The All-New Blakeyblog

This blog has moved to Blakeyblog.com.

I hope you will continue to visit me there!

The Sound of Music...Godsong Music

Last week a little box went up on the homepage of Godsongmusic.com. The five words inside that box have revolutionized my week-- "Launch the Godsong Music Player."

You might think I'm just playing favorites because one of the members of Godsong Music is my husband, Bobby. But I am serious when I say that their music is some of the best. It isn't trying to do what so much "Christian" music today does which is try to be a slightly sanctified version of whatever is playing on secular radio. Godsong Music is simply songs about God and songs for God. Other than meditating on Scripture, I can't think of a better way to spend my day than having the worshipful tunes of Godsong helping to steer my thoughts upward.

The Godsong Music player features 18 songs that play in repeat for your listening enjoyment. I hope you'll make your day a little better with the sound of Godsong Music!

What Girls Need: A Transformed Heart

"Follow your heart"
"Listen to your heart"
"Let your heart guide you."

These statements might sound like they are out of a Disney princess song, but unfortunately people take them more seriously than that. These statements are often the advice that girls receive. I remember a conversation I had with an older woman, when I was in high school, we were talking about college. I was telling her that I wasn't sure what to major in, or how to know what to do with my life and her advice was this-- "You need to just listen to your heart."

Really, that was the last thing I needed to do. I'm sad to think of how many girls heed that advice and fall into the emptiness of living for self. Though these statements sound heart warming and adventurous, it is critical that we understand what is wrong with this thinking. Even if we don't think that we would heed silly quotes like this, we probably live them out much of the time. It is very easy to get caught up in living for self. Even when we think we aren't getting to "follow our hearts"--because we have to go to work or school and do what our parents say--we still follow our hearts. It shows in our attitudes, thoughts, words, how we spend our time and money. We need to understand why following-my-heart is not a good thing.

Our Heart's Problem.
Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"

There are many ways that people describe the problem with our hearts--humanity, mistakes, messing up, "nobody's perfect"--the word they are describing is "sin." All people ever born in all of history(Jesus Christ is the only exception)are sinners (Romans 5:12). Every heart, from it's beginning, is tainted with sin. Sin has consequences--death and separation from God (Romans 6:23). None of us are exempt from sin's curse on humankind. How can we escape these consequences? How are we to be good young women, to do what is right and live lives that make a difference if our hearts that are sick with sin? Can we ever find happiness, joy, peace or purpose if we are sick deep inside in our hearts?

Some people think that its not good to talk about sin because if you talk about sin then people feel like they have to deal with theirs. But we need to. We need to consider our hearts and see that there is no good in them. When we see ourselves rightly, as sinners, we can see God more as He is. When we think, "I'm not so bad" we become ungrateful and believe we are entitled to what we want, as if God owes us something. But when we see that our hearts really are desperately wicked we see what unworthy wretches we are, we get a glimpse of how God is pure, good and holy.

God's Perfect Answer.
In Ezekiel 36:26-27 God says "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."

This verse might sound a little strange, like God is going to do surgery on us, but it is telling us something very exciting! God's solution to our heart problem of sin is a new heart. When Jesus died on the cross, He cancelled the curse of sin for us. His death gives us life and when we respond in faith and repentance to His sacrifice, God gives us a new heart! In this descriptive language "heart of stone" represents our old stubborn nature that is focused on self. The new heart or "heart of flesh" represents the new creation that God works in us making us not only alive but soft and willing so that He can work change in us.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says,

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away;
behold, all things have become new."

This might all seem basic or too general--what everyone needs--but the truth of the matter is that most books for girls (and women) do not address the heart need as salvation. This is what a young girl needs, salvation. There are many young girls who try to be good and want to be happy and only see superficial change in their lives. We need to help them see that their greatest need is not self-esteem, confidence, friends or beauty. Their greatest need is a heart that is made new so God can transform them from who they used to be into a new creation!

Hard-To-Find Faith

This weekend we enjoyed dinner at the Sullivan's home. We lived near the Sullivan's in Northern California and their daughter, Kelsey, was a part of our my small group there. Shortly after we moved to Orange County, they also moved and now live less than two miles from us! Now her younger sister, Caitlin, is in our new youth group and we are thankful to have them close again!

