Crank that UP!

So it's a hot day. I've dropped one kid off to a birthday party and have two buckled in the backseat. We've got the windows down, rocking out to some Matt Maher and that's when I heard it. The question. The question I didn't have an answer to.

"Who have you talked to about Christ today?"

Um. Say what?

Well, I thought to myself, I guess I haven't talked with many people today so yeah, no one. Then my brain got to spinning. I don't really talk to people about Christ. I mean, I talk to people who already know Christ about him but not to people who don't know him.

Isn't that why we are here? To build the kingdom? So I started thinking about how I could do this because you see; I'm an introvert. I don't exactly like talking to people at all so I likely won't be going up to anyone and asking how their soul is. LOL Then God turned the light bulb on in my head. The conversation went something like this: "What you doing right now?" Um...Driving. "Use your ears. What are you hearing right now?" Music from the radio. Then it dawned on me. DUH!! God gave us the gift of music did he not? Now, don't get me wrong when I sing I sound like a dying cat. Other people can actually sing though! I decided from that point on that I may never meet these people in my entire life but I can share Christ with them. I turned the volume up and prayed at every stoplight "God, please put the people next to me at this light, someone who needs you. Someone who needs to hear from you and speak to them through this music." I made double sure that my radio was loud enough for others to hear the song that was on because I knew that God had a message for them.

Blare your music people! You might bless someone! You may never know the impact that you could make at a stoplight, a stop sign, or in a traffic jam just but by jamming and praising the God who created you! It won't hurt you. CRANK IT UP!

Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150

In case you're looking for a station that would be good ... 99.7 Family Life Radio or 91.3 WCSG are perfect!!!

Here's the song that was playing while my conversation with God occurred in case you're like me and want the details:

"All The People Said Amen"
Matt Maher

You are not alone if you are lonely
When you're feeling frail, you're not the only
We are all the same in need of mercy
To be forgiven and be free
It's all you got to lean on
But thank God it's all you need

And all the people said Amen, whoa oh
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen

If you're rich or poor, well it don't matter
Weak or strong, we know love is what we're after
We're all broken but we're all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And He so loved the world He sent His son to save us all

And all the people said Amen, whoa oh
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen

Blessed are
The poor in spirit who are torn apart
Blessed are
The prosecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are
The people longing for another start
For this is the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God

And all the people said Amen, whoa oh
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen

It's Personal

Over the weekend we went camping last minute. We left so fast I was glad to have my head! In the midst of the hurried packing I didn't grab my bible. So yesterday at church I didn't have it. I had my phone though so I was good. Or so I thought.

I was sitting there and thought to myself how easy it would be for me to look the scripture that was referenced up and it was easy. I didn't have to flip pages and I'll tell you a secret! When I use my bible I am constantly having to use the table of contents to tell me where the book is in it! That's right I'll admit it! I didn't have to worry about that with my phone! WAY faster.

Soon I realized that I missed my actual bible. I missed resting my hand on the page. I missed running my finger over the words. I missed feeling completed by having it with me. It made me realize that no electronic could ever take the place of the "real deal"! Have you ever experienced this or am I the only one? Well, if you haven't I encourage you right now to grab your bible and open it. Doesn't matter to where. Just open it. Close your eyes and place your hand on the page. Slowly run your fingers across the pages. Close it and hold it in your hand.

What do you feel? Love? Power? Complete? Life? Is it not amazing the power that just holding your bible has? If you actually did it then you know what I'm talking about. What's even more great is when you figure out that you can personalize scripture! Have you ever looked for something in a souvenir shop with your name on it and failed because you have one of those names that no one recognizes? I have one of those and two of my daughters have those names as well. The great part about the bible, the Holy Word of God is that it has our name in it. Try it. I'll give you an example.

My daughter Emmalee is scared at night and has trouble falling asleep so I made her a book of scripture and song lyrics to soothe her on hard nights. The very first one when she opens the book is personalized scripture. I borrowed her book tonight after having some hard thoughts today and I had forgotten what I had put in there. I opened it and found my own personalized scripture. This is how it reads in the bible: "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name." Psalm 91:14. But, this is how it reads to her: "Because Emmalee loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue her, I will protect her, for she acknowledges my name."

Here's how it reads to me: "Because Kendra loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue her, I will protect her, for she acknowledges my name."

I felt reassured and protected! I felt the power of the word that God gave me to live my life by. I'd forgotten. So I wanted to try it again. "Kendra, I know the plans I have for you." declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Try it! Put your name in there! Say it out loud! By speaking God's truth out loud we claim it as ours! It is yours! Make it yours!

It's fun! Play around with personalizing your scripture! The bible is not just something that you take with you on Sunday mornings or in my case something you forget at home because you are too excited to go camping than you are to remember you need your bible for church. No, your bible is your lifeline. It's your rescue in times of trouble, your defense in times of despair, your hug when you're sad, your comfort when you're lonely, your food when you're hungry for depth, your drink when you're thirsty and so much more than we can even begin to fathom. I needed the reminder tonight that God is personal. Open your bible and let it personalize you!