Ebenezer’s 100 reasons to praise God
CHERYL
HAREWOOD
GOSPEL CALL
GIVE GOD THANKS and praise!
Essentially, this was the admonition given by Brother Errol Maynard when he delivered the sermon at Ebenezer Pentecostal Church in Airy Cot, St Thomas, recently. This was during a special service to celebrate the 100th birthday of his grandmother, Tabitha Maynard.
Maynard, who is also the island’s Chief Fire Officer, reminded the gathering that as Creator and Sustainer, God was deserving of all honour.
He cited Psalm 135:1-3, where the call goes out for God to be praised for His goodness. Maynard also said it was a good time to thank God for Tabitha’s long life.
“Today, we are not only here to celebrate with my grandmother, Tabitha Maynard, but also to give God the praises and thanks for giving her to us and for allowing her to be among the living on her 100th birthday.
“Amidst all the challenges of this year, and amidst all the challenges that life throws at us, we need to serve and praise the Lord even more. We must never miss an opportunity to praise and worship our God.”
He said the children of Israel were reminded in Joshua 24 of what God had done for them and how He protected them during their travels through the wilderness. Maynard also reminded his listeners of the land God gave the Israelites and how He fought their battles and gave them success after success.
“As God protected the children of Israel, fought for them and defended them, He is also reminding us of what He has done for us, what He is doing for us, and what He will continue to do for us.
“As he protected the children of Israel, He is also willing and ready to defend and protect us today. For this to happen, we must turn our lives around. We need to examine our lives and forget about those things that are placing a wedge between us and our Saviour.”
The preacher stressed that believers must not allow anything or anyone to keep them from serving or praising God.
“Today, I am encouraging you to accept the guidance of Joshua in Joshua 24:14-28, in which he admonishes the Israelites to serve the Lord in sincerity and in truth.
“We need to stop serving all the false gods that we have been serving. We need to get rid of all the distractions that place a gap between us and God. We need to commit to serving God and establish an intimate relationship with Him and Him only,” Maynard said.
“Put away all the distractions. If your car is a distraction, put it away. If your job is a distraction, get rid of it. If your boyfriend or girlfriend is a distraction, get rid of him or her.
“God has been good to us during the past year. Some of us got what we wanted and some did not, but all of us can be thankful and praise Him. He has given us more time, one more day, MINISTER OF PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT and Elder Affairs, and Member of Parliament for St Thomas, Cynthia Forde ( centre), was among the worshippers.
Inset, centenarian Tabitha Maynard (left) and her sister Lucille Armstrong during the special service and birthday celebrations held in Tabitha’s honour at Ebenezer Pentecostal Church.
one more moment to make things right.
“He has given Mother Maynard 100 years and counting. Every day is a blessing, but you do not need 100 years. All you need is now. As a matter of fact, all you have is now. Take advantage of what you have and personally connect to God right now,” he urged.
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BROTHER Errol Maynard urging the congregation to give God thanks and
praise. (Pictures by Ricardo Leacock.)
