Author Archives: expressyourself4him

Discerning God’s Will for 2023

Posted on February 8, 2023 by expressyourself4him

King David compares discernment with waiting and hope in the passage below. From a secular standpoint, discernment is the ability to judge well. However, from a biblical context, discernment is perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual guidance and understanding. As a former high school teacher, it took me a few years to learn how to read a classroom. Discerning God’s will for your future requires concentration, focus, and patience to wait on the Lord.

[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! 14 Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord, Psalm 27:13-14.

Meanwhile, the apostle Paul refers to God’s will as spiritual maturation. This process occurs as believers draw near to God in worship and prayer. Similar to the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, a living sacrifice includes hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Anyone who makes this their priority won’t be persuaded by a world seeking to follow what’s politically and socially correct. As minds are renewed by God’s Word, discerning God’s will for your life in 2023 becomes attainable.

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you], Romans 12:1-2.

Advice to Christians in Galatia points to an internal struggle in Galatians 5:16-25. Paul provides a similar analogy in Romans 8:5-8 as sinful natures are in direct conflict with God’s Holy Spirit. If you want to discern God’s specific will for you in 2023, keeping in step with the God’s Spirit is essential, Galatians 5:25. The more time you spend meditating on the Bible and listening to spirit filled Christian music, keeping in step with God is possible. Once minds become in tune with God, clarity and discernment will follow. May this blog help you be and do what God desires, Philippians 1:6.

by Jay Mankus

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A Spirit of Confusion

Posted on February 7, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The older I get, the more I become aware of senior moments: forgetting why you initially got up, drawing a blank on the name of a close friend or missing a turn while driving in a car. Some people may blame this on confusion, but when minds wander it’s hard to reign in curiosity. Self-help experts have written countless books on overcoming memory loss while drug companies are always pushing the latest miracle pill to cure spirits of confusion.

Come, let Us go down and there confound (mix up, confuse) their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from that place upon the face of the whole earth, and they gave up building the city, Genesis 11:7-8.

The first mention of confusion in the Bible occurs during the second industrial revolution in the Old Testament. After the flood erased the Nephilim, a civilization of giants, Nimrod appears to be the architect of Babel and the suburbs which sprawled between two large cities. When God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit came to see the progress of this mighty tower, each agreed that it was time for a change. Subsequently, the winds of change brought in a Spirit of Confusion that ceased and ended all construction.

Therefore the name of it was called Babel—because there the Lord confounded the language of all the earth; and from that place the Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of the whole earth, Genesis 11:9.

The New Testament provides a solution to this Spirit of Confusion, the creation of global languages. The Day of Pentecost offers a reversal of this confusion in the form of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1-6. Eyewitness of this supernatural event were astonished that they were able to hear a stranger speak to them in their own dialect. Like the words of Mary following the news that she would conceive a Savior without having intercourse, anything is possible with God, Luke 1:37, even overcoming a Spirit of Confusion.

by Jay Mankus

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The Bible’s Indecent Proposal

Posted on February 6, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The storyline behind the 1993 film Indecent Proposal shocked many married Americans when it debuted in theaters 30 years ago. Unfortunately, the envelope has been pushed so far beyond what is good and decent that it takes a stunning plot like Indecent Proposal to get the attention of Christians. After losing all their money in Las Vegas, a couple is approached by a billionaire who offers a million dollars in exchange for one night with Diana. Yet, the Bible has its own indecent proposal.

And when he was about to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, I know that you are beautiful to behold. 12 So when the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say, I beg of you, that you are [c]my sister, so that it may go well with me for your sake and my life will be spared because of you. 14 And when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into Pharaoh’s house [harem], Genesis 12:11-15.

Moses provides a summary of Abram’s call from God to leave Haran for another land beginning in Genesis 12:1. While a timeline is not mentioned, a famine forces Abram to reside in Egypt until this food shortage subsides. This sets the scene for a man who was called by God, but his action reveals that Abram had not fully trusted God on his way to a promised land. Subsequently, Abram tells Egyptian leaders that Sarai is his sister, lying to save his own life.

But the Lord scourged Pharaoh and his household with serious plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, She is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her and get away [from here]! 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him, and they brought him on his way with his wife and all that he had, Genesis 12:17-20.

Abram’s indecent proposal opens the doors for Sarai to be added to Pharoah’s harem. While Moses doesn’t specify if Pharoah had sex with Sarai, he does take her to be his wife. Whatever this ceremony consisted of Abram was powerless to act. If Genesis 12 was made into a movie, Abram would have the same agonizing emptions as David Murphy in Indecent Proposal. As you consider the Bible’s version of Indecent Proposal, may the Holy Spirit guide you to make prudent decisions in the future.

by Jay Mankus

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When Desperation and Prayer Unite

Posted on February 5, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Non-religious individuals tend to turn to prayer during a life altering event. This could be just before a car accident, on a plane enduring extreme turbulence or some other unexpected dire medical diagnosis where even atheists cry out to God. As a child with a severe speech impediment, all I ever wanted was to verbally express what was on my heart and the words on my mind. Yet, my prayer life is usually only effective when desperation and prayer unite on my knees.

