November 2011 Archives
Doing vs. Seeking
I read a good article yesterday about how easy it is to focus on serving God instead of focusing on our relationship with Him. It seems like my mind is often focused on what I want to accomplish for God instead of how God wants me to live. This is an area God’s been showing me so, when I read the article, it was more an Amen to what God was already speaking.
It’s hard when there’s so much to do in a day’s time. Especially with Christmas coming up, there’s so much I need to accomplish, especially where my work’s concerned but I’m asking God to show me what it means to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” and how to “be still and know that He is God” while being responsible at the same time.
It’s important we fulfill God’s calling and do what He’s called us to do. However, when we get too busy to spend time with Him we’re too busy. When we’re not asking what He desires us to do but we’re bombing ahead doing the “good things” we’re sure He wants us to do, we’re wasting our time. We can accomplish nothing in our own strength but, with His help, we can have a productive life and one that’s led by His Spirit. That’s what I’m striving for. I hope you’ll join me.
CD Review: Timeless: A Christmas Collection (The Crist Family)
The new Christmas recording from The Crist Family starts with a winter song, “Love Me Some Snow.” An uptempo, catchy arrangement, this will be a favorite among those who love snow.
Most everyone knows the song the Charlie Brown gang sang: “Christmas Time is Here.” The Crist family sings that song acapella. Other acapella arrangements on this project are “Jesu Parvule” and “In the Bleak Midwinter.”
“I Love Those Jingle Bells” is another fun, toe tapping winter song, using parts of the song, “Jingle Bells” and featuring sleigh bells ringing in the background. I’d love to know how much time it took to get the arrangement down but they do a good job.
I’d never heard “Pine Cones and Holly Berries” but I like their arrangement which intersperses “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”
“I’ll be Home for Christmas” starts with the opening verse, then goes into an instrumental segment before they sing the rest of the song. Very beautiful.
The “Winter Wonderland Medley” includes “Winter Wonderland,” “Sleigh Ride,” and “White Christmas.” I enjoy listening to these winter songs around Christmastime.
Other songs included are “The Christmas Waltz,” “What are You Doing New Year’s Eve” and “Silent Night.”
Living Upside Down
“I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).
I once heard Christianity referred to as an upside down world. Weakness is referred to as strength. Death is referred to as life. The poor are referred to as rich. The things the world is striving for, we are told to have no part in. In a world where people fear death, we are told to embrace it. Our life is to be a continual laying down our lives, surrendering our will to His until the old me is gone and I’ve become like Him.
To the human mind, Christ’s principles may not make sense but they do make for a better, more fulfilling life. It’s not easy to give up my will and desires but I pray God will help me to do so for it’s when I hit that place of total surrender that I find true peace which the world will never find until they surrender themselves as well.
Count Your Blessings
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no fickleness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
Amid the hecticness of the “Thanksgiving” preparation, I didn’t have a lot of time to stop and consciously count my blessings but, as I was getting ready to begin my day yesterday, God brought the following verse to remembrance and it could not have come at a more fitting time. Jesus said, “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). I sometimes feel how much is required of me as a Christian but I don’t always keep in mind how much God has given me. When I stop and look around, though, I can see how blessed I truly am. The fact that He called me is a blessing. He could have left me where I was but He chose me to serve Him.
He’s blessed me with a wonderful family which is a huge blessing. Then He’s put others in my life who love me and care for me. Yes, I have been blessed … and so have you. If you didn’t have time yesterday to consciously count your blessings, take time to do so today and then thank God for those blessings. They’re from His hand anyway. We truly have so much to thank Him for!
Concert/CD Review: “50 Years: The Call is Still the Same” (Dixie Melody Boys)
I remember the Dixie Melody Boys from the days of “Good Ole Boys,” “Ride That Glory Cloud,” “Double Dose,” etc. Two weeks ago was my first time to experience a full concert however. Performances were great from Matt Felts, Steve Cooper and, of course Ed O’Neal. It was an extra blessing to find that David Staton was filling in that weekend for Donald Morris, whose wife had just had a baby.
The concert started with a couple old favorites: “First Day in Heaven,” “Roll on Jordan,” “Royal Telephone” (which I hadn’t heard in probably over 20 years),” and “Victory Road.”
Steve Cooper sang “Gotta Get the Good News Out.”
David Staton sang “Bottom of the Basket.”
I met Matt Felts a couple years ago when he was singing with Perfect Heart but I haven’t heard him sing much. He sang “O What a Savior” and did a really good job. They then went into a medley of “Search Me, Lord,” “Working on a Building” and “Walk Dem Golden Stairs.”
Ed sang, “I’ve Got Family There” and then they sang their uptempo “Jesus in My Boat” which I believe is the song Ed said they hadn’t sung on Sunday morning before.
After a brief intermission, they sang “There’s Joy in Serving Jesus,” “God Will Hear Your Prayer,” “His Blood Alone” and the powerful “The Call is Still the Same.”
The pastor of the church gave an altar call and then requested the group to sing again “God Will Hear Your Prayer” and “O What a Savior.”
