Do you

 

Do You

          In the movie Dirty Harry the character the movie is named after asks pointed questions.  “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky punk?’ Well do ya?”  A few days ago I posted a single verse on facebook.  I said nothing more than the verse and where it was found.  The verse itself made me like Dirty Harry, I was asking questions.  Maybe you need to ponder them as well.

Psalm 48:9

          “Within your temple, O God, We meditate on your unfailing love.” 

          I asked questions like “Do I always meditate on God’s unfailing love?  Inside or outside of the church?  Maybe this is something we need to do more of?  The verse is there for a reason. 

Philippians 4:8 says this:

          “Finally, brothers whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

          I think God’s unfailing love would meet all these criteria.  As I worked on this blog I came to a song that is most appropriate called The Wonder of it All by Point of Grace a song about God’s love and still being amazed by it. 

“It’s a natural thing to believe that

Something wonderful never comes easy

Let it Go

There is power in the cross to heal us

There is freedom in the blood that Jesus

Offered to you so freely

Feel the wonder of it all

Let your heart and mind receive

An answer to the call

Feel the wonder of it all, Sweet Jesus

The love of God

The wonder of it all”

Romans 5:8

          “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” 

Lamentations 3:21-23

          “Yet I call this to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” 

          Due to Covid a lot of us are watching church services online so maybe we aren’t meeting in buildings like we used to do but we can still meditate on God’s unfailing love when we watch services online and through our daily lives.  The question then is do we? 

 

 

You are my King by Newsboys

The Wonder of it all by Point of Grace

Grace Flows down by Sandi Patty

Resurrecting by Elevation Worship

O, the Blood by Selah

Praise the King by Cindy Morgan

 

 

Life to Me

 

Life to Me

          So if you ever get this as a written blog there’s a lot more I say when I do this as a facebook live video.  I tend to be a bit of a chatterbox when on video because I have to get the viewer’s interest.  I always call this blog a mixture of Scripture and Christian music and I usually say that in the reverse order.  But all that being said; this blog is going to be a bit more simplistic than what I normally do and I will be the first to say Zac is the least important part of this thing God must always be the most important.  I will however say if you skip the music links and just read it well you will miss part of what is said because the music as always is there for a reason.  For years I’ve done this a bit backwards of a normal church service because I always thought after the message you needed a chance to praise God.  Anyway on to the blog we’re calling Life To Me. 

 

“Fleeting breath, Frailest flesh
I'm a casualty at best
And so I sink into Your depth
My only place of rest

Where earth and wind, and sky and sea
Could never match Your majesty
From where I stand, I'm crying out
Jesus, You are life to me

The treachery of valleys deep
Has only made me weak
I clothe this flesh with holiness
My only place of rest

Where earth and wind, and sky and sea
Will never match Your majesty
From where I stand, I'm crying out
Jesus, You are life to me

And when I see Your face I'll know
All the pain and tears will go
To the bottom of the sea
You'll forever be holy, holy

Where earth and wind, and sky and sea
Will never match Your majesty
From where I stand, I'm crying out
Jesus, You are life to me”

 

Psalm 46:1-3

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into heart of the sea.  Though its waters roar and foam and mountains quake with their surging.” 

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

 

 

 

I am on the Rock by Petra

Life to me by Zoe Girl

Your Great Name by Natalie Grant 

Blessed Assurance by Shine like Stars

 

Nonsense

 

Nonsense

          I titled this blog nonsense for a reason.  I’ve been going through a lot of stressful stuff lately.  My parents asked me recently.  “Do you still believe God is in Control?”  I do and sometimes you need that reminder too.  Why?  Because we get caught up in the nonsense of this world.  We currently live in a world where people believe in Climate Change.  There is no such thing.  The weather dominator only exists in cartoons we cannot change the weather.  One politician said, “Climate change causes terrorists.”  Texas weather changes about every 5 minutes.  According to him we’d have terrorists everywhere.  We can’t change the weather we don’t have that power as humans.  A lot of times we can barely change the situations we’re in.  What we can do though is shift our focus back on God and trust Him.  We need to remember where God is and who we as Christians serve.  In the prophet Jeremiah’s time he dealt with people caught up in nonsense of idol worship.  Climate change says we know better than God what needs to happen with the weather.  We set ourselves up as a god and that is stupid and doomed to fail.     

Jeremiah 10:11-13

          “Tell them this: ’These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’ 

          But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.  When he thunders the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.  He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.” 

 

Genesis 1:1

          “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

          He created it and he’s still on his throne in control and we need to remember that!

I want to conclude with the words of Eddie Degarmo and Dana Key's song Ultimate Ruler 

"Some people are nervous 'bout their place in life,
Running on ego never satisfies,
Some aren't happy 'til they're king of the land
But I don't worry 'cause I'm in God's hand.

Say amen, (amen)
Say amen, (amen)
Amen.

He's the Master, I'm the servant,
He's the King, I'm the subject,
He's the Ultimate Ruler of it all,
He's the Master, I'm the servant,
He's the King, I'm the subject,
He's the Ultimate Ruler of it all.

Some got a problem with a higher force,
They answer to no one, on a selfish course,
That's not for me and the world to say,
God rules today, just like yesterday."

