Song of the Week #173

Song of the Week #172

Song of the Week #171

Song of the Week #170

Song of the Week #169

Song of the Week #168

MY SOUL SINGS!!! HALELUJIAH!!!!! AND PRAISE TO THE LORD!!!!! IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME, AMEN!!!!!!!

Song of the Week #167

Song of the Week #166

Sex & Engagement

This is a repost of an article by Ron Smith.  I think it's the first thing I've ever read from him...and I know nothing about him.  But this is some pretty good stuff.  Obviously, use discretion with the content below since you can tell from the title what it's about :)  It's real and it's practical.  Original article here.

BURN IT TO THE GROUND!

What is God’s will for your honeymoon? I normally begin lectures and public discussions on relationships with that question.

I then put up a picture of a multi-story hotel on fire with raging flames shooting a hundred feet into the starry sky. This is an ideal metaphor for a sexual wedding night stretching right through the whole honeymoon!

We waited until marriage, 38 years ago, to have sex. I was 25 and my wife 26. We dated 5 months and were engaged for 6 months before our wedding. I had become an official “non- virgin” teenager six years earlier experiencing a somewhat normal 19 year old guy’s hormonal rampage. I am now 62 years old and look back thinking, “What would I say to my engaged friends contemplating marriage and also contemplating sexual behavior during their engagement?”

I think I would begin by talking about all of my promiscuity up through age 20. Looking back none of it was productive or healthy really. I would talk about the fact that I drank way too much up until then. Abstinence studies have chronicled the corollary relationship between alcohol and teenage sexual behaviors.

It was not all bad. I met some really nice girls back then too. But, all in all, there is some regret and I wish I could apologize to a lot of people. Some of it is downright embarrassing to look back on. The further difficulty was having to inform my wife of my former behavior before we were even engaged. I did not get tested for STD’s but probably should have.

These behaviors dramatically changed in July of 1971. I changed one Saturday morning after being out the night before drinking and smoking dope with my girlfriend. I decided not to do those things anymore because Jesus said people must change in order to follow him. I became a follower of Jesus and it radically altered my sex ethic. I did not really know what was happening at the time but I knew – something had to change.

Apparently all christians don’t have a dramatic change as I did. Two recent large surveys found evangelical christians participating in a lot of pre-marital sex. One survey found 80% of 20-30 yr. old evangelical christians involved and sexually active before marriage with 65% having had sex in the year previous to the survey. The other survey found 25% are sexually active as unmarried evangelicals. The disparity of these two surveys raised the angst level in the evangelical world to a fever pitch recently with a virtual “in house” war over the numbers. Christianity Today magazine chronicled much of the recent anxiety-laden discussion. Let’s just average the two evangelical surveys as both of them involved thousands of people. 52% of single evangelical christians ( in the west) between age 20 and 30 are sexually active.

So evangelicals are pretty much in step with the culture sexually in pre-marital behavior. Maybe a few percentage points behind but not much.

There is another religious survey out there which states that Muslims and Hindus are far more abstinent than evangelicals pre-maritally.

Paul the apostle wrote that, “Each one of you know how to take a wife in honor.” Sexual honor-Biblically- means abstinence before marriage. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:3,4: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from unchastity; that each on of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor.”

This has implications after the wedding. One pastor interviewed and counseled many sexually frustrated evangelical men. Their wives had grown sexually disinterested after their wedding. This pastor found that 100% of these men had sex with their wives during their engagements. His conclusion was that the dishonor involved in violating their fiances’ conscience came back to bite them in the marriage bed. ”It created a distrust in me” wrote one engaged woman to me about a previous failed relationship. She had difficulty trusting men after that one.

Consider these 3 points:

1. Women suffer more depression and self-loathing at the break up of a sexually active relationship (McIlhaney, “Girls Uncovered”.)
2. A Columbia University study found that those who live together are least likely to marry each other.
3. A University of Maryland study found that premarital sexually active people are 60% more likely to divorce.

