The Pathway

Matthew 5: 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

On the pathway

Is the Light

And as I walk

Shadows I cast

On the walkway

Friends are met

And as I pass by

Memories made

That will forever last

.

Friend or foe?

Who am I?

What are you?

Friend or foe?

That’s what we always ask

And it’s no easy task

For I don’t know

Who I am

What are you

.

And you ask for my help

Can I help?

Friend or foe?

And I ask for your help

Can you help?

I must know

And when words are past

And actions taken

We’re still left wondering

Was I right?

Friend or foe?

Please, let me know

.

On the pathway

Is the Light

You, Lord are my light

And as I walk

I can’t help but cast the night

Lord, be my light

And on the walkway

People are met

And as I pass by–

Am I the night?

Or the light?–

Memories are made

That will last forever

.

Lord, am I friend

Or am I foe?

Lord, is this friend

Or are they foe?

We ask for help 

One to another

And I don’t know

Am I the light?

Are they the night?

Lord, let us know

If we do right or wrong

Lord, be the light

Be the right

No matter what

Shadows we cast

On life

Please let me be a friend

And not foe

Lord, You are

The light

~

“Dear LORD, please help me to be a help to those around me and not a hinderance.  When my brother in Christ asks me for guidance, let not foolish words come out of my mouth but let it be of You, according to what You have given me.  And let me pray, pray, pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ as they struggle with stress of the world and stress at home and stress from within, especially if You have made me aware of it.  And LORD, please deliver me from any vile person I encounter as I go out into the world. Let me not surrender to despair and anger, but always remind me of You as I go about my day. You are always enough, help me remember and believe it.  Help my brothers and sisters remember and believe it. Amen.”

~

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

John15: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

13This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19We love because he first loved us. 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

John 15:12-15: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

 

Psalm 41:Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.  The Lord protects and preserves them— they are counted among the blessed in the land— he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.  The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness. I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.” My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?”  When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around. All my enemies whisper together against me;

they imagine the worst for me, saying, “A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.”  Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me. But may you have mercy on me, Lord; raise me up, that I may repay them.  I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.

12Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.  Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

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Boast in the LORD

Romans 5: 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Who boasts in the LORD?

Is it not I, oh my soul?

Does not my tongue rejoice

In His promises, blessing, and grace?

Is it not I who has been redeemed?

Is it not I who has been freed of fear?

Where now is the sting of death?

Why now be anxious of the day?

Why lose sleep in the guilt of the night?

Is it not I who am never left alone?

Does not His Spirit dwell in me?

Will He ever be ashamed of my hope in Him?

Who boasts in the LORD?

Is it not I, oh my soul?

Psalm 27: 1The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27: 1The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

2When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.  3Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.  

4One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.  5For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

6Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.  

7Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.  8My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”  Your face, Lord, I will seek. 9Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper.  Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. 10Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.  11Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.  12Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.

13I remain confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  14Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Romans 5: 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Message: In the Hard Times

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Have hope

Be you hopeful

Have peace

Be you peaceful

(But what if

There is no hope?

What if

There is no peace?)

~

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.

Have grace

Be you graceful

Have life

Be you living to the full

(But what if

There is only anger?

What if

There is so much death?)

~

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Have truth

Be you truthful

Have spirit

Be you full of Him

(Even when

There are lies?

Even when

Christ is despised?)

20 On the contrary:  “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”  21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:9-21

Proverbs: Like my Father

“18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. 19By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.” ~Proverbs 3

Am I planted by the waters

Of wisdom

Do I eat of her fruit

Every day?

~

I want to be like my Father

Who laid the earth’s foundations

By Wisdom.

I want to be like my Father

Who placed the Heavens carefully

By Understanding.

I want to be like my Father

Who divided the water

Who causes the clouds to rain down

By Knowledge.

I want to eat of that fruit.

I want to be wise in the eyes of my Father.

.

Psalm 1

1Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 104:24

O LORD, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions.

Psalm 136:5

To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

Deuteronomy 33:28

“So Israel dwells in security, The fountain of Jacob secluded, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens also drop down dew.

Job 36:28

Which the clouds pour down, They drip upon man abundantly.

Proverbs: Wisdom Is Part 2

“13Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” ~Proverbs 3

Oh to be the apple of His eye

The child of the Living God—

To fear the Lord

To seek after His righteousness

To cling to my Father

In every way

Every day

.

Oh that I would fear my God

And gain Wisdom!

All around me is death and hatred

Paths of uncertainty and violence

There is no peace

There is no love

Although we seek it with all our hearts

Our hearts remain darkened against it

And I am just the same

Oh that I would fear God

And gain Wisdom!

.

For to fear God

Is to know God

And to know God is to know Christ

And Eternal Life

The world becomes void when compared to His beauty!

I put my trust in the One the Father sent

And I am not condemned

But loved

His path is not hateful

But peaceful and loving

Although full of the truth of the Living God

To know Christ

Is to fear God

Is to have Wisdom

.

There is Life in Wisdom’s right hand

Riches and honor in her left

Behold the Lion of Judah—

The slaughtered Lamb is worthy

Of all our praises!

.

John 17:3

Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

Proverbs 22:4

The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

Matthew 11:29

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 119:165

Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Revelation 2:7

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to eat of the tree of life in the paradise of God.

John 3:17

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

John 17:8

For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

John 17:21

that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

John 17:23

I in them and You in Me–that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.

John 17:25

Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.

Philippians 3:8

More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Philippians 3:10

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,

Proverbs: Deliverance

“11Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. 12Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, 13who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, 14who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, 15whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. 16Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, 17who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. 18Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. 19None who go to her return or attain the paths of life. 20Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; 22but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.” ~Proverbs 2

Protection for the needy

Help for those who cry out

He comes to the humble in heart

To those who submit to the fear of God

It is to them that the treasure of Heaven is given

.

When the crooked path is ahead

Unrecognized and disguised

And the upright is attacked on the roadside

By the perverse in heart

The Lord rises up

And defends His own

You will not, child of the Living God,

You will not be abandoned

You will not be left for dead

The Good Samaritan will always find you

The angel of God

Will always deliver you

From that crooked path

.

And when her words,

As smooth as milk

And as tasty as honey,

Yes when her words

Invite you into her house

And deeper into the chasm

Making you forget what is right

Unsure of what the Lord is saying to you—

When that happens

Cry out!

Shout out!

He will hear and deliver you

From the lion’s mouth

From the serpent’s tongue

He will show you once more

The path to life

Just take it

Take it

.

Although it seems that all is lost

That the wicked prevail

And receive every reward

They will be cut off

They will be destroyed

Do not join their ranks

That lead to death

But persevere

Remain upright in heart

And fear the LORD

~

“3indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 9Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. 10For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” ~Proverbs 2

“1Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” ~Psalm 37

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” ~Matthew 5

“1In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain. 2For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. 3When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. 5The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. 6On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. 7For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.” ~Psalm 11

“30In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denariie and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’” ~Luke 10

“Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. 11One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.” ~Genesis 39

Meditation: Adopted Into Life

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” ~John 14

There are days that I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing with my life or where I’m supposed to go, days of feeling like it’s just me and the world and no one is around to help me get to my goal—and I’m not even sure what my goal is.

But the bible is full of verses that talk about perseverance and keeping our eyes set on the prize, keeping our minds on Heaven. Even Jesus Himself told His disciples this. Our belief in Him is our confidence that He has prepared a place for us, a place with no tears, pain, uncertainty and most of all no sin, a place that we can live with Him for all eternity. It is because of our relationship with Jesus that we have this glorious inheritance, for we are now adopted into the Holy Family!

“1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” ~Colossians 3

From this passage it seems clear that not only are we to know Christ but we are to even find our very identity in Him. He died, therefore we died. He was raised, we are raised. He will be glorified, we will be glorified. He is supposed to permeate our entire life—He IS our entire lives! And it is because of this we are supposed to put our focus on the place where He is, in Heaven.

Because we died with Him we are to constantly be putting to death our sinful desires. Where our entire lives are focused on our Savior, His entire life is focused on glorifying the Father, and therefore so is ours. And being obedient to Him in every way honors the Father, the Son, and therefore also the Holy Spirit. And why do we care about what they think? Because He is our life! God gave us eternal life and will give it to us at the end of all things!

I hope very much that you are encouraged today to think on Heaven with me. How awesome it is that God lay down His life that we might be adopted into such a glorious inheritance, to join Him in Holiness!

Proverbs: Seek

The next series I will be going through is Proverbs.  I hope you’ll join me on this journey, to learn what it is to fear the Lord and gain wisdom!

“1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—5let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—6for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” ~Proverbs 1

Seek out the Lord

Seek out His Ways of Life

Seek out the Lord

Seek out the Ways of Life

.

Oh that I would be wise

That my heart would not

Never despise instruction

That when advice was given

And discipline offered

I would not turn away

That I would not respond with scorn!

Simple minded

Is the way I prefer

Is the way I am

.

Seek out the Lord

Seek out His Ways of Life

Seek out the Lord

Seek out the Ways of Life

.