I was sharing with Christine (Kelsey's mom) about our trip to Hume Lake. I almost didn't go because my Explorer needs new tires and I wasn't sure if it would be safe to take my old tires up 600 miles to the lake. I risked it and made it there and back. One of the roads was very windy, uphill and almost one lane. I was a little concerned and since I was not driving with the group of vans I checked my cell phone to make sure I could call Bobby if I had any trouble. But the screen said "no service." It's interesting how at this point in my trip my iPod connection to my stereo wouldn't work anymore. So I drove up this windy hill, not sure if my car was going to get me to the top, in silence.

I think that the Lord had planned this because I spent that time talking to Him because I knew that He had to get me there. I started flipping through my 3x5 spiral of verses and as I mentioned a couple of entries back, I memorized some of them. One of them was Psalm 31:1--

"In You, O Lord, I put my trust;
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in Your righteousness."

I couldn't rely on anything but the Lord. We try to rely on things. We think if we can plan things out and feel confident in something we are okay. But the reality is all things are subject to God's control. It was a lesson to me that I need to be careful not to put my faith in something other than the Lord. Because if I had felt confident in my car, that it was reliable and the tires were in great shape, I might not have seen the need to come to the Lord in prayer and say, "Our lives are in Your hands." I might not have relied as fully in faith as I should.

Christine then reminded me of Matthew 8:5-13 where Jesus sees the Centurion's faith and was astonished by it.

"When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him,
asking for help. "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home
paralyzed and in terrible suffering."

Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."

The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come
under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.
I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes.
I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him,
"I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west,
and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside,
into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Then Jesus said to the centurion,
"Go! It will be done just as you believed it would."
And his servant was healed at that very hour."

The centurion recognized and understood that Jesus had absolute authority and power. Even some who followed Jesus didn't have such faith in Him. Jesus says that many will come from the east and the west--many Gentiles will take part in the His salvation, whereas some of the descendants of Abraham would never have such faith and therefore be cast out.

I was encouraged by the drive to and from Hume Lake because I saw that I sometimes have Thomas kind of faith, where I need to see it to believe it. Instead I want to have faith like the Centurion, that doesn't have to know or see. We need to have this faith in Christ as Savior and Lord and also in the seemingly small things in our lives (like a car trip). All our faith must be in Him because He is the one who has absolute power and authority. Jesus said to Thomas in John 20:29,

"...Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

I'll get back to my thoughts on what girls need in my next blog...

What do girls need?

While up here at Hume Lake this week I’ve been giving some thought to my ministry to our high school girls. I have the privilege of heading up some structured things for them and I enjoy encouraging them and challenging them to walk closer with the Lord. The Lord has put on my heart a desire to help young women grow in their faith as they mature in their walk with Christ. I am not alone in this desire. There are dozens upon dozens of speakers and books available for young women today, all designed to “help” them. Though I’m not sure that is what they are really doing.

They often seem so focused on being trendy or relevant that they lose any spiritual depth as they end up being simply a pat on the back instead of a way to inspire them to be more like Christ. I remember a few years back when one of my small group girls showed me a new magazine. It took me a minute to realize what it actually was—the New Testament in magazine form complete with dating pointers, beauty tips, and sections about what guys think about girls and personality quizzes. The publishers thought this magazine-Bible would be more user-friendly because then a teenage girl wouldn’t be embarrassed to read her Bible at school or Starbucks, or even show it to a friend. I feel that this is completely missing the point of ministry to young Christian women today. We should be encouraging them with 1 Timothy 1:7 that says,

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,
but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

Instead of helping teen girls walk more boldly we tell them its okay to adapt their faith to a form that is more comfortable.

I was in the camp’s Christian bookstore today looking for a book I could read with some of my new high school girls. I found one that said:

Deep down every girl wants to be admired,
respected and honored, and that’s what God wants too.
He knows that when a girl holds her head high
And walks with dignity, she is much happier
and more confident as a person.

This is the popular mantra of Christian girls books today—“You have intrinsic worth” and “God wants to fulfill your dreams.” We have replaced God’s Word with our opinion, experience or stereotype studies. We have replaced our need for a new life and obedience by teaching instead on the power of self-esteem and how to be better in tune with your (felt) needs.

