The Challenge of Being Still

On my iTunes account I have a specific playlist of which I affectionately called: Spirit Worship.  This playlist is the array of songs I elect to go to when I'm down in the dumps (because we already know about the Sacrifice of Worship) but also, I use it when I in the need to be still.

I know that it has been a while since I've blogged (as a matter of fact this is probably the longest I've gone without blogging...yikes!), but the lack of blogging is because I'm at this phase, this crossroad in my life where I am desperately trying to discover myself.  Now I know the overarching principle that I am a child of the Most High God, but who is the blogger/man Michael Adams is a struggle for me sometimes especially in this busy busy American Life.

As a result, a focus of mine has been this phase of Being Still.  There is an ever popular and overused phrase in the Bible that says in Psalm 46:10: "be still, and know that I am God."  Yes, that's a great theoretical concept, but do we actually follow that concept?

I am under the firm belief that we learn more about ourselves, about God, about our environment when we are consciously practicing the art of Being Still.  Being Still is you telling the world, telling your mind that you've had enough of the multitasking; that you are going to focus on one thing and one thing only.  This is a practice that our ancestors were much more proficient at it than we, but it's not a lost cause.

My aforementioned Spirit Playlist consists of 30 songs which is composed of different genres: Gospel, Contemporary Christian, Christian Hip Hop, & yes, even Christian Rock.  At fact value these songs seemingly have very little in common, but for me, they all have that ability to give me goosebumps no matter how many times I listen to them.

With that being said, I'm going to open you up to two of my songs.  One will be Gospel and the other will be Contemporary.  Here's a free peak into my head, don't take this too lightly!

There is one thing I ask however.  That right now, you become still.  That at this time you will Be Still. You can listen to one song, both songs, or even choose your own song (I won't be offended).  But when you do, stop what you are doing, and listen/watch the videos.  I would even suggest putting your best pair of headphones in and embracing the moment.

After the moment, if you are inclined, comment below on how you feel, what your experience is.  If it's a private feeling write it down & talk it over with a loved one and/or God.  Don't take this challenge lightly.  You'd be surprised what you hear when you are intentionally still.

The Gospel song I chose is: My Life, My Love, My All by Kirk Franklin.  This songs literally plays with my emotions every time!  You'll see what I mean.

The Contemporary song I chose is: Still by Hillsong United.  Once the peak of this song hits, I am GONE!

--MJA

"Telephone" Gone Wrong

If you have ever played telephone with 10 people or more (or even 5), we can pass down a message from one person to the other with the hope that the last person in line repeated what the first person wanted to say. During this process, we think we might have heard something so we pass on the message to the next person who then thinks they heard what you said and starts to paraphrase or even completely mess up with you wanted to convey. You get "I actually do not own a pair of toms" to "I am not an astronaut that eats Tums" (Okay, maybe that was a horrible example...give me credit.)

We in a sense tell God that he can write the story of our life. The moment God is ready to press His pen onto paper, we in a way push his hand out of the way and assure God something like "I was actually kidding, did you actually think I could live with someone dictating my life without editing the final version? You, instead, can narrate my story." How does this differ?

I'm in the sciences and what we look for mostly consists of cold hard facts on paper, not what someone said. For instance, we would rather believe in Newton and his physics principles that has been written on paper instead of what your local mailman can tell you about when it comes to science.  If you didn't know of their credentials, how on Earth is hearing facts from people reliable? Scientific facts does not become official unless there is research on paper with fancy numbers and data.

What am I getting at? Without asking for discernment, we would rather let God "narrate" our story so that way we could easily switch His words to things we think  He might have said. I'm not saying God is unable to speak to us, but I am saying that it would be best if we just let God write our story. We don't know what's best so why do we try to twist God's plan? I'd rather bank on having a cold, hard truth written by God instead of how I feel a certain day and how I plan to twist on God's word intentionally or by mistake.

- Moises -

Do What You Gotta Do!

Go for it!  Do those that thing that you've been passionate for!  Wait...something is stopping you?  What in the world could be stopping you?  Ohhhh:

Fear

Doubt

Those..are nasty little things.  When you have those two little words circling around in your head you are major league screwed.

Is that the only thing holding you back?  Despite that fear and doubt of the unknown, do you still have this burning desire to do something??  Now hold on, I'm not JUST talking about those major life decisions like "I'm gonna go to Africa for the next few years" or "I'm going to get married!!"  I'm talking about those "minor" decisions as well.  The, "should I ask her out on a date" or "should I call her."  To name a few...oh wait...those are the ones that CONSTANTLY FLOAT THROUGH MY HEAD!

Once again...I digress...ok, but seriously.  It's the little things in life that makes the most changes in our lives.  Its those things that we tend (consciously) to pay the least attention to, that in the long run matter the most to us.  It's those everyday decisions that shape us.  Why?  Because we do them...everyday!

So, what has been placed on you heart today?  What are you running from?  What are you fearful about?  What do you have doubts about?  If it's on your heart, and the biggest thing holding you back in the unknown, I say go for it!  But, I'm not justing saying that!  The Bible says that as well! Proverbs 16:9 says:

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."

Has there been something that was placed on your heart (by the Lord) and out of nowhere a door opened and you had a chance to walk through it??...And you didn't ask the girl out...you didn't take the promotion...you didn't move to Africa because of those two pesky words?  The Word is clear: "the Lord establishes their steps."  If a door comes flying open right in your face..that's probably the Lord.  Granted, there's a chance that is the Prince of Darkness. But, if the deed was on your heart and the only thing stopping you is doubt, then, it's probably not the Devil.

Proverbs is in the OLD Testament, we want something in the New Testament oh crazy blogger!  Oh you want some NT huh?  Well how about John 14:26 where Jesus tells us a HUGGEEE secret! "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (It's the words of Jesus so it has to be in red right!?
Quick Historical Break...The context of this is Jesus talking to his disciples right before he ascended into heaven.  Here he is promising that we will have a map placed on our hearts to direct us and that map is from God.  A couple of verse prior to this, he tells them that they will do "greater deeds" that He, the Prince of Peace, did.

Sooo, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us!  That famous gut feeling that you always get right before any decision?  Yea!  That can be the Holy Spirit telling you something!  You just have to discern whether or not its the Spirit.  But don't let fear stop you any longer from doing anything!  Do let doubt of the unknown hinder God's blessing for your life any longer!  Do what you gotta do!  In Joshua 1:9, God makes a command to us. "Have I not commanded you? (see! haha)  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Let's go out and grab fear by the horns!  Let's go change the world!  Let's go take that risk!  Lets...go...ask that girl out...ehhh...we'll see about that. Haha.

Ima leave you with a quote from a great woman that goes by the name of Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962).  Thus saith Madame Roosevelt:
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

I Surrender All

There is just something special about hymns.  There's also something weird about random songs entering into my head at this time of night.  All the songs, surround one central theme, I am not in control of mine life.
My life is not mine own, to You I belong, I give myself to You.
I mean really God!  I thought we'd already had this discussion.  I'm doing what you want my to do.  But, I guess I haven't fully given everything to you.  I'm still trying to make it on my own.

You win, I've been trying to do it on my own...
But right now I gotta surrender...
you know what's best...
It's not easy waiting on you, 
It's not easy depending on you.  
But without faith, it's impossible to please you. 
So we'll stand right here...
You got Me...You Got Me!

Surrender. I. Surrender. The words of a broken sinner that has fallen in the pit and needs to be saved.  All You want to do is help me.  I just gotta say yes.  I need to recognize I need to be saved, forgiven, and loved.  Will you love me?  I already know the answer to that question.  Lord, I'm done.  I....Surrender

All To Jesus I Surrender,
All to Him I Freely Give
I Will Ever Love and Trust Him,
In His Presence Daily Live

All To Jesus, I Surrender, 
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, 
Take me Jesus, take me now!

I Surrender All! 
I Surrender All! 
All To Thee My Blessed Savior.  
I Surrender All!