15 – New music Friday

On July 24, 2015August 6, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian lifeLeave a comment

Wow, thanks for all the follows. Musicians, writers, everyone else. I really appreciate it. I pray that you are reading my blogs and getting something from them. Here are some new musician followers. I really like getting to know these artists songs. I had only heard of one of these and thats Ken K. Mary who was the drummer for House of Lords amongst others. The rest are new to me. Enjoy. There are some really talented musicians here that I never would’ve heard of if it wasn’t for social media. I know there are a lot on here but take your time, give each a listen. If you could please spread the word about our song at the bottom. Thanks

Remember My Name by House of Lords – Ken K. Mary drummer –

Love Me So by The Anthropos Worship-

Halfway by 3for3 –

Take Me Home by Lancifer –

Like Him by B-Fade –

Light It Up by Liv Devine –

Last Criminal by Shaynae Leigh –

A Whole Lotta Nothin’ by Rachele Lynae –

Let’s Roll by Arabella Jones –

We’re Gonna Take A Ride by Distant Autumn –

We Should Get Together by Kelly Vaughn –

Go Hard by MadeSacred – check out this link for his music https://www.reverbnation.com/madesacred/song/23221093-go-hard-2015

All I Ever Need by Levi Mitchell (Austin Mahone cover) –

Down The Line by Codie Prevost –

Drifting by Jacob LLoyd –

Too Close For Comfort by Peace Mercutio (Dan Buckley) –

Country Song by Bryan Schaffer –

Raise Me Up by Daniel George –

I Got Caught Lovin’ You by J.R. Byrd –

Chasing Rainbows by 3CK –

Ozga – check out link https://twitter.com/OZGAmusic/status/624473246289670144/photo/1

Walk With Me by Ivan B (produced by Kevin Peterson) –

and as always, please share our song:

I Question You by Lily Messer –

Now on i tunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943

A Constant In A World Of Changes

On July 23, 2015July 28, 2015 By roberthansen1317In changes, Christian life, dictionary, God, God does not change, music, words6 Comments

Change (verb) – to become different, to make someone or something different, to become something else

I was talking to my daughter Kylie the other day and I said something like it ain’t that far to walk. She told me where we live, not from where I am from – small town in Southeastern Ohio – that we use proper grammar here.

I told my mom this story and she told me ain’t is now in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. That had me thinking what else has been added. Words that have been added this year are emoji, meme, twerk, and photobomb along with 1696 other words. Some of last years words were hashtag, selfie, tweep, and crowdfunding were among the 1900 new words added. Merriam-Webster also updates definitions of words as the way we use them changes.

Did you know they also take words out of the dictionary? Does that mean we should no longer use them? Words like cassette player, hodad, tattletale gray and nephoscope.

Change can be good. A lot of us try to avoid change because we are comfortable where we are, doing what we do. Change can be stressful. Loss of a loved one or a job. Birth of a child or new relationship. Move to a new house or city. Change can hurt a relationship if two people are changing in the opposite ways, or not changing at all.

A life without change can be boring. A life with too much change can be miserable. We change as we get older, we change as we mature. We change because of the people we are around – choose your friends wisely. We change because of our mistakes we make, and hopefully learn from. We change with the environment we live and where we live.

Have you ever tried to change someone? We can not change someone. We can show them, we can talk to them, we can be an example for them but in the end, they have to want to change. Even when we want to change, our will to change may not be enough to change us because of our sinful nature. Only God can change someone. God has changed my wife. God has changed me. Two and a half years ago we were on the brink of divorce.

Two things that will never change is God and His Word. God’s word will never change. God wants all people to read his word so it has been translated to many different languages but it will not change. For example, in English we have the King James Version which was translated back in 1611 A.D. It is still widely used today. Since then our language has developed and changed, so the translations have been updated to make The Bible more readable.The Old Testament is the beginning of time, the coming of the Messiah. The New Testament about the life and crucifixion of the Messiah. That doesn’t change in any language or update. The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 and some of the scrolls have been dated to be as old as from 125BC. When comparing a copy of Isaiah from 125BC with the Isaiah in the Masoretic Text the prophesies of Jesus were the same. Just as it is in our bibles today.