And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, Protect and defend and give me justice against my adversary. 4 And for a time he would not; but later he said to himself, Though I have neither reverence or fear for God nor respect or consideration for man, 5 Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will defend and protect and avenge her, lest she give me [b]intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or [c]at the last she come and rail on me or [d]assault me or [e]strangle me. 6 Then the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says! 7 And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He [f]defer them and [g]delay help on their behalf? – Luke 18:3-7

I was introduced to the Parable of the Persistent Widow in college. While Jesus’ words in Matthew 21:19-22 are often quoted by pastors during sermons on prayer, the persistent widow applies Jesus’ advice. Although desperation may lead you to pray for a miracle, doubt will stop any prayer from being answered. This widow was so persistent in her desperation, she kept on knocking like Jesus’ analogy in his Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:7-8.

When Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she dropped down at His feet, saying to Him, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 33 When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who came with her [also] sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. [He chafed in spirit and sighed and was disturbed.] 34 And He said, Where have you laid him? They said to Him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 The Jews said, See how [tenderly] He loved him! 37 But some of them said, Could not He Who opened a blind man’s eyes have prevented this man from dying? 38 Now Jesus, again sighing repeatedly and deeply disquieted, approached the tomb. It was a cave (a hole in the rock), and a boulder lay against [the entrance to close] it, John 11:32-38.

The shortest verse in the Bible,” Jesus wept,” is written by the disciple whom Jesus loved. Yet, the context of Jesus’ tears occurs following the death of Lazarus. When Mary blames Jesus’ absence for her brother’s death, desperation and prayer unite. This combination moves Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead. Of all the miracles Jesus performs, this one should inspire anyone wanting to see a miracle come to a point in your life where desperation and prayer unite.

by Jay Mankus

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The Crossover Connection: The Pat Benatar of Christian Music

Posted on February 4, 2023 by expressyourself4him

After spending most of 2022 writing daily music blog posts entitled Sing A New Song, I’ll be transitioning to the Cross Over Connection in 2023. To celebrate the beginning of my 11th year as a blogger, I will be providing weekly blogs each Saturday of Christian artists who sound similar to classic secular artists. Rather than scratch the surface of 365 different musicians, I want to dig deeper by giving readers the greatest hits of one group to listen to for an entire week. While Pat Benatar appeared as the lead singer for Shadow Wings, there is a modern Christian group which combines biblical lyrics with Benatar’s style.

John answered them all by saying, I baptize you with water; but He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing shovel (fork) is in His hand to thoroughly clear and cleanse His [threshing] floor and to gather the wheat and store it in His granary, but the chaff He will burn with fire that cannot be extinguished, Luke 3:16-17.

My goal isn’t to focus on well-known Christian artists. Instead, I want to honor bands and musicians who travel across the country without much fanfare to fulfill God’s will for their lives. The Crossover Connection for Week 1 is Fireflight: the Pat Benatar of Christian music. While visiting Joe’s Bar and Grill in New Ellington, South Carolina, the first singer on Karaoke Night selected “Hit Me with Your Best Shot.” The purpose of any crossover list is to distinguish which genres of music that you prefer. Like the words of Pat’s song, my opening shot for week 1 is Fireflight with hit songs like Core of My Addiction and For Those Who Wait.

by Jay Mankus

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Listening for God’s Audible Voice

Posted on February 4, 2023 by expressyourself4him

According to Jesus, listening and hearing are two separate things, Mark 4:9. One of Jesus’ common expressions is “he who has ears, let him hear.” Depending upon your attentive state, whoever is speaking may be boring or perk your curiosity. Based upon the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:24-27, listening inspires action. While atheists, liberals, and progressive Americans claim that God is dead; I believe listening for God’s audible voice is achievable, Galatians 5:25.

Now [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your father’s house, to the land that I will show you, Genesis 12:1.

Like any relationship, levels of intimacy can change from one day to the next. While Moses writes down God’s first encounter with Abram in the passage above, what actually happened on this day likely contained more details. From a human point of view, Abram might have wondered if he was going crazy or the creator of the universe was really speaking to him? This initial encounter opened Abram’s mind to the possibility of listening for God’s audible voice.

And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice. 13 When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah? – 1 Kings 19:11-13.

This is something the prophet Elijah also experienced in a powerful way. Based upon the passage above, there were a series of natural disasters which includes a tornado, earthquake and great fire. As this prophet was searching for answers to why these events were unleashed upon the earth, Elijah patiently listened for God’s audible voice. God didn’t send these down from heaven, they were simply part of nature on earth. As you take time to slow down by offering up prayers to God, listen for God’s audible voice, the Holy Spirit, so you can rebuke those who seek to blame God the next time bad things happen to good people.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 366: Only You Can Save

Posted on February 3, 2023 by expressyourself4him

After scanning all of my Sing A New Song posts over the past year, I realized that I repeated one artist and song, God Who Moves Mountains by Corey Voss. Due to this oversight, I am adding a pre-Leap Year edition, one more song before concluding this year long journey. The final song selection is Only You Can Save by Chris Sligh. This biblical truth is what one woman from Samaria discovered during a brief conversation at a well in the middle of a hot summer day.

