Motivation

I was on my way to work the other day in one of the many suburbs of Minneapolis and I passed a subdivision with some really nice houses. I quickly thought to myself: I should walk around that subdivision to get an idea of what type of house I want when God blesses me with wealth to get a house like that. From that thought I got motivated to make some music and get back to finishing some songs that are partially written.

Right after that thought, God checked me. I wondered to myself about what just happened. I saw a subdivision with nice houses then got motivated to work on music so someone could hear it, and put it on their album, and I’d get royalties, and then I could buy a nice house like the ones in that subdivision. Ever so gently, God was letting me know THAT’S THE WRONG MOTIVATION SON!

Why is it wrong though? For a person who makes music that is for the purpose of telling their life story or to edify themselves only, that motivation is not wrong. But for me, and the many who use their gift of music to glorify God, money and things as the number one motivation is dead wrong! Bringing glory to God (first) has to be the motivation when doing ministry. Thinking about how good God has been and is being, should be my motivation. Seeing others lives changed by the power of Christ should be my motivation! Only when my motivation is right will what I do (music, preaching, teaching, singing, giving, serving, etc.) have the greatest effect. There’s a scripture in the Bible that a Psalmist (singer/songwriter) wrote that really exemplifies this idea.

Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. (Psalm 119:36, Message Bible)

Hope this hits your heart like it hit mine. There will be a part two.

BBCOG. Peace.

5,840 Chances

It’s been a LONG time since my last posting, but here’s something to “chew” on and with grace, much more will come after this.

I believe a lot of people are feeling the tug, pull, urge, nudge, etc. of the Spirit of God on their hearts to change paths in lifestyles from that broad path (path of sin, which leads to spiritual and natural death that most everyone is on) to the narrow path (path of righteousness that leads to everlasting life).

In the book of Revelation chapter 3 verse 20 it states, “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. (New Living Translation)” And that is directly speaking to that little voice inside that’s telling you to pray, go to church, read your Bible, and the similar things.

We’ve all heard the voice and most of us ignore it until it’s too late. Pay attention now! Don’t fight the urge to call out to God! This short life we have on this earth is not worth dying for eternity. It just isn’t. When people ask me the question, “When did you get saved?” I always reply this way: I got saved when I was 12 years old, I didn’t start living saved until I was 16.

If everyday is a chance God gives us to get it “right” with Him, then before I got saved He gave me 4,380 chances to get it right. Then after I got saved, but still really wasn’t converted (or living a life different from before) He gave me 1,460 chances. That’s a total of 5,840 chances God gave me until I actually opened the door and let him into my heart FOR REAL! That’s just my experience, a churchboy, who’s been taught God all his life. And I thank God for every single one of those chances! What about those of you who’ve been raised never really going to church, not knowing much about God at all? Shouldn’t that be cause of even more gratitude when you calculate how many chances God has given you to get on the right path?!

Though God is a merciful and gracious God who gives us chances upon thousands of chances to set our feet on the right path and direction toward Him, He will not always give those chances. Sooner or later He will stop knocking or eventually we won’t have the opportunity to answer the door. Let’s pay attention to knock on the door of our hearts and answer with a YES! COME IN!

I’ll leave you with a song I wrote and recorded about 3 years ago about my experience of accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It’s called, “Touched”.

BBCOG. Peace.