Whose team are you on?

I do not know about you but music is a big deal in my life.  When I was 18 and made a decision to follow God, I still loved my ZZ Top and AC/DC music.  I did not have any idea of what kind of impact this music had on me.  I still know all the words to these songs and whenever I hear them, I can pick right back up with the memories and with the words.  Even though it is just music, the constant repetitiveness and emotion tied to a song has a very large impact on your life.

When I made a decision to follow God, He put two people in my life I would call brothers.  These guys showed me some music that rocked as good as  mainstream musicians.  I enjoyed what they said in the music so I started to listen to them.  As time went on and I started to read and study the Bible, I found that these songs were actually Bible stories.  At the time it was groups like Degarmo and Key, Michael W. Smith, and Steve Taylor.  These artist and others literally saved my life.

The reason I ask what team are you on is that if you go to a football game and sit with all your friends that are cheering for the team you all like, it is cool.  But if you start cheering for the other team, your friends may wonder what on earth are you doing?  Music is a lot like that!  Two verses helped me understand how these constant thoughts impact the heart:

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “You, too? Are you being willfully stupid? Don’t you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It’s from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That’s what pollutes. Eating or not eating certain foods, washing or not washing your hands—that’s neither here nor there.”  Matthew 15:16-20 (MSG)

Do you seek for your mouth and meditations to be pleasing to God?  Does your mouth reflect your heart?  How can you help your thoughts and speech?  If you meditate on God’s Word in your heart, you will enhance who you are!  If you are addicted to Guild Wars 2 (like I am), cocaine, TV, food, sex, or whatever, does it have an impact on your mouth and meditations?

These two guys may never know how much I appreciate all that they have done for me.  They are actually physical brothers and I know for sure that I am their spiritual brother!  They not only planted God’s Word deep in my soul, they set me up with their sister and we have been married for over 27 years.  Between my wife, her brothers, and family and friends, they set a path for me that has helped me seek God with all my heart and soul!

Thank you!!

By the way these are some good songs and groups you may like!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=301S7NgAkLs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qGa5rIOB28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqrsELRaabo