Faithful Friday - "Somewhere in the Middle"

Happy Friday! Joy (my daughter) was trying to come up with a special way to set aside at least one day a week to share her (our) faith with the blogging world. She came up with Faithful Fridays. And Mandie of Life in the Craft Lane with Mandie, was nice enough to create a free button for her to use. We’d like to invite you to participate too. Just grab her button below and share about your Christian walk, whether it be just something inspirational or uplifting, a devotional, scripture or a thought or something God laid on your heart, something God has done for you lately, or even prayer requests. Then just leave a comment HERE on Joy’s blog letting her know you are participating, and we’ll come visit you too! It’s encouraging to read about fellow Christians’ Walk with the Lord.

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As we headed home from Alabama this past weekend, I volunteered to drive for the first half. As I did (and everyone else was snoozing), I was listening to one of my Casting Crowns CDs. They just happen to be at the top of the list of my favorite Christian artists. I love their song writing! During the drive, I listened to one particular song many times. It was a quiet moment for me.

Remember how I told you in a previous Faithful Friday post that music can speak multitudes to me – a sermon really? This time it was a convicting one. As I listened, the words pierced my heart. And that’s what I want to share with you today.

The song is titled Somewhere in the Middle. Just listen to the words of this song:



I love that chorus. Just imagine each one of these things………..fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense, deep water faith in the shallow end. What a waste all of those things are if not used to their full potential.

Somewhere in the middle is not a good place to be. If we are there, it probably means we’re compromising or we’re moving into gray areas.

God tells us in His Word that He’d rather that we be one way or the other – not in the middle, or straddling the fence:

"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:16 NIV

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30 NIV & again in Luke 11:23 NIV.

That pretty much says that when we’re in the middle – lukewarm – it actually makes Him want to spit us out (that denotes being very displeased with us). Do we really want that? If we aren't with him or gathering with him, we're actually scattering (causing more harm).

I wonder why it’s so hard for us to just be completely sold out to the Lord without wavering or worrying about what others will think? Too many times, we are just like that chorus said: seeing how close we can get to complete surrender without losing control (it’s never comfortable to give up our control). Compromise can be a good thing obviously, such as in a marriage. But when we are talking about compromise for the sake of being accepted, or accepting things that society dictates we must accept, yet those things are contrary to God’s Word, He tells us it’s not a good thing and God doesn’t want us to be that way. In fact, He doesn’t like it at all. When we do that, we’re moving to neutral ground. For a Christian, when something comes up that goes against God’s Word (which is what God gave us as His History and guidelines to live by), we aren’t supposed to be neutral. Ouch! It’s not easy moving over to God’s side and staying there no matter what other folks think of us. That requires boldness on our part. And that’s why this was so convicting to me.

I don’t want to ever be content being somewhere in the middle. I pray I can be bold enough to move from the middle in every situation and move to God’s side and stay there. As Christians, maybe we could lift each other up in prayer so that we wouldn’t be comfortable being somewhere in the middle. We need to be set apart.

Thank you for stopping by today! I know this wasn’t so much an uplifting post, but more of a convicting one (at least the finger points at me). But, I hope you were blessed! Have a great weekend!

The Orphan's Song

Joy wrote this song.  I wanted to share it and by the suggestion of a friend, to share it with the adoption community on a couple of forums as well.  She truly has a heart for the orphan (as do I).  I hope you enjoy it!  

Here are the words:


 The Orphan's Song


(1st verse)

Hello, my name is orphan;


my name is unadopted;


my name is child of God.






Hello, my name is unloved;


my name is cared for...


not nourished.






I fear turning fourteen;


Unavailable to be loved;


I live in an orphanage;


nannies pass me by,too many kids cry.






(Chorus)


Just a little special need,


but there's nothing to be done


until you come.


So why don't you come?






(2nd verse)



I saw you get your little guy;


you were huggin' him;


and I was just standing by.






And my friend was picked today;


they took her away;


and I was left standin' by.






Someday, it will be my turn.


They will come for me;


and I will go home.






(Chorus)



Just a little special need;


but there's nothing to be done


until you come.


So why don't you come?


Come?






(Bridge)


Orphan,


unadopted,


unloved,


child of God.






(Chorus)


Just a little special need;


but there's nothing to be done


until you come.


So why don't you come?


Come?


Come?






When will you come?