As I read through these books or magazines I almost wouldn’t know they were “Christian.” They closely resemble a Seventeen magazine featuring a “5 tips to help you be a happier girl” section. That may seem harsh, but this is the reality of most youth ministry to Christian girls today. I really wish that it mattered more to people that Christian girls be taught the truth of the value, not of themselves, but of their relationship with God. I wish more youth pastor’s wives or women leaders would do Bible studies instead of book studies. We need to teach our girls to be spiritually disciplined, servants, using their gifts, and walking with God.

Today’s young Christian girl doesn’t need to esteem herself more, be convinced of her inner mystery, claim her beauty or demand respect. What do Christian girls need? Christian girls need to be transformed into the likeness of their Savior.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
Romans 12:2

To be continued...

Vanity?

Since Sunday we have been staying up at Hume Lake Christian Camps. I stay “staying” rather than “camping” because Bobby and Tyler and I have a very nice room in one of the lodges. It’s basically the same as a hotel with amenities like complimentary coffee, an iron and ironing board and housekeeping.

I’ve been to Hume Lake one other time before this, I think it’s been over twelve years ago now. My family used to go camping every summer to Bass Lake, but one year we came to Hume. All I really remember about that trip was floating on a pink air mattress out on the lake with my sisters and a dead fish floated by my foot. The only other thing I remember is getting out of the water!

There is chapel twice each day with a worship band and speaker. Our group usually has meals together and the kids have lots of free time. It seems like the students are having a great time so far and I sure am having a good time getting to know them and some of our leaders better.

I’ve been keeping up with Compass’ daily Bible reading, I’ve mentioned before. Right now we are reading Ecclesiastes. Not the most cheerful book to read, but no less necessary. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, gives us his thoughts on life. And as far as I’ve read--only the first few chapters--he uses the word “vanity” about twenty times to describe the toils and strivings of life.

When I kept seeing the word “vanity” I thought, “How depressing…” but then I got to a verse that helped me realize one of Solomon’s points:

“I perceived that whatever God does endures forever;
Nothing can be added to it,
Nor anything taken from it.
God has done it so that people fear before Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:14

Nothing that man can do throughout all of time can replace man’s need for a Savior, can take the place of God. What God does is the same from beginning to end because He is about bringing glory to the only one due glory—Himself.

Chapter 1 verse 9 says “…there is nothing new under the sun.” I was somewhat surprised to read this because there have been a lot of new things since Solomon’s day. This book was probably written in 931 BC there are numerous new things like the internet, cell phones, cars, books—only to list a few of millions of “new” things since Solomon’s lifetime. Does that mean Solomon didn’t know what he was talking about?

No, because his point is that there is nothing new to take over the works of the Lord. What He does is all that matters and there will never be new pleasure, new wisdom, or new gain apart from God. Apart from Him everything is vanity.

On the trip up here it was just me and little Tyler in the car. My CD player is broken so I brought my iPod which wouldn’t work with the car adapter for some reason. Instead of listening to music I decided to memorize a verse instead. One of the more recent ones I had written in my 3x5 card spiral was ---

‘“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,
let not the mighty man boast in his might,
let not the rich man glory in his riches,
But let him who glories, glory in this—
That he understands and knows Me,
In these I delight,’ says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24

One pursuit in our lives that would not be vanity is to understand and know God. As I was memorizing it I thought, “Who can understand God?” I’m not sure I know the answer to that question. I don’t know if our tiny human minds can ever wrap around the Creator. But still, the Lord wants us to pursue knowing Him.

Taking Every Thought Captive

Last week Tyler turned 6 months old! To celebrate we took him in the swimming pool—one of his new-favorite things to do. The last few weeks he has been getting up on all fours and rocking forward and backward—no crawling yet though! It is such a joy to see him grow and develop. He’s even teething now too! Bobby has been teaching him how to give “fives” which is fun because he wants to do it to people if they hold their hand out. I notice a big change in the last month where Tyler is much more social and it’s pretty easy to get him smiling, talking and laughing. He also likes exploring things more, it seems that he’s always looking around for something to touch and wants to see what things taste like. He has yet to try any solid foods, but I’m sure that will be coming up this month.

