Choir’s Annual Day.  In the simplicity of an auxiliary designation day of recognition lies appreciation, celebration, recognition, gratitude, thanksgiving and diligence to purpose.  How appreciative we (this Pastor and this church) are of the outstanding effort put forth in Kingdom work by the members of the choir.  We appreciate the excellent song selections and how these songs satisfy our basic devotional needs, enriching the personal experience of any seeker of Him.

On today we are celebrating with the choir the faithfulness of God.  A great choir (as is ours) has in its repertoire music for the masses.  Though the subjects run the gamut of human experience, five dominant themes can be recognized:

•  Realization of God’s presence.
• Recognition of a need for thanksgiving
• Personal communion with God
• Remembrance of God’s part in history.
• Sense of deliverance from enemies.

This Pastor is grateful to God for people who are the embodiment of Psalm 150: “Praise ye the Lord.  Praise God in His sanctuary:  praise Him in the firmament of His power.  Praise Him for His mighty acts;   praise Him according to His excellent greatness.  Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the psaltery and harp.  Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and organs; Praise Him upon the loud cymbals; Praise Him upon the high-sounding cymbals.  Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.

Praise ye the Lord, that’s you dear people!  People who praise and glorify the Lord!  Let this Pastor personally thank the entire Music Department, the musicians, the official staff, and each and every choir member for the fine work that you do through-out the year.  Thank you for your diligence to the expansion of the Kingdom of God.  At this time of year we turn aside to recognize the choir, however, our appreciation is on-going to the Officers and members of the choir, a very big “GOD BLESS YOU.”  We honor you on your day.

Let’s continue.

  Pastor J. Amos Jones

While it requires no great theological insight to recognize the sovereignty of Almighty God it does require a deep, abiding faith, and absolute trust in Him that He is in control.

The Psalmist tells us that:  “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.  For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.”  (Psalm 24:1,2)

Our God is the Creator, sustainer and Possessor of the whole world, and therefore worthy of worship and reverent loyalty as “the King of Glory.”  This is a message that was lost on some people at a recent precinct convention.  Ignorantly, these people submitted resolutions to control the actions of God through His people.  How feeble!

As the people of the Most High God, we are governed by His laws and precepts found in His Word, The Bible.  It is not what we say or resolve, it is the acknowledging of Him.  We are required to be good citizens of this country, however, when there is conflict between things of this world and things of God, we side with the Lord.

Jesus said we should “Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar’s; and unto God the things which are God’s.”  (Matthew 22:2)  Remember, in every circumstance of life, God is in control.

Dear Ones, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”  (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

REFLECTION!

“For This Cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”  (Ephesians 3:14, 15).  “This Cause” is really variegated or multifaceted (in the way that many facets of a diamond reflect and enhance its beauty).

First of all, we thank and praise our Heavenly Father for His divine protection.  This time last year, we were, “Swamped by Harvey.”  Hurricane Harvey was the greatest rainmaker this nation had ever seen and its results were devastating.  Some members of the FMBC family were victims of the destructive flooding and we have kept them in our prayers, and all of those who suffered the effects of that destructive storm.  However, through it all, God has been faithful!  How awesome is our God!  Our Heavenly Father has a covenant relationship with His creation.  Hear Him in Genesis 9:15:  “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall NO more become a flood to destroy all flesh.”  Flood yes, but we did survive.  “This Cause.”  Hurricane Harvey has produced a spirit of compassion, of caring and a real commitment to service.

Hear the Psalmist in Psalm 133:1-3 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard:  That went down to the descended upon the mountains of Zion:  For there, the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”  “For there”:  Where there is unity, there is focus, where there is unity, there is caring and compassion.  Where there is unity, the emphasis is love, caring and compassion and not hate, bitterness and rancor.  I bow my knees to the Father who can and has quickly changed the social conversation with a destructive storm called Harvey.

Be blessed as you enjoy His divine protection.

Pastor J. Amos Jones