St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church

06/21/2026

06/17/2026

What a wonderful time we had on our "field trip" down to the Carl Vinson VA Center in Dublin to visit our brother, the "King," David Hall, after worship on Sunday, 6/14/26!

Also, but unfortunately, not pictured, we visited Brother James Adams!

06/17/2026

Psalm 46:10

New Living Translation

“Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

Psalm 19:1-2

New Living Translation

Psalm 19

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.





Perhaps, it wasn’t what the psalmist was thinking when he expressed himself in Psalm 46:10, but maintaining my understanding that all art, though the creative self-expression of the artist, is subject to the interpretation of its audience, it occurs to me, in reflection, that movement, or at the least, too much movement, can contribute to a lack of clarity.



And when I consider excessive movement, especially among those who don’t yet know God, and who are busy just dealing with life in general, it pains me that, such business, is far more likely to keep them from being “still” and knowing that God is God.” And as such, the thought that He would “be honored by every nation,” becomes less a possibility.



However, as those of us, IN A COMPANY OF BELIEVERS, are testaments to possibilities becoming realities, we can recall being so busy, always in motion, but hearing His voice, whether through His disciples or through a direct communication from on high, we learned to “bee still and know that (God is) God,” and that “(He) will be honored by every nation,” and that He said, “I will be honored throughout the world.”

And as such, we count ourselves among the choir who sing, “the heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.”



Be Inspired, Encouraged, and Motivated to Be Still, Know, and Proclaim the Glory of God! It’s Love O’clock!

06/10/2026

Matthew 7:13-14

New Living Translation

The Narrow Gate

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow, and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

New Life Version

Jesus Teaches about Two Roads

“Go through the narrow door. The door is wide and the road is easy that leads to hell. Many people are going through that door. But the door is narrow, and the road is hard that leads to life that lasts forever. Few people are finding (looking for) it.



Today’s very familiar verses, though for me, in the King James Version (because I’ve heard it for quite a while), remind me as to why I refer to these writings of mine, reflections, and not devotions, even though most “devotions” are also reflective. Just one of my quirks, I suppose.



But as I read them this morning, I was intrigued as to the frame of mind that resulted, which is why I chose to post two versions. So let me share the phrases from both versions that ignited a new thought or possible interpretation in me: “The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way,” and ‘The door is wide, and the road is easy that leads to hell. Many people are going through that door.”



I had never noticed it before, but the implication of those two phrases is that all of us, before choosing to “enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate” or even more as a fact that “many people are going through that door.” The present participle, “going” helps to make the point.



Now, how this, likely, doesn’t surprise many of us, for surely, I’ve heard many testify that they were “on the way to hell” before they met Jesus, but from a strict “human” point of view, it seems unfair, but that is only if those who travel the broad “highway to hell” is unaware of it.



I suppose, then, it reminds me of the “human” burden we carry to let them know the spiritual truth which reveals the presence of a “narrow gate,” but I dare say, not only that to travel it prevents an eternity in hell, but that it leads to eternal life with Christ which, from my perspective, even if there was no hell to be concerned about, is far better than the life we live here. What a joy it is, then, to know that we, IN A COMPANY OF BELIEVERS, while eagerly looking forward to eternity in glory, are walking along the narrow way.



Be Inspired, Encouraged, and Motivated to Walk on and Lead Others to Walk the Narrow Way to Heaven! It’s Love O’clock!

06/08/2026

Proverbs 15:1

New Life Version

A gentle answer turns anger away, but a sharp word causes anger.



1 Chronicles 29:11



O Lord! You have great power, shining greatness, and strength. Yes, everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. You are the King, O Lord. And You are honored as head over all things.



1 Thessalonians 5:11

So, comfort each other and make each other strong as you are already doing.



Habakkuk 3:19

The Lord God is my strength. He has made my feet like the feet of a deer, and He makes me walk on high places.

This is for the song leader, on my different kinds of harps.



Looking at the four verses posted above and being reminded of how terribly I’ve kept my plans to post a reflection daily, but focusing on the last of the four, I recall a gospel song from the early seventies that was introduced to me when my eldest sister purchased a vinyl recording of it.



The song so moved me that, as the musician and director of my church youth choir at the time, I decided to teach it to them. Its opening line says, “God gave me a song that the angels cannot sing.” The last line of instruction from Habakkuk 3:19, for lack of a better word, “this is for the song leader, on my different kinds of harps,” more so than the preceding line provided the catalyst for my recollection.



And even though, “God Gave Me a Song” continues with, “I’ve been washed in the blood of the crucified one, I’ve been redeemed,” poetically, it is easy for me to see the similar “intention” of “the Lord God is my strength. He has made my feet like the feet of a deer, and He makes me walk on high places.”



From here, as I “catch up,” these songs are a source of comfort for me, and likely to others, IN A COMPANY OF BELIEVERS, and as such, for those who are still lacking, let us “comfort each other and make each other strong as you are already doing.” This is not a difficult thing to do when we agree that our “Lord (has) great power, shining greatness, and strength. Yes, everything in heaven and on earth belongs to (God), the King, (Our) Lord. And (He is) honored as head over all things.”



However, as even among A COMPANY OF BELIEVERS, disagreement rises occasionally, and certainly when we encounter non-believers, but with songs of praise on our hearts and comfort which is fueled by them, may we uphold that, as the first verse posted above says, “a gentle answer turns anger away, but a sharp word causes anger.” And as such, let’s continue gently, peacefully, and joyfully.



Be Inspired, Encouraged, and Motivated by These Verses to Live Accordingly! It’s Love O'clock!

06/03/2026

May 31, 2026:
5th Sunday WMS Day with our collected donations in the container on the floor! :-)
To God be the Glory!