I often sit in the silence of my mind
   wondering in which direction it will wander next.

Will I find myself drifting toward the dark recesses from my sinful nature?
Or will I take the higher road and find myself in the plan God has laid out for me

Unusual things may arise, and have arisen along the way
I have been stilled by broken bones, blinded eyes, diseased blood and worn-out joints
I have been ripped apart by the person I thought was my best friend and then spurned when I tried to    
  reconcile

Easily could my thoughts have gone to my former comfort, to the depths of depravity I once turned to 
  for fulfillment, my mind wandering in the abyss of carnality

I found myself starting to sink into that dungeon once again and summoned up the strength to cry out

Cry out to the one who knows what lurks in the silence of my mind, my hidden thoughts, hidden loves, 
  hidden intentions

He alone can save me from myself

He alone gives strength to oppose the horrible, the terrible, the horrendous thoughts that creep in.

He can replace the horrible with the wonderful, the terrible with the merciful, and the horrendous with the righteous.
 
Why would I tend toward evil when He will guide me toward the good?
Why would I ignore His urging to meditate on good when He searches my heart all the time?

In thar silent stillness, I determine to set sail toward the high ground, away from the whirlpool of the 
  abyss, into the loving arms of my Savior
Into the grace that His mercy alone provides 
Into the refuge for my soul and the fortress for my mind
Where I can sit in silent stillness and rejoice

We gather together
For strength
For fellowship
For encouragement
For worship
For each other
If I go to church only for myself
Only for my edification
Only because I enjoy it
Only because it's the right thing to do
I go for the wrong reason
If I go to church just to worship God
Just to hear His word
Just to sense His presence
Just to feel His touch
I go for the wrong reason
But If I go to church for others
To give an encouraging word
To shake a hand or hug a neck
To uplift and pray for my fellow saints
I go for the right reason
We gather together
Not for ourselves
But for each other
Not just to be in God's presence
But to be in each other’s presence
Not to be edified
But to edify others
Gather together today
And be a blessing!

Approve things that are excellent
I give approval in my life every day
But do I approve excellence
Or do I approve good?
If I approve of what God approves
That's excellence.
Things like love, trust
Peace, joy, patience
Meekness, Humility
Temperance, Faithfulness.
Or do I approve of intolerance,
Hatred, impatience, lack of loyalty,
Gossip, turmoil, lack of trust
Do I approve by my actions
Those things that God does not approve of
Or
Do I love those who hate me
Do I show grace to those who abuse me
Do I show mercy to those who harm me
We must approve things that are excellent.