"Dreams Do Come True" -- Csilla Muscan

My talented friend from Budapest, Hungary, yes, singer-songwriter, Csilla, blessed our local church last Sunday by leading us in worship as she simultaneously debuted her new inspiring CD titled "Dreams Do Come True". 

Watch and listen at the link below and order your own copy at www.CsillaMusic.com today.

This CD will make unique Christmas gifts for your family and friends as well. 

http://youtu.be/TaAjXeVu2lc

Give away your life... Living God's Dream for your life. 

Grateful 

Citizens of Heaven

This verse warms my heart as I journey through this cold world:

And this old Southern Gospel song reminds me of my new home:

http://youtu.be/R55m0jTsKKQ

Give away your life... Gaining Heaven.

Grateful 

"My Back's Out, But My Heart's In!"

Well, my back's been out a couple of days. Sitting seems to make me stiff creating pain and the likeness of an old man when I try to walk. I'm not whining or seeking anyone's sympathy or medical guidance. I've gotta deal with my situation and make medical decisions myself. For now, Aleve is assisting me. I will take your prayers. 

What I would like to say is this: "I know God is in it all." Laying mostly on my back starring at the ceiling has heightened my worship of God. Of course, I've been laying low yesterday and again today in hopes of spending a full-day working at the local church tomorrow. But until then, I have come to realize that I have worship for my God, in my heart, in an undeniable way.

So, on the witness stand of your life, I testify: "My back may be out but my heart is in -- yes, in worship."

This song is guiding my adoration of The Almighty today:

http://youtu.be/P-Zp586pvZg

Give away your life... Worshipping God from your heart. 

Grateful 

Our Hope...

"Our Hope is in the Living God!" 

1 Timothy 4:10b NLT

Give away your life... Hoping in God!

Grateful 

... To/On/For Jesus!

I recently officiated a memorial service for a Christian gentleman named David. The song we used at the close of his service is still on my mind, today. As a matter of fact, this song is often on my mind. I pray it will help you this day.

http://youtu.be/PANiveIKVX0

Give away your life... To Jesus.

Grateful 

"As I Grow Ever Older..."

As I grow ever older

Some things are so plain to see;

Loving God is my deepest passion,

Considering how much He loves me.

I want my life to bless Him,

No reproach to His Name I desire;

His faithfulness to me is so sure,

Of His Presence I will never tire. 

Give away your life... Glorifying God. 

Grateful 

"I Am The Resurrection And The Life!"

I recently stood in The Village of Bethany just east of Jerusalem's Mount of Olives where John, chapter 11, took place.

These powerful words spoken between Jesus and Martha just before Jesus raised her brother, Lazarus, from the dead, are still on my mind:

(Click text below for full-frame view of the words from John 11.)

Give away your life... Trusting The One Who is The Resurrection and The Life.

Grateful 

Our Final Two Days -- Hearts Aflame 2015

Wednesday in The Holy Land found us at these sacred locations:

- The Old City of Jerusalem

- The Upper Room (John 13)

- The Via Dolorosa (The Way of Suffering)

- Mount Calvary / Golgotha 

- The Empty Garden Tomb

- The Horatio Spafford Prayer Center 

Today, Thursday, is our last day in The Holy Land. As I write, we are leaving Jerusalem headed towards...

- The Road to Emmaus, (Luke 24)

- The Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 16 & 17)

- The City of Joppa / Jaffa (Jonah & Acts) 

Pray as we take a midnight flight from Tel Aviv to NYC and onto DC. 

Give away your life... With Hearts Aflame.

(Click image below for full-frame of The Jesus Lamp.) 

Grateful 

Being Light -- Hearts Aflame 2015

Tuesday, our Hearts Aflame Discipleship Journey surely continued fanning the faith of our souls. We were inspired to be Jesus-believers who will live as those who are characterized by being light. Here's where we visited:

Bethlehem's Shepherd's Folds, The Church of the Nativity, The Southern Steps of the Temple, The Western Wailing Wall, and The Dungeon were Jesus was imprisoned beneath the House of Caiaphas the night before His Crucifixion. 

(Click image below to see image of the spot in The Church of the Nativity's grotto.)

Give away your life... Being Light!

Grateful 

Passionately -- Hearts Aflame 2015

Monday our Hearts Aflame Discipleship Journey continued like this:

The Dead Sea, The Caves of David's EnGedi, The Jericho Dig, The Temptation Desert Wilderness, The Sycamore Tree, The Village of Bethany, Jerusalem's Mount of Olives, Church of The Holy Teardrop, and Gethsemane.

A full passionately lived day, indeed. Deeply emotional. 

(Click image for full-frame photo of Gethsemane.)

Give away your life... Passionately.

Grateful 

A Day of Renewal -- Hearts Aflame 2015

Our Sunday itinerary for our Hearts Aflame Discipleship Journey began with a stop at Cana of Galilee where I officiated wedding renewal vows for three couples in our group. So tender was the experience.  

Next we went for worship with our Nazarene Family in Nazareth. It was so Heavenly in the atmosphere -- a taste of Glory from Above. Lunch with our Middle Eastern brothers and sisters followed. 

Once leaving Nazareth, we went back towards the Galilee. We walked down The Mount of The Beatitudes together. The time of hearing God's Word read aloud from our Lord's Sermon on The Mountainside overlooking The Sea of Galilee was so very inspiring. 

Next we went to The Jordan River where Pastor Margaret and I were humbled to baptize 18 dear souls in the holy waters where John The Baptist baptized Jesus -- speechless and uplifting, indeed. 

Finally, as I write, the sun is setting over the desert wilderness as we are on the road south to Jericho. Our hearts are aflame within us. It has been a day of renewal for sure. 

Click image below for full-view "sign of fish" written in the sky as we journeyed towards Nazareth for Sunday worship. 

Give away your life... Dedicated totally to Jesus. 

Grateful 

The Gates of Hell, etc -- Hearts Aflame 2015

Our Saturday morning in The Holy Land began with a bus trip north of The Sea of Galilee to Mount Hermon to visit Cesarea Phillipi, known in the times of Jesus as "The Gates of Hell." It was, in those days, a pagan worship center, mainly to venerate the false god of fear, Pan, who was believed to be half man and half goat. 

Against this evil religious backdrop Jesus boldly marched in and affirmed to his disciples that He was indeed The Christ, The Son of The Living God.

Today, our discipleship journey will also lead us to contemplate (1) the ministry headquarters of Jesus at Capernaum, (2) the deliverance of the demon-possessed man at Gadara, and (3) a recounting of Jesus on and around The Sea of Galilee as we sail across it. Our day will end in (4) the seaside village that Mary Magdalene called home -- Magdala.

(Click below for full-frame image of "The Gates of Hell".) 

(Give away your life... To The Son of The Living God. 

Grateful 

The Harbor of Paul -- Hearts Aflame 2015

On Wednesday we sailed -- as The Apostle Paul did -- into the Greek island of Rhodes. It's easy to imagine the shipwreck story recorded in Acts 27 as you stand on this island and look out to sea. Actually, we experienced the toughest seas and strongest winds of our voyage as we left the port. 

Click below to view The Harbor of The Apostle Paul located to the north of the island of Rhodes. 

Give away your life... For The sharing of The Good News of Jesus. 

Grateful 

 

Sea of Galilee Night Approach -- Hearts Aflame

Our night will be spent here in Tiberias, Israel, on The Sea of Galilee... 

(Click image below for full-view.) 

Give away your life... Being a city on a hill.

Grateful 

Ancient Ephesus and Patmos -- Hearts Aflame 2015

Tuesday was indeed a double-blessing day as our Hearts Aflame Discipleship Journey made stops in both Ephesus, Turkey and Patmos, Greece. 

Indeed, Acts came alive yet again in Ephesus, as well as a review of The Full Armor of God written in Ephesians 6 and finally, our Resurrected Lord's words recorded in The Revelation for the early church there. 

At sunset we came to the sacred island of Patmos. Here, John the Revelator at age about age 90 saw the Glorified Christ and wrote down the account of The Apocolypse. Read especially Revelation 1 if you want to be deeply moved. 

Click below for photo of the Aegan Sea from The Greek Islands. 

Give away your life... Expecting Jesus Retuning. 

Grateful 

Ancient Corinth -- Hearts Aflame 2015

Sunday we spent most of our day at Ancient Corinth. Our Hearts Aflame Discipleship Journey continues to inspire us deeply. Read Acts 18 to know The Apostle Paul's experience with the Corinthian people. 

(Click image for full-frame view of Corinth.)

Give away your life... Inspired. 

Grateful 

 

"The Unknown God Made Known" -- Hearts Aflame 2015

Saturday we arrived in Athens, Greece. The rain stopped and the sun reappeared just as we reached the location of Mars Hill, The Acropolis, and The Parthenon. 

This is the location recorded in Acts 17, where The Apostle Paul wisely disarmed the great minds of Athens to teach them about Jesus. Yes, among the ones proclaiming many ways of life, The Apostle Paul -- working from an inscription on one of their Greek monuments built in honor of Their Unknown God -- made everyone there aware of The One called The Way, yes, The Resurrected Jesus. 

Standing atop Mars Hill warmed our hearts. Do you know The Way? He wants to make Himself known to us all. 

(Click image below to view fully Mars Hill in the foreground and The Acropolis in the background.)

Give away your life... To The Way, The Truth, The Life -- Jesus Christ. 

Grateful 

Mary Holding Jesus -- Hearts Aflame 2015

Years ago, when our children were young, and while we were attending Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, one day we came upon a downtown statue of Mary holding Jesus after His Crucifixion. Upon seeing it, our son, Grayson, age 6, ran up to the likeness and lovingly threw his arms around Jesus. It was so moving to us all. 

Well, yesterday while visiting The Vatican in Rome on our Hearts Aflame Discipleship Journey we saw Michael Angelo's original sculpture of that statue. Speechless. 

(Click below for full-image view.) 

Give away your life.... Jesus did. 

Grateful 

Roman Prison -- Hearts Aflame 2015

Today, our Hearts Aflame Discipleship Journey will find us at the Roman Prison where it is believed both The Apostle Peter and The Apostle Paul spent their final days before their martyrdom. 

Probably, it is the same place where The Apostle Paul wrote these words to Timothy:

Give away your life... In Jesus' Name.

Grateful 

Take Courage & Be Kind

Our God is alive and well

He has our best in mind.

So rest today in His embrace

Take courage and be kind. 

Note: We made it safely across The Pond to Paris. Next stop Rome. 

Give away your life... To The Faithful One. 

Grateful 

"Christ Living in Us..."

Henri Nouwen writes these words about our faith: 

(Click on text below for full-frame.)

Give away your life... Believing Christ lives in you. 

Grateful 

Grace Song

If you're feeling inadequate? Good News! God's Grace is Enough! 

http://youtu.be/8wN-fspKg1Q

Give away your life... Take Grace.

Grateful 

Let Us Love God

When we feel weak

Our God's still strong.

Let's lift His Name

In praise and song. 

God never leaves us

He loves us deep.

The price to save us

Was sure not cheap.

God gave to us

His Beloved Son.

From Calvary's tree

His Blood did run. 

So let us love Him

For He gave His all.

Let's expect His return

Hear the midnight call.

Give away your life... 

"I Want... I Long..."

Lord Jesus, I want to be Yours.

Yes, I long to belong to You. 

Today, tomorrow, and forever, 

Let my deepest desires come true.

When others see me, may they say:

"He only has eyes for His Lord."

With all this world has to offer,

Let Your Presence be my reward.

Give away your life... Gaining Christ.

Grateful 

"As They Go Past..."

People are rushing here and there,

Running determined, getting nowhere.

As they go past, deep within I cry,

They seem so lonely, that's likely why.

Many look lost, no direction inside,

May they know Jesus, in Him abide.

My life's journey is a burden for souls,

Partnering with God to reduce the tolls.

Give away your life... Partnering with God. 

Grateful 

God-Ordered vs. Self-Scheduled

Lord, I'm asking: "Order my life,"

Lest it be scheduled by me. 

For Your guidance I'm seeking,

For Your holy desires I'm pleading.

Have Your own way 

For the whole world to see.

Give away your life... Looking to Jesus.

Grateful