While swimming in the Pacific Ocean for the first time a decade ago, I enjoyed Newport Beach and nearby Huntington Beach. After getting hungry, my family walked to the Huntington Beach Pier to Ruby’s, the restaurant that overlooks the Pacific. If you want to know where I’m going with this, today’s featured song is by the group Staves Acre which is from Huntington Beach, California.
I will give great praise and thanks to the Lord with my mouth; yes, and I will praise Him among the multitude, Psalm 109:30.
Staves Acre provides my go to mix at the start of every shift to get blood pumping through my body. The genre of Staves Acre is a cross between classic rock and metal. A few of their songs sound like Rush while others provide more of a metal sound of the 1990’s. As for today’s song, World to Wait provides a great sound with lyrics designed to create a sense of urgency within your soul. I hope you enjoy Staves Acre.
The most iconic movie in my lifetime is Shawshank Redemption. While Shawshank Redemption didn’t do exceedingly well at the box office in 1994, this film has developed a cult following today. There are several scenes that you may replay in your mind, but the attached clip is by far the most powerful. As Andy and Red talk about what they will do if they get out of prison, the scene is set for the classic line “Get busy living or get busy dying?”
So, since Christ suffered in the flesh [a]for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and[b]purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having [c]the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God], 1 Peter 4:1.
You don’t have to go to prison to feel hopeless inside. During my final summer as a college student, I had become a full-blown hypocrite, James 1:14-15. Bad choices, poor decisions and sinful habits caused my relationship with God to come to a screeching halt. After breaking my ankle playing sand volleyball, I laid in bed for two weeks contemplating my future. I was experiencing a crisis of faith where I had to decide. Get busy living the abundant life promised in John 10:10 or accept an eternity separated from God?
So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills, 1 Peter 4:2.
Based upon the passage above, one of Jesus’ disciples had his own inner demons to overcome. Following his last recorded conversation with Jesus in John 21:15-19, Peter had his own Andy Dufresne moment. Instead of dreaming about starting over in Mexico, Peter was sick and tired of wasting his spiritual potential on natural appetites, cravings, and desires. For Christians, there is only one way to get busy living. When you discover God’s will for your life and uncover spiritual gifts and talents, hope becomes a reality, Romans 12:1-2.
A couple of years ago, my work station was moved underneath a flat sorter. Due to the constant noise, I was forced to use ear protection whenever I sit at my desk. The positive side of this change is that I’ve been able to listen to music, podcasts and shows throughout my shift. As I’ve scanned the internet to find new Christian artists, I came across a group called Fireflight.
Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name, Hebrews 13:15.
The best way to describe their music is a mix between Fleetwood Mac and Pat Benatar. Today’s feature song is also the name of one of Fireflight’s 5 albums. The attached video uses an aspiring violinist who has a father who doesn’t support her dream to use her God given gift. As you listen and watch, I pray that the lyrics of For Those Who Wait will inspire you not to give up until fulfilling goals that others said were impossible to achieve.
When a career, job or occupation doesn’t turn out how you expected or wanted, human nature has a tendency to reminisce. This trip down Memory Lane might cause you to second guess previous decisions in your past. When your present circumstances seem dire or overwhelming, the grass may appear greener on the other side of the fence. Yet, what’s actually happening is sin is blinding believers with past temporary pleasures that blur their reality of the future.
After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came to her and said to her, Entice him and see in what his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him that we may bind him to subdue him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver. 6 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray you, wherein your great strength lies, and with what you might be bound to subdue you, Judges 16:4-6.
When parents attempt to set up a date for their daughter or son, this usually doesn’t end up going well. Anytime a teenager is told not to do something by an adult, they want to do the complete opposite. This is probably what happened to Samson when his parent sought to find him a good Jewish girl to marry. Since Delilah was pleasing to his eyes, the grass seemed much greener on the Philistine side on the fence.
But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). 15 Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death, James 1:14-15.
Marrying a harlot wasn’t the best idea for an Israeli leader. Yet, like the passage above, Samson was drawn away and enticed with looks that could kill. Samson developed a blind spot as he was smitten by love. Despite the attempts made on his life by Delilah’s people, sin clouded Samson’s judgment as he continued to stay with a spy for the Philistines. The next time you think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, remember what happened to Samson so that sin stops blinding you from the truth.
When most of the world was panicking about the threat of Y2K on December 31st, 1999, I was listening to a local Christian Radio station. As one century came to an end, this program began the Countdown of the Top 100 Christian Songs of the 1900’s. While I didn’t necessarily agree with all the selections, today’s song was ranked #4 on this list.
But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them, Acts 16:25.
Benny Hester would have been more popular than Michael W. Smith, but Benny made one crucial mistake. Back in the days when a divorce wasn’t an option for a Christian, Benny did the unthinkable and got remarried. Immediately, Christian bookstores across the country began to remove Benny’s music from their shelves. Yet, Hester’s prodigal experience set the stage for his hit song When God Ran.
The response known as fear starts in the region of the brain called the amygdala. This unpleasant emotion is often intense as individuals perceive and or recognize a dangerous threat. Depending upon the degree of fear that you encounter, physiological changes may produce behavioral reactions that conceive phobias. One of Jesus’ disciples suggests that reaching a certain level of faith allows Christians to be undisturbed by fear.
Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] – 1 Peter 3:11
As a child growing up in Delaware, I’d had many strange encounters with snakes. I’ve had snakes slither in between my feet while cutting the grass, fall from trees right in front of me and stop right next to me while swimming in a creek. These experiences conceived a reoccurring dream while in college. Similar to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the snake in my nightmare is coiled up before instantly launching toward me to strike and bit me
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control, 2 Timothy 1:7.
This phobia of snakes haunted me throughout my childhood. That is until a conversation in college opened my eyes to the meaning of this dream. The snake was symbolic of the Devil whom I spent a lifetime running away from in fear like a coward. The Holy Spirit was calling me to confront this fear with the knowledge of the promise in the passage above. When Christians begin to pray for and claim a spirit of power, love and self-discipline, you will eventually become undisturbed by fear.
Mike Stand, Jeff Crandall, Steve Pannier, and Ric Alba weren’t merely teenage boys who served as altar boys at their local Catholic Church. Rather Mike was the lead vocalist, songwriter, and played guitar for one of the most Christian popular punk rock group of all time. When Mike and Ric left the Altar Boys to start their own solo careers, I supported both of them by buying their albums.
My lips shall shout for joy when I sing praises to You, and my inner being, which You have redeemed, Psalm 71:23.
The rise of the Altar Boys’ coincided with my time as a college student at the University of the Delaware. I tried to purchase any new album as soon as they became available in stores. One of my favorite Altar Boys albums is Gut Level Music where today’s song is found. Life Begins at the Cross combines a great sound with powerful lyrics. I hope you enjoy this classic song.
A pretext is given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason. Whenever you are caught in the act of wrongdoing, the creative will come out with a logical excuse right off the top of their head. While watching an episode of Cold Case Files, one serial killer blamed a Succubus; a female demon. Similar to a child whose is caught by a parent, “the Devil made me do it” is a common rationale to explain irrational behavior.
[Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God, 1 Peter 2:16.
In a letter to the Church at Corinth, the apostle Paul explains that everything is permissible via freewill, but not everything is beneficial, 1 Corinthians 6:12. A few verses later, Paul uses a prostitute to introduce the concept of soul ties. Whenever human beings participate in any sexual act, a bond is formed. Instead of waiting for marriage to consecrate sacred vows made by a couple, temporary pleasures are gratified by giving into temptation.
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 16 The people answered, Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods; Joshua 24:15-16.
Following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, there were several religious cults that arose. Some of these groups cheapened God’s grace by professing the more you sinned, the greater God’s grace will be poured out upon you. This likely explains the words in Hebrews 6:4-6 as freewill was being used as a pretext for wickedness. Rather than follow the trends in today’s progressive culture, God wants more leaders like Joshua who aren’t afraid to take a stand by faithfully serving the Lord.
Listening to music first became a pre-game ritual for me in high school. Whether I was about to swim or run, the lyrics and sound of secular music pumped me up. Songs like Every Breath You Take by the Police and Changes by Yes prepared my mind for my next competitive event. When the soundtrack to Rocky IV came out, this tape made a permanent home in my Sony Walkman.
And again He says, My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me, Hebrews 2:13.
As groups like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship began to challenge my faith, I placed all my secular music in a closet and began strictly listening to Christian music. One of the groups that found its way into my Walkman was the Choir. Not just any choir, the Christian rock band known as the Choir. Consider is a special song that made me run faster as I jogged on campus.
Listening is one of those traits that requires more than just one of your senses. Yet, if the person who approaches you has a habit of rambling on and on, it won’t be long until you tune them out. Perhaps, this is the point Jesus is trying to make during his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:5-7. If you want your prayers to get God’s attention, find a private location and start pouring your heart out to the Lord.
For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them], 1 Peter 3:12.
If you read the Bible long enough one thing is clear, you can’t fool God. Sure, you may skirt the initial consequences of telling a lie, but what comes around goes around, Galatians 6:6-7. If you reap what you sow, a lame prayer life is only going to get you minimal results. The secret to getting God’s attention when you pray can be found in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. Obedience is the first step toward righteousness.
And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a [n]firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done. 22 And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive, Matthew 21:21-22.
When the basics like following the Ten Commandments become a daily goal, spiritual hunger is what takes prayer to the next level. Are you willing to embarrass yourself in public like the harlot who washed Jesus’ feet with an expensive bottle of perfume in Luke 7:37-39? When this type of passion is displayed, doubt starts to disappear as the mountains you once thought were immovable begin to fall. As you move in this direction spiritually, your prayers will get God’s attention. Use today’s song as a daily prayer to get started in the right direction.
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