be that there is a deficiency of good in the heart?  I believe that many people lash out words of hurt and destruction, because of the hurt that is within.  Some people do not like themselves; consequently, they do not like others.  It becomes evident through their form of language.  Would one prefer to lift someone with ones words or cause someone to become weak?  The Choice Is Yours To Make!