THE EVOLUTION/MATURATION of RAY

 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.  1Cor13:11

Recently I was asked, "What's your favorite song?" to which I struggle to find a relevant answer.  I mean honestly.....years ago...if I was asked that as an adolescent I would've fired off a lot of answers depending totally on the mood and the genre.  Because I had a few favorites in the genre of rap; fun rap, gangster rap, underground rap, as well as not to EVER be forgotten the conscience rap.  If I was thinking or feeling in terms of soul....it depended on group vs soloist.  If it was about alternative.....I tended to err on the side of lyrical relevance mixed with the guitar riffs and thump of the drum.  If it dealt with classical then it had to be narrowed down by a period of time.  I could never say that I was a metal fan, simply because I could never understand what they were saying, and when I did....most times I was confused. 

If I remember just a little more recent, I recall my musical play list was as diverse as malted milk ball and a Hershey chocolate bar convention.  If it wasn't Fred Hammond, or Kirk Franklin or some other big named African-American artist pushing the envelope without mixing it with contemporary Christian or inspirational music, I was on it!  But GOD knew that wasn't good enough....and thrust me out of my musical comfort zone....into a culture where Israel Houghton was known for only two songs...Friend of God, and Again I Say Rejoice, while Tomlin, Michael W. Smith, Crowder, Matthew West, and many other foreign names waiting to unlock my mind/soul like virgin's first whiff of sweet cheeba to expansive universe of God's praises!

So fast forwarding to just a few days ago when this question was originally asked....I've had hours to allow thoughts to solidify into what I'm about to say in this blog.

I'm thankful that GOD has rescued my mind from the pits of many of the forms of music that I devoted and ignorantly sacrificed unfathomable amount of brain cells, like the genocide performed on brain cells when one is given to drugs and alcohol.  Today......I'm proud to say that my favorite songs are those that evoke positive emotions that make me move:

Move to turn the pages of scripture to double check and delight in the gospel being expressed in a variety of genres. 

Move to get me out of my head, and from behind a desk to going to my neighbor (those here, near, and far)  to care more about them, than I do sitting in the comforts of my home.
 
Move me to love my wife & kids more by spending time with them, and engaging them in each of their own love languages.  

Move me out of the present moment, and thrust me to my knees and sometimes my face in the presence of the Lord in joy and in tears.  That also we cause a physical manifestation of my JOY in CHRIST to which I may leap, yell, or shout in the joy of the LORD as He deserves that and much more.....test me on this....I dare you!

Move me to realizing that their are so many wonderful songs that speak of our GOD, that if I'm open to being constantly renewed and refreshed by the NEW SONGs He commanded we sing unto Him.

As well as the ones that make me move, that they ultimately communicate the truth of WHO GOD IS, WHO WE ARE, WHY WE NEED JESUS, and HOW TO DELIGHT IN HIM SINCE FINDING HIM that inspires me to LIVE in the ABUNDANT LIFE CHRIST promises each of us.   So I could take the easy route out, and name a bunch of people that played a role in introducing me to.......................but I'd rather just THANK GOD for EACH OF YOU, and mostly THANK GOD for loving me enough to walk with me on my musical journey of discovery & discovering what it's like to praise Him with the nations, beyond those of my cultural ethnicity.    LET THE PRAISE CONTINUE into ETERNITY!  LGLP

IS HE FIRST? REALLY?

¹² “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”  Genesis 22:12

We are all familiar with the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice the very thing that he had waited most of his life for....a son.  I remember entertaining a few guests over my house during the BIBLE television series and we entered into deep dialogue regarding what type of God would do such a thing, and how many people walked away that evening with a greater, more loving understanding of GOD, the ultimate Father.

But as as I sit in my office on a Friday night preparing to launch into our new series on Philippians and wondering is GOD, HE, JESUS really first in the lives of the people I will be before on Sunday, and that I pray I communicate it, or that the Holy Spirit communicates through all the pastors what it means to make God first.

While I can pose this in the form of a rhetorical question the answer is pretty evident in how you approach everyday life.   For instance if God is first, prayer and praise is what you awake to doing daily, not just Sunday.    If He is really first you consider Him, in many if not all of your decisions during the course of the day.  Like should you continue flirting with her, him, sin, or doing things that send a different message about who it is you say you believe in.   Should I cheat or steal from the company?  They'll never know I stopped by the casino, or I'll have just one or two drinks.  A little lie never hurt anyone, we tell ourselves....while God looks on, realizing you think you're your own God.

If He is first, you seek to please & honor him with even how you treat others.   I understand that I am an extrovert, but if we are called to be salt and light, doesn't that mean you and I are supposed to add those very elements (salt/light) to any/every environment we get to be in?   Shouldn't your response when asked "How are you doing," somehow point people to the center of your joy, if HE really is?






If HE is first...then you can replace Isaac on that altar with your money, your possessions, your children, your family, your job, etc. because you realize they are all blessings from Him, and that you are willing to offer any if not all of that to Him, just so those things don't get in the away of what's really FIRST....your relationship with Him.  So I end, I close this blog with the very question I began it with....:  IS HE REALLY FIRST or are you just lying to yourself?  If HE IS FIRST  you live to LOVE GOD & LOVE PEOPLE.......with all you have and are!  LGLP