Oh to understand His Words

Spoken to me in this Book

To understand what He says

And see what He sends

That I would fear Him

And seek after what is right

That I would fear Him

And obey all that He commands

Reveal Lord all I don’t understand

I am simple minded

And I hate the spiritual things

Please Lord

Help me

.

Seek out the Lord

Seek out His Ways of Life

Seek out the Lord

Seek out the Ways of Life

 

“…5The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. 6And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the LORD is his treasure.” ~Isaiah 33

~

Proverbs 15:33

Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 2:9

Then you will understand what is right and just and fair–every good path.

 

Proverbs 19:20

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

Psalm 49:4

I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Proverbs 15:32

Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

Proverbs 23:9

Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

Music: Dusty Rock

“Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ Ephesians 5

“1Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.  2Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.  3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” ~Psalm 96

I was driving home from work, feeling tired but also pretty content, glad to have my music for company. As I listened and sang, as is normal, I wished that I could share the music I listen to with other people, especially people who have never heard these artists. And, as is normal, my mind started coming up with different ways to do this, but I rarely act upon these plans because, hey, who really cares what I listen to? Sure, it encourages me, but most people who do hear my music can’t get past how different it sounds to them.

On this evening, as my mind tried to come up with a plan again, I remembered what a coworker had said to me just that week: “You must have lived under a rock!” or something of that nature. He’d said it because a song had come on the radio as we were cleaning and I didn’t know who the artist was, or the song for that matter. Honestly, I probably did live a sheltered life compared to most people, at least in regards to music. My family never listened to the radio; it was either styles we didn’t like or it all sounded the same. So instead I grew up listening to music that mom and dad listened to, and I had no idea what was ‘popular’ or what wasn’t, and I didn’t really care. There was Steve Taylor, Newsboys (with Peter Furler), Larry Norman, Bride, dc talk, The Choir, The Lost Dogs, Swirling Eddies, Caedmon’s Call, Switchfoot, Plumb, the 77’s, Adam Again, The W’s, Third Day, Margret Becker, and Charlie Peacock just to name a few. Some of these you’ve probably heard of, some are long gone, and others perhaps are new to you.

Anyway, being accused of living under a rock because of music didn’t bother me. In fact it made me a little proud, and it inspired me. It made me ask the question, “What does it sound like living under a rock?” or at least my rock. And the first song that came into my head that matched that question is Larry Norman’s ‘Rock that Doesn’t Roll’. Yeah, I know, pretty dusty under this rock.

That song is energetic and should be encouraging to any Christian—Christ is our solid rock that will stay with us forever, forever unchanging!

So yes, I live under a rock. But my music is largely what made me who I am today and, no matter how old or strange, God is constantly encouraging me or reprimanding me through it all the time. I wanted to share two more songs with you, both of which are encouraging to me. The first is by The Choir, one of their newer songs that encourages me that I am never alone, we are never alone, even in the darkest or most despairing of places. And then the last song is Caedmon’s Call ‘Hope to Carry On’. I hope both encourage your heart today!

So what songs are a part of your life that encourage you?

Sermon on the Mount: Inward Thoughts

27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” ~Matthew 5

If I could

I’m sure I would

Throw that first stone

Swing it away

Wish you away

Cast you into the shadows

But when I am faced

With the ugliness

Entombed in these white walls of mine

I must embrace

The truth that I

I deserve that stone

And so much more

In the eyes of my Lord

.

God doesn’t look on the outside

He looks within

What thoughts we keep hidden

He sees the motives

And they alone can be sin

He desires holiness

In the inward places

Hatred is murder

Lust is adultery

No matter how you dress it

.

What is making me fall?

What am I using to indulge my sin?

No matter how precious

No matter how close

Cut it off

Throw it away

What worth is it

In comparison to the soul?

Be dead to sin

Alive to Christ

The Holy Spirit is here

To help make you whole

Sacrifice

Sacrifice

No one said it would be easy

Sacrifice

Sacrifice

Only through God

Can I be free

.

And I know that

He made a promise

And it is already fulfilled

In His eyes

He will make me clean

He will make me new

He will take me away someday

As His precious bride

And He has sealed this promise

With His blood

With His life

And still living now

And it will be realized

When He returns

.

So remember this, His child

The war is real

But so is our LORD

Yearn for the holy life

Completed in Christ

There is life and death

Yearning for your soul

But Christ has won!

The victory is here!

And it will be completed

On that final day

Do not fret

Do not fear

And above do not

Cast that first stone

~

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

“2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” ~ John 8

25“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

27“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” ~Matthew 23

Romans 8:5-6

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. “

Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Romans 12:1-2

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of Go

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Sorry this was so late, but it’s here now.  Life can be a little unpredictable sometimes 🙂 Hope you have a good week!

d, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”