Tag Archives: Contemporary Christian Music

No More Battles Over… Hymns? Or Choruses? Ha!

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Now We Can Have Them Together In One Song!!

Psalm 34:1-4

“I will bless the LORD at all times:

His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

My soul shall make her boast in the LORD:

the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad

O magnify the LORD with me,

and let us exalt His Name together. 

I sought the LORD,

and He heard me,

and delivered me from all my fears.” 

Psalm103 

Bless the Lord, O my soul:

and all that is within me,

bless His Holy Name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul

and forget not all His benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;

who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;

who crowneth thee with loving kindness

and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;

so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord executeth righteousness

and judgment for all that are oppressed.

He made known His ways unto Moses,

His acts unto the children of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious

slow to anger,

and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide:

neither will He keep His anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins;

nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the Heaven is high above the earth,

so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

1Like as a father pitieth his children,

so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.

For He knoweth our frame;

He remembereth that we are dust.

As for man, his days are as grass:

as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone;

and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting

upon them that fear Him,

and His righteousness unto children’s children;

To such as keep His covenant,

and to those that remember His commandments to do them.

The Lord hath prepared His throne in the Heavens;

and His Kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength,

that do His commandments, hearkening unto the Voice of His Word.

Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts;

ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure.

Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion:

bless the Lord, O my soul.”

Amen!!

Titus 3:5

“He saved us,

not because of works

done by us in righteousness,

but according to His own mercy,

by the washing of regeneration

and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

 Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me,

if only I may finish the race and complete the task

the Lord Jesus has given me-

the task of testifying to the Gospel of God’s grace.”

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that though He was rich,

yet for your sakes He became poor,

so that you through His poverty might become rich.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

But He said to me,

‘My grace is sufficient for you,

for My power is made perfect in weakness.’

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself

and God our Father,

who loved us

and by His grace

gave us eternal encouragement

and good hope,

encourage your hearts and strengthen you

in every good deed and word.”

Amen and Amen!!

What Are You Waiting For???

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 “I will surely bless you,

and I will surely multiply your offspring

as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.

And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies,

and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,

because you have obeyed My Voice.”

Genesis 22:17-18

Make a difference!!

Change the world…

Don’t wait!

Start right now!!

Let your voice…

Be the one voice!

Shout it out!

Give a little more…

What are you waiting for???

Don’t feel helpless…

Do your part…

Anything’s possible…

God can make good things happen…

Just believe!

Take that step…

Time is ticking…

Don’t wait until God gives YOUR assignment away…

To someone who will obey!

Do it!

Right here!

Right now!

Before it’s too late…

Go ahead…

Face your tomorrow today!

Amen!

“I find the doing of the will of God

leaves me no time for disputing

about His plans.”

George Macdonald-

“Not with eye service,

as men pleasers;

but as the servants of Christ,

doing the will of God from the heart;”

Ephesians 6:6

“Look, today I have set before you life and death,

depending on whether you obey or disobey.

I have commanded you today to love the Lord your God

and to follow His paths and to keep His laws,

so that you will live and become a great nation,

and so that the Lord your God will bless you

and the land you are about to possess.”

Deuteronomy 30:15-16

I’m praying for you!!

Step Out Of Your Own Little World!!

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Step Out In Faith!!

Out of your comfort zone…

To the next level…

To the place…

Where you don’t know what you’re doing…

But, you do know God’s holding your hand!

God wants us to see the BIG picture!

It’s easy to ignore…

When it’s population ME!

 There’s a greater purpose…

You could be living right now…

Outside your own little world!

God, what have we been doing?

Father, start breaking my heart…

For what breaks Yours!

Give me open hands…

And open doors…

Put Your light in my eyes…

And let me see…

That my own little world…

Is not about ME!!!

“And then He told them,

‘Go into all the world

and preach the Good News to everyone.'”

Mark 16:15

God’s opening up doors for me to go to the next level…

It’s hard…

But, exciting at the same time…

I don’t feel wise enough…

 Or strong enough…

But it’s not about ME…

Is it?!?!

Leave A Legacy…

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My very special Aunt Rachel, 86, of, N.J., passed away on Friday, May 3, 2013.

She left a legacy!

We’re celebrating her life!

We loved her, and will miss her!

She was predeceased by her husband, my Dad’s youngest brother…

And survived by her four sons (all of which preach the Gospel!),

her brother, her sister,

six grandchildren,

and five great-grandchildren (all who serve the Lord!)

She was a precious saint with strong faith in Jesus…

She left a spiritual legacy!!

We’re celebrating her Home Going!

She’s with Jesus now!!

“We will not hide them from their children,

but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord,

and His might,

and the wonders that He has done. 

Psalm 78:4  ESV

Dear Cousins…

Don’t be discouraged…

When shadows come…

Don’t be lonely…

Heaven is now her home!

Jesus is your portion…

Your constant friend is He…

His eye is on the sparrow…

And I know He watches You…

Sing because you’re happy… 

Sing because she’s free…

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches you!

“Let not your heart be troubled,”

His tender word you hear…

Rest on His goodness…

Lose your doubts and fears…

Follow where He leads you…

By the one step that you see…

His eye is on the sparrow…

 I know He watches You!

Whenever you’re tempted…

Whenever clouds arise…

When songs give place to sighing…

When hope within you dies…

Draw closer to Him…

As He sets you free from care…

His eye is on the sparrow…

I know He watches you!

I want to leave a legacy…

How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love?

Jesus, did I point to You enough?

And make  a mark on things?

I want to leave an offering…

Be a child of mercy and grace…

Who blessed Your Name!

Unapologetically!!

Help me leave that kind of legacy…

Not look too far, or too long…

Or make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy…

Accumulating trinkets, and a treasure pile…

Where moth, and rust, and thieves, and such…

Will soon enough destroy!

Not well traveled…

Not well read…

Not well-to-do…

Or well bred…

I just want to hear instead

“Well done, good and faithful one!!”

Aunt Rachel,

I hear your Jesus saying that to you right now!

Amen!

Don’t have a family legacy???

It could start with you!!!

God’s ready to help you!

 

Hello! Welcome To Our Home!!

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Hi!  I’m The Crazy Siberian!

This my domain…

I’m in charge here!!

This year has really been quite chaotic!

This is my story and I’m sticking to it!!

 “For He will give His angels orders concerning you,

to protect you in all your ways.” 

Psalm 91:11

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Looks like they made this dining room table just for me to try to hide under!

They had to remove the oriental carpet under it recently,

Because when I was sick, I was messing up too many areas!

Sorry!!

“Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds;

tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

Teach them to your children,

talking about them when you sit at home

and when you walk along the road,

when you lie down and when you get up.” 

Deuteronomy 11:18, 19

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Hey, you’re not perfect either!!

Yeah, that’s right!

“I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for You alone, O LORD,

make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 4:8

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The Mom usually decorates this table for each holiday!

But, she’s working part-time this year, so…

These Easter decorations have been on this table since before March 31st!!

“By wisdom a house is built,   

and through understanding it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled   

with rare and beautiful treasures.

Proverbs 24:3-4

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The Boy is ready for the battle…

I will cause My people and their homes

around My Holy hill to be a blessing.

And I will send showers, showers of blessings,

which will come just when they are needed.”

Ezekiel 34:26 

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But I want you to know that…

I won the Easter-Egg-Cracking War!!

“Unless the LORD builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the LORD watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.”

Psalms 127:1

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They did not let me eat these!!  HUMPH!!!

“Now My eyes will be open [says the Lord] and My ears attentive

to the prayer that is made in this place.

For now I have chosen and consecrated this house

that My name may be there forever;

My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.”

2 Chronicles 7:15

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But, they do give me carrots!!

“And every day in the temple and at home

they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Acts 5:42

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Everybody loves me!!

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock;

if any one hears My voice and opens the door,

I will come in to him and eat with him,

and he with Me.” 

Revelation 3:20

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I know it’s all about Jesus…He healed me when I was so sick!!

 “As for me and my house,

we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15

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Today…May 2nd…the Mom finally put the Easter decorations away!!

And the Dad and the Boy put the carpet back in place!

All was going well until I had an accident on the Family Room carpet!  UGH!

“Let not your hearts be troubled;

believe in God, believe also in Me.

In My Father’s house are many rooms;

if it were not so,

would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

And when I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and will take you to Myself,

that where I am you may be also.”

John 14:1-3

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Here’s what the table looked like on Valentine’s Day!

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,

who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,

will say to the LORD,

‘My refuge and my fortress;

my God, in whom I trust.'”

Psalms 91:1-2

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The Dad does a good job of arranging flowers, huh!?!?

For a retired cop!!  Ha!

 “Unless the Lord builds the house,

its builders labor in vain.” 

Psalm 127:1

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Valentine’s Lunch!! 

They did not invite me!!

“Do not forget to entertain strangers,

for by so doing some people have entertained angels

without knowing it.”

Hebrews 13:2

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Okay!!  Go home now…

it’s time for my peaceful afternoon nap!!

“I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for you alone, O LORD,

make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 4:8

No one’s home is perfect…

Lord help us!!

And heal!

My Eyes Are On You, Lord!!

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I Don’t Want To Gain The Whole World…

And Lose My Soul


For whosoever will save his life shall lose it;

but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel’s,

the same shall save it.

For what shall it profit a man,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?” 

Mark 8:35-36

What will you gain???

If you lose your soul? 

Have we lost our souls while gaining the whole world?

Don’t want to walk away…

Not going to let material things get in my way…

I’m trying to get somewhere…

That’s real and pure and true and eternal!

Father God…

I am clay in Your hands…

Help me to stay that way through all life’s demands…

‘Cause they chip, and they nag, and they pull at me…

And every little thing I make up my mind to be…

The road that is wide and filled with self-love…

Everything that I see draws me…

Though it’s only in You that I can truly see…

That it’s a feast for the eyes…

A low blow to purpose…

And I’m a little kid at a three-ring circus!

Who I am…

Is not what I do…

But, where’s my heart?

The first thing to prosper…

Should be the inside of me.

We’re free!!

Christ came!

Now we’re changed!

Not the same…

Even though I made a fall…

Since I got that call…

No more Saul…

Now I’m Paul.!

 I sense the tide that’s rising…

De-sensitizing me from living in light of eternity…

It’s hypnotizing me from living in light of eternity…

Lord, what we can we do?

We’re relying on you…

All eyes are on you, Lord!

 All eyes are on you, Jesus!

Don’t let me lose my soul…

This is my honesty…

Father, won’t You cover me?

Lord forgive us…

When we get consumed by the things of this world…

That fight for our love…

And our passion…

As our eyes are open wide…

And on You…

Grant us the privilege of Your world view…

And may Your kingdom be…

What wakes us up…

And lays us down!

Amen!!

Lord, I could sing of your Love forever!!

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“…keep thy soul diligently…”

Deuteronomy 4:9  KJV

Changed!! Oh Yeah, That’s What It Takes!

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“And He said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change

and become like little children,

you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Matthew 18:3

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Move On…

It’s time for a change!!

 

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Have you come up, out of the water…

Raised your hands…

Up to the Father?

Given it all to Him one day…

Felt a new wind kiss your face?

Walked away…

Your eyes wide open…

Finally see where you’re going?

Doesn’t matter where you’ve been…

  You’ve gotten off track…

You’ve made mistakes…

Back slid your way into that place…

Where souls get lost…

Lines get crossed…

And the pain won’t go away…

Hit your knees…

Now where you stand…

There you were…

Now here you are…

Here you are…

Changed!!!!!!

Say a lot of “Hey, I’m sorry”s…”

For the things you’ve done…

Man, that was not you…

Wish that you could take it all back…

  Tell ’em that…

You’ve changed for the better!!!

More smiles…

Less bitter…

Even starting to forgive yourself!

Yes, you are!!

You’re changed!!!

Rejoice!

Thank God!

You’re changed!”

Don’t wait…

We’ve all been there…

To get to here!!!

This is what it takes!

Amen!

“And we all,

who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory,

are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory,

which comes from the Lord,

who is the Spirit.”

 2 Corinthians 3:18

Our God Is An Awesome God!!

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Especially when He shows up magnificently…

At the end of an ordinary day!!

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His return is very close and so you better be believing…
Our God is an Awesome God!

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He reigns from Heaven above!

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With wisdom, power, and love…

Our God is an Awesome God!

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And when the sky was starless in the void of the night…

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He spoke into the darkness and created the light…

Our God is an Awesome God!

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“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords,

the great, the mighty, and the awesome God…”

Deuteronomy 10:17  ESV

“You are the Lord, You alone.

You have made Heaven, the Heaven of heavens, with all their host,

the earth and all that is on it,

the seas and all that is in them;

and You preserve all of them;

and the host of Heaven worships You.”

Nehemiah 9:6  ESV

Really…How Much Baggage Are You Carrying?!?

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Let it Go!!

All of It!!

Before Hurricane Charlie…

We had a lot of beautiful, heavy planters on our lanai…

In preparation for the hurricane,

We had to lug all those wonderful planters into our garage…

Where we had no room for anything extra!

After many hurricane preparation drills…

We soon tired of the routine!!

Carry them in…

Carry them back out..

Exhausting…

Our beautiful plants became simply weights we had to move around…

So in life…

Lose the baggage!

The weights…

The stuff…

The issues…

The worries…

The cares…

Don’t drag it around with you…

It’s too heavy!!

Give it all up:

The life you’ve planned for yourself…  

Your dreams…

Your destiny…

Lose control!

If it feels like you’re falling…

That’s what it’s like to believe!

Trust that Jesus can carry it for you…

Let go of your fear…

Get out of your comfort zone!

Then, don’t turn back!

Jesus is holding you!

“Keep thy heart with all diligence;

for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23


Quit Running Around and Around…Get Centered!

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I remember…

Right after I came back to the Lord years ago…

 I had a vision…

 God was trying to show me…

This exact thought…

Jesus needs to be the…

Center of my life!!

I saw me…

My family…

My career…

My house…

My hobbies…

My passions…

My friends…

Swirling around and around…

Then I noticed that He began moving things…

So that He was in the Center of it all!!

There He was holding out His arms…

Taking care of everything that concerned me!

I finally got it!

If He’s allowed to be the Center of my life…

Everything else revolves around Him!!

Everything!!

Come sun…

Come rainy day…

Jesus is still the same!!

In the dark…

In the light…

In the morning…

In the night…

In the good…

In the hurt…

In the places I hide…

When I rise…

When I fall!! 

In the loss…

In the win…

In the beauty…

In the sin…

At the start…

At the end

He’ll be there…

Through it all!

In the Center of My Life!!

How liberating!!!

“But seek first the kingdom of God

and His righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you”

Matthew 6:33  ESV