God Plans (Trust and Obey) (song)

Note: Here's another old favourite from the archives. Just like one of my favourite hymns says, "Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey."

The Bible says that we are worth much more than the birds that are sold for a penny- we’re worth much more than a flock of seagulls even! So if God thinks of us and takes care of us (Luke 11)- why would we not just simply trust Him and obey Him? Don’t run away- trust and obey!

God Plans (Trust and Obey)
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(parody of “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls) (copyright by Nathan Ludwick 6/9/2013)
(Genesis 1-3, Numbers 13-14, Jonah 1-4, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalms 33, Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 16:33, Proverbs 16:25, Proverbs 16:1-3, Proverbs 16:9, Jeremiah 29:11, John 14:1, John 14:23)

I walk alone- Genesis dude
I never thought I’d meet a girl like you
Eve’s the girl I choose
We got ensnared by serpent’s lies
Opened our eyes and realized we’re nude
Heard God striding through

And we scrammed- we panicked and hid away
God just asked- He asked where we were- Hey!
We couldn’t get away

A cloud appears above our heads
And fire by night- both guiding our whole crew
Guides us to subdue
The Lord’s behooving- in Numbers read
The Lord says what is real is Canaan’s through
The Lord will conquer, dudes!

But we ran! We ran from God’s plan- Hey!
Promised Land- we’re banned ‘cause we didn’t obey!
40 year desert stay!

Received command to preach (to) this place
“You go to Nineveh now”- I refused
A big fish stopped my coup
Spat out on land to try again
Been floating in fish three days (and) nights- I’m through
God’s will will come through

When I ran, I ran so far away
I should have just done what’s right- obey!

When God plans, His plans come true always
So don’t run- just go trust and obey!
(Trust and obey!)

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Mr. Joel (song)

           The Hebrew name Joel means "Yahweh is God" and the son of Pethuel sure lived up to proclaiming the meaning of his name through the Bible book named after him. A recurring phrase in the book of Joel is "The LORD your God", which does literally translate to "Yahweh is God", as "The LORD" is the Name rendered as Yahweh or Jehovah in Hebrew. And Joel was calling Israel to return to The Lord our God and repent of sin because the day of The Lord was coming to punish Israel as well as all nations that sinned against Him. And in Joel 2, we are given prophecy about the coming of The Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which we see fulfilled in Acts 2. God filled His people with His Spirit to empower them to go out and preach the Gospel. The day of The Lord is coming for us as it did in Joel's time and ravaged the land. While Mr. Jones might be busy counting crows, Joel could have been busy counting locusts as they wreaked destruction on Israel. But God promised that He would restore what the locusts destroyed. Of course, if we don't want to be eating crows, we need to repent of our pride and unfaithfulness as well and return to God Who sent the abundant latter rain to heal Israel just as He does for us through Christ's completed work on the cross and in the empty tomb. So read Ephesians 1-2 for more on the work Jesus did for us, read Acts 2 to see how God's Spirit works through us to share the Good News with others and then turn to Mr. Joel and read!


 Mr. Joel
(parody of "Mr. Jones" by Counting Crows; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 5/20/2017)
(The book of Joel, Acts 2)

Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la
Mmm
Uh huh

It is found in the New Testament
There- 2 Acts, this fellow shared Joel
Peter zones in on their declarations
In 2 Acts- there fulfilled Joel chapter 2
Holy Ghost landing- sons and daughters prophesiers
They're suddenly multilingual
"They're all on something-alcohol"
It's 9 AM- not drunk on alcohol

He's enhanced us- The Spirit- down through God's pouring

Shalom, Hola, Bonjour, Hi ya!
Yeah
Uh huh
Yeah

Come on now, Peter
Show us some of that Arabic and Egyptian
Turn in your Bible to (the) book of Joel
(And) get reading
Can you believe this locust scene?
Call a fast and weep- Joel 1- it just pleads
Yeah

Mr. Joel- read
Tell sons and daughters grisly tale
As you stare and view destruction
The locusts have chewed
Now no food! The locusts did eat
Crying 'cause the crops died
Coming through in sackcloth
Lamenting priests of God- dude!
Look, man, it's near- The Lord's Day

Joel is gonna paint a picture
Look yourself in 2- moon's red, sun's black- Great Day!
All of the dutiful dreamers know it's very, very meaningful
Yeah, well The Lord's Day comes with signs and wonders
Literal or symbolic- it'll be plain
Go review Revelation
You would find 6:12 just says much of the same

Mr. Joel- read!
Look into the future
Don't despair at the total destruction
Verse 2:32
Romans 10 quotes
Go look in 13
Acts 2:21 writes
And God Himself will save us all
For all who on His Name call
Call a solemn assembly
Let's all return to The Lord please
Rend our hearts and not our garments- see

Blow the trumpet in Zion
Ah, everybody declare a holy fast
Oh, return to Me with all your heart
Says The Lord God- what locusts've eaten- I'll pay back
Rejoice in Me- 'cause you can believe I'll send the rain
And I- I want all peeps to come to Me and believe
So believe and receive- yeah

Mr. Joel- read! Judging's due- 3rd. chapter- yo!
So prepare for the Doomsday, all nations
Hey Egypt- you're through
Man, you've got to read in Joel 3:19
You're a goner, Edom- called it
In there Joel chapter 3, there's comeuppance all given out swiftly
For every violence you do
Sidon, Tyre- turnabout is fair play- as you will see
Mr. Joel- read! Pay Me back? Thus says The Lord
What are you to Me, Philistia?
If you're paying Me, it's coming right back to thee
Beat your pruning hooks into spears
'Cause we both know why that you folks're going down
And there is nobody like Me
You're gonna see just that now when My people are redeemed
Pictured in Joel- end scenes- (well) God and His peeps are victorious!

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Ruth Clung to Naomi (song)

This song is a summary of the book of Ruth- one of the most beautiful stories of tenacious love and redemption in The Bible. When Naomi's husband and sons died, it was like her whole world fell apart- like God had dropped a bomb on her and rocked her world. There was a huge gap left in her heart- so much so that she preferred to be called "Mara" (meaning bitter) from then on. But Ruth and Naomi banded together because Ruth pledged to leave her home and people and follow with Naomi, her mother-in-law, and adopt her people and her God as her own. And God blessed Ruth by taking this Moabite girl, adopting her into His family through Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer for Naomi's family- and allowing Ruth's line to bring about His own Son who is the kinsman-redeemer for the world!

"Ruth Clung to Naomi"
(parody of "You Dropped A Bomb on Me" by The Gap Band; copyright Nathan Ludwick 11/22/2016) (originally written circa October 2015)
(Ruth 1-4 [particularly Ruth 1:14-18, 2:17-23, 3:6-15, 3:18, 4:7-12 and 4:13-22], Matthew 1 [particularly Matthew 1:5-6], Luke 3 [particularly Luke 3:31-32], 2 Corinthians 6:2, Titus 2:14, Revelation 5:9, Galatians 3:13 and 4:5)

Ruth was the girl who changed my world
Yeah, when my world went wrong
They bit the dust- sons and husband
Ruth then I urged to leave
But you turned me down, Ruthie

Chilion, Mahlon- my babies!
They're gone like Elimelech (So I'll turn back home, ladies)
That brought calamity, baby
So drop the "Naomi"

I went out full- Came back with nil
God dropped a bomb on me
Return there now- return back home
Orpah cut loose, but Ruth turned me down

"You've got me, Mom," said she- baby!
(Where) you lodge- I'll lodge with thee
(So don't urge me out, Mom- please!)
"Your God my God will be," said she.

Let's rock! Ruth 1:16
Back through Adam and Eve- came the woman's seed
And look on down the line- right there- Obed's the guy
Luke 3 reveals- yeah, it's for real
His line brought Hope, baby- but hold the phone
Let's drop back on Ruth's pages

Ruth's from Moab, you see- baby!
She dropped her gods and peeps
(And Ruth turned to The Lord, baby!)
Adopted Israeli as family
Ruth and her Mom journeyed (Back to Bethlehem, baby!)

Won't drop me, Naomi- hey hey! (Mmm)
Ruth worked for grain to glean
(She brought food to Mom-in-law, baby)
She stopped in Boaz's field, baby
They formed a bond quickly

Things were in motion- Help's right there open
Ruth is the girl he needs
Ruth works with his protection- turned out there's a connection
He's their kinsman redeemer
And he's turning out, baby

To be the one for me, says Ruthie
You knocked me off my feet (Swept off- oh, oh, baby)
Won't get the drop on me- reapers
You are the bomb, Boaz!
(I won't forget what you've done for me, babe)

I talked with Mom-in-law - hey, hey
At stop of barley reap
I dropped down at your feet, Boaz
(When) you'd nodded off to (uh) sleep

I-I-I
I-I-I woke you up- yeah
I-I-I
I-I-I hope for assistance

Ruth dropped a bomb on me- Boaz
You're blessed by God, lady
You've got a closer redeemer, baby
If he drops out, I'll redeem

Bye-Bye-Bye
Ruth you should- go, it's morning!
Fly-fly-fly
Fly on home- now in secret

Let's hash it out- Naomi's home
Elimelech's land's on sale now
(Do) you opt or not to redeem?

Agreed for now- but hold the scroll
And when you opt in, included now
Ruth comes along with the deal
He's backing out- he turned me down
And then we swapped out sandals now
I bought them back- redeemed

It's turning out to be Day Awesome!
(For) Ruth, Boaz and Naomi!
Peeps heard Boaz and elders signed off
He bought from Naomi

They witnessed now- the new transaction
He bought back Mahlon's things,
Elmelech's, all of Chilion's
He got a bonzo deal!

Return for now to lines earlier on
The part about woman's seed
Ruth married Boaz- God gave conception
Ruth had Obed baby!

It panned all out when all had gone wrong
God brought Boaz to redeem
Seek Matthew out and Ruth's in Chapter One
Her line brought Christ to redeem!

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Edom's Seed and Israel's Seed (song)

Sometimes little things can give wings to much bigger things- and that can be true both for the negative and the positive. It may be a wonder to us to think of how two brothers could drift so far apart, but yet this is what The Lord prophesied would happen for the nations of Edom and Israel, which of course were founded by Esau and Jacob, respectively. And though Esau and Jacob (AKA Israel) eventually reconciled, their nations continued to be at odds- and a long-standing feud eventually came to a head in the shortest book of the Old Testament- the book of Obadiah. He was a prophet whom God sent to preach to the people of Edom about the evil way they had treated their brother nation of Israel. Edom was condemned to be destroyed for its haughtiness and evil treatment of Israel and ultimate rebellion against God. And God would restore Israel to its land and its things. And as He would later inspire Paul to write about, we must rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. And in everything, as much as it's possible and as much as it's up to us, we should live in peace with everyone. There is a powerful message of love for all people throughout The Bible, of course, and especially for our own brother- let's strive to live at peace with everyone and live together in love and perfect harmony (only possible through the perfection of Jesus living in us, of course)- just like the multiple colors of the fall leaves live together in peace and just like ebony and ivory live together in harmony side by side on the piano keyboard- just like the Master Tuner who plays out His perfect symphony through all His instruments as He choreographs and arranges.

"Edom's Seed and Israel's Seed"
(parody of "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney [featuring Stevie Wonder]; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 11/10/2014)
(Malachi 1:1-5, Genesis 25, Psalms 133, Psalms 137, Genesis 33, Galatians 3:28, Romans 12 [particularly verses 9-21], Obadiah [all 21 verses, but particularly 1:1-5, 1:10-14, and 1:15-21])

Edom's seed and Israel's seed
Share together a turbulent history
25 in Genesis- predicts
The Lord- old serves young!

Esau and bro
Their peoples were estranged- Seir and Zion opposed
The old feud began with Isaac's sons
Esau spurned his gift- Jacob stole it from his brother
The blessing and birthright
Then ran for his life

Eventually- Gen. 33
Bros together and forgiven- harmony!
Such a sight- Psalms 133:1
Oh, Lord- Shine on me!

[(With) Everyone- if it's up to me
(I'm) living in perfect harmony
(like) Ebony (and) Ivory, ooh]

Esau's folks
Those people had disdain for Jacob's, you know
They just stood while Bab-(mmm)-ylonians
Attacked their kin- Edom laughed- they'll get comeuppance
Edom's beat- (it's) prophesied
Obadiah 1:5

Edom thinks so pridefully
"Who can ever bring me down- or (bring) harm to me?"
Gliding high like an eagle you soar
The Lord brings down thee

None survive when house (of) Esau- he's burned
Your own returned deeds!

Everything's all rosy
Israel's returning home, you see
There will be Zion peeps
Escaping (from) burning- (and) it's holy
All hunky and dory
Written in Obadiah- read!

Elohim's Word- He keeps
Giving Israel back land and things
Edom- we learn from thee
Commiserate with those who weep
Romans 12:16 read
Living in Christ in harmony
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Bush on Fire (song)

This song relays a key event in Moses' life. In Exodus 3, he has an encounter with the living God. And God has a task for him- go down to Egypt and set His people free! Moses had some excuses but God provided for each one and He got a fire burning in Moses fueled by The Holy Spirit coming upon him and God used him to do just what He said He was going to do for Israel! Moses followed the game plan God had for his life. This was the theme for the soccer camp I helped with that my church sponsored in the summer of 2014 and that definitely inspired this parody. :-)

Bush on Fire
(parody of "Girl on Fire" by Alicia Keys; copyright Nathan Ludwick 9/29/2014)
(Exodus 3-4, Isaiah 40:28-31, Hebrews 11:23-29, Hebrews 12:28-29)

He's from Israel and he's out hiding
Slaughtered an Egyptian peep- Moses hits the highway
He's sitting by a well and gets a fight on
Filled troughs- watered the sheep- Girls' hero- gets invited to stay

Ohhhh oh oh oh oh!
"Please God," groan people out loud
And He's heard Israel now
Ohhhh oh oh oh oh
At Mt. Horeb He comes down
And Moses (is) walking 'round

This bush is on fire!
This bush is on fire!
It burns without dying!
This bush is on fire!

Looks at the bush and it's in flames
Some sight- Moses turns his eyes
Exodus 3- I'd say, "Wayz!"
You can bet that he'll never forget that day
He hears God call his name
Holiest Lord God then does say

Ohhhh oh oh oh
"Take shoes off feet- it's holy ground"
"Israel's burdened- go down!"
"Goooo go go go go!"
God has heard His door pound
But Mo's got excuses now

This mouth has a stutter
I'm 'bout to retire
They'll balk and require
Some sign I've seen Father

(Ohhh!)

Every doubt he airs, The Lord provides
'Cause He can feel the pain that Israel cries
Balking? Then just show them these 3 signs
You're gonna go and meet Aaron- he'll speak
And if they want I.D.
Then you go tell 'em "I AM has sent me, baby"

This God came as fire
There's no one who's higher
He's a consuming fire!
This God will not tire

Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhhh
oh, oh, oh, ohhh,
oh, oh, oh, ohhhh (x4)

He got Israel set free by His power!

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