Now numerous Samaritans from that town believed in and trusted in Him because of what the woman said when she declared and testified, He told me everything that I ever did. 40 So when the Samaritans arrived, they asked Him to remain with them, and He did stay there two days. 41 Then many more believed in and adhered to and relied on Him because of His personal message [what He Himself said], John 4:39-41.

The lyrics of Only You Can Save speak to the power of evangelize, sharing your faith with other people, regardless of how little time you have together on earth, 1 Peter 3:15-16. Chris begins this song reflecting upon a time when he forgot to share the love of Jesus while next to a man at a red light. Chris points to the words of the apostle Paul in Galatians 6:9-10, seizing every opportunity that God gives you to tell the world about Jesus. May the last song in this series inspire you to share your testimony with others in 2023.

by Jay Mankus

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Trust God to Figure Out the Details

Posted on February 3, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Whenever God calls you to do something, following this by faith will often require details beyond your comprehension. When I was single, I didn’t have to consider how obeying God’s call was going to impact my wife. Subsequently, I lived in six states in the first six months of 1993, following God’s prompting to leave Delaware to attend a youth ministry trade school, moving back to Ohio before teaching a semester at a boarding school in West Virginia. When a position in South Dakota fell through, another door opened at a church in Columbus, Indiana to finish this spiritual journey.

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]. 3 And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and [a]curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves], Genesis 12:2-3.

This wasn’t the case for Abram who just moved to Haran with his wife Sarai. Just when they were about to settle down, God interrupts their plans. As I recently read the passage above, one thing must have perplexed Abram as God promised that he would become the father of a great nation. The one little detail that Moses doesn’t mention in God’s call is that Sarai is barren and has been unable to have any children. While the Bible is silent on this obvious barrier, at some point in his life, Abraham began to trust God to figure out the details.

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths, Proverbs 3:5-6.

King Solomon writes about a similar concept, trying to teach his children about faith. Faith is something that Abraham didn’t pick up until God tested his allegiance in Genesis 22. After decades of waiting for a son who would start the family tree of Israel, God threw Abraham a curve ball. “You want me to sacrifice the child Sarah and I have been waiting to arrive for decades?” Some scholars believe that Abraham thought that God would raise Isacc from the dead which persuaded him to finally go through with it. This ia a perfect example of how trusting God with all your heart is believing God will figure out all of the details.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 365: Yours to Take

Posted on February 2, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Jesus didn’t force anyone to do anything in the first century. Rather, Jesus had high standards and expectations for anyone who followed him. Luke 9 provides a series of brief conversations of potential disciples Jesus passed over because He didn’t believe their commitment level was high enough. Jimmy Needham sings about this commitment in his song Yours to Take. As Jimmy matured in his faith, he came to the conclusion that it’s time to make Jesus the Lord of his life, Romans 10:9-11.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [[p]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. 25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed [q]life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] [r]life [in the kingdom of God]? – Matthew 16:24-26

Jesus had 3 expectations for his twelve disciples: to deny yourself, take up the cross of Christ and follow Jesus. Like the disciples who willing followed this spiritual leader, modern Christians need to come to a similar point in their lives. Are you going to take the plunge by saying “I’m yours to take” or are you holding out for a better offer? May the lyrics of Yours to Take inspire you to make a deeper commitment to the Lord in 2023.

by Jay Mankus

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A Mighty Hunter Before the Lord

Posted on February 2, 2023 by expressyourself4him

History books speak to early civilizations as hunters and gatherers. While I have a green thumb from time to time with successful gardens, hunting is something I’ve never done. The closest thing I’ve done to hunting is catching fish in a net to stock the dammed creek in my back yard. Despite having relatives who are skilled deer hunters with bow and shotguns, I can barely hit the target at rifle ranges. Subsequently, it’s hard to relate to the man Moses refers to as a mighty hunter before the Lord.

Cush became the father of Nimrod; he was the first to be a mighty man on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord, Genesis 10:8-9.

Perhaps, Nimrod was the Clint Eastwood of his day, able to shoot any moving target at a moment’s notice. Maybe this athletic ability skipped me and was given to my oldest son James who earned the honor of expert marksman at summer camp while in high school. All those years of playing video games as a child paid off for him. Yet, what qualities did a mighty hunter before the Lord possess and what exactly does that look like?

The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar [in Babylonia], Genesis. 10:10.

I suppose that whenever Nimrod went out hunting to provide food for his family, he never came home without something hanging over his shoulder. As someone with the gift of writing in the Spirit, Nimrod likely had a sixth sense for hunting, able to track down animals like an American Indian who lives off the land. Just as Enoch habitually walked with God, Nimrod followed the Spirit’s leading until catching the game he set out on was completed. This is all we know about Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.

by Jay Mankus

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