Love Illustrated

To Be With Jesus

I preached from one of my most favorite Bible passages last evening in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Here it is:

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. (John 1:35-39 NIV)

I just want to be where You are, Jesus!

Grateful (for Your Presence)

Living Epistles

Yesterday after reading the blogpost at LeaderHelps.com written by my friend, Brian, I added these comments:

My favorite books to "read" are the living epistles of people's lives. I already "read" about three chapters today from the life of my mentor, James, as we talked and prayed together on the phone. Talk about illustrations!

Grateful 

Just Go Out With God

Remember "...to go out..." with God is nothing to worry about. Just "go out with God". He knows the way. He's trustworthy. Just go the way He calls you. You will not "go out" alone, for Jesus said in Matthew 28:20b (NLT) "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

-- Robert Coleman

Grateful

Short Prayer. Tall Request.

Lord, help me to make it my continuous desire
to never abandon my sacred, quiet seasons of prayer
without an undeniable awareness of Your Holy Presence
and a sure sense of Your Holy Approval.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Grateful

Your Presence Over My Methods

That he (Brother Lawrence) could never regulate his devotion by certain methods as some do. That nevertheless, at first he had meditated for some time, but afterwards that went off, in a manner that he could give no account of.”

Excerpt From: Lawrence, Brother. “The Practice of the Presence of God.”

My Prayer:

Lord, give me a holy desire to simply and profoundly be in Your Presence and to surely have Your Presence within me. My methods are what they are, but You are Who You are -- Always Present. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

"One day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand anywhere else."
-- Psalm 84:10a (GWT)

Grateful

Great and Awe-Inspiring God

I said, “Lord God of heaven, great and awe-inspiring God, you faithfully keep your promise and show mercy to those who love you and obey your commandments." 

-- Nehemiah 1:5 GWT

Grateful

My New Dentist -- "All Joy" Expectations

It's close to 8 p.m. and I am finally getting around to posting my Tuesday blog. Thanks in advance for your mercy towards my tardiness.

I had a dentist appointment today at a new dentist's office (new for me, that is). While visiting a dentist is not my favorite pastime, I must say today's visit was truly delightful.

My new dentist is obviously a radical believer in Jesus Christ. When I entered his cozy, little, village house-office, the first thing I saw was a framed copy of his personal life-testimony hanging on the waiting room wall. 

My new dentist has also authored a Bible-based book about living a radical Christian life. Copies are available in plain sight. The magazine placed on the chair I sat in was about Christian missionaries around the world.

There's more. Christian music plays throughout the atmosphere of the establishment and all of the workers were either humming the Good News tunes or clearly singing the hope-filled lyrics.

As the hygienist cleaned my teeth, she hummed softly with each song, while my new dentist unashamedly sang loudly and quite beautifully, I might add, in the room behind us.

I can honestly say I never knew visiting the dentist could be such an inspiration. After a look at my X-rays, the doc had a plain and honest talk with me about various options for future dental work. No pressure whatsoever! He just told me what he thought was necessary and what he thought would be a waste of my money.

My next visit is scheduled for late November. I actually decided to have a root canal. He told me plain and simple: "It won't be fun." But somehow I still am not really dreading it. Maybe I actually even have "all joy" expectations because I really like my new dentist. 

Here's the "all joy" New Testament Scripture I am referring to: 

James 1:2-4 (NKJV) "My brethren, count it 'all joy' when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Yes, there's a trial, a test of my faith awaiting on the horizon -- a holy root canal. 

Play that Christian music, Dr. Spaur. And please play it loud -- for my encouragement and just In case I scream once or twice, too.

Grateful 

P.S. I like my "old" dentist, too. But he's retiring. Godspeed to him.

Matthew 24:3-14 & The Word "WILL"

Last evening, my friend, Brian, spoke at our local church's gathering of men. He spoke on "Standing firm to the End -- Being ready now." Part of his text and especially one word is still burned into my brain -- a portion of Matthew 24 and the one word "will":
 
³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign that you are coming again, and when will the world come to an end?”
⁴ Jesus answered them, “Be careful not to let anyone deceive you. ⁵ Many will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people.
⁶ “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Don’t be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don’t mean that the end has come. ⁷ Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All of these are only the beginning pains of the end.
⁹ “Then they will hand you over to those who will torture and kill you. All nations will hate you because you are committed to me. ¹⁰ Then many will lose faith. They will betray and hate each other. ¹¹ Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹² And because there will be more and more lawlessness, most people’s love will grow cold. ¹³ But the person who endures to the end will be saved.
¹⁴ “This Good News about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come. (GWT)

Let Luke 18:8b be YES, Lord Jesus! 
Grateful

He Cares For You

1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Grateful

Come. Listen. Find Life And Love.

A dear, young, hungry soul for God sent me a message this morning that led me to Isaiah 55:

Isaiah 55:3 (NLT)  “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David."

Grateful

Our Faith Should Be Based On...

A dear friend in The Lord, sent me these words of encouragement today:

"Thanking the Lord for you today, dear friend!!! 'Our faith should be based on what we are certain of, not just how we feel. If our belief in God is rooted solely in the shallow soil of human emotions, this shallowness will be evident in the fruit that our faith produces.'"

Just Trust!

Grateful 

"I Intend to Keep Leading..."

A dear 80-year-old, Brother Aaron "Shorty" Rodes, gave this reply when asked if he would continue to lead Bible Studies as a life group leader in our local church's discipleship efforts:

 

"I have...

diabetes,
sleep apnea,
open heart surgery,
spot on my vocal cord,
can’t speak loudly,
use a walker
and I have come to the conclusion that the enemy is just trying to slow me down so (that perhaps) I won’t lead a life group….
...so I intend to keep leading a life group!”

Grateful

TOO MUCH

"And this hope will not lead to disappointment.
For we know how dearly God loves us,
because he has given us the Holy Spirit
to fill our hearts with his love."
-- Romans 5:5 (NLT)

My Prayer Response to Romans 5:5:

Abba Father, You have loved me TOO MUCH,
because that's what I most desperately needed.
You have given to me Your Precious Holy Spirit.
In so doing, You have filled my heart with Your Love.

Lord, I want to truly Love You back, through
Your Holy Spirit, Whom You have poured within me.
Regardless, of my feelings, please continue to fill me
with Your Presence and The Purity of Your Perfect Love.

In the Name of Jesus, my Hope. Amen.

Grateful

Citizens

Philippians 3:20-21 (GWT) We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior. Through his power to bring everything under his authority, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his glorified body.

I love my country, but I am much more a citizen of heaven than a citizen of America.

I'm often quite homesick for Heaven... HOME! I am so glad the Spirit of the Living God lives in me here until I arrive There.

Grateful

"The Least" Likely

Shortly after I first came to pastor in Harrisonburg, I had a lady in our church, Dreena Burke, to dress as a bag lady, "Angelica Divine". She concealed herself perfectly with make-up, a scent of filth, and even pushed an overflowing shopping cart of belongings. 

She was on our church property when our people arrived for morning worship. Only three of our attenders even spoke to her, with just one inviting her to join us for worship. She rudely declined. 

When the time came for me to accent the morning message, "Angelica Divine" surprisingly burst through the sanctuary doors with her shooping cart and talking quite loudly. She proceeded down the aisle and to the front where I finally revealed who she actually was -- one of us. It was a very powerful illustration for us to always see Jesus in "the least" likely of individuals.

Matthew 25:40 (NIV) “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" --Jesus

Grateful 

Sunday Evening Reflections

It's late Sunday evening and I am reflecting on the highlight of my day. It was a glorious day. I love Sundays.

Today, was definitely delightful. I had the privilege of baptizing seven precious souls in our 10:30 a.m. worship service. How I love to witness precious people going public with their personal God-relationships as they decide to be baptized publicly in the local church with God and the people of God looking on with great joy. It's indescribable and inspirational.

Whenever I am part of a baptismal service, Galatians 2:20 seems to sum up what's happening best: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (NKJV)

Grateful.... indeed. 

"Our World Needs Moral Leaders & Pure Lives"

As I listened to our District Superintendent, Dr. Fuller, give his report at our District Advisory Board Meeting, he spoke of attending an Hispanic Youth Campmeeting and hearing the speaker from the Country of Columbia challenge the young people in attendance to be leaders of morality in the United States. "Your country needs you to live pure lives," he proclaimed.

What a true and staggering appeal. If our country and our world needs anything, surely "moral leaders" are needed. In fact, let us confess that we are beyond the desperate point on this issue. Yes, we really need genuine believers who are deeply devoted to our Holy God and ready to allow The Holy Spirit to make them wholly His.

Please pray with me that the Lord will begin a revival of raising up "pure lives" to be sanctuaries of The Living God across all generations, but especially in the generation of young souls. Pray that the Lord will make all of us and many, many others hungry for Him and His Holiness.

1 Timothy 4:12 (GWT) Don’t let anyone look down on you for being young. Instead, make your speech, behavior, love, faith, and purity an example for other believers.

Holiness Unto the LORD!
Grateful

Note: Please Love Jesus Passionately

Desperately, Immediately, and Ultimately

Dearest our Almighty Personal Lord...

Without You, Life is a lie.

You alone are indeed...

Our Only Way, Our Whole Truth 

And, Our Eternal Life. 

Strengthen us to be full of faith.

Be our Success, lest we fail at Life.

Be our Breath, lest we die in our death.

We know we only need You...

Desperately, Immediately, and Ultimately.

You have come to us to live within us.

You have not abandoned us as orphans and you never will.

Empower us with a deep Desire for You, so we will never choose to abandon You either.

We cry out "Holiness Unto Our Lord!" Make us ONE with You, for forever and a day and today. Amen and Amen.

Grateful 

We Still Remember

Today, is 9/11. To the families and the victims: "We Still Remember!"

Praying for you today with heavy hearts...

"A Priceless Gift" -- A Pastor Encouraged

Pastors are people, too. 

As a pastor, this e-mail I received today from a dear, long-distance (but close to my heart) friend, is one of the most touching and encouraging correspondences I have ever opened on my computer (as a person):

"A godly, loving pastor is a priceless gift to an individual, a family, and a church. If we are not careful, we may be prone to take for granted the man of God that we have the privilege to call “Pastor.” Even the best men of God can become “weary in well doing.” I believe that each church member should strive to keep his pastor encouraged in any way possible. Any strength, encouragement, and life that we can give to our Pastor will return to us in manifold ways as he leads us in paths of righteousness. A faithful pastor will help you through the trials of life. He will help guide your children in their times of struggle. He will teach you, guide you, help you, and love you. We MUST do all that we can to keep the Devil from wounding him with his fiery darts of discouragement. BE ENCOURAGED MY FRIEND!"

Grateful to God for you, Keith, my brother in Jesus... Humbled, too.

Say "Yes" to God's Call

Hebrews 11:8 (MSG) By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God. 

Grateful

My Monday Morning Prayer

Holy Father God, I call upon Your matchless name.

Your kind compassions never, ever run out.

Truly, your wonderful mercies renew every single morning.

Your Holy presence I desire deeply in my heart, mind, soul and strength. 

To know You intimately and to love you intensely is my greatest goal.

Your continuous faithfulness to me is off the charts.

Please reside, abide and preside within me, forever and today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Jesus' Words About Moses' Teachings & The Prophets

Matthew 5:17 “Don’t ever think that I came to set aside Moses’ Teachings or the Prophets. I didn’t come to set them aside but to make them come true."

Matthew 7:12 “Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is the meaning of Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets."

Grateful

Remind Me Who I Am

Jason Gray's song encouraged my soul yesterday. Here are the lyrics:

Remind Me Who I Am

 

Verse 1:
When I lose My way,
And I forget my name,
Remind me who I am.
In the mirror all I see,
Is who I don't wanna be,
Remind me who I am.
In the lonliest places,
When I can't remember what grace is.

Chorus:
Tell me once again who I am to you.
Who I am to you.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to you.
That I belong to you.
To you.

Verse 2:
When my heart is like a stone,
And I'm running far from home,
Remind me who I am.
When I can't receive your love,
Afraid I'll never be enough,
Remind me who I am.
If I'm your beloved,
Can you help me believe it.

Chorus:
Tell me once again who I am to you.
Who I am to you, Woh.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to you.
That I belong to you.
To you.

