February 29th -- "Another Friend" (Leap Day)

On this bonus day of 2016, a leap year, we get to embrace an additional 24 hours. Let's redeem the day, yes, let's pray and obey. 

For me personally, I am praying I will realize the reality of the words Jesus spoke in John 14 -- yes, these words promising (that although He was leaving us physically) He would come to dwell with us, even within us, through "another Friend" -- His Spirit of Truth. 

In The Message Paraphrase, these words from the lips of Jesus should fill our lives with holy awe and anticipation, perhaps even causing our hearts to leap with joy on this leap day and everyday:

"If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and He'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have Someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take Him in because it doesn't have eyes to see Him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know Him already because He has been staying with you and will even be in you."

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

"Give Up Everything"

"... None of you can be my disciples unless you give up everything." 

Words of Jesus in Luke 14:33b (GWT)

http://youtu.be/0z1E2pz3Xzk

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

Grateful for Our God's Greatness

"Our God is great in great things, but very great in little things." Henry Dyer 

http://youtu.be/jhppU44mqbY

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT) 

Grateful for Our God's Greatness 

Presence

(Click-on image below for full-frame view of the favorite still images that I've snapped.)

Presence is Everything!

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful

"Take Me to the Cross" / Determined to go to Jerusalem...

I have many inspiring theme songs in my life; the one posted below always reminds me of the words recorded in Luke 9:51 (GWT): "The time was coming closer for Jesus to be taken to Heaven, so He was determined to go to Jerusalem."

Click here: Brother's Keeper - Take Me To The Cross - YouTube

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful

"... Jesus Became Visibly Upset..."

"... Jesus became visibly upset and then He told them why. 'One of you is going to betray me.' The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth He was talking about."

-- From John 13, The Message 

(Click image for full-frame closeup view of Jesus Wept statue at Oklahoma City bombing site.)

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

Have We Thanked God for Our Thorns?

"George Mattheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland, now with The Lord, said: 'My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn! I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my rose, but never once for my thorn; I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get my compensation for my cross, but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory. Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow.'"

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

"To Believe... To Suffer..."

This verse is a deep truth that we often forget as we journey onward through our lives as Jesus-believers: 

(Click below for full-frame view of verse.)

Lord, help us to remember that as Jesus-believers, You have also entrusted us to be Jesus-sufferers. Amen. 

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3

Grateful 

"He Lives in You... In Me."

This week my middle school nephew, Camden, played a lead role in his school's wonderful presentation of The Lion King Musical. (He was the all grown-up Simba.) 

So much of the Disney storyline finds its roots in God's Word. It's true, every wonderful idea comes from our God's mind. 

While experiencing the musical, the song at the link below titled "He Lives in You" was my favorite. Let the words of Jesus below warm your heart and then listen to the song to understand what I'm saying. 

John 14:17b -- ... "He (The Spirit of Truth) lives with you and will be in you." (KNT) 

http://youtu.be/15JPW8fUwFs

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

A Church Beaming With Light

A world stumbling in darkness needs a church beaming with light.

HOPE HAPPENS HERE!

Join us Sundays 9 or 10:30 a.m.

1871 Boyers Road

Harrisonburg, VA.

Or connect with us online at:

www.ABeaconOfHope.org

",,, and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful

"Until We Are Aware of the Presence..."

Let us wait in silence until we are aware of the presence of Jesus with and within us, without which we will experience no rest for our souls, no power for our lives, no joy for our hearts and no peace for our minds.

The secret of the presence of Christ within us is how never-ending Heavenly treasures are secured in our earthly lives beginning now.

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

"Breath" Song

This worship song is so very true. It's my prayer today. Thanks Kris for sending the link. I call it the " Breath" song. Listen and breathe. 

http://youtu.be/qCH1e3JgBjk

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

"Rain" Song

This song touches my heart so deeply. Today, as I drove to the airport I heard it on the Christian radio station out of Washington, D.C. Hearing it left my heart tender once again. I pray it ministers to you as it did/does to me.

Click here: MercyMe - Bring The Rain - YouTube

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful

The Eagles Band -- Tribute to Glenn Frey

As a teenager, I learned to play a drum set primarily listening to a secular classic rock band called the Eagles. Their music is a soundtrack in many ways to my growing up years. 

Glenn Frey, singer, songwriter and guitar player recently passed away at age 69. He along with his friend, Don Henley, singer, songwriter and drummer kicked the Eagles music off in the seventies. 

The Eagles recently played and sung at the 2016 Grammy Awards with their friend, Jackson Brown filling in for Glenn Frey. It touched a part of me. I pray for the Eagles.

 Click here: Members Of The Eagles And Jackson Browne Pay Tribute To Glenn Frey At The Grammys - YouTube

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful

"At Home in the Difficulties..."

The Christian way has always seemed to have a genius for landing in grave difficulties, yet also an equal genius for overcoming them. So, Christian folk have always felt at home in the difficulties.

You may be familiar with the unforgettable Uncle Remus stories how Br'er Fox was determined to bring Br'er Rabbit's career to an end. Br'er Rabbitt very shrewdly pleaded with the fox not to throw him in the briar patch, So, the fox took the deceptive bait and threw Br'er Rabbit plumb into the middle of the briar patch, with all its brambles and thorns; yet Br'er Rabbit scrambled to his feet, shouting joyfully, "Bred and born in 'de briar patch!" The fox should have known that Br'er Rabbit was quite at home in the difficulties of the briar patch for he had grown up there.

