What Kind of Lives Should We Be Living?

I awoke early this morning with this passage in my mind and on my heart:

(8) But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.
(9) The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so He is giving more time for everyone to repent.
(10) But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.
(11) Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living! -- 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT)

ALL JOY TO YOUR WORLD!
Grateful

His Joy Equals Your Strength

This verse has been wonderfully invigorating to my soul lately:

Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
-- Nehemiah 8:10b (NKJV)

ALL JOY TO YOUR WORLD!
Grateful

The Son's Light Destroys The Devil's Darkness

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. -- 1 John 3:8 (NLT)

John 8 and 1 John 3 tells us that Jesus is the Light of the World, Who came to destroy the devil's works of darkness! That's why God the Father sent His Son to Bethlehem -- to turn the Bright Light on so that the dark deceptions of the devil in our lives could be forever exposed and erased. INDEED, THE SON'S LIGHT DESTROYS THE DEVIL'S DARKNESS!

Heather Headley's sings "Light of the World -- Here I am to Worship":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVj1unWwlSk

ALL JOY TO YOUR WORLD!
Grateful

Cry to Jesus

I awoke this morning with the lyrics of this Chris Rice modern hymn in my thoughts:

Click Link for Chris Rice's "Untitled Hymn":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T-VfypD8j4

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain,
so Sing to Jesus, Sing to Jesus Sing, to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...
so Fall on Jesus, Fall on Jesus, Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain,
then Cry to Jesus, Cry to Jesus, Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside,
then Dance for Jesus, Dance for Jesus, Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side,
and Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus and live!

Pray with me: I cry to You, Jesus, yes, in Your Name I cry out asking Abba Father for the Holy Spirit's never-ending touch in my life and in the lives of my beloved ones. Amen.

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

This World is Fading Away

(15) Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. (16) For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. (17) And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.
-- 1 John 2:15-17 (NLT)

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

Let Us Be Continually Thankful

And always be thankful. -- Colossians 3:15b (NLT)

Andre Crouch's classic song "My Tribute -- To God Be the Glory"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7YON4WqOQM&feature=related

A Sissel and Oslo Gospel Choir arrangement of the same song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtenFJ6x75k&feature=related

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

Lord of the Harvest

(37) Jesus said to His disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. (38) So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers for His fields."
-- Matthew 9:37-38 (NIV)

The Imperials Singing "Lord of the Harvest":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WN7ezuRYpA

"Lord of the Harvest" lyrics:

See the fields, ripe and white as snow
Up from the seeds of faith we planted long ago
So many the hearts in season
With every prayer they've grown
You have made them ready
but we must bring them home

Chorus:
Lord of the harvest place your fire in me
Servants you need now, a servant I will be
Give me the eyes of Your Spirit,
Your heart of compassion to know
Lord of the harvest, show me where to go

Time like a free wind, so quickly slips away
Too soon today's tomorrow, too soon they're yesterday
So little time for the reaping and the laborers are few
Lift your head to the fields of white
There's work that we must do

Refrain:
Wherever you may lead me
Lord of the Harvest I'll Go

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

Who's Your Daddy? God or the Devil?

1 John 3:1-10 (NLT) is direct and powerful. Sounds like John is basically asking Who's Your Daddy? God or the devil?

(1) See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be called His children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don’t know God, so they don’t understand that we are His children. (2) Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when He comes we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is. (3) And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure. (4) Those who sin are opposed to the law of God, for all sin opposes the law of God. (5) And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, for there is no sin in Him. (6) So if we continue to live in Him, we won’t sin either. But those who keep on sinning have never known him or understood who He is. (7) Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it is because they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. (8) But when people keep on sinning, it shows they belong to the Devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil. (9) Those who have been born into God’s family do not sin, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they have been born of God. (10) So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the Devil. Anyone who does not obey God’s commands and does not love other Christians does not belong to God.

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

God Loves Us. We Trust Him.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in Him.
-- 1 John 4:16

Lord, I want it to be said of me: Because I knew Your great love for me, I put my full trust in You! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

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

Deeper Understanding

May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:5 ((NLT)

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

Stand at the Gate

I would rather stand at the gate of the house of my God than live in the homes of the wicked. -- Psalm 84:10b (Good News Translation)

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

You Encourage Me

This week I was blessed to hear Dr. Dennis Kinlaw speak at a conversation gathering for pastors and evangelists in Wilmore, Kentucky. Because he is advancing well into his eighties, he was wheeled in a chair to the front of the lecture hall where he greeted us in His encouraging Christlike manner and delivered one of the most wonderful messages I have ever heard from the book of Genesis on the topic of God wanting us to be His conversation partners for life and eternity. He spoke well over an hour but it seemed like a few fleeting moments to me.

After the sacred session, I walked to the front to thank Dr. Kinlaw and to ask him to personalize a copy of his newest book to me. He graciously did. Then I handed the book and pen to his precious granddaughter, "Cricket", who serves as his personal research assistant and who was his caretaker for the day and asked her to also personalize the book on the same page that her grandfather had just written. Humbly, underneath her grandfather's gracious words, she signed her name and referenced what is probably her life's verse -- Psalm 138:3.

