Your Approval Be Mine For All Time!

This morning I have been saturating in our Lord's Message on the Mountain (Matthew 5,6,7). This verse really speaks deeply and mysteriously to my eternal soul:

Matthew 5:20 (GWT) "I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God’s approval and do it more faithfully than the experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

So, I pray earnestly: "Dearest Lord, the kingdom of heaven is surely my heart's desire, because that's where You, my King, will be for forevermore. Let Your Spirit of Truth reside, abide, and preside within me now and always -- making me fully faithful -- that Your approval will be mine for all time. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Holiness Unto The LORD!

Grateful

To Try or to Trust?

1. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to take Him at His Word;
   Just to rest upon His promise,
   And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
   • Refrain:
     Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
     How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
     Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
     Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to trust His cleansing blood;
   And in simple faith to plunge me
   ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just from sin and self to cease;
   Just from Jesus simply taking
   Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
   Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
   And I know that Thou art with me,
   Wilt be with me to the end.
   
   
   --Louisa Stead
   
   
   To try or to trust? Yes, that is the question! Trusting is more beneficial than trying.
   
   
   Grateful 
   
   

Cold & Mechanical

Let's pray for each other through the cold and mechanical days and nights... Walking by faith alone is the life that gains God's approval...

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

God's Vision Won't Be a Lie or Late

Habakkuk 2:3 (GWT) The vision will still happen at the appointed time. It hurries toward its goal. It won’t be a lie. If it’s delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won’t be late. 

Grateful 

Holy Spiritual Surrender is Two-fold

This week the Lord revealed a beautiful two-fold truth to me about holy spiritual surrender. Listen prayerfully:

Holy spiritual surrender is not only about being sick and tired of struggling with controlling our own destiny. It is also about being ready to completely trust in the Savior to be Lord of All -- (1) finally letting go and (2) totally trusting God.

Holiness Into The LORD!

Grateful

"As-Long-As-It-Takes" Prayers...

This past week was our Virginia Church of the Nazarene District Assembly. Pastors and leaders from nearly 110 preaching points across The Commonwealth gathered for accountability, training, and encouragement. As a part of this gathering, each local pastor gave a one-minute highlight report from their local ministry area. It is a very real experience, complete with crying and laughing.

This year, my friend, Brad, who pastors in West Point, Virginia, had the most unforgettable line. Pastor Brad said this about the fellowship of believers he shepherds: "Our church has moved beyond praying 'as-quick-as-possible' prayers to praying 'as-long-as-it-takes' prayers." What a mark of perseverance, determination, trust, and hope I heard in his simple but profound declaration.

Recently, I have been saying to many people: "Waiting is worship!" Thanks, Pastor Brad, for giving me one more proof that it is true.

Grateful      

"The Most Awesome of Gifts"

After spending the night in the ER with his wife, Lori, who was experiencing severe abdominal pain due to gall bladder complications, my brother Billy Joe, sent me this message this morning:

"When Jesus promised He would send the Comforter, He promised us the most awesome of Gifts."

What a wonderful message, and what an awesome reality. Even through long, dark nights of pain and suffering, the comfort our Lord promised is present and presiding in our lives.

Following my own physical challenges last week, while the pain for now has subsided mostly, I am still somewhat weak. This morning when my brother sent me those "SWEET 16" words above, it added new strength to my heart, mind, soul, and body.

Of course, my brother, is referring to the promise made by Jesus on the eve of His Crucifixion. In John 14:16-17, hear that promise for your own life:

^"16 And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷ Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (KJV)

Thank you Father God, for Jesus, our Elder Brother, Who did not leave us as orphans but sent The Comforter, The Holy Spirit, to be with us and to live in us. Amen.

Grateful

Who Loves Us and Lives With Us?

John 14:23 (GWT) Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

Who's in our house? Answer obvious above.

What an inheritance we enjoy.

Grateful

Thank You for Your Faithfulness to God

The speaker said: "Thank you for your faithfulness to God." It really touched my heart to hear those words. 

Yes, as Bobbi Jo, our district missions president thanked the people at our Missions Convention for our passion for God and His Mission to reach the world, her sweet voice was like the voice of Jesus speaking in my ears.

Too often we forget that while we are counting on God for Everything, and while we sing songs to Him like "Great is Thy Faithfulness", Our Faithful God is also grateful to those of us who care about the things of His Holy Heart.

