Refocus in a Headlock

Refocus in a headlock 

I need to redirect my mind and heart and so do you.  On my day off I spent too much time being upset about things I can’t change.  That’s when you need to read the Bible and sing praises to God because as my wife would say.  “You’re stuck in your own head.”   Stone Cold Steve Austin once said “Sometimes a guy can get so lost in his own head you have to put him in a headlock to shake him loose.” This quarantine thing can get us too focused on the wrong things like me getting upset that I’m hungry and I don’t know what to eat. I’ve gotta focus somewhere else.

Psalm 57:7-11 

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes I will sing praises!  Awake my glory!  Awake my harp and lyre!  I will awaken the dawn.  I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.  For your loving kindness is great to the heavens and your truth to the clouds.  Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let your glory be above all the earth.”  

Psalm 121

“I lift my eyes up to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heaven and earth.  He will not allow your foot to slip; he who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.  The sun will not smite you by day.  Nor the moon by night.  The Lord will protect you from all evil; he will keep your soul.  The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”  

Refocus on God’s Word and his love for us.  There is still hope!  There’s too much negativity you need to get out of your own head.  

Lamentations 3:20-23

"Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me.  This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.  The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  

O Praise The Name (Anástasis)

Hillsong Worship

I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me.
I see His wounds, His hands, His feet.
My Savior on that cursed tree

His body bound and drenched in tears
They laid Him down in Joseph's tomb.
The entrance sealed by heavy stone
Messiah still and all alone

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

Then on the third at break of dawn,
The Son of heaven rose again.
O trampled death where is your sting?
The angels roar for Christ the King

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

He shall return in robes of white,
The blazing Son shall pierce the night.
And I will rise among the saints,
My gaze transfixed on Jesus' face

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

May your wonders never cease by Third Day

Soul Mender by DeGarmo and Key

Think on these things by Petra 

My heart is set on you by Point of Grace 

O Praise the Name by Hillsong 

Steadfast love of theLord by Kathy Troccoli 

Where is the Question

Where is the question

Thursday night Marion and I witnessed the utter craziness of people just nearly wiping out a grocery store because of panic over a virus.  This week my mom has been in the hospital,our dog has been sick, I have sat up in bed waking up from a dream about work, a dream so bad Marion had to talk me down from it and remind me I was home with her and the dog and not at work.   The week has very much been a choice of whether it is more like the songs Crazy Nights or Psycho Circus by Kiss.  I have mentioned before I have left my job and cried myself to sleep or cried while driving. I’ve been put on a team where we basically get the 2nd-5th time a customer calls back and they are irate and like my supervisor found out sometimes all Zac did wrong was answer the phone.  I had a manager and a trainer ask me this week on different days how I was doing.  I told one I felt berated the other I told I had just been called an idiot and told I did nothing to help.   King David went through worse than the Coronavirus panic and being called names the guy had reasons to be afraid people were actually out to kill him often.  Bonnie Tyler phrased it best because often we feel like we’re “living in a powder keg and giving off sparks.”  

I have good news.  God is still in control!  Remember that.  If you’re crying he knows about it.  Where is your hope because it can be found in God.  

Psalm 56:8-13

“You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in your bottle.  Are they not in your book?  Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; this I know that God is for me.  In God , whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust I shall not be afraid, what can man do to me? Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.  For you have delivered my soul from death.  Indeed my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God in the light of the living.”  

Keep breathing by Kerrie Roberts

God is in control by Twila Paris 

When the tears fall by Newsboys 

Hold on by Twila Paris 

Friend of a wounded heart by Point of Grace 

You are God alone by PCD

You alone by Kim Hill

All I need by Adie

Reminder

Reminder

In the world of pro wrestling if a certain star is gone for a long time when they come back to television after some form of injuries they often do a promo or speech with points to remind the audience of who they are.  Often you and I lose focus we need a reminder of who God is and just what he is capable of.  Isaiah has hidden gems of songs.  I’ve often gotten this concept in my head that the prophets in the Old Testament only mention doom and gloom but there’s still hope.  There’s even songs of praise.  I want to show you one of those wonderful songs.

Isaiah 25:1-4

“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will give thanks to your name; for you have worked many wonders.  Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.  For you have made a city into a heap.  A fortified city into a ruin; A palace of strangers is a city no more.  It will never be rebuilt.  Therefore a strong people will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will revere you.  For you have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a rain storm against a wall.”

We get reminders of God as our protection from ruthless people and shown he does great and wonderful things.  

When you seek God you return to Hope!  

Way Maker by Caleb and Kelsey

God of Wonders by Third Day, Caedmon's Call and Michael W Smith

The last two songs posted here I discovered this week and they are truly awesome.  

Faithful by Amy Perry

You are Jesus by Sheila Walsh 

Fortress

Fortress

I started this new Bible study plan on the Youversion app a few days ago and I was looking for something on the book of Psalms.  I found this plan called The Magnificence of Christ in the Psalms.  On day two it was talking about this word Fortress.  It referenced Psalm 18:1-3 and also the hymn penned by Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress is our God.  Before we read the verses I want you to get in your mind an image of a fortress.  I’ve read a lot of Warhammer and Forgotten Realms books, seen a lot of cartoons from the 80’s on I’ve watched movies based on science fiction and mythology and medieval stuff.  My thoughts of a fortress vary from castles, the Pit( G.I.Joe headquarters), Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. It’s not even a word we use in every day terms.  So I googled the definition.  You’re going to love this. 

Fortress: a military stronghold, a person or thing not susceptible to outside influence or disturbance.  

Now I want you to look at some verses and think of running to God as your fortress.  

Psalm 18:1-3

“I love you, O Lord, my strength.”  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised and I am saved from my enemies.”

Psalm 3:3

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory and the one who lifts my head.”  

Now go look at the definition again.  He’s a shelter, stronghold and not susceptible to outside influence or disturbance. And he’s defending you.   Christian singer Geoff Moore compared the Christian life to a baseball game and he said this “we have surely an opponent that will do everything to try and strike us out. But he forgot one thing.  He forgot who our Coach is.”  A bit simplistic yes because God is our fortress.  24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year anytime anywhere we can run to God to be our fortress.  It doesn’t matter the problem.  Some treat prayer like a last resort but it should be our first!!!!    Think about the word fortress in relation to God more often.  

“Sometimes when hope is hard to find 

We’ve got to walk by faith

Until we see the way

Hold tight for we are promised in time

Those who patiently wait

Will never wait in vain

For we know God is faithful 

He’s a fortress to run into

In times of trouble 

He’ll cover us with the wings of his love

Til we make it through “

“Did we in our own strength confide,

Our striving would be losing; 

We’re not the right man on our side, 

The Man of God’s own choosing:

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus it is he

Lord Sabboth his name

From age to age the same

And he must win the battle.”  

Shelter in the rain by 4 Him 

A Mighty Fortress is our God by Steve Green 

I am on the Rock by Petra 

Deliverance by Gateway Worship

He hideth my soul by Guy Penrod

Defender by Francesca Battistelli and Steffany Gretzinger