Jesus Promised

This strong promise of Jesus speaks guarantees of what happens when we are one with the Holy Spirit:

(Click on text box below:)

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

Grateful 

My Faith

This song is an all-time favorite of the Willis family. When I preached my first message on January 12, 1992, I requested it be sung before and after I preached. At my Dad's homegoing service it was the final selection. It is a testimony for sure. 

(Click link for song, "My Faith Still Holds.")

https://youtu.be/DkYGSvekg1c

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

Grateful 

Personal Prayer

Jesus, my personal prayer is:

Make my life a saturated sanctuary of Your Holy Presence.

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

Grateful 

Where There is No Vision... A Prayer.

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) says, "Where there is no vision the people perish."

Lord, give to us Your vision for Your lost world (that You loved so much) that You would give Your only Son's life's blood to rescue.

Lord, help us to cast Your vision, to clarify Your vision, and to count the cost we must personally absorb to see Your vision become our reality.

As our inheritance, give us the lost for Your glory. Help us to work for night is coming. Let us reflect Your light to those who need to be delivered from the darkness.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Click image for full-frame of Ocracoke Island Lighthouse.)

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

Grateful  

 

Repentance Matters

Repentance opens the door to intimate fellowship with The Savior. To be almost saved is to still be totally lost. 

(Revelation 3:20 illustrated in image below. Click for full-frame.)

In the culture of our Lord, to share a meal with someone means there is love, forgiveness and friendship being extended. (Click on text box below for Revelation 3:20.)

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

Grateful 

Giveaway Yourself

Jesus came to planet earth to give Himself for us and to us. If you feel as if you have nothing to give to others, be like Jesus and giveaway yourself for others and to others for the sake of Jesus. 

When we give away ourselves for and to others for Jesus' sake, we give a very unique gift that we alone are able to offer.

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

Grateful 

Cool Breezes

Cool breezes are prevailing today in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. I cannot adequately describe how these cool breezes invigorate my senses. 

Today, as I experience these cool breezes I know that autumn is whispering the end of warmer weather and the beginning of colder temperatures to come. 

But even more so, these cool breezes cause me to think about The Holy Spirit and inspire me to pray that the Refreshing Breath of Almighty God will continue to blow to me and through me as an invigorating witness of the Goodness and Glory of Jesus Christ. 

(Click below for full-view image of location I pray as the cool breezes signal the change of seasons and remind me of The Holy Spirit.)

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

Grateful 

Live Securely

Click text box below and claim the blessing I pray over your valued life from God's Word. 

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

Grateful 

Autumn Arrives

Autumn arrives in The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. All creation shouts in vibrant shouts and colors to Worship our Creator God. Hallelujah!

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

Grateful 

Protection/Projection

My tweet today seems right also for my blog:

(Click for full-frame rendering.)

Note: < = less and > = more... of course :)

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

Grateful 

Hallelujah Chorus

Be encouraged. Hallelujah to you!

https://youtu.be/IUZEtVbJT5c

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

Grateful 

Providential Happenings

As Jesus-believers our lives are always aligning aright and it is not accidental or coincidental, it is only providential. 

Do you believe that God is intricately and intimately involved in the Happenings of your life? If not, start believing it's true because it is.

The only condition to claiming that the better and the worst things of our lives are allowed by God to bring to us His best is to totally believe in Jesus. 

Yes, I didn't say God creates the worst things in our lives, I said He allows these things and transforms the worst things we can endure to become the best things we can imagine.

You might be asking how I can believe such an idea? Good question and I have a good answer. In fact, the worst day in the life of Jesus was allowed by God, even orchestrated by God, and now we call it Good Friday. Yes, His worst day transformed into our best day, because as we believe totally in Jesus, it paid in full for our sins. 

Think about these things if you sense that accidents and coincidences are happening in your life. Ask if these things could actually be called Providential Happenings! 

Do you believe Romans 8:28? 

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

Grateful

Birds Matter

In the Gospel writings Jesus said "Consider the birds of the air..." However, the point He was driving at was "How much more valuable are you to Me than birds."

I feed birds in my backyard on a daily basis. Often, as I do this, it seems I can hear the whisper of Jesus in the flutter of wings saying: "Birds matter, but you matter most to Me!"

(Click image for full-view of bird in flight and second image below of Scripture verse.)

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

Grateful 

Never Quit

Let us commit together that we will never quit on Jesus. As we remember all He endured to make eternal life our inheritance, how could we ever even consider turning our backs on Him?

Today, I am reminded that Jesus is worthy of whatever I might have to face in this temporary existence in order to be with Him forever. He died for me and I want to live for Him every day of my life until my eyes meet His.

Jesus, I believe in Your crucifixion and in Your resurrection! 

Let's believe in Him for forever and a day and today!

Click link below for a great song of faith:

https://youtu.be/W5I_yYbpLKA

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

Grateful 

Be Beaming

This truth from Proverbs of the Holy Bible is lit with warning. Is our light beaming or has our lamp been snuffed out?

(Click text-box for full-frame.)

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

Grateful 

Blessed Be

This song has been on my heart, mind and lips all day it seems. Many days it delights my mind and life but today it will not turn me loose so I'm inviting you in on it now:

https://youtu.be/PnWKehsOXu8

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

Grateful 

Help Now

This verse from Proverbs of The Holy Bible has influenced my philosophy of ministry and my stance of life for nearly 25 years:

(Click on text box below for full-view of verse.)

