Songs From the Soul

Songs From the Soul

By Machelle McDowell

“Music drives away the devil and makes people happy”

Martin Luther King

We find in the book of Psalms one of the greatest biblical leaders and a man after God’s own heart whose love for music gave birth to one of the most referenced writings in the Bible, David.

As did David, music has a way of piercing into the deepest  parts of our souls.. It helps us to express ourselves and respond to God in a way that is pleasing to his ears and brings glory to his name, even if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket! 

There are over 1000 verses in the Bible that reference music and the power of song. Singing about  the precious name of Jesus sears the very ears of the enemy who prowls around like a lion in attempt to defeat God’s people. 

The power that comes from the soul through a song can defeat armies! Really? 

Check out 2 Chronicles 20:21! God placed singers in the front line of a battle! We find in this chapter, King Jehoshaphat places singers, (not soldiers), charging the front line with songs of victory! Prior, God assured Jehoshaphat the victory was already won! 

So, Jehoshaphat charges the enemy with songs of Thanksgiving. God gives us spiritual songs as an effective tool to use against the enemy.

Ephesians 5:19- Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your battles may not be like the armies that came against Jehoshaphat. Your attackers may be in the form of anger, depression, loneliness, addictions, fear, and on and on! 

Put a song of praise and worship in the forefront of your mind and in the depths of your heart. And when these attackers come against you... begin to sing!! 

Allow the Holy Spirit to heal your heart and mind with the anointed words that the spirit brings forth from the depths of your soul through hymns of worship!

Need more proof? Paul and Silas are found in the book of Acts16:24-26. 

They have been severely beaten and thrown into prison. About midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake and the doors of the prison was opened and everyone’s bonds  were unfastened! The jailer found Jesus that night! 

Gods spirit was present in that singing that night! That singing wooed the heart of the jailer into the very presence of our Father!! 

“Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art!”

Should Christians Be Politically Involved?

When you watch political news do you find yourself getting excited or angry? Our emotional responses to changes in politics may point us to having an identity that is too tied to our political preferences. Join Jonathan Carl as he helps us to think through our political involvement and it's connection with our identity.

"To clothe oneself with or to put on a person means to put on the characteristics of that person and become like him or her. Paul says we are to "clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 13:14). This spiritual transformation has a decisive beginning, but it is not final or complete. The process of putting on the new self who is in Christ is the sanctifying process that makes real in our experience what has already happened at salvation. In other words, we are to become by God's grace the people that He has already made us." Neil Anderson, "The Daily Discipler", p.108

Galatians 3:27–28 "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (ESV)

Our Words - Danger!

before you post…tweet…or talk…

By: Jonathan Carl

Has anyone every hurt you with their words?  Have you ever regretted something you said and wish you could have taken it back?  Our tongues can be so quick to speak but yet can deeply damage others at length.  It is important that we consider the dangerous aspects of our words.  God cares for us and warns us about our tongues, we would be wise to listen…

Harshness Multiplies.  Our words are like a “fire” (James 3:6) that can quickly turn a disagreement into a disaster.  Fights can escalate and expand quickly with the wrong words.  When people handle fireworks or weapons they are extremely cautious because they realize the danger embedded within them.  Don’t disregard the explosive and damaging potential of your words.

Proverbs 15:1 “a harsh word stirs up anger”

Foolishness Displays Itself.  Think about a time when you did something stupid.  Did you feel embarrassed or ashamed?  Did you quickly try to cover up or explain away your mistake or mess?  When we speak people begin to form opinions about us, our character, and our competence.  Don’t give people a reason to think poorly about you.

Proverbs 15:2 “the mouths of fools pour out folly”

Words Hurt Us.  We can often lash out to find temporary relief from our bitterness only to realized the poisonous brew we drank in our cruelty.  We can tell crude jokes to gain a laugh but in the end we lose our reputation.  Don’t hurt yourself with your words when there are so many opportunities for good. 

Proverbs 15:4 “perverseness in it [the tongue] breaks the spirit.”

Words Hurt Others.  Ever give a piece of bad advice that you wish you could take back?  Ever witness the hurt you caused someone with your malicious or manipulative mouth?  God calls us to prioritize others above ourselves.  May we pour out love and truth from our lips instead of hatred and lies.  Don’t tear down others when you have the opportunity to build them up.

Romans 16:18 “For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

Words Hurt God.  Our tongues are meant to bring God honor, but often we are self-focused and miss the purpose the mouths God gave us.  Scoffing and mocking bring God’s opposition (Prov. 3:34).  God’s hates lies and divisive words (Proverbs 6:16-19).  Don’t disregard God’s warning about His hatred of wicked words when He has created you for a greater purpose.

James 3:10 “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”

Words Evidence A Path Headed to Hell.  Doctors use scans and tests to evidence and diagnose the physical condition of a heart.  Our words can evidence and diagnose the spiritual condition of our souls.  Jesus lovingly warns us that “on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:33-37).  Will your words justify you as being on a path to Heaven, evidencing a saved, good heart?  Or will your words condemn you as being on a path to Hell, evidencing a lost, evil heart?  Examine your heart through the evidence of your mouth and be concerned if you think you are saved but your tongue tells another story.  Don’t be a hypocrite and be surprised by a future rejection from Jesus’ eternal presence (Matthew 7:23).

James 1:26 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.”