So, if you have a heart for God and His Mission, let Him speak now -- ever so sweetly -- His approval to your eternal soul. Can you hear The Lord saying: "Thank you for your faithfulness to Me."

I know. It's a humbling and a Holy thought, too. Still, let's accept our Lord's applause and receive His appreciation. Remember, we are valuable to our God.

Grateful

"Christ's Body"

Our Church of the Nazarene General Superintendent, Dr. Eugenio Duarte from Africa's Cape Verde Islands, is preaching as I make this post. His text from The New Testament is: 

Romans 12:4-5 (NLT) Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 

His main point up to now is: "United together (as the body of Christ) we will never be defeated."

What an encouraging word. Let's heed it.

Grateful

A New Perspective on Suffering

This past week the Lord has allowed and continues to allow me a new perspective on pain, yes especially physical suffering. Because of this new vision, I sense I am now able to appreciate to a greater degree the beatings, the severe physical punishment, and the brutal crucifixion that our Suffering Savior experienced. How His Holy Heart must have flinched in unspeakable terror.

Yes, my heart is experiencing blessed brokenness like never before. It's a good thing. Not easy, but good. In it all, I have only been able to cry out: "Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for what You willingly endured to save our souls from sin and eternal damnation. And forgive me for not thinking more often of the awful price of suffering You paid so that my soul might not perish forever."

Holiness Unto YOU, my LORD! I worship You, in the beauty of Your Holiness. 

I love you so much, Lord, because You first Loved me TOO MUCH!
Grateful 

The Holy Spirit Within Us- A Foretaste of Future Glory

Worth your time. I promise. Thanks to a friend who shared this passage with me last evening. Let's just say for now "Yesterday, i experienced a day of physical groaning". Still, "Good News" -- God's Grace was/is enough. 

Romans 8:18-29 (NLT) Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

Grateful

"Sweetest Message Ever"

God proved faithful in the finale of my Campmeeting preaching last night. A precious, retired preacher who was also the  Spanish translator came up afterwards and said through tears: "That's the sweetest message I ever translated. Thank you."

I am humbled. My text was two-fold last evening: 2 Corintians 5:21 and 1 John 4:13. Sweet, indeed.

Grateful 

"My Cup Overflows"

Summer is zooming past us, in case you needed to know :-). Hard to believe it is already July 17, 2013. Like, "whoa", already. Time continues to carry us closer and closer to Eternity.

How's your day going? Just to be honest with you, I never like beginning my day with back pain, and only to add insult to injury, wouldn't you know that I cut myself shaving. I'm really not whining, just being vulnerable. One of the first verses to come into my mind after I awoke this morning was from the Old Testament Book of Job, chapter 13 and verse 15: "Though He slay me, yet will I hope/trust in Him."

What I am saying is this: Life has a way of making sure we experience some measure of suffering. I know back pain and a facial cut are just small samples of suffering, yet both truly speak to the human condition.

Last evening in our Tuesday Campmeeting service at Table Rock, South Carolina, I continued to share from Matthew 11:28-30 and John 15:4. And once again, I only shared one-page of what I had written down and then the stories just came flowing from my heart.

Somehow, I eventually ended up at The 23rd Psalm -- especially verse 5b: "He anoints my head with oil. My cup overflows." I told the people how any good shepherd anoints his sheep at night so they can rest. The aroma and the rubbing of the oil lets the sheep know they are not alone. Especially it lets the sheep with pain know, they are not alone in their suffering. What comfort.

As a conclusion to the service, I had seven pastors come to the front with anointing oil and then it seemed nearly everyone one in "the fold" came for a fresh touch and a renewed reminder that His Presence, yes the Good Shepherd's Presence, is both with us and within us. In the end, I went to be anointed as well. It was a glorious moment. It's like we all received healing for our restless hearts.

So, this morning when I awoke still experiencing back pain and then I cut myself shaving, I just talked to the Good Shepherd. I am not alone. And though He hasn't seen fit to completely heal me yet, His Holy Presence with me and especially within me makes it all okay. Surely, "my cup overflows" with His Good Presence and I know His grace is enough. My soul is at rest.

Time for me to head out for the morning service. Thanks for your continued prayers, partners.