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

Grateful 

Vigilance Matters

The lantern-waving, seaside lifesavers of old lived lives of vigilance to save the lives of others. They were present where others were perishing. I want to embody their passion as a Jesus-believer and as a soul-winning preacher. 

(Click on photo for full-view of old lifesaver on his watch for perishing souls in the sea.)

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

Grateful 

Some Days

Some days are heavy days as we live out the human experience. Especially I have come to know that holy days can be followed by heavy days. In other words, days of inspiration can be followed by days of depression. 

Still, it is worth it all because feelings being what they are, we choose to live by faith. Remember Jesus, who certainly knew some heavy days yet He persevered and overcame discouragement and even death with overflowing life. 

Another thing about heavy days, I've come to know they don't last forever. And a life absent of any human suffering and void of depression could turn into a life that would never long for Heaven.

I pray for you today if your day is heavy and appreciate your prayers for me. 

Because of Jesus we have hope that our heaviest days will give way to our holiest days. 

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

Grateful 

Kingdom Truth

As my friend, Steve Sipe and I, walked through a German village situated just beneath the ruins of a castle this Truth came to light as we talked: "Worldly kingdoms are taken when the enemy first goes through the peasants in order to get to the king, however, in Heaven's Kingdom the enemy must first go through our King to get to the peasants."

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

Grateful 

Benediction Germany

Today, Sunday is our last day for the Presence team in Germany and oh what a day of benediction it has been.

We attended worship at Kaiserslautern Church of the Nazarene where I was blessed to preach from the 23rd Psalm. What joy it was to be with Pastor Drew and his flock here. The service ended with everyone praying a benediction over Pastor Drew and Chelsea and our new friend and tour guide from Friday, Yoni. I anointed all three as everyone laid hands on the trio. 

Afterwards we had lunch at the parsonage apartment and spent the afternoon in fellowship and vision conversation. 

We leave Monday for home. Goodbyes are hard yet we cherish this holy season of encouraging and evangelizing in Deutschland -- yes Germany. 

(Click photos for full-frame view.)

Worship Kaiserslautern style

Reunited with Noela and Eunice from Rwanda as I met them here three years ago in Germany

Kim and Debbie talk with Noela about her life in Rwanda and her university life here in Kaiserslautern saying she used to be homesick but isn't anymore because the local church has become her family away from family 

Pastor Margaret prays with Eunice as they made an instant connection 

In preaching from Psalm 23 I made an illustration of Pastor Drew and Chip by renaming them Goodness and Mercy and had them follow me around a while to illustrate "surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life." 

Sunday dinner with the Davids in their home

As the sun sets we set our sights for home but will miss our family here in Germany, too 

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

Grateful 

Germany Compassion

Saturday was another moving day as our presence team partnered with Kaiserslautern Nazarenes to touch the lives of refugees with cake, coffee, kindness and friendship. What a blessing the day was for all. 

We ended the day standing on a high castle mountain to pray over The Kaiserslautern region for favor for all souls here. 

(Click on photos below.)

Prayer and preparation 

Sharing our names with children from Syria and Afghanistan 

Steve playing ping pong with Syrian refugee while answering his questions about American pickup trucks 

Sonia fell in love with Angela and vice-versa 

Playtime partners matter

Americans living in Germany led the day

These children love Chelsea and it obvious she loves them

This lady from Afghanistan shared okra recipes

Palatine Forest 

Praying over Germany

Castle ruins

A lovely day's end 

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

Grateful 

Seeing Germany

Friday was a day for the presence team to exhale and to spend the day together sightseeing in Germany.

We took the train 2 hours northwest of Kaiserslautern to the oldest city in the country, Trier, Germany. 

We had a Jesus-believing German, Yoni, who is a history expert to lead our time together.

(Click images for full-frame.) 

Early departure by train

Lunch at a German restaurant -- Yoni from Germany and Grace from Jordan joined us. 

Grace, whom I met when she was age eleven in Amman, happened to be studying in Germany and joined us in our tour of Trier. 

Inside the Basillica of Constantine, these busts of Luke, Matthew, Jesus, Mark and John are on display

German architecture and landscaping

Yoni had a captive audience

In the local Protestant church, stainglass is inspiring 

And in the adjoining Catholic Church we were reminded of the Cross and the Cost 

The market square of Trier is beautiful and busy 

Our group poses in front of the Port Nigra

Lovely fairytale buildings are everywhere 

As the day nears an end, the views continue to be majestic 

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

Grateful 

Germany Praying

Thursday is our official day for praying together in Spirit for our local church family and how wonderful it was to pray with part of our global family today in Kaiserslautern of Germany.

Pastor Drew David led our presence team on a prayer walk around the city Jesus has entrusted him to reach. It was a sacred day.

(Click images for full-frame.) 

Praying together 

One stop was an old catheral where we prayed about transitions the Davids are experiencing here

Prayer is alive in Kaiserslautern 

I spotted this child's paper airplane when we stopped to pray for refugees

Pastor Drew points out the Palatine Forest of Kaiserslautern where Pastor Margaret's family roots are

Reflection of the city in window of violin maker's shop

Praying over the city

Prince William made the prayer walk so precious

I am humbled and grateful to be called pastor to Drew, Chelsea and William 

Prayer was indoors at times as cold temperatures entered yet our hearts remained Aflame at all times 

A cup of cappuccino and a hand-picked rose made my day complete 

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

Grateful