The Clock

On January 6, 2016January 6, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, music, timeLeave a comment

For something that only has one thing to do, I get blamed for a lot of things. You would think that I would mind, but I don’t. It really isn’t my fault for the problems in people’s lives. I mean all I do is go around in circles, twice a day. You know today what you wasted yesterday. You know today that you have the same amount of time as tomorrow to do what you need to do. How is it my fault you didn’t get it done ?

I come in many forms. Sometimes I have hands. Other times I have a digital read out. Sometimes I have numbers, sometimes I don’t. No matter what I have or don’t have, my job is the same each day. Many of you say I am only right twice a day. Good one. I have to laugh when I hear that.

Often times, no pun intended, people look at me and can’t believe how much time has went by. Other times they can’t believe how slow I am going. I am here to tell you I do neither. I am constant. Always the same. 86,400 seconds then I reset to zero. Well, there was this one time when God stopped me but that’s the only time. Unless He asks again because I will never say no to God. Would you?

Let me ask you, what is your problem with me? Never mind, let me guess. I don’t have enough time. Or is it I have too much time on my hands. Isn’t it funny that when you have too much time it seems like you don’t have enough time? How many times have you sat doing nothing when you could’ve been doing something? You think Tom Brady ever said I don’t have enough time to read the playbook this week? You think Michael Jordan ever said I don’t have enough time to practice my jump shot? They had to sacrifice other things that took up their time to make time to do what they needed to do. I bet they don’t always sleep eight hours a day. I bet they don’t watch three hours of television a night. Do you think they ever said I am too busy to do what I need to do to be successful?

Mother Teresa said “yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” You think she ever said I don’t have enough time? If she was alive today how much time do you think she would spend on Facebook? How many selfies would she take?

Anyway, back to my story. I am like God in a lot of ways. I am the same today as I was yesterday as I will be tomorrow. I will never change. I am not God. Many of you look at me like I am. Many of you curse me because you didn’t do what you had to do in the time you had to do it. Are you more mad at me or yourself? I didn’t force you to waste your time today. I didn’t force you to spend your time that way. I didn’t tell you to spend ten minutes flirting with that woman instead of spending ten minutes calling your wife. Yet you blame me for not having enough of me to give to your wife. I didn’t ask you to spend thirty minutes looking at pornography instead of reading the bible. Yet you blame me for not having enough of me to get to read God’s word.

You know what you have to do in the time you have been allotted. On your death bed you can’t say you didn’t have enough time. I have seen it happen too many times. I regret I didn’t spend enough time with my family. I regret I spent so many hours working. I wish I would’ve spent more time talking to God. I wish I would’ve donated more time to help others. I I I ……I wish, I should have, I could have. Let me tell you you can. What will you do TODAY to take care of your TOMORROWS and not live in your YESTERDAYS? What will you sacrifice? I am not to blame. 1440 minutes. Each and every day. I give it to all of you. The same amount.

Don’t be one of those people. I know I might be out of a job by telling you this but throw me away. Live your life with purpose. Do what God wants you to do! Does it matter what time it is or how much time is left in the day? If God says move, does it matter what time I tell you it is?

Now take a minute and look at me. You looked? Seriously? What will you do with the time you have left today? Tick-tock.

Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On by Jimmy Buffett –

Stop The Clock by Elle Varner –

Clock Don’t Stop by Carrie Underwood –

Before Out Time by Jon Foreman –

Time For That by Clint Black –

Ain’t Wasting Time No More by The Allman Brothers –

Time by Hootie & The Blowfish –

On The Clock by Sena Ehrhardt –

Time By Ozzy Osbourne –

My List by Toby Keith –

Time Is Passing by Dayla –

Time In A Bottle by Jim Croce –

Best Of Times by Styx –

Fly Like An Eagle by Steve Miller Band –

Right Now by Van Halen –

Life Won’t Wait by Ozzy Osbourne –

When Words Fail

On January 4, 2016January 4, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, music, When Words Fail6 Comments

When words fail

As they often do

When my life derails

And the skies aren’t blue

When the rains come

As they often will

When I’m too tired to run

And in front of me is a hill

When happiness is fleeting

As despair sets in

What is it I am seeking?

And why do I continue to sin?

When life gets complicated

As it often does

When I went but should’ve waited

And I forget You are love

When I have failed

As I often do

His body on the cross, nailed

Reminds me He died for me and you

When there is too much noise

As often there is

When all I need is to hear Your voice

Let me find the quietness

When words fail

As more times than not they do

I take a deep breathe, I exhale

I give thanks to God, even when my words are few

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27:

Word Of God Speak bty MercyMe –

Give Me Words To Speak by Aaron Shust –

3:42 a.m (Writer’s Block) by MercyMe –

Words Fail You by Kris Delmhorst –

Read All About It by Emeli Sande –

Let The Words Escape by Chris Rice –

Words Fail by Reece Jacob –

When Words Fail by Vapor –

What Love Looks Like by Dara MacLean –

When Words Fail by Paul Martinez –

My Alleluia ( When Words Fail) by Jaci Velasquez –

More Than Just Words by Carl Cartee –

Let My Words Be Few by Phillips, Craig, and Dean –

Words I Couldn’t Say by Leighton Meester –

What Are Words by Chris Medina –

More Than Words by The Museum –

New, Forgotten, Unknown 1/2/16 New Music Friday

On January 2, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, new music Friday4 Comments

Happy New Year. I am glad the days will be back to normal next week. I almost forgot to do this one this week since Friday was New Year’s Day. It looks like God was speaking to me this week. Most of the songs that hit me are Christian.

A couple new musician followers this week. I hope by me sharing your music that you will get more fans. Please feel free to share/purchase the song I wrote with Lily Messer and Ceylon Wise. I have many more songs I would like to get out there but can not financially afford to record them. If interested in teaming up together, feel free to contact me.

Thanks for all the follows.

Always Wandering by Nate Maingard –

Run by Leah Nobel –

Music I have been listening to recently from non-followers and revisiting followers music to share some other songs from them. I hope you enjoy.

If I Could Fly by One Direction –

If I Was God by Jimmy Fortune –

Intentional by Travis Greene –

Intercession by Kirk Franklin –

Into Your Arms by Capital Kings –

It Was Love by George Strait –

I’ve Been Here Before by Sara Groves –

Listen To Me by Scarlet White –

Keep It 100 by 3for3 –

King Of The World by Natalie Grant –

Lay It Down by Deitrick Haddon –

Lead Me by Cindy Cruse Ratcliff –

Let Them Go by Andrea Zonn –

Love by Seal –

Letters by Sevendust –

Life Is Worth Living by Justin Bieber –

Love Me Or Leave Me by Little Mix –

A Love That I Can’t Have by Man Overboard –

Make A Way by Janice Gaines –

Something New by The Lasting Hope –

Life After Me by Hear, Hear –

Light Up The World by T Carter –

Like Him by B-Fade –

and our song:

I Question You by Lily Messer –

On Itunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943

Thanks God, But No Thanks

On December 29, 2015December 29, 2015 By roberthansen1317In All Glory to God, Christian life, music, Yes God16 Comments

What if Noah said thanks God, but no thanks. I am not interested in building this ark you want me to build. It’ll take me 20-80 years (yes it is a wide range but from everything I have read- and there are many opinions-most say this is how long it took), not to mention all the food I have to bring on board. I have better things to do with my time. Can you imagine the cabin fever I will get God? The smell from all the animals? The ridicule, mocking, laughter I will receive by everyone that sees me making this ark to your exact specifications? It isn’t even raining, God. It hasn’t rained in a long time.

But Noah said yes, God, whatever you command.

What if David said thanks God, but no thanks. I am not interested in fighting Goliath. I mean seriously, have you seen how big he is? A bear, a lion, no problem. I am just a shepherd, not a warrior. All I have is a sling and some rocks. This guy will smash me.

But David said yes, God, I trust you will protect me.

What if Joshua said thanks God, but no thanks. I am not going to walk around the walls of Jericho for six days blowing only our trumpets and carrying the ark of the covenant. Then on the seventh day you seriously want me to walk around Jericho seven times, blowing our trumpets, then you just want us to yell? You know how everyone will look at us and laugh. Look at those fools, walking around blowing trumpets? Where are their swords and arrows? Do they not know how to fight? I will be called the worst general in history.

But Joshua did what God commanded.