The Lord sure encouraged me through Dr. Dennis Kinlaw and his precious granddaughter, "Cricket".

When I pray, you answer me; You encourage me by giving me the strength I need. -- Psalm 138:3 (NLT)

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

Good Luck!

Good luck carrying out Ephesians 4-6 if you haven't first seen Ephesians 1-3. -- Joseph R. Dongell

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

Most Quoted Words in the Old Testament

I've been told that the these words from Exodus 34:6-7 are the most quoted words in the Old Testament by The Old Testament. No wonder! These words are indeed God's own expression of His indescribable love towards His people. Reminding God over and over of "Who He said He is" and "how great He has defined His own love for us to be" surely gives us hope:

"I am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness. I show this unfailing love to many thousands by forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. -- Exodus 34:6-7 (NLT)

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

The Heavenly Vision

I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
-- Acts 26:10 (NKJV)

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

Holidays on the Horizon

I just want to say I am looking forward to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays on the horizon. Today, I just give thanks in advance before the holy days actually arrive, yes I give all thanks to our Generous God Who loved us so much that He gave us His one and only Son, sending Him to Bethlehem's manger so He could journey on to Calvary's Cross, to save and to sanctify our souls.

Meet me at John 3:16-17.

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

Healing in His Wings! Leaping With Joy!

Malachi 4:2 (NLT) -- But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.

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

Revival Lifestyle

How to live in revival as a lifestyle:

(1) Align -- Get right and stay right with God and others.
(2) Agonize -- Travail in fervent prayer.
(3) Acknowledge -- Keep God's Word paramount at all times.
(4) Anointing -- Be reliant on the Holy Spirit's presence.

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

Revival in Season Every Season

Please join me in praying that revival season will be in season every season until we see the face of our Lord coming in the clouds. Will God not continuously keep His promises to pour out revival in the lives of us, His people, if we will continuously meet the conditions He makes clear for revival in 2 Chronicles 7:14?

Then if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land. -- 2 Chron. 7:14 (NLT)

God, revival is obviously Your will. I pray It will obviously be what we want, too. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

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

Meet Me in 1 John 3

Words from Scripture were shared with me by a sister in the Lord last week and this morning I continue to reflect on them:

Yes, I'm reflecting on seven words from Isaiah 1:16b & 17a:

...stop doing wrong, learn to do right.

Reminds me an awful lot of the New Testament words Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery:

Go and sin no more. -- John 8:11 (NLT)

1 John 3 is a "good" and holy read on the heels of these sobering words. Meet me there. :-)

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

Is American Retirement a Kingdom Tragedy?

The American definition of retirement is losing its appeal to me. I'm talking about the whole idea of reaching a certain age so I can focus the sunset years of my life -- yes the lion's share of my remaining time, abilities, and money -- mainly on my own leisure and earthly pleasure rather than on God's mission and eternal treasure.

Is it possible that the American definition of retirement is in fact a Kingdom Tragedy? If you're brave enough to think about it, here's a link that will assist you. It might mess up your future plans?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60_TmQdxkcI&feature=related

So I pray, Lord, help me to trace and embrace Your plans for my entire existence on planet earth. Yes, I want my whole life, to the very end, to be ordered by You alone. Remind me that my life does not belong to me, but to You, totally. I am so humbled and grateful that You died to save me from my sinful actions and from my self-centered attitude, too. Please Lord, don't let the traditional American definition of retirement rock me asleep spiritually. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

...their own complacency will destroy them. -- Proverbs 1:32 (NLT)

You are not your own... -- 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)

(24) Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. (25) If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. (26) And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?" -- Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT)

For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
-- Hebrews 3:14 (NLT)

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

Revival Season: Free From the Devil's Lies

Revival is in Season within our local church and tonight we plan to be re-released on and in this world our Lord's died to save, sharing the Good News of His Resurrection like never before.

This morning this e-mail arrived in my e-box from one of my sisters in the Lord. It's her inspiring testimony as a result of God's healing in her heart during this Sacred Season.

Good Morning, Pastor Kerry:

God is so good! His hand of mercy and forgiveness extends beyond what we think we need forgiveness for and takes us a step further into His loving arms. I feel so totally cleansed and renewed this morning as I was able to kneel at the altar last night and it was like rising up out of the River Jordan with a clean heart. Praise God! There's a soul-cleansing revival ready to take place for the willing heart on a bended knee. I am free, totally free at last. Free from my painful past that was not my fault. Free from my failures. Free from the devil's lies.

As a child spending many years at church camp, one of my favorite campfire songs was "They'll know we are Christians by our Love" because that was one that I could play easily on my guitar for the group. Last night the words of that song opened up in my heart in new ways for me and I will never be able to "just sing it" ever again. We are so totally BLESSED to have such a family of believers in our church, and what an blessing it is to be part of that congregation.