So, someone said that, if you try to be a Christian, you will always be in difficulties. Even Jesus was. Still, these difficulties serve only to be God's way of leading his children to higher ground, higher joys, and wide, majestic views. 

-- Remix of old Bulletin Insert Cowman shared

(Click image below for full-view of Br'er Rabbit finding joy at home in the briar patch.)

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

Baptism on Valentine's Day is Beautiful

Today, Valentine's Day 2016, was a beautiful day of baptism for our local church family. If my count is right, we baptized 16. Sweet 16. 

When Jesus was crucified and resurrected He was publicly saying "I love you." When we are baptized, we publicly declare we love Jesus, too.

Here's a photo of me about to baptize one of the candidates, a young girl named Hannah. It was a priceless and precious moment indeed.

(Click-on image for full frame view.) 

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

"O The Cross" -- Kim McLean

A modern-day hymn, "O The Cross", written and sung by my friend, Kim McLean, is inspiring as we have now entered that sacred season leading towards the remembrance of The Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus.

 Click here: O The Cross - YouTube

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful

Jesus died for dUSt (... in the wind)

"Certainly everyone is like a #whisper in the wind." Psalm 39:11b GWT 

Jesus died for whispers in the wind. Yes, God so loved dust that He gave His only Son to save us from our everlasting extinction by offering us His eternal existence. 

Jesus died for dUSt. Yes, for Us. 

http://youtu.be/lQem15Ow6hw

(Click link above to hear a classic dust song and below to read a classic dust verse.)

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

Human Weaknesses

"Make allowances for the infirmities of the flesh (human weaknesses) which are purely physical. To be fatigued -- body and soul -- is not sin; to be in heaviness is not sin."

-- Cowman 

Read 2 Corinthians 12:9.

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

Children Matter

What joy to have lunch with school children today. It's impossible to fellowship with children and not sense Jesus in the mix. 

Jesus said, "Unless you become as little children, you won't enter the Kingdom." One way to become like them is to be present with them. Children matter. 

I was invited into their school so they could show their pastor appreciation, but they should know that I appreciate them as well. 

(Click image to see full-frame view.)

Grateful.

Pray Now. Understand Later.

Praying is a very peculiar thing. While I would never deny prayer works -- it surely does -- I am still at a complete loss to understand how prayer works. 

Prayer is a real mystery. Yes, though I am indeed drawn to pray non-stop, yet grasping words to explain what prayer really means to me all fall short and are do not even close to rendering a true expression.

Prayer was even an overwhelming idea to the original disciples of Jesus. Once they said to Him: "Lord, Teach Us to Pray." Though they saw and heard Jesus pray many times, they still could not get their human minds around this holy phenomenon. 

When it comes to learning about prayer and knowing how to pray, I can only quote an old Englishman, Samuel Chadwick, who said: "We only learn to pray by praying."

Finally, as Vance Havner said: "I cannot comprehend prayer yet I must pray anyway. I don't understand electricity but I refuse to sit in the dark until I do. I just turn on the switch and bask in the light."

Let us pray now. Understanding will come later.

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

"Tho' Worn and Weary"

"Ofttimes the path grows dim & dreary;

The darkness hides the cheering ray.

Still I will trust, tho' worn and weary;

May Savior leads, He knows the way.

-- Unknown

My Jesus, not only do you know the way, You are The Way. 

(Click image below for full-frame view.) 

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

Crucified With Christ

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful

"With Tears in My Eyes"

These words of the Apostle Paul penned in Philippians 3:18, pierce and penetrate my own heart so very, very, deeply:

"I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ." (GWT) 

(Click on image of our Crucified Christ.)

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

Wanted?

"Jesus will not stay where He is not wanted." 

-- M. Taylor

(Click text below for full-frame view.)

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

Song of Grace

One of my prayer friends, Doug, sent this encouraging YouTube to me. I think you will be encouraged by this song of grace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAMU68NTVQw&sns=em

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful

Feeling Misunderstood?

"The One Who formed their hearts understands everything they do."

Psalm 33:15b (GWT)

When others don't really understand us we should rejoice because Whoever really understands us totally in reality becomes our God!

 

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

Joey and Rory / "When I'm Gone"

If you don't know the story of Joey and Rory, in a short paragraph here it it.

Joey is married to Rory. They are a country-Christian duet. They love the Lord. She is beautiful. He is strong. She is dying of cancer. Any day now she, Joey, will pass onto Heaven, leaving Rory to raise their little downs syndrome daughter named Indiana alone. It's heart-wrenching.

This is one of the final songs she recorded for him before she lost her hair and gave up her singing career. (These are the details as I understand them.) Sacred. Sad. Yet eternal hope surrounds their whole story.

  Click here: Joey+Rory - When I'm Gone - YouTube

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)
Grateful

February 1 -- Celebration of a Daughter

Today, 27 years ago, I was blessed to become "Daddy" to a daughter. She has brought such joy into my life. Perhaps there is no one else on the planet wired as identical inside like me, as my Allison. We understand each other. 

While she lives these days with her husband about 300 miles southwest of my address, our hearts are very close. I love her so very much. She knows it. And I know she loves me equally. 

Pray today for my daughter and her "Daddy". I'm so humbled and grateful that you would.

(Click below for full-view images of my daughter and her Daddy.) 

"... and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful