Sometimes you hear a song on the radio, but the DJ fails to tell you after the song is over who this was by. I first heard this song months ago but didn’t catch the artist’s name. While I assumed the title was Household of Faith, something distracted me on my way home from work. Subsequently, my short-term memory erased the lyrics from my mind. After a recent You Tube search, this song was on the top of my computer screen as I discover Household of Faith is by Winner and Shen.
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.
As someone who was witnessed multiple friends and neighbors have their marriages end in divorce, the lyrics of Household of Faith serve as a prayer to keep faith at the center of your marriage. Unfortunately, when couples lose the will to love one another, it’s like Eve in the Garden of Eden staring at the forbidden fruit hanging from the Tree of Knowledge. May today’s song inspire you to hold fast to faith whenever a spiritual storm approaches.
There were two common expressions the parents of teenagers in my neighbors used while trying to discipline unruly kids. The first was “knock it off,” but my dad often said, “cut it out.” When your father is a former defensive end and tight end in college, you do exactly what he says. One Old Testament prophet and Jesus make similar points in the passages below:
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue mutters wickedness. 4 None sues or calls in righteousness [but for the sake of doing injury to others—to take some undue advantage]; no one goes to law honestly and pleads [his case] in truth; they trust in emptiness, worthlessness and futility, and speaking lies! They conceive mischief and bring forth evil! – Isaiah 59:1-4
I came face to face with this expression during the summer before my senior year of college. While playing sand volleyball with my good friend Eddy, I broke my ankle. Instead of enjoying my final month of summer, I was bed-ridden for two weeks. While lying in bed, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper “cut if out or be cut off”. Like the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:15-16, I had become a lukewarm Christian.
I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. 2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. 3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. 4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing, John 15:1-5.
In the days that followed, I had come to a crossroads of faith. This was God’s way of saying, “make Jesus Lord of your life, Romans 10:9-11, or live for yourself.” At college I was a strong Christian, but at home in Cleveland I was chasing after earthly pleasures. August of 1991 altered my prodigal journey as I came to my spiritual senses to return home for good by beginning to cut out my former way of life, Colossians 3:5-9. May my personal journey inspire you to go all in by making Jesus Lord and Savior.
My first seminary class was Systematic Theology II. At the time, I was working two jobs and taking one class each semester. This first class was so mentally exhausting, I realized that I needed to give my mind a break, listening to something interesting. One of my bosses let me listen to Leonard Ravenhill who was a famous speaker on Prayer and Revival. Ravenhill introduced me to the term the first resurrection.
The remainder of the dead were not restored to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection, Revelation 20:5.
Unfortunately, it’s been 25 years since I last listened to Ravenhill’s teachings. Since this time, Leonard has passed away and I don’t recall much so it’s time to revisit the first resurrection. Initially, I was baffled as n my mind I kept thinking about Jesus’ resurrection, Matthew 28:1-6. The words John uses to describe the first resurrection is protos anastasis in Greek. John refers to standing up again to live.
Blessed (happy, [a]to be envied) and holy (spiritually whole, of unimpaired innocence and proved virtue) is the person who takes part (shares) in the first resurrection! Over them the second death exerts no power or authority, but they shall be ministers of God and of Christ (the Messiah), and they shall rule along with Him a thousand years, Revelation 20:6.
The thousand years only makes this matter more confusing. However, when you consider the words of 2 Peter 3:8, one thousand years is like one day with the Lord. Therefore, the point John is attempting to make is similar to Jesus’ message to Nicodemus in John 3:1-5. The first resurrection is to be reborn by getting up to live again. May today’s blog inspire you to become a new creation in Christ Jesus like Mac Powell’s newest song.
As the sun rises on a new day, there are two questions that Christians should consider prior to leaving for the day. The first is where does God want me to go beside school or work? The second is like it: what opportunities will God give me to be at the perfect time and in the perfect place? The group Vienna sings about this in their song Where I Wanna Be.
And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a [u]deserted place, and there He prayed. 36 And Simon [Peter] and those who were with him followed Him [[v]pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out], 37 And they found Him and said to Him, Everybody is looking for You. 38 And He said to them, Let us be going on into the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out, Mark 1:35-38.