The new CD from DMB celebrating 50 years is the best I’ve heard from them lyrically in a long time. Many of the songs they sang in concert are on the CD. Plus they brought back “Too Much Thunder” and “Good Ole Boys” which long-time fans will remember from back in the 1980s. The CD also includes “That’s Why I Sing Gospel Music” which was written by David Staton.
Work Out Your Salvation
I’ve been reading Philippians 2 and 4 lately. There is so much in each chapter. A couple verses I’ve been pondering lately is Philippians 2:12-13: “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Our works don’t save us but, if you read the Bible, there is a lot we’re commanded to do.
“But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Ephesians 4:20-24).
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
God will sometimes take away the desire to sin but often we have to choose to live rightly, to give up old habits, to respond in love when we don’t feel like it. We may have to take the first steps but, as we look to Him, He will give us the strength to do so and will begin to change our sin-ridden, hard heart if we ask Him to.
If Christ is not reigning in Your body, ask Him to do so. Ask Him to show you the things in your life that displease Him and to give you the strength to discard those things. You may have to give up things you’re enjoying now but life with Him is so worth it. Don’t hesitate to ask a Brother or Sister to help you move forward in the area God’s convicting you of. It’s amazing how powerful intercession can be.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11).
Live Like You Wish You Lived in the Past
Yesterday I reviewed Greater Vision’s The Only Way CD and mentioned the song, “Like I Wish I Lived.” That song has such an impacting message which puts words together better than I can. I’d like you to take a few minutes to listen to it.
Most people cannot honestly say they have no regrets about how they lived their lives. However, 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” The hard thing can be letting go of the things which are past. Hindsight is often 20/20 but once Christ comes into your life, you should be looking forward, not backward. You should begin to live such a life that no one would recognize you if not for the fact that you look the same. As far as the places you go, the things you do, the movies you watch, etc. there should be drastic change. If there’s not, you need to search your heart to find out why. Then, with God’s help, begin to live like you wish you had lived before you met Him. It’s never too late to start. Ask Him to help you today.
CD Review: The Only Way (Greater Vision)
When I put in the newest release from Greater Vision, the first thing that jumped out at me was the quality of Rodney Griffin’s voice. I’ve been listening to him sing for years but he’s gotten even better.
“He Didn’t When He Could’ve Passed By” is my favorite kind of Greater Vision song: uptempo with a good message. Jesus didn’t have to stop and hear my cry but He did when He could’ve passed by.
“Safe Within His Hand” is moderate tempo and features Chris Allman.
When “No Longer Chained” begins, you think it’s going to be a slow song but then it picks up tempo and Rodney Griffin sings about a soldier who had been chained to the Apostle Paul and finds Christ because of the apostle’s testimony.
Chris Allman sings “I Know a Man Who Can” and totally nails it.
“He’s the Only Way” is a pretty typical song about Jesus being the only way to Heaven.
My favorite song on this project is “Like I Wish I Lived.” “May we use the pain behind us to walk in victory up ahead.” How powerful is that! “Lord, help me to live like I wish I lived in the past.” I could quote so much of the song but you get the point.
“But God” talks about how God is in control. He understands what we don’t, and He will give us strength if we but look to Him.
“We Still Have to Pray” reminds us that being in God’s will does not exempt us from trials.
“Eternity’s About to Begin” is another toe tapper.
When I heard “Heaven Can’t Be Far Away,” I knew I’d heard it before. I looked it up and, sure enough, it was previously recorded on Greater Vision’s The King Came Down recording. It’s a great song to bring back.
The CD concludes with “Another Child’s Coming Home”–another great song sung by Chris Allman.
The Absence of God’s Voice
“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Do you ever go through periods of time when you cannot hear God’s voice? You cry out in desperation but all you hear is … silence. When I go through those times, I wonder if He’s not speaking or if I’m not listening. I also wonder if there’s something in my life that is keeping me from hearing His voice. God cannot dwell with sin so, if there is sin in your life, that could explain why you’re not getting an answer.
I know there are times that God’s answers are delayed for other reasons but, right now, I just want to encourage you to search your heart. Ask God to show you anything that is hindering your prayers from getting through. That’s what I’m doing lately. I don’t know if I’m ready to see what He wants me to see but nothing is worth the absence of His presence or His voice. Let’s press on together and fight the good fight. With God’s help, we can overcome!
Jackie Wilburn is With Jesus
I awoke this morning to find that Jackie Wilburn of the Wilburns went to Heaven early this morning. My first reaction was disbelief but the reality slowly sunk in that yet another man of God has been called Home.
Singing News Magazine posted about Jackie’s last day as told by his son Jonathan and, as I read the account, I thought, “What a way to go!” For those of us here, the loss of a loved one leaves a huge void. However, for the one in Heaven, there is no more pain, no more sadness or sorrow. They’re rejoicing on the streets of gold awaiting our arrival.
Please keep Elaine Wilburn and the rest of the family in your prayers. I know this will be a bittersweet time for them as they praise God for the time they spent with Jackie and the fact they will see Him again; yet, I know they will miss him terribly.
When praying about a song to post, I was hoping to find Jonathan Wilburn singing, “Don’t It Make You Want To Go.” However, the following seemed appropriate too. Jonathan mentioned that his dad loved to preach. You can tell from this video. Let it encourage you.