Music Monday: "Rescue" by Lauren Daigle

 Music Monday: "Rescue" by Lauren Daigle

There's been a lot of buzz surrounding the release of Francine Rivers's "Redeeming Love" in theaters; to be honest, not all of it has been good. Some even wonder if Rivers "gave in" to the world's pressures, allowing more sex scenes than necessary to portray basic themes.

I can't give you an opinion because I haven't seen it yet; I wonder if I will see it. But I can't help but wonder if seeing such a film will ignite something within me I am already struggling with. It's only natural to want someone to share our lives with; it's a part of our human nature. God made us that way.

But we must remember that we are talking about more than a physical connection here; the story of "Redeeming Love" is reminiscent of the biblical story of Hosea. In this book, God tells Hosea to go and marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her; during this time, God is angry at Israel for turning its back on him. They were supposed to be his chosen people, yet they didn't care. They just  did their own thing.

At one point, God has had enough with Israel and gives them over to their sinfulness, but in his mercy, he decides to save Judah, saying, "… And I will save them – not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God will save them."

Sadly, that's a lot like how we tend to be running away from God when we should be running towards him. It's part of our sinful nature, but God, in His mercy, is constantly pursuing us.

Jesus is the bridegroom, and the Church is his bride. One day, He is coming back.

Although written for Lauren Daigle's friend, it also is a never-ending reminder that God always loves us no matter what. We are not alone in this battle; whatever we are going through. Jesus is standing with us through it all

If you would like to listen to Lauren’s song, it can be accessed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYR0xP1j4PY

 

 

"Fun" Friday: 29-year-old Aaron Wheel doesn't give up and jumps a second time despite spina bifida

 "Fun" Friday: 29-year-old Aaron Wheelz doesn't give up and jumps a second time despite spina bifida

"I was born with spina bifida, and obviously, I can't ride a bike or a skateboard, but life gave me a different set of wheels," he said right out of the gate during his audition.

Being born with spina bifida, he knows what it is like to be different. Growing up, he's had over 23 surgeries during his lifetime, each to help him walk or be more independent.

"Growing up with the disability, there's always this push to walk- you should be working or using crutches- almost as if using a wheelchair was giving up."

Watching his friends drop in at a skate park, he decided to just try it. From then on, a passion was born.

After over-rotating on his first try, he defies the odds by scooting his butt on the stairs for the first few stairs and getting help from assistants to get to the top.

"The first one tells you what you did wrong, and the second one you come through and brings it,"

Music Monday: "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" by Martin Luther

 Music Monday: "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" by Martin Luther

Preparing for this week's "Music Monday" I'll admit I was at a loss of song choices, and for something biblical to say in response to the song. I had a particular song in mind, but I didn't feel it was appropriate when looking into its background. Then, talking to my father, he said he had something I could use for music Monday. Those who know me realize I gravitate toward more contemporary songs - I don't know why I just do. That being said, I was surprised by the relevance of his choice, "A Mighty Fortress is our God."

Let me explain.

Over the last weeks, I have decided to change things up a little and get more involved in Wisdom Wednesdays; as such, I have tried to comprise short videos on various Psalms that I think my readers might be interested in discussing. If you have been following me on Twitter, you may have seen my poll. Anyway, I have already covered Restoring Joy (Psalm 51) and God Within Her (Psalm 46).

Now you probably see why I am surprised. Not only is the song relating to the topic we talked about last Wednesday, but the same Psalms. If that but isn't God trying to tell us something, I don't know what is. . .

For those of you just joining in on the fun, last Wednesday, we discussed that there is no need for animal sacrifices anymore because of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on the cross. But, even more importantly, Jesus came to earth in the form of a helpless baby and explained everything we have. As Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin."

While most Psalms focus on one aspect of God, Psalm 46 talks about him in defensive (refuge) and offensive (strength) terms. Following my logic here, Jesus can be seen as a loving and compassionate Father, but that does not negate the fact that He is righteous and Just Judge

One cannot have one without the other.

Yes, God is our refuge and protection in times of difficulty, but he is also our strength when asked to stand up for what we believe. In other words, we aren't supposed to let our faith lie dormant, giving in to our fleshly desires just like everyone else. Instead, people are supposed to look at our lives and go, "there's something different about her."

 So, today we can be thankful that Martin Luther wrote such a song to encourage those of us in trouble in a spiritual battle. The hymn words remind us that we are in a spiritual battle with the evil one and Jesus provides strength for our daily walk.

 Because in the end, we know who has the victory. 

 

To listen to "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," it can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNeP7bGagqg

Music Monday: "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion

Music Monday: "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion

 

Preparing for Valentine's Day, this song came to mind. Though I realize the song lyrics are geared toward romantic relationships, I believe anyone can relate to the song's sentiment of being loved unconditionally. After all, that's something we all want… Don't we?? To be loved just as we are, no questions asked. Don't get me wrong, I know my parents love me, but it's different knowing that you have someone other than your family by your side to support you and walk through life with you. I've been blessed to experience this type of connection early in my middle school years, albeit we did not have the "Happily Ever After" I had imagined.

Let me explain.

I participated in the first inclusion program for people with disabilities in Baltimore, Maryland. This program helped mainstream students with various disabilities into the public school system, showing the world what people with disabilities were capable of and giving us a chance to socialize with regular students. Despite getting mainstreamed for a few of my classes, I still spent most of my time in the "special Ed" room- a homeroom of sorts where we could work on assignments or chat amongst ourselves.

It's That's where I met Shane.

Shane had achondroplasia-a form of dwarfism. According to Merriam Webster, Shane's disease was a genetic disorder that disturbed the normal growth of his cartilage; this resulted in an average 8-year-old torso with significantly shortened limbs. Yet, he intrigued me with bright red hair and a contagious smile. How could someone with such a severe illness enjoy life, I wondered? But, in getting to know him, I realized that a disability only limits someone if given a chance.

Over the next few days, a friendship quickly blossomed. It started with simple conversations regarding our likes and dislikes and became more serious as time went on. I learned about Shane's affinity for country music (especially Garth Brooks) while he learned to appreciate my love for reading & writing. Even more important than that, there was an undeniable comfort level between us -knowing that we each had a disability and didn't have to explain ourselves. We still had deep conversations talking about our daily life struggles; for Shane, it was his difficulty speaking because of a lack of oxygen, and mine was the inability to relate to other students in my mainstream classes.

Interacting with Shane made me realize there's more to life than academics. Though it was important to prove myself during class, I somehow forgot to have fun. With him, things were just so easy. He got me to relax a little bit more in school and talk about what bothered me; this opened me up to try different things in my classes that I wouldn't have tried before.

In 1993, I moved to Michigan and lost touch with Shane. I tried to keep in contact with him the three years after moving. I didn't know his phone number, so I often called Mrs. Bailey, our 5th-grade teacher, to get an update on his condition. In the spring of 1996, my father had called for me to check on his progress, and she said that Shane had died. I was heartbroken and cried for days on end. I refused to call and get the details.

Where was I going with this? I'm sorry if it seems like a "memorial blog" to Shane; I never intended it to be like that. I guess what I'm trying to get at is this:

1.   Appreciate the people around you. Whether you believe it or not, God has placed these people in your life for a reason. They could be in your life to teach you something about your life or simply give you a change in perspective.

2.   Even though you may want a physical relationship with "someone special," it is essential to remember you have that already with God. He is your Creator; he made you. As Christians, we crave connection of the physical kind and emotional kind. Why? Because we were created for more than this world

PS. I still think of Shane every time I hear this Celine Dion song. I know it's strange considering I was so young, and there was no intimacy involved, but he was the first person (besides my parents) to really see beyond the disability and see me as a person. 

Faithful Friday: The faithfulness of the pilgrims

                                                 The Faithfulness of Pilgrims

Provided by Debbie’s Father

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  Heb 11:13   NKJV

Faithfulness is the attribute in a person characterized by a firmness in a commitment and a consistent behavior that meets an obligation or promise.  It is seen as trustworthiness for a person with a stewardship (an obligation).  Paul said that believers are stewards of the Gospel (the mysteries of God) and that, “In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” 1 Cor. 4:1–2.

This Faithful Friday is a good time to look at what a faithful steward means.  In the passage at the top from Hebrews, the writer cited the faith of Abel, Noah, Enoch, Abraham, and Sarah in the preceding verses 1-12 – people who were examples of those who endured the difficulties of life yet always remaining faithful in their trust in God.  In verse 13, the writer lists what these five people were like:

•       They Endured – They endured to the end of this life and died not receiving the promise (of seeing their Redeemer) in this life.  Yet they believed and trusted in God for the promise to come. 
•       They Envisioned – They were sustained by their belief in a new home provided by God, where they could worship Him.  That new home was a” heavenly one.” (cf. 11:16).
•        They Embraced – The Greek word in the text refers to the concept of “welcoming” or “greeting”.  Their embrace of the hope in the new home was a welcoming thought.   
•       They Confessed – They acknowledged that this life - this place, was not their home.  It is not the end.  It was a temporary residence, and they were strangers (an outsider to the world and its ways) and pilgrims (travelers on a journey to different destination).  This was their testimony, and they knew their destination.

 

An inspiring worship song by Steve Green (Find us Faithful, 1988) conveys this thought very well.  The lyrics begin like this:

We’re pilgrims on the journey  ,Of the narrow road,
And those who’ve gone before us, Line the way.
Cheering on the faithful, Encouraging the weary,
Their lives a stirring testament To God’s sustaining grace.

O may all who come behind us Find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion Light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, Lead them to believe,
And the lives we live Inspire them to obey.
O may all who come behind us Find us faithful. 

Abel, Noah, Enoch, Abraham, and Sarah have gone before us and in Green’s song, he envisions them lined up along the narrow way of our life, cheering an encouraging us to remain faithful!  Yes, may all who come behind us find us faithful, too!  

Music Monday: "You Won't Let Go" by Michael W Smith

 Music Monday: "You Won't Let Go" by Michael W Smith

This weekend, I reconnected with some old college friends via zoom. It always amazes me how this group never misses a beat and picks up where we left off. Every member uses their unique skills and talents to minister about God no matter where they are- from another country (Puerto Rico), close to the north pole (Alaska), and across the United States. Still, sometimes I wonder if I'm doing what I meant to in terms of my calling.

After all, a degree should help in getting a job.

In theory...

Luckily, God doesn't need to know our credentials; he knows them already. After all, he's our creator, and he knows us from the inside out. Psalms 139:13- 14 reiterates this idea as David writes: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

This week's song "You Won't Let Go" by Michael W Smith pays tribute to my college years in that it also highlights a yearly theme that our college focused on "Our hope is an anchor for the soul firm and secure."; Its biblical foundation is based on  Hebrews 6: 19. But something else struck me while listening to this song on Saturday and Monday.

Any guesses what that may be??

Okay, I will give you a hint. It's in the chorus of the song.

Although that's a major proponent of the music, it has nothing to do with the anchor. Yes, faith plays an integral role in helping develop a believer's character. However, I believe God's love has the most influence. Unlike humans, God has limitless power-he can be everywhere all the time; therefore, he can reach anyone no matter what boundaries they have in place. This song is somewhat reminiscent of Romans 8:38-39, which says: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

You can access Michael W Smith video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRb_NIQTzyA