It is amazing the “stuff” God says…
It also is amazing the “stuff” people say too, and not in a good way.
This morning I was prompted to get up in the middle of a chapel and to put in my earphones as I walk to my car. As I stepped out of the building, I placed my iPod on shuffle, wondering what was to happen next. Now you must understand I’ve been dealing with horrible criticism from people so steeped in their sin, they only want to justify their actions. Talking against about porn on the internet is a touchy issue. Oh the internet… (Watch that video here.) So honestly, I sat in the back on chapel just to not be seen. Though I know that video was right, the backlash had me just wanting to hide…
But as I pressed play on my iPod, a strange song came on, “Your Mind Is Made Up” from the soundtrack of the movie Once. I thought, “this is novel.” I mean I like that song, but at this point I’m thinking I’m crazy for feeling God was wanting to talk to me through song. Then there was this verse…
You see
“You’re just like everyone
When the shit falls, all you want to do is run… away
And hide all by yourself
When you’re far from me, there’s nothing else”
(click here for the song)
WOW… One, God used the word “shit” to talk to me. Second, it was completely accurate. I’m running away just like Elijah did in self pity after besting all of the false prophets on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). God used that verse like a holy kick in the rear to me, as if to say “Stop running away every time following me get tough!”
It is amazing the stuff God says when we take the risk of looking ridiculous to really listen…
I’m listening now.
God Bless,
I love when God uses the music I listen to to talk to me, it’s so funny how he does that. Even music from artists that are decidedly not Christian.
For example, he recently used the song Those Distant Bells by Snow Patrol to encourage me, reassure me that He would always be there for me.
‘You can hear those distant bells
And you know they’ll never leave’
It’s weird how different it sounds when He draws our attention to a certain lyric, you can’t help hearing it differently to how you’ve heard it before.
It is such a sweet thing that God chooses to roofmct us and use small things and “coincidence” to do it too. He is so good to us even when it doesn’t feel like it. This doesn’t compare at all to your pain, but when my husband and I lost our first child to miscarriage at 12 weeks, we were very grieved. One night, we went away to our favorite place (the church rooftop where he had proposed to me) and just cried out to God. We sat there in tears almost shouting our prayers to God. It felt so good to be honest with him and to feel his presence so close even though we were so angry. One of our favorite songs at that time was ‘Blessed Be Your Name’ and the words finally had more meaning to us. It was very difficult, but we sang out to him… I will treasure that time always where we clutched each other and could barely choke out all the words due to our tears, but we worshiped anyway. To this day, that song is hard to sing. I sing it with all my heart, meaning all the words though. God is good no matter what. “He gives and takes away.” I think people think I’m weird in church when I cry during that song. It’s rare that I can get through the song without crying, but it means a lot to me.
David,
You have a great ministry online. Keep up the good work and do not be afraid to handle the tough issues, someone has to and I believe God is calling you to this mission field.
Blessings, friend.
How timely. It is niteresting how certain books keep resurfacing. I know four or five people who are in the middle of reading Pursuit Of God right now. They will appreciate my sharing this with them. These insights will make them look good at their respective Bible studys. Tis an honor to be the first official blogger here. Thank you, Ken, for everything you do.
I think your video/post on porn was needed and great! a friend who is involoved in ministering to dancers/prostitutes told me that it is the men who keep the business open and we need to be praying for them. That has stuck with me, as I have always felt passion about helping to end the sex industry and slavery and normally pray for the women. Thanks for standing firm and standing out!