Celtic Prayer

Let us pray: 

(Click type below for full-frame prayer.)

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

Grateful 

"Lord, We Need..."

Lord, we need Your strength today
Be our Light, our Hope, our Way.
Apart from You, our souls cannot breathe
Come to us, please never leave.

Weariness tends to chase us down
Let us, in You, alone be found.
Meaningless our lives would be
If Your kind mercy we could not see.

For Your approval we humbly ask
Your countenance, our only mask.
Within us live, arise, and shine
Let this world know that we are Thine.

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



Grateful

Got Life

"I Am ... The Life!" 

-- Jesus

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

Grateful

Commonplace Christians Count

There were hundreds of Jesus-believers there in the time of Christ who were sincere disciples but were never especially noticed. 

In our day, we are prone to have a disproportionate view of a Christian because we look only at the exceptions, those who have been obviously spotlighted. 

However, the majority of believers in Christ go unnoticed by people but are surely noticed by God. If we only take the extraordinary examples of disciples as a model for the Christian life, we raise a wrong standard without being aware of it, and in the passing of time we produce individuals who bear less of a true humble likeness to Jesus Christ. 

Let's remember that Jesus said "blessed are the poor in spirit." This means "blessed are the paupers in spirit." A pauper is exceedingly commonplace, yes unnoticed, nevertheless, they are blessed in the sight of God. Commonplace Christians count! 

-- Cowman remixed

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

Grateful 

My Granny's Bible Notes

Granny Margery's Bible contained these words written in the fly-leaf: 

In Christ I (may) have:

1. A love That can never be fathomed 

2. A life that can never die

3. A righteousness that can never be tarnished

4. A peace that can never be disturbed

5. A joy that can never be diminished 

6. A hope that can never be disappointed

7. A glory that can never be clouded

8. A light that can never be darkened

9. A happiness that can never be interrupted

10. A strength that can never be enfeebled

11. A purity that can never be defiled

12. A beauty that can never be marred

13. A wisdom that can never be baffled

14. A supply (resources) that can never be exhausted 

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

Grateful 

God's Love Illustrated

God's Love illustrated...

Jesus could've had the Angels save Him but instead He chose to save us.

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

Grateful 

Yes, He Can!

This paragraph from Dr. Woodie Stevens' book, "How to Fill the Emptiness" is powerful to me. 

(Click below for full-frame rendering.)

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

Grateful 

Above All I Desire...

When asked recently, "How can I pray for you?" this was my response: 

Above all, I desire an undeniable awareness of the witness of God's approval upon my life.

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

Grateful 

"Suffering for Doing What is Right..."

1 Peter 3:14 gives us a pure perspective on "suffering for doing what is right."

(Click text below for full frame view.)

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

Grateful 

An Agape Love Reminder

A friend in the Lord must've surely been listening to God's voice on my behalf as he sent me this text message, today. How timely is the kindness of The Lord and how faithful is a friend in Jesus. 

(Click text below to read our exchange of encouragement. His message first then my reply:)

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

Grateful 

Draw Me Nearer

I was blessed to speak with my Mom, Lady Melba, on the phone today and as always, even in her own day threatened by feelings of depression, she said: "Son, if you meet depression, press onward." 

I know what Mom really meant! "If you feel you are far from the Lord, don't settle for that feeling of distance, desire to draw nearer to Him and He will draw nearer to you.

This song is an anthem of sorts of the encouraging words I am hoping this blog conveys to you today:

https://youtu.be/teC0cmS_Y_o

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

Grateful 

"Let Human Arrogance Vanish..." / Prayer

"Arrogance comes,

then comes shame,

But wisdom remains...

with humble people."

Proverbs 11:2 GW

Let us pray:

Lord, entrust us with divine humility. Let human arrogance vanish from our lips and our lives.

We cry out to You to purify us with Your innocent, spilt blood from all unholy pride, all-the-while, forming fully within us Your holy mind.

Dwell intimately within us. Let the beauty of Your holiness hold us fast in unending faith.

Let us focus on You, alone. Make every other unworthy distraction dim in comparison to Your countenance of splendor. Be our Vision forever and a day and today. 

In Your Name, King Jesus, we pray. 

Amen. 

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

Grateful 

Father's Love Letter

This tender recitation with a music background from verses of God's written word are so comforting and reassuring to souls who will receive Father God's love. 

I have the heart-warming recitation in the form of a lovely tract that I give to others on occasion. Listen in solitude and be restored deep within as you feel the loving embrace of Father God's amazing grace.

https://youtu.be/zJvqmhGs1Y8

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

Grateful 

My Prayer for Your Strength Today...

May the Lord of Hosts 
hold you close. 
May His Spirit 
be your strength
May you know His Love 
from Heaven Above.
May you walk 
and not grow faint. 

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

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

Grateful 

Jealous of the Angels

Thanks to Edna for sharing this song. She said she thought it reminded her of my Dad. She's right since he's been in Heaven for almost two years now.

https://youtu.be/pBg9btpGqKU

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

Grateful

Wisdom and Stupidity

This prayer is noted in the margin of God's Word Translation "Pray the Scriptures Bible" as related to Proverbs 9:13-18.

"Wisdom calls out to me. But so does stupidity -- in a loud and gullible and ignorant voice. I'm trying hard to do right, but stupidity still makes its case for doing wrong. Remind me that stupidity puts my soul on my path to death. Amen."

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

Grateful 

An Old "Almighty" Hymn

My Dad always kept with his Bible an old Hymn Book for his quiet time with the Lord. Of late, I've placed an old hymnal in one of my quiet places as well.

This morning, Martin Luther's old anthem, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God", grabbed my soul. The words are so wonderful. The second and third verses especially speak to me. 

(Click type below for full-frame rendering.)

"...and I wait." Psalm 5:3 GW

Grateful 

My God Fights for Me

Thankful for brothers in the Lord, like Rev. David Gilbert, who sent me this encouraging YouTube song recently.

https://youtu.be/RXTi5TAGN1c

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

Grateful 

My Tweet on Grief

Last week I tweeted this message about grief below. It's is very true, but glad that as Jesus-believers we can testify in the words of Charlie Brown that our immediate grief, will ultimately transform into "Good Grief!" 

(Click below for full-frame image of my Tweet on grief.)

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

Grateful 

Are You Controlled by The Spirit?

I was asked recently to share a Holiness Scripture with a local church leadership team. I chose this one:

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

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

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Once Again

Sometimes I repeat the best posts again and again on my blog. Today is one of those "once again" posts, a song of prayer by Steve Green titled "Touch Your People Once Again."

This old song has been a prayer on my heart for about 25 years. It is still just as urgent a request today as it was the first day I heard it. So be it, in Jesus' Name! Amen. 

https://youtu.be/Z_NBjiYq2gY

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

4 Things Wise People Hate

While reading in Proverbs 8:13, God's Word Translation of The Holy Bible, we discover 4 things wise people hate:

1. Pride

2. Arrogance 

3. Evil Behavior 

4. Twisted Speech

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

Grateful 

My Friend, Ed, is in The Presence of The Lord

My dear, pastor-friend, Ed, who served in the Chicago area went to be with the Lord, oh so suddenly, this past Tuesday evening in an ICU Hospital unit in Cincinnati. Ed is in the Presence of the Lord, nevertheless, my heart is broken in half. 

Ed was my prayer partner among about 25 Nazarene preachers who meet in a yearly pastors' gathering with our spouses. Our yearly upcoming January 2017 event would've been about 12 years of faithful friendship. 

Ed was only 62. A month or so ago he was diagnosed with a serious diagnosis of cancer. It seems the effects of the chemo took a quick toll on Ed's quality of life and now he finds himself instantly healed in the realized Presence of our Great Physician, Jesus. Still, my heart is broken. 

Over this past year especially, Ed and I shared messages of encouragement between each other and because of his invitation to me, we had a special time together at Chicago's Nazarene District Leadership Day, where he introduced me as the keynote speaker. He made me blush with his kind words. Also, at the 2016 General Church Pensions and Benefits Board meetings in Kansas City, Ed and I were inseparable. I am grateful for these extra special times we recently enjoyed. Still, my heart is broken. 

Ed was one the most real and passionate men I ever knew. He looked tough, like a body guard, outwardly, but he was so tenderly vulnerable inwardly. Ed loved Harley Davidsons, Starbucks Coffee, his dear wife, Kathy, who journeyed with us to The Holy Land in 2014, and their only precious college-age daughter, Alea.

Ed, life here cannot be the same ever with you absent. You always encouraged me even until the end as these were your last words to me: 

"Thank you Kerry (for the deep prayers); sensing the comfort of God's presence through the love of you and all the others carrying us down this path! Humbled and so blessed- love you brother! I love you and need you!"

