"...The Debt of Love I Owe..." ("At The Cross")

"But drops of grief can ne'er repay 

the debt of love I owe; 

Here, Lord, I give myself away; 

'Tis is all that I can do."

From Isaac Watts' hymn, "At The Cross"

http://youtu.be/SUvpBphq5og

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

Grateful 

"The Lost Sheep" (The Runaway Sheep)

I believe this video below (that was central to my Easter 2016 message) says it all. The lost sheep is most often the runaway sheep. 

https://vimeo.com/136694118

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

Grateful 

Some Days Are Tender

Some days are tender

Some days are tough

Some days are calm

Some days are rough

Some nights are empty

Some nights are full

Some nights are sharp

Some nights are dull

Some weeks are heavy

Some weeks are light

Some weeks are peace

Some weeks are fight

Some moments are awake

Some moments are sleepy

Some moments are laughing

Some moments are weepy.

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

Grateful 

"O Come to the Altar..."

This was our Easter Day song inviting lost souls to the Lamb of God Who died and rose again to be The Good Shepherd to all who have strayed away from Hope:

http://youtu.be/ycWDFd0yCHA

"...and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT) 

Grateful 

"I Am One!" / An Easter Poem

No matter who you are or what you have done;

No matter how far away you might have run;

There's room for you in The Easter Story;

You can say "I am one" for The Good Shepherd's Glory.

Read Luke 15:3-7

(Click on image below for full-frame view.) 

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

Grateful

Holy Sadder Day (Saturday) Song Of Hope

Yesterday, Good Friday, was indeed a sad day for the saints (those of us who belong to The Lord.) Yes, Good Friday was The Day the Darling of Heaven, God's Son, proved His devotion to The Father by sacrificing His life for ours. 

Here's a song of hope as we grieve on this Holy "Sadder" Day (Saturday), yes, as we envision our Savior dead and buried, we know a Gladder Day is tomorrow. 

http://youtu.be/mBqoQJRNepo

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

Grateful 

Make Good Friday Personal

A sister-in-Christ, Judy, reminded me today, Good Friday, of this favorite song of my own soul by Steve Green. It serves to make Good Friday personal for me everyday and I pray as you listen it will do the same for you. 

http://youtu.be/TCY41FJpuvM

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

Grateful 

Remain Calm.

"'The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.' The battles of life are not ours; they are the Lord's. We must learn to be quiet and calm. It is true the the Christian who remains calm and without panic in the face of adversity and trial and refuses to speak critically and unkindly of any who have taken 'the lower road' most clearly displays the Spirit of Christ. The Psalmist said, 'Be still, and know that I am God.'" 

-- Cowman remix

"A time to keep silent." Ecclesiastes 3:7

(Click below for full-view passage.)

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

Grateful 

Your Love Awakens Me

This song has been the soundtrack of my mind today...

http://youtu.be/VIMh6lS6VjE

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

Grateful 

My Foundational Faith Verse

Galatians 2:20, my foundational faith verse: (Click on image for full graphic).

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

Grateful 

The Prayer The Lord Taught Us To Pray...

Let's not take this prayer the Lord taught us to pray for granted, but let's pray it often and now: 

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

Grateful 

My Leadership Prayer

At the benediction of Rev. Clark Langford's funeral, I prayed my leadership prayer that he loved so much:

 Dearest Abba Father,

Please free me from all fear for this day 
from all anxiety about tomorrow 

from all bitterness toward another 
from all cowardice in the face of danger

from all laziness in the necessity of work

from all failure before opportunity

from all weakness when Your power is so available.

Please free me Lord, in You.

Please fill me with Love that knows no limit

with Hope that knows no defeat

with sympathy that embraces the hurting

with courage that cannot be intimidated

with strength adequate for life's challenges

with loyalty that proves my devotion to You and to others

with release to soar on the wings of eagles

with wisdom to match life's complexities

with peace that silences me in every storm

with faith that sees and glows in the dark.

Please fill me Lord, with You.

Lord, I surrender myself to You completely

and I gladly say YES to Your perfect will and Your Divine Way.

My Delights, my desires find fulfillment in Your Holy Presence.

Thank You for the Gift of Your Precious Loving Son

and Your Blessed Holy Spirit

Today, I rededicate my best, my all, my life, to Your Glory.

In my life Lord, be glorified today. In Your Church Lord, be glorified, I pray.

I plead Your Blood and whisper Your Name.

You are the One called Wonderful--Jesus my Life Savior!

Because of Your limitless love, O Lord,

I’m humbled, grateful and . . . speechless.
Amen, Amen, and Amen.

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

Grateful

"They Took Him Down" / Illustrated

They took Him down, His poor, dead body.

They took Him down, His poor, pale body,

drained of life, ashen and stained

with its own life's blood.

His healing hands now pierced and still.

Serving hands that broke five loaves to feed five thousand,

Holy hands, often folded in fervent prayer,

Poor, gentle hands, now pierced and still.

His poor, torn feet, now bloodied and cold.

Feet that walked weary miles to bring Good News to broken hearts,

Feet once washed in penitent's tears,

Poor, torn feet, now bloodied and cold.

His Kingly Head made for a crown,

Now crowned with thorns.

His poor Kingly Head crowned with thorns..

His gentle chest, now pierced by spear thrust, quiet, still...

His poor loving chest.

His piercing eyes, now dark and blind.

Eyes of compassion, warming the soul.

Fiery eyes, burning at sin.

Tender eyes, beckoning sinners.

His piercing eyes, now dark and blind.

His matchless voice, fountain of The Father's thoughts.

Stopped. Stilled. To speak no more. Silence now..............

Where once had flowed wisdom and comfort, Spirit and life,

His matchless voice, stilled to speak no more.

They took Him down, His poor dead body,

And prepared Him for His burial.

(Writing From 1980s Musical, The Witness)

(Click below for full-view scene from our local church drama, "Come See The Lamb".)

"...and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT) 

Grateful 

"For God Son Loved The World..."

John 3:16-17 was surely illustrated in our church drama titled "Come See The Lamb."

"...and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT)

Grateful 

Is Your Heart Waiting on God?

Click on image for full-view of a kind of short but truly sacred prayer from the Holy Scriptures: 

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

Grateful 

I Wholeheartedly Seek and Pray Today...

Let us pray together:

Precious Abba Father -- The One Who gave me earthly life and Who is my Eternal Life... Oh how I adore You.

You are my hope, my peace, my everything, all the time and forever. Your love and kindness are unmatched.

Today, I ask that Your favor would be realized in my life in new and powerful ways for Your glory, for my good, and for the good of others You have entrusted to cross my path in life.

I do pray especially for my dearest loved ones. I take comfort knowing You care for me and for them. Let my life be a real reflection of Your Holiness and compassion to them.

Today, and in the days beyond, please Lord, as my inheritance give me lost souls to present before Your Throne of Mercy. You alone are so very worthy!

I know I am so very weak on my own power, nevertheless, Your great strength is surely available for my life. 

In my life, Lord, be glorified. And by the Precious Blood of Your Son, Jesus, my Savior, my Sanctifier, my Sustainer, be satisfied when you see my soul.

I long to see You face-to-face Someday. Until then, please continue to make Your Holy Spirit's Presence within me to be constantly unfathomable and undeniable.

In Your Holy Name I believe and receive Your righteous response to my prayers because I pray in the Name of Jesus, The One in Whom You are well pleased. Amen.

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

Grateful 

Mystery-Revealing Words

The Apostle Paul's mystery-revealing words (recorded towards the end of chapter one in his letter to the Colossians) speak deeply to my own life. Read them and let them also speak deeply to you today:

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

Grateful 

"In Me"

This song is a theme song of my life. God forbid that we would ever forget that it is the Secret of the Presence of Christ in us that matters most.

http://youtu.be/0tzWbsiMx9w

"...and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT) 

Grateful 

Words Written to Philemon

This passage from Paul's New Testament letter written to Philemon ministers deeply to me personally when it comes to helping me communicate my gratitude for those who partner alongside me in ministry and life. 

