Contemporary gospel music

Worship Wednesday with Ce Ce Winans.

King Of Glory–Ce Ce Winans

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord is strong and mighty,
The Lord is mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah

Psalm 24–NKJV

The Lord’s Prayer.

The Model Prayer
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that men may see them. Assuredly, I say to you; they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think they will be heard for their many words.


“Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:


Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.


“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Bible Gateway–Matthew 6:5-15–NKJV

Not everyone that comes to the banquet is chosen.

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

“Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused.


4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. So he sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.


8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite anyone to the banquet.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad and the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.


11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.
13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.””

Matthew 22:1-14–NIV

I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You

He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him:
But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
He that diligently seeketh good procureth favor:
But he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall:
But the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind:
And the fool shall be a servant to the wise of heart.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;
and he that winneth souls is wise.
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed on the earth:
 Much more the wicked and the sinner.

Proverbs 11:29-31–AKJV

Why are American Churches closing their doors?

According to an article in the Guardian, American Churches are closing their doors at a rapid pace. Experts believe the rate may have been accelerated since COVID-19.

Churches are closing at rapid numbers in the US, researchers say, as congregations dwindle across the country and a younger generation of Americans abandon Christianity altogether – even as faith continues to dominate American politics.
As the US adjusts to an increasingly non-religious population, thousands of churches are closing each year – a figure that experts believe may have accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic.
About 4,500 Protestant churches closed in 2019,
“In the last three years, all signs are pointing to a continued pace of closures probably similar to 2019 or possibly higher, as there’s been a rapid rise in American individuals who say they’re not religious.”
Protestant pastors reported that typical church attendance is only 85% of pre-pandemic levels, McConnell said. At the same time, research by the Survey Center on American Life and the University of Chicago found that in spring 2022, 67% of Americans reported attending church at least once a year, compared with 75% before the pandemic.

The Guardian

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:18-19–NKJV