Rest your soul my dear brother and forever friend, Ed Heck. I will never forget the way you loved me and believed in me. Peace, my Jesus-friend. "We will meet on That Beautiful Shore!"

(Click on image below to view full-frame Pastor Ed.)

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

Grateful 

Delbert "Cigar" Daisey, A Last American Folk Hero (Longevity)

I first met Delbert "Cigar" Daisey in 1992 when my friend David A. Lawrence journeyed with me to Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Mr. Daisey, twice World Champion Waterfowl Carver, is really like one of the last remaining true American folk heroes. 

Though Mr. Daisey had just met me, he said "You are a man of God and I want you to tell me everything you can about the Bible and having personal faith." I was in awe of his request, guessing that David had told him in advance that I would be leaving for Bible College a few months later -- yet, David was as much in awe as I was. Actually, he was more like "in shock" at the spontaneous request (God was at work, let's just say.) With David's coaxing, I obliged Mr. Daisey's request. 

David was leaning in and listening intently the whole next hour or so as I went from Genesis to Revelation. At the conclusion Mr. Daisey humbly delayed becoming a true believer but that would not be the end of the story. 

In 2013, -- yes, 21 years later (David having passed away by now, while in his 50s) -- I made a trip to the Eastern Shore at the Lord's summoning. I went to reacquaint myself with Mr. Daisey in hopes of continuing our faith conversation that began 21 years earlier and telling him about the prayer David asked me to pray with him while on his death-bed. (That's a story for another time.) 

Anyway, I found Mr. Daisey at the physical location I had originally met him, yes, still inside his waterside carving shack. However, he was at an entirely different place spiritually. Yes, now in his mid-80s, he wanted to exercise his faith and allowed me to gently but boldly lead him in a beautiful broken prayer of belief to validate a relationship with Jesus. 

Since that visit we've tenderly kept up a conversation on the phone with me making occasional visits his way to be face-to-face. Last week was one of those visits. He now lives in a rest home along the Eastern Shore and though it took me a while to locate him, it was joy for us both when I did. We talked about Jesus, Heaven and prayed together. My heart was strangely warmed. The moral of the story? Longevity is the greatest convincer!🕯

(Click images below for full-frame views of my most recent visit with Mr. Daisey at the rest home. Also, a second photo of his old carving shack and a third shot of a pair of his hand-carved decoys, Red-Breasted Mergansers, we call 'em 'fishing ducks' -- that are on sale for about $10,000 at a decoy shop on the Eastern Shore. And, finally, a fourth and final image of my hand in Mr. Daisey's as we prayed together.)

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

Grateful 

The Key Verse

These words from the New Testament pen of The Apostle Paul, have become the key verse in my life over these past few years. I believe the words and depend upon the truth within this key verse with all of my being. In the Name of Jesus. Amen. 

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

Grateful 

"Treasures... Within You."

These seven words speak deeply to my heart, mind, soul and strength today:

"Treasure my commands that are within you." Proverbs 7:1b GW 

(Click below for full-frame image of silver treasures I photographed on a quiet, night walk through the Old City of Jerusalem.)

"...and i wait." Psalm 5:3 GW 

Grateful 

Free as a Bird... NOW!

I pray your Labor Day Weekend will find you resting from life's burdens and feeling as free as a bird beginning... NOW!

(Click image for full-view of a "free

bird" -- a Pelican I photographed earlier in the summer along the shores of Ocracoke Island.) 

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

Grateful 

On a Loop in My Head...

It's about noon on Friday as I make this blog post...

This song has been on a loop in my head through my headphones the last hour... Maybe longer... 

It is helping me...I pray it helps you, too, friend! 🌿

https://youtu.be/e8HgAVenbUU

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

Grateful 

Revisit Sacred Places

This week I revisited a sacred place where 25 years ago I spontaneously shared the Good News of Jesus for a few hours with two decoy-carving friends that I would ultimately pray with to validate Jesus as their own personal Savior. Believe me, it was a powerful, ordained, Jesus-Present encounter! 

One friend came to Christ -- as I prayed, literally with him -- on his death-bed a few years later and the other one would pray 21 years later when the Lord invited me to return to this same sacred place to surprise that friend with a presence-of-God visit. Humbling. Both. Longevity is the greatest convincer. 

Revisit sacred places of yesterday to gain vision and inspiration for today and tomorrow. 

(Click below for photo of the sacred place, yes, a decoy-carving shack on Virginia's Eastern Shore.)

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

Grateful