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

Grateful 

The Further We Journey With Jesus...

I have journeyed several times on the Rhine River of Germany. At every bend in the river, it seems there is another yet more majestic castle than there was at the previous bend. Germany is amazingly rich in majestic castles, indeed.

This reminds me of God's Love and Mercy. The further we journey with Jesus the greater the revelation becomes of His glorious riches. Yes, in every turn along our way Home, His abundance is only enlarged and enhanced towards us.

It's true! With our Lord, the rest of our days will prove to be the best of our days, for He gives and gives and gives more plentifully to His people as we make our voyage towards that Heavenly Shore.

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

Grateful

How We Can Come Into God's Presence?

"Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God's presence without sin, fault or blame."

Colossians 1:21-22 (GWT)

"...and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT) 

Grateful 

Judging... Others...

The desert fathers said that judging others is a heavy burden, while being judged by others is a light one. Once we can let go of our need to judge others, we will experience an immense inner freedom. Once we are free from judging, we will be also free for mercy. Let’s remember Jesus’ words: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Nouwen

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

Grateful 

The Root Command...

In John 15, Jesus says: "I am the Vine and you are the branches... Remain in me and I will remain in you." 

And after all this beautiful "Vine and branches" talk, Jesus gives "the root" command: "Love one another." 

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

Grateful 

"Cause, Pause, And Applause for Friendship"

Recently in an antique store, I saw this friend's poem on the wall. It reminded me of the old hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." It also gave me cause to pause as I offered an inner applause of gratitude for the gift of giving and receiving friendship in my own life.

(Click image for full-frame view.)

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

Grateful 

 

"Everything"

Colossians 1:17-20 (GWT) really accents the word "everything" and this warms my heart as I saturate in it.

(Click on type below for full-view of Scripture mentioned.)

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

Grateful 

"My Presence Will Go With You"

(Click type below for full-view of Scripture.)

"...and i wait." Psalm 5:3 (GWT) 

Grateful 

"You Light My Lamp!" (Psalm 18)

Recently, while driving through town, I came up behind a vehicle with license tags that proclaimed Psalm 18. In opening up this Word of encouragement, my heart was lifted indeed. You might want to read Psalm 18 in its entirety. Here's are some of the my favorite parts of the Psalm from God's Word Translation:

(1) I love you, O Lord, my strength.

(6) I called on the Lord in my distress. I cried to my God for help. He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry for help reached His ears.

(16) He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water.

(28) O Lord, You light my lamp. My God turns my darkness into light.

(46) The Lord lives! Thanks be to My Rock!

(Click image to view full-frame The Jesus Lamp. Indeed, He lights my lamp!)

"...and i wait." Psalm 5:3 

Grateful 

"A Branch Can't Bear Grapes By Itself..."

"In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with Me." Words of Jesus, John 15, The Message

(Click image for full-frame photo of grapevine I photographed in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.)

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

Grateful 

"But Don't Worry"

"... the chief of this godless world is about to attack. But don't worry-- he has nothing on Me, no claim on Me."

Words of Jesus, End of John 14, MSG

(Click image for full-frame inspiring image of Jesus...)

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

Grateful 

"Song of The Lamb" ... Again!

I've posted this music video before, nevertheless, today I needed it again. As the sacred season of our Lord's Passion approaches yet again, "The Song of The Lamb" is like an anthem that reverberates within my whole being.

http://youtu.be/aWNgau-UueU (13+ minutes version)

http://youtu.be/acxHngMnezQ (6+ minutes version)

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

Grateful 

Morning Discouragement

Morning discouragement is most often only a fog left over from yesterday's storms. Never forget that morning fog is very shallow but forever faith is very deep. 

Just keep trusting as the day unfolds. The fog will eventually lift and blue skies will ultimately be seen again. 

Yes, faith will break the clouds in two

until the face of Christ shines through.

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

Grateful