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

 

Hope and refuge

 

Hope and Refuge.

 

Changes in life can happen as wrestling commentator Jim Ross would say “quicker than a hiccup.”  We need an anchor for our hope and a refuge, and we can find that in God.  I found myself seeking Him in prayer and trying to trust him more in the weeks I was without work. I want to share some verses that have helped.

Psalm 31:3-5

          “Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead me and guide me.  Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.  Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me. O Lord, the God of truth.” 

Psalm 31:24

          “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

Psalm 33:20-22

          “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” 

          These verses are points of hope and the Batcave blog has always been about giving the participant hope found in God’s word with the intention that you may be able to draw closer to God. I don’t know what your current struggle may be but you can place your hope in God.

 

Psalm 112:1

          “Praise the Lord.  Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.”

Psalm 84:12

          “O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.”

 

 

Rock of Ages by Steven Curtis Chapman

Made me glad by Sandi Patti

Not by Sight by Petra

Psalm 112 by 4 Him

Highest Hope by RL Worship

Be the Church

 

Be the Church

 

          A few years back at Real Life Corpus Christi there was a sermon series called Be the Church.  See the Christian church was never meant to be just a building where people meet.  It’s meant to be made up of believers who go out and live out God’s word.  Between Monday through Wednesday of this week Texas has been hit by the worst cold weather in a very long time.  But I want to tell you about what has happened to Marion and I and our dog Pumpkin.  We lost power then it came back and went off again along with the running water.  After the second time we grabbed clothes and the dog and went to my parents’ house.  A normal 45 minute drive took about an hour and a half because freeways were closed.  We stayed 2 and a half days with my parents and 2 of their church members and my sister and her family.  A total of 10 people and 5 dogs.  They lost power on Tuesday My Dad got a generator working and we had a small cabin that ran on propane, My Dad and Mr. Daryl left multiple times and checked on other members of their church family.  My Brother-in-law Lance got gas for the generator.  Dad and I ran wire for it.  Peggy and Marion helped my mom in the kitchen.  My sister and her daughter helped my mom with food.  I got messages from our friends Patrick and Carolyn and my friend Ryan checking up on Marion and I.  Church changed from being a place to being people who cared and helped.  The whole event brought me to these verses I want to show you because through all this I want to encourage you to Be the Church.  At one point I caught myself complaining about the situation and I realized how stupid and selfish I was being.  We were all in a situation where we could help one another.  Not a day goes by that we shouldn’t be capable of learning that lesson.  We all helped each other in some way.    

Galatians 6:2-3 

          ‘Share each other’s burdens and in this way obey the law of Christ.  If you think you are too important to help someone you are only fooling yourself.  You are not that important.”

Galatians 6:9-10

          “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.  Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” 

“A heart to God and a hand to man here begins the healing of our land.”

 

 

 

Hand inHand by Degarmo and Key

Love in anylanguage by Sandi Patty

My offeringby Union of Sinners and saints

Love by Petra

Heart toGod, Hand to man by Geoff Moore and the Distance

We Will stand by Russ Taff 

Horsepower

 

Horsepower

 

            Over the last few weeks strange things have happened in my life.  We moved into a new house and even crazier things happened with my job.  I’ve been praying a lot and have had a lot of stress.  I haven’t handled it all well.  I’ve been finding a lot of help in the Psalms.  Maybe like me your life is chaotic.  You, like me need to forsake horsepower.  May I direct you to Psalm 20:7

            “Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

            I’ve said before that this blog is a mixture of Christian music and scripture.  This specific blog will mention verses and I will leave links to the music and if you ever wanted to memorize scripture the songs will help with that.  So if you click on the link in the comments you will access the written portion of the blog that contains the music links as well.  See Psalm 20:7 is the basis for the Steve Green song “We trust in the name of the Lord Our God”.  And the next verses in Proverbs are the basis for “Trust in the Lord” by Girls of Grace and Psalm 18 is a chapter that Clear has done a song called Wide Open Spaces about.  See the blog is very interactive if you choose to interact.  You get what you put into it.  The purpose is for the participant to draw closer to God and find Hope in his Word.

Proverbs 3:5-6

            “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight.”

Psalms 33:20-22

            “We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”

Psalm 31:14-16

            “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.  Let your face shine on your servant save me in your unfailing love.”

Psalm 18:19

            “He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”

Psalm 147:10-11

            “His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” 

            “There is strength in the Name of the Lord, there is power in the name of the Lord, There is Hope in the name of the Lord.” 

 

 

 

Trust in the Lord by Girls of Grace

We trust in the name of the Lord by Steve Green

Hold me Jesus by Rich Mullins

In the name of the Lord by Sandi Patti

Wide Open Spaces by Clear

My life is in your hands by Kathy Trocolli

 

Country Church style vol 2

 This is going to be simplistic in nature but sometimes you just need to let God's word speak for itself.  This has been a Psalm I keep coming back to over the last few days.  

Psalm 19

1The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

3They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

4Yet their voice ^b goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

5It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7The law of the Lord is perfect,

refreshing the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

8The precepts of the Lord are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

9The fear of the Lord is pure,

enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are firm,

and all of them are righteous.

10They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the honeycomb.

11By them your servant is warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

12But who can discern their own errors?

Forgive my hidden faults.

13Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless,

innocent of great transgression.

14May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.