Dear Lighthouse,

 

            This week I wanted to build upon what we were discussing two weeks ago.  Have you applied any of the challenges I laid out?  Remember, Christianity is a relationship, not a one-time event or one time decision.  Also, remember that your part of protecting and nurturing that relationship is found in diligently guarding your heart and mind.  As you protect yourself from evil influence you should work on filling yourself up with good influences.  Phil. 4:8 stated, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things.”  The question is how do you do it?  My personal answer is:  saturate!        

            I encourage you to saturate yourself in all things noble and pure and that lead you to God.  We are all different.  So, some of my suggestions may be more useful to some than others.  You may do things that are better for you than any of my ideas, but the point is for you to find out how to minister to yourself and saturate your brain.  Here are some of my tricks I use to feed my mind good things and keep it focused on Christ.  Feel free to try all avenues:

 

1)  Music - get your hands on Christian music and listen to it in the car or at work or at home.  Don’t get anything you don’t like just because you think it is good for you.  Get something that you like.  I like 80’s music.  So, the group Petra is good to me.  I also like the Beatles, so PFR and Big Tent Revival are good too.  For a change, Phillips, Craig and Dean are good male vocals.  Michael W. Smith’s worship CD’s are great.  Not sure what you like - go to the Christian Bookstore in Terre Haute and listen to music until you find groups you like.  Alternatively, buy a WOW CD or two that is a “greatest hits” smorgasbord of Christian music for the indicated year.

 

2)  Books - find and read Christian books in your spare time, before bed, on a lunch break, or on trips.  They can be self-help type books or just fictional stories with a Christian flavor.  Some authors I like are John MacArthur, Charles Stanley, and Charles Swindol.  The Promise Keepers also put out some good books for Men.  For the Women, there are similar texts.  The Christian Bookstore has these all shelved together.  If you haven’t read This Present Darkness or its sequel by Frank Peretti, you’re missing out.  I have both.  Call or e-mail and you can borrow them for free - and I think I gave a copy to the Church Library.

 

3)  Books/Sermons on Tape - No time to read?  Get tapes and listen in the car to and from work or on long or short trips around.  The guys above all have tapes that are awesome.  Also, I have a whole bunch of Roger Songer sermon tapes from the CCH.  Want ‘em?  Call me.  Go online to the sights listed on our website and check out those offerings.  Southeast Christian Church in Louisville has great tapes from Bob Russel.  You will be amazed at the difference in your attitude when listening to the Word preached during the week.  Look for these links on our website @ http://userweb.springnet1.com/galahad/LHF.htm

 

4)  Christian Radio - again, for you car junkies.  AM 800 or FM 93.9 or WBGL 88.5 are all good.  The first two are WKZI.  This is talk radio and is a bit “rough” and straight to the point of sermons and no frills, but man, it changes me.  I get great encouragement and great ideas from listening to this station.  Some of my favorite programs are listed on our class website again for your perusal.  John MacArthur and Allistar Begg will give you a great hour of edification from 10am to 11am M-F every week.  Maybe you can plan a ‘coffee break’ for some of that time in front of a radio.

 

5)  Icons - I got this idea from someone else and I’m trying it out.  Surround yourself with objects you like and little things that make you think of something noble.  Put them in your office or home to keep your mind on God or some aspect of His nature when your roaming eye falls on one.  Examples: a compass that reminds you to keep your eyes fixed ahead and travel on the right path; a plastic army man than reminds you you’re in a battle each day; a cross - obvious; a mug or picture with scripture written on it; a fishing hook to remind you that you are a fisher of men here on Earth to share your knowledge of God with others.  Anything that has significance and a hidden meaning to you will do.

 

6)  Scripture - post it notes with Scripture on your computer are helpful.  A screen saver with Scripture is cool.  If you have to key in a password at work to access your computer, make it a book and chapter/verse of the Bible.  This is an excellent way to memorize Scripture.  Write Scripture on your watch and force yourself to see it each time you check the time.  Be creative - your car dashboard, your bathroom mirror, your light switch, etc.  I have a bunch in my garage for when I’m working with tools I can meditate on some verse while I file something or saw a board. 

 

            There are many more, but the point is to program your mind to use downtime to God’s benefit.  Our days are too busy to keep adding requirements and activities.  That’s not what God wants - for use to live in a monastery or convent and think about Him all day.  No, we are in the world to be salt and light to all people around us to share the good news of the Messiah.  But to be equipped to carry out that duty you must put God into your life and have His Spirit leading you.  Be available for His service by being in tune with His Word and His Will.  I cannot emphasize this point enough.  Put God at the center of your life so that any and every activity becomes an extension of your relationship with Him.  Only then will you experience true, meaningful growth and then become a frightening tool in God’s Hand and a dreadful weapon in the enemy’s eyes. 

Put your day in Christ, not Christ in your day.  I encourage you!