 

 

 

All things new by Steven Curtis Chapman

Evidence of God by Geoff Moore and the Distance

Reminders of you by Geoff Moore and the Distance

I believe by Wes King

Ultimate Ruler by Degarmo and Key

 

 

Folded Steel

 

Folded Steel

          What do fishermen, pro wrestlers, musicians, bloggers, and writers all have in common?  A Hook.  I’m about to give you the hook in the form of a question.  See the hook is meant to draw the participant of the blog in and get their attention.  Have you ever seen a Japanese Katanna being made?  For those who just gave me the confused Scooby Doo look it’s a sword.  There’s a movie called Highlander The Final Dimension and actors Mako and Christopher Lambert take the watcher through the art of sword making.  It requires a blacksmith with hammers, metal tongs, intense heat, troughs of water and sheets of metal.  The metal gets hammered, formed, heated, and folded layer by layer to make the sword the right shape, balance and weight.  Our lives, the things we go through, how we react, change learn and grow as a person is much like a sword being fashioned by a master for a purpose.  As you mature into an adult you begin to see patterns of decisions from your youth and how they have shaped you. 

          King David is a good example of this.  Scrawny shepherd boy learned to lead sheep and defend against bears and lions then giants.  Then he became a king and a mighty warrior.  Through his trials and problems, he wrote the Psalms and became a Man after God’s Own Heart.  When I was younger, I had a desire to be a Christian Counselor for teenagers.  I spent time with several youth leaders.  I also took courses on the ministry of the pastor and introduction to the New Testament.  I’m a huge comic book fan.  I even took classes to almost be an x-ray technician.  I have experience in 14 years of call center work and I’m going on my 4^th year as a security guard.  I have a hero’s compulsion.  I try to help people and solve problems when I can.  Like a sword; mine and David’s desires and choices have shaped us.  I have a strong desire to help people and it wasn’t till years later that this blog thing would even happen.  If you trust God and seek him, he will find ways to shape you like an artist forming a sword.  I have a friend who is an amazing painter and God uses Jason’s artwork to point others to God.  He teaches Biblical lessons with his paintings. 

Psalm 37:4

          “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” 

          A few years ago I prayed asking God to be glorified in my fictional stories along with the Batcave blog.  I want the things I do and say to please God. 

Matthew 6:33

          “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” 

Galatians 2:20

          “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

Philippians 1:6

          “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Romans 12:1-2

          “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his pleasing and perfect will.”

          God can use you and shape you if you are willing.  If you participated in this blog and saw only Zac you missed the whole point because I’m simply a person that God is at work on.  He is the important one not me.  You should seek to glorify God in your mortal body and let Him craft you into the person you are supposed to be. 

 

 

 

The hunger stays by Margaret Becker

This is my Passion by Margaret Becker

Seed to Sow by Michael W Smith

He who began a good work by Steve Green

Let the Kingdom come by Whiteheart

Cry the Name by Rich Mullins

Hearts Cry by Steven Curtis Chapman

Close

 

Close

          I had a friend once say “Hope can sometimes seem like a four letter word.”  While yes, it is a play on words, but we have times where we can’t quite see hope.  I’ve been there recently.  There’s a line in one of my favorite movies that says this.  “Never give up hope; at least not so early in the game.”  I’ve needed reminding of where hope is and so do you.  I’m going to share some lyrics to a personal favorite song of mine.  This is from the song God is Faithful by Shelia Walsh.     

          “Are you weary?
Are you frightened?
When you go to bed
Do you leave the light on?
When the cold wind blows
To disturb your peace
Do you lock the door
So no one else can see?

Broken promises
Have left their mark on you
In your unbelief
One thing you must hold on to

When the road becomes too rough
When you're ready to give up
When you're crying out for love
God is faithful
When your peace cannot be found
He will never let you down
You have chosen solid ground
God is faithful

No one said it would be easy
To let go of all your worries
But it can be done
He has paid the price
And His mercy runs
To every broken life

We will never be
Worthy of His healing
But all He asks of you
Is that you will be willing

When the road becomes too rough
When you're ready to give up
When you're crying out for love
God is faithful
When your peace cannot be found
He will never let you down
You have chosen solid ground
God is faithful

If you're willing
God is faithful
He will help you
God is faithful”

 

Psalm 34:17-19

          “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.  A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”

Did you catch that part about God being near the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit?  I’ve been through some troubles in life and I personally have sought out Hope.  Hope can be found in Jesus Christ.  Recently my former boss passed away and she was more of a friend than just a boss.  She and I would talk for hours at work laughing often and she fed me on many occasions.  I’ve been pretty much brokenhearted since hearing about it.  Been thru some personal stress as well.  Been trying to pray and seek God.  Day to day and minute by minute you and I need to put our trust in God because we will become stressed out and anxious if we don’t.  Because I’ve sought out hope myself I strive to share it with others as well and that’s why I’ve always tried to keep the main focus of the blog about Hope.  I have a friend named Clyde who calls himself the Hopegiver.  Hope is meant to be shared.  There’s a verse I quote often in the blog and I’m going to share it again for those who may not have paid attention before because it’s simple but powerful.  See Zac doesn’t have it all together.  I have stress and problems just like the rest of you. 

1 Peter 5:7

          “Cast all your cares on God, Because He cares for you.”

          A lot of sad songs and mental problems can be solved with that one verse right there if we turn to God seek Him for hope and let him care for us.   A friend of mine told me once “Why don’t your rip the band-aid off and let God heal you?”  God has our best at heart and in the middle of the mess and heartache it’s hard to see that.  I speak very much from experience.  Seek God and trust Him that’s where you will find real hope. 

 

 

God is faithful by Shelia Walsh

Friend of a wounded heart by Point of Grace

Always be my home by Rachel Lampa

God is in Control by Twila Paris

Every Single Day by Pam Thum

Soul Mender by Degarmo and Key

What a friend by Kathryn Scott