Baaa. Baaa.
Grateful

The Sparrow on My Shoulder

Last evening as I began my Monday night message at Table Rock Campmeeting in the mountains of South Carolina, a sparrow flew into the open-air tabernacle and lit on my shoulder. At that very moment I was praying for the people to receive their inheritance of intimacy from God. It was amazing. I stopped my prayer and said with joy, "A bird is on my shoulder!" The people's hearts and the preacher's heart were wonderfully warmed. 

After about 30 seconds of posing on my shoulder, the sparrow flew to the corner of the tabernacle and I resumed praying with fresh anointing.

Thirty minutes later, the altars were lined with seekers claiming their inheritance invitation offered by Jesus in Matthew 11:28 and John 15:4. A truly beautiful sight.

And would you believe a man in the congregation came up at the end laughing and saying, "The bird never left the tabernacle. He stuck around to hear the preaching."

When that sparrow landed on my shoulder, I cannot explain what it did to my soul. All I could think about was when Jesus was baptized and the dove descended on Him. I was not worthy of a dove, but one thing is for sure: "His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me."

Humbled, Indeed... And...

Grateful... Very...

i am kerry 

We Pray For His PRESENCE!

I am so blessed by all of you, my dear brothers and sisters who are praying for me as I preach "The Presence of The Living God" here at Campmeeting in Table Rock, S.C.

Those of you who are specifically praying for my physical touch, please know God is at work within me. In the same way He is surely at work spiritually. I sense the hunger of the precious people here for renewed right relationships with The Lord. It is a beautiful thing to behold.

As you pray, please do not underestimate how you are undeniably partnering with me in our Father's eternal business. Please know I am also praying with/for you.

Last evening I had seven handwritten pages of fresh insight from God's Word to share with the congregation. The Lord took over and about 45 minutes later seekers were kneeling at the altar. Somewhere along the way, I guess I got lost in wonder, love, and praise. 

When I went to gather my preaching pages from the pulpit, I realized that I had only shared one full page of the message notes. I laughed.

All is well that ends well. I am locked in on one word for the duration. Say the word -- "P R E S E N C E!"

Keep those prayers lifted, partners.

Grateful

Note: This morning's service was glorious, too. I spoke on"The Ministry of Presence".

Rain, Pain and Gain.

This summer has been the rainiest season I remember for the eastern states of the USA. Yesterday, a teen sent a message out over Twitter saying "I am tired of the beach. It rains all the time." I replied, "It's raining everywhere." Well, "everywhere" at least in the region of the world we live in.

I am personally experiencing a season of pain, too. A few weeks ago, I slipped in my garage (rain had dripped from our vehicle on the cement) and strained my back. I give thanks that I somehow didn't fall and bust my head wide open, but still I've had an aggravated sciatic nerve (I'm diagnosing myself) ever since. It mostly provides discomfort in my back, but the pain runs down my right leg as well. I've taken plenty of ibuprofen for some relief and was anointed for healing by four pastors last week. Still, while the pain is manageable most of the time, it's still making me somewhat weary.

Yesterday, I drove 400 miles so I can preach seven times at The South Carolina Wesleyan Campmeeting at Table Rock, South Carolina. It was a lovely ride. Especially, the last three hours of the ride were breath-taking. Coming through the Carolina Mountains is so inspiring to my soul. I arrived around 8 p.m. and though I was like the first one to get here, I had a welcoming committee of one -- yes, a precious little beagle puppy. It touched my heart deeply.

I made my way into the lodge and found my room. A full laundry basket of snack foods, soft drinks, fruit, etc. greeted me. What a blessing. I like it here at the lodge. I had athe privilege of preaching here several summers ago. The room is very clean with oak furniture and bright decor. I have my own bathroom and linings are provided. There's even a kitchen just a few steps from my door. While I do have phone service and Internet, there is no TV in the room, which is a blessing, indeed. So after I arrived, I enjoyed a quiet evening of settling in and fell asleep praying for the mind of Christ.

So, I've talked about the rain and my pain, now I want to ask for your prayers. Yes, I want my time here to bring about gain for the Kingdom of God. As I write, rain continues to hit the window outside my room. And yes, my pain is still present, but all of that is secondary to the spiritual reason I am here. I will speak for the first service of the campmeeting at 6 p.m. this evening. It's an open air tabernacle in the shadow of Table Rock -- a lovely setting, indeed.

