O Holy Night!

Happy December 11th!

I've been really busy and it looks like the whole month is going to be hectic, so that's my reason for not publishing a song every day like I had planned. I'm not even going to try to catch up this time, but I wanted to share this amazing performance with you. It's beautiful!!!

Remembering Christmases Past (2007) II

Happy December 6th!



I have to say I've shed a few tears as I watched these pictures of past Christmases flash before my eyes. People I love have come and gone, moved away, changed, gotten older, and some have died. A lot of water has gone under the bridge. Now we're even more spread out than we were, and I sometimes wonder where Lydia and Josiah will be living once they are married. I wish life could stay the same, but I know it can't. Looking back on the years, one thing has always stayed the same----through it all, the Lord has always been good...I believe to see the goodness of the Lord in future.

Remembering Christmases Past I

Happy December 5th!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Happy December 4th!

Silent Night

Happy December 3rd!

Christmas Song

Happy December 2nd!

I grew up listening to this song during the Christmas season. Years ago it was recorded onto a cassette tape from my Papa and Oma's old records, and now Josiah is trying to put it on CD to send me for my own Christmas collection. It's one of those songs that brings me back home on a crisp winter evening with the wind and sleet howling against the windows, meanwhile my family is gathered in our cozy, warm living room. All around the room candles flicker, the tree is lit with lots of colorful lights, and the happy voices of my loved ones drifts through the house, all the way up to the attic where Mom and Dad sleep.

In the Bleak Mid-Winter

I'm going to start posting a Christmas song every day until Christmas!

Happy December 1st!

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

I Believe To See ~ Wedding Video

Lydia made this short video clip. Hope you all enjoy it! We really did walk out of the church to this song. It was Russell's and my favorite song throughout our courtship. We believe to see the goodness of the Lord!!!

Lyd, you did an EXCELLENT job! I love it! =)

Complete In Thee

Russell had me listen to this song yesterday. It is SO beautiful, I just had to share it with you all. My favorite verse is this one:

Complete in Thee, no more shall sin!

Thy grace has conquered reign within.

Thy blood shall bid the tempter flee,

And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Praise God! Complete in Him, His Spirit in me can never sin! His grace has conquered and reigns within. When I have no strength of my own, and my faith is depleted, I can tap into the endless resources of Christ, and my soul is delightfully satisfied. When the enemy overpowers me, the blood of Jesus Christ, my Saviour, shall bid the tempter flee!

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:6-8

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:10

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Complete in Thee, no work of mine

Could take, dear Lord, the place of Thine;

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!

And sanctified! Salvation wrought!

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

And glorified, I too, shall be!

Complete in Thee each want supplied,

And no good thing to me denied;

Since Thou my portion, Lord, will be,

I ask no more, complete in Thee.

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!

And sanctified! Salvation wrought!

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

And glorified, I too, shall be!

Complete in Thee, no more shall sin!

Thy grace has conquered reign within.

Thy blood shall bid the tempter flee,

And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!

And sanctified! Salvation wrought!

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

And glorified, I too, shall be!

Dear Saviour! when before Thy bar

All tribes and tongues assembled are,

Among the chosen I shall be,

At Thy right hand, complete in Thee.

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!

And sanctified! Salvation wrought!

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

And glorified, I too, shall be!

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

And glorified, I too, shall be!

That Night ~ O Holy Night

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
~ Luke 19:10

I love the powerful message of this beautiful Christmas song and highly recommend this CD by the Epley family. If you are looking to buy good music and are interested, please go to this link. (HERE)

In the Sweet By and By

10/29/2009

This is a video Aaron took during the camp meeting week in FL. Lydia, Clay, Russell & I sang. I was trying to get over a flu and Lydia and Clay were just beginning to come down with something. We all kinda had a frog in our throat, so instead of being the Huumayns of 2008 we were the "croaking quartet" of 2009. =D

Hope you enjoy it anyway...

(Better video quality...)

He was, He is, He is to come!

“The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” ~ Proverbs 21:1

My dad preached on the sovereignty of God this morning. I love that word--Sovereign. God is sovereign…independent of outside authority, having supreme rank and power, paramount.

One God.

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1Timothy 2:5-6

The Only God.

“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” Isaiah 46:9

Holy God.

“For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves…For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44-45

God is still holy... God is still pure... His name is perfect... His Word is sure... Nothing shall ever stain His righteousness... Nothing shall ever mar His holiness... Our God is holy for ever and ever. He will endure!

