God can use our sufferings to shape in us His character.

If you want to hear God speak, you need to withdraw to a quiet place, wait patiently and expectantly, ask God to give you a picture of what he wants to say to you, and then write down God’s responses to your questions.

Not once in the Bible does it say, "Grieve not," "Sorrow not," "Weep not," or "Cry not." What it does say is "Fear not." And it says that 365 times! Because grief doesn’t paralyze; fear does.

PRAYER - "Praise Him With Musical Instruments"

Banning musical instruments in worship contradicts several biblical mandates. Music expresses worship from the soul - not just the music that comes from our mouths, but from our hands on musical instruments. It is as biblical as anything. Psalm 150 says to PRAISE HIM with trumpets, psalteries (guitars), harps, timbrels, stringed instruments, organs, loud cymbals, and high sounding cymbal. The music is not intended for your pleasure or your entertainment. It is for HIS pleasure and HIS entertainment. He loves it loud, energetic and boisterous!

Psalms 150:6 - "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD."

PRINCIPALS - "New Songs"

Traditional hymns and songs of worship are at the very core of Christian worship. But all these songs were once new and innovative. We liked them when we first heard them and we have continued to use them for many years. But it is just as important to continue writing new songs of worship - songs that are fresh and perhaps even spontaneous. We should welcome the introduction of new songs into our worship experience.

Psalms 149:1 - "Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints."

PRINCIPLES - "Praise Him In The Dance"

Miriam led the people in a celebratory dance after God took them miraculously through the Red Sea. When the LORD gave Jephthah victory over the Ammonites, his daughter danced to celebrate. The women of Israel danced when David defeated the Philistines. David danced before the LORD to celebrate the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant. We should dance to celebrate God's wonderful works in our behalf.

Psalms 149:3 - "Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp." Psalms 150:4 - "Praise him with the timbrel and dance."

PROPHECIES - "I Will Laugh At Your Calamity"

Solomon wrote hundreds of proverbs - wise sayings - urging men to get wisdom in the fear of the LORD. "Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: ...saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? ...ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh." Reject simplicity. Seek His wisdom.

Proverbs 1:33 - "But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."

Remember when climbing out of a pit there is always so much more waiting for us at the top!