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

We're helpers

We’re helpers

(you may cry reading this I did relaying part of it to my wife.)

A few years ago I watched this G.I. Joe cartoon and there is a conversation that takes place on one episode and it goes like this.  “Some of em never learn.”  “Nope, some of em never do.  It’s the ones we can help that get us out of bed in the morning.”  That last part is something that personally fuels me.  If you have ever read a Spider-Man comic or watched the movies you know that his motto is “With great power comes great responsibility.”  We as Christians are called to help and love others.  I want to tell you a little about my Tuesday night at work.  See you learn quickly on doing any form of customer service you can’t help everyone.  I had this lady call needing to tow her car.  This is the text I sent Marion.  

“ I can’t help everyone but I got one lady help.  She was going to be stranded in her car overnight and didn’t want to tow the vehicle till she had a way home and was going to have to sleep in her car in 13 degree weather.  I contacted the non emergency police to send a deputy to help her while another agent set up her tow.”

Later on in the night I dealt with a lady who had an autistic son with her she was just needing a tow.  We were limited on the ability to help since she could only be towed to a dealership otherwise she would have to pay.  She had no card to pay and just wanted to get her and her son home.  This lady was crying multiple times during the call.  Now what most of you don’t know is I have a nephew who is autistic.  She said her son wasn’t verbal and he was scared.  She was scared.  She tells me this whole story about how the company she got the car from had basically been rude and verbally abusive to her. They told her because she was on social security and a single mother that she was a nobody.  That angered both me and my supervisor. This call was an emotional roller coaster for me. I did as much as I could to help I was going to walk away till she said she was going to newspapers and social media to complain about this car company.  I went and told my supervisor.  So she came and helped and we found a way to help her.  I set up the tow and called the tow truck company personally and explained the situation.  Things nearly took a turn for the worse because the dealership we were taking the car to was permanently closed as in the facility no longer existed. So I’m getting this info from the dispatcher and we find another location in another city.  He tells me what they’re going to do is tow the vehicle but first they’re going to take the lady and her son to Denny’s near her house and get her an Uber ride so she can get home before they drop off the car.  I get off the phone with him and she called back and another agent transfers her back to me because I’ve become the one who knows everything on the case and she only wants to talk to me.  So I explain to her the plan we have in place and she asks for my name and tells me “You’re the only person at (can’t say the car company name) who has ever been nice to me.”  

You and I we all interact with different people in different ways.  God has given us gifts to use and we may be the only person to have ever been nice to someone else.  We’re on a rescue mission to bring others to Christ.  

Galatians 6:9-10

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.  

Proverbs 24:11

“Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.”  

2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some count slowness but is patient towards you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

God has you and I connecting in different ways to people so we can point them to him.  We need to act according to the fruit of the Spirit.  

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law.”

Exhale by Plumb

Real Thing by 4 Him 

Live to tell by Geoff Moore and the Distance 

Dare to be different by DeGarmo and Key

Hope is a person named Jesus Christ

Hope is a person named Jesus Christ

There’s a supervisor at my job who goes around yelling, “Make sure to use your power words.”  Me being born in 19 diggety two I mean 1976 my sense of humor takes it a different direction.  I think of Chuck Norris and By the Power of Greyskull.  But I want to show you the power and hope in Christ Jesus.  There’s an old song called They Could Not that Sandi Patty sings and I want you to look at these lyrics. I may actually involve a few songs in this blog.  

“So finally upon a rugged cross they killed the man who would not suffer loss and when at last they took from Him what willingly he gave He died, but could they keep him in the grave they could not, they could not!  Praise God they could not!”  

1 Corinthians 1:18

“For the Word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

We couldn’t save ourselves from our sins.  None of us ever will be able to the debt could only be paid by the sacrifice of God’s only son.  

2 Corinthians 5:21 says this 

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

We can’t make it through life on our own we depend of God and we have to seek Him for help.  

2 Corinthians 12:9

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’  Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

John 16:33

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

“So be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might

Put on all his armor and fight the good fight

In all of our weakness He becomes so strong 

When he gives us the power and the strength to carry on.”

I heard it once said that “Hope can sometimes be a four letter word.”  But if your hope is in Jesus it is in the right place because not even death could keep Him down.  Where are you placing your hope?   If it’s in people, pleasure, money anything other than God they will let you down.  

Psalm 27:1-3

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?  When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.  Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war rise against me, in spite of all this I shall be confident.”  

“Because He lives I can face tomorrow 

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future 

And life is worth the living just because I know He lives.”

Psalm 62:1-2

“My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.  He only is my rock and salvation.  My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.”

Highest Hope by RlF 

Because He Lives by David Crowder

More Power to Ya by Petra 

They Could not by Sandi Patty 

The Day he wore my Crown by Sandi Patty 

Strong Tower by Newsboys 

My Savior lives by Desperation Band

For all the world by Sandi Patty

Rise again by Dallas Holm

We need help!

We need help!

People have made the assumption about me over the years that I don’t want to help people because I have been known to get frustrated taking calls at a call center.  I have worked in restaurants, call centers and as a security guard.  I do a blog about hope.  I read comics about people getting help.  I have a hero’s compulsion.  Me not wanting to help people couldn’t be further from the truth.  The last two days I’ve had some extremely stressful days at work.  I want to help people but to do so I have to ask questions and do certain things that require their attention and involvement.  You can’t just call and say you need roadside assistance and poof it happens.  My coworkers and I need to know where you are and what the problem is.  God created us to depend on Him.  Like a customer though we throw calf slobbering fits we don’t pay attention we let our pride get in the way.  The Bible is God’s love letter to us and we don’t make time for it.  If you read the commission of Isaiah God sends him but it’s with a warning.  

Isaiah 6:8-10

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,’Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’  Then I said’Here am I, send me!’  He said, ‘Go and tell this people: Keep on listening, but do not perceive: Keep on looking, but do not understand.’  Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their hearts full, and their eyes dim.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their minds.’”  

God sends him but warns him they aren’t going to understand.  Moses is told you go to Pharaoh and told that his heart is going to be hardened.  Through the Old Testament over and over God sends prophet after prophet trying to get the people of Israel to turn back to him.  Roadside assistance dispatchers and people doing customer service are trained to keep conversations focused on the issue at hand and actively listen to what is said so we can help.  You don’t enter that type of job without wanting to help.  I still want to help people contrary to popular belief.  God has proven over and over through scripture no matter how stupid and arrogant we as humans act he still loves us and wants to help us.  We’ve got to get our heads out of our own stupidity and seek him.  

Psalm 103:8 

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness.”  

God even loved us when we were his enemies.  

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”  

We need help and we need to seek God!  Not just one person but all of us.  I pray often lately asking God to keep me from hating my customers because he doesn’t hate me and he created me and them.  It’s easy to become negative about what you do because it’s so repetitive and draining but God gave his own son’s life to redeem us.  It doesn’t make sense to be loved with such extravagant love but he calls us to be broken and come to him with our messes.  

“I’m falling apart 

I’m barely breathing 

With a broken heart 

That’s still beating 

In the pain

There is healing 

In your name

I find meaning 

So I’m holding on.  I’m holding on I’m holding on

I’m barely holding on to you.”  

God longs for us to turn to him.  In roadside assistance we have to ask for the disablement location and that is usually the hardest thing to get from people because they have to admit they are disabled and in need of help.  God knows where we’re at but he can’t help us if we don’t turn to him.  

I say often that this song changed completely the way I pray.  You hear people pray in churches with flowery language and stuff that to the hearer doesn’t always makes sense but I want you to see the words from Margaret Becker’s song Honesty.  It’s more like the story of the sinner who went up to the temple to pray.  

“God’s not afraid of you honesty 

He can heal your heart if you speak honestly 

Humble sorrow and an honest cry 

He will not pass by”

Nothing to hide by Geoff Moore and the Distance 

Sing along by Christy Nockels 

Honesty by Margaret Becker 

Broken by Lifehouse 

God is faithful by Sheila Walsh 

Holding on by Twila Paris

Reckless love by Kari Jobe

Without the love of Jesus by Point of Grace