Posted by: jamsco | June 11, 2012

Fighter Verse Application for June 16 and 17

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2 Timothy 1:7

For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.

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Are you living in fear right now? What are you afraid of? Is it something that God has power over? I’m guessing he does.

Are you choosing (through God’s grace) to live with Power and Love and Self-control? I hope so, because your power has its source in God, and so does your love and self-control. And if you live in them, good, God-honoring, people-helping things will happen.

Perhaps there is something right now that you’re pretty sure God wants you to do, but you are nervous because of your fear. Listen to God. Do his will. He will help you.

[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

Posted by: jamsco | June 4, 2012

Application for Fighter Verse For June 8 and 9

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Philippians 4:11-13

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

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I’m guessing that most people reading this post have not experienced being brought low (in terms of poverty and persecution) that Paul did. So we have not been ‘brought low’ in those kinds of situations.

But I’m also guessing that most of us have experienced being discontent. The sobering thought is this: when we say, “I’m not content with my situation”, we’re also saying “God is wrong to put me in this situation”.

Is that you want to be saying? Or do we want to be the person who says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me. And included in ‘all things’ is: Having a headache that won’t go away, or not having a good enough job, or not having enough money to go to that vacation spot that we want to go to, or not getting the girlfriend we’d like.

We can experience joy and trust in God in all of these (and all other) circumstances. Do you?

[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

Posted by: jamsco | May 28, 2012

Application for Fighter Verse For June 1 and 2

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Proverbs 6:22-23

When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

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I was talking with my kids about this passage and we talked about the three life moments that are mentioned: When you walk, when you lie down, and when you awake.

The trickiest one to explain (and perhaps understand) was the idea that parent’s guidance can watch over you when you lie down. What I told my kids was that if you live wisely (and hold onto and live according to wise teachings from your parents) you live in such a way that when you sleep you are safe. And then you can put your head on your pillow with the peaceful knowledge that you are safe.

Of course, extrapolating this idea all the way out, the biggest blessing a human can have is the knowledge that even if they die while they are sleeping they will be in heaven, with their heavenly father.

May God work through the words of all parents so that this will be true for all of their children.

[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

Posted by: jamsco | May 25, 2012

Application for Fighter Verse For May 26 and 27

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Proverbs 6:20-21

My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.

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These are good words for a child to hear. These verses are very parent-honoring. Yes, young person, it is important for you to obey your parents and treat what they say as something worth focusing on.

If you are a parent, it may seem self-serving to highlight this verse with your children, but they need to know these ideas. In times of doubt, they may give your kids reason to trust you. In times of crisis, they may help your child to stop and think about what you’ve taught them.’

So teach them the Word, teach them the Gospel and teach them to obey you.

[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

Posted by: jamsco | May 14, 2012

Application for Fighter Verse For May 19 and 20

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Galatians 5:24-25

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

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‘Crucified the flesh’ – that’s pretty extreme vocabulary, don’t you think? But do we live like it?

Do we keep in step with the spirit?

No – sometimes we clearly don’t. That’s why we need sanctification. And part of that processes is recognition: Your sinful passions and desires have been crucified.

Maybe I should say that again, with an exclamation point – Your sinful passions and desires have been crucified!

You aren’t the same person who is just trying to do better now that you are saved. God has miraculously killed your sinful flesh. You are no longer paralyzingly drawn to sins that will cause your destruction.

Take notice, take heart and take joy. And take the path laid out for you by God’s Holy Spirit.

[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

Posted by: jamsco | May 7, 2012

Fighter Verse For May 12 and 13, 2012

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

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Come on now, if you don’t feel motivated to memorize a bible verse that lists the fruit of the spirit, what will motivate you?

And isn’t this a good list? Wouldn’t you like to be described as a person who has these traits?

Do you notice that that most of these are active traits?
Do you notice that Jesus is an example for all of these fruits?

I imagine that as you look at these, you’ll probably think that some of them you do well and others you need to work on.

Pray that God will work on you.

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[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD]

Posted by: jamsco | April 30, 2012

Application For The Fighter Verse For May 5 and 6

Luke 12:32-34

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

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It’s good to hear Jesus say, “Fear Not”, isn’t it?

But to what fear is Jesus referring?

This is right after the passage where he says, “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on”

And we do think about those things a lot. And Jesus says, “Fear not”, because we can trust God to not only give us the temporal things we need, but the eternal, and much more significant things. He wants to give us the Kingdom!

We have a God who wants to give us the kingdom.

And what would we do if we really believed that. We would do good things. We would give things to those who need them. And this would be good for the needy person.

But I find it interesting that Jesus motivates us by saying that we are doing good for ourselves as well. We our providing for ourselves more eternal, non-steal-able, non-destroyable treasure.

That’s what we’ll do if we really don’t fear.

That’s pretty big.

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[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD]

Posted by: jamsco | April 23, 2012

Application For The Fighter Verse For April 29 and 30

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come.

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I meet with group of guys almost every Friday morning and one of the guys there, Mike, really likes verses like this. He points out regularly that one problem Christians have is that we forget who we are in Christ.

We are a new Creation.

We’re not slightly different. We’re not incrementally better. We’re not above average. We aren’t just people who try harder.

We are a new Creation.

And Mike points out that if we forget this, then we are too easily tempted, too easily brought down. Satan works this forgetfulness to make us less effective as Children of God.

So do you feel like a new Creation? Do you believe you are one? Do you choose to act like one?

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[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD]

Posted by: jamsco | April 16, 2012

Application For The Fighter Verse For April 22 and 23

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

And these words that I command you today shall be in your hearts. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down, and when you rise.

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I can hear Mr. Sampson, my seventh grade math teacher, and the phrase he used to use to describe when a mathematical truth was true:

“Always, always, always”

That’s a slightly less poetic way than was used by Moses in this passage, but it’s the same concept.

When shall we teach our children about  God’s commands? When should we talk about God’s words? When should we bring these ideas are into our conscious thoughts?

“Always, always, always”

That means God thinks thinking and talking and teaching and memorizing and remembering his commands are pretty important, and helpful and encouraging to us and serve to glorify him.

So with yourself and with your kids – take every opportunity.

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[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD]

Posted by: jamsco | April 9, 2012

Application For The Fighter Verse For April 15 and 16

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

I once read an atheist commentary that suggested that since it was impossible to obey these words, this verse was ridiculous. What kind of God was command us to do what we can’t do?

My answer is this:

The kind of God who would prescribe this kind of worship . . . well he is –

– A God who has very lofty goals for his created beings
– A God who really wants to be worshiped
– A God who will settle for nothing less than perfection
– A God who wants his children to always be stretching to be closer to him
– A God who wants his children to see their inability to do was is required of them and ask for help.
– A God who looks forward to a time when his worshipers will be able to fully live up to this kind of standard.

In any case, I am certain that you are not completely obeying this passage. Have you prayed for greater ability to love him with a little more of you heart and your soul and your might?

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[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD]

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