**Body and Soul
The WMU has started an activity which aims to reach both body and soul.  A devotion before physical exercises every Saturday @ 9am SJBCI church.  Contact Sis. Juvie.  A separate post will be constructed to show the monthly schedule and what fitness is offered that month.  Cardio, Zumba & P90 are a few of what will be included in the line up.  Watch out for it! 

Choir Number Next Sunday May 23
The choir is reminded to come to church on time next Sunday to give a number before the preaching.  Choir robes will be worn.

May 28-29: SJBCI Building usage
TCGSCH requested the use of the building for these dates for the preparation of a wedding, so please schedule around it.

**May 31: Church Picnic
Picnic will start with a devotional period beginning at 9am.  Please come on time so you may be able to maximize your moments with the brethren around.

May 30: Church Service: Veterans Tribute
Our church wants to give a special tribute to all our members’ relatives, family, or friends who are veterans.  These special people in our lives have fought for their countries, and given their lives to serve such an admirable cause.  Please come on the 30th to pay tribute.  If you have any family members who are veterans, please see TJ Jardinico to collect their pictures and information.  Help would be greatly appreciated.

May 22: Extravagant Praise @ Cherry Hill TCGS
Everyone is invited for TCGSCH for their night of extravagant praise, a night of music and worship.  Our praise team will also be leading some songs that night.

** a banner is on the right side module for more information

Our God inhabits praise.

The problem with subjectivity is that everything can be justified, and truth isn’t absolute. Seemingly, there are more than two sides to a coin, and what is right is based on how something is defined, and typically, the one who can define their version vocally has the upper hand.

Somehow, the same is true inversely with the benefits of subjectivity; there are more than two sides of a coin. The problem is when we can fail to seek what is truly the truth of the matter. An even worse consequence is if we fail to conclude the matter with anything other than praise.

Being a wife of only five years and a mother of four years, I still feel I’m a novice to many of life’s experiences compared to successful veterans. When faced with personal difficulty in life’s matter, even in my familial relationships, I’m posed with a choice at the end of each day, “am I acting in praise?” The challenge is triggered by an aching conscience that demands an honest answer that cannot be denied, and despite my subjectivity, it demands the objective truth from me. At the core of my justifications, I’m brought to humility and asked “am I praising the Lord?” When the question is answered no, I ultimately swallow my pride and even find myself asking forgiveness from my four year old.

When answering the question, yes, when you can honestly face the brashness of life’s pointing arrows or even subtle scorn and still say yes to living in praise, then nothing has the power to crush you because our Lord inhabits the praise of His people. Never have I read of Biblical promises that our lives are spared by hurt, pain, nor trials, but the Bible is saturated with stories of people who have been delivered through praise.

One example is found in Acts 16:19-34 when Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail for commanding a demon to leave a slave girl who profited schemers. Though persecuted by misinformed city officials, although doing God’s work, Paul and Silas audibly prayed and sang hymns while imprisoned (v.25).   I doubt Paul’s singing prowess was the proponent factor for their release and cause for the "massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations" (v.26).  Chains literally fell because despite being bound, their faith in God’s deliverance manifested in their act of praise.  Why would they be praying and praising had they not believed God is bigger than their circumstance?  The importance is that they did not run away in fear, cower in intimidation, or react in annoyed vengeance.  They chose to praise God.

Paul and Silas’ obedience to act in praise continued even after they chose not to encourage the jailer’s suicide.  He drew his sword in fear that their release would result in horrific consequence. Instead, Paul intervened to help his oppressor rather than destroy him.  Typically, human nature has the propensity to act to the latter.  But acting in a way that praises God, I believe, though the more difficult road travelled, leads to victory and freedom.  In the case of Paul and Silas, their merciful act resulted in that jailer’s salvation, with the added bonus of the salvation of his entire family.  "Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God" (v.33). 

The story doesn’t even conclude with Paul and Silas’ deliverance and the jailer’s salvation;  more truth is revealed because they chose to praise the Lord instead of react abrasively.  Ultimately, the city officials learned of the misinformation given to them.  And having been falsely accused, they were even asked for forgiveness (v.39).  

We all go through struggles and we all have our own stories, our own versions, but how we deal with the circumstances, we’re asked to make a choice to either act in praise or submit to reacting outside of praise.  At the end of the day, we’re all addressed by our aching conscience, demanding an honest answer on how we’re handling that given circumstance.  "Am I praising the Lord?"  How we answer it is between us and God.  But there is assurance that we cannot go wrong giving praise and living praise, for our God inhabits praise.  And imagine it, in our praise, God can cause the earth to shake.

Psalm 16:7
"I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me."

The dictionary defines depression as “a state of sadness or hopelessness.”

It is really surprising that 20 years ago, depression was not as popular or talked about as it is today. It was merely an emotional low. But now, it has also become physical, that anti depression drugs has become so prevalent and addictive to some in desperation.

In the Bible many people have had bouts of depression :

• Abram, because of the son he has still been waiting for.
• Jonah and his heat issues with the gourd and the east wind.
• David and his many Psalms who could have been a Psychologists dream patient.
• Job, which to me, is one of the symbols of great agony for losing everything he had.

King Saul also had bouts of depression in his life during the end of his reign, having in many cases, ended up as a failure in God’s eyes. But once in the stage of his kingdom, he showed a great remedy for depression: PRAISE.

1 Samuel 16:14-23 shares how depression sets in inside us. On the 14th verse, it says clearly why Saul succumbed to the harassment of the evil spirit. He lost the favor of the Lord after clearly disobeying a direct order of wiping out the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15). The troubled king suffered after his sin of disobedience. Let us ponder on this and think if we ourselves have clearly disobeyed God. I know for sure a lot of us can relate, but not asking forgiveness and continuing to make the Spirit mourn will eventually lead us to destruction, much like what Saul had experienced. Depression is a point of attack the enemy uses on us, and only God can take this away, not by just merely singing songs and clapping hands, but by the surrendering of our hearts completely to Him.

I can attest that there was also a stage in my life when I have been disobedient, and God allowed me to meet people and go through hardships and unnecessary hurt to make me understand that this world clearly has nothing for me. That period of time is one stage of my life that could have been used for the Lord, instead of finding solace in the dark. At the end of the day it will just be you and Lord. But thanks be to God, for He is the God of second chances. He gave Saul a shepherd named David, filled with God’s Spirit (verse 13), who played the harp in praise for which the evil spirit which tormented Saul departed. You may ask where was praise in David’s harp. We have overlooked that it said that David was filled with the Spirit of God after his Holy anointing with the prophet Samuel.

Praise and Worship is real. Have you tried playing praise music on the car or at home? Have you tried singing and blessing God while giving no care who is next to you during Praise and Worship time? (Psalm 134:2) Have you tried starting it during your daily devotions? I am telling you: when you find yourself in trouble, in an argument, or confused, or all the more depressed, take it from the Word, get your Praise songs, and let it play! Do not only listen to the rhythms, but the words. Grab a Bible and just praise the Lord; make music, your own music to the Him. Praise belongs not only at the pulpit during Sundays, but it is a personal decision and outlook of who God is in our lives. Determine if disobedience from God and the proud spirit of not asking for His forgiveness and control of our lives is leading an opening for the enemy to assault you. If we recall, seek forgiveness and repent, be assured that He will not let the righteous be moved. Through Christ, He has made us Righteous.

Depression will never be present if you have Praise and Worship and the living, reassuring Word of God in the forefront of your life.

Instead of focusing on how big your problems are, try focusing on how big your God is.

Psalm 43:5

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.

(info on our devotion writers: click here)