May 22 – Psalms 95, & 97-98

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Psalms 95, &  97-98. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: Microsoft Office Clip Art

“Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds.” (Palms 98:1 NLT) Music in church is one of the most highly contested elements of any churches life. The reason for this is music is a very personal preference. Music takes us to many places and times. We connect with music on an emotional and mental level.

I love country music. Whenever I hear the song Austin by Blake Shelton it takes me back to a yard I mowed in high school. For whatever reason the summer that song was new every week when I mowed that particular yard that song came on the radio in my headphones. When I hear the song Breath I am taken to Ohio Teens for Christ when David Crowder lead worship and introduced it to us the first time. When I hear the song Don’t Take The Girl by Tim McGraw I am taken to Myrtle Beach summer of 1994 where I bought that cassette tape as a nine year old.

Church music is highly contested in church because we all have an emotional and mental connection to it. We remember the song that was being sung as we walked down the isle to give our life to Christ. When we sing a familiar song we remember the first time the lyrics spoke to us and the worship that ensued because of it. We connect and are protective of music because it speaks to us in ways other things do not.

So how do we balance this encouragement of “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds” with our connection to “old” music that has already spoken to us. I think the answer is this, new songs have the ability to connect us with God in worship in a way another song did not. New songs have the ability to teach us new truths about God. New songs come from a new perspective, and new view point, a new joy, and even new heartaches, allowing us new insights into God’s character. Rejecting new songs means you are saying you have arrived in your understanding of who God is and indicates an unwillingness to grow as a disciple.

The beauty of it all is when the old songs merge with the new to paint a complete picture of who God is in our lives. The blending of the old and new allow us to more fully express our worship with God in new and old ways. Finally what is really exciting to me is that a new song gives me a new opportunity to make a new emotional and mental connection with God!

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

April 18 – Psalm 17, 35, 54, & 63

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Psalm 17, 35, 54, & 63. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

Photo Credit: alexey05 ~ Alexey Fursov ~ flickr

David continues to teach us lessons on how to handle difficult situations in life. As a man on the run he has created a few enemies. We have seen just Nabal and Saul, but I am sure there have been a few others. With enemies growing how does David deal with them? Maybe he took action that the Bible simply does not record for us. But according to his writings he goes to God. He hand them over to God, and asks God to fight his battles.

Do you go to God and ask him to fight your battles? Maybe it is an over demanding boss at work. Maybe it is a parent of another child that is on your kid’s team that just grinds your gears. Maybe it is a relationship you have with a parent. Maybe it is changes taking place at your church. I do not know what your battles in life are right now but I know David was called a man after God’s own heart. I have to think that is because in almost everything he did, he sought God’s leadership in his life. We must do the same.

At West Side we believe highly in prayer. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.

April 2 – Judges 8-9

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Judges 8-9. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read his word.

Sometimes we just need a good reminder that we are all in this together. As Gideon was winding down his campaign his men are growing hungry and they are told to wait until after the battle by two fellow cities before they will feed his three-hundred men. As we know food is fuel for the body. Imagine fighting battles in those days ... An army had to walk to the battle. Each soldier had to carry their own supplies. The battles themselves took physical strength to accomplish. Food was essential. Two towns tell them to finish the campaign before they give them food. For this Gideon brings destruction. It was for their worship, their peace, and their protection that Gideon was bringing this battle before them.

Friends, as Christians we need to remember we are in this together. Too many times we fight trivial battles. Too many times we fight against the direction the world is moving. I am convinced that one of Satan’s tactics is to get us fighting and arguing amongst ourselves and not trying to love and lead people to a life changing relationship with Jesus. If we would just love one another as well as others, I think we could see a drastically different world. We need to unite together, draw together and serve together so that destruction to ourselves doesn't happen and so Christ is glorified.

At West Side we are beginning a new prayer partner campaign. We are asking people to join with us in praying daily for West Side. If you would like to join us please click here and subscribe to receive daily emails containing a short prayer request for West Side. We appreciate your partnership.