WE ARE ONE IN THE SPIRIT, WE ARE ONE IN THE LORD.
WE ARE ONE IN THE SPIRIT, WE ARE ONE IN THE LORD.
AND WE PRAY THAT ALL UNITY MAY ONE DAY BE RESTORED.
AND THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE, BY OUR LOVE.
YES, THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE.

WE WILL WORK WITH EACH OTHER, WE WILL WORK SIDE BY SIDE
.....AND WE'LL GUARD EACH MAN'S DIGNITY AND SAVE EACH MAN'S PRIDE.

WE WILL WALK WITH EACH OTHER WE WILL WALK HAND IN HAND
......AND TOGETHER WE'LL SPREAD THE NEWS THAT GOD IS IN OUR LAND!

ALL PRAISE TO THE FATHER FROM WHOM ALL THINGS COME
AND ALL PRAISE TO CHRIST JESUS HIS ONLY SON
AND ALL PRAISE TO THE SPIRIT WHO MAKES US ONE
AND THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE, BY OUR LOVE
YES THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE.

I can't wait to be re-released knowing that I have the backing, love and support of the Church behind me.

Hallelujah!
"A Daughter of God"

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

Back Against the Wall?

When your back is against the wall, what's in your heart will be revealed. -- James Spruill

Lord, when my back is against the wall, I pray that faith in You and worship of You is what will be revealed in my heart. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

2 Chronicles 19 & 20 provides an illustration of these thoughts.

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

Seemingly Hopeless

The Lord is near to those who are discouraged. He saves those who have lost all hope. -- Psalm 34:18 (Good News Translation)

Lord, I rejoice because my soul is revived in knowing that when things are seemingly hopeless, the key word is seemingly. My Hope is certainly sure and my Hope has a name -- "JESUS!" Amen.

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

It's Time to Get Right With God!

James 5:16 (NLT) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

It's time to get right with God!

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

Touch Your People Once Again

Psalm 80:18b-19 (NLT) -- Revive us so we can call on your name once more. (19) Turn us again to yourself, O LORD God Almighty. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT) -- (22) The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. (23) Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day.

As I anticipate this new day, my heart's cry is best expressed in a song by Steve Green titled "Touch Your People Once Again":

Click Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Nn27vBRmY

We need wisdom we need power
And true love for each other
We have had so many big but empty words
So we come before Your face
Asking for Your grace
Bring Your people to a state of kingdom life
Restore Your church again

Chorus:
Touch Your people once again
With Your precious holy hand,
we pray
Let Your kingdom shine upon this earth
Through a living glorious church
Not for temporary deeds
But to restore authority
and power
Let a mighty rushing wind blow in
Touch your people once again

Lord You see Your tired servants
And the broken wounded soldiers
Oh how much we need Your precious healing hand
We need the power of the cross
As the only source for us
When we stand up facing final battle cry
Restore your church again

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

Under God or Gone Under?

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." -- President Ronald Reagan

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. -- 2 Chron. 7:14 (NLT)

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

Isaiah 40 -- "Who is God's Equal?"

Isaiah 40 has been powerful in my life of late. Here it is from The New Living Translation of the Holy Bible:

(1) "Comfort, comfort my people," says your God. (2) "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and that her sins are pardoned. Yes, the LORD has punished her in full for all her sins." (3) Listen! I hear the voice of someone shouting, "Make a highway for the LORD through the wilderness. Make a straight, smooth road through the desert for our God. (4) Fill the valleys and level the hills. Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots. (5)Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The LORD has spoken!" (6) A voice said, "Shout!" I asked, "What should I shout?" "Shout that people are like the grass that dies away. Their beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of flowers in a field. (7) The grass withers, and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD. And so it is with people. (8)The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever." (9) Messenger of good news, shout to Zion from the mountaintops! Shout louder to Jerusalem—do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, "Your God is coming!" (10) Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in all his glorious power. He will rule with awesome strength. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. (11) He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. (12) Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed out the mountains and the hills? (13) Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to be his teacher or counselor? (14) Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good or what is best? (15) No, for all the nations of the world are nothing in comparison with him. They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on the scales. He picks up the islands as though they had no weight at all. (16) All Lebanon’s forests do not contain sufficient fuel to consume a sacrifice large enough to honor him. All Lebanon’s sacrificial animals would not make an offering worthy of our God. (17) The nations of the world are as nothing to him. In his eyes they are less than nothing—mere emptiness and froth. (18) To whom, then, can we compare God? What image might we find to resemble him? (19) Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? (20) Or is a poor person’s wooden idol better? Can God be compared to an idol that must be placed on a stand so it won’t fall down? (21) Have you never heard or understood? Are you deaf to the words of God—the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? (22) It is God who sits above the circle of the earth. The people below must seem to him like grasshoppers! He is the one who spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. (23) He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. (24) They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and their work withers. The wind carries them off like straw. (25) "To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. (26) Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away. (27) O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? (28) Have you never heard or understood? Don’t you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. (29) He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. (30) Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. (31) But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

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

"Lord, Help My Unbelief!"

I am wholeheartedly praying this prayer this morning:

Lord, help me to believe that Your promise is as true as the performance of Your promise. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" -- Mark 9:24

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