“What Have They Done to My Song, Ma” is a song written and performed by Melanie Safka. It was co-written by HM Saffer II, a notable American painter and musician who worked for Warner Brothers Productions. It was released in 1970.

Look what they done to my song ma
Look what they done to my song
Well it’s the only thing
That I could do half right
And it’s turning out all wrong ma
Look what they done to my song

Look what they done to my brain ma
Look what they done to my brain
Well they picked it like a chicken bone
And I think I’m half insane ma
Look what they done to my song

The key word here is “they.”  Life would have been happier and more productive if it hadn’t been for “they.” Israel had the  Edomites, the Ishmaelites, Moab, the Hagarites, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia, and Tyre and Assyria, not to mention the Philistines and Babylonians. It sure was enough to keep them busy.

I could say, “Look what they done to their song.” However, the truth of the matter is that Israel itself was the enemy that brought the nation down.

Sometimes we have to look in the mirror to see who the enemy really is.

Galatians 5:16 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.I 

1 Corinthians 10:13 

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Give it some thought and face it.

Gary

Two men are hiking through the woods when one of them cries out, “Snake! Run!”
His companion laughs at him. “Oh, relax. It’s only a baby,” he says. “Don’t you hear the rattle?”
—Steve Smith

Many believe the myth that baby rattlers are more dangerous than adults. Not so. However, they are still dangerous. All rattlesnakes are dangerous. Don’t mess with any of them.

The same holds true in Scripture. The devil disguises himself and so do his minions. Be careful with them.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Be careful out there and don’t fool with any of them.

Think about it.

Gary

There is a story of a woodpecker who was pecking on a tree. Just as he flew away, lightning hit the tree and split it right down the middle. The woodpecker heard the noise, turned back, and said, “Look what I did!”

A lot of us are like spiritual woodpeckers. We walk around consciously and subconsciously and say, “Look at the house I’ve bought. Look at this car I drive. Look at the school I went to. Look at the job I have. Look at what I have done.” But the only reason we have anything is because God let lightning strike. King David is a case in point.

2 Samuel 7:8-9

Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.

How active has God been in your life?

Give it some thought.

Gary

Why do we put candles on the top of birthday cakes?

Because it’s too hard to put them on the bottom!

Some questions seem so simple, yet we get the answer wrong. Think about some questions found in the Bible:

“Did God really say . . . ?” (Genesis 3:1) 

“Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9)

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)

“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8)

“What shall I do then with Jesus?” (Matthew 27:22)

“Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15)

How do you answer these questions?

Give it some thought.

Gary

Genesis 2:7

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

That’s how it all started with us here on the planet. It’s not the planet of the apes. We don’t want to cast a bad reflection on that species. All the creatures of superior intelligence descended from Adam.  God not only created us but gave us an owner’s manual.

I had a friend who purchased a new pickup, and after 20,000 miles, the engine seized up. He had never changed the oil. He had never read the manual that came with it.  Big mistake.

God has given us a manual and it’s called the Bible. Not reading it will lead to some big mistakes.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Q:  What do you call a guy who’s had too much to drink? A:  A cab.

If you were a people watcher and concerned for the welfare of others, you would have immediately had the answer to this question. How do you see people? Our Savior teaches us how to make proper observations.

Matthew 9:36

 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

See that world out there, full of people? Where are they going? Do you care? Do something.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Don’t Cry Out Loud” is a song that has touched the hearts of many people since its release in 1978.

Baby cried the day the circus came to town
’cause she didn’t want parades just passin’ by her
So she painted on a smile and took up with some clown
While she danced without a net upon the wire
I know a lot about ‘er ’cause, you see
Baby is an awful lot like me

This is not a hymn but a recording of the lives of pain belonging to so many individuals. The theme is just suck it up and move on with your life. Good luck with that.

God gives us as believers a much better alternative. So many times, in the Psalms we see similar situations with more blessed outcomes.

Psalm 55:22-23

Cast your cares on the Lord
and He will sustain you;
He will never let
the righteous be shaken.

But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful
will not live out half their days.

But as for me, I trust in You.

Give it some thought and don’t take up with some clown.

Gary