What if Mary said thanks God, but no thanks. I am just a lowly woman from Nazareth. I have never been with a man. There is no way I will get pregnant. No God, this is not how I want to have my first child. I want to be married to Joseph first. I am happy here in Nazareth. Everyone will mock me and say I have disgraced Joseph. My entire family will be ridiculed and accused of something I did not do. All to have this child you want me to have? No thanks.

But Mary, said yes God. May your word to me be fulfilled.

What if Jesus said thanks God, but no thanks. You want me to leave my heavenly home, go to earth with all those sinners and be an example for them to follow. You want me to lead a sinless life, to be beaten, ridiculed, laughed at, crucified, for these people? Yes, I know they are made in our image but they have not followed our commands and I don’t think they ever will. You want me to be the sacrifice for their sins? What did I do to deserve this?

But Jesus said yes God, let your will be done.

What if I said thanks God, but no thanks. God, I like it here in my box. I have nothing to say. No one, and I mean, no one will read what I write. Wouldn’t my time be better used spending time with my family or doing things I want to do? So what if a couple people end up reading them, I won’t have an impact on anyone’s lives? I will just be one of thousands upon thousands of bloggers.

But I said yes, God. I will write what you want me to write. I have been humbled by the comments I get from people that have read my posts and have said they have an impact. I have been completely amazed at how God has taken these words and sent them all over the world. I started in late May 2015 and have written 139 posts, counting this one. There have been 1455 visitors from 36 different countries. Maybe they just tune in for the music, maybe the words have changed one person’s life from a non-believer to a believer. I will probably never know but God knows. All because I said yes God.

I look forward to saying yes God more in 2016 because I fail miserably at times. I still hear Him saying go talk to that person and I don’t know why but my feet won’t move. I have a long way to go in my walk with God. I want to thank you for being part of that journey in 2015. I need to say yes more. Yes, God, whatever it is you want me to do today I will do.

Happy New Year and in 2016, let’s all say yes to God more often. We can change the world together.

Let’s go make disciples!

Ready Set Go by Royal Tailor –

Ready Or Not by Britt Nicole –

Back To God by Randy Houser –

If You Say Go by Blanca –

Because He’s God by Shane and Shane –

God In Me by The Daniel Doss Band –

God Believes In You by Warren Barfield –

Change Me God by Reilly –

Give God All You Got by Andrea Helms –

I Have Decided by Selah –

Trust In You by Lauren Daigle –

New, Forgotten, Unknown 12/26/15 New Music Friday

On December 26, 2015December 26, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, music, new music Friday2 Comments

I pray everyone had a great Christmas. No matter what gift we got under the tree, we were given the most amazing gift with the birth of Jesus.

Hello by Dallas Remington (Adele cover) –

Thunder and Lightning by Elora Taylor –

Our Indiana Home by Danielle Lee –

We’re One by K-Bust –

Music I have been listening to recently by followers and non-followers. I know there is a lot but I am revisiting some followers and listening to their music as well as non-followers. Hope you enjoy.

Hero ( Coutney’s Song) by Lily Nelsen –

History One Direction –

Hey Mama by Hollyn –

Hey There by Karyn Williams –

Hide and Seek by Lydia Laird –

Hold The Rain by Consumed By Fire –

Holdin My Own by Eric Church –

House On A Hill by Kasey Chambers –

How You Learn To Live Alone by Jonathan Jackson-

Humble And Kind by Tim McGraw –

I Believe by Jimmy Fortune –

I Believe by JJ Heller –

I Didn’t Plan It by Sara Bareilles –

I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan by Seth McFarlane –

I Know How To Love You Now by Charles Esten –

I Love You by Little Mix –

I Wanna Live by Worth Taking –

If I Drink This Beer by Will Chase & Chris Carmack –

If I Should Go Before You by City And Colour –

If I Told You by Jason Walker –

If You Say Go by Blanca –

I’ll Show You by Justin Bieber-

I’m Not Alone by Eleven22 Worship –

and our song:

I Question You by Lily Messer –

On Itunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943

The Little Drummer Boy

On December 24, 2015December 24, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Christmas music12 Comments

Merry Christmas everyone. Happy Birthday Jesus. My last post before Christmas will be on my favorite Christmas song.

I don’t know why but The Little Drummer Boy has always been my favorite Christmas song. Maybe it is the simplicity of it, one verse then pa rum pum pum pum, then one verse and pa rum pum pum pum etc. Maybe it’s the meaning of it, which to me is the true meaning of being a Christian.

