Featured Artist: Joeyee Watt
Our new featured wallpaper artist Joeyee Watt. Check out his designs! “Hi. My name is Joeyee Watt. I’m 21 and I’m studying Interactive Media Design. I love to sing and I love to dance. As a dancer, I can do jazz (modern, lyrical, street jazz) and ballroom dancing. I also enjoy jogging and playing badminton [...]
ODB: it’s all about the heart
August 19, 2009
READ: Matthew 15:7-20
Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart. —Matthew 15:18
Every time Susan opens her mouth, it sounds like the blare of an ambulance siren. This TV commercial uses humor to indicate that a dental problem could reveal a more serious physical ailment. So she’d better see her dentist soon!
The commercial made me think about what comes out of my mouth when I open it. Jesus said that our words come from our heart (Matt. 15:18). He offended the Pharisees when He said, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man” (vv.11-12). They thought they were right with God because they followed strict rules, including ritual cleansing of their hands before eating and eating only “clean” foods. Jesus upset their pride.
Jesus upsets our pride too. We may think we’re godly people because we go to church regularly or pray, but then we gossip or talk about people behind their backs. James 3:9-10 says, “With [our tongue] we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men . . . . Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. . . . These things ought not to be so.”
If a siren blares from our mouth when we open it, we need to examine our heart and ask the Lord to forgive us and to help us be a blessing to others. — Anne Cetas
Every time you speak, your mind is on parade.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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Loading ...ODJ: freak folk
Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? (v.13).
READ: Psalm 73
Freak folk, psych folk, and folk-pop are terms used to describe genres within folk music. Musically, freak folk features acoustic instruments, mostly guitar and occasionally violin or flute, accompanied by percussion instruments such as bongos. Psych folk is a blending of folk music and psychedelic rock or pop. The varieties of folk music just keep unfolding.
The Bible has its own kind of folk music. It’s found in the Psalms. These marvelous ancient “folk” songs recount the experiences of various men and women. They tell the tale of the emotional upsets, problems, and disturbances that believers in God endured.
Take Psalm 73, for example. It starts like some of the folk songs of our day, with the author (singer?) grousing about injustices in the world. The lyrics are striking in their brutal honesty. Asaph, David’s chief musician, was wondering if his pursuit of living for God had been worthless (vv.13-14). Self-centered, irreverent people were “enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply” (v.12). They mocked God and seemed to be getting away with it. Asaph wondered if he was a freak for keeping his heart pure. Was it worthwhile?
But as he went into the sanctuary of God, he found new perspective and understanding (v.16). Asaph was reminded that the wicked and their ways would come to an end. He sensed anew his need for a change of heart before God (v.21). And he understood that nothing in heaven or on earth was better than being near the Sovereign Lord (vv.23,28).
We learn from this timeless tune that when we turn our eyes to God, we gain His perspective. We see that life is not all bleak and dreary. And we see clearly that God is in control and that He does care for us—His Jesus freaks.
—Poh Fang Chia
What situations today might make you feel like a freak for following God’s instruction? How can you keep Him at the center of your vision?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
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