The Kingdom of God is already among you. It is in your grasp. Jesus Christ was revealing the Kingdom of God through His ministry – through His words – through His actions. The Kingdom of God is within us – for those who believe in Creator, Christ, and Spirit as One.
All rights reserved (c) 2020 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries
Every Friday I post the Top 5 of one of my classic hit music charts based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay from either 10, 15, 20, or 30 years ago this weekend (rotating each week).
It’s the 1ST Friday of the month, so I go back 10 years ago. But for the week ending Sunday February 07TH 2010 there was no hit music chart. I had compiled and published my final Top 10 chart the week prior. The longest era of my personal hit music chart hobby had ended after 14 years and 3 months.
It’s no secret that God used His rock music and lyrics on the radio to suddenly rescue and save me during the 3RD week of August of 2006. I’ve told that story countless times here on this blog, on social media, and via vocal testimonies over the past 13 years. In fact God used a local independent radio station here in Miami-Dade County Florida to save me. I listened to that station – and only that station – through the start of 2010 (almost 3½ years).
Towards the end of my loyalty to that radio station it had made many changes to its format, sound, and style – changes that made it sound like a radio station that I really no longer recognized compared with the first 3 years. This was a radio station that I supported with my ears, with my word-of-mouth, and with my wallet. I prayed for this radio station daily and nightly. I loved this radio station so much that early on I decided that I wanted to work there – or even serve there gratis. I even visited the radio station (by personal invitation), went on-the-air, and told my story of salvation once or twice. Along the way they made some promises to me (and others) that they simply couldn’t keep (whether accidentally or intentionally). All I got out of those collective promises was a tee shirt, and I had to beg for that.
At the end I decided to part ways with this radio station and essentially end my music ministry. It wasn’t meant to be. 10 years ago this week I “flipped” (radio business term) from Christian Rock & Pop to Classic (Secular) Hits of the 1960s and 1970s via another local (commercial) radio station at the time.
Nevertheless my fantastic journey continued onward into the 2010s. There were peaks and valleys along the way – including some soaring highs and some deep craters. I even left my church family of 8 years and joined a new one a mile down the road. After a 7-year exile of Christian music on the radio K-LOVE entered my life on Presidents’ Day (the actual holiday) of 2017. Next weekend I celebrate 3 years as a loyal K-LOVE listener !
That first radio station ultimately let me down in many different ways, but God introduced Himself to me through that radio station. If it weren’t for that radio station I may not know God today. For that I am eternally grateful.
So this is my final look-back at 10 years ago. I haven’t yet decided how to go RETRO on future 1ST Fridays of the month, but I’ll come up with something interesting by April.
It’s halftime my friends. I’ll be back on Sunday and Monday with 2 more blog posts for this weekend. Enjoy your Saturday. Thanks for going RETRO with me !
All rights reserved (c) 2020 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries
Greetings my friends ! It’s the weekend again – because here at #CountUp weekends always begin on Thursday mornings !
This weekend I’ll post the usual 4 new blog posts now (Thursday morning), Friday morning, Sunday afternoon, and Monday morning.
This Saturday I hope to do another “Walk-A-Thon” at dawn at the city park down the street from my neighborhood. After that I plan to visit the Fruit And Spice Park about 7 miles away from my home. I visited last March, and I was convinced (before I even entered the park grounds) to buy an annual pass for $25 in lieu of a one-time visit ticket for $10 thinking that (as a local) I would visit on a regular basis. Well I haven’t been back since then, so I might as well get in a free visit this weekend while it’s cool out. (We’ll be in the 50s and 60s this Saturday morning.)
Later on Saturday I’ll return home (probably exhausted from all of that walking), and I’ll continue my Bible study and sermon-writing. I’m currently working on my sermon after next – tentatively titled “Malachi & Messages”. It’s probably the first of two (maybe even three) sermons in a row all about the minor prophet Malachi.
Oh ! – I’m part of #LivePDNation – so there’s that on Friday and Saturday night.
On Sunday I’ll enjoy quality time praising, worshiping, and celebrating my Lord + Savior Jesus Christ with my church family. As I tell my brothers and sisters in Christ on each new Sunday morning – it’s the peak of my week. It’s the greatest 4 hours of my life each week.
On Monday at 3 AM U.S. East Coast Time I’ll post my brand new Top 10 weekly hit music chart. Get ready for a brand new # 1 smash. (You read it here first.)
So that’s my weekend forecast. It should be a fun one !
I’ll be back here in 24 hours to go RETRO – back a full decade ago – to a time when I gave up Christian music on the radio forever (or so I thought at the time).
All rights reserved (c) 2020 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries
Every Monday I post my all-new Top 10 Christian hit music chart based on personal preference and influenced by radio airplay. Here it is – for the week ending Sunday February 02ND 2020:
# 1 One Year Ago This Week:
“Nobody Loves Me Like You” – Chris Tomlin
# 1 Two Years Ago This Week:
“Gracefully Broken” – Matt Redman Ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Zach Williams holds on at # 1 this week with his “Rescue Story”, but Matthew West could soon replace him with another track that was slow to grow on me. I love the words that begin “The God Who Stays”:
♫ If I were You
I would’ve given up on me by now
I would’ve labeled me a lost cause
‘Cause I feel just like a lost cause
If I were You
I would’ve turned around and walked away
I would’ve labeled me beyond repair
‘Cause I feel like I’m beyond repair
But somehow You don’t see me like I do
Somehow You’re still here ♫
I don’t understand why God chose me. I don’t understand why He rescued me. I was a lost cause. I was beyond repair. But He did rescue me. He did save me. I didn’t deserve it. But He gave me the gift of Grace. I accepted it. He took away all of my sins. He wiped the slate clean – as white as snow. He said, “Follow me.” I did. I am born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. My new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal living Word of God.
Jesus Christ wants a relationship with you. Do you want one with Him ? He’s waiting for you. When you are ready He will be there. As long as you are living and breathing it is not too late. But know this. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
You are not too far away from God’s reach. Reach out for God. He will lift you out of the pit of despair – out of the mud and the mire. He will set your feet on solid ground and steady you as you walk along. He will give you a new song to sing – a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.
This concludes another weekend of blog posts. I’ll do it again next weekend – with 4 new entries on Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday. I don’t blog on Saturdays. That’s my day of rest.
Your likes, follows, and comments are always appreciated. Thank You for being part of my online ministry to share God’s Good News and win souls for Christ through His music. I’m also on Twitter @ChrisMDay, and I’m the man behind the tweets for my church @LivingWatersHFL.
Enjoy this new week my friends ! May the God of hope fill you completely with joy and peace as you trust in Him.
All rights reserved (c) 2020 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries
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