Jesus was born, a gift to us. He was born to die. He sacrificed Himself for our sins. Because of His birth, and then His death, we can live forgiven. A gift given knowing that we could not repay it. We can come to him no matter who we are or where we are from. No matter what we look like, dress like, what kind of car we drive or whatever home we live in. Come as you are! A little shepherd boy came with the only gift he had, he could play his drum for him. He played his best for him. Then Jesus smiled at him. Jesus wants us to believe in Him and accept Him into our hearts.

Maybe it is the message from the last scene of the cartoon. Jesus changed his heart of hate to a heart of love. Take the time to watch the last five minutes here :

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honour Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Five five five five five five what rum
five five five five five five what rum
five five five five five five what rum
five five five ahh

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give a king, pa rum pum pum
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, what five five five rum,
On my drum?
(five five five-part)

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
(pum pum pum part)

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

Little Drummer Boy by Pentatonix –

Kylie’s Baptism

On December 23, 2015January 29, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Baptism, Christian life15 Comments

I can not express how full of joy my heart is today. Kylie made the decision to give her life to Jesus December 22.

Here is a little background on Kylie. We have always let her make her own decisions in her own time. She didn’t want to go to her age bible classes. She stayed with us in “adult” worship until she was six. We would always ask her if she wanted to go and she went a few times here and there but always came back to us. Then one day she went and has never looked back.

Kylie has always been active but always loved individual sports. She liked running and racing. She liked throwing baseball and football and shooting basketballs but did not want to play team sports. Then she turned seven and said she wanted to play basketball. Then she played soccer. Now she wants to play flag football. She says she wants to be the first female NFL quarterback. Who are we to say no? She will either work and practice hard enough to do it or she will find something else.

I think because we, as her parents, had ten years in between our middle girls and Kylie, that our perspective on parenting has changed. We give Kylie control of her decisions and we support her win, lose, or draw. If she says she wants to jump off the house, we say do you think that is the smart thing to do? 99% of the time she makes the correct choice but we have given her that responsibility. We have given her self-confidence and a love for herself. We give her enough room to find herself as well as pull her in close so she knows she is loved and knows who God is and what it all means. Yes, she is still a a young girl and drives us nuts sometimes but she makes parenting easy for us.

Of course, we are not alone in helping her along the way. Our wonderful church and the staff and volunteers and church members at Westerville Christian Church are amazing and talented people. It takes a village to raise a child and we have the village to help us.

Kylie doesn’t like to miss church. We can go on vacation and she will get upset that she will miss church. I believe God has already used her in our lives. (More on that on a later post). I see how she treats other kids and I can see her compassion and empathy she has for others. I see how she cares about others. She has even volunteered to help out younger children in our church. She always seems to be filled with joy and I see others gravitate to her naturally. She asks questions.

We have brought up the issue of baptism many times over the years and she always said no, not ready. She wanted to finish her book about baptism and make a decision for herself. When it was her time and she chose to be baptized, she was. On December 22, she made the most important decision of her life.

I pray that she will choose to live the life she has chosen to live. I pray that she will always look to the one who loves her unconditionally and who will always accept her.

Kylie and one of her sisters, Kelsey, who could make it in.

Kylie wanted her BFF, Brinley, to be there

Something In The Water by Carrie Underwood –

Changed by Rascal Flatts –

Cold Water by Tanner Clark –

Baptism by Kenny Chesney w/ Randy Travis-

Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise) by Hillsong –

Jesus, Lead Me To Your Healing Waters by David Crowder Band –

Muddy Water by Trace Adkins –

Nothing But The Water by Grace Potter –

Washed By The Water by NeedtoBreathe –

What Water Can Do by Jonny Diaz –

Give My Life Away by Big Daddy Weave –

Give My Life To You by Elevation Worship –

Original Christmas Songs Week 5

On December 22, 2015December 22, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Christmas music, music3 Comments

Week 5 of 5 week posts on original Christmas songs. I hope you enjoyed the five weeks of Christmas songs. Maybe there was one or two you had never heard before. Nothing wrong with the classics, Little Drummer Boy is my favorite, but wanted to showcase some originals. I was originally going to post this on 12/23 but something exciting is happening today that I will post tomorrow. (hint: It has to do with water)

