"Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy."
-Psalm 33:3
I've been meaning to write this a while ago but I have been a bit burdened by school. Music is a very interesting thing to think about, because it is such a diverse thing. People probably hear music almost everyday, whether it be through an Ipod, computer, a movie, church, school, or maybe even from themselves. Music has always been a huge part of human existence, even though it changes throughout the years. I have no idea how music was discovered, but it has been a part of our lives for a long time.
I find many things interesting about music, one being that it can almost change the way we feel. In many movies, music is used to set the tone and emotion of the scenes. Every good movie should have good music, because the music adds so much to the overall experience. Imagine watching a movie that had no soundtrack. The movie would feel empty and not very emotional. One great example of how music affects a movie is the movie series "Rocky". "Gonna Fly Now" is a great song written by Bill Conti that really inspires the audience of the movie. As Rocky is training and the song is playing, I really feel pumped up and excited.
Music sets the tone for many movies, not just feel good movies like Rocky. Sad movies have sad music, scary movies have scary music, etc. The interesting thing to me is the question of how the music changes our emotion. A happy song generally has major chords, while sad songs generally have minor chords. The amazing thing is that the difference between a major and minor chord is very small. Only one note is changed and it's only changed very slightly. Despite only the small change, the sound of a major and minor chord is very different. This is just a small example of how intricate and amazing music is, and I would encourage you to learn about music and play an instrument if you can.
I don't know the answer to the question of how music changes our emotions, but I have a theory. I believe that music has both physical and spiritual elements to it. Music is used in many different religions, cultures, and groups of people. Music is a powerful way to bring people together and bring people closer to God. I don't know how it works, but God works in mysterious ways. I believe God gave us music to bridge the gap between the spiritual and the physical. While people discovered and play music, God created music. Imagine being God for a quick second; why would you create music? Along with being a way to get closer to God, music is a beautiful gift that God gave to us. Music has no super-practical use, but it is a great thing for us to have and experience.
-Smart
Fruit
"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit."
-Matthew 7:17
I recently read an article that was about harsh truths that will make you a better person. While the author had different topics, they all pointed to one thing; fruit. I don't mean actually fruit, but what fruit represents. In the Bible, Jesus talks about trees and their fruit, but He is not referring to real trees. The trees represent people, specifically Christians. The fruits represent the things that the person has done. This is a very good analogy, so I will use it throughout this post.
People value many things in others, but everyone expects something from us. People appreciate that we are nice, kind, loving, good-looking or whatever, but what people really want is something from us. They want to know what you are doing to help them or help society. This is why people respect people with jobs like being a teacher, policemen, doctor, etc. These jobs help other people and contribute to society. People want what you can give, not necessarily you. It's a sad truth, but it is a truth.
Let me give an example of this. I'm not picking on these kinds of people, but they are a good example of the point I want to make. Often times, I hear people say something like "you know, the best thing I can do for them is pray for them." While praying for others is great, and I have absolutely no issues with that, they can do more than that. Sure, it's nice that they have good intentions, but good intentions don't always do people good. Prayers can definitely help people, but I believe God answers prayers through action. Sitting back and waiting for God to do something isn't always the best way to approach things. Go out and do something for that person. Prove that you believe in what you are praying for, and let God work in you.
Jesus said He is the vine, but you are the branches. While the vine is the life of the plant, the fruit grows on the branches. We have to be constantly with God in order to produce fruit, but we cannot always just sit back and expect things to happen. Jesus commands us to love, and love is not a passive thing. No one says they love their wife and then do nothing about it. They show their love to their wife in different ways. In the same way, we cannot just say we love people, or we want to help people, or I can't do anything for people. God has a way to use you, and you will never find it doing nothing. Find a way to love other people practically, and I believe God will show you the way He wants to use you. Go out and bear fruit.
-Smart
-Matthew 7:17
I recently read an article that was about harsh truths that will make you a better person. While the author had different topics, they all pointed to one thing; fruit. I don't mean actually fruit, but what fruit represents. In the Bible, Jesus talks about trees and their fruit, but He is not referring to real trees. The trees represent people, specifically Christians. The fruits represent the things that the person has done. This is a very good analogy, so I will use it throughout this post.
People value many things in others, but everyone expects something from us. People appreciate that we are nice, kind, loving, good-looking or whatever, but what people really want is something from us. They want to know what you are doing to help them or help society. This is why people respect people with jobs like being a teacher, policemen, doctor, etc. These jobs help other people and contribute to society. People want what you can give, not necessarily you. It's a sad truth, but it is a truth.
Let me give an example of this. I'm not picking on these kinds of people, but they are a good example of the point I want to make. Often times, I hear people say something like "you know, the best thing I can do for them is pray for them." While praying for others is great, and I have absolutely no issues with that, they can do more than that. Sure, it's nice that they have good intentions, but good intentions don't always do people good. Prayers can definitely help people, but I believe God answers prayers through action. Sitting back and waiting for God to do something isn't always the best way to approach things. Go out and do something for that person. Prove that you believe in what you are praying for, and let God work in you.
Jesus said He is the vine, but you are the branches. While the vine is the life of the plant, the fruit grows on the branches. We have to be constantly with God in order to produce fruit, but we cannot always just sit back and expect things to happen. Jesus commands us to love, and love is not a passive thing. No one says they love their wife and then do nothing about it. They show their love to their wife in different ways. In the same way, we cannot just say we love people, or we want to help people, or I can't do anything for people. God has a way to use you, and you will never find it doing nothing. Find a way to love other people practically, and I believe God will show you the way He wants to use you. Go out and bear fruit.
-Smart
The Israelites
"Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages have come."
-1 Corinthians 10:11
Recently I have been reading through the book of Numbers, and one thing sticks out to me. The Israelites are freed from the slavery in Egypt, and then lead out by Moses and Aaron to a promised land. However, the Israelites often get frustrated and angry by different things, like food or water. Even though they literally saw the presence of God as a cloud and a pillar of fire, they still grumbled against Him. They complained about lack of water, so Moses struck a rock and water came out. They had no food, so everyday the sky rained bread for them. Then they complained that they were tired of the bread, so God gave them meat. Even though they constantly complained, God provided for them.
I've always had a problem with the way the Israelites were. They were God's chosen people, and God was clearly with them always. Despite this, the Israelites constantly complained about God. How could anyone complain against someone who has brought them out of slavery, provided for them, kept them safe, and provided leadership for them? God was with them, and there was no doubt in their minds that He was. His presence was clearly seen through many miracles and the pillars of cloud and fire. If God was not evident, I could understand why they would complain, but God was always visibly with them.
Although I have many problems with the Israelites, I realized another sad truth through their example. We have certain qualities that the Israelites had. We also doubt that God cares for us, and that He will provide for us. We complain when things go bad, and we question God's leading. We disobey God, just as the Israelites disobeyed God through their sin and fear. We find it very difficult to trust God and in His plans for us, even if we believe they are good.
There is one difference between us and the Israelites you may have thought of that justifies our actions. The Israelites had God in their midst, and they clearly saw Him. They knew He was with them, yet they still could not trust Him. We can't see God as they did, so it is much harder to trust Him. I thought so too, but then I realized another truth; God is more accessible to us than for the Israelites. How so? Jesus Christ has opened a door for us that the Israelites never had. He tore the veil that separated people from God, and we now have unlimited access to God. We are just as guilty as the Israelites or even more because God is with us. Trust God and His plans, and pray to know more of Him everyday. Jesus died to show us His love for us, and He is waiting for us to give our lives to Him and to trust Him with our lives.
-Smart
-1 Corinthians 10:11
Recently I have been reading through the book of Numbers, and one thing sticks out to me. The Israelites are freed from the slavery in Egypt, and then lead out by Moses and Aaron to a promised land. However, the Israelites often get frustrated and angry by different things, like food or water. Even though they literally saw the presence of God as a cloud and a pillar of fire, they still grumbled against Him. They complained about lack of water, so Moses struck a rock and water came out. They had no food, so everyday the sky rained bread for them. Then they complained that they were tired of the bread, so God gave them meat. Even though they constantly complained, God provided for them.
I've always had a problem with the way the Israelites were. They were God's chosen people, and God was clearly with them always. Despite this, the Israelites constantly complained about God. How could anyone complain against someone who has brought them out of slavery, provided for them, kept them safe, and provided leadership for them? God was with them, and there was no doubt in their minds that He was. His presence was clearly seen through many miracles and the pillars of cloud and fire. If God was not evident, I could understand why they would complain, but God was always visibly with them.
Although I have many problems with the Israelites, I realized another sad truth through their example. We have certain qualities that the Israelites had. We also doubt that God cares for us, and that He will provide for us. We complain when things go bad, and we question God's leading. We disobey God, just as the Israelites disobeyed God through their sin and fear. We find it very difficult to trust God and in His plans for us, even if we believe they are good.
There is one difference between us and the Israelites you may have thought of that justifies our actions. The Israelites had God in their midst, and they clearly saw Him. They knew He was with them, yet they still could not trust Him. We can't see God as they did, so it is much harder to trust Him. I thought so too, but then I realized another truth; God is more accessible to us than for the Israelites. How so? Jesus Christ has opened a door for us that the Israelites never had. He tore the veil that separated people from God, and we now have unlimited access to God. We are just as guilty as the Israelites or even more because God is with us. Trust God and His plans, and pray to know more of Him everyday. Jesus died to show us His love for us, and He is waiting for us to give our lives to Him and to trust Him with our lives.
-Smart
Bluntness
"But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, 'Get behind me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's'".
-Mark 8:33
Some people who know me well know that I can be a very blunt person. I will say things that take people by surprise because of how straightforward I am. I don't try to be like this, but I just speak my mind sometimes without really thinking about it. To my knowledge I have not seriously offended anyone because of my bluntness, but I definitely have taken some people by surprise. I also am a sarcastic person, which doesn't help my case at all. I want to talk a bit about bluntness in this post.
When people say that someone is blunt, they usually mean that person is straightforward and not very subtle. These kinds of people tend to say things that most people won't say because they might offend someone. Often times, even when it is clear that everyone is thinking the same thing, the only person to say something is the person who is very blunt. These people just say what is on their minds, without really considering the consequences, or perhaps even with knowing the consequences. For me, it is a combination of both the two.
So what do I think about being blunt? I think it takes wisdom and discernment to know when to be straightforward and when not to be. If you are talking about a trivial topic, such as a person's attire, it is perfectly normal and recommended that you be as subtle as possible. For example, everyone knows that when a female asks if what they are wearing makes them look fat, the correct response is either no, or yes in the most subtle way you can say it. These types of situations are not important, so subtlety is fine to use.
When it comes to things that do matter, I think it is very important that you be direct and blunt. In Mark 8, Peter hears Jesus prophesying of His death, and Peter rebukes Jesus. Jesus immediately turns to Peter and rebukes him right back and even calls him Satan. Jesus did not beat around the bush or let Peter off the hook. Jesus wanted Peter to realize that He had to suffer the things He prophesied about, and told Peter to set his mind on the things of God.
We too have to be able to rebuke others and tell them things as they are. If someone is committing a sin, we have to be able to tell them, even if it means we offend them. Being blunt is not easy, as people are easily offended, but people do need to hear the truth, no matter how harsh it is. In matters than can affect people's lives, whether physical or spiritual, we have to be able to tell them what needs to be said. This takes wisdom and discernment, and we have to pray to be able to discern these kinds of situations. I hope that God gives us all the courage and wisdom to be blunt when we need to be.
-Smart
2013 Key Verse Testimony
"For momentary,
light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all
comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things
which are not seen are eternal."
-2 Corinthians 4:17-18
The year 2012 was very
exciting and full of new experiences. I graduated from high school, and I began
college. I made new friends in college, joined my church’s college group, and
did many other things. I am so grateful that God allowed me to have the
experiences that I did in 2012, despite my many failures. I did not deserve to
have such a year in 2012, but God does not look at what I deserve. God looks at
who I am, His son, bought with the blood of Jesus.
In 2012 my key verse was Philippians 3:10, “that I may
know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death”. I chose this verse so that I could have a
renewed purpose in my life. During my senior year of high school, I realized
that my life had the potential of being very ordinary. I would graduate high
school, college, then get a job, retire and then die. While this is what many
people strive for, I felt like it wasn’t enough. Surely there is more to life
than school and work.
I chose Philippians 3:10 because it gave me a new life
direction. Instead of living for my own desires, I would be living to know
Christ. This sounds easy, but to know Christ is not to simply know Him like a
school textbook. As the rest of the verse says, I have to experience Him, in
His sufferings, His death, and resurrection. That is the only way to truly know
Christ, and the only way to achieve my true purpose.
This key verse got me to think a lot about my purpose in
life, but I didn’t really do anything to achieve it. That is why this year I
decided to choose a verse that would help me strive toward my purpose. 2
Corinthians 4:18 says to “look not at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen”. Obviously this does not mean that I physically look
at things which are unseen, because that is impossible. The Good News
translation says “fix our attention”, instead of “look”. In order to achieve my
purpose of knowing Christ, I have to focus on what is unseen.
In 2012 I have been thinking a lot about eternity. Even
though our lives on earth feel long, and we are impressed with people who live
to be very old, our lives are very short. If heaven is eternal, and I believe
it is, then comparing our earthly life to our heavenly life is like comparing
80 to infinity. Compared to infinity, 80 is practically nothing. So why do live
as if we have to live such comfortable lives and achieve nothing for eternity?
I believe that it is because we are fixing our eyes on that which is seen. We
respond to the things which are seen, including ourselves. Jesus has told us to
deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him. We have to respond to God,
not to ourselves.
It may seem that this key verse is even less practical
than my 2012 key verse, but the unseen things are not just heaven and God. They
include faith, love, trust, fellowship, and similar things. While these have
aspects that can be seen (faith with action), they cannot actually be seen.
This means that these things should be what I focus on. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that
“without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must
believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews
11:1 tells us that “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction
of things not seen.” Faith is a very important part of achieving my purpose,
because I need faith to believe in what is not seen.
Out of all the things I mentioned previously, Jesus told
His disciples that love is the most important. Matthew 22:36-39 reads “’Teacher,
which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He said to him, ‘You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all
your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you
shall love your neighbor as yourself”. This is only one of the many times in
the Bible that we are instructed to love. I could spend a very long time
talking about love, but I’ll just say that I need to focus a lot on loving God
and people.
Choosing to live a life devoted to Christ will not be
easy. Just as Christ suffered, I also must suffer with Him. I do not know what
kind of suffering I must endure, but I know that the reason Jesus suffered is
because of sin. He did not sin, but He died because of sin, in order to save
us. I too may suffer because of the sin in my life, but I know that through
Christ I can endure any suffering. Even though suffering may seem like it is
too much to bear, they are simply “momentary, light affliction.” Paul often
writes about glory as compared to suffering. In Romans 8:18 he writes “for I
consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” No suffering I endure can
outweigh the glory that will be revealed in me.
What I do in my short life will determine my eternity. If
I choose to live for myself, and I refuse to believe in God, then I will live a
terrible eternity in hell. If I choose to live for Christ and I believe in Him,
then I will live a great eternity in heaven. Paul gives us encouragement and
tells us that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait
for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20)”. This is a reminder to
me that I must not focus my attention on this life, but to focus on the things
unseen. I do not belong on this world; I am in it, but not of it. My true
citizenship is in heaven, not here on earth.
-Smart
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)