Worship Ministry

Authentic Worship

Years ago, before I understood the appropriate response to a sovereign God I was considered a “church junkie”. A “church junkie”, is one who ascribes praise or worth to God “without clear vision” as to “why”. For countless years, I went through the form and formality of praising God, singing to God, and dancing before the Lord, without knowledge or understanding. Candidly, once I demonstrated all those vain and mechanical emotions, I remained empty inside.

Praises Teams and Choirs are not designed to entertain people offering vain or mechanical praise during corporate worship service; although, there is a fraction of entertainment involved. What makes an individual’s praise vain? Vain praise is marked by an irreverent manner or by showing little to no value. Motives, intents, and mindsets of the vessels that praise God are relevant. What then is mechanical praise? Mechanical praise is marked, seemingly uninfluenced actions of the mind or emotions. The entertainment that is offered must flow through vessels that are in close relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In addition, it is a reaction from a heart that understands fellowship or communion with our Heavenly Father. These similarly comprehend, “…love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

When worshippers recognize what God desires, the worshipper yields dances, praises, shouts of joy, along with tears of appreciation lifting hands in sincerity—not mechanical, but a genuine appreciation for who God is, what He stands for, and what He represents.

Women's Ministry

Jealousy, a Woman’s Worst Nightmare

Jealousy is a feeling of lost deeply rooted in insecurities, such as the absence of self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence. Jealousy is a complex emotion, which leads to “inner struggles” within individuals destined to model its behavior. Unquestionably, there are several angles to this deadly disease. Denying jealousy causes acceleration of this dreadful emotion. In part, jealousy interferes with the heart of a man or woman. In other words, jealousy comes from a heart entrenched in envy, strife, and resentment.

Women are some of the most fascinating of God creations. No other species on earth is so sophisticated, divine, and ever so complex. Every woman was designed for His purpose and glory, each one according to His precise specifications. If this is the case, why then is jealousy among women seemly commonplace? Secondarily, why is jealousy among women so poisonous? Why is jealousy among women so cruel? What makes one woman gossip, slandering another woman behind her back? What makes a woman long to kill another woman because of what she has or is capable of? Jealousy is deadly among women. As stated, individuals who display this kind of behavior often have deep-rooted issues of insecurity.

Most individuals do not understand the seriousness of jealousy; for this reason, they leave themselves open to disaster. When jealousy is the driving force in someone’s existence, this person misses opportunities for growth, creativity, spiritual development, and a sobriety. Unmanaged jealousy can be a distraction keeping individuals occupied until they have wasted their lives away.

The Body of Christ

Don’t Abort Your Life

God, as the Master Creator of all things, including people, is a “truth” we never question, and never have a second opinion concerning. Accepting this truth is extremely essential for Christians and un-Christians alike. If we ignore this truth, we will never enter the perfect will of God. 

Before our birth, God established a blueprint for our lives. He calculated every detail of our lives from start to finish. Your birth, significance, worth, path, and life are defined and known by the One who is called the Creator. The first three words from Jeremiah 29:11 read, “For I Know”. The words are not, ‘I am trying to figure it out, nor ‘I am trying to discover’. It reads, “For I Know.”

Countless people young and old ignorantly abort their lives, not understanding the source from which life or purpose comes. They search for meaning and existence in the wrong places, the wrong people, and the wrong things. The word “abort” means simply, to “forfeit” the life God designed for every born-again believer.

Contrary to popular opinion, God is the originator of everything; nothing exists without His divine knowledge or ability. Even the heavens and the earth were framed and formed by God. 

We are of the “Royal Priesthood”. 1 Peter 2:9(NIV), “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

We can do absolutely nothing without God. John 15:5 (NIV), “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing.”.

We are not our own. Acts 17:24-28, (NIV) “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of Heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

God’s presence is universal, He is everywhere at the same time. God’s knowledge is eternal. He knows everything. God’s power is unrestricted and unmatched. God knows about tomorrow; He knows about next week; He knows about next year. Our Lord, Jesus, was successful in viewing things from God’s perspective for His life, even in the pain and agony of the cross. He understood and trusted His Father’s plan, much above His own. Jesus, using some of the most powerful words ever spoken, accepted His Father’s agenda– “Not My will, but Yours”. Ask God what is His will for your life…