Psalm 119:67 "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but no I keep Your word."

Charles Stanley shares these thoughts on this:

I must be "truthful" and tell you that this is very hard for me to do.  I KNOW what I am suppose to do, but my flesh more times than not gets the best of me.  

Three years ago, my  mother, who has emphysema, was put on a ventilator, after so many days, it was time to put a trach in as she was not weening off the machine fast enough.  They wheeled her down to the OR.  Within a minute, the speaker system announced "Code Blue, Code Blue OR Room 4".  Her nurse came to get me and we went to the OR.  They revived her.  And then five minutes later I heard the same announcement.  The OR nurse brought me to the OR room door, in case I wanted to say "good bye".  

I was pregnant, and alone, as it was the worst snow storm that winter, and our whole county as shut down!  I remember praying , on me knees the OR waiting room bathroom, "Oh God, not now.  How will I survive?  (I am an only child) I am not ready yet." 

I could have screamed at God and shook my fist at Him.  I didn't.  Those moments I KNEW He was with me, in control, carrying me. I felt His presence.  He sent people to me, to aid me.  Nurses who sat with me, friends who talked with me and prayed with  me.   I did not feel bitterness or resentment. 

That was the worst time of my life, the hardest adversity for me.

Members of my family do not speak to me because I told the "truth" about their behavior.  I was recently excluded from a baby shower because of it.  I am struggling with resentment and bitterness.  Trying very hard to not let that seed grow in my heart. 

How "important" was the baby shower compared to the possibility of losing my mom?  

Is it the same for all Christians?  To me, logically, funny I know since my logic and God's are NOT the same, I should have had the resentment over my mother instead.  The "larger" of the two incidents.  

Oh, what makes us tick?!

What about you?  What situations do you find resentment and bitterness grow in you, instead of  letting it be used to grow closer to the Lord?

 

Side note: My mother did not die that night.  She was 98 pounds, at that time, and they performed CPR on her twice.  She survived with not ONE broken rib!  No lasting brain damage!  God's hand was all over her that night...and me.  

There has been some debate on Facebook about music and what is "appropriate" for Christians to listen to, and the music that Christian bands/singers put out.

I feel, one woman's opinion, that not ALL music is good for Christians to listen to.  I also feel that there are GOOD songs, but that not ALL "good" songs glorify God.  For example, "ABC" is a GOOD song, but it doesn't put out the salvation message or even mention God.  I am NOT bothered so much by the genre of music as I am the lyrics of a song.  If someone loves listening to Metallica and other heavy metal bands, and they get saved, what are they to listen to now?  Do you think that person is really going to be satisfied with The Gaithers?  

Music is a very powerful tool that can be used to reach so many people for Christ.   It is also a very personal thing.  I know, for me, music touches my soul and heart like nothing short of hearing God's voice or the laughter of my kids can.  A song that worships and talks about God will give me goosebumps, tears, and an overwhelming heart to praise Him.  So back to music being personal, to the person who loves heavy metal, you don't want them going back to secular music to satisfy his music needs.  THAT is why I have no issues with the genre of music.  To each is own there.  BUT the songs should absolutely be clear that the purpose is to bring praise and salvation message or mentioning of God. 

I have gotten a lesson in Christian music lately with finding out how many artists, CHRISTIAN artists, do not use the opportunities on their albums to do that.  And what an opportunity they have!  How many have come to know Jesus as Savior due to the opening of the eyes or heart by a song professing His saving grace and undying love for them?  

I feel that Christians, have a God given order to bring as many people to Him as we can, to take every opportunity to do so.  Ok, do Christian artists get excluded from this?  Then I don't understand why a CHRISTIAN band or singer would rather record a song about bugs instead of one about God.  

I have heard the argument "Well, they recorded it because it will go out to secular radio stations and more people will be exposed to the song.  Then maybe they will want to hear more of their music and maybe buy the CD and then they will hear the songs about God."

I have some issues with this.  There are too many "Maybe's" for me.  MAYBE they will want to hear more from the artist, MAYBE they will buy the CD, and MAYBE they will bother to listen to the other songs on the CD.  To me, and remember this is ONE woman's opinion, it is just a way for the artists to gain popularity.  I know God gave them a talent to sing, then they need to use the talent that HE gave them to bring glory to HIM but sharing the salvation message and mentioning God's name, not bugs.  If these "bug" songs were not coming from CHRISTIAN artists, we as Christians, would not think twice.  Is the "bug" song bad....NO...does it have the salvation message or even mention God....NO...is it recorded by a Christian band/singer....YES.  sigh

(this will be the last installment for awhile from this series, it will come back at a later time.  I hope you have enjoyed it as much as we have putting it up here for you.)

 

 "I wonder what life would be like if we let Jesus live through you and me."To see this post, click HERE

   2/17/2010  Truth Wednesday : hosted by Anne Morgan- "The Truth Project" part 5 - "Who Is Man?"
To see this post, click HERE