8 Practical Tips to Construct a Worship Set-List That Actually Works | VOTIVE PRAISE

 This works for me while preparing to lead praise worship. Blessings.

8 Practical Tips to Construct a Worship Set-List That Actually Works | VOTIVE PRAISE

My Journey so far.........

It's been a while since I posted so I needed to come back here and update you on what's been going on in my life.

First of all one clear day in February 15th to be exact I got handed a pink slip at work after serving faithfully as a Development Secretary for 6 years. I was told my services were no longer required but I can continue to work for a month until they find someone to replace me. It was really disheartening news because I knew they had a policy not to pay into unemployment  insurance and seeing the economy the way it is right now [there is no recession in God's kingdom] I knew it will take a divine intervention to get another job in my field. I took sometime off to travel down to Houston TX, first of all to get away from NJ [vacation] and to see what was out there. I have always been invited by my friends out there but never had time to go but since this was a wonderful opportunity I took the trip.

Houston is lovely really beautiful, big houses, clean and wide roads, now I see what they mean when they say things are bigger in TX, it truly is. I had a lovely time and did a little job interviewing and job search at the same time but since I went without my car it was pretty difficult moving around and since I didn't want to inconvenience my friends by asking them to pick me up and drop me off wherever I wanted to go, so I had to try their public transportation services which was was non-existent at the location where I was. Needless to say I lost 10 pounds walking to the nearest bus stops which sometimes is about 4 miles away from my friend's house in North east TX. It was a tough time for me so I had to cut short my trip by a week, came back to NJ to continue my job search which till now is yielding little fruit but I am hopeful and expectant that things will turn around real soon.

It's really a true saying that you don't know your friends until you are in trouble. My eyes have been open to who my true friends are, I know most of them are wondering why I never went back to school all the time I was employed so at least I could have a career and not a job. I had to make sacrifices for my family in Nigeria so they can be alright before pursuing my own interest/career. I had a brother and sister back home in Nigeria going to college, another one battling with a crippling disease with two children [their father ran off when the disease started] and since the chance of working and going back to school in Nigeria is more difficult than here in the States. I had to help out with school fees, house rents, project fees, etc then in the midst of everything my younger brother died.  Once again, I became responsible for burial fees, funeral cost, transportation cost for every sibling including my older brother who was having money issues with his family of 5 children, had to help out with his children's school fees, house rent, food  etc. It became overwhelming at a point but God saw me through.

Thank God my brother's business is doing well, my younger sister has graduated is working now and married too, the one with the disease got healed to the glory of God and is doing well now with her children. I am now ready to concentrate on me. If you have your whole family over here in the States and you are able to go back to school, work and only take care of yourself and nobody else or you got married and your husband has a good job, can take care of all the bills so you can concentrate on school, don't look down on someone else who does not have a graduate degree until you have walked a mile in their shoes. I don't regret the sacrifices I had to make for my family and if I had to do it all over again, I will. I made a promise to my mother before she passed away that I will always take care of my siblings and God helping me I did the best I could with the little resource I had and I give God all the glory.

One thing is sure, God is not unrighteous to forget my labor of love over the ministry He committed into my hands, my sacrifices for my siblings and my loyalty to my job even in the face of really tempting situations. He will bring me out of this situation and I will come forth as gold. It's being a challenging time these past months but I know the God I serve that He is greater than any problem I can or cannot see.

I want to encourage everyone out there going through their own valleys right now, God is bringing you out from the valley onto the mountains so rejoice and take consolation in this that God who started a good work in you will perfect and perform it till the day of Christ. It's never too late for a child of God.

Shalom

It's being a while since I posted and I just wanted to share this: Enjoy the laughs

10 Things That Bother Me (Some of Which Probably Shouldn't)

by Greg Stier

1. Bad Christian drivers with corny Christian bumper stickers. You rep Jesus, so drive better or scrape it off. 

2. TV preachers who wear $3,000 suits, drive Mercedes and beg for more money. I can hear Jesus puking.

3. Fleece. Don't ask me why but it hurts my teeth when I think about it (very true and very weird.)

4. That a "tall" is really a "small" at Starbucks. Shouldn't it be the biggest one, or, at least, the tallest?

5. Christians who look to politics to redeem this nation instead of the Redeemer.

6. That intercessory prayer has been hijacked by little old ladies and crazy people. Let's take it back!

7. Glorified air mattress type beds that cost thousands of dollars. Yes, I tried one…and hated it.

8. Churches that spend millions of dollars on buildings but leave evangelism and missions unfunded.

9. Smart Cars. My car gets way better gas mileage, is half the price and can fit more than two people.

10. Muscleheads who grunt loudly in the gym when they work out. Hanz, send Franz to buy you a muzzle!

Nos. 1, 6 and 8 really bothers me, how about you?

The Essential Guide to a Lasting Relationship.

The Essential Guide to a Lasting Relationship.

God's Plan

1. I thought I should share this to encourage someone.

   
   Some things are beyond planning.
   And life doesn't always turn out as planned.
   You don't plan for a broken heart.
   You don't plan for a failed business venture.
   You don't plan for an adulterous husband
   or a wife who wants you out of her life.
   You don't plan for an autistic child.
   You don't plan for spinsterhood.
   You don't plan for a lump in your breast.
   
