God exists. Everywhere, anywhere, all the time. But sometimes it is hard to hear God. Sometimes the noise is too loud, sometimes our situation too discouraging, our lives too chaotic. God is always present, but our situations make Him seem non-existent. With our lives in such constant disarray, how can we hear God?
In 1 Kings 19:9-18 we are offered a unique scene in the Bible. While you may not know this reference off the top of your head, you have no doubt heard the story. In this paragraph, Elijah is hiding in a cave for his life. God appears to Elijah and tells him to stand before the Lord. Suddenly, a great and mighty wind blows, followed by a powerful earthquake, and lastly a fire. But God was not in any of these events. Instead, a low whisper is heard in the middle of the madness. A still, small, quiet voice amidst the chaos.
That still small voice Elijah heard still speaks to us today. Our circumstances have changed, but God has not. While we aren't distracted by wind, earthquakes, or fire, we are distracted by this life we live. I don't need to begin listing our distractions because you know them all too well. They seem to scream at us from all directions, begging to take our attention off God. Sometimes it's just too much, and we cry out to God, but the noise seems to drown out the sound of His voice. However, God is always there. The problem is that we have focused on our chaotic, hectic situation and lost focus of God. Just like Elijah, we must not focus on the chaos but focus on the Calm in the middle of the storm. Instead of looking everywhere for our answer, we must stop, pray, and listen for God's voice. He is always there willing to lead us and direct us. To hold us and encourage. To help us through our chaos. But we need to be willing to focus on Him, and listen to the still, small voice amidst the chaos.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Sunday, March 31, 2013
My Top 5 Favorite Worship Songs
I decided to wait until Easter to post the final video. So here is number one on the countdown! Happy Easter everyone! Christ is risen! "Revelation Song" by Kari Jobe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGgX_oqdib4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGgX_oqdib4
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
My Top 5 Favorite Worship Songs
Number 2 on the countdown is "10,000 Reasons" by Matt Redman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jYLTn4fKYQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jYLTn4fKYQ
Monday, March 25, 2013
My Top 5 Favorite Worship Songs
Coming in at number three on the countdown is the hymn "In Christ Alone."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENtL_li4GbE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENtL_li4GbE
Friday, March 22, 2013
My Top 5 Favorite Worship Songs
Today is the second day of the countdown! Coming in at number four is "Your Great Name" by Natalie Grant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuuLBPOYcI8
Thursday, March 21, 2013
My Top 5 Favorite Worship Songs
As we near Easter I felt it was a fitting time to release the list of my favorite worship songs! Now this list changes almost constantly, but these five have solidified their position in my heart. They speak truth and the lyrics proclaim Jesus. Now without further delay, let's get to the countdown. Number five is "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)" by Chris Tomlin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
America Has Forgotten It's Past
I don't typically have the urge to post political topics. Mostly because they create a load of unnecessary talk, opinion stating, and division among people. But I feel it is important to make an exception on this blog post.
Politics have been around for centuries. From the old Pharaohs of Egypt, the kings and queens during the Middle Ages, to monarchies and democracies, politics are, and always will be a part of human civilization. There are many forms of politics in the world, however, American politics differ from any other nation on earth. America is a democracy. America is a nation where people are willing to get the job done. America is a nation where people are willing to work hard and provide a better life style. America's government works hard to compromise, and do what is best for the American people. America's people, in turn, respect and support the candidates who are in office, regardless of political status. Sound like the America we live in? Didn't think so. America is polar opposite of what I just named, and the sad thing is, it didn't used to be that way.
For those who know me, and for those who don't, I am a history geek. I am specifically interested in American history. The history of America is so diverse, so special that I am convinced only Israel has a greater story of their creation as a nation. America was founded on the backs of men, women, and children who were willing to risk fortune, safety, and health to find freedom in the New World. Not all these pilgrims were Christians, but most, if not all had a high moral standard. These people created the United States of America. They courageously fought the British to gain independence. They wrote the most important piece of legislation in the history of the world. They created a government, "of the people, by the people, for the people." But men like George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, and Richard Henry Lee all seem like fables told from the desk of a history teacher who has been in the past way too long.
They created important documents that protected neighboring nations from European invasion. They saved the United States from going into a Civil War fifty years before it did. They came out of the Civil War stronger, and more united than ever before. They created, invented, and improved life. They put aside their political differences and worked toward the common goal of improving America. But James Monroe, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, James A. Garfield, Booker T. Washington, Thomas Edison, Samuel Tilden, and William Jennings Bryan are all but forgotten.
The list continues on and on of great men who knew how to work together. Not all these men professed faith in Christ, but many of them were Christians. They stood for their beliefs. These men were, honest, upright, and moral, something that can not be said about many Congressmen today. These men made America a great nation, and because of them we live the way we do.
America is much different now. The men and women in Congress don't think as the Congressmen of old. Their agenda is much different now, both Republicans and Democrats. But the cause for the decline of America lies not with the government, but with us, the American people. Americans today are bent on entitlement. Americans today don't work to improve their situation, instead they expect the government to do it. Americans aren't generous with their time, money, and effort. Americans are lazy. Americans expect someone else to do the work. Americans don't all vote, or fulfill their duties as citizens. But more frightening than this, is the fact that Americans have forgotten their past. If you personally recognized every name I have wrote in this article, I commend you. However, these names mean nothing to most people. Sure, you know some of them, but we have forgotten what these men stand for. These men did not let political opinions stop their effort to make America great. The men I have named were both Democrats and Republicans, but to them that didn't matter. What mattered was their morals.
America is headed down a road with a bleak outlook. No one gets along, and no one is willing to improve their situation. America has forgotten its past. America has forgotten the lessons it has learned from past mistakes. But there is hope. Not all Americans have forgotten. Not all Americans have thrown morals out the window. There are some willing to make America great. Those men made America great because they trusted in God, and He guided them. We who are willing to remember our past, fulfill our civil duties in the present, and trust God for the future will fix this nation, not the government.
Politics have been around for centuries. From the old Pharaohs of Egypt, the kings and queens during the Middle Ages, to monarchies and democracies, politics are, and always will be a part of human civilization. There are many forms of politics in the world, however, American politics differ from any other nation on earth. America is a democracy. America is a nation where people are willing to get the job done. America is a nation where people are willing to work hard and provide a better life style. America's government works hard to compromise, and do what is best for the American people. America's people, in turn, respect and support the candidates who are in office, regardless of political status. Sound like the America we live in? Didn't think so. America is polar opposite of what I just named, and the sad thing is, it didn't used to be that way.
For those who know me, and for those who don't, I am a history geek. I am specifically interested in American history. The history of America is so diverse, so special that I am convinced only Israel has a greater story of their creation as a nation. America was founded on the backs of men, women, and children who were willing to risk fortune, safety, and health to find freedom in the New World. Not all these pilgrims were Christians, but most, if not all had a high moral standard. These people created the United States of America. They courageously fought the British to gain independence. They wrote the most important piece of legislation in the history of the world. They created a government, "of the people, by the people, for the people." But men like George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, and Richard Henry Lee all seem like fables told from the desk of a history teacher who has been in the past way too long.
They created important documents that protected neighboring nations from European invasion. They saved the United States from going into a Civil War fifty years before it did. They came out of the Civil War stronger, and more united than ever before. They created, invented, and improved life. They put aside their political differences and worked toward the common goal of improving America. But James Monroe, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, James A. Garfield, Booker T. Washington, Thomas Edison, Samuel Tilden, and William Jennings Bryan are all but forgotten.
The list continues on and on of great men who knew how to work together. Not all these men professed faith in Christ, but many of them were Christians. They stood for their beliefs. These men were, honest, upright, and moral, something that can not be said about many Congressmen today. These men made America a great nation, and because of them we live the way we do.
America is much different now. The men and women in Congress don't think as the Congressmen of old. Their agenda is much different now, both Republicans and Democrats. But the cause for the decline of America lies not with the government, but with us, the American people. Americans today are bent on entitlement. Americans today don't work to improve their situation, instead they expect the government to do it. Americans aren't generous with their time, money, and effort. Americans are lazy. Americans expect someone else to do the work. Americans don't all vote, or fulfill their duties as citizens. But more frightening than this, is the fact that Americans have forgotten their past. If you personally recognized every name I have wrote in this article, I commend you. However, these names mean nothing to most people. Sure, you know some of them, but we have forgotten what these men stand for. These men did not let political opinions stop their effort to make America great. The men I have named were both Democrats and Republicans, but to them that didn't matter. What mattered was their morals.
America is headed down a road with a bleak outlook. No one gets along, and no one is willing to improve their situation. America has forgotten its past. America has forgotten the lessons it has learned from past mistakes. But there is hope. Not all Americans have forgotten. Not all Americans have thrown morals out the window. There are some willing to make America great. Those men made America great because they trusted in God, and He guided them. We who are willing to remember our past, fulfill our civil duties in the present, and trust God for the future will fix this nation, not the government.
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