What God Wants For Christmas by Darius Rucker –

I’ll Be Brave This Christmas by Big Daddy Weave –

December 25 by Francesca Battistelli –

Real by Nichole Nordeman –

The Night Before Christmas by Brandon Heath –

Christmas This Year by TobyMac

Family Tree by Dave Barnes –

Happy Christmas by Colbie Caillat –

Shake Up Christmas by Train –

Everybody Deserves A Merry Christmas by Ronnie Fauss –

Christmas Is Here by Consumed By Fire –

A Little Christmas by Karyn Williams –

Christmas Day by Kasey Chambers –

Just Another Christmas by Laura Story –

Heaven Everywhere by Francesca Battestelli –

Christmas In Heaven by Scotty McCreery –

The Gift

On December 21, 2015December 21, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Christmas music, music, The Gift7 Comments

There didn’t seem to be much she didn’t want. It seemed like half the toy catalog was written down on her list. Barbies, doll houses, princess things, and dolls. Not to be left out were matchbox cars, board games, Playmobil things, and a football. She even asked for love. She was just a young girl.

Her list changed over the years. Now there were clothes, gift cards, and money on the list. She also asked for iPods, iPads, and other things that start with I. One thing hadn’t changed though, she still asked for love. She was just a teenage girl.

She had most everything she ever wanted. She didn’t have much of a list this year. A new pair of Nikes, some pots and pans for her new apartment, gift cards, and money. Mostly, she just wanted her family to be together. She still was asking for love. She was just a young woman.

She had everything she had asked for. She had been married a few years and had her first child. She asked for her child to be healthy. She asked for her husband to be faithful. She asked for good friends. She asked to be successful in her career. She asked for her bills to be paid. She asked to always be loved. She was just a young mom.

She was confused about her life. Something was missing. She had everything she wanted. She had a great career, she had great friends. She was happily married, had two healthy, happy children and a strong foundation from her parents, but she had forgotten about the one who loved her. Somewhere along the way she had forgotten about her faith. She asked for love. She asked for forgiveness. She was just a young Christian woman.

She thanked God for the life she had. She asked that her children have a relationship with Jesus. She asked that they don’t wait as long as she did to accept Jesus in her life. She asked that they realize how much they are loved. She knew the gift that Jesus had given her. He was born, He lived, and He died on the cross for her sins. She asked for love and she received the love of her Heavenly Father. She received a gift she could never pay back. A gift given to her a long time ago. She just had to be open to receiving it. She was just a woman on her journey to eternal life.

She asked for one more day. She asked for memories she couldn’t recall. She shed a tear for a child lost too young. She asked to see her parents again. She remembered Christmas past. She asked if she had done enough. She thanked God for the gift of love He had given her. She was just a woman at the end of her days here on earth. She was just a woman, filled with joy for the life she had lived. She was just a woman that loves God. She was just a woman that accepted His gift.

She was just a woman who asked for love.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by Burl Ives –

Children Again by Jason Gray –

Hold On Christmas by MercyMe –

The Gift by Collin Raye –

The Giver and the Gift by Point Of Grace –

Beautiful by Kutless –

For God So Loved by Brad & Rebekah –

Love Is Here by Laura Story –

Your Love Is Mine by I Am They –

Leaving Heaven by Matthew West –

The Perfect Gift by JJ Heller –

Love Will Save The World by Brentwood Benson –

For All That You Have Done by Rend Collective –

New, Forgotten, Unknown 12/18/15 New Music Friday

On December 18, 2015January 8, 2016 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, music, new music Friday10 Comments

Happy third week of December. This year has gone by in a blur. A couple new musician followers this week. I hope by me sharing your music that you will get more fans. Please feel free to share/purchase the song I wrote with Lily Messer and Ceylon Wise. I have many more songs I would like to get out there but can not financially afford to record them. If interested in teaming up together, feel free to contact me.

Next week I will post New Music Friday on 12/26 since Friday is Christmas Day.

Awake The Fire by Forever Still –

A Beautiful End by JR Richards –

Music I have been listening to recently by followers and non-followers. I know there is a lot but I am revisiting some followers and listening to their music as well as non-followers. Hope you enjoy.

Enough by Natalie Grant –