Living Prayer

After my post yesterday titled "The Prayer", a dear brother in Christ sent me this song. Thanks Brother Anthony. 

https://youtu.be/kv3WSrZ-9bM

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

Grateful 

The Prayer

A tender yet powerful song titled "The Prayer". Beware: May cause tears. Good tears. 

https://youtu.be/M5vrPaE5Y1o

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

Grateful 

Christmas Memories Recorded in Photos

These Christmas Memories recorded in photos matter so much to me. I am glad for Christmases past, present, and future. I love Christmas. I need Christmas. Christmas is for rejoicing and remembering.

Photo: Christmas 2009, The Oreo Pup becomes a Nativity Character.

2015 was The Oreo Pup's final Christmas. We miss his sweet presence. Good grief.

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

Grateful

   

Gloria / Glory

Today, in our worship service we began the Advent Season leading up to Christmas by singing the Christian Hymn titled "Gloria".

This information about the song warmed my own heart. 

(Click below for full-frame rendering.)

"...and i wait." Psalm 5:3 GW

Grateful 

A Prayer for the Christmas Season 2016 & Beyond

If you could take a few quiet moments now (or set aside a special quiet time later) to be still before the Lord and fervently pray this Christmas 2016 & Beyond prayer with me as a local pastor in The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, USA, I believe our Lord will be honored, our world will be helped, and we will be humbled. 

So, Let Us Pray… A Christmas Prayer…for 2016 & Beyond:

Dearest Loving Abba Father, Daddy Father:

By the precious blood of Your Darling Son and our Dear Savior, Jesus,

And by the powerful presence of Your Blessed Holy Spirit,

We come now before Your Throne of Mercy to pray together.

We pray A Christmas Prayer for 2016 & Beyond.

First of all, Dear Lord, we pray for our Missionaries.

Indeed, Lord, all around Your world today and everyday,

Your Missionaries are depending upon the prayers of Your people.

May Your Missionaries who are scattered to the four corners of the globe

Know Your undeniable presence and Your indescribable peace.

Please, meet all of their specific needs according to Your abundant riches

In Christ Jesus. Let Your joy, oh, Lord, be their strength.

Secondly, Dear Lord, we pray for our Military personnel.

At Christmastime this year many families are separated

Because of loved ones who are overseas in uniform.

Bless the Chaplains as they pray and plan to celebrate Christmas

On foreign soil. Give to them Your embrace and Your Word.

We are blessed to live in the United States of America, Abba Father.

Make us grateful & prayerful for those who protect & defend freedom.

Finally, Dear Lord, I pray for our Heavenly Mission as a glocal church.

We say “Thanks” as we savor yesterday’s memories. However, Lord,

We also want to seize today’s moments and see tomorrow’s miracles.

Help us be a bright BEACON of Your perfect love & prevailing hope

In Your Shenandoah Valley & Beyond… In 2016 & Beyond!

Give us a desire to seek Your face, hear Your voice, obey Your Word

And become Your will. Help us to keep living with devoted and totally

Surrendered Hearts so that our lives can be Your lights in darkness.

We pray for a God-ordered, Jesus-led, and Spirit-filled unity & future.

In the name of the One called Wonderful, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

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

Grateful

Singing Hearts

How long has been since my heart and your heart sang out in uncontainable praise to The Lord? Too often, I fear, we forget to lift our hearts in song to the Lord especially when life seems hard. Yet, He is worthy and we must not miss any more opportunities. 

Psalm 96:2, issues this command: "Sing to the Lord; praise His Name! Proclaim His salvation day after day."

Occasionally, my heart is lifted when I hear someone else say things like: "Jesus makes my heart sing!" 

While at my brother's home in Tennessee for Thanksgiving Day, at sunset the heavenlies just seemed to be celebrating in synchronization with my own soul. 

Funny thing is, this reality didn't register until the morning after, yes this morning. I am grateful for the invitation to join in with other singing hearts. Jesus makes my heart sing!

(Click image for sunset sky, a heavenly celebration synchronization for me.)

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

Grateful 

Thanks Giving

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day. My mind goes back to the quiet moments of the past year. I pray the solitude of the Holy Spirit will make your holiday a holy day.

(Click image below for full frame.)

Ocracoke Island's UMC Chapel

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

Grateful 

Old Ship

This morning this old gospel song I first heard in the 1970s, a favorite of my Dad's, Capt. Billy, warmed the hearts of his wife and eldest son as we shared breakfast. 

https://youtu.be/-JIYlGp5rqg

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

Grateful 

The Least

Today, my mom, Lady Melba ⚓, shared a devotional page from a book I gave her years ago. The author is Dennis Kinlaw.

The book is titled This Day With the Master. My mom likes to read ahead, so while today is November 22, the page she shared with me is November 25. Please click the JPEG below for a full rendering of the devotional reading.

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

Grateful 

Obedient Offerings

Often I wonder if God mainly weighs our obedience in offerings by the amount we give to Him and others or by the amount we keep for ourselves? 

God looks at our motives when it comes to our giving. 

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

Grateful 

Inspiring Eyes

When I saw this image on social media I had to screen-shot it to inspire my own interior life. I want Jesus to be undeniably evident in my eyes. 

"Christ in you/me, the Hope of glory." Colossians 1:27b

(Click image for full-frame.)

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

Grateful 

All Things

God's Word is powerful in every season.

(Click on text box below for full-frame.)

Shenandoah Valley's North River reflections as autumn gives way to winter

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

Grateful 

Capt. Billy / Psalm 107

My Dad, Capt. Billy, stepped into the realized presence of Jesus two years ago today. 

My Dad's favorite Psalm was Psalm 107. Today, as I saturate in Psalm 107, verse 13 and verse 14 speak deeply to my soul. 

Click below for full-frame rendering of the passage from God's Wprd Translation.

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

Grateful 

 

Awake/A Lot

In reading Luke 12 today from God's Word Translation of The Holy Bible, two ideas go deep into my thinking. Yes, so deep that tears come and line the corridors of my eyes. Two ideas in two of the verses particularly speak to me. 

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

Grateful 

Faith/Faint

This verse has been so strong in my thinking this week, as if God keeps reminding me of its truth so that I will anticipate the wonderful things coming my way as I walk into the future with Him.

Together, let's choose faith and not faint.

(Click on text box below for full-frame rendering of Scripture.)

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

Grateful

Sacrificial Giving

This story from the life of Jesus was the centerpiece of my message this past Sunday. It illustrates sacrificial giving and overflows with cheerful generosity and glad gratitude. 

 

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

Grateful 

Psalm 126

Psalm 126 put to song is good for the soul.

https://youtu.be/3c385wmY910

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

Grateful 

Choices/Consequences

"We get to make our own choices but our choices make us. Choices have consequences." (Line from Script of Samson Story, Sight and Sound Production)

"...and i  wait." Psalm 5:3 GW

Grateful

Love Them

My @bluegoose220 Instagram post today will also be my blog post. 

(Click below for full-frame.)

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

Grateful 

Rich Man

My tweet today:

(Click on image for full-frame.)

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

Grateful 

Jesus Longs to Heal Our Land

When I saw this powerful painted portrait pasted below, I thought surely "Jesus longs to heal our land." (See 2 Chronicles 7:14) If we are willing, it is surely His will. Jesus invites us to intimacy with Himself, and surely He longs to extend to us full forgiveness through His healing hand(s).

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

Grateful 

Psalm 121

On Election Day in the USA, I called our local church to pray, vote and pray. Also, I highlighted the invitation to come by our Gethsemane Prayer Room and in the room Psalm 121 was very visible.

(Click below for Psalm 121.)

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

Grateful 

Future Rescue

These words penned by The Apostle Paul seem to ring true for us as believers in these days:

(Click text below for full-frame rendering.)

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

Grateful 

Confident Ignorance

"People with a confident ignorance really scare me." Pastor Steven Furtick

P.S. Our Hope has been through Hell yet came from Heaven. Our Hope has a name -- JESUS!

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

Grateful

Project Galilee

Five years ago I invited church leaders to a seaside retreat along my native homeland of Coastal North Carolina. Today, our fifth annual gathering -- Project Galilee -- just concluded. 

Year one, seven leaders joined me. This year 32 joined us. God was honored. We were helped. I am humbled. And grateful. If you want to know more about this yearly season of sacred saturation please visit www.ProjectGalilee.org anytime.

We hope to meet again November 2-4, 2017. 

(Click below for promise of Jesus.)

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

Grateful 

Dennis Kinlaw

Years ago I had the blessed privilege of meeting Dennis Kinlaw in Wilmore, Kentucky. His book of daily devotions -- "This Day With the Master" -- had warmed my soul many days before our acquaintance.

At the retreat in Kentucky, Dr. Kinlaw sat alongside me. I felt honored. At the break I handed him my copy of his devotional classic and asked if he'd sign it. Gladly and humbly he did. This is the verse he penned above his name.

(Click text below for full-frame.)

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

Grateful 

First Love

The church at Ephesus once known as a fellowship who loved Jesus with an undying love, was later charged by King Jesus of having abandoned their first love. 

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

Grateful 

Deliver/Delight

Today, I tweeted a message @PastorKerryW with a likeness of Jesus that seems good also to post on my blog.

(Click below for full-frame.)

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

Grateful 

Near/Hears

(Click on text below for promise from the Psalms.)

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

Grateful