I do believe I have the mind of Christ -- the message He desires me to preach. It's a new message for me. As a matter of fact, I have been saturating in the passages for over a year and have been carving out the presentation over the last 2-3 hours. Please pray that the souls will be open to hear "what saith the Lord" through me. I remain His humble but willing messenger.

Perhaps for this preaching engagement, the Lord knows without some rain on the outside and my pain on the inside, there would be no gain for eternity? I'm good with that, as long as He is.

"Deo Volente" is my prayer. Yes, "Whatever God Wants!"
Grateful

Note: My text for tonight is Matthew 11:28 and John 15:4. Please pray for favor. Thanks for my friends who have already let me know they are with me in the Spirit of prayer. I am humbled.

   

As Long As I Have You (GOD)...

A friend recently sent me this passage from the powerful Word of God:

Psalm 73:21-28 (GWT) When my heart was filled with bitterness and my mind was seized with envy, I was stupid, and I did not understand. I was like a dumb animal in your presence. Yet, I am always with you.You hold on to my right hand. With your advice you guide me, and in the end you will take me to glory. As long as I have you, I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth. My body and mind may waste away, but God remains the foundation of my life and my inheritance forever. Without a doubt, those who are far from you will die.You destroy all who are unfaithful to you. Being united with God is my highest good. I have made the Almighty Lord my refuge so that I may report everything that he has done. 

Amen.

P E A C E. J E S U S.

Grateful

Let God's Love Pour In...

Ever since Brian Charette and I wrote our recently published book, "The Stress Factor -- Finding Rest in an Uneasy World", whenever I hear someone mention the word "stress", my ears perk up.

It happened this week in our local church foyer. Two ladies were conversing and I joined in. Here's the quote that got my attention, spoken by April Zook: 

"When stress overcomes you, just part the waters and let God's love pour in!"

What a lovely line. The world's stress is no match for our God's Love.

Let's be... Grateful

P.S. Our book is published by Beacon Hill Press if you want to check it out at Nazarene Publishing House or Amazon.com 

The Learning Curve at Age 52? Worth It!

Okay... Some people refuse to reveal their age. Me? I celebrated 52 years of life on planet earth on June 12, 2013.

Perhaps the most difficult thing about being on-the-way-down-the-hill (over 50) is the high-paced learning curve associated with living and especially communicating in this century. It's maddening. No other way to say it.

Still, I refuse not to give it my best to keep in touch with the younger generation. I mean within reason. I'm not a young whipper-snapper anymore, I know that, but I do not believe it is wise to loose connection.

So how am I keeping up at age 52? Well, I finally did away with my beloved flip-telephone and purchased an intimidating iPhone. The fact is, the learning curve wasn't as difficult as I had imagined. I should've listened to my 24-year-old daughter much sooner and made the change-over. She kept saying, "Dad, you will love the iPhone as a pastor." I do.

So, with the iPhone, I went from typing letters and composing emails (like a dinosaur always sitting at my stationary desk), to texting and blogging and even now, can you believe it, "Tweeting" from wherever I happen to be. Find me on Twitter @PastorKerryW. (I did manage to totally miss out on Facebook, but that's a story for another blog post... perhaps?)

What's especially hard on my brain is when I try to imagine being, say 80 or 90-years-old and trying to understand and negotiate all of the new-fangled ways of life awaiting me further along in the 21st Century. It is a frightening thought. But is it scarier to me than becoming a hermit? I think not. 

What's the point of this blog post? I'm not really sure myself yet. Keep reading and I'll keep writing. :-). 

In many ways all believers need to become missionaries to the present generation and stay in on their conversations. We need to be their spiritual mentors, friends, and encouragers. If we give up on the new ways of communicating we will fail at learning their language and loose opportunities to express life lessons and real love to them.

(Please hold tight because I believe I am now finally arriving at my point!)

Everyone needs compassion. Not only do we need to give it to the younger generations, but we desperately need compassion from them, for ourselves.

So, I beg you not to be guilty of cursing the present and future ways of staying in touch. Don't let fear or frustration or anything disconnect you from others. Lives may eventually depend on it. Even your own life. 

Why? Well, you do know we really do need connection to and compassion from each other? And I personally believe those of us on-the-way-down-the-hill, especially must find it from the present and the future generations. 

