Bon Mot Serenade - Day 7 - Dragging Chains

It's a little early to talk about Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but vivid imagery of Jacob Marley stumbling into Scrooge's mansion, chains dragging across the floor, comes to mind when I hear Crowder's song Lift Your Head Weary Sinner.  Just as Marley came as a warning to Scrooge, the song chides us for walls built 10,000 burdens high keeping us bound by chains of sin.

In concert the clang of the chains is even more powerful, reminding us of our former bondage.  The key is, the chains represent a former bondage, a slavery to sin that is now dead and gone.  How often do we carry around chains and manacles that have been unlocked?

The apostle Paul experienced chains: heavy reminders of his imprisonment.  He was not bound to sin, but rather to Christ.  His past and present circumstances were the platform of his ministry to others.  Likewise our former bondage, when in submission to Christ, can result in freedom for others.

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. Philippians 1:14 (NIV)

Bon Mot Serenade - Day 6 - Care Package

Sometimes when a kid is away at camp or perhaps a soldier is stationed overseas, a super-mom will put together a care package for her child.  That care package may contain homemade cookies, some candy, and other items that super-mom thinks will bring a smile to her son or daughter.  Mom is probably smiling and eager for her child to receive that package!

Super-mon would suddenly be renamed super-villain if instead of sweets, the child opened the carefully wrapped cardboard box only to find limp broccoli and moldy cabbage.  Suppose instead of a hand-written note of encouragement the box contained a copy of a utility bill with the scrawled message 'please pay'?

Now consider a favorite passage of many.

casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)

God actually wants us to send to him a care package.  Not a package of goodies for God, but rather everything that we find distasteful or difficult.  Anything that is too hard for us (everything) needs to be thrown in a box and cast upon Him.  Oddly, God is actually like that smiling mother who anticipates and smiles upon the cares we send His way.  It is his delight.

Finding Favour, also part of the Air1 Positive Hits Tour, captures this sentiment well. 

Bon Mot Serenade - Day 2

'Keep on, keeping on'.  I was probably 8 or 10 years old when my childhood pastor used that phrase.  He was a man with a gentle spirit.  He was loved deeply by the congregation.  I recall he came to our Sunday School class and told his story.  He was badly scarred on his face from burns caused by an accident involving gasoline. But he overcame, was faithful, and ministered in a wonderful way.

The youth at our church (and the leaders as well) were challenged with this question: where do you want to be in your spiritual life by this Christmas?  My personal answer is to be faithful in the little things.  In other words, to keep on keeping on.

NF, who is part of the Air1 Positive Hits Tour #PositiveHitsTour, captures that idea in his new song.  He actually talked about getting into God's Word as part of his personal mandate to keep on.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 (NIV)




Be sure to check out NF on the Air1 Positive Hits Tour. Get more info at Air1.