I am not good with change. I am pretty set in my ways and routines. However, I thank God every day that He loved me enough to forgive me, to change me. I would not be who I am today without God changing me.

Have a great day! No matter what changes life throws at you today, let God be the constant in your life.

Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds –

The Times They Are A Changin by Bob Dylan –

Lifetime by Emeli Sande –

Changes by Tesla –

Same As It Ever Was by Michael Franti –

Winds of Change by Scorpions –

Yes I’m Changing by Tame Impala –

Laughter Lines by Bastille –

Waiting For The World To Change by John Mayer –

Changes by David Bowie –

Changed by Rascal Flatts –

Everlasting God by Lincoln Brewster –

You’re There by City Harbor –

Never Let Go by many but this one AJ Michalka –

One Thing Remains by Kristian Stanfill –

Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture –

Whever The Wind Blows by Pillar –

Some Things Never Change by Decyfer Down –

The Battle Within

On July 22, 2015September 25, 2015 By roberthansen1317In battle within, Christian life, everyday heroes, God, music, super heroes, timeLeave a comment

In an earlier post I mentioned how I like super hero movies. After an epic battle going back and forth the good guys always win. They face many challenges and there is always a time where we start to think they won’t win but they fight and overcome the enemy. I don’t think I have ever seen a movie though that I didn’t know who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. What happens when you don’t know who the bad guys are?

There is also more to the story lines than just good vs. evil. Heroes that are cheered one day, then are booed the next. You have friends that turn into enemies. Brothers who turn against brothers. Enemies that come together to fight a bigger enemy. Friends (communities) that combine to save society. The battle they fight with themselves.

The battle within. The battle we all fight every day. The biggest battle I fight is time. There is never enough but somehow there is always too much. Let me explain.

There is never enough time to do everything I want to do each day. As my youngest daughter is growing up there isn’t enough time to spend with her before other things come into her life. For my oldest daughters there is never enough time to spend any time with them. They have school, jobs, boyfriends, friends etc.. They don’t have much time left over to spend with me. There is never enough time do my workouts, write, play, spend time with wife…I can go on.

Even with saying all that there is too much time. I can look back on each day wondering where the time went, I didn’t have time to do anything but then I look how I spent my time. I spent too much time watching tv. I spent too much time thinking about nothing. I spent too much time talking at instead of talking to. I spent too much time reading a book and not THE BOOK.

You may be thinking that time isn’t something that is within you and I can see that. But the way it makes me feel inside is the battle. The way I get frustrated if I didn’t get around to what I needed to do. The guilt I feel if I didn’t spend enough time with my family. The yuck my body feels if I didn’t work out. To me, time is very much a battle within.

I also battle with the voices in my head. The one that tells me go ahead and do this or that. Just five minutes won’t hurt anything. Next thing you know those five minutes turned to sixty and I have nothing to show for it. The one that tells me I don’t have to pray today. You woke up late, you’re rushing around, got to get dressed, get to work, you don’t have time to stop and pray. Next thing I know it’s bed time and I didn’t talk to God today.

How about the battle with temptation? God wouldn’t have made all these beautiful people if He didn’t want us to look at them right? God wouldn’t have made these donuts taste so good if He didn’t want us to eat them right? God wouldn’t have made cable tv with 350 channels if He didn’t want us to watch tv all day right? God wouldn’t have made smartphones if He didn’t want us staring at it all day right? What do we miss when we give into these temptations? We miss the beautiful people in our lives already. Our beautiful spouses and children. We miss the wonderful food God put on this earth for us to eat. Not the GMO, added sugar, added additives, added etc… We miss this wonderful world God has made. Look away from the tv and look up from our smartphones and look at this world. I subscribe to a few instagram sites with pics from around the world. There are some beautiful places out there but while I am looking at them, I miss the beauty in front of my eyes in my own backyard.

I see a direct correlation between these movies and what the Bible has taught us. Look at the picture quotes in this post and then ask yourself is there a Bible verse like this. Trust me there are. Are there stories in the Bible where the hero is cheered and then booed, friends turned on friends, brothers turned on brothers, once enemies turn to friends for the greater good, communities coming together for the greater good..etc? Yes there are.

In real life we all face the same common enemy- Satan. With that we all face the same fears, doubts, worries, that we aren’t good enough but we can all help each other through the struggles of life.

I think I should write a post every week about the Disney Channel show Girl Meets World. Last week about investing in our children, our future. This week about being a hero. You don’t have to have super powers to be a hero. Quotes from the show “There is enough dark in this world, heroes were meant to bring the light” and “When it’s a struggle between right and wrong, that’s when real heroes fight the hardest.”

In real life we all have a hero inside us. One that can choose between good and bad, right and wrong, to help or not to help. God gave us free will so that we can make that choice. Will you choose to be a hero today?

If you need help finding a Bible verse or story let me know. I will let you know what I think corresponds to it.

However, the Bible has one thing that doesn’t happen in these movies. The hero in the Bible died in order to save the villians.

Let Go by 12 Stones (from Daredevil) –

Comeback bt Redlight King (from Avengers) –

Even If I Could by Papa Roach (from Avengers) –

Dirt and Roses by Rise Against (from Avengers) –

Some Kind Of Monster by Neon Trees (from Iron Man) –

Ready Aim Fire by Imagine Dragons (from Iron Man) –

One Minute More by Capital Cities (from Iron Man) –

Bother by Stone Sour (from Spider Man) –

Hero by Chad Kroeger feat Josey Scott (from Spider Man) –

Batman Arkham Knight by TryHardNinja (from Dark Knight Rises) –

Waiting For Superman by Daughtry –

Blow Away by Breaking Benjamin (from Captain America) –

Monster by Skillet –

Coincidence or God’s Plan?

On July 21, 2015July 31, 2015 By roberthansen1317In angels, Christian life, coincidence, God, God's plan, music, prayer, rain4 Comments

On July 15 I wrote God I Am Tired. Most of it was about being tired of all the rain this summer. We have had enough but our friends in California could use some. Since then we have had very little rain. We had a storm last night but other than that nothing of significance. Our forecast is for seven straight days of sun and no more than a pop up shower. Did you see the rain in California this past weekend? On July 18 San Diego had a record for a day in July with 1.03 inches of rain. Then they received another .66 inches Sunday making July the wettest month on record. As of Monday morning they had a total of 1.7 inches, the old record was .92 inches. Los Angeles had .38 inches of rain over the weekend. Lancaster 1.59 inches, Riverside 1.37 inches, San Luis Obispo 1.28 inches. More rain was expected for July 20th. Coincidence or did God hear my cries for less rain?

My wife and I met online. Of all the dating sites she just happened to be on the one I was on. Of all the women I was looking at, she was the only one that didn’t have a picture. When we first started talking she asked if I wanted one and I said no. Our first date was the first time I saw her. Eleven and a half years later we are still together. Coincidence or God’s plan?

We drove four and a half hours to go to Gull Lake Ministries in Michigan only to meet an amazing Christian couple who I have a lot to learn from who only live two miles from us. If we had never went there we would’ve never met these new friends in our lives. Coincidence or God’s plan?

Karen Kingsbury talks about angels walking and how she got the idea on an airplane flight. In forty minutes she had over thirty pages of outlines, characters, etc. I would write down her book Angels Walking to read but never read it. Until 8 months later when I start to blog and how the characters in it are like me and some of the things I blog about. Coincidence or God’s plan?

Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist. He had a choice to make. He had a visa to leave his country and come to the United States before the Nazis took his country and send him to concentration camps. What to do?When he returned home, he found it. A piece of marble was lying on the table. His father explained that it was from the rubble of one of the nearby synagogues that the Nazis had destroyed. The marble contained the fragment of one of the Ten Commandments — the one about honoring your father and your mother. With that, Frankl decided to stay in Vienna and forgo whatever opportunities for safety and career advancement awaited him in the United States. He would later write that even in the worst conditions, even in suffering, life can have meaning. He would write the best selling book Man’s Search For Meaning. Coincidence that one piece of marble survived and wound up in his dads hands or God’s plan?

Have you ever totally slept through your alarm and was running late to work only to find out there was a terrible accident right at the intersection you would’ve been at if you had woke up on time? Have you ever started out on your morning run wanting to go one way but something tells you not to go that way, then you find out on the news that another runner was attacked on that route you wanted to run?

There a alot of stories out there of guardian angels. I have heard of a girl named Diane walking alone down a dark alley and seeing a guy standing there. She prayed to God for protection and she walked right by without any harm. Then the girl twenty minutes behind her was attacked. Diane read what had happened and came in to identify the attackers. She asked the police why he didn’t hurt her and he said “because she wasn’t alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her.”

Another story of a beginning surfer who went out by himself one morning so he wouldn’t be embarresed with all the times he fell off. He was the only one on the beach and the water. He fell off and was caught in a riptide. He thought for sure he was going to die but then another surfer came up beside him and gave him his board. He got to the shore and looked out in the water to thank the other surfer but no one was there.

Do you have any stories of “coincidence” or of angels? I would love to hear about them.

A little conversation with God I read a few years back that I have never forgotten.

Me: God, can I ask You a question?

God: Sure

Me: Promise You won’t get mad

God: I promise

Me: Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today?

God: What do u mean?

Me: Well, I woke up late

God: Yes

Me: My car took forever to start

God: Okay

Me: at lunch they made my sandwich wrong & I had to wait

God: Huummm

Me: On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call

God: All right

Me: And on top of it all off, when I got home ~I just want to soak my feet in my new foot massager & relax. BUT it wouldn’t work!!! Nothing went right today! Why did You do that?

God: Let me see, the death angel was at your bed this morning & I had to send one of My Angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that

Me (humbled): OH

GOD: I didn’t let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.

Me: (ashamed)

God: The first person who made your sandwich
today was sick & I didn’t want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn’t afford to miss work.

Me (embarrassed): okay

God: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn’t even let you talk to them so you would be covered.

Me (softly): I see God

God: Oh and that foot massager, it had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn’t think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I’m Sorry God

God: Don’t be sorry, just learn to Trust Me…. in All things , the Good & the bad.

Me: I will trust You.

God: And don’t doubt that My plan for your day is Always Better than your plan.

Me: I won’t God. And let me just tell you God, Thank You for Everything today.

God: You’re welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I Love looking after My Children.

The Call by Matt Kennon –

Closest I’ve Ever Been by Keith Anderson –

Angels Among Us by Alabama –

Angels by Owl City –

Heroes by Casting Crowns –

Beautiful People by Tim McGraw –

Everyday Heroes by Dave Carroll –

Angels by Austins Bridge –

Army of Angels by The Script –

Angels In Waiting by Tammy Cochran –

If I Could See by Amy Grant –

Ordinary Angels by Tate Stevens –

God Laughs by Delta Goodrem –

Ironic by Alanis Morissette –

My Ride – It’s A Beautiful World

On July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 By roberthansen1317In beautiful life, beautiful world, Christian life, everyday thoughts, music, Remembering God7 Comments

I have been dealing with a heel/ankle injury so this morning I decided to get out on my bike again and get some exercise. It is amazing how God uses a normal ride to strengthen my faith.

There is this place on my ride that I swear I am going downhill. It looks like I am going downhill. It is only for about 200 yards but if you would look at it you would say its a downward slope. I am OCD when it comes to things like this so I have questioned this everytime I ride this route. However, for whatever reason, I struggle. I have to switch to easier gears and pedal like crazy to get out of it. I don’t understand it.

This brought to my mind some of the people in this world. The false teachers. The ones that act like they are one way but really there are not. The ones that try to tell me this is the right way or do this and things will be better. I knew they were just selling me poison but I listened. Their way seemed like it would be the right way but there is only one right way.

There is another spot on this route about seven miles in that I don’t understand either. It is an incline, not a hill, for about a mile. It isn’t a steep incline or anything but looking ahead I can tell it is going up. I either have to go into easier gears and pedal faster or go into harder gears and stand up and power through, or a combination of both. I have rode up big hills that aren’t nearly as difficult as this one mile incline. I don’t get it. Maybe there is a stronger pull of gravity there.

God made me think of my sins. How this sin may not seem like a big sin but it is still a sin. Especially when I keep doing it over and over again. Before I know it this “little sin” is weighing me down. It is wearing me out. How do I get out of it? I confess to God. I ask Him for help. I may try to get out of it myself by doing a combination of things but until I admit I need help from God and He steps in, I struggle.

The Hill. It’s only about 1/3 mile but it is steep. I think all cyclists ride this hill because it’s really only one or two in my town. The first time I went up it it took all my physical and mental strength to get up it. I remember being about 3/4 up and thinking what the heck, but mentally, I wouldn’t let me stop until I got to the top. The second time wasn’t much easier. The third still a struggle. The fourth getting easier. The fifth time I finally hit my stride and was able to fly up the hill. Now if I don’t go up this hill for awhile, once again it’s a struggle when I do.

This reminded me of the sermon I heard last week. We had Tommy Oaks as a guest speaker and he talked about the seven dips of Naaman. How he wondered what Naaman was thinking each time he dipped. He wondered if the first time Naaman dipped if he was thinking this water is cold. The second time about all the animals in the water with him. The third about he wasn’t being cured. The fourth about him looking stupid out there etc. etc. Until the seventh time when he came up and was cured. The point, don’t give up after one or two or a hundred tries, eventually, if you believe in all your hearts that God will make it happen and you have asked for God’s help, it will happen.

Up ahead I see something in the road. I could either keep going fast or slow down and use caution. Gravel was all over the road so I slowed down and maneuvered through it without any mishaps. If I had kept going the speed I was I probably would’ve been on the ground.

It made me reflect on the times in my life when I knew this person was trouble but yet I hung around them. It reminded me of the situations I have been in where I could’ve slowed down and thought about my actions or the situation more and saved myself a lot of trouble instead of plowing right into a bad situation.

The ease of a downhill. I can stop pedaling, rest for a few seconds, and be on cruise control. No worries, catch my breath, relax.

How many times in my walk with Jesus have I thought things were going smoothly, nothing but blue skies ahead. Then I get lazy and don’t read my Bible as much or don’t pray as much. Then I get to the bottom of the hill and realize there is a big uphill coming. Uh oh! Got myself in a bad situation again.

The key to life is no matter what ride you are on you need someone else to help you on that journey. Whether you are on flat ground, going downhill or are facing a big uphill, ask God to help you. Sometimes the devil is telling you you can do it on your own but don’t stop and listen to him. Keep pedaling. There is only one way, one truth.

We Won’t Give Up by The Afters –

My Lighthouse by Rend Collective –

Walk On Water by Family Force 5 –

Light Up The Sky by Thousand Foot Krutch –

If You’re Going Through Hell by Rodney Atkins –

Beautiful Day by U2 –

Helluva Life by Frankie Ballard –

Best Days by Lincoln Brewster –

Move by MercyMe –

A Beautiful Life by Tim McMorris –

Beautiful Day by Jon Bon Jovi –

Today Is Beautiful by David Dunn –

Shake by MercyMe –

Amazing Life by Britt Nicole –

It’s A Beautiful Life by Jamie Grace –

Beautiful World by The Chevin –

It’s a Beautiful World by Dierks Bentley (feat Patty Griffin) –

What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong –

New, forgotten, unknown 7/17/15 – New music Friday

On July 17, 2015July 17, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, musicLeave a comment

More of the music that is following me. Thanks for the follows. Let’s all spread the word about each other. (and don’t forget my song with Lily Messer)

Way Down The River by Cody Summer –

Records by The Lasting Hope –

Rain by Derek Ray –

Self Portrait by See The Rise –

His Eye Is On The Sparrow by Molly Rae (cover song)-

Say The Word by Iza Hannemann (Hillsong cover)-

How It Goes by Relly Mane (produced by Yung Shy) –

Never Met by Scarlet White –

He Gives Me Strength by Lauren Moscato –

Hold On by Poynte –

Cold by Wreckage Of Society –

Hold On by Downward Summer –

Open the Eyes of My Heart by August Aniano (cover song) –

Soul Survivor by Tony Ramey –

I Was 194 by Carousel Scene –

One-Thousand Words by Imagine the Silence –

Starting over by Idalee –

and don’t forget to share our song:

I Question You by Lily Messer –

Now on i tunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943

New, forgotten, unknown 7/16/15 – New music Friday – Special Edition on Thursday

On July 16, 2015July 25, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, musicLeave a comment

Wait a minute, it’s only Thursday. I wanted to take today and tomorrow just to give a shout out to some of my followers who are musicians. Some I have heard of before but most I have not and I have enjoyed listening to them. (Of course I had to be able to find you on youtube to post you)

One Step Away by Free Reign – lead singer Marc Colombo and drummer Cory Proctor from my Dallas Cowboys

Yesterdays Gone by Matt Franklin Band –

We Should Get Together by Kelly Vaughn –

We All Fall Down by Never Forsaken –

Not Gonna Not Do Nothin by J.R. Byrd –

Sinners Prayer by Richard Thomas –

The Change by As We Are –

Be The Change by Shuree Rivera –

Chelseys Boyfriend by Maddie Wilson –

Help Me Stand Strong by Daniel George –

Smile by Sheri Chaffin –

You Stand Alone by Johanna J –

Here I Am by Circle of Faith –

So I Can Climb by Patrizia Dilorenzo –

He Died For Me by Pascoal Noronha –

and don’t forget to share our song:

I Question You by Lily Messer –

now on itunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-question-you-single/id1018588943

God I am tired

On July 15, 2015September 25, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, God, music5 Comments

God if you have a minute I need to talk to you. I am tired. I don’t want to complain because You have given me so much but I am tired. I am tired of so many things, I am tired mentally, physically and emotionally.

First off God I am tired of all the rain this summer. I know You send us rain for our crops and animals and for us to use but seriously God we don’t need this much. Our fields are flooded. Our houses are flooded. My friends at pools, golf courses, construction etc are losing money because they can’t work in this weather. Our friends in California are in desperate need of rain. I pray that You can send some of this to them. I do understand that I do not know the future and what Your plans are but in the present I am tired. Maybe next summer we will have a drought and the rain this summer will get us through next year.

I am tired of being inside all the time. Yes, I know I am still complaining about the rain. I can’t run outside, I can’t ride my bike, I can’t play outside. I can’t sit outside and just relax. I can’t open the windows and let fresh air in. A lot of I can’ts I know but God can You hear my cries? I have been able to write more since I have been inside. I have been able to spread the words You give me to others. Is that your plan?

I am tired. I am so tired I didn’t even hear the storm last night. Wait a minute, am I still complaining about the rain? What a storm You sent our way. It shook the whole house. Kylie woke up at 2:00 and came into our bed. My wife is so tired. Kylie likes to sleep right on top of her. What a blessing it was to wake up and see my daughters beautiful face though. Thank You for giving us Your daughter to take care of while she is here. She is truly a blessing. Oh, and what a beautiful rainbow. (You even sent a double rainbow)

A reminder that You are always with us.

I am tired. I am overwhelmed. Is this what You want for my life? I have so many people to try to reach to tell them about You. I wasted my entire life ignoring You and I feel like I have so much time to make up. Can You give me an extra hour today? Stop the day like You did for Joshua? Give me just a little more time today. I need to spend more time writing about You, more time with my family, more time exercising, more time… and I need a nap.

I am tired Lord. This world wears me out. It pulls me this way and that way. There are so many people promising me so many things God. God, I beg you to give me the strength to look to You. Give me the strength to fall to my knees and pray to You.

I am tired God. It seems like everyone is out for themselves. Who can I trust God? Lead me God and I will follow. Bring people into my life that I can trust. People I can open up to, that I can share my burdens with. At least I know I can trust You God.

I am tired God. I am tired of letting others down. I am tired of letting myself down. I am tired of letting You down. I want to do more than go through this life like I am. I want to make a difference.

God I know you have blessings in all this. I know that in these trials I will persevere and be stronger for them. Thank you God for everything You do for me. I know You delight in me and are there for me when I am down and tired. Thank you God for giving me words to speak when my mind is blank. Thank you God for never giving up on me. Thank you God for listening to me complain. I know that in Your time You will show me the blessings You have in store for me. Thank You for giving me Your words, words to remember that when I am tired and weary, You are always with me.

Thank you for today God. A reminder that sometimes you have to dance in the rain to appreciate the sun.

Worn by Tenth Avenue North –

I’ll Keep On by NF –

The One I’m Running To by 7eventh Time Down –

Strong Enough by Matthew West –

Overcomer by Mandisa –

Overcome by Jeremy Camp –

Theater of My Soul by Poison –

Shoulders by For King & Country –

Stay True by Hector Cortez –

Sick and Tired by Cross Canadian Ragweed –

Last Hope by Paramore –

This Song Saved My Life by Simple Plan –

Holding On by All Things New –

Safe by Phil Wickham –

Suitcases by Dara Maclean –

Blessings by Laura Story –

Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns –

Rise by Shawn McDonald –

Wake Me Up by Avicii –

The Cave by Mumford and Sons –

Oceans by Hillsong United –

Hold On by Wilson Phillips –

I Didn’t Like You

On July 14, 2015July 15, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, friends, love1 Comment

Dear friend,

I am writing this today to be honest with you. I hope you know you are near and dear to my heart now but when I first met you I didn’t like you. When I first saw you I didn’t like the way you looked. I turned away from you and didn’t give you a chance. The second time I saw you you were with a group of people I knew so I came over to talk to everyone. I didn’t like the sound of your voice or how you laughed- at everything. The third time I saw you were just sitting there staring out into space. I was like what’s up with this guy but for some reason I was compelled to sit beside you. We didn’t even say a word. Funny when you look back on it since I can’t stop talking to you now. The fourth time I saw you I actually introduced myself. I remember it felt kind of awkward since we have been together before but I didn’t even know your name yet. I don’t know why but it came as a surpise to me that my favorite NFL team was also yours. Not many Dallas Cowboy fans in Ohio. I almost quit talking to you when you told me you were from Michigan and liked that team up north.

I remember I didn’t see you for a few months after that. I asked around but it seemed like no one knew where you went. You just disappeared. When you came back you weren’t the same. I could tell something was going on but I am not one to pry. As you know I am an introvert and I don’t reach out easily. We didn’t really have any conversations for awhile. Just the occasional hi, how are you, see ya later, keep in touch. Every time I thought to get more involved and invest some time in you, fear kept me from opening up. I could see you were hurting but I didn’t know what to say. I am so sorry I let you go through that alone.

I then met a girl and she was a Christian. I didn’t know much about God or praying and the have not but she invited me to go to her church. I was reluctant at first but I really liked her. I finally gave in and went. That first time was a little awkward but I could feel something. It was like someone was pulling me. The second time I went I opened the Bible and the page it opened to was in the book of Job.

It was like God was talking to me about you. Then I flipped through the pages and stopped. It stopped on Ecclesiastes 4.

Even a doubter like me was starting to think something was going on here. I said ok God, third time is a charm. I shut the Bible then opened it up and you would not believe where I opened it up to. 1 John 3:17.

Just for kicks I said one more time and I opened the Bible to 1 Thessalonians

God was giving me a message.

I asked this girl about prayer. She told me she prays all the time. Prays for me, her family, strangers, friends, her dog, her old rickety car to last one more day, etc.. I was thinking if she can pray for all those things all the time it can’t be that hard. My first prayer was “Dear God” and that was it. I couldn’t think of anything else to say. What kind of person am I? She told me not to give up, God knows what I need before I do. He knows what I will say before I do. I laughed, so what’s the point of asking for something He already knows I need. I think I offended her but she was patient with me. I was really falling in love with her. I kept trying and I got past the “Dear God” part and I prayed for you. I prayed that whatever you are going through that you will be okay. I asked her if it was selfish to pray for myself and she smiled and said heck no, I pray for myself all the time. I then prayed for me. I prayed that God would give me the courage and the words to say to you to help you.

As you know it’s been ten years since I reached out to you. You know I married that girl and that we have four girls now. I am so sorry I waited so long to talk to you. I know I wasted a lot of time that I can never get back. I know that I missed hours and days of laughter and tears with you, even though I still didn’t like the way you laughed. I know you are a loving, special, awesome person who changed me for the better. You made me a better person. You taught me a lot about God, hope, faith, family. You are like a brother to me.

I miss you. I can’t believe I let you go through that alone. All because I was afraid. I can’t believe today is the 9th anniversary of your death. I can’t believe you have been with God for 9 years now. I can’t believe I only had one year to truly get to know you. Even when you were at your weakest you were the strongest person I have ever met. Thank you for being my friend.

Hard to believe I didn’t like you at first.

P.S. Until I see you again I will talk to you all the time. Don’t laugh. You know I don’t like your laugh. Okay, your laugh isn’t all that bad. Thinking of you all the time my dear friend. I love you.

Your friend,

Rob

I don’t know where this letter came from. My original intent was to write about songs I didn’t like at first. Then I started to type and God put the words in my head. I don’t even know what songs to put on here now. I do have lyrics to a song I am trying to get out there on this topic.

I’ve decided no music today. You’ve had a lot over last few days anyway. Today we will just reflect. How many times have you not liked someone because of the way they looked, the clothes they wore, the food they ate, the color of their skin, their disability, the way they talked or laughed? How many times have you not liked someone because they weren’t like you? The list to not like someone is long but the list to like someone is short.

Jesus hung out with tax collectors, lepers, adulterers, women, sinners – just like you and me. What if Jesus said I can’t be your friend because….?

The Original

On July 13, 2015August 28, 2015 By roberthansen1317In Christian life, God, musicLeave a comment

Have you ever heard a remake of a song and thought that isn’t as good as the original. What about a movie? Some remakes are better than the original. I believe though that most remakes aren’t as good. Sometimes I have to think about it though. I mean, if an original was 30 years ago and the remake comes out now look at how much technology has changed. The action scenes might be better. The acting may even be better. I go back and watch the original again and say hhmm, the new version is better. Go back 30 years though and the first time I saw the original it was amazing. One of the best movies I have ever seen. If that is true, then how can the remake be even better? What about a song? That song that every time you hear it it takes you back to that time. Then a new version comes out. How do you feel about it? Do you feel like it is taking those memories from you or are you open to new memories being made with the new version?

Times they are a changing my friend. Perceptions change as we get older. A new director can give a new spin on part of or all of the story line. One of your favorite singers now could remake a song from one of your favorite singers then. They could slow it down or speed it up, give a new twist to the song. They may add a new verse to make it more now. Whatever the reasons, sometimes the remake is better than the original. Sometimes it is not.

We all have one original. One tried and true person in our life that there will never be a remake of. There will be many that will try to imitate Him. There will be many false teachers, false prophets, and false words.

There is only one King, one Lord, one Savior. There is only one God. There has never been anyone else like Him nor will there ever be anyone else like Him in the future. He is original and unique.

God made us to be original. He made us to be unique. He made us in His image. No one else in this world is like you or me. No one else has my, or your, exact personality, exact gifts, exact DNA. He doesn’t want you to live your life trying to be like this celebrity or that star. Not all of us are called to be famous. We are called to do the work God has assigned to us specifically. My words are not the most elegant but I believe God will use them for His good.

I urge you my friends to be YOU. No one else is like you so why try to be like someone else. Sometimes it will be hard being you but all you have to remember is the One who made you to be in His image. You won’t always like yourselves. I don’t always like myself, especially when I mess up. I know that even when I mess up and even when I don’t like myself there is someone who loves me, forgives me, and who wants me to follow Him and do the work He set for me to do.

Even though there are many cover songs, these are a few that I like. Of course some are from the tv shows Stalker and Grey’s Anatomy. and I really like the duets with Boyce Avenue. Not saying any of these songs are better than originals, just different.

Careless Whisper by Shinedown –