Things with our youth group are going well. Bobby is teaching a series called “Back to School with Daniel” to get the students ready to return to school in the next few weeks. During the summer we do “Beach Day” every Wednesday and I have been blessed to have a girls small group for that each week. It takes time to get to know people and for people to feel comfortable with us shepherding this group, but I think we’re getting there.

Last Wednesday Bobby recapped his lesson from Sunday and then gave us some application-questions for small groups. The questions were from 2 Corinthians 10:3-5--

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world
does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itseld up
against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ."

As we discussed thought patterns that we need to get in order I realized how daunting this can seem. I was convicted of some thoughts I need to take into obedience and they can seem so huge, not even able to get in control. Sometimes I wonder if we don’t even bother trying because we know that we have strong habits and are too stubborn or lazy to really change. It can be overwhelming to start breaking habits and getting control of our thoughts, but it is worth the pain it may take to discipline ourselves. We know it isn’t better to live in disobedience and unfruitful for the Lord.

At our previous youth group we studied Cliff McManis's book Christian Living Beyond Belief. In his chapter "Think!" Cliff makes it clear that it is vital that Christians know how to think properly--according to the Truth in God's Word.

------------------------------------------------------

"The key to overcoming anxiety, fear, worry, fretting, and emotional
instability is to have the right priorities in our thought life; to be deliberate
thinkers. And the secret is to be other-oriented, not self-centered; to fix
our thoughts on God, others and our blessings--not our problems. That's the
essence of mature Christian living."
------------------------------------------------------

So in order to live rightly, we must think rightly, and we are never going to think correctly if all we think about is ourselves. Only when we prioritize and discipline our thoughts will our words and actions follow accordingly.

This week I’m up at Hume Lake Christian Camps with Bobby, our leaders and students. Thought my cell phone doesn’t get service up here, their coffee shop (Hume ‘n Beans) offers wireless internet! With little Tyler I couldn’t be a counselor in the girls cabins, but I’m staying in a room at the lodge so I can help Bobby out and hang out with the kids. So far it’s been a great trip!

Books

Dawn at Spanish Morning has tagged me for a short book survey. I enjoy reading book lists from other people because it gives me ideas of books to read that I might not have known about. I also want to say that the Bible is the ultimate book and answer to most of these questions, so my answers are aside from the Bible. I like to read, especially books that address some area for spiritual growth, my role as a woman/wife, and these days, books on parenting. I hope you find a book on this list you might like to read!

A book that changed my life:
Seeing With New Eyes, by David Powlison. This book opened my eyes to see the amazing ability of Scripture to speak directly into my heart and life. It really shook up many assumptions I had about issues such as worry or the popular "love languages." One chapter in particular that has greatly influenced how I think is called "God's Love, Better Than Unconditional." Powlison has helped me see that the Bible is not just a guidebook or some good suggestions. It is "...living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Seeing With New Eyes is a collection of essays Powlison originally wrote for a quarterly publication called the Journal of Biblical Counseling. The back cover explains the two main points well saying that the book seeks to explore:

"Scripture: In his Word, God speaks into real life to help us understand him and his intentions. How do we embrace Scripture to hear him at that level?

People: How can this deeper understanding of Scripture help us understand,
and help, people (including ourselves) amid the problems of daily life?"

A book I've read more than once:
War of Words by Paul David Tripp. I cannot say enough good stuff about this book. I hope that everyone who is reading this right now will buy it and read it. You can get it used at Amazon for just over $5!

This book is one of the best books I have ever read. The subtitle is "Getting to the heart of your communication struggles." I don't know anyone who doesn't need to learn to hold their tongue, not complain or not speak selfishly. This book starts with problems we make with our tongue and goes straight to the heart--"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)

A book I'd want on a deserted island:
For sure, the Bible. I also thought this might be helpful: How to Survive on a Deserted Island.

Book that made me laugh:
I remember Monica and I reading some of the Christian girl series Christy Miller back in the day and laughing our heads off because they were so cheesy!

Book that made me cry:
I cry every time I've read Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities, a classic and a great story of a man giving his life for his friend.

A book I wish would be written:
God Calls it Love by Bobby Blakey.

A book I wish had never been written:
Though I've had the opportunity to have some good conversations about this book, it is so terribly unedifying I wish it hadn't been written. Click the link to read my review of it--Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge.

