HEARTFELT HYMNS – by Gwen Smets
Three years ago Gwen released her first piano CD entitled, “Heartfelt Hymns”, recorded in Chicago, IL with the accompaniment of professional violinist, Beth Novak. Hymns like, “Amazing Grace”, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “He’s Coming Soon”, plus many more are included. Since it’s release we have sold nearly 1000 copies all over the U.S. and Canada. As someone once said, the message of the old hymns is timeless. Their melodies are beautiful, but their real strength is in the unchanging doctrine that epouses the music.
Gwen has been playing the piano for more than 50 years. She accompanies the prophetic ministry of the Scriptures to individuals in our services. Her background at the keyboard provides a beautiful backdrop to the prayer time at the altar. If you would like a copy of her CD, just click on “Store” on this website, www.rogersmets.com.
The Peace That Keeps!
Perhaps one of the most well known verse in the entire Bible on the Peace of God is Phillipians 4:7, “The peace of God that passes all understanding will keep your heart and your mind through Christ Jesus our Lord.” One of the key words in this verse is “keep“. It makes this an assuring peace that has power to keep us in the midst of the most troublesome storms of life. This verse says that God’s peace will keep our hearts and our minds. Some say in the midst of difficult times, “I’m about to lose my mind”, but God says, “no!”, ”I will keep it for you”. He promises to keep our hearts and our minds with His awesome peace. This peace is a peace that only He can give, the peace that surpasses all human ability to comprehend. It is the only true peace that promises emotional, mental and spiritual stability amid the most difficult of times.
Evangelist Roger Smets
This past Sunday, I had the priviledge of ministering at Hope Foursquare Church in Snohomish, WA, the church that my dear friend, Dr. Tom Ferguson was actively serving as Senior Pastor until his passing four months ago. I felt honored to have been invited to stand in the place where he stood and to declare the Word of God to his people. Needless to say, it was a sobering moment, realizing that Tom is gone and will not be returning. There were many tears in the house. They say in life you can count on one hand the number of people who have made a signifant impact on your life. Well for me, Pastor Tom was one of those five. He was always a great encouragement to Gwen and I in our ministry as evangelists. I miss the frequent phone calls that always ended with a prayer and a Bible Promise for the day. I miss his distinctive voice that always carried a tone of hope. Perhaps his greatest asset was that he was a man who undeniably loved Jesus!
This coming Sunday, Pastor Tom’s son, Andrew Ferguson and wife, Megan will be officially installed as the new Senior Pastors of Hope Foursquare by Northwest District Supervisor, David Veech. This past Sunday, I had the priviledge of praying a strong personal prophetic Word over Andrew and Megan as they now assume this added responsibility of leadership for the church.
Next Sunday: Next Sunday I will be ministering at Family Life Center Foursquare Church in Exeter, CA, where Tom and Ronda Ferguson served as Youth Pastors in their early ministry many years ago. Thanks for your prayers as I minister to people who need Words of Life and Words of Hope from God’s Word.
I was just thinking about heaven. What will it be like? Will we be old or young in heaven? Will other believers recognize us? The questions go on and on as we ponder on the glory of our eternal home. Someone once said that “Heaven will be heaven, not because of the pearlly gates or the streets of gold or the Crystal Sea. No, heaven will be heaven because that is where Jesus will be.” We will behold Him face to face and see first hand the scars in His hands and His feet, confirming Him as the Son of God who gave His life for our sin. I jut can’t image what that moment will be like. Perhaps the songwritter came close when he wrote,
“What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon his face,
The One who saved my by His grace
Then, He’ll take me by the hand
And lead me through the promise land
What a day, glorious day that will be”
I’m looking forward to that day. Are you? Regardless what trials or tribulations or heartache or pain we had to go through in this life, “It will be worth it all, when we see Christ”.
