April 4, 2011
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. Isaiah 65:17-18
Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe." The royal official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus said to him, "You may go; your son will live." The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. John 4:46-50
Piety
I praise you, LORD, for you raised me up and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, my God, I cried out to you and you healed me.
LORD, you brought me up from Sheol; you kept me from going down to the pit.
Sing praise to the LORD, you faithful; give thanks to God's holy name.
For divine anger lasts but a moment; divine favor lasts a lifetime. At dusk weeping comes for the night; but at dawn there is rejoicing. Psalm 30:2-6
Study
Tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock.
There was a music official who saw that children in Harlem and Brooklyn and the Bronx were threatened with the violent society that surrounded them. Their parents had deserted them. Their brothers, sisters, cousins, friends and others were dying violent deaths of drive-by shootings, drugs overdoses and more.
The music official turned to Jesus and taught these children to sing gospel music in praise of the Lord. The praise has helped these teenagers rise above the societal illnesses that surround them and live.
Yes…when you believe in the Lord your son and daughter will live. To hear testimony about this program, check out How "Gospel for Teens" is saving the music. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/31/60minutes/main20049243.shtml)
Action
In 2006, legendary writer and producer Vy Higginsen and gospel legend Dr. Emily "Cissy" Houston joined forces to teach aspiring teenagers about the importance of gospel music as an art form.
Gospel for Teens Program is a program of The Mama Foundation for the Arts and Vy's Higginsen's School of Gospel, Jazz and R&B Arts that has grown to be a highly respected and influential program for youth between the ages of 13 and 19.
You can learn more about this program at the Mama Foundation for the Arts (http://www.mamafoundation.org/gospel-for-teens.html). Follow them on social networking sites, donate if you are inclined, or purchase some of their inspiring music. But whatever you do, make sure you watch Lesley Stahl’s moving segment about how music saved these teens on the 60 Minutes website…Tick tock tick tock tick tock.