We can we do about all of this today?  We can listen to God’s words about our words and sincerely seek His forever forgiveness, cleansing, and change.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Mission Trip Packing List

By: Machelle McDowell

Mission Trip Packing List

Do you consider a mission trip as an opportunity to go or an opportunity to grow? 

This is an example where equal opportunity is not the case! A mentality of “going” versus “growing” does not merit the same harvest!

If your heart leans toward being part of a mission team that grabs a bag and jumps on a van/plane without properly packing first, your experience will result in a superficial glean and your trip will be nothing but a glorified vacation. 

If your heart leans towards being a part of a team and wanting to grow your faith and His kingdom, then the only one glorified will be our Father who commissions us to go!

This only happens when you properly pack before you head out:

• Pack your days with prayer for guidance and direction. -Fold your hands and lift yourself up before the Lord totally submitting to His plan for you and those you will minister to. 

• Strap on scripture in your heart and mind.

• Don’t exceed Baggage weight limitations by carrying too many selfish expectations. 

• Don’t forget your itinerary; may your trip itinerary be purposely centered around God and His direction and not your own. 

• May your boarding pass be one that ushers you right in the center of God’s will!

When you delight yourself in the Lord He shapes your heart to desire the things He desires.

Psalm 37:4- Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart!

Not only will you grow but God’s kingdom will grow exponentially as well. 

Secret Agent Christian

Are you living out your Christian life in secret?

Judges 6-7

By: Machelle McDowell

Do you bless your food in a restaurant, but do it with a low voice so no one can hear you?

Are you the same person six days a week that you appear to be on Sunday morning? Or do you live in a manner in which no one would ever even know you were a Christian by your actions?

Are you like Gideon was,(Judges 6) and obeyed God but in secret?

Gideon received a calling from God to tear down the altar of baal and cut down the Asherah poles (commonly used in idol worship). He was then to replace them with an altar to the Lord.

Sounds simple enough, right? The tiny kicker was, it was located in his father’s household!

Gideon obeyed God! But, out of fear of his family he completed the task during the night where no one would see him and he took 10 guys along with him, just in case!

Like us, sometimes we live out our walk with Christ on a secret path and in fear!

We hide our Lord instead of displaying him through our lives.

No one would know we were a child of God by our actions. It is a slippery slope to tread by claiming to love God and doing it in secret. Can it even be done?

Gideon began as a cowardly, skeptical, doubting warrior and God turned him into what He called, “A valiant warrior!”

Gideon stepped out from being a secret agent and into an unconcealed agent! His secret weapon is found in

Judges 6:34, “ The Spirit of the Lord Clothed Gideon” and empowered him to fulfill his purpose God had revealed to him. There was no hiding! He blew his trumpet loudly for the Lord!

Are you blowing your trumpet for God? What are you hiding from? Fear is a liar! The gospel is to be heralded.

Joshua 1:9- Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

We are clothed in the same spirit Gideon was wrapped in! Let’s stop living in spiritual incognito! Let’s turn from being a secret agent into a saving agent!

HOW DO I KNOW I'M HEARING GOD AND NOT MY OWN THOUGHTS?

By: Molly Howell

What does your active life, prayer life, and thought life evidence – obedience or hatred? Test yourself with the truth.

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.” John 7:24

It is a natural reaction to lean on your own experiences or seek out experiences of those close to you when you should be seeking the one who knows all things.

Seek him with a humble and patient attitude, trusting that his way is the right way – his timing is the right timing. Without your ideas of what’s right, but fully giving over all that it is that you are bringing to him.

The world has a multitude of ideas and “advice” on what is right and we are tempted to give in to those, but again, there is only one who is always right, God.

“So Jesus answered them, ‘My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.’” John 7:16

God has sent his word to us for our benefit. Don’t let your thoughts/experiences and this world persuade you into believing that the answers are anywhere other than there.

God’s word. God’s wisdom. God’s will. Not your word, wisdom, or will. Not the world’s word, wisdom, or will. Aligning all parts of life with Him is only possible by the daily discipline to spend time with him.

The author of life is speaking to you, you need only to listen.

WHAT DO I DO WHEN I FEEL ALONE?

“If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you.” John 15.18

By: Molly Howell 

You are not alone.

Even in the times you are left feeling abandoned, betrayed, deceived, hurt - you are not alone. Jesus knows your struggles, Jesus knows the pain that comes with them, and Jesus knows the exact source of betrayal: the devil.

“Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” - John 6:70.

Jesus recognized that it was the devil in Judas that betrayed him, not the flesh and blood of Judas, but the devil at work through him. The devil used one of Jesus’ closest allies to betray him and that same devil is at work in our lives too so don’t be naive to think we won’t face the same kind of attacks.

So when those attacks are made, choose not to focus on the bad, instead focus on the good. Focus on the fact that you know the ultimate Healer - the one who is waiting for you to call out to him so that he can heal you.

Then, share that same Jesus with them. Use the situation as an opportunity to show Jesus’ love just like he did for us.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8

Missions 101- Preparation, Finances, Go!

By: Machelle McDowell

What does it mean to have a Missional heart? How much of God’s money are you investing in His kingdom? Are you willing to change so that God may use you for what he has purposed you to do? Do you have a true understanding of what “Missions” is? Allow God to speak to your heart on some of these issues as you watch this video.