The CCM Experiment: April 2

Feeling: Laid back, a little tired.

Doing: Housekeeping work at the nursing home, taking care of the neighbor cats, evening church.

Listened to: The Piano Guys, Mandisa (pop), Britt Nicole (pop)

Lyric that stood out the most to me:

“I closed the door, yeah I did it 'cause I didn't wanna hurt no more. They say that the armor makes you strong; I might be safe but I'm all alone” - Heart of Stone, by Britt Nicole

Sometimes when we get hurt or lose someone important to us, it can be tempting to try to disconnect and not get close to anyone, even God. This lyric shows what that can look like when taken to the extreme.

...Soon as I typed the above statement, I just sat here staring at it, suddenly realizing doing that is actually a form of idolatry. We are putting ourselves, our attitudes, and our personal comfort above God and His commands when we do this. If we go so far as to bar ourselves from Him and those around us, not only are we unable to fulfill the command to “love your neighbor as yourself”, but it also disables us from being able to “love the Lord your God with all your heart”.

What is the CCM Experiment?

The CCM Experiment: April 1

Feeling: Energized and creative towards start of the day, very laid back towards the end.

Doing: Housekeeping work at the nursing home, then house-sitting for the neighbors and taking care of their cats.

Listened to: A wide array of Christian music artists/genres, covering contemporary worship, rock, hip hop, pop-punk, and EDM. Also, instrumental trance/EDM (particularly Mitis).

Lyric that stood out the most to me:

“digging for the sacred in a man-made hole” - Live In Stereo, by the Newsboys.

I've heard Live in Stereo for years and it has always been a favorite due to it's upbeat tune and adventuresome themes. This line hit me in a new way today, however, as I realized it is a great metaphor for trying to find righteousness within yourself and the things you do, rather than truly seeking and relying upon God. It's something I've struggled with off and on, particularly as of late.

Where are you digging for sacred things?

CCM Artist Heard For The First Time Today:


Day of Fire (Rock)

What is the CCM Experiment?

ANNOUNCEMENT: Daily Posts in April!

Hi there!

Just a quick note to let you know that things are going to look a little different on Captured Yet Fleeting this month. In addition to the usual Friday devotional post, there will be also be a brief daily post. 

Why?

Because I am conducting an experiment on myself. 

I always hear the little promotions for the Christian radio station where people call in and say how it has impacted them in their lives. I want to see what sort of influence changing my music selection for a month can have on me. So, my goal for the month of April is to listen primarily to contemporary Christian-based and instrumental songs. Each day, I am going to chronicle what I am doing, what I am listening to, how I am feeling, and something about the music that stood out to me each day. I hope that my findings in this experiment will be beneficial to us both in some way. Want to join the experiment? Let me know. I'd love to follow your story!

10 Questions to Ask As You Study The Bible

This post is going to be a little different from the usual here. I realize I speak often about the importance of being in God's Word, but what if one is at loss for effective ways to study it? Recently I read through this quick, 26 page long book, "How Should Teens Read The Bible?" by Joel R. Beeke, and I am going to share an excerpt that I think is helpful no matter what age you are.

Things to ask yourself as you read the scriptures:  

1. What does this chapter teach me about God?
Look for teaching about His attributes, attitudes, and actions.

2. Specifically, what does this chapter reveal about Christ? 
Look for Christ in all the scriptures, including the Old Testament. He is the key to, and the message of the entire Bible.

3. What doctrines are taught in this chapter?
Make a list of them with relevant quotations from the chapter and any cross references you may know.

4. Who are the leading characters?

5. What are the main events?

6. What sins and follies are stated or implied?
Examine your heart in the light of this list. Which things in the list, or suggested by it, do you need to confess and forsake?

7. What are the virtues evidenced in this chapter that I should seek after and cultivate?

8. What new things have I seen and what old truth has the Lord brought with fresh blessing to my heart?

9. What are the key words and phrases that call for further study?

10. Which one thing may I remember this chapter by?

Branded for Christ

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called..."  "Be imitators of God, as beloved children." - Ephesians 4:1 and 5:1

Like the soda bottles above are branded with the name of their maker, so we who are in Christ are "branded" as children of God. Each type of soda also has it's own particular traits, causing it to stand out from the others. Even amongst a shelf full of knock-off flavors, everybody still notices the brand-name sodas, bold as ever. Could the same be said of us?

In a place filled with pleasant, decent, yet unbelieving people, do we still stand out as those who are adopted by God? Do we think about our heavenly Father enough to converse about him with our fellow believers and those who may happen to ask about our faith? Are we actively looking for the great things that He is doing in our lives and the lives of those around us? Do we know God well enough to be imitators of Him, or are we merely satisfied to follow our society's rules for being the same type of "good person" that everyone else is?

 We're bound to embrace our "brand". Consider which one you hold the hardest to.

Trail of Danger

To one side of you there is a rock wall, to the other, a several hundred foot drop into a small, rocky river. One option will scratch you up, the other will likely end in many broken bones or even death. So, you keep to the skinny path that separates you from both fates, taking care to watch where your feet fall so that you do not slip. 

Hiking that trail felt like the perfect visual example of Proverbs 4:27, "Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil." Allowing yourself to fall to sin is as serious as careening down that trail in such a careless manner that you stumble over the edge. The only difference is that when you are swerving on the path of life, you often don't realize how close you are to falling until it is too late. 

How do we keep ourselves from harm? Let God's words in scripture guide our actions, illuminating where we ought to place our feet. How do your actions and lifestyle look in the light of scripture?

Burning the Idols

"The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God." - Deuteronomy 7:25

While we aren’t ancient Israel, the principal here is still an important one. It essentially breaks down to this: “Do not keep even little pieces of what is detestable to God in your life.” This can be easier said than done.

It is one thing to obliterate an idol made of wood or metal. Giving up an object like that can be done quickly, all at once. But what about the idols that we have in our lives? Our idols tend to reside in our hearts and minds- things such as obsessing over sports and celebrities, making money too high of a priority, or habitually lusting after someone or something. Anything that is either displeasing to God or elevated to a place in our life where we deep down want it more than we want Him is an idol.

False gods such as these are harder to rip from our lives. We can pray and confess to God the sins we’ve committed against Him, yet if we don't completely cease that action and destroy the idols, shards of them can remain in our lives and draw us away from the Lord and back to themselves.

Stop and think: are there parts of idols still tucked away in the corners of your heart?