I Am But A Foreigner Here

(18) Open my eyes to see
the wonderful truths in Your law.
(19) I am but a foreigner here on earth;
I need the guidance of Your commands.
Don’t hide them from me!
-- Psalm 119:18-19 (NLT)

Lord, apart from Your guidance I would be a very lost soul in this life and especially in the life to come. Your Words alone make up the marvelous map for me to find The Way through this foreign world. In the Name of Jesus, The Way Home, I pray. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Faith or Fanaticism?

To dream that God will do this and that because we wish that He would is not faith but fanaticism. Faith can only stand upon truth (what God has promised). -- Mrs. Chas. Cowman

Exodus 12:25 (NKJV) -- ...just as He promised...

Lord, I want to live by faith and die in faith. I want to be faithful not fanatical. Find me for forever and today standing only on Your promises, my God. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Jesus Promised His Presence

No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
-- Jesus Promised His Presence in John 14:18 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

They Left Everything & Followed Jesus

Luke 5:1-11 touches this son of a fisherman deeply and calls me to be a fisherman for the Son:

(1) One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. (2) He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. (3) Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. (4) When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets, and you will catch many fish." (5) "Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, we’ll try again." (6) And this time their nets were so full they began to tear! (7) A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. (8) When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you." (9) For he was awestruck by the size of their catch, as were the others with him. (10) His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, "Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!" (11) And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Live Slow And Grateful

Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle,
but those who gather little by little will increase it.
-- Proverbs 13:11 (NRSV)

Lord, I want to live slow and grateful not fast and greedy.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

My Prayer Request Especially Today...

My prayer request especially today and even day-after-day resides in the mysterious and marvelous depths of this New Testament verse of Holy Scripture:

For, "Who can know what the Lord is thinking?
Who can give Him counsel?"
But we can understand these things,
for we have the mind of Christ.
-- 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NLT)

Lord, my prayer especially today is that I would know Your mind in all things. Within my thinking, give me Your Counsel at all times by the undeniable, indwelling, purifying presence of Your Precious Holy Spirit. My prayer will be the same tomorrow. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Mainly Standing or Merely Fighting?

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
-- Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)

So which will it be? Will we mainly stand in His strength or merely fight in our weakness? Will we mainly stand firm in His armor or merely flail to no avail in our own?

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Seasons Change

As Summer officially gives way to Autumn, just two words ring true in my heart today:

"SEASONS CHANGE!"

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NLT)
(1) There is a time for everything,
a season for every activity under heaven.
(2) A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
(3) A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to rebuild.
(4) A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
(5) A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
(6) A time to search and a time to lose.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
(7) A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak up.
(8) A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

New Life

Recently, I was blessed to make an early morning boat trip to Cape Lookout Lighthouse along the crystal coast of North Carolina. It's the most beautiful of all the east coast lighthouses in my estimation -- a beautiful beacon painted with a black-and-white diamond pattern. As a boy, I was raised on the interior island, Harkers Island, very near this inspiring lighthouse. My childhood home is only about a 20-minute-boat ride across the sound to what locals call "The Hook of the Cape".

I am always rejuvenated when I visit this lighthouse location, but on this particular visit the lighthouse was secondary in inspiration, because one of the Shackleford Banks wild ponies had given birth in the night to a precious foal. We were likely the first humans to view the breath-taking vision of this new life on the shoreline.

I climbed out of the boat near "The Short Turn" and walked with my camera towards the mother and her newborn standing for the first time on shaky little legs. In amazement I clicked priceless images. Take it from me, witnessing new life is an unmatched gift on planet earth. The only event that compares to and surpasses physical birth on planet earth is witnessing what Jesus called "being born again".

Thank you, Creator God for new life -- physical and spiritual. We are speechless in the presence of Your creation and re-creation. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

John 3: (5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (NKJV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

As We Forgive

God's forgiveness is linked to our forgiveness.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us...

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

God Desires to Be Known

God desires to be known by His creation. -- Robert Coleman

I desire to know and to be known by my Creator God. -- Kerry Willis

The words of this Steve Green song say "it" quite effectively:

Just the time I feel
that I've been caught
in the mire of self.
Just the time I feel
my mind's been bought
by worldly wealth.
That's when the breeze begins
to blow, I know
the Spirit's Call.
And all my worldly wanderings
just melt into His Love.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
To feel Your Heart and know Your Mind,
looking in Your eyes stirs up within me,
cries that say I want to know You
Oh, I want to know You more.

Oh, I want to know You more.
When my daily deeds
ordinarily lose life and song,
my heart begins to bleed,
sensitivity to Him is gone.
I've run the race but set my own pace
and face a shattered soul,
Now the Gentle Arms of Jesus
warm my hunger to be whole.

And Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
And I would give my final breath
to know You in Your Death and Resurrection,
Oh, I want to know You more.

Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more...

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

I'm A to Z

I’m A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion.
-- Our Uncreated God's Holy Words in Rev. 22:12 (The Message)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Another Sacred Song

Today, I finally switched my MP3 player off the repeat-one-song-over-and-over-again mode. If you read my post yesterday, you know that for quite a long time I couldn't listen to any other song except Mercy Me's Send the Rain.

Well, finally today I felt released to listen the next few songs on my play list. Pretty quickly, the ears of my soul got gloriously stuck on another sacred song. Now my MP3's repeat-one-song-over-and-over-again mode is back on. This time the touching tune is by Chris Tomlin and titled Uncreated One. Here are the holy lyrics:

Holy Uncreated One
Your beauty fills the skies
But the glory of Your majesty
Is the mercy in Your eyes
And worthy uncreated one
From heaven to earth come down
You laid aside Your royalty
To wear the sinner's crown

And O great God be glorified
Our lives laid down,
Yours magnified
And O great God be lifted high
There is none like You
Jesus, Savior,
God's own son Risen, reigning Lord
Sustainer of the Universe
By the power of Your word

And O great God be glorified
Our lives laid down, Yours magnified
And O great God be lifted high
There is none like You
There is none like You
There is none like You

And when we see Your matchless face
In speechless awe we'll stand
And there we'll bow with grateful hearts
Until the great I am

O great God be glorified
Our lives laid down, Yours magnified
O great God be lifted high
There is none like You
There is none like You
There is none like You

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Singing for Rain

I'm not a music technological person at all, but I do own a simple MP3 player that holds about 200 songs that really do make up the soundtrack of my life.

Yesterday, I flipped one of the few switches on my simple little music-playing gadget, the switch that repeats one song over and over and over again until you're done listening to it. I'm not sure how many times I listened to the Mercy Me song titled Bring the Rain. I didn't count, however, I can say it's already a day later and I still have the repeat switch on for the same singing for rain song.

Here are the words. Let them saturate your soul and as you listen I invite you to ask the question: Is this really my testimony?

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV) -- (10) I want to know Christ and the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, (11) and so, somehow, to attain to the Resurrection from the dead.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Come Alone

The only way to Jesus is... alone. -- Mrs. Charles Cowman

Mark 10:17-22 (NLT) -- (17) As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?" (18) "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good. (19) But as for your question, you know the commandments: ‘Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.’" (20) "Teacher," the man replied, "I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a child." (21) Jesus felt genuine love for this man as He looked at him. "You lack only one thing," He told him. "Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me." (22) At this, the man’s face fell, and he went sadly away because he had many possessions.

Lord, I approach You... alone, yes empty-handed. I am so humbled because You love me apart from everything and anything I could bring. Jesus, nothing in my hands I bring. Simply to Thy Cross I cling... with all my heart. O, Lamb of God, I come... alone. Yes, I am Yours alone. In Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

There's a favorite Christmas Carol on my mind today. The lyrics were written by an English Poet, Christina Rosetti, in the late 1800s. The sacred song was recorded most recently for Hallmark by James Taylor. The poem-song is titled In the Bleak Midwinter. Take a listen by clicking the link below and as you listen to the verses remember that when Jesus came from Heaven to us, He came stripped of His Heavenly glory, yes God's Son came to us as a vulnerable baby with only His heart to offer us. Shouldn't we approach Him the same?

In the Bleak Midwinter Youtube Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyp7qRLBn4w

Lyrics of Final Verse of Original 1800's Poem:

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what can I give Him —
Give my heart.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Sharp Tongue

Let not your tongue cut your throat. -- An Arabic Saying

Anyone who says he is a Christian but doesn’t control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself, and his religion isn’t worth much.
-- James 1:26 (TLB)

The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.
-- James 3:5 (TLB)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

The Same Faithful Forecast

With our Faithful God, yesterday's forecast of faithfulness will be repeated today, again tomorrow, and for forever:

God the Father -- reigning. God the Son -- shining. God the Holy Spirit -- blowing the breath of Heaven, Hope, and Holiness into every open soul.

But whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of all light, and He shines forever without change or shadow.
-- James 1:17 (TLB)

Great is His faithfulness; His loving-kindness begins afresh each day.
-- Lamentations 3:23 (TLB)

...You are near, O Lord; all Your commandments are based on truth. I have known from earliest days that Your will never changes.
-- Psalm 119:151-152 (TLB)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
-- Hebrews 13:8 (TLB)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Spread the Sail...

Today I share just three words from Isaiah 33:23 (NKJV):

Spread the sail...

My paraphrase? It's now time to leave the harbor and to raise our sails high, so that we might immediately catch the upper currents of God's wind-strength, thereby allowing Him to ultimately bring Philippians 1:6 up to full speed in our lives.

Philippians 1:6 (MSG) -- There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

Lord, let today be the day that I sense full recovery from the past, overflowing celebration for the present, and cloudless vision for the future. Be Thou my Vision, Jesus. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

The Gift of Cold Water & Continued Prayer

For a few years now, a righteous remnant of Jesus, The Nazarene, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, have set up a tent at the town of Buena Vista's Labor Day festivities to simply but profoundly give the gift of ice cold water to everyone who passes by. It is indeed a true labor of love and and as a witness of the event I can also say it is indeed a "Buena Vista" -- a "beautiful view".

My wife and I were humbled to partner with the Rockbridge remnant for a few hours on Labor Day 2010. We helped to keep the water cold and the troops encouraged. Pastor Kris and the local church family he shepherds came together in the name of Jesus to distribute some 100 cases of cold bottled water to those walking by. Yes, that's over 2,000 bottles of cool refreshment given free to the fainting souls of their neighbors.

In addition to free water, this year a table was set up in to a private corner outside the tent for people to write out prayer requests to place in the prayer box so that long after the physical water distribution was over for another year, the prayers of the people could continue to flow for the people throughout the year. All glory to God and all good for the people of Rockbridge County, Virginia.

A generous person will be enriched and he who gives water will get water. -- Proverbs 11:25 (NRSV)

I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in My name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
-- Words of Jesus, The Living Water, Mark 9:41 (NIV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

God Yearns Jealously

I don't pretend to comprehend these seven words from James 4:5:

"... GOD YEARNS JEALOUSLY... TO DWELL IN US!" (NRSV)

My God, I know the last seven words Your Son prayed in John 17 were "that I Myself may be in them!" While I do not understand a Love like Yours, I still say with all that is within me, "I'm Your sanctuary. Dwell in me, my jealous God. I love You so much because You first loved me too much!" In Jesus' Name. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful (and Speechless, too.)

Desire... Granted.

The desire of the righteous will be granted.
-- Proverbs 10:24b (NRSV)

Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
-- From the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus, John 17:3 (NIV)

Lord, I know to be righteous, one must be in right relationship with You. Yes, to know You intimately is to know life eternal both immediately and ultimately. Lord, grant me my heart's desire, for if I know my heart's desire, my heart's desire is wholly for what You desire in Your holy heart. Yes, Lord, I desire what You desire more than I desire anything. I desire what You desire for me. You are my heart's desire. In Your Name, I pray, Jesus. Amen.

John Mandeville's song expresses my heart's deepest desire:

I want what You want,
more than I want anything.
I want what You want for me. (Repeat)

Cause Your faithfulness
is like the ocean and the rain.
Everyday the same.
And Your Word is our Life,
so through the laughter and the pain,
You've taught me how to say... that...

I want what You want,
more than I want anything.
I want what You want for me. (Repeat)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Jesus Always Lives to Make Intercession

(23) The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; (24) but He (JESUS, OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST) holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. (25) Consequently He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (26) For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. (27) He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people; He did this once for all when He offered up Himself. -- Hebrews 7:23-27 (RSV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

The Holy Highlights

Recently, my twenty-three-year-old son and I have had the blessed privilege of traveling out-of-town together on two occasions (and to be honest we have a third one on the calendar). While all of our roadtrips are sporting event destinations, I can honestly say that "the journey has been the destination" in each instance.

Indeed, on the highways and backroads to and from the sporting events, the totally vulnerable and heart-warming hours of sharing between daddy and son about earthly life, eternal life, and especially the marvelous mysteries of the Mind of Christ have been the holy highlights. Yes, the journeying conversations together have been much more full of wonder than the actual destinations.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NIV) -- (5) Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (6) These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. (7) Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (8) Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. (9) Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

My Faithful God, I am humbled, grateful, and speechless for Your blessings in my life. In the Name of Jesus, I desperately pray that future generations of our family will be told about the Lord. Let me stay in the Destination Conversation with my loved ones. Most of all I desire that our family circle will be unbroken in-the-sky, Lord, by-and-by. Amen.

Future generations will be told about the Lord. -- Psalm 22:30 (NIV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Steps and Stops

Psalm 37:23 (NLT) The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take.

It has been said that the Lord orders the steps and the stops, yes, the ways and the waits of those who belong exclusively to Him.

IF MY PEOPLE.. WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

A Grateful Heart

It has been suggested that Satan's seeds of despair cannot thrive in a heart that is always overflowing with gratitude.

A few years ago, I cried out loudly to the Lord: Your name if Faithful and my name is Grateful! The suggestion above gives me a whole new perspective as to why my soul may have actually cried out loud to the Lord so specifically -- My name is Grateful.

Truly, my soul sings aloud with the songwriter who penned these words of praise: Give thanks with a grateful heart...

An old out-of-print version of the Holy Bible translates a portion of 1 Chronicles 9:33 like this: Employed to sing both day and night. (Remember Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to the Lord at midnight. Acts 16.)

What do you think?

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

...Or Hurricane?

You are my hiding place from every storm of life..
-- Psalm 32:7 (TLB)

Lord, come hail, high water, or hurricane? You alone are my life-ring, rescuer, and refuge. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Above Only

These four words spoken by God to His people give me hope that if we choose to live in total obedience to the Lord, we can live above all of our circumstances all the time:

...you shall be above only... -- Deuteronomy 28:13 (NKJV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron 7:14.
Grateful