Grateful

Note: In case you are curious? I wrote this blog post sitting on the tailgate of my Ford Pickup Truck -- my 21-year-old Ford Ranger. Not sure how old 21 really is in truck years, but we seem to have a lot in common. ;-)

There is No Other God!

A few days ago, my friend from India, Pastor Ajay, told me how God is working through him to convince his native people that there are not 33 million gods as they suppose, but there is only one True God. Yes, our Lord Jesus is the only Way to Father God. (John 14:6)

My friend, Pastor Kris, shared this passage of Scripture with me this morning. I believe it will speak to your heart as it did to mine:

Isaiah 44:1-8 (NLT)
¹“But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant,
    Israel my chosen one.
² The Lord who made you and helps you says:
Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant,
    O dear Israel, my chosen one.
³ For I will pour out water to quench your thirst
    and to irrigate your parched fields.
And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants,
    and my blessing on your children.
⁴ They will thrive like watered grass,
    like willows on a riverbank.
⁵ Some will proudly claim, ‘I belong to the Lord.’
    Others will say, ‘I am a descendant of Jacob.’
Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands
    and will take the name of Israel as their own.”

The Foolishness of Idols

⁶ This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies:

“I am the First and the Last;
    there is no other God.
⁷ Who is like me?
    Let him step forward and prove to you his power.
Let him do as I have done since ancient times
    when I established a people and explained its future.
⁸ Do not tremble; do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
You are my witnesses—is there any other God?
    No! There is no other Rock—not one!”

 

Who is like our LORD? THERE IS NO ONE!

Grateful

Mourning...

Mourning leads to being comforted and to healing.

Isaiah 57:15-19 (GWT) The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy.This is what he says: I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed. I will not accuse you forever.I will not be angry with you forever. Otherwise, the spirits, the lives of those I’ve made, would grow faint in my presence. I was angry because of their sinful greed, so I punished them, hid from them, and remained angry. But they continued to be sinful. I’ve seen their sinful ways, but I’ll heal them. I’ll guide them and give them rest. I’ll comfort them and their mourners. I’ll create praise on their lips: “Perfect peace to those both far and near.” "I’ll heal them,” says the Lord.

Grateful

This Little Light of Mine...

I never tire of these words of Jesus written down by Matthew:

Matthew 5:14-16 (GWT) “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven."

When I was a little boy in Sunday School, Mrs. Frankie and Mrs. Ruby taught me these words in a little song. I never tire of it either:

"This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine!!!"

Be Light! Go Shine!
Grateful

Be Grateful, Not Jealous

"When we truly enjoy God's unlimited generosity, we will be grateful for what our brothers and sisters receive.  Jealousy will simply have no place in our hearts."

-- Henri Nouwen

Lord, we want to live giving You thanks for what we have...

...and trusting You for what we may lack.

In Jesus' Name. Amen and amen.

Being Grateful.... Not Jealous!

Grateful, indeed!

Romans 12:12 Instructions

These instructions from Romans 12:12 (NLT) are clear and encouraging:

(1) Rejoice in our confident hope.
(2) Be patient in trouble,
(3) And keep on praying.

Find us faithful, Lord, and find us trusting Your faithfulness, too.
Grateful

The Hands of Jesus

Did you ever think about the Holy hands of Jesus? Jesus' nail-pierced hands can: 1. Motion for Peace to calm any sea. 2. Touch blinded eyes with healing. 3. Stir Awake slumbering love. 4. Reach down to Resurrect the dead. And these same sacred nail-pieced hands reach out inviting you and me to Life everlasting. Grateful

You Saw? Well, See Again!

A friend of mine in The Lord Jesus recently reminded me of this refreshing New Testament passage:

Acts 9:17-19 (The Message) 

So Ananias went and found the house, placed his hands on blind Saul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes—he could see again! He got to his feet, was baptized, and sat down with them to a hearty meal. 

Lord, open our eyes. Yes, we want to see You, Jesus!

Grateful

Overwhelmed with Challenges from All Sides

I told a friend this morning: "I am a little overwhelmed with the glorious burden of all the needs God has entrusted me/us with." Perhaps it is the heaviness of holiness? 

This passage is helping me today:

From The Message Paraphrase, James 1:2-5: "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open."

For the privilege of worshipping and trusting You, My God, I am forever and today...

... Grateful