In my last post I blogged about our music. How it defines us. How it's part of us. How we are what we listen to.
After I published it I realized that I had left out a lot of what I wanted to say. So here goes part 2! Bear with me because it may be a little hard to write out what I'm trying to say. :)
Okay, if your reading this then you should have already written out your top ten artists/bands. If you haven't done that yet go back to my last post, "Soundtrack of My Life." Read it and do what I tell you! JK But it will help you if you do.
Our music is a part of us. The message that our fav bands and artists are portraying, in a way we are portraying that same message. What characterizes them, characterizes us. I'm not trying to say that we are totally brain-washed by them and we are there little clones! No. But our Spirit is digesting it...picking it apart and finding what they are trying to say...and then spitting it back out of our mouths, habits, and actions. Subtly. yet. consciously.
Top Ten:
1. Coldplay
2. Justin Bieber
3. Big Time Rush
4. Tenth Avenue North
5. Taylor Swift
6. Adele
7. Lady Antebellum
8. John Mayer
9. Hot Chelle Rae
10. Hawk Nelson
All of my top ten artists/bands are trying to send a message. All of them are different. And whether I know it or not, or whether I want to accept it or not, I am, in some way, sending there messages too.
It's so important to know what they are trying so say. It helps you evaluate yourself and them.
So, sort of as a conclusion to music for a time, I want you to do something for me. I want you to make an evaluation. Of yourself. Your artists and bands. Your songs. You.
Learn about your favourites and in some way, you'll also be learning about yourself.
Journal 6:
Still journaling I hope?
I hope so! :)
This weeks topic is a little more serious. No more of this funny business. :)
This weeks topic is:
The first time you experienced God?
How was it?
What did He tell you?
Since this one is a little more personal, try to write a little more about it. Open up your heart and really remember. But as always, be true to yourself.
Personally Yours:
Okay, so I don't know if you have noticed. But I kind of blog in sections. This new section is called Personally Yours. I have kind of veered a little bit away from talking about Jesus and the Bible. But I'm coming back! Don't worry, I'm not going to go all preachy on you. :) Just give you what's on my heart and what I feel like God is telling me to share with you guys.
2 Corinthians 5: 14-15
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."
Jesus died for us. He is the great doctor who wants to heal us totally. God's forgiveness is the only thing that can cure sin. Because Christ died for us, our sinful lives have died as well. We have been born anew to live a better life. With Him.
Romans 8: 1-17
1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to son ship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
There is nothing mysterious about how God works to change us. Once we are forgiven, we are friends of God. He uses that friendship to remake us. The Holy Spirit lives in us, the Bible teaches us, and empowers us beyond what we could ever think or imagine.
God loves us too much to leave us twisting in pain, our sin and selfishness untreated.
I hope that ministered to somebody today. I love you. God loves you. Remember that.
Personally Yours,
MM
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