Monday, June 5, 2017

The Trap



In Return of the Jedi there is a scene where the Rebel Forces are about to attack the Death Star thinking it to be unprotected and Admiral Ackbar yells his most famous line.  "It's a trap!"  I'm here to tell you I found a trap and I haven't completely figured it out.  "I'm caught in a trap I can't walk out."  It's the comparison trap.  I was talking to Marion and my friend David about this.  Sometimes in churches people will ask you "what's God been doing in your life this week?"  It's a question that can make you feel all at once uncomfortable because if you don't have something spectacular going on you can feel like less of a Christian than them.  I teach an online bible study blog and a lot of times it doesn't seem like much compared to say a preacher, artist, teacher, personal trainer or someone that uses these amazing talents they have to bring people closer to God.  I fell in the Martha trap.  
In Luke 10:38:42 "As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.  Her sister Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught.  But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said 'Lord doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work?  Tell her to come and help me.'  But the Lord said to her, 'My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about.  Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.'"
See I get caught in Martha's trap thinking my small bible study couldn't be as important as someone else doing something greater in human eyes for God's kingdom and I get my eyes on people and stupidly like Martha we start telling Jesus what to tell someone else to do.  That's exactly what she did.  Yes it's a trap we get caught in and suffer till we get our eyes back on God.  See I become so worried sometimes because my illustrations sometimes don't fit the norm for a bible teacher or I share music not everyone will like.  Then it starts becoming not about what God is trying to say and how he's trying to use me and more about my fears and insecurities.  This past Sunday Micah was teaching in Galatians 6 and I was hit hard by these two verses.  He was making a point to be yourself and not compare yourself to others. Galatians 6:4-5 "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.  For we are each responsible for our own conduct."  When you study the Bible each person God used is unique and diverse and he used them in different ways.  My friend David even reminded me that the animals as diverse as they are from skunks, jackals, ostriches, puppies, cats, urchin, and giraffes all in their very existence glorify God by just being what they are.  When you realize you're comparing yourself stop and seek God get your eyes off you and tell Martha she can keep her trap you don't want to play any more reindeer games.  See God designed us all uniquely as part of the body of Christ and when we start comparing ourselves to others we hurt ourselves and the body.  Ephesians 4:16 "He makes the whole body fit together perfectly.  As each part does it's own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."  


I had another song that was going to be part of this but then Sunday night I heard better one and that was Brother against Brother by D&K but since I'm in that kind of mood I'm going to post the original song too.  See for those who follow this on facebook I do teasers as I get the blog ready and try to stir up interest that way. 


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Monday, May 29, 2017

Sacrifice of Praise

I'm going to take you back a few years to a trip with Donald, Gina, Rhonda, and Brooke.  These were friends of mine and we still keep in touch via Facebook.  In 1996 we went on a trip to South Padre Island for Beach Reach in an attempt to reach people on Spring Break for Christ.  We partnered with local churches and the Baptist Student Union.  There was one night we went down on the beach apart from one another to pray.  I can tell you more than once in my life God has said these words to me.  I was on my knees praying and I clearly said "Lord I don't know what you want me to do I don't understand."  I understood two words as clear as could be.  "Praise me."  I've heard at church Pastor Micah mention that some people show up only for the sermon just to avoid the music.  Got a problem with singing because you shouldn't because God does it.  In Zephaniah 3:17 God sings over his people.  "For the Lord your God is living among you.  He is a mighty Savior.  He will take delight in you with gladness with his love, he will calm your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."  Also if you don't like praising God you really need to check your Bible because the Angels are continually doing so and we will be when we get to Heaven.  I can tell you this God wants us to praise him.  He deserves the Glory.  Look around you all that you see in creation he made that.  He chose to make you!  Think of Jesus death on the cross.  God did that because he loved you.  It's not always easy to praise God either.  Sometimes in scripture it's referred to as a sacrifice of praise.  Psalm 116:17 "I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord."  Psalm 107:22 "Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts."  Psalm 50:14 "Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God and keep the vows you made to the Most High."  Sacrifice implies giving up something.  There's a game I love to play called Justice League Heroes and Wonder Woman has this phrase that has been coming back to me all week.  "In order to pick something up; you have to put something down."  If you don't catch what this means let me be more specific.  Sacrifice of praise or thanksgiving requires you to surrender part or all of yourself and admit that God is more important than you are.  You have to put down your pride, selfishness and desire to be important.  Think of it in terms of a police officer arresting someone.  The officer gives you a series of commands "Step away from the gun"  Step away from what is drawing you away from God.  Put it down.  
Sometimes you're having a bad day and you don't want to praise God or be thankful or joyful.  Do you know why you should?  Hey a question from the audience good that means someone is paying attention.  The reason you should praise God is you get your mind off of your frustration and back on God where it needs to be.  
Another fact.  We're commanded to praise God. Check out Ephesians 5:15-20.  "So be careful how you live.  Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.  Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts.  And give thanks for everything to God, the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  



 

O Praise The Name (Anastasis) - Jeremy Riddle // Sunday Morning Worship Ap...

Bethel Church Worship(Sunday Morning) Worship Leader : Jeremy Riddle Worship Song :O Praise The Name (Anastasis)...



 

Ever Be Live - Bethel Music/We Will Not Be Shaken (Lyric Video)

Amazing Worship Album! Get Your Copy Today! https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/we-will-not-be-shaken-live/id95489...



 

Petra - I Love You Lord

Check my blog to find more Petra songs and learn about the next step of this huge proyect. http://unknownpetrafa...



 

Kim Walker Smith - 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

I do not claim to own this music nor lyrics. All rights are for ibethel music. Thx for sharing


 

Casting Crowns - Great Are You Lord

Download the song here: http://smarturl.it/crownsworship Connect with Casting Crowns: Facebook: http://hyperurl....


 

casting crowns here at your feet



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Tuesday, May 23, 2017

History of Hope



Last week I shared a verse and I'm going to post it again.  "This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope."  To some this blog or weekly email is known as a Weekly Dose of Hope.  It wasn't always known by that name it is still when I post it on Facebook known as the Batcave blog and there's history behind that name.  I'm not going to bore you with the details.  I shared that verse above in 1 Timothy 1:1 for a reason.  It is God who gives us hope.  He is the source of our reason as Christians to even have hope.  See at one point Aaron was asking me if I wanted to change the name for the blog in any way and if there were any ideas I had.  We tossed some ideas around and I wanted it to come back to the word hope.  You can watch the news at anytime and something bad is always on.  We need more hope.  My friend Chris had once told me when he gets the emails to him it's "like a weekly shot of spiritual vitamins."  So we went with a weekly dose of hope.  "Never give up hope at least not so early in the game."  So let me give you some good news.  We win in the end. John 16:33 "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world."  God's not done with you!  Philippians 1:6. "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."  
Romans 5:3-5 "We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."  Remember people "The God of the past is still God today."  When you need hope listen to what God calls us to in Jeremiah 6:16 "Stop at the crossroads and look around.  Ask for the old godly way, and walk in it.  Travel it's path, and you will find rest for your souls."  The Source of Hope calls you and me to seek him for hope.  


If you want some extra passages about hope found in God here are a few you can read.  Psalms 71, Psalms 55:22, and Psalms 37:24.



 

Addison road - Hope Now (w/ lyrics)

COMMENT RATE, SUBSCRIBE ;] If everything comes down to love Then just what I am afraid of When I call out Your n...

 

 

Heaven In The Real World (re:created)

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Heaven In The Real World (re:created) · Steven Curtis Chapman re:cr...


 

Steven Curtis Chapman - More To This Life [live]

Steven Curtis Chapman performing "More To This Life" on the Great Adventure Tour. A wonderfully writte...


 

Kerrie Roberts- Keep Breathing LIVE

Kerrie Roberts- Keep Breathing LIVE in Concert


 

Tell Me Again

The song "Tell Me Again" by Geoff Moore And The Distance truly inspired me to make this video.
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