Out of the Mouth of Babes

And they said to Him, Do you hear what these children are saying?
And Jesus said to them, Yes, have you never read;
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise?
Matthew 21:16 HSV

By David Cook

All good gifts come from above.  Heavenly Joy is no doubt a gift from heaven to her father and mother, Rodney and Joy Enriquez Jerkins.  And now, thanks to America’s Got Talent her gifts and talents are bringing joy and laughter to many around the world!

Heavenly Joy is an adorable talented child.  Her vivacious personality is contagious. Jesus said that “out of the mouth of babes” would come praise to God!  I would imagine her mother Joy Enriquez Jerkins has taught her about God’s love and all that Jesus has done for her.

After Heavenly Joy’s stellar  performance Howard Stern was inspired and reminded of the child star Shirley Temple.  He commented; “You know, I think Shirley Temple is living somewhere inside of you. Is that possible?”  She wisely replied; “Not Shirley Temple, Jesus.”  Heavenly knew she is not embodied by the departed spirit of Shirley Temple, her temple is filled by the Spirit of Jesus!

To them God chose to make known
how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery,
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27 NASB

Heavenly Joy’s Dad is Rodney Jerkins who is an American record producer, songwriter and musician. Rodney has collaborated with many popular artists, including Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Luther Vandross, Toni Braxton, Destiny’s Child, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears.  He is responsible for over 160 million record sales worldwide and the winner of four Grammy Awards, Mr. Jerkins is one of the most successful producers in the history of popular music.

The fruit normally doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Watching Joy Enriquez Jerkin’s music video “Hallelujah” you begin to see how Joy has poured her life and love into her children and husband building a home of love for the glory of God while singing His praise!

Heav’s Mom, Joy Enriquez is a music artist and actress herself.  Joy began establishing a name for herself as a rising child star in her hometown of Whittier, California at the age of 5.  She sang a solo at her kindergarten graduation, she was destined to take center stage.  Joy was 15 when her dream began, the talented Latina singer entered the national television airwaves in 1995. Ms Enriquez appeared on the Star Search series, and won the female vocalist category for 11 consecutive weeks!  Then she went on to sign with Babyface and LA Reid at LaFace/Arista Records. Her excitement grew in 1997 when she lent background vocals to the single “When you Believe” the pairing of Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey, for the Prince of Egypt (1997) motion picture soundtrack.  And in 1999, she recorded the ballad “How Can I Not Love You” for Anna and the King (1999) soundtrack, which was nominated for two Golden Globes.  Joy was paired up with Latin Pop superstar, Carlos Ponce for Disney’s Lady and the Tramp II (2001) soundtrack singing the all-time favorite spaghetti kiss song “Bella Notte”.  Joy released her self-titled debut album on Arista Records.   Co-produced by Babyface along with other writers and producers such as, Beyonce Knowles, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins and Soulshock & Karlin.  Ms. Enriquez landed a major role as “Joy” on Spelling Television’s critically acclaimed family drama 7th Heaven, that aired on the WB Network and was rated number one.  So there is a lot of musical talent in Heavenly Joy’s family tree, both on her Mom and Dad’s side of the family.

Have you seen HOUSE OF JOY yet?  One of the most talented (and hilarious) families on television today! Starring Joy Enriquez, the reality series follows the singer/actress as she balances her busy career with family life. Also starring Joy’s husband, Grammy® Award-winning producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, who has worked with a who’s who of singing stars including Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, and NUVOtv’s own, Jennifer Lopez.  The HOUSE OF JOY cast also features Joy and Rodney’s three kids — RJ, Heavenly, and Hannah — plus, Joy’s parents, Randy and Helena, and her brother, Josh, and sister, Tiffany. Between Joy and Rodney’s creative conflicts in the studio, and all of the hijinks in their house, the series showcases one of Hollywood’s most fun-loving families.

Freedom Time

by David Cook

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
–Yeshua the Son of the living God

John 8:36 NIV

Everybody knows they are guilty of something, it could be stealing a cookie out of a cookie jar.  Or could be something more serious than stealing a cookie that haunts your conscience, day and night.

The prophet Moses wrote in the Jewish Torah;

And God spoke all these words:

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

³ “You shall have no other gods before me.

⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

⁷ “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

¹² “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

¹³ “You shall not murder.

¹⁴ “You shall not commit adultery.

¹⁵ “You shall not steal.

¹⁶ “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

¹⁷ “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

¹⁸ When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance¹⁹ and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”

²⁰ Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

²¹ The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Exodus 20 NIV

Ten Commandments

God gave His people ten commandments.  God gave us eight things not to do and two things to do.  Two to do and eight not to do.  Let’s take a look at them.  Don’t have any other gods, only serve YHVH (Yehovah).  Don’t make any images to bow down to worship or serve as your god.  Don’t misuse the name of the Lord your God.  Do remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. Do honor your father and your mother.  Do not murder.  Do not commit adultery.  Do not steal.  Do not give false testimony (perjury) against your neighbor.  Do not covet your neighbor’s house, wife, car, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

When you obey the ten commandments given by God,

you’re showing your love for God and your love for your neighbor.  

Have you broken any of the ten commandments given by God?  Are you suffering from any guilt as a result?  How can we get set free from guilt?  How can we get set free from our sin?

Are you free or are you a slave to something?  Is there an addiction that you run to for comfort that you think will make you free but now your caught?  You’re a slave to the thing that you thought would set you free.  Perhaps it’s alcohol, cocaine, “ecstasy”, pornography sex, or gluttony.  The thing that you think will bring freedom, an escape, temporary ecstasy instead gets you hooked, ensnared and you become a slave to your own sins.

What are you a slave to?

Facing the truth is the first step towards freedom.

It’s Time to Repent

What does it mean to repent?  To turn away from evil and do good.  To turn away from your sins and turn to a loving and merciful God for mercy and forgiveness.  Judgement is coming, but there is still time to repent.

The list of sins is long.  In the book of Proverbs we read of seven sins that are detestable to the Lord.

¹⁶ There are six things the Lord hates,
    seven that are detestable to him:
¹⁷         haughty eyes,
        a lying tongue,
        hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸         a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,
¹⁹         a false witness who pours out lies
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV

Pride, lying, murder of the innocent, wicked schemes, quick to rush into do evil, perjury, stirring up strife.  Perhaps these are some of your sins, perhaps you’re a slave to other sins.

Messiah Yeshua Came to Set Us Free

How can we get set free from guilt?  How can we get set free from sin?

³¹ So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ³³ They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. ³⁵ The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. ³⁶ So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:31-36 NASB

God has a plan.  A plan to save us from our sins.  The apostle Paul explained it to believers in Messiah Yeshua living in Rome;

²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.  — Saint Paul

Romans 3:23-26 NIV

Believe in Yeshua & Receive New Life

It’s time to get real.  It’s time to face the truth.  It’s time to believe the truth.  It’s time to get free!  It’s time to come to Yeshua (Jesus).