Top

Importance of Living according to God's Word

How we can make our children to be an active part of the Church

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and you lie down" Deuteronomy 6:6-7

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25

The Biblical responsibility is to bring up a child in the way of the Lord. Children have so many things around them which gives them happiness and joy. Children feel they love to remain with those things that gives them the worldly pleasure than be in the church. How do we make the children find the church more interesting? Each of us should instill the Biblical truth from a small age in our children so that church becomes more than a place of worship it should become a place that can give the children the ultimate joy, peace and happiness.

We should have our children and youngsters participate more actively in the church. They are three important aspects of Church worship where are children and youngsters should get involved. First is God's word, only when the youngsters understand God's word they will be able to involve and be an part of the Church . We should give more importance to Study God's word at Home and the Church. Through reading the bible, we get to see God's nature in us His justice, His love, His mercy, His grace, His truth, His compassion. We see in the New Testament that Jesus himself was grounded in God's Word and when he went for the worship opened the truths of God's word and spoke that everyone admired his knowledge and understanding.

The other aspect of worship which we should have our youngsters and children be a part is prayer. Prayer is something which helps us to communicate with God. We read in the bible that people would regularly pray for others, pray for various reasons -sickness, thanksgiving, problems. Prayer is a form of worship. Jesus himself would pray to his Heavenly Father. If Jesus found prayer important, we should understand it is so important for us too. King David, in all his Psalms sang a prayer and showed his feelings and how he relied on God for his strength and support. The last aspect of worship is song and music because the joy of worship is the music. Songs open the door of heaven it brings God and Man closer. God is worthy to be praised and praise is the sweetest offering we can give God. Psalms 100 says, Make a joyful noise to God, songs should give us the joy and a reason to worship to God. When our worship has a spirit filled music and we find that it’s much easier to accept the message or the message spoken often is much better received. The Holy Spirit moves in churches in many different ways. We have to beautifully play and sing hymns and we will be able to feel that our Lord is being in the midst.

- Elizabeth Anil

STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS

Heaven Came Down

“The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples see His glory.” Psalm 97:6

As a teenager, John W. Peterson dreamed of being a singer and soloist. He often sang on local radio programs and in churches. “Only in singing did I feel competent and confident, here was at least one place where I could excel. I knew it, I made the most of it.” he wrote.

 One summer John got a job in a factory, earning 15 cents an hour at a machine making canvas for wheat binders. The machines were so noisy he sang at the top of his lungs, hours on end, making up melodies and imagining he was on stage. John realized too late that he was ruining his voice. “I put such a terrific strain on my faltering voice through overuse and inexperience that I damaged it beyond repair. When I realized fully what had happened, that my voice would never again be beautiful, I suffered such an emotional shock that it took months before I recovered.” He wrote. Looking back now, john is grateful. “If that had not happened, I might never have developed as a writer. With my voice damaged, I turned more and more to writing and that talent was allowed to emerge and develop. What at first seemed a tragedy was used for good, and the course of my life began to take shape.”Today John W Peterson is called the “Dean of Modern Hymn Writers.” He is the author of such favorites as “So Send I You”, “It Took a Miracle”, “Surely Goodness and Mercy”, ”Jesus Led Me All The Way”, “No One Understands Like Jesus”, and “I Believe In Miracles.” “Heaven came down”, one of John’s most popular compositions, was written during the summer of 1961. He was ministering at Montrose Bible Conference grounds in Montrose, Pennsylvania. During one of the sessions, an opportunity was given for people to share a word of testimony. A man known as “Old Jim” rose to his feet and told of how he had come to Christ. “It seemed like Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,” he said. “Right away I sensed that it would be a fine title for a song. So I wrote it down and later in the week completed the song. It became a favorite almost immediately.” John wrote.

Powerful music of praise, quiet music of devotion, deeply moving music of worship, - all help us communicate with God in ways that words alone can neither equal nor explain. When we do communicate directly with God, is it not God himself who speaks to us in mighty words of praise and exhortation? God Himself who speaks to us through the stories of His own people, ancient and modern, flawed and failing and profoundly unworthy yet able, somehow, to bring about His will? Even the tiniest bit of His presence is sufficient to raise our eyes and open our hearts to behold Him in our midst smiling and listening and blessing us for reaching toward Him in all the ways He has given us. That is what these great Hymns are all about.

-Annie Varughese