   You plan to be young forever.
   You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
   You plan to be rich and powerful.
   You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
   You plan to conquer the universe.
   You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.
   
   You don't plan to be sad.
   You don't plan to be hurt.
   You don't plan to be broke.
   You don't plan to be betrayed.
   You don't plan to be alone in this world.
   You plan to be happy. You don't plan to be shattered.
   Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want.
   
   But MOST times, what you want and what you get
   are two different things.
   
   We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens.
   Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans especially
   when His plans are not in consonance with ours.
   
   Often, when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger.
   True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry,
   but we can carry that cross with courage knowing that God will
   never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.
   
   Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul.
   Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
   Sometimes, God allows pain so we can be stronger.
   Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble.
   Sometimes, God allows illness so we can take better care of
   ourselves. Sometimes, God takes everything away from us
   so we can learn the value of everything He gave us.
   
   Make plans, but understand that we live by God's grace.
   
   ~Author Unknown~

WHAT IF ---------------

I was just pondering about this topic this morning and I will appreciate some contribution from readers.

What if God decides not to give you your heart desire? Will that stop you from worshipping Him or serving Him? Sometimes we base our service or worship to God on what He can do for us and not because of who He is.

Studying the lives of the children of Israel, I noticed a pattern in their lifestyles, they worship God when everything seems rosy then forget him as they go along only to complains or make demands on God when things look bleak.

Look back in the Old Testament and see how God dealt with the Children of Israel, we discover that the Lord always considered their complaints as an act of unbelief directed toward Him. When they complained about their circumstances, their type of food, and even at Moses, God was displeased because they weren’t thankful for what He had provided them. He was disappointed that they refused to trust in Him to provide, protect, and direct the order of their lives. “Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp” (Numbers 11:1).

Then the next thing they did when they were fully settled in the Promised Land was to ask for a King. God who led them through the wilderness and who also knew that Samuel the prophet’s sons were not going to follow after Him as their father did already had a plan but they never allowed him to bring those plans to fruition because of their impatience. What if He had a better plan for them than giving them an earthly king? Samuel warned them what the king will do to them and their children but they still insisted on an earthly king not even thinking that they are rejecting the God, they wanted so badly to be like other countries. 1 Sam: 8

WHY ARE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CHURCH FOLKS SO NOSY?

I just need to vent this morning.

It all started when I was single, the question always was “when are you getting married?” “Hope you are not brushing off men because you are not getting any younger?” So because of all these questions and accusations I got involved in relationships I didn’t have business getting into just because I wanted to get married before it’s too late [ I don’t know who told me it’s ever too late with God].

Now I am married and it’s now questions again but on another scale this time – “Are you pregnant?” or even better “Congratulations!!!!” I wondered what I was being congratulated for until it dawned on me that due to my bloated stomach [it was my time of the month] one genius deduced that I was pregnant and started congratulating me. Sometimes these questions get me so depressed [sometimes I don't even want to get out of bed on Sundays] the next thing will be to start a quarrel with my husband who [God bless him] always insists that when it’s time God will bless us with children. He has always been a source of encouragement to me on this issue.

People we need to be more sensitive to other people’s feelings especially when it comes to getting married or having children. God’s time is always the best. So many impressionable young and not so young people have gotten into situations that right now they are praying everyday for God’s deliverance just because nosy people won't mind their business. If you don’t have any encouraging words to say to someone in those situations, the best thing is “SHUT UP” and keep praying for God’s intervention in their lives.

Most of all these accusing questions come from our families, friends, brethren in the church. Some even start prophelying [if there is such a word] and call it prophesying. Please all these needs to stop. I can’t count how many people have gotten into deep trouble due to all these prophesies because they want to make something happen and not wait for God’s timing.

While single, I was introduced to all sorts of men, physically or through the internet who were anxious to get an American green card and will say all sorts of sweet words to get here, thank God for deliverances from such ones. How about the ones who were already here in the States but just needed a “Sugar mummy” who will take care of them and their families back home or a sex buddy. It takes the grace of God to swift the wheat from the chaff and when it was time God brought my husband into my life and I have no regrets.

God already told me the amount of children I am going to have and I stand on His promises. He even gave me their names so I know in His Time even if it takes years [if Jesus tarries], the children will come and I am not going to second guess or try to make it happen in my own way and timing so please people asking me if I am pregnant. I have always had big tummy, anyone who knew me years ago will testify because it runs in our family and I have tried various exercises to no avail and spent money on body suits, shapewears, spanx, Dr Rey etc still no improvement. I do know when I become pregnant, it will be apparent to everyone so I beg you by the mercies of God, stop the inquisition and just continue to thank God for my children.

Pray and thank God continuously for those waiting for the manifestation of God’s promises in their lives and stop your accusing questions, the last time I checked the accuser of the brethren is still the devil and I don’t think you want to be associated with him in any shape or form.

God bless you as you receive this admonition in love and make corrections where necessary.

Shalom!!!