Currently reading:
-Humility: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney
-Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

Have been wanting to read:
-Lies Women Believe: And the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
-Successful Christian Parenting by John MacArthur
-Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper

Camp Compass

All last week I got to help out with Camp Compass (our church's version of Vacation Bible School). I didn't have a permanent position but was a fill-in for people who needed help or leaders who couldn't be there. They called me a "Gumby." I had a great week talking with 4th graders and doing whatever needed to be done. If Tyler wasn't in Jr. Camp Compass I carried him around in his Baby Bijorn and as you can see, he was a happy little camper.

They had a childrens music guy there named Rob Biagi who does a bunch of catchy songs with choregography. I still can't get some of them out of my head! The teaching was centered around characteristics of God's love--giving, kind, caring, forgiving and forever. Bobby had the opportunity to teach the 4th-6th grade group (the Sharks!). My favorite lesson he gave this week was the day on giving. He brought out a great point from the familiar verse, John 3:16--

"For God so loved the world that He gave
His only only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life."

We are very familiar with this verse but rarely hear about John 3:14-15--

"And as Moses lifted up
the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of Man
be lifted up,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish
but have eternal life."

This verse is a reference to Numbers 21:5-9 where the Israelites were complaining and the Lord sent firey serpents among the people and the bit the people and many of them died. The Israelites turned to Moses and told him they had sinned against the Lord and begged him to ask the Lord to take the serpents away. So the Lord said to Moses--

"Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole;
and it shall be that everyone who is bitten,
when he looks at it, shall live."

Bobby brought some gummy worms and gave one to each camper. At first they pretended the gummy worms were fiery serpents trying to eat them. So Bobby held up a gummy worm they could look at and live that represented the serpent Moses had put on a pole. Bobby asked how many of the campers had complained before and every one of them raised their hand. He explained that we also needed to confess this sin against the Lord and look to Christ to live. In fact, the gummy worm Bobby had held up was taped to a cross. Suddenly it wasn't just a Bible story, but an example of the repentance and faith in Christ we all need to have to be saved. It is encouraging to me how a story so simple that children can understand has such serious impact on our eternity.

To Hold or Not To Hold...?

A lot of people these days want to hold baby Tyler. And I don't blame them. He's cute and cuddly, smiles and squeals, makes cooing and razzing sounds--why wouldn't they want to hold him? But I am struggling with not always comfortable with people holding him.

When Tyler was just a newborn, not that many people asked to hold him but when people did they were so careful, washed their hands and sat down. Now he's almost six months old and people will simply walk up and try to snatch him away or ask to hold him a lot. I don't know if most new moms or just younger moms feel this way...maybe it's just me! If a fifty year old mother of four walks up to me and as we talk reaches for little Tyler, I don't even hesitate to let her hold him. But if a loud excitable junior higher jumps around saying, "Please can I hold him!!!!" I'm not very willing to oblige. But in the next moment a polite 10 year old boy says, "May I hold the baby?" and I let him. I think that it has to do with the person asking and how they act to me. If they are loud and seem kind of forward or spastic and crazy I'm hesitant. If they ignore me and always just say "hi" to Tyler but never even talk to me and reach for him, I hold him tighter. I don't always feel weird about it just usually with people I don't know.

I know that as Tyler grows up something like this will go away because I'll just get used to him being around all kinds of people. In the meantime this issue seems to be an obstacle because people keep asking and I keep feeling uncomfortable.

I was thinking about it today, because with Camp Compass going on there always seems to be someone wanting to hold the baby. And what I realized is that if I know someone I feel comfortable because I'm confident that the person is looking out for him, they aren't yelling in his ears or being too rough with him or going to drop him. I know enough about them to know that he's fine with them. I always like it when our friends hold him and play with him. Brad held Tyler for the first time yesterday. Not because we weren't comfortable, he just never had and it was sweet because we could tell that Tyler liked him.

I would think that this is a good and even instinctive response for a mom to have. Maybe it helps him know who it's okay to be with, I mean I don't want Tyler to get used to just anyone and going off with strangers. And I think that Bobby and I have a good feel of who Tyler is comfortable with. I can tell pretty easily if Tyler would even like being held by the person anyway. But that is where the problem is--I don't want to offend people by saying, "I'm really not comfortable..." and I don't want him to be happy only with us either. Is this something I'll grow out of or a legitimate concern?