Pray John 10:10 at 10:10 Twice Daily

My missionary friend, Rolf, who serves The Lord as an overseas mission worker in a very spiritually deceived culture, prays John 10:10 twice daily over the eternal souls he has been entrusted to reach while on planet earth.

(Click on image if full-frame not visible.)

Give away your life... To The Good Shepherd. 

Grateful 

"Quiet Waiting..."

"Quiet waiting before God would save from many a mistake and from many a sorrow." -- J. Hudson Taylor

"Thou shalt know that I am The Lord, for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me." -- Isaiah 49:23

Give away your life... And wait on The Lord. 

Grateful 

"Softly and Tenderly"

I awoke this morning with this sweet old hymn of the church on my mind: (Click on this text image below for full-frame:)

Give away your life... To The One Calling Us Home. 

Grateful 

Biblical Wisdom

The wisdom of The Bible is perhaps best understood in these two mind-sets:

(1) Total trust in Almighty God, and,

(2) A broken heart over the lostness of the human race.

Give away your life... To The Only Wise God.

Grateful 

"Take Courage!"

(Click on image below for full-frame.) 

Give your life away... To Jesus Himself!

Grateful 

Sinners ... Pray-ers

"Sinners stop praying.

Pray-ers stop sinning."

-- Leonard Ravenhill 

Give away your life... And pray. 

Grateful 

Independence Lost & Identity Revealed

"God engineers circumstances for us, if we accept His purposes for our lives in Christ Jesus. We are to be a walking, living edition of the prayers of The Holy Spirit. No wonder God urges us to walk in the light. The Holy Spirit aims to make us one with Jesus, that is a oneness of personality in which individuality is completely transfigured; it is independence lost and identity revealed."

-- Oswald Chambers remixed

Give away your life... To gain Christ.

Grateful 

Jesus is...

Jesus is... The Way and The Light...

Give away your life... To the Way, The Light -- Jesus.

Grateful

"Love is NOT Provoked..."

Some scholars note that when King James had the Bible translated, in one particular verse he actually added a word to help cover up his own short-comings. It is in the "Love Chapter", yes, 1 Corinthians 13:5, "Love is not easily provoked." So, some say that the word easily doesn't belong there -- that the rendering should actually be "Love is not provoked."

Whether these scholars are right or not is above my pay-grade to judge, but I must admit, sometimes non-King Kerry and King James probably prefer to add the word easily. Why? Well, I've heard King James had quite a temper, and while I've personally been accustomed to having a very long-fused temper, sometimes I must confess, "I AM -- IN THE END -- PROVOKED" and when the fire hits the end of the fuse, the gunpowder explodes. Not proud of it, just stating the truth.

So what am I to do? Just did it. Confessed it! What else can I do? Well, often I cry aloud prayerfully one of my Daddy's last chants before he entered Heaven: "HE'S (Yes, 'GOD', YOU'RE) STILL WORKING ON ME."

Lord, I pray for those who would provoke me, and ask all-the-while that You would form within me more fully The Mind and The Attitude of Yourself! Make me more and more aware that I am not alone, but You, yes, JESUS YOURSELF, are always with and within me. I know you have forgiven my sins and have cleansed my Sin, still I am so very human and I desperately long for more of You and for more of Your Holiness.

How's that for transparency? Whew, I sure feel better.

Give away you life... to King Jesus -- Who is Himself, Perfect Love!

Grateful

"DEATH WILL LOSE ITS TERROR!"

"Behind the Valley of Death there is abundance of life, and the moment you give up all things, letting yourself go in the arms of Jesus, DEATH WILL LOSE ITS TERROR!" 

-- Andrew Murray 

Give away your life... Into The Arms of Jesus!

Grateful 

The 23rd Psalm KJV

(Click text below for full-frame.)

Give away your life... To The Shepherd Lord.

Grateful 

My Sunday Message in a Painting

This painting illustrates my Sunday morning message this weekend. A picture's worth a thousand words...

Give away your life... To Jesus Himself!

Grateful 

Kenneth Grey Davis is Now... Over There!

Today, in my native North Carolina, I was humbled and blessed to officiate the homegoing service for my childhood friend, Kenneth Grey Davis. 

Ken is with Jesus now. His witness was strong. He had three slogans he lived and died by over this last year;

1. Cancer is a bad thing, but God is a GREAT Thing!

2. Either way, I win. 

3. No fear!

I will miss you, friend. I will meet you on That Golden Shore, Over There. 

A few weeks ago, along with our life-long friend, Paul (and Ken's Golden Retriever, Lillie), I baptized Ken at his home while he rested in his recliner. What a holy celebration! (Click on image above and below for full-frame views.)

Remember Ken's wife, Melinda, and Ken's loved ones in your prayers, please.

Give away your life... To Christ!

Grateful

Hope Beautifully Illustrated

Hope is a Beautiful Thing, And...

Hope has a Beautiful Name -- Jesus. 

In Lady Melba's house, I found Hope Beautifully Illustrated in the form of a simple but inspiring glass swan candle. 

(Click image to view full frame, 

And be inspired by the flame.) 

 

Give away your life... As beautiful light in your world, providing a flame of hope pointing others to The Light of The World, The Most Beautiful One -- Jesus. 

 

Grateful 

Unfailing Love

On this, my beloved son's (Grayson's) 28th birthday, my friend Keith sent me an appropriate word about Love from God's Loving Word:

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

-- Psalm 33:20-22

Give away your life...

Grateful 

Select A Sustainable Speed

Today, I confessed to a dear friend, that I have at times allowed myself to get too busy doing good things. I believe for the most part, my heart has always been in the right place, but still the pace has been, at times, maddening.

As I have now walked with the Lord for some 35 years, here's the good news --  one thing I realized just in time, probably about 12 years ago, was to lay my own life across the grid of a quote I heard from a wise pastor. He counseled me with this phrase: "Be sure to select a sustainable speed that will allow you to make it to the end of your life while remaining spiritually successful."

In other words, different personality-types can handle different speeds through life. I personally know how to throttle my own movement to retain a healthy all-around life. If I ignore my own reality when it comes to scheduling and the like, I really don't like myself very much.

So, how do I happen to know what healthy speed to select for my own unique existence? Only by knowing The Wise Counselor, yes The Spirit of Truth. He alone helps me to embrace a balanced work ethic. So, it's not so much "what I know" to make these most essential speed selections for my soul, it's much more about "Who I know" and "Who I go to" for the throttle position.

So, how's the speed of your life? Please don't live in denial. You are too valuable to God and to me. Oh yeah, and I totally trust you to go to The Holy Spirit to find out the very best speed for your own precious life. Our goal is, after all, to gain the crown of eternal life and not to crash in this earthly life.

Yes, I love you, and you are welcome. :-)

Give away your life... To The Holy Spirit's Counsel.

Grateful  

Help...

"There may be times when you cannot find help, but there is no time when you cannot give help." 

-- George Merriam 

Give away your life... 

Grateful 

Psalm 34:18

Click on text below to read full-frame the Scripture pursuing my heart today:

Give away your life... To the Heart Healer. Jesus.

Grateful  

"It's Saturday Night..."

It's Saturday night and what a week it has been -- a real whirlwind. Yet, in the midst of the many directions my mind, body, and emotions have journeyed, I know The Lord has been with me and is within me even now. His continuous Comfort is priceless to me as a believer and a pastor. 

In less than 12 hours I will stand to proclaim Good News to those who show up for Worship and The Word at our local church. (I hope many show up.) Right now my mind is on them and my prayers are for their eternal souls and their earthly situations. 

I pray Sunday will be a day of transformation. I pray hearts will become one with Jesus. I pray the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart will be pleasing to The Lord and will also be eternally effective in evangelizing the hearers. I pray the Presence of The Lord will be undeniably evident to those who see me, encounter me, and listen to me.

Thanks for praying with me and for me. 

Give away your life... For Jesus in your local church and beyond.

Grateful 

Prayer Brings God's Vision of Others to Us

"Prayer means that we get into union with God's view of other people. Our devotion as saints is to identify ourselves with God's interests in other lives. God expects us to identify ourselves with His interests in others."

-- Oswald Chambers 

Note: A "saint" is someone who belongs exclusively to God. 

Give away your life... To God's perspective.

Grateful 

"Dying Grace"

"It is finished!" -- Jesus' final words on The Cross, John 19:30

"Death is a great dread. It is easy to say 'God is Love' until death has snatched away your dearest friend, then I defy you to say that 'God is Love', UNLESS GOD'S GRACE HAS DONE A GREAT WORK IN YOUR SOUL!" -- Oswald Chambers

Give away your life... To The God of Great Grace.  

Grateful

Ken, In His Presence... Friends...

This evening, my dear childhood friend, Kenneth Grey Davis, went to be with The Lord. It has been a sacred but also sobering 10-month journey watching cancer take away someone my own age. 

However, because of the glorious afterglow of Sunday's Resurrection Celebration, my heavy heart overflows with holy hope.

Please remember to pray for Ken's faithful wife, Melinda. 

Give away your life... To The Hope-Giver, Jesus.

Grateful (Click text below for full-frame)

Be Simple And Honest Before God

Received this message from a friend today:

"Bless you... Scripture that I'm soaking in today.. 'It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.'” (John 4:24 MSG)

Give away your life... In honest worship to God!

Grateful 

The Funeral of Jesus: "Death Gave Birth to Life!"

My friend, Ralph, posted this Easter link on his Twitter account and I just have to share it with you on this post-Easter Monday morning. It's worth the time. Be encouraged.

m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=1-x5f55cVCQ

Give away your life... to the One Who Swallowed Death -- JESUS!

Grateful

Easter: The Lamb Crucified, The Lion Resurrected

Hope is Alive!!! May The Undeniable Presence of Our Resurrected Jesus Rest Upon and Roar Within You on This Glorious Day!!!

Give away your life... To The Lamb Who is also The Lion!

Grateful

"Everything New!" (Nothing Short of Amazing!)

Our neighbor, Amanda, sent me this link to a beautiful song illustrating Revelation 21:5. The timing of its arrival in my life was nothing short of amazing:

http://youtu.be/ukZmPwHpuBA

(Click image below to view Scripture full-frame.) 

Give away your life... To The One Who Makes Everything New -- Jesus!

Grateful 

Great Words of Assurance For Good Friday

Jesus spoke great words of assurance for Good Friday before it ever happened: 

Final words of Matthew 16:21: "...on the third day... back to life!" (GW)

Take heart, friends of Jesus. As sure as Good Friday empties our emotions, Great Sunday promises to pour within us -- until overflowing -- the refreshment of His realized Resurrection!

No one ever cared for us like Jesus. I pray His undeniable Presence will be your Peace today, Good Friday, and day-by-day until That Final Day.

Give away your life... FOR LIFE TO THE FULL! 

Grateful 

"The Beauty of Shyness"

These words from Henri Nouwen are so sacred and true:

"There is something beautiful about shyness, even though in our culture shyness is not considered a virtue.  On the contrary, we are encouraged to be direct, look people straight in the eyes, tell them what is on our minds, and share our stories without a blush.

But this unflinching soul-baring, confessional attitude quickly becomes boring.  It is like trees without shadows.  Shy people have long shadows, where they keep much of their beauty hidden from intruders' eyes.  Shy people remind us of the mystery of life that cannot be simply explained or expressed.  They invite us to reverent and respectful friendships and to a wordless being together in love."

"BLESSED ARE THE MEEK..." -- Jesus, Matthew 5

Give away your life... to reverent and respectful friends. (What a Friend we have in Jesus!)

Grateful

From Enchantment to Intimacy

My prayer for today:

"God forbid that I would only be enchanted by Christianity but unchanged by Christ. Lord, I do not want religious pose, I desire relational purity!"

During this week of remembrance of our Lord's severe suffering, let us surely offer and/or re-offer our whole lives as living sacrifices before His Holy Cross and His Glorious Crown. Let us move beyond mere enchantment of ideas to marvelous intimacy with King Jesus. 

Give away your life... Totally to King Jesus!

Grateful