I met my wife, 4 years after the promiscuity stopped. We got engaged in July of 1975. From the outset, we assumed that we would wait until marriage for sex. Having written that, looking back over all of these 38 years, I realize that I was not honest with myself. I was not honest about how turned on I was around my gorgeous fiance every time we got together. For two months, we acted like a fairly typical engaged and “waiting” couple in a western culture. We hugged, we kissed, we made out some. I found myself experiencing hormonal hell two months into our engagement ”waiting” time. I lived in a constantly turned on state. In early September of 1975, four months before our wedding, it was terrible. I compare myself to a caged orangatang looking for a mate. I decided to speak to my fiancé, Judy. I told her that I could not continue this way in a constantly turned on state. She clearly knew how attracted to her that I was.

I felt like the horniest person in church history.

So, I said to her, “From now until we get married, I am not going to kiss you, hug you, touch you- anything!” For the last four months of our engagement, we lived that way. The frustration and anxiety ceased. It was peaceful. I hugged her two hours before the wedding for a picture but that was it.

Honestly, my reasons for boundary re-adjustment four months prior to the wedding were self interest, but legitimate self interest. I wanted a perfectly blue sky with no clouds and no regrets going into our honeymoon. I wanted sex on fire with no ice water to put the fire out. Judy and I waited, and it was well worth it! Trust me!

Through the years, I have had the privilege to learn some wonderful lessons from people that Judy and I have counselled during their engagements. These people also waited and they have taught me a lot. Let me share some of their experiences and the lessons they taught me. All of these are real stories from real people I have worked with but their names have been changed.

COUPLE # 1

JOE & SUZIE
What they taught me: Engagement sexual Boundaries must be set at the raw “turn on” level-early in the engagement. 

Both Joe and Suzie had asked me for advice as their relationship began at the dating stage and they invited my input throughout. I spotted him one afternoon sitting on a picnic table on our campus. I was in my car, heading to the airport to fly to Europe. I had just found out they got engaged. So, I stopped the car and asked them, “Have you guys set good physical boundaries for your engagement?” She responded, ” Yes, we are going to wait for sex until we are married.” I got out of the car and replied, ” that is not specific enough.” I usually encourage young couples to go to a coffee shop somewhere and make a memorable and wonderful event out of setting their physical boundaries together for their engagement. Then come give us feedback on what they decided. They really should set their own boundaries because everybody’s boundaries may be different.

Each couple should set their own physical boundaries to facilitate waiting. Sometimes, like I did, the boundaries have to be re-set mid course. But there was no time for that as I was on my way to Europe and they needed help, so I said. “Boobs are out, crotches are out, no oral sex. Do you understand?” They both said yes and smiled sheepishly. I got back in the car, hurriedly caught my plane and went to Europe. They stuck with it until their wedding. That was less than optimum, but it worked. They made it work at a very raw and very real level.

Couple # 2

LONNIE & KAREN
What they taught me: Sexual boundaries must be realistic during an engagement.

Lonnie and Karen were engaged with a beautiful relationship. They invited Judy and me to help them set appropriate engagement sexual boundaries. So we asked them where the “turned on” lines were in each of their bodies and minds? Lonnie responded, “We’ll, all she has to do is walk into the room and I get turned on. ” We responded and said, “Uh, Lonnie if you are going to get to know Karen you are going to have to be in the same room with her so you can talk with her and get to know her better preparing for marriage.”

At first, Karen was not honest about her boundaries and actually enjoyed getting turned on. That had to change, and it did. Her first set of boundaries were not reasonable and she was getting too stimulated to last for the longevity of the engagement. It is really not fair to either person, to knowingly turn on a fiancé or allow ourselves to be turned on when we have agreed to wait til marriage for sex. Getting turned on is like starting a rocket engine. Rockets are really not designed to shut off. Different couples boundaries are different, we must respect that. They waited and made it but it took reasonable boundaries.

Couple # 3

SAM & SUZIE
What they taught me: Boundaries may need re-adjustment.

They began their engaged relationship fairly normal with some kissing, hugging etc. Somewhere in there because of the physical chemistry, they decided to stop kissing. They re-adjusted their boundaries to rule kissing out. They continued hugging, holding hands etc. As the wedding approached, one day Sam came to me and said, “We crossed our boundaries last night and I wanted to let you know”. To which I replied, “What did you do?” ”We kissed.”, said Sam. ”Either re-draw the boundary lines to rule ‘kissing in’ or go back to the original boundaries. Stick to them.” Psychological studies have found that crossing internal boundaries carries real psychic damage.

Looking back on this time in his life, Sam sent me an email this morning which I found both enlightening and he reminded me of something I had forgotten about their engagement. I quote his email of this morning verbatim: ”We decided to hold to the no kissing thing-and as I remember it – about three weeks out from the wedding we had to go to no touching whatsoever. Basically at that point the temperature was so hot that we felt like it was the best way to just keep away from temptation. Whenever we were walking together and Suzie would loop her arm in mine, she was innocently thinking ‘we are walking arm in arm’ – while Captain Hormone was thinking, ‘My arm is touching her boob’. So we just went to a total no-fly zone for the last three weeks. It actually created MORE freedom in our relationship those last three weeks.

I probably said some things to her verbally about how much I was looking forward to our wedding that would have caused the wallpaper to peel, but we kept it nonphysical and it was really freeing and actually enjoyable.

And that is to say NOTHING of the payoff on the wedding day and after. Wow!” Sam and Suzie re-adjusted their boundaries and Sam now says, “Wow!” Many years afterward!

Couples # 4 and 5

MEL & TRACY and RICK & MICHELLE
What they Taught Me: When it is time to burn it down, burn down the hotel

Through the years, Judy and I have received some of the most amazing feedback from couples we have counseled. Many times, while they are still on their honeymoon. We have been notified by phone, email, voicemail or told in person! These couples are so happy that they waited. Sometimes it is the groom and sometimes it is the bride. They are all celebrating some awesome sex!

4. Mel and I stood in the back of the congregation as the entrance music for his wedding started. He and I began to walk in to the service but as we did he stopped me and stated. “Bro. I am on fire!” I looked at him and literally began to laugh out loud as we walked down the aisle together and I turned and said to him, “That is the whole point!” The point of waiting until marriage for sex is precisely so that it will be wonderful and as Mel said, “on fire”.

5. Rick married his beautiful southwestern girl. They waited until marriage for sex. I saw him later, in another part of the world, he said to me- first thing. “We burned the hotel down, we burned it to the ground and torched it!”

Let’s celebrate the flames made hotter by the wait!

Song of the Week #165

Song of the Week #164

Check this out:

Song of the Week #163

Displaying the Father

"Displaying the Father" by Tom Crandall.  Reposted from Jesus Culture website:

 Fear flooded his heart as he stood before me trembling. Alex had only been coming to our youth group for about six months prior to this incident, but he sure he had done the inexcusable this time. Earlier that evening, he decided to sneak past our security guards to "borrow" the fire extinguisher and head out for a good time. His chosen target- our neighbor's house. Their house was decorated with Christmas ornament, but there was no snow on the ground- until Alex showed up.

After getting caught covering the yard with Christmas glee, Alex found himself with one of our leaders awaiting my arrival. It was at this point that fear flooded his heart over the possibility of an unknown outcome. He had seen this before but was unprepared for what punishment would look like here. To him, punishment was learned in the foster care system. He was sure he would be sent away because that is what happened all the times before. Alex's perspective was radically changed when we began our conversation.

When I approached him, I could overhear conversation about the need to clean up his mess. This scared boy saw me and immediately looked down. "Learn anything Alex?" I asked. "Yah" he replied. At this point, I continued the conversation about cleaning up the mess and then hugged him. Looking up at me confused, I continued, "I love you and am proud of your for taking responsibility to clean up your mess." At this, his countenance changed. He expected to be punished, banished even, but that is not what he received. He picked up his head and smiled. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

This is one of many encounters of this nature with Alex. Every time, the response was the same: love. Students like Alex is why I do what I do and why I love it.

Alex needed to see what the love of the Father felt like for him, over and over again. But in reality, all of us need that.  And as we receive it from God and each other in community is the way we will give it away to a generation.

The biggest need in society today is fatherhood, and the number one thing Jesus came to reveal was the Father.

Here are 5 things the Father wants us to really know.

1. He loves us unconditionally.
That means exactly what it says.  There is nothing we can do to earn his love. Condemnation, shame and fear are not from God. They are not "tools" he uses to make us more holy or like him. Punishment never made anyone more like God. Love comes from God. God is love.  We cannot exhaust God's love, ever, God cannot deny him self. It's who he is. He is always with us, for us, and cheering us on. When we do well, he loves, when we fall, he loves.  As a father I would never shame my kids into to getting their lives right. Loving conviction always calls out destiny and deals with the problem so we can fulfill our purpose and be his son or daughter. Love never fails!

2. He is a jealous Father.
As a Father my greatest passion is to see my kids grow in relationship with the Lord, flourish in life and joyfully live out their purpose. I am jealous for their hearts and minds to be immersed in grace and truth. Anything that comes against that I come against for their good. I stand against anything that would seek to pollute my kid’s innocence or steal from them. At times there is loving correction or discipline to help them learn and grow through every situation. My wife and I have said no to all other people by giving one yes to each other.  By saying yes to God, as the highest place of love in our hearts all other loves get put in their place.

3. He establishes us in our identity.
In order to understand and live out our purpose we have to understand who we are in a Kingdom. Kingdom means the Kings domain. In Christ we have been born into a Kingdom. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
God is our Father, Jesus is the first Son risen from the dead and because of him and the finished work of the cross we are now Sons and Daughters of the King. That makes you and I royalty in the Kingdom of God and we now relate to Him is as sons and daughters. This is the context on which the Father deals with us on a daily basis. We are Sons and Daughters!

4. He has massive purpose for our lives.
Jeremiah 29:11 say For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 37:4"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." God has created each of us with a unique purpose in mind. There is a reason why you see the world like you do, and why you love what you love and hate what you hate. The Father is weaving our lives together like a fine tapestry and he uses everything in our lives, nothing gets wasted. It's amazing what The Lord has used in my past to fulfill purpose!

5. He empowers us!
The grace of God is best described as unmerited favor upon a believer showing it through the life. Grace empowers! Grace doesn't just take us out of the negative but puts us way into the positive. You are a child of God! Our lives are marked with favor beyond what we can work for or ever earn.
Receiving empowering grace happens through relationship. Get alone with the Father today and let him love you and empower your heart as his Son or Daughter to shine as a diamond in a dark world.

Song of the Week #162

One from Steffany Frizzell off the new Bethel album "Tides".  Yes, you should check it out.

Song of the Week #161 -- #2

Have another :)  Good song here...I personally like the version on "The Sounds of Daniel Bashta" album even better--"Awakening (Dry Bones)".  Check out the album here.  Enjoy and let the King in!!!

Song of the Week #161 -- #1

If you like this song, check out Daniel Bashta's tour that is currently underway.  Let it rain, let it pour!!!

Song of the Week #160

Check out this video we shot right here in Owensboro, KY.  This is a live, acoustic version of "Fearless", written by Sam Whelan, 2013 Arise grad.  Fearless, I'm fearless!!!




For more info about the Arise Worship Internship, click here.

Song of the Week #159

Song of the Week #158

Song of the Week #157

Song of the Week #156

Song of the Week #155

Song of the Week #154

Song of the Week #153

Song of the Week #152

Song of the Week #151

Another great song from Bellarive.  They will be at Promiseland Metro in Owensboro, KY, this Thursday night at 7pm for a Night of Worship.  Free event.  Join us!

Then on Friday, they will be teaching and hanging with the 2013 Arise Worship Internship students!

Below is the album cut of "The Father's Heart", and a second video with them talking about the song.  Enjoy!!!

Song of the Week #150

Here's a great song from Jeff Deyo.  He will be leading worship tomorrow morning at Promiseland Metro Church.  Come join us; church starts at 10:30am.

Then on Monday, Jeff is teaching the 2013 Arise Worship Internship students.  Gonna be a great few days!  Dear Lord, please bless it all!  In Jesus Christ's Name, Amen!!!!!

Hope for the Hurting

"My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice." -- Psalm 34:2

Your testimony of God's goodness brings hope to the hurting.  Don't refrain from your boast in the Lord--it could very well be the good news that somebody else is needing to hear.  Tell it and be joyful:  Our God is Good!  He is full of grace, comfort, holiness, mercy, justice, peace, and love! 

Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  We love You so much.  Halelujiah and Amen!!! 

Song of the Week #149

Song of the Week #148

Song of the Week #147

Song of the Week #146

Song of the Week #145

Live version of a great worship song.  Holy Spirit, come invade!!!

Song of the Week #144

Prayer for Others Transforms Us, Too

"A Christian community either lives by the intercessory prayers of its members for one another, or the community will be destroyed.  I can no longer condemn or hate other Christians for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble they cause me.  In intercessory prayer the face that may have been strange and intolerable to me is transformed into the face of one for whom Christ died, the face of a pardoned sinner.  That is a blessed discovery for the Christian who is beginning to offer intercessory prayer for others.  As far as we are concerned, there is no dislike, no personal tension, no disunity or strife that cannot be overcome by intercessory prayer.  Intercessory prayer is the purifying bath into which the individual and the community must enter every day." -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Song of the Week #143

Get the Soil Good!

May is a month of miracles!  Believe it.  God is moving and doing things.  This summer is going be full of the supernatural!  I can't wait.

I encourage you to get ready before the blessings come...so that way you'll be able to steward what the Lord pours out.  Go read my blog entitled "How's Your Soil?" for a more in-depth look at what I'm talking about.  Here's the gist:  you can control how your heart is, and how you receive what God gives you.  If your heart (the soil) isn't ready to fully receive and nurture what is deposited, then it probably won't grow to full fruition.  Therefore, GET YOUR SOIL READY NOW!!!

If you are ready with good soil, then trials/persecutions/trouble/heat won't steal the word that has been deposited into your heart; nor will they steal your joy!  Instead, your faith will rise up and God will move to honor His word.  It's the truth.  Let's all get ourselves ready.

Father God, reveal to us the things we need to change and get rid of.  Help us by the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to put away those things that need to go, and get rid of the things that separate us from You.  You are better than anything and Your love is more valuable to us than anything else.  We love You and praise You, and we thank You for loving us in spite of our sin.  Thank You for sending Your One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place for our transgressions.  And thank You for new life in You through Your Son.  In Jesus Christ of Nazareth's Mighty and Magnificent and Holy Name, Amen!!!

If you don't know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, ask Him into your heart today.  Here is a prayer you can pray to God, and give the meaning to it as you pray it.  God will hear you, and you will be forgiven of your sins:

God in Heaven, in Jesus Christ's Name, I pray to You.  I confess I'm a sinner in need of a Savior.  I ask you to forgive me for all of my sins.  I am truly sorry for my sins and turn away from them and walk towards You; I will seek after You now.  Jesus, I ask You to please come into my heart and be the lord of my life.  I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  I confess Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.  I believe that He died for me and took my sins upon Himself.  I believe that He was buried and then came back to life--He conquered death!  Therefore, I have eternal life through Him!  Thank you for saving me, Jesus.  I love You, and thank You for loving me.  In Jesus Christ's Name, Amen.

You just made the best decision you've ever made!  You are literally a new creation!  Now go and let this prayer be the first step in your new life.  Find a Bible and start reading it.  Find a Bible-believing church and start going.  Pray to God everyday and ask Him to come into your heart more and more.  I'm so glad to now call you a brother, or a sister :)  May God bless you as you start your journey towards knowing Him more.

Love in Christ,

Adam

Song of the Week #142

A friend of mine, Jared Tanner, recently suggested I listen to "Sustain" by the Glorious Unseen...I ended up landing on this one:

Song of the Week #141

Official music video:  http://youtu.be/b-2dKOfbC9c

Song of the Week #140

Power of Testimony and the Spirit of Prophecy

Bill Johnson's teaching based around what I consider to be a difficult passage of Scripture--Revelation 19:10:

"...For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (ESV)

Song of the Week #139

These guys are coming to the Arise Worship Internship in July!  One of the best new bands out there.  Check out their whole album.

Song of the Week #138

How's Your Soil?

Easter is a glorious day—people come in mass to churches, and more importantly, many commit their lives to Jesus Christ.  Halelujah!!  What happens after that is what I’m talking about today.

In Matthew 13:3-9, Jesus is telling a parable about a farmer scattering seed.  The seed in this parable is the message of the Kingdom of God, and the various kinds of soil are the hearts of the people who hear the message preached:

“Then He told them many things in parables, saying:  “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  He who has ears, let him hear.”

Jesus then explains exactly what his parable means later in the same chapter (verses 18-23):

“Listen to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is the seed sown along the path.  The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.  He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

You want to be the one that has the seed fall on good soil…you don’t want to be any of the other ones :)  This alone is a great thought for the day.  If nothing else, go back and read the above verses and make sure your heart is one that is full of good soil so that any seeds already planted, and those seeds still to be planted in the future, will be nourished to grow to maturity and not die out.  If you recently received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and/or got a fresh word from God, then MAKE SURE that the seed just sown is like the one that falls on good soil.  Examine your heart and pray for growth and perseverance.  Continuously ask the Lord to help you and pray for more faith.  He will do it, I promise.  Amen!!!

*     *     *     *     *

If you want to trek a little deeper, then let’s continue.  Let’s look specifically at one part of this parable Jesus spoke.  Here is Matthew 13:5-6 again:

“Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”

Think for a minute about a seed being planted and the role that the sun plays in the process of it growing.  The sun comes to nourish the seed, does it not?  The sun’s rays are critical in the process of the plant growing to become fully mature.  But its nourishing rays also bring heat.

“…But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched…”

So here we have something interesting.  That which was designed to bring forth more life caused death.  That’s tragic.  But where does the fault lie?

“…and they withered because they had no root.”

The sun itself is not to blame for the scorching and withering of the budding plant; it is the fault of the soil!  The soil was shallow and, thus, the plant had no root.  Here is how Jesus stated it in the verses you read above:

“The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.”  (verses 20-21)

It seems to me a parallel is made between “the sun” in Verse 6 and “trouble or persecution” in Verse 21.  If I am right in making this parallel, then it follows that trouble or persecution can play the same role as the sun—intended to bring forth more life, but can ultimately bring forth death.  The result, life or death, is determined by the soil on which it falls.  WOW!

So we should not blame the sun, nor trouble, nor persecution for us losing hold of what the Lord has planted in us by His Holy Spirit.  The sun will shine, trouble will happen, and persecution will come.  We have to accept this.  And we have to be aware that what is in us cannot become fully-grown without enduring the heat which accompanies the life-giving, nourishing rays.  We cannot control when the sun shines or when the troubles come, but we can control this:  making sure our hearts are ready to receive and nurture that which is planted in us. 

Oh Lord, by Your grace, tender our hearts and increase our faith to receive what You have to give.  Strengthen us by Your love, show us Your goodness, and continually grant us Your mercy.  In Jesus Christ’s Holy and Mighty Name, we pray these things to You, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The Only True God, The God of Israel.  Amen!!!!!

Easter. Give Your Life to Christ. Song of the Week #137

Jesus is Alive! He is Risen! Call on His name, ask Jesus Christ into your heart, give your live to Him, repent of your sins, and walk in repentance and love towards Him forever--you shall be saved and called a Child of God! Halelujah and Amen! Thank you, God, for sending Your Son to die, and rise again, for me! In Jesus Christ of Nazareth's Name, Amen!!!

