If you’re in the mood for a little pop music, today’s your day featuring Follow Your Dreams by Raze. This Christian group from Tulsa, Oklahomawas formed by vocalists Donnie Lewis, Ja’Marc Davis, J.D. Webb, and Mizzie Logan. Raze have made their mark with number one singles on the Christian contemporary hit radio charts: “Always and Forever” and “More Than a Dream.”
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. 12 Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you, Jeremiah 29:11-12.
Rather than go with the obvious, I wanted to give people hope in this current recession. If you don’t have a dream to follow, make goals in life so that you have a target to aim for in life. The passage above is one of my favorite Old Testament passages. This message goes along with the lyrics of Follow Your Dreams. As you listen to this Raze song, may you be inspired to never stop following your dreams regardless of your age,
When my children were young, Veggie Tales was at its peak in popularity. As my niece’s outgrew this Christian cartoon series, my oldest sister Kathie passed on her videos to me. One of these was entitled Madame Blueberry. This episode features a store called Stuff Mart. This was well before Amazon became the dominant online Super Store. Yet, Revelation speaks of a Stuff Mart of the Bible in the last days on earth.
And earth’s businessmen will weep and grieve over her because no one buys their freight (cargo) any more. 12 Their merchandise is of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet [stuffs]; all kinds of scented wood, all sorts of articles of ivory, all varieties of objects of costly woods, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 Of cinnamon, spices, incense, ointment and perfume, and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, fine flour and wheat; of cattle and sheep, horses and conveyances; and of slaves (the bodies) and souls of men! – Revelation 18:11-13.
John has a vision of either what Amazon will become or speaks of a global conglomeration where all merchandise is bought online. As an Amazon employee, it’s ironic how many items mentioned by John in his vision are already available. While I haven’t watched Madame Blueberry in 20 years, it appears that John describes the Stuff Mart of the Bible.
The ripe fruits and delicacies for which your soul longed have gone from you, and all your luxuries and dainties, your elegance and splendor are lost to you, never again to be recovered or experienced! 15 The dealers who handled these articles, who grew wealthy through their business with her, will stand a long way off, in terror of her doom and torment, weeping and grieving aloud, and saying, 16 Alas, alas for the great city that was robed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, bedecked and glittering with gold, with precious stones, and with pearls! 17 Because in one [single] hour all the vast wealth has been destroyed (wiped out). And all ship captains and pilots, navigators and all who live by seafaring, the crews and all who ply their trade on the sea, stood a long way off, Revelation 18:14-17.
In the tenth video of Veggie Tales, Madame Blueberry is a French blueberry who likes having anything she wants. This cartoon addresses materialism while highlighting a poor family who has developed an attitude of thankfulness for what little they do possess. While Americans daily struggle between needs and wants, third world nations are struggling to survive. May today’s blog help you realize that while stuff is nice, only Jesus will satisfy your soul, John 10:10.
If you want to follow your dreams, sometimes you have to attach yourself with or serve as an underling to finally break through. Such is the case for Nicole Mullen. If you haven’t heard of her, she’s worked behind the scenes with some of the icons of Christian music. Nicole worked as a vocalist with Michael W. Smith and the Newsboys, a songwriter for Jaci Velasquez, and dancer and choreographer with Amy Grant.
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God, Isaiah 44:6.
Nicole puts her own spin on the classic hymn My Redeemer Lives. The prophet Isaiah was one of the first to speak of a calling Messiah to redeem God’s people of their sins. Unfortunately, anyone born with or acquires a perfectionist spirit, tends to try to save themselves by striving for perfection. May the lyrics of My Redeemer Lives remind you to take any burdens to the foot of Jesus’ cross, Matthew 11:28-30.
Prior to taking a walk with his disciples, Jesus rebukes James and John for their worldly mindset in Luke 9:54-56. This verbal admonishment appears to have gotten all of the disciple’s attention. Rather than say something stupid, the disciples listened intently to Jesus’ interactions with three individuals who were eager to become one of Jesus’ disciples. What they all heard was the cost of sacrifice.
And it occurred that as they were going along the road, a man said to Him, Lord, I will follow You wherever You go. 58 And Jesus told him, Foxes have lurking holes and the birds of the air have roosts and nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head. 59 And He said to another, [v]Become My disciple, side with My party, and accompany Me! But he replied, Lord, permit me first to go and bury ([w]await the death of) my father. 60 But Jesus said to him, Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and publish abroad [x]throughout all regions the kingdom of God, Luke 9:57-60.
Jesus wasn’t being rude to these young Christians hoping to join His ministry team. Rather, Jesus was like a spiritual drill sergeant trying to expose the flaws and weaknesses of their faith. In the classic film Hoosiers, Gene Hackman tells parents of his basketball team that his players have to be stripped down before he can build them back up the right way. This is what Jesus was doing in today’s passage.
Another also said, I will follow You, Lord, and become Your disciple and side with Your party; but let me first say good-bye to those at my home. 62 Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things behind] is fit for the kingdom of God, Luke 9:61-62.
I’ve spent the last decade of my life in a comfortable place. My move to South Carolina this summer taught me about the cost of sacrifice. While I gave up a great paying job that was an ideal fit for my talents, family is more important than making money. Sure, good paying jobs provide luxuries in life. In the end, you have to solely trust in the Lord to provide, Matthew 6:33. May today’s blog help remind you of the cost of sacrifice.
Freedom has been a constant struggle for lower class citizens, peasants and slaves through history. Israel spent 400 years under the oppressive rule of Pharaohs in Egypt. Yet, when Moses finally led Israel out of this state into the wilderness, it didn’t take long for bickering, complaining and grumbling to begin. Ginny Owens sings about joy the freedom brings in her hit song Free,
In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off], Galatians 5:1.
Ginny is best known for her song “If You Want Me To.” Meanwhile, she also recorded a song called Blessed with Cindy Morgan which also gained national recognition. Despite these songs, I decided to select Free as all Christians wrestle with some sort of unhealthy addiction, bad habit or sinful craving. May Ginny’s song and the apostle Paul’s advice in Galatians 5:7 help you to finally break free to a better place in life.
Despite best-selling books like This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness by Frank Peretti, the topic of demons remains one of those issues that churches fail to properly address today. While there are a few dominations that overemphasize the Devil and demons, most mainline churches ignore demonology completely. If the apostle Paul refers to the Devil as the ruler of the Air, Ephesians 2:2 and highlights the influence of demons to a teenager pastor, there should be more teaching on this taboo topic.
But the [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, 2 Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized), 1 Timothy 4:1-2.
One of the first mentions in the Bible of demonic forces takes place in Daniel 10:13. Daniel writes about the prince of the kingdom of Persia who spiritually fought him for three weeks. While Daniel withstood this spiritual attack, he lost precious time in doing so. Meanwhile, some of my friends in college who spent summers on missionary trips overseas told me about an oppressive force. Whenever they reached the dwelling place of demons, two of them compared this to suffocation, struggling to breathe in an area.
Then I saw another angel descending from heaven, possessing great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his radiance and splendor. 2 And he shouted with a mighty voice, She is fallen! Mighty Babylon is fallen! She has become a resort and dwelling place for demons, a dungeon haunted by every loathsome spirit, an abode for every filthy and detestable bird. 3 For all nations have drunk the wine of her passionate unchastity, and the rulers and leaders of the earth have joined with her in committing fornication (idolatry), and the businessmen of the earth have become rich with the wealth of her excessive luxury and wantonness, Revelation 18:1-3.
The last reference to demonic strongholds occurs at the end of Revelation. While the apostle Paul paints the picture of a third fold wave in Ephesians 6:12: demonic powers, master spirits and spirit forces of wickedness, John mentions Babylon as a resort for demons. I don’t think John is referring to demons going on vacation, but a specific region, modern day Iran where demonic activity flourishes. If you put two and two together, this might explain Iran’s stance and support of terrorism. As Americans prepare for another Halloween, there are numerous demonic influences that law and order don’t want to consider.
As a former coach, one of the most overused sayings is that “there’s no I in team.” This expression is designed to highlight that a true team is composed of a group of individuals working together for a common goal. Unfortunately, in this age of social media, there is always at least one athlete who believes they are bigger and greater than their team. This is the complete opposite when you become a member of God’s team, Romans 10:9-11.
Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me, John 14:6.
Mark Schultz sings about this concept in the passage above. The context of Jesus’ words “I Am the Way” occurs during Passion Week, days before his own death on a cross. Mark started his career as a member of the group Up with People before pursuing a solo career. Jesus isn’t bragging about being God’s One and only son. Rather, Jesus is attempting to comfort his disciples by showing the way as a spiritual leader. May today’s song remind you to turn to Jesus to find truth and life.
I was first introduced to the concept of the second glance by the Casting Crowns song Slow Fade. Eve was the first human being to experience this in Genesis 3:4-6. Jesus’ earthly brother compares this lustful look to a fish sizing up the perfectly set bait in James 1:13-15. However, the disciple whom Jesus loved takes this one step further as eyes become intoxicated by specific temporary pleasures on earth.
Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. 17 And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever, 1 John 2:15-17.
If you want a more recent example of intoxicated eyes, check out the attached clip from the Chronicles of Narnia. Unaware of the apostle Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians 11:14, the White Witch appears as an angel in disguise to Edmund. Yet, when you have gone an extended period without indulging your fleshly desires, passion takes over as you do the completely opposite of what you know to be right, Romans 7:15.
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls then came and spoke to me, saying, Come with me! I will show you the doom (sentence, judgment) of the great harlot (idolatress) who is seated on many waters, 2 [She] with whom the rulers of the earth have joined in prostitution (idolatry) and with the wine of whose immorality (idolatry) the inhabitants of the earth have become intoxicated, Revelation 17:1-2.
The last mention of intoxicated eyes occurs in the Book of Revelation. Building upon the acts of the sinful nature in Galatians 5:18-21, John has a vision of inhabitants of the earth drunk on sexual immorality. John appears to be referring to a demon who he compares to the great harlot. Whatever this being or individual represents, when you let yourself go, drifting away from God, you become vulnerable to intoxicated eyes. May this blog serve as a warning to put to death these desires, Colossians 3:5, before enticement and lust drag you down all over again.
As someone who tends to be directionally challenged the first time I drive to a new place, I understand the confusion of getting lost. Part of finding your way back home is recognizing that sometimes you need help. Perhaps, this is what drew me to CeCe Winans gospel classic Never Lost. It wasn’t until the prodigal son was starving that he finally came to his senses in the passage below.
And he would gladly have fed on and[h]filled his belly with the [i]carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better]. 17 Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! – Luke 15:16-17
While CeCe’s birth name is Priscilla Marie Winans, she adopted the profession name of CeCe. Priscilla first earned notoriety as a member of BeBe & CeCe Winans. The lyrics of Never Lost speak to God’s power to do the impossible. Subsequently, God is never lost as He remains undefeated, never losing a battle. While God’s will for your life may not make sense at times, when you follow Jesus, you’re never lost.
Since the birth of Ishmael, the father of Arab Nations, Israel and Muslims have endured on ongoing spiritual war. While modern day Christians have joined Jews in believing that the Bible is the Word of God, Muslims hold fast to the teachings of the Koran. Yet, there is one area where both religions do actually agree: Abraham was a man of great faith.
[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go. 9 [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God, Hebrews 11:8-10.
After reading the call of Abram in the Bible, Genesis 12:1-20, I can imagine the conversation that took place between Abe and His father. “You’re doing what?” “Who is this God and what does he want with you?” What if you don’t like this land when you get there?” These are just a few of the questions that any loving father would express to their son before venturing off on his own.
Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word. 12 So from one man, though he was physically as good as dead, there have sprung descendants whose number is as the stars of heaven and as countless as the innumerable sands on the seashore. 13 These people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of [God’s] promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth, Hebrews 11:11-13.
The author of Hebrews devotes a good portion of the chapter known as the Hall of Faith to Abraham. Perhaps this is to be expected of any founding father. Nonetheless, Abraham left everything he knew to start a new life on earth. Abraham set the example for modern day missionaries devoted to fulfilling the Great Commission, Acts 1:8. Despite his own imperfections, this is the legacy of Abraham, a man of great faith.
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