Rejoice In the Lord
MiniM Chordiels Magazine Vol. 6, Issue 3, Jul - Sep 2017 Editors Dr. S. JUSTUS Dr. V. Immanuel
Welcome
Associate Editor Dr. V. HEPSIBA JUSTUS Head Publishing Shri. L. CHARLES SELVARAJ
Dear Friends, Happiest Greetings in His Name.
CHORDIELS MAGAZINE Published as e-Magazine in www.chordiels.com and www.issuu.com Published by: Chordiels Music | Handel Music Series Santhosapuram, Chennai 600073, TN, India
Mention me again to rejoice, I will be happy. I was driven by this verse from Philippians 4:4 repeatedly in the past few months. Though we walk in the valley of death, we are called to rejoice, leaving everything in His precious hands. After a month of our new CD release and set of new videos in our youtube channel, we received many nice words from our friends and fans. We are so thankful for your continuous support with prayers and encouraging words, that drives us to sing more songs. By His plentiful grace, we are completing our 9th anniversary this year. We have already started to dream and plan for the next year celebrations. As we have series of concerts in the coming months, Chordiels are busy practicing new songs. We hope this magazine would be a blessing to you. Forget not to share your thoughts and words with us, so that we would be encouraged to work even more.
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Have a happy time reading this Minim.
God bless.
Chordielly in Him,
All Rights Reserved. Copyright Š August 2017
Sung by: Chordiels, Harmonics & IHS, Cherubim Singers, Lutheran Men’s Voice, Minstrels, Evergreen Sisters, Carpenter’s Crew, Godwin, Emmanuel, Handel Music Direction: Justus S, Daniel, Godwin Audio Recorded & Mastered: Handel Studios
Availalbe @ www.store.chordiels.com All Christian book stores & Chordiels concert venues sms or whatsapp “Let’s Rejoice” to 9789145400 or send email to chordiels@gmail.com
Rejoice Again by Dr. S. Justus
Sufferings for every season. 365 days in year is full of suffering, pain, challenges, arguments, hatred, lust, anger, pride, jealous, your list it down. Tell me one single day when you are not trapped in any of these. Not a single day goes without a worry. This is human life under the sun, and it will be like that. You know something, the Giver of this human life tells us to rejoice. Come on. Will that ever be possible? I don't think so. Being a professor at an University, and a music teacher I deal with a lots of kids and a variety of them. Though I don't know psychology or any stuff to read minds, I am sure I can tell you, these kids are happy. When I mean kids, they are 10 years and below. You put pressure on them, make them do this and that, and ask them to study, finish their homeworks, at the end of the day, you can see that they are not much worried about their unfinished tasks. They tend to worry less, than the teens and the adults. After dinner, you let these kids play for sometime what they want, and leave them alone for 15mins, I tell you, they forget all their problems. They play what they love, and love what they play. Play with toys, books, papers, cycling, drawing, painting, these things would make them happy, forgetting the past. I think this is possible only by kids, because they have a very short memory. No conceptual storing of events happen at their age. That’s really what we as grown up adults need to have. ‘Unless you become like these kids, you cannot inherit the kingdom of God’. Often times, we need to be like kids to stay happy. Our memories need to be short lived, so that I can forget the anger, the jealous, hatred, pride and etc things I make me feel unhappy. Inspite of every other things out there in the world that can easily make you sad, train yourself to smile or even laugh loud at it. This is not as easy as writing here, or saying to a friend. Very very difficult, I know. Because for the past few months or even a year, I am crossing through the pain of being frustrated by things that I thought were mine. By I can sense the loving voice of Jesus say to me, just leave it, forsake it, forget it, and continue to do what you love the most. Then I replied ‘I love to sing for you’. He says, ‘then what are your worrying about, go ahead and make music for me’. Repeatedly, I am given this word from Philippians 4:4, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, Rejoice.’ That was really tough to rejoice amidst all your heart aches. But the Word commands us to become like a child and rejoice in the Lord. It is not just rejoicing in the worldly affairs. Like going for an outing with family, hanging around with friends on a vacation spot, spending on anything that you want, visiting parents place, helping a poor - all these things can only give temporary happiness which fades away when we are back into our home and the next morning when you are at the office. All worries comes back. The Lord says, Rejoice in me. How? Like a child. Leave everything in God’s hands. A child knows for sure that his/her father takes care of every little thing, and the father knows his children’s hearts. So be assured that our Heavenly Father knows all our paths and our heart aches. He knows all our pains and worries. So leave everything in His feet like a child, and do what you want to do. Forget every bad feelings and thoughts you have in your heart. Leave in His care, and don't try to take it back. At the end, do what you love the most - and that is what is rejoicing in Him, and that is eternal. You will not worry about the next day. Keep praising Him in the hallway, He will make doors open. Rejoice in the Lord, he says again, Rejoice. Don't forget to forget the worries, and don't forget to stay happy in Him, who knows your in and out, and everything of you. Rejoice in Him by reading and meditating in His words, help the poor and take part in their suffering, share the Good News of our Lord, and lead a life that is pleasing in the Lord’s sight. That’s it. Rejoice
Rejoice, Ye Saints O, saints lift up your voice, To Him and rejoice, O sing a song of praise; For all His kind ways! He leads us day by day, And turns us around when we go astray, He always hears us when to Him we pray; And He never from us walks away. Always Him love, And put your thoughts and focus on above, Always from Him seek His will; Even if His answer is no love Him still! Ask, Seek, Knock, Remember God's the rock, He walked on the waves and stilled the storm; And He's the only one who can keep us safe from harm. ~Marian~
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The Choice
to Rejoice
Everyone wants joy in life. On the surface, Paul’s words, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” are some of the simplest in Scripture to read and understand. But when you scratch beneath the surface, they raise a pile of questions: Is it really possible to rejoice always? What does this mean? Am I supposed to go around with a perpetual smile on my face? Is it a sin to feel depressed or sad? Am I supposed to deny pain or sorrow? How can you command a feeling, anyway? Are these the words of a bubbly, incurable optimist, or what? Just reading the verse might get some people depressed, because they despair of ever being able to do it! We need to recognize that what Paul commands here is not just a cheerful disposition, which many have by nature, but rather something that requires supernatural power--it is joy in the Lord. And, while we may never perfectly attain such joy in this troubled world, Paul repeats the command for emphasis, as if to say, “It is possible, so don’t shrug off what I am saying.” His emphatic words show us ... Abiding joy in the Lord should be the aim of every Christian. First, I want to define what Paul means when he commands us to rejoice in the Lord always; and then we’ll look at how we can obey such a command. Scripture must be our authoritative and sufficient source, not human wisdom or psychology. What does “rejoice in the lord always” mean? 1. TO REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE WILL NEVER FEEL DEPRESSED OR SAD. The Bible is realistic and balanced. We must look at the totality of Scripture rather than taking a verse like this as if it were all that is written on the subject. It’s interesting that the shortest verse in the Greek New Testament is, “Rejoice always” (1 Thess. 5:16). The shortest verse in the English New Testament is, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). They are not contradictory! Our Savior could weep and yet have the fullness of joy, even as He faced the cross (John 15:11). Paul commands us to weep with those who weep (Rom. 12;15), and yet to rejoice always. The Bible says that godly people are marked both by mourning (over sin, Matt. 5:4; James 4:9; 5:1) and yet by irrepressible joy. Scripture acknowledges that discipline and trials are not joyful at the moment, but that afterward they yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness if we submit to God (Heb. 12:11; John 16:20-22). Thus we would misapply Paul’s words if we took him to mean that a Christian should deny or never feel sadness or grief. The Psalms are helpful in this regard. The psalmist often is overwhelmed with despair or sadness, and he readily acknowledges his feelings to God. He never puts on a happy face and denies the intensity of his troubles. But in the process of crying out to God for help and re-focusing his thoughts on the Lord and His great mercies, by the end of the psalm his mood has changed, even though his circumstances are no different. So the psalmist often experiences a flood of God’s joy even in the midst of tremendous pain. Thus to rejoice in the Lord always does not mean that we deny our feelings or that we stoically endure our trials by ignoring how much we hurt.
Steve has been the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship since May, 1992. From 19771992 he pastored Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and California State University, Long Beach (B.A., philosophy, 1968. ince March 23, 1974, he has been a happy man. That’s the day he married Marla. Their oldest daughter, Christa, is married to Shane, who works in computer systems. They live in Chino Valley, Arizona, and have eight children (#9 due in the Spring of 2017!). Christa home schools the children. Yes, she is a busy woman! Their second daughter, Joy, is married to Jonathan. She is an artist. They live in Asia with their two daughters, where they are working on learning two difficult languages and adapting to a very different culture. Their son, Daniel, is a mechanical engineer at W. L. Gore, Inc. here in Flagstaff. He is married to Molly and they have two sons. Steve and Marla enjoy God’s beautiful outdoors through hiking the many trails around Flagstaff, Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and everywhere else they can. On various ministry trips, they have been blessed to hike in places like Nepal, China, South Korea, the Swiss Alps, and Eastern Europe
2. TO REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS IS NOT PRIMARILY A MATTER OF FEELING, BUT OF OBEDIENCE. Philippians 4:4 is a commandment, repeated twice for emphasis, so that we will not shrug it off. It is a command that we must deliberately choose to obey, especially when we’re in difficult circumstances. It has to do with our attitude which depends on our mental focus which depends on our choice. The choice to rejoice often must go deliberately against how we feel. When we go through trials, when we’re treated unfairly, when we’re disappointed by people or circumstances, we are faced with a decision: Will we obey this command to rejoice in the Lord or will we allow ourselves to be swept along by our feelings? I just wish that Paul had been more realistic and had said, “Rejoice most of the time”! But if he had said that, most of us would have justified ourselves by thinking, “I usually do rejoice.” But we wouldn’t have had to confront our grumbling and complaining when things don’t seem to go our way; our lack of trust in God in the midst of trials; our anger when we’re treated unfairly; our disappointment when people let us down or, to be honest, when we feel that God has let us down. We see this choice to rejoice illustrated in Paul’s life in this very epistle. He has been incarcerated for well over two years and is facing possible execution because the Jews in Jerusalem falsely accused him of bringing Gentiles into the temple and of stirring up rebellion against the Jewish people and their Law (Acts 21:28). Though he should have been released, the Roman governor kept him in custody because he was hoping to receive a bribe from Paul and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor (Acts 24:26, 27). The next governor also should have released him, but he, too, was playing politics with the Jews (Acts 25:9). Not only that, but on the way to Rome Paul had gone through a shipwreck at sea. Once he arrived, many of the pastors in Rome were not only distancing themselves from Paul the prisoner, but were preaching out of envy, selfish ambition, and strife (Phil. 1:15, 17). Paul had good reason to be angry and depressed at the treatment he had received over the past few years. You would think that he would have been in need of the Philippians writing to cheer him up. But instead, this short letter to them is filled with joy (15 x). As Paul’s words in 1:18 show, his joy was not an automatic feeling, but rather a deliberate choice: “... in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.” 3. TO REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS IS AN ATTITUDE OF CONTENTMENT AND HOPE THAT TRANSCENDS CIRCUMSTANCES. Though our hearts may be heavy with sorrow or grief because of trials, beneath the surface is the abiding confidence that our God is sovereign and that our lives are in His hand, so that not even the hairs of our heads fall to the ground without His knowledge. Paul had learned to be content in every situation (Phil. 4:11-13). “Every situation” for Paul included some severe trials, in some cases where he despaired even of life. But this, he writes was “in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;” then he adds, “He on whom we have set our hope” (2 Cor. 1:8-10). This joy in the Lord which we must aim for is not a superficial happiness based on circumstances or on the absence of trials, but rather is a solid, abiding contentment and hope that is as steady and certain as our faithful God who has given us His promises in His Word. Our Lord Jesus knew that joy even as He faced the cross (John 15:11; 17:13). The apostles knew that joy when they were flogged for preaching the gospel, and they went on their way “rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41). Paul and Silas knew that joy when they were unjustly thrown in the Philippian jail, their backs torn open, their feet in the stocks, as they sang hymns of praise to God (Acts 16:25). Many martyrs, like John Hus, knew that joy. He died singing praises in the flames as his enemies gloated. God intends for every believer to know this same joy in the Lord, especially in difficult times. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and the Bible is filled with commands, such as our text, to rejoice (Ps. 5:11; 33:1; 64:10). It’s a matter of obedience, not of temperament. If we’re constantly depressed and weighed down with care, we’re not attractive advertisements for our Lord Jesus Christ. We can’t be effective leaders in the church or godly examples to our families if we are dominated by depression. So we must work at developing this abiding joy in the Lord.
Chordiels Leeban says “I rejoice in the Lord ever morning. I rejoice in the Lord because he has been so kind and blessed me and my family inspite of all my wrong, and I rejoice in the trust that He has forgive my sings and I am free”.
Reuban says “I rejoice when an expectation is fulfilled. I also rejoice when I think of God’s goodness in my life”. He adds, “I rejoice because He has granted me my heart’s desire, and I know He is in control at all times”.
Rejoice Vasanth says “I simply and normally rejoice because of this life with multiple actions, incidents, experiences, situations in this mortal body with a living in God’s planned life.”
Stanley says “I am rejoicing in the Lord whenever I think, meditate, hear, read, talk about Jesus mighty name, power, character, love etc”. He also adds, “I rejoice because He always gives me hope for tomorrow even when I am in deepest trouble”.
Manley says “I rejoice and be joyful when I receive surprises and blessings from God. And I rejoice because Jesus is with me all the times of my life.”
Wesley says “I rejoice whenever I feel His power during the praise and worship, whenever I sing. I also rejoice whenever He rescues me from any problems that I face in my everyday life.” He adds, “He has given me family, friends and this beautiful life. Also He forgave all my sins. So I rejoice”.
Justus
says “I rejoice when God gives us an oppurtunity to make music for Him, and tell the Gospel through songs either in Chordiels, family, Church Choir etc. I rejoice to walk through the doors God opens for me”. He adds, “I rejoice because I am a forgiven child of God”.
It’s nine years since we are singing together in harmony. Yea, we celebrated our 9th anniversary as Chordiels Fest 2017 at CSI Risen Redeeer Church, Nungabakkam, Chennai, on 25th June, 2017, Sunday, 9am worship. Chordiels Music group has seen many changes all these years. As we are still young and we have got family commitments, official assignments, and other prioritized things to carry out, we often accommodate changes. And that costs a lot on the group. All these times, God has granted us some good voices, good hearts and likeminded guys who love to sing for the Lord in harmony. In this year’s Fest we have a new line-up of Chordiels - Manley, Vasanth, Wesley, Stanley and Justus. Stanley is the new lead vocals, and Wesley is filling in the baritone part. This group has been practicing new songs and old songs for the past month, and is now ready to take up the Fest worship service, and an extensive tour in the months to come. Also a new CD with these new voices will also be released soon.
25th June 2017 Sunday 9 am CSI Risen Redeemer Church, Nungabakkam, Chennai 9th anniversary Worship concert by Chordiels Leader: Rev. Paul Francis
The congregation were so happy to see the Chordiels. We could sense the excitement they were in waiting for us to open the worship. We were also equally excited to see a Church full of lovely people. They were all cheers as we are finishing song after song. Some old favorites and some new ones. Now that we had completed nine years, we are so glad to travel this journey together. We finished recording our 12th CD, and we thanked God for helping us release it in this Fest. Rev. Paul Francis dedicated the CD with prayers and released the copies of the CD. The seniors of the Church received the first copies. We thanked the Lord for bringing us this far together. We pray Him that He grant the wisdom from heaven for us to sing more songs and glorfy His Mighty Name, and also give us strength to travel to places and proclaim His praises. In addition to singing, we are publishing an online Magazine ‘MINIM’ which is a quarterly issue. And we are helping the poor and the needy during Christmas season, and we meet out the needs of semi-orphan or full-orphan kids during the start of their academic year. We thank all the sponsors who make this happen every year. We also host an online store, to promote 4-part harmony music. We also produce Cds and DVDs in our record label ‘Handel Music Series’. Any one is cordially invited to join hands with us in any of these missions in any possible ways you could involve yourself. Chordiels Music is grateful to all their friends and fans for their full support in this music ministry. The more free we receive, the more free we give the music and the message. We look forward your prayers for the music group, and your constant support and help in carrying out this music ministry.
Chordiels Music Player Collection of 30 songs in Tamil and English from old/new Gospel albums Listen to your favorite songs from your favorite groups Uninterrupted Live streaming of songs
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List of Songs
List of Groups
Lesaana Kaariyam Unnathamaanavarin He is watching Anbulla Swamy Rejoice in the Lord Heaven came down Kaakum Karangal
Helen Satya Classic Hymns Octet Cantabile Chordiels Quartet New Covenant Singers Lutheran Men’s Voices
Digital Downloads of three albums: Visit: http://chordiels.com/digital_downloads.php Get the mp3 of the songs through email.
We are called to rejoice in our Lord’s deliverance. 1 Samuel 2:1 And Hannah prayed and said, ‘My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. Psalm 35:9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.
We are called to rejoice in the goodness of God. Ecclesiastes 7:21 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. 2 Chronicles 6:41 And now arise, O LORD God, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in your goodness.
We are called to rejoice that we are blessed to suffer for Him. Acts 5:41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
We are called to rejoice that we have the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God (the Bible) to feed us. Psalm 19:8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 119:162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
We are called to rejoice in our God and who He is. Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
We are called to rejoice that our names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
We are called to rejoice in our families. Proverbs 23:24-25 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. 25 Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.
We are called to rejoice in the future. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
We are called to rejoice in Word properly and faithfully preached. Philippians 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Philippians 2:16-18 Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
10. We can rejoice in the coming of our LORD! Titus 2:13 Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Source: http://www.towerviewkc.com/2015/07/10-reasons-weare-called-to-rejoice/
Music Book A collection of 100 Christian Gospel songs - 60 Tamil and 40 English songs in four-part music notations arranged in SATB and TTBB. Tamil and English Convention songs, Hymns, Keerthanais, and some time-tested songs from Dr. Emil Jebasingh, Mr. Samuel Abishekara, Mr. Judson, Mr. Jacob, Mr. Stephen Dharmaraj, and from great song writers and composers of our time. All songs from Chordiels Music’s albums sung in Chordiels Style, and some contemporary arrangements of hymns and keethanais. Contemporary harmony scores from Mr. Victor Thangadurai, Mr. Augustine Paul, Dr. Prabhu Devaraj, Mr. Danie Prakash, and Dr. Justus.
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Handel Music Series “Chordiels Music�, Santhoshapuram, Chennai 600073 Š All rights reserved. Chordiels Music. 2015 Unauthorized copying and reproducing of the contents of this magazine in any form is prohibited
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