A Christmas Memory from Ann Mauritia D’Cruz

Psalm 8:2 (NIV) “ From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise…”

As in previous years, before Christmas, I put up a little manger depicting the nativity scene in my home.  This year, I thought I will start my own tradition by asking my grandnephew Aidan who is 23 months, to put the figurine of baby Jesus into the manger.  As I pointed out each figurine, I explained to him about the birth of Jesus, the wise men, the shepherds, Joseph and Mary.  I gave him the figurine of baby Jesus and when he held it he said “baby Jesus nappy on”.  I have never noticed that before.  I taught him to sing “Silent Night”.  Whenever he came over to my home, he would go to the manger, take the baby Jesus figurine and say “Baby Jesus nappy on”. Read more »

In the pursuit of your singing success, there’s a natural tendency to focus so intensely on what you need to work on, that you forget to acknowledge what you have going for you that’s not only working but working well. It’s also important to have a clear, realistic understanding of your strong points so that they are recognized, affirmed, put to use, and showcased as often as possible.

Those strong points are a potential positive resource for personal power. The confidence, comfort and gratification that comes from engaging your strengths can be tapped to help you face fears and address insecurities or areas of discomfort that present challenges both on and off stage or in and out of the studio. Read more »

If you are at all concerned about the growth and the future of your church, you are probably already thinking about and engaged in ways to bring young people into your church, and how to get them more involved.

Let’s face it, if you’re not bringing young people into the church and getting them actively involved in the life of your community of believers, your church is eventually going to die – both literally and figuratively.

But how?  Young people today have a lot to distract them and occupy their time – how do we get them involved with something so often perceived as “stodgy and old fashioned”? Read more »

… and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23

God has promised you His constant presence (Hebrews 13:5), but are you conscious of His presence every day? When you are conscious of His presence every day, you will experience a peace that gives you rest, joy inexpressible in your spirit and a power that nothing in this world can offer. In fact, you will begin to be peaceful and powerful like Jesus. You will speak and behave like Him. This is because you cannot be in God’s presence without His beauty, love, peace, power and glory rubbing off on you.

But how do you practice being conscious of God’s presence? Read more »