Bridge:
I'm the one you love,
I'm the one you love,
That will be enough,
I'm the one you love.

Chorus:2x
Tell me once again who I am to you.
Who I am to you.
Tell me lest I forget who I am to you.
That I belong to you, Woh.
To you.3x

Grateful

Like a High-Rise Skyscraper

I feel like a high school freshman in the school of faith -- it's a good thing.

Depending on God, I am discovering, is like a high-rise skyscraper. In the days ahead, I hope and believe that this local pastor along with our local church will be moving up to higher holy floors of trusting God. Yes I sense we are about to move up to new levels of God's faithfulness that have previously been hidden from us in the concealing clouds of His glory.

Let's pray and obey...

Whatever God may choose say. 

Let's learn to depend...

Afresh and anew 100% on Him!

Grateful

Things to Think On

Today, my friend, Aaron, gave me four things to think on:

 1. How does my passion effect my posture?

2. What's the hurry? Avoid shortcuts.

3. Burn-up leads to Burn-out.

4. I must serve Christ for others, before I serve others for Christ. 

 

Grateful

Overflowing Optimism in The Most Wonderful One

These truths overwhelm my whole existance with overflowing optimism:

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (GWT) Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him because God’s temple is holy. You are that holy temple! 

"From eternity it was God's desire to create humans as a dwelling place through which to show His glory."

-- Andrew Murray

My prayer today is:

I am not my own.
I belong to You, Christ.
You bought my soul on Calvary
With Your precious blood, the Price.

Yes, I'm humbled and grateful

for You, my Savior, God's Only Son.

Your Name is cherished within my soul,

...As The Most Wonderful One! 

Amen.

kerry i am... i Hope in King Jesus!

4 "i am" Thoughts

Just 4 "i am" thoughts today:

(1) i am taking a couple days of downtime with my family.

(2) i am depending on God like never before.

(3) i am one who never expects to advance without taking time to retreat.

(4) i am humbled by all who journey with me on my RomansTenFifteenBlog.

Grateful 

I Still Marvel at God's Mysterious Ways

Labor Day in the USA is all but over. It's been a day spent with my immediate family so far. (And I am grateful.)

Today, we went with our daughter and son-in-law to look at vehicles. They need transportation. (Don't we all?)

Anyway, if you've ever visited car lots trying to find the right ride, you are familiar with the stress. Our day was that way. (But God was in it all.)

While we were closing the sale, we learned that the salesman and his bride were married by my brother in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was a God-thing. (Yet, it gets better,)

After we finally sealed the deal and we were literally leaving the showroom (following a stranger-than-life-Twilight-Zone experience in the Finance and Insurance office), I heard a tender voice saying, "Pastor Kerry". It warmed the heart in this old worn-out body of mine.

The lady calling my name was a sales lady at the dealership. She had passed me several times but I had not realized that I actually knew her. 

As we talked, I immediately recognized who she was. A few years ago I met her and prayed for and comforted her in the painful passing of her young, beloved son, following a house fire. Her pain was so deep, and still is. 

Right there at the exit of the car store, I enveloped her weak, trembling frame in a strong holy hug. Tears came into her eyes. Mine, too. I knew immediately that my whole day of helping my family members shop for cars... sacredly boiled down... to that solitary embrace of a young mom, still grieving the absence of her lost boy.

While I don't pretend to comprehend the loss of a young mother's son in such a seemingly tragic way, I do still marvel at God's mysterious ways. His detail in the timing of our lives, to help others, humbles me beyond words.

Afterwards our family of five went to the Japanese Restaurant for supper. Even though the fire of the Hibachi grill was undeniably hot, it didn't come close in comparing to the holy spiritual temperature that my heart aflame felt as The Lord chose to comfort that single, precious, broken mother through the likes of my spontaneous embrace. Was it a God-appointment? I am assured of it!

Please pray that hope ignited within her soul, too. I choose to believe it did. Amen.

Grateful

Occupied Thoughts

"If our thoughts are always occupied with The Lord Jesus -- His love, His joy, His peace -- then the Holy Spirit will graciously bring the fruit of the Spirit to ripeness (fruition/reality) within us."
-- Andrew Murray

Grateful