Music for Him

~Tuesday Thoughts~

This is the fifth post in the series on Colossians 3 and 4. The first four are On Things Above, Put to Death Your Sins, No Gentile or Jew, and Peace and Thankfulness . The first category in the NIV Bible for this passage is called "Living as Those Made Alive in Christ." Let us do so!

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

Music is amazing. When we listen to music or write it or play it or sing it, something happens that doesn't normally happen. An excited energy seems to invade us, leaving us dancing or closing our eyes or mouthing the songs or just thinking about the words or the beat.

We can use music to God's glory. When we listen to music that praises His name, or at least is clean. When we write songs that are about Him. When we lead others in worship. And when we sing to Him. When we remember who He is and who we are and how much we owe Him and express it in song. 

This week how can you use music to bring glory to God? 

Overflow

~Monday Movies & Music~

Tenth Avenue North's new song "Overflow" has a great message. Here are the lyrics.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."1 John 4:7-12 (NIV)

Today, remember to praise God for His love! Share that immeasurable love with others!

"Stop listening to the Enemy" and more quotes

~Saturday Stories~

"God does love you. He's been trying to show you that. Nothing is so bad that He would stop loving you. ... You have to stop listening to the Enemy." - Renee, The Masquerade

"Not everyone is called to be a Quaker. But everyone is called to receive God the Savior." -Mrs. Fry, The Thieves of Tyburn Square

"You need to be really praying, Em. And reading your Bible. And you may need to talk to someone at camp, someone who can be kind of a prayer warrior with you, you know what I mean? Someone you can talk to about this." -Leah, Faded Denim

"Gracie talked to God as she walked, grateful she wasn't going into this alone." - Grace Notes

How about you? Do you believe God loves you? Have you received God as Savior? Do you have someone who can be your prayer warrior? Are you grateful that you aren't walking through life alone?

Give what you want

~Friday for Friends~

I'm in the middle of watching an interesting video recommended by a friend, "Give What You Want" by Holly Furtick. Sometimes we don't feel like giving. Or we feel that we have given so much that people owe us. But can we break the 50/50 "rule" of relationships?? 

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”" Luke 6:35-38 (NIV)

Watch the video and tell me what you think! 

Calming the storm

~Tuesday Thoughts~

"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”" Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)

Our God can calm physical storms. He can also calm the ones in our hearts. 

You are

~Monday Movies and Music~

Montell Jordan has a great song, "You Are." Here are the lyrics.

"11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”" 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NIV)

Our God is so amazing! Let that truth wash over you tonight! 

You know that pain

~Saturday Stories~

1. You know that pain
That you don't let yourself feel
You know that ache
When you try to make yourself numb
You know that hurt
That you don't remind yourself of
You know...

Chorus:
So you box if up
In a neat, neat box
And send it far away
I don't want to deal with this now
So you block it off
And you build a wall
No one can see and you're all alone
No, I don't need any help right now

2. You know that pain
That invades you when you're all alone
You know that ache
When you can't take it anymore
You know that hurt
That haunts you in your dreams
You know...

Chorus:
Still, you box if up
In a neat, neat box
And send it far away
I don't want to deal with this now
So you block it off
And you build a wall
No one can see and you're all alone
No, I don't need any help right now

3. That pain, that ache
You know how much it hurts
Those screams, those tears
When you think no one else will know
Those cries for help
Uttered in the darkness
So,

Chorus:
Please don't box it up
In any box
Open it up
You need to deal with this now
Please don't block it off
Or build a wall
God sees you when you're all alone
We all need help right now

Bridge:
What if you said
I can open up now
What if you said
God, help me with my healing x2

Chorus:
I won't box it up
In any box
I'll open up
'Cause I need to deal with thiis now
I won't block it off
I'll tear down that wall
God sees me when I'm all alone
I need help right now