Jesus didn’t leave this up to chance in the passage above. Rather Jesus goes for a walk early in the morning, finds a quiet place to focus and calls out to his heavenly Father to provide insight on what to do today. While Jesus’ disciples each had their own ideas and plans on what to do, Jesus knew the exact place to go, ministering to others along the way. May the song Where I Wanna Be inspire you to attempt to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
When I think of El Dorado, I’m expecting some sort of Western movie or town. Yet, today’s musician is from El Dorado, Arkansas. Josh Wilson’s song I Refuse addresses individuals who try to live their lives with blinders on. While trying to drown out all the noise in life is helpful, Josh refuses to ignore situations and people who need God in their lives.
So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin, James 4:17.
Jesus’ earthly brother addresses this topic in the passage above. James is referring to sins of omission. Based upon what James learned from his older brother, sins of action or just as bad as sins of inaction. Therefore, as Josh sings about in I Refuse, knowing what’s right and failing to act is equal to a sin of commission. May the words of I Refuse inspire you to act today when you see an opportunity.
Today’s song is great to fall asleep to when you can’t sleep. This isn’t because Your Love Never Dies is boring. Rather, it’s about a child who was mentored by his father who has since passed away. Despite this absence and void in a young man’s life, what Vincent learned has remained deep inside of his heart. This testimony comes in the form of a soothing ballad that was popular in the 1990’s.
Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as [d]a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself. 7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the message which you have heard [the [e]doctrine of salvation through Christ], 1 John 2:6-7.
Love is one of those qualities that you can’t fake. You may try to live a Christian life without love, but you’ll be setting a bad example. In the passage above, one of Jesus’ disciples is blunt about how to distinguish real love from phony Christians. How you conduct yourself and walk illustrates your love for God or lack their of. May Vincent’s Love Never Dies inspire you to emulate the love of Jesus.
Today’s featured song comes from a multi-talented individual who is a Christian artist, musician, songwriter, record producer, and speaker. Rob Frazier’s father W. Burwell founded the Warrington Fellowship Church in Bucks County Pennsylvania. Since I grew up about 30 minutes from this church, it’s no wonder that Rob Frazier’s albums were easily accessible at nearby Christian bookstores in Delaware.
[You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, 1 Peter 1:6.
Frazier’s song Go Through Fire appears to be inspired by the passage above. Peter writes about the refining process brought on by the trials that all human beings are forced to endure. However, if you want to grow and mature spiritually, you must go through these unexpected fires that arise weekly and monthly. May this classic ballad touch your heart and inspire you to draw closer to Jesus.
Today’s song comes from the Cyndi Lauper of Christian music. Similar to Cyndi’s hit song Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Julie Miller has a joy for life that she places into each song. A former Rolling Stones article revealed Julie’s battle with fibromyalgia, a disorder that causes chronic pain in the muscles and bones as well as fatigue and mood issues. This is the context that sets the tone for What Would Jesus Do?
Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. 2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a [a]slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance, Ephesians 5:1-2.
Julie uses the opening of the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15 to ask the question: what would Jesus do? While Julie has a distinct voice that you won’t find in many grown-ups, the lyrics of What Would Jesus Do stirs my heart and brings a tear to my eyes each time I listen. Julie sings about the need for Christians to exercise a labor of love. May this song inspire you to be the hands and feet of Christ.
In my final year of high school, I became a big fan of U2. My favorite album, the Unforgettable Fire, was filled with biblically based themes. Today’s song comes from a Christian band from the United Kingdom who combines a U2 feel with alternative praise. At the time of their arrival on the Christian music scene in the United States, Delirious was considered to be on the cutting edge of worship music.
The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness, Psalm 147:11.
The song Deeper suggests that Christians reach a point in their relationship with God where faith becomes stale. Subsequently, the lyrics speak of an inner desire to go beyond a surface level relationship. Like the words of 1 Peter 2:2, Deeper encourages Christian to dive deeper than they have ever gone before. May Deeper inspire you to draw closer to Jesus Christ, James 4:8.
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.
ExpressYourself4Him 