 Musical Term for the Day: Yodel - singing style where the performer alternates frequently between the natural chest voice and falsetto tones Romans 7:14-25 {NIV] We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Get Your Yodel Together!!! Back and forth, up and down, side to side is the route of so many of our personal decisions, dictations and directions. Even when we have made up in our mind to go one way, the other way remains an option, just in case. I think we have all at some point said or at least heard someone advise us to keep our options open in every aspect of our lives. We like to know that we have the power of choice when it comes to our schools, relationships, church affiliations, careers, cars, toys, political persuasions, restaurants, et cetera. As much as we say we are committed to a person, place, or thing, we also enjoy knowing that it is, was, or will be our personal choice to choose to remain committed. Yet, even with our deepest commitments, in the back of our minds, the “What if” questions that we engage allow us the freedom to choose to walk away if the “What if” actually happens. Thus, it should be no huge surprise when we cannot hold fast to our commitments to God and the spiritual practices we initiate in order to express and solidify our commitment to God. When we keep options open in EVERY area of our lives, we most certainly do the same when it comes to our faith. We fail at fasts, pause our prayers, stop reading scripture, take detours on devotion, and waiver in our worship all because in the back of our minds, we value the option to choose to not do such things no matter how good they may be for us. We make the choice to not be faithful. As a result, we vacillate between the flesh and the Spirit and then we excuse ourselves by saying “Nobody is perfect….God knows my heart.” But in reality, the bottom line is that we choose to make whatever faith-less decisions, dictations, and directions we want because we know that we have the option to do so. We may desire to go one way, but the other way remains an option, just in case. I really do appreciate Paul’s honest exposure of his struggle with remaining fully committed to following the lead of the Spirit in his decisions, dictations, and directions. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. BUT there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. [NLT] My friends, THIS is THE YODEL EFFECT. In music, the yodel singing style is where the performer alternates frequently between the natural chest voice and falsetto tones. In music, the yodel goes back and forth, up and down, side to side at the discretion of the singer. The singer chooses to vacillate between chest voice and head voice. This is what it means to yodel. AND BlogFam, today, I want to suggest to you that Paul’s transparency amply describes the yodel of his own personal witness as well as the reality of our own frequent alternation between the flesh and the Spirit on so many of our personal decisions, dictations and directions. We yodel when it comes to our lack of commitment to the spiritual practices that would strengthen our relationship with God. We choose to yodel. We choose to skip church fellowship. We choose to allow dust to collect on our bibles. We choose not to train up our children in the way that they should go. We choose to not support our faith communities with our time, our talent, and our treasure. We make these choices and other like choices, and then, like Paul, we exclaim, What a wretched man/woman I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? OR perhaps a better question is this – Who will rescue me from me? My sistas and brothas, THIS is THE YODEL EFFECT. And it is caused by the power that we relish within ourselves to keep our options open and to choose our own way – even in matters of faith. Therefore, I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. [KJV] BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! Thanks be to God, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord! [NIV] Jesus acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where we want to serve God with all our heart and mind, but are pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. [MSG] In other words our witness can be one that is void of back and forth, up and down, side to side decisions, dictations, and directions when we surrender to the power of God to keep us from fluctuating and falling. THANKS BE TO GOD! BlogFam, Thanks be to God who has the power to relieve us of our vacillating vices! Thanks be to God who has the power to redirect our wicked ways! Thanks be to God who has the power to release our yoke-laden yodels! Lastly, THANKS BE TO GOD for Jesus, who has the power to lead us down the narrow path, and keep us from making the choice to entertain alternative options!  Black HistoryMonth – Quote of the Day: Racism isn't born, folks, it's taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list. ~Dennis Leary  God Loves You and I do too!Delesslyn Twitter - @AudraSunshine Email - [email protected] If you enjoyed reading this blog post, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE on the left to get email updates,SHARE it with three people, COMMENT below, and click here to GIVE a donation of $5.00 or your best gift to keep it going! ALSO, feel free to check out the other pages on my website! I am available to provide writing coaching and consulting as well as facilitate conferences, workshops, retreats, worship services, formal ceremonies, and other agreed upon services as needed for the benefit of your personal well-being or those with whom you serve.THANK YOU for reading and sharing! :-) P.S. - BlogFam, I NEED your prayers and support - KIDS KORNER Radio program - It is a moment to spotlight the children and youth [and youth ministers] of our community! PLEASE tune in ONLINE at http://www.wigoam.com at 5:15pm EVERY SUNDAY AND let me know you are listening!!! 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Categories#100PoundsOfExcuses#FREEFlowFriday #iThrive #LentInAugust #TheAffirmation #TheSHIFT 2012 End of Year Reflections 3:17 40 Days of Fasting A NEW DAY!!! 8-1-2012 A Proverb A Day Keeps the Foolishness At Bay AFTER He Rose! Best Practices COPYRIGHT - Permissions Policy Cover Up! CROSS-Eyed Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. Disciples Dos and Don'ts G.R.A.C.E. GAIN SOME WAIT!!! GET A CLUE...About Me HOME is Where YOUR Heart Is HOPE & HEALING HOPE! INTRODUCTION Isaiah Reflections John 3 MY VISION FAST NEW YEAR, NEW LOVE NOT SO RANDOM THOUGHTS ONE WORD REST. Period. Saying Goodbye Starting Over Starting Fresh STEP OUT OF THE BOAT - Matthew 14 The EIGHTH Day The EIGHTH Day 2 The Good Samaritan The KEY of LOVE The Living Room Christian Fellowship The POWER to be PERFECT! The Prayer Bridge Things We Left On the Mountain! VISION Wholesome Habits of Healthy Disciples WWJD = What Would JUSTICE Do? |
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