He Will Sustain You

Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
-- Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

Click here: Hold Me Jesus - Rich Mullins with lyrics. - YouTube

"Sustain" = "to bear up under"

Lord, unless You sustain me, all hope is gone.
You are my Rock. Hold me Jesus!
Grateful

If You Will Live For Him?

After an 18-day overseas trip and spending time with God's people across Europe, Asia, and The Middle East, this passage was strong on my mind this morning so I shared it with our local church at offering time. I hope it speaks to you God's peace that surpasses all understanding:

(31) So don't worry about having enough food or clothing. (32) Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs. (33) and He will give you all you need from day to day if you will live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
-- Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

To Keep Me From Becoming Conceited

(7) So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. (9) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
-- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)

By Faith! in Faith! (Hebrews 11)
Grateful

Hearts Aflame Discipleship Journey

Today, I, along with one of my partners in ministry, Pastor Vic, baptized 20 people in the Jordan River. Tonight, I am lost in wonder, love, and praise.

One of the ladies on this discipleship journey, Dara, read these words from Mark, Chapter 1, from God's Holy Word just before the sacred moments of baptism began:

(9) One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized Him in the Jordan River. (10) As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove. (11) And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and You bring me great joy.” (12) The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, (13) where He was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of Him. (14) Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where He preached God’s Good News. (15) “The time promised by God has come at last!” He announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

It was a powerful day to say the least.

Now, as I post this blog content, I can hear the waves of The Sea of Galilee lapping along the seashore about 20 feet outside my hotel room window. In the morning we, like Jesus, will steadfastly set our faces to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51).

Our guide in The Holy Land, Johnny, said this to us earlier in the week: "Every believer should desire to visit the Holy Land of our Lord Jesus at least once in their lifetime." Indeed, being here lives up to the reputation that comes along with journeying through the Holy Land -- Yes, it most surely is like living within what has been called The 5th Gospel of The Bible.

I pray that wherever you are, the presence of the Man from Galilee will speak "Peace be still to your soul" and that your heart will be aflame with the beauty of His Holiness.

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

Wait For The Lord

I will wait for the LORD,
Who is hiding his face...
and I will hope in him.
-- Isaiah 8:17 (ESV)

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

Consider Others More Important Than Yourselves

(3) Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. (4) Care about them as much as you care about yourselves (5) and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought. -- Philippians 2:3-5 (CEV)

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

I Will Not Forget You!

(14) But Zion said, “The Lord has abandoned me. My Lord has forgotten me.” (15) Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers may forget, I will not forget you. (16) I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always in my presence.
-- Isaiah 49:14-16

Remember Me. I Will Remember You! -- God
Grateful

If You Want To Boast?

(17) As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” (18) When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.
-- 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (NLT)

Lord, I am not my own. I belong to You!
Grateful

How Should We Walk?

...let us walk in the light of the Lord!
-- From Isaiah 2:5 (NLT)

Lord, I want to BE LIGHT! GO SHINE!
Grateful

Give Up Your Evil Ways

Get your sins out of my sight.
Give up your evil ways.
-- From Isaiah 1:16 (NLT)

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

Apart From The Existence of God

Live your life in such a way that it makes no sense apart from the existence of God.
-- Rev. Philip McAllister, Ireland

By Faith! In Faith! (Hebrews 11)
Grateful

No Prayer? No Life!

This week I am spending a few days with ministry leaders from some of the most difficult regions of the world. It has been a humbling experience. I was invited to this designated location during these days to refresh the hearts of God's people in hopes that His Church might be strengthened in the days to come in these difficult places.

Today, I was blessed to speak on prayer in two separate sessions and to conclude each session with prayer laboratories. The room was full both sessions, and in the final session people were sitting on the floor, leaning along the wall, and standing in the doorway. (Corporate hunger for God is such a wonderful thing to experience.) Sacred whispers, yes, a continuous holy hum could be heard the whole time we were together as multiple translators were interpreting the messages and the prayers in real time. One of the interpreters came up to me at the end of the final session with tear-lined eyes to say how much God had helped her heart during our time together. God's sweet presence was so faithful to melt our hearts together as one. Hallelujah!

Early in the day, a pastor's wife from a Middle Eastern nation gave me strength with this one simple, yet profound sentence:

If we don't pray, we don't live!

Do we pray? I mean, really, do we know God in intimate relationships?
No prayer? No life!
Grateful

Jesus... The Only One I Could Ever Live For!

Tonight, I was humbled and blessed to be a part of a worship celebration led by a choir of pure worshipers from The Commonwealth of Independent States (regions of the former Soviet Union). As they sang praises to the Lord, I wept. Indeed, I did! It was so moving!

My faith was refastened to My Redeemer. God's vision for my own life gloriously refocused. While it would be totally impossible to define this experience with mere words, I will share some of the lyrics from four of the songs this choir led the congregation in as we, people of many different nations, passionately worshiped our God of all nations:

One Way -- Jesus!
You're the only One I could ever live for!

Name above all names,
worthy of praise.

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing.

Savior!
He can move the mountains!
He is mighty to save!

Holiness unto The LORD!
Grateful

Real Is More Wonderful Than Cool

This prayerful thought has been on my mind many times lately:
Lord, I want my life to be positive proof that "being real in You" is more wonderful than "being cool on my own".

Yes Lord, I want Your Holy Spirit's presence within me to be a real and wonderful moment-by-moment witness of Your undeniable Love for, and existence on, planet earth. In Jesus' name. Amen.

As a matter of fact, John 3:16-17, is in my face-and-eyes right now: (16) God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who has faith in Him will have eternal life and never really die. (17) God did not send His Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent Him to save them! (CEV)

Christ in you (me), the hope of glory.
-- Colossians 1:27b

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

Guard Against Any Criticism

We are traveling together to guard against any criticism...
-- From 2 Corinthians 18:20 (NLT)

We are one in the Spirit!
Grateful

His Blessed Will

I longed to walk along an easy road,
And leave behind the dull routine of home,
Thinking in other fields to serve my God;
But Jesus said, “My time has not yet come.”

I longed to sow the seed in other soil,
To be unfettered in the work, and free,
To join with other labourers in their toil;
But Jesus said, “‘Tis not My choice for thee.”

I longed to leave the desert, and be led
To work where souls were sunk in sin and shame,
That I might win them; but the Master said,
“I have not called thee, publish here My name.”

I longed to fight the battles of my King,
Lift high His standards in the thickest strife;
But my great Captain bade me wait and sing
Songs of His conquests in my quiet life.

I longed to leave the uncongenial sphere,
Where all alone I seemed to stand and wait,
To feel I had some human helper near,
But Jesus bade me guard one lonely gate.

I longed to leave the round of daily toil,
Where no one seemed to understand or care;
But Jesus said, “I choose for thee this soil,
That thou might’st raise for Me some blossoms rare.”

And now I have no longing but (to be), to do
At home, or else afar, His blessed will,
To work amid the many or the few;
Thus, “choosing not to choose,” my heart is still.
–Selected (Streams in the Desert)

Lord, I only want to obey
Whenever I hear you say:
"It is time for you to go for Me,
Or it is time for you to stay!"
-- My Prayer

Deo Volente -- Whatever God Wants!
Grateful

Waiting On God Or Waiting For God?

When we wait on God, He is waiting until we are ready.
When we wait for God, we are waiting until He is ready.
-- Mrs. Charles Cowman, Streams in the Desert

So the Lord must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help.
-- Isaiah 30:18 (NLT)

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

Words About Freedom

Freedom is never more than one generation away from distinction.
-- President Ronald Reagan's words about a National Freedom

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
-- King Jesus' Words about Spiritual Freedom in John 8:36 (NLT)

Lord, thank You for giving to us freedom from sin.
Grateful

In Youth... In Age...

In youth we learn; in age we understand.
– Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, 19th century German writer/novelist

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. – The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV)

By Faith! In Faith! (Hebrews 11)
Grateful

The Privilege of Sharing

...they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing...
-- From 2 Corinthians 8:3-4 (NLT)

Lord, make me like You.
Make me like, You.
You were a servant.
Make me one, too.
O, Lord, I am willing,
Do what You must do,
To make me like You, Lord.
Please, make me like You!

God, You so loved the world that You Gave...
Grateful

Painful But Helpful

The words of the wise are like cattle prods — painful but helpful.
-- From Ecclesiastes 12:11 (NLT)

Give us the eyes of Your Spirit. Yes, Your Mind, Christ!
Grateful

One Sinner...

...one sinner can destroy much that is good.
-- Ecclessiastes 9:18b (NLT)

Lord, You gave Your Life for us so we could turn our hearts forever away from sinning to worshipping You always. Amen.

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

"The Good Old Days?"

We often say that we wish to return to what we remember as "The Good Old Days", however, one thing we tend to forget is that distance from the past all too often lends enchantment to our memories.

Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.
-- Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT)

Let's be present in the present.
Grateful

My Joy Knows No Bounds

I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
-- From 2 Corinthians 7:4 (NIV)

Lord, Your boundless Joy is my Strength!

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

More Words Equal Less Meaning!

The more the words, the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone?
-- Ecclesiastes 6:11 (NIV)

Lord, I want to worship You more and more in Spirit and in Truth,
and not merely with more words. Amen.

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful