Give It Up

This is the message behind the song "Give It Up" off my very first EP. Hope it encourages you to keep pressing through even in the midst of a storm!

This is not a popular or comfortable message. It takes discipline. It takes determination. It takes a hunger and thirst for righteousness. We must learn that the Father is good, no matter what we are faced with. No matter what's going on around us, no matter how much pain we are feeling, He remains good. He cannot be anything but good - it's His nature. I've seen over the years, that very few push through when the waves of trails and testings come against the people of God. Very few choose to open their mouths and give Him the praise that is worthy to His name in the midst of the storm. Why is that? He hasn't changed - He never will - for He is the Lord, who changes NOT. It's very easy to give Him praise during His blessings..when you are "feeling good..." when you feel God.. when you feel close to Him.. What happens in the dark night of the soul. What happens when He tests you to see if your love for Him is authentic? Will you still praise Him? He hasn't changed! He is still good. His love for you is the same.

We have to learn to give God praise in the midst of the storms that life throws. Too many Christians walk by their feelings as opposed to doing what the Bible calls us to - walk by faith. We have to know that He is the God that has promised that He will never leave us. We have to learn to give Him a sacrifice of praise. This type of praise is when you are in the midst of the battle, when everything in you doesn't want to come to Him and give Him praise, you choose to thank Him and praise Him for who He is. We have to learn to continually give Him thanksgiving. Paul said, "rejoice in the Lord always, again, I say rejoice (Phil. 4:4)." It is the will of God that you would rejoice always and give thanks to His name (1 Thes. 5:16-18). We have to consider trials a joy, even though it is hard. These trials, these testings, are the very things which build and strengthen are character (Js 1:2-4; Rom. 5:1-5). Pain needs to become a good thing - not a bad thing. When pain comes we immediately want to get rid of it. "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation (1 Peter 4:12-13)." Give it up to the Lord no matter what your going through. Rejoice in His name for it will be the very thing which pulls you through what you are in the midst of. He is worthy of our praise no matter what is going on! His is GOOD! Give it up to the Lord!!

Ya boi's in love! I can't help it...

This is the message behind the song "Fallin' In Love" off my album Intimately Consumed... get you some!

He that has been forgiven much, loves much (Lk 7:47). Jesus said this. It is profoundly true. I have cursed God. I have turned and hardened my heart completely to Him. I have mocked and even hated His people (the Church). I have indulged myself in sinful ways and feasted on the pleasures this world offers us. I have done many things which were completely against God. I offended Him in my sins. After giving my life to Jesus, I started to realize, and come to know more of His love for me. I started to understand that out of all the things I did, He forgave all of them and blotted them out (Is 44:22; Ps 103:12).

After having such a sinful past, I was blown away that He could love someone like me. I was blown away that He could forgive completely, and even choose to forget all that I had done (Is 43:25). I never found this type of love in the world, because His love is unconditional. I found several times over again conditional loves through my years in living for myself, and they never satisfy. They never will satisfy. I was made for something greater and so were you. God Himself, for He is love. He is the unconditional love and acceptance we all long for deep down within our souls. Nothing can replace Him, for there is none like Him, and none but Him. He is God, and He created us for Himself.

I was in my college apartment room while writing the first draft of this song. I was spending time worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ through the form of singing songs to Him. His glorious presence invaded that small room, and my heart was flooded with His loving kindness. I was overwhelmed - He cared so much for me and accepted me for who I was. He loved me despite the many times that I turned and sinned against Him. His love for me remained the same. He cleansed me with His redeeming blood. He stood in my place, so that I might come to know the Father (John 17:3). He became sin for me so that I became the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21). He came to show me what the Father Himself was like. He forgave me completely for all that I had done. Despite all the present things I was struggling with - He loved me in the midst of them. Nothing will separate me from His love (Romans 8). Who does things like this? Who really cares that much? I have found no one, but Jesus in my years of existence. I started to fall in love with Him. After realizing His love for me, I could do nothing and wanted to do nothing other then love Him back with my whole heart.

That night in my apartment room was the very night this song was birthed. Out of understanding and knowing His love for me, I couldn't help but write Him a love song back. The lyrics started pouring out of me. So that's where this song begins... it's a letter from me to Him trying to express how much I love Him. It's a cry from my heart that I would fall deeper in love with Him. He has written me sixty-six books filled with His love for me, I figured I could at least write a song or two telling Him how much I love Him. He is amazing! The greatest commandment Jesus gave was just to love Him. You were created to know and experience His love and acceptance for YOU! He cares for you. He loves you. He desires you. He wants you to come to Him (Matthew 11:28-30). The question then remains, when will you open your heart and receive what Jesus did on the cross into the depths of your heart. When will you let His unconditional rivers of love flow into your very being? He is what you were made for. It's not about being a religious fanatic. It's about falling in love with a living, breathing God, Jesus Christ Himself. You were made for Him - don't settle for anything less!

Father, I pray that you would take this generation deep into the vastness of Your loving kindness. I pray that, by Your grace, You would raise up men and women who are submitted to You with their whole hearts, for that is what Your eyes search for. I pray that people would open their hearts, and that you would flood them with rivers of unconditional love. That this generation would be pierced to the core of their being for Your love for them, and be wholly and fully committed to serving You and being like You. In Jesus name, Amen!

Get You Some Jesus!

This is the message behind the song I did called "Drunk In The Spirit" which most people know as "Get you some Jesus." Head over to www.myspace.com/listen2jmack to listen to the song!

Many people have believed the lie that I once believed – living for God is boring. That following God is all about following a list of "do's and "do-not's." That living for Him will be a waste of time and won't satisfy us. Since I have given my life to Jesus, I have found the direct opposite to be true. Jesus made a profound statement – in order to find true life, you must give yours away or lose your own life (Matt. 16:25). It’s in the position of giving your life away to Jesus that you truly find Life. All that we long for deep down inside (to be loved, cared for, true happiness, hope, joy, peace, purpose, destiny, identity, etc) is found in submitting your life to Jesus Christ. If living for God was boring, trust me, I would be out doing the same stuff I use to do - drinking, smoking, and partying – living life merrily for tomorrow we die (living for myself)! However, it's not. Finding new life in Jesus is the greatest thing one could encounter in his existence on earth. Even as I write this, I am cracking up with joy because living for Jesus Christ is the most fulfilling way to live! So... to the world - I don't need no hypnotic.. bacardi...etc... I will take a huge glass of living water. You may drink, and have to fill up your cup again and again. I choose to drink out of the never ending river of His delights (Ps 36:8-9). You might Wake up feeling hung over, empty, and depressed inside. Not me! I will drink of a cup that over flows and sustains my very life. A cup that never ends - The precious Holy Spirit which He gives to those who ask (Luke 11:13). You might choose to drink a cup that eventually will destroy you. I will choose to drink of a cup full of life. So I say this to you. "If anyone is thirsty, let him to Me (Jesus) and drink." For surely Jesus is saying to you today – “Come to Me (read Matthew 11:28-30).” He who believes in Me (Jesus), as the Scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water (Jn 7:37-39). For whoever drinks of this water will never thirst, but will spring up to eternal life (Jn 4:14). Come to the fountain and drink (Is 55:1-4). His joy, His peace, His life, is better than any high this world could ever off you. This "water" I'm speaking of is symbolic of having a relationship with Jesus. So with that being said, all that is left is this... GET SOME SOME JESUS!!