He was. He is. He is to come!

God says:

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 3:11

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20

I hope you enjoy this song!

Let Us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus

I love this song! Thank God for edifying music!

CDs by Streams in the Desert Trio can be bought at strivingtogether.com

God Save the U.S.A.

I hope you enjoy this beautiful song. God, please save this land we love ~ the U.S.A.!

Treasures of the Very Best Kind

I love songs about the family, and this happens to be one of my favorites. If more Christian families were like the one described in this song, we would surely see a drastic change. This world mocks and underestimates the family, and that is because Satan realizes what a powerful tool the family is for the cause of Christ. I’m glad and very privileged to say that this song describes my parents perfectly. I am so thankful for them, the godly influence they have had and the example they have been to me.

This song is not only a blessing to me because of its great message, but because it is played and sung in a godly manner. I hear Christians saying that they just can’t find good music, but let me say that it is out there! Music has a powerful influence to shape the home and each member in it. One way that Satan destroys the home is through music. He underestimates the family, and he underestimates the power of music on the family, knowing what an influential force it is to its unity, which he hates with such vehement passion.

If good Christian music was not a means of strengthening the family, we would see it being sold at every music store around…like we see worldly music and CCM being sold by the millions. You certainly don’t have to hunt too far to find that junk! Just go look on the internet! Look on You Tube! Do you see all kinds of Christian music on there? Nope! That’s cause Satan doesn’t want it readily available…cause he knows it’s going to help you! You can find cheap trash that is called “Christian.” But it’s counterfeit music--an imitation of the real, genuine thing. CCM is an abbreviation for “Contemporary Christian Music.” I prefer to call it “Counterfeit Christian Music.” I don’t listen to that stuff! My ears are not a garbage can for some “Christian” artist to go dumping his emotional, whiny, in-my-personal-space, drum-filled, sensual TRASH.

There is nothing original about CCM! If you haven’t noticed, it all sounds the same. Just like the world’s soft rock, it starts out calm and soothing. It grabs you by your emotions and sucks you in under the guise of “the Holy Spirit’s working.” It tricks you into believing that the emotion of the music is your spirit being drawn to God’s Spirit, when, in fact, it is your human carnality being aroused and responding to the sly, manipulating sensuality of the song. Then, as soon as your emotions are involved and it’s basically impossible to think rationally (God’s Spirit is quenched and the flesh is in control), the drums start up on the chorus.

My sister and I were doing a little musical research the other day. We were listening to a song by a famous Christian singer whose music is all over You Tube. We got through the first verse (very nice and calm…nothing offensive about it, at least, nothing that you could immediately recognize), and as the chorus was approaching, Lydia called it. “Here it comes…here it comes!” Sure enough! The drums started up. We turned it off in disgust. Though I could not put my finger on exactly what it was, I detected an unmistakable something in the first verse, and I knew it was going to be another typical lame, copycat CCM song.

CCM is just an imitation of the world’s music. These artists have adopted the world’s style and simply added “Christian” words. You see and hear the same characteristics: the moaning, the whining, the breathy words that intrude on your personal space, the rocky choruses, the breaths taken at the wrong time and in the wrong place, and the self-glorifying hand motions and body movements of the singers. Every artist just copies another artist. There’s no hint of the Christ-identifying “SEPARATION” in the music. Everything sounds the same. Same music; same spirit. Why? These people aren’t dumb! Good music doesn’t sell, because it doesn’t pacify the flesh. And that is pretty much the sum of Christianity today--fleshly Christians. Thus, these artists make their music to appease people, completely forgetting one important fact--music was made for the glory and praise of GOD. This is the verse that perfectly describes CCM artists today: “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:43) Christians today don’t have the guts to take a stand. Instead, we are going with the flow, when God intended for us to be strangers and pilgrims on this earth. (Hebrews 11:13) A stranger is unfamiliar with the place in which he dwells (he has not familiarized himself with customs, practices, and pleasures) and he appears strange (noticeably different) to the occupants of the land; a pilgrim is unmistakably passing through on his journey. Like Lot, we have forgotten that we are not of this world, and we have gladly made our homes and derived our pleasures from this wicked Sodom and Gomorrah--this world! “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” (1 Peter 2:11) In 1 Corinthians 6:17 we are commanded, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” CCM is not music that bears the stamp of separation! For that reason, it is an unclean thing!

Good words do not make a song good. A song has three crucial parts: the music, the vocal performance, and the words. Unlike what is so commonly taught, it is the words are the most unimportant part of any song. Words only verbalize or make audible what the message of the music is communicating to your brain. And listen to this: music is something your brain has no power to resist! It is a scientifically proven FACT! You don’t have to listen to music to hear it. I’ve heard people say, “Well, I don’t listen to the music; I just listen to the words.” You may like to think you’re not listening to the music, but your brain is recording every note you hear and filing it in your subconscious. That is a scary thing! CCM artists like to think that their “Christian” words justify their worldly music, as if that makes it “OKAY.” I can guarantee you something! God’s stamp of approval is not on that garbage! And Christians have no business listening to it.

I REFUSE to pollute myself with the trash that is labeled “Christian.” I will not touch the unclean thing! My flesh needs no aid in being sensual. I have enough mind battles to deal with without helping my enemy destroy me. Why do you think fornication is so prevalent, even in our churches today? Christians are feeding their carnal nature with music that promotes spiritual fornication. The result is that fornication is being practiced physically. The link between the two is unmistakable!!! We are playing with fire! And we are in great danger of being burned.

Yes, it is hard to find good Christian music. And there’s a purpose for that! So people will settle for less than the best!!! You see, Satan has an agenda. Those who produce good music are interfering with his plans. So he makes sure they are hidden away in some dark and unknown corner while his home-destroying music is being sold in the front window of every music store around.

Treasures are hard to find. They are buried deep in the dirt. Good music is like a treasure. It’s not sitting there on the surface, waiting for anyone to come and take it away. If we want to get that treasure, we’re going to have to dig past the mounds of dirt to get to it. Don’t stop to admire counterfeit jewels in that soil! Don’t be content to listen to the easily-attainable “Counterfeit Christian Music”! Thinking you’ve found something of worth, you will end up a spiritual pauper. The test of your character is whether you have the endurance to dip deep enough to reach…treasures of the very best kind!

Okay…I didn’t intend to ramble on like that… Here’s the song! =)

Treasures of the Very Best Kind

I grew up in a home where Daddy was boss

His word was authority there

He didn’t have to demand it

We obeyed cause we loved to make Daddy happy

And a godly Daddy is a picture of the Father above

He read to his family from God’s Word at night

And he preached with his life everyday

He provided a roof, food and clothes, and much more

We’ll be in Heaven since he showed us the way

Can’t is a word that he never would use

Through prayer he’s accomplished great things

He’s kept his head high no matter the trial

He’s been such an example to me

A just man leaves and in heritance here on this earth

For his children who follow behind

And the values that Daddy placed deep in our hearts

Are treasures of the very best kind

Treasures of the very best kind

Mama never tried to pursue a career

Her family was more important, you see

She always was home when we needed her there

To take care of her children

And a godly mother makes home a place of Heaven on earth

Her words of wisdom echo through my mind

Her encouragement fills my thoughts

She’s always believed in me even when I’ve failed

I’m thankful for the lessons she’s taught

I remember Mama reading her Bible each day

I can still hear her whispered prayer

God gave me a chance to rise up, call her blessed

There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ve had the best

Thank You, dear Lord, they’ve made it so easy

To honor them time after time

The love that they’ve shown and the memories I have

Are treasures of the very best kind

Treasures of the very best kind

By B. Epley

For more music by the Epley family click HERE.

Also, see my sidebar for more CCM--Conservative Christian Music!

As The Deer

Psalm 42

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

I Believe to See

Abigail Miller

This world is a place where we believe what we can see.
The tangible, the visible is what must really be.
But, He who would be wise must see with different eyes,
We live by faith, where miracles should come as no surprise.

Chorus:
I believe to see the goodness of the Lord.
I believe the promises He gave us in His Word.
I don't need to know the outcome of His plan.
I will trust His ways, though I can't see His hand.

We're looking for a city that's not made by human hands.
We're living for a purpose that so far exceeds our plans.
When trials take their toll beyond what we control,
We rest upon the Faithful One, the Keeper of our souls.

Chorus:
I believe to see the goodness of the Lord.
I believe the promises He gave us in His Word.
I don't need to know the outcome of His plan.
I will trust His ways, though I can't see His hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the van on the way to church last night I read some verses the Lord has recently given me, and on the way home I silently thought about things as I looked out the window…about the preaching, and I pondered the sweet promises and assurance the Lord has given me. Since it’s winter, it is dark outside by the time we’re driving home. A thick mist fell as we drove closer to home. The lights from the highway and the car lights ahead lit our way, but other than that it was very hard to see what was ahead. Off to my right, beyond the yellowish lighting of the highway, the fields were shrouded in a dense fog. It felt slightly eerie, but inside my heart, I felt the joy of the Lord and His warming comfort as I meditated on Him and His wonderful works.

And then I thought about how often life is just like that. All around me are unknown and frightening circumstances looming ahead in the darkness. I don’t know the way that lies before me. It is just as dark, misted over, and foreboding as the Dutch countryside we were passing by. But, even though the future might look a little scary with its uncertainties, I believe to see the goodness of the Lord. His soothing assurance fills my soul.

A few words of the song above ran through my mind. I sat in the van wracking my brain trying to piece the words together. Then, as if the Lord knew my thoughts (I believe He did), I suddenly heard the song, and caught the words I was trying to think of. Josiah was sitting behind me, listening to “I Believe to See” on his itouch. For just a second I heard it, and then he must have turned the volume down…or something. But it didn’t matter, because suddenly I knew the song I was thinking of. The words began filling my mind. I quickly turned on my own mp3 player and listened to the song. (It’s the one I got for my birthday. I used my mp3 player for the first time on Sunday morning. I really like it! I’ve already learned something new in my 21st year!!! And without Josiah having to guide me step-by-step. I’m proud of myself! (chuckle)

I believe to see the goodness of the Lord.
I believe to see… What do I believe to see? I don’t know what my future holds. It is dark and unknown, but by faith, which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of unseen things, I believe to see the goodness of the Lord. You know where that line comes from? Psalm 27:13, which happens to be my favorite Psalm. “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” I can’t see what lies ahead, but I can trust that my Father has everything under control. He knows the way that leads to the “exceeding abundantly”--the things He longs to give me, the things that surpass my grandest hopes and wildest dreams. I need only to follow…and then I will see the goodness of the Lord.

I believe the promises He gave us in His Word.
And the very next verse after Psalm 27:13 says, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” That’s a promise! Wait and be of good courage, and the Lord will strengthen your heart. That is a promise! I wish I could share all the beautiful things God has been telling me in His Word lately. Sometimes I feel like I could burst with joy. God is speaking to me! His promises strengthen me, and the sweet assurance of His leading hand cheer my heart. I believe the promises He’s given me in His Word! They are more precious than gold!

I don't need to know the outcome of His plan.
Sometimes when my faith fails, I become impatient, and long to know what lies ahead. I want to get a peek into the future. But this is wrong. I don't need to know the outcome of His plan. I trust that God is doing things that I know nothing of. He is accomplishing His perfect will, in His own way, in His own timing. If I knew what was ahead, I would only get in the way. I would ruin God’s perfect plan. I don’t need to know the outcome. I just need to trust.

I will trust His ways, though I can't see His hand.
It is my duty not to worry and fret about tomorrow, but simply to trust God’s ways, though they are foreign and strange to me. Though I walk in present darkness, unable to see the Lord’s guiding hand, I can trust that the way on which He leads me is a safe and happy one. Why? Because God is with me. I have been assured that He will never leave me or forsake me. Whatever lies before me, though I cannot see His hand, I can trust the loving heart of my Father.

I believe to see the goodness of the Lord!!!

Welcome Home!

I want to share this very special song with you. I got a new CD called, “Eine Kleine Kaffeemusik III” for my birthday. I was on the phone talking with my grandparents when I heard this song playing for the first time in the background. I can’t explain the feeling that washed over me. Hope. I held my breath and wondered if I was hearing the song of Heaven drifting down to earth. Nobody can tell me that music has no effect on a person. Music is…everything! I can’t live without music!

Afterwards my sister and I shared our thoughts about the song. Lydia said it sounded like “Welcome Home” to her. I agree! When I hear it, joyful hope swells within me.

Welcome home... Several weeks ago my family and I watched a WWII documentary. So many images flashed before our eyes, but one picture stayed with me. Young men, weary of war, with packs on their backs, walked off a huge ship to shore. Below, multitudes of people stood waiting to greet their loves one, finally home from the battlefield. Those faces were filled with excitement. With joy. And as those boys reached the soil of their homeland, relief was written on their faces. No more pain. No more fear of death. Finally they would be enveloped in the loving embraces of their families. They were home. Home!

I saw this black-and-white image playing before me, but in my mind’s eye I pictured another day...a joyful day in the future, when all battle-weary Christians will arrive Home after many long years of fighting a spiritual war. We will leave earth’s sadness, pain, and death forever behind. One day soon, our ships will enter celestial shores, and it will be our turn to step off the gangplank. But, unlike those soldiers, we will leave our heavy packs behind, never again to be weighed down under the load of our sin! Free! Free at last! And as we step ashore, all those dear ones who have gone on before us will be waiting to greet us with arms outstretched. And at long last we will see the face of our Saviour!

Heaven…a place where no good-byes will ever be said again. We will hear a glad “Welcome Home!” but will never need fear having to whisper those sorrowful words of parting through tears or feel the terrible empty ache inside. Can you imagine a place like this? Heaven, eternal Home of the redeemed. How beautiful Heaven must be!!!

Housecleaning and Hard Truths

Over the last couple days I’ve been doing a lot of cleaning in my room and in the rest of the house. I wanted to start this new year, 2009, with a clean house. Now I have things in the house all cleaned and organized, but is that good enough?

I wrestled before the Lord this morning during my personal devotions…praying about various things. And God showed me a few things in my own life that could use some attention. Now that my house is clean of dust and clutter, some items that my family and I own could also use to be “cleaned up,” as in they need to be introduced to the garbage. Like I’ve written in previous posts, I can’t say it’s anything out rightly wicked. That’s not how the devil works. He slyly sneaks things that seem “okay” into our lives, under the guise of being “Christian.” But are they really? As I’m searching my own life, God is showing me that things I thought were “okay” aren’t “okay” with Him.

I feel an inner battle raging inside me. And I tremble with these thoughts. I think Judgment Day is going to be a rude awakening for many of us “holy” Christians…those of us who presently think we were in good standing with God. I quiver to think of the things I thought were okay and would be approved by God, and now He is showing me otherwise. And who knows how many other things He will bring to light as I ask Him to show me!

This morning we got together as a family and disposed of a few things that we didn’t feel were pleasing to God. Our good “Glad” CD’s. You know, I have to admit that I like the hymns CD. If you just heard the music you’d think it’s fine. Then one day I looked inside the cover and saw a picture of men in black, sloppy clothing, with longish hair, standing in what looked like a construction site at night. The whole thing radiated “WORLD.” That was a real shocker, considering I was picturing godly-looking men in sharp suits, clean-shaven, with trimmed hair. After that, the music never sounded quite the same to me. Then I remember one day a few years ago when I was telling a friend of mine about this group of men who sang acapella. I turned the CD on for him to listen to, and suddenly I heard that music with different ears. I felt embarrassed. Something inside me (perhaps…just perhaps the Spirit of God?) said that there was a problem. There were no drums. There was nothing that could be specifically pointed out as being wrong, but there was something that just wasn’t right. I shrugged it off as nothing, ignoring what God was trying to communicate to me. Now I’m realizing that when I have that feeling that something isn’t RIGHT, then it’s probably WRONG! There can’t be middle ground. It’s either one or the other. Well, on Saturday we were listening to the “Glad” CD, which we do on occasion. Once again, there was a song that just wasn’t right. No drums. No electric guitar. It just wasn’t right. The tone of voice. The emphasis of the singer, not on the words he sang, but the way in which he sang them. It was fleshly! And let me tell you!!! This old flesh needs NO ENCOURAGEMENT WHATSOEVER!!! We turned the CD off. And this morning after a short discussion, it was a unanimous decision that the CD would go. Like much Christian music today, the “Glad” project started out great. The hymns were beautiful. But as they became famous, the music changed. It was no longer meant to please God, but to please man. A vain show. That was the goal. Seeing as this singing group has changed their music/style, there must have been a spiritual instability from the start…from the very first CD that was made…even though there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with it. If music is not consistently good as each CD is released, then there is an underlying problem, a SPIRIT problem, that was existent from the very beginning. We’ve adopted a new principle in our house: If it isn’t good from start to finish (from album #1 to album #10) then don’t listen to it at all! Better to be safe than sorry!

Several years ago we listened to “Sound Doctrine” very regularly. Other CD’s would be played, but we always had “Sound Doctrine” cassettes ready to be popped in the tape player. For years we listened to their music and loved it. It really “pumped us up.” Then we rediscovered a few Marshall tapes we had, and those replaced “Sound Doctrine.” For months and then years we listened to the John Marshall family. Then we found a dusty “Sound Doctrine” CD one day and somebody played it. Suddenly, after “Marshallizing” ourselves for quite a while, we heard “Sound Doctrine” with different ears. Something wasn’t right. There wasn’t that same spirit of prayer and holiness that we sensed in the Marshalls’ music. Suddenly it bothered me that the song “Nothing But the Blood” was being played so fast (and with such irregular rhythm) that the words barely registered. We’re talking about THE BLOOD! The precious blood of Jesus Christ that washed away our filthy, vile sins. As the Spirit of God inside me was strengthened with Marshall’s music, “Sound Doctrine” lost its fleshly appeal. We haven’t touched the “Sound Doctrine” CD’s since we came to that realization. And now it has become apparent that “Sound Doctrine” isn’t as doctrinally sound as everyone thought. This morning all the “Sound Doctrine” CD’s and cassettes were disposed of, because we don’t feel that God is getting glory when we listen to that music, and since we aren’t going to listen to it, there’s no point in having it around to cause us to stumble in a moment of weakness. Did I like it? No. There are two songs in particular that I really loved--“What Love!” and the wedding song (“Her Mother and I”?). Sometimes…no, most of the time doing what is right isn’t easy, but it’s better to do right the hard way than to do wrong the easy way. See what this man of God has to say about it (here).

There were several other CD’s and also DVD’s that we removed from this house today. Why? Because we don’t want to grieve God!!! When He shows us light, we need to act upon that light…with haste!!! Last year, around this time, I received a book from a friend, which I was told was very good. I read that book, and Hannah liked it, but the Spirit of God IN Hannah did NOT like it. The book appealed to my flesh. The book was sensual and carnal, and put ideas in my mind that should never have been placed there. As if that wasn’t bad enough, God was a last resort for those in that book. God was a crutch. You heard His name when the problems came, but never at any other time. I read the book out of obligation because it was from a friend, but the whole time I was asking myself why I was reading it. I knew I wasn’t right with God and He did not approve. After I finished the book, my heart smote me. The Spirit of God inside me was grieved, and my flesh was well-fed and feeling healthy. Let me tell you something, this wicked flesh of mine is stubborn enough and willing to do great damage, let alone when I make “provision for the flesh” by reading/listening to things that encourage it!!! I repeat. This old flesh needs NO ENCOURAGEMENT WHATSOEVER!!! I have enough ideas in my mind that need to be suppressed, without reading something that helps my imagination form clearer images of things I have no business thinking on!!! GOD, HELP ME! I let that book sit on my bookshelf for a few months. Then the Lord impressed it on my heart to throw the book in the garbage. I had no intention of rereading it or lending it out to anybody. Then I began thinking that since that was the case, why keep it? I pondered this thought: If I was raptured today and left all my belongings behind, would I want somebody to find that book on my bookshelves and know I had read it? NO! I would be ashamed. So, I took the book and tossed it in the trash, and I can tell you that any other “romance” I receive from the author Dee Henderson will join it. I cannot afford to encourage my flesh, therefore estranging myself from God. I cannot afford to let ANYTHING interrupt that tender stream of communication between us. It’s only too easy for that to happen! God, forgive me! God, forgive me!!!

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1 John 2:15-17

As if you can’t tell, this has been a pretty intense day for me. This is quite an intense post. As I said earlier, I feel an inner battle raging inside me. Most assuredly, Judgment Day is going to be a rude awakening for many of us. I tremble and quake with these thoughts. The things that most Christians think are “Christian” could very well be a perfect trap set to ensnare us. Is what we consider “Christian” REALLY Christian? Would the Lord Jesus Christ approve? I fear that many of us are so accustomed to grieving God’s Spirit by listening/reading things that in truth are anti-GODliness and pro-flesh, that we have lost our sense of discernment. So much “Christian” music today starts out softly, working on our emotions, drawing us into the song. We become moved and weep, thinking it’s the work of the Spirit of God. And then a little further into the song the drums start up and the tone of the singer changes, singing in your personal space. We get so caught up in the emotion of it all, that our discernment of the spirit behind it is numbed; our flesh is so busy feasting that we fail to hear the Spirit trying to awaken us to reality. When we listen to “Christian” music, often what we think of as spiritual emotion for God is, in fact, fleshly emotion responding to fleshly “Christian” music. Our wicked flesh cloaks itself as “God’s Spirit.” This is the greatest danger of most music today. As we continue listening to this music, the Spirit of God becomes weaker and soon we cannot differentiate between the two spirits--the spirit of the flesh or the Spirit of the Lord. The flesh overpowers the Spirit, stifling His ability to scream out a warning. Soon we become altogether immune and can’t discern what is right music and what is wrong music. And Satan has tricked us into believing we are worshipping God when in truth we are feeding our human nature. The flesh has scored another point, but we honestly believe that God has been glorified…because the words are good. Good words don’t justify a song. Good words don’t justify a song!!! GOOD WORDS DON’T JUSTIFY A SONG! Satan has us so deceived. And we can’t even see it. We are blinded, because our flesh, in the form of “God’s Spirit,” has taken control.

How can we escape the strong grasp of the flesh? Once we have lost our ability to discern the spirit of the music, how can we reprogram our minds to know what is right and what is wrong? I want to propose something. Without even meaning to, this is how we came to recognize godly Christian music from “Christian” music that is flesh-feeding. We listened to the John Marshall family for over a month, and the Spirit of God inside us became so strong that we lost the desire for music that was less than holy and worshipful. I can pray to ANY song the Marshalls song. It never fails to amaze me that when I am in the middle of doing house work, and I hear the Marshalls singing, I have to fall to the floor and pray. The Spirit of God fills my being, and the kitchen linoleum becomes holy ground. I’m telling you…there is something about that music!!! God is IN it!

I remember a time when my daddy was out fixing the CD player in our van. A young man, our neighbor boy, was also helping Dad out. The two of them got along well. I remember Dad asked Lydia to grab a CD from inside so he could try the CD player out. Lydia came back with their album “Peace.” The first song on the CD is “I Could Not Do Without Thee.” Before the first verse was finished, Sjaak was so deeply under conviction that he was practically tripping over his words, grasping for any reason to escape. GOD is IN the Marshalls’ music!!! I would encourage everybody to saturate their hearts and minds with Marshalls’ music for at least one month, and then listen to the music you usually do. I can guarantee you, you will have the discernment to know what music is God-honoring and what music appeals to the flesh. I use it as a standard by which I judge all other music.

I know this post is heavy. I had a hard time writing it. I stand in judgment of NO ONE. Am I bragging about how spiritual I am? NO way! I’m admitting what a loser Christian I am. God has been knocking for a long time, now that I look back. But, like everything else, it takes hard blows to get my attention. I just want to share with you what God has done in me today. This morning I prayed with tears on my cheeks, “Lord, show me the things that need to change!!!” I trust He will continue to do so. And as I remove the things that stand between me and my Savior, His glorious presence will grow more intense as I enter the realm of His holiness, and our sweet moments of fellowship will become precious indeed!

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If Jesus Came

by Lois Blanchard Eades

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored guest,
And all the food you'd serve Him would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there--
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But--when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door?
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out,
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder---if the Saviour spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep its usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read?
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.

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This is a thought-provoking poem, isn’t it? I wonder what the Lord would say if He saw the books sitting on our shelves or noticed the book on our nightstand. Would we blush with shame if He heard our music and saw the CD albums we treasure most? The thing is, God DOES see. And He does hear. But we forget. Oh, if only we would keep in mind that Jesus lives inside, and He is the beholder of all we do and say and listen to and read!!! We might come to the realization that something in our lives and homes needs to go. Housecleaning never hurt anybody. In fact, you might feel relief, and God might speak to you as never before, now that no clutter is standing between you and Him. What do you think? Is a little housecleaning in order….? =)
I know it was for me. And I know it’s not finished…not by long shot! Lord, grow me!!! Help me to have a clean house that brings honor and not shame to Your name!

How Beautiful! ~ The James Family

My sister found this clip, and we listened to it before family devotions. I hope it touches your heart as deeply as it touched mine.

How Beautiful the hands that served
The Wine and the Bread and the sons of the earth
How beautiful the feet that walked
The long dusty road and the hill to the cross
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

How Beautiful the heart that bled
That took all my sins and bore it instead
How beautiful the tender eyes
That choose to forgive and never despise
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ

And as He lay down His life
We offer this sacrifice
That we will live just as He died
Willing to pay the price
Willing to pay the price

How Beautiful the radiant bride
Who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes
How Beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure love so that others may live

How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How Beautiful the hands that serve
The wine and the bread and the sons of the Earth
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