If you don't know Jesus, then you need to ask Him into your heart as the Lord of your life right now. Here is a simple prayer for you to pray. You give it the meaning as you pray it:

 "God, I am a sinner. I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I believe in my heart, and confess with my lips, that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. Come into my heart Jesus. Take my life, I surrender it to you. From this moment on, I will live my life according to the Bible and serve you. Thank you for taking away my sins and giving me everlasting life. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen."

By asking the Lord into your heart, you just made the first step in your new life in Christ.  Now go find a Bible-preaching church and start hanging out with other people who born-again Christians as well.  You just made the best decision of your life!  The angels in Heaven are rejoicing right now over your decision!!!  Thank you for responding to the move of the Holy Spirit on your heart.

I'd love to hear from you if you just prayed this prayer--send me a message/comment on here, email me at adamkees@hotmail.com, or message me on Facebook.  May the Lord bless you in everything as you pursue after His heart.  Praise the Lord God Almighty for you and your decision today.  Amen!!!!!

Song of the Week #136

Song of the Week #135

Song of the Week #134

so good

Song of the Week #133

Song of the Week #132

Song of the Week #131

Pray for McKenna

McKenna is a 10-year old girl that was diagnosed with leukemia in September 2012.  She is from my hometown of Russellville, KY, and goes to the church I grew up at.  Please agree with me in prayer for God to completely heal and restore her.  I've seen many miracles with my own eyes, including people being healed of various cancers.  I'm believing in the Name of Jesus that God will do it again for McKenna.  AMEN!!! 

Please pray and believe with me.  Thank you so much.

In Jesus Christ's Love,

Adam

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Song of the Week #130

Do Both

We are in the middle of a 40-day fast at our church.  We’ve got all kinds of different people doing all kinds of different fasts.  You don’t have to be well-versed in fasting to know the basics of what is going on—you give something up (usually food), and focus more on God.  In essence, you’re saying, “I’m giving this certain thing up and showing that You, God, are more important, and that You are worth it to me.”

Fasting is a spiritual discipline.  That means we should do it regularly.  Don’t believe me?  Check out Matthew Chapter 6.  In it, Jesus speaks about giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting.  Each time he begins speaking about the above topics, he says the word when:

”So when you give to the needy…” (Verse 2)

“And when you pray…” (Verse 5)

“When you fast…” (Verse 16)

By saying “when”, Jesus is making the assumption that his audience already does these things.  It does not say “if you fast”, but “when you fast”.  We should fast.  Enough said.

These past few weeks my mind has been rolling around another related thought:  there’s a verse in the Old Testament that says “obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).  My fasting definitely involves sacrifice.  So if obedience is greater than this, does it mean I should just become more obedient and do away with fasting?  Let’s look at another Jesus quote to gain some insight:

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin.  But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness.  You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Matthew 23:23)

In the above verse Jesus addresses the fact that some of the religious leaders of the day were doing part of the law (giving a tenth of their increase—tithing), but not doing other parts (administering justice, showing mercy, and being faithful).  How does this tie together with what we’re talking about today?  Look at the last sentence of Matthew 23:23 again:  “You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”  Jesus admonishes them to do both—the greater and lesser things.

I think there’s a parallel to be drawn here.  Just because obedience is greater than sacrifice does not mean that I should neglect the one to do the other—I should do both.  This is the revelation!  Sacrifice does matter, and fasting should involve sacrifice on our part.  And while it’s true that God does desire our obedience more than sacrifice, He wants our sacrifice as well!  That’s good stuff right there!!!

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Take a minute and examine yourself…are you neglecting part of God’s Word and making it ok in your mind by doing other parts of His Word well?  I know I am.  But the good news is that God gives us grace to do better!  Pray this prayer right now if you want the Lord to help you practice the greater things while not neglecting the lesser:

Lord God, help me to identity where I need help, and give me what I need to carry out the change.  I love You, God, and I thank You for Your kindness, mercy, and love.  In Jesus Christ’s Mighty Name, Amen.