Sinning

"If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning." Final verse of Romans 15 (NLT)

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Take Me

Jesus, as You took the bread in your hands along the Galilee shore and blessed it and broke it and gave it to the hungry crowds, take my life into Your nail-scarred hands, bless me, and turn my brokenness into a gift for souls to taste and to see that You are good. In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Dragging Sins

This poetic line from Isaiah, is weighty and a warning to all who allow wickedness in their wake:

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Why Suffering?

Next time we are tempted to ask "why suffering is a part of our lives" maybe these words from Jesus about His own suffering will lead us to consider the joy beyond the pain.

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

 

Stumble / Fall

Isaiah 3, verse 8, reminds us of three sure ways to stumble and to fall:

1. Speak out against The Lord 

2. Refuse to Obey Him 

3. Provoke Him to His face

NLT

Be forewarned!

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Stop Sign

"Our local church wants to be a stop sign on the road to Hell!" -- Pastor Rob Mills 

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Sanctify Me

"Sanctify me... Make my heart Your holy place!" -- Song Lyrics, Kim McLean

https://youtu.be/XDnlxp3geUk

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Revival Highlight

The highlight for me personally from our Summer Revival season came in our Saturday morning session when our revival worship leader, Jason Tuggle, sang this song with tears running down his face. Jason is four years into cancer recovery. At the five-year mark, the doctors will consider him healed. This reality from his life surely deepens his leading of worship. Here's the song:

https://youtu.be/8Zqg5k_GUx4

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Come Close

James 4:8 was the key verse of my short Sunday message and then the response was 30 minutes of worship as many took me up on the invitation to come around the altar expecting that as we come close to God, He will come close to us making us holy as He desires.  

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Abba

This song has been the theme song of our Summer Revival Season. Powerful words:

https://youtu.be/7sroPrjCoGY

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

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My Soul

I awoke early Thursday morning with two verses of Scripture on my mind. About one hour later, my son who was leading prayer for our men's group, asked me to read the same portion of Scripture. It was amazing repetition. I pray the passage will also be amazing for you.

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Devastating Outcome

There cannot be a more devastating outcome in life than the horrifying conclusion defined in 2 Kings 17:23 NLT -- "... the Lord finally swept them away from His Presence, just as the prophets had warned." Why? They refused to obey their good God and would not turn from their great sinning! (VV. 18-22).

Our local church Summer Revival is this weekend, July 21-23, 2017, and my prayer is that true repentance will begin our season of "correcting spiritual slippage" in our lives and that a holy season of spiritual renewal will begin afresh and anew among and within us all. May the Lord never sweep us away from His Presence. God forgive! God forbid!

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful  

Summer Revival

(Click on image to preview full-frame:)

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Everlasting Love

This verse came to my heart early today. It's for you. Claim it as your own!

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

His Righteousness

This morning, I was humbled to preach about living life with a singular spiritual focus on Jesus, rather than living as a double-minded believer.

As I preached, I kept referring to a Bible verse but never shared the reference with the congregation. Sometimes, it seems God has me to communicate this way in hopes that the people will go and find the reference in their own Bibles and perhaps own the truth more intimately as their own.

Here is the verse that helps us to know we can live lives of Holiness. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me and continues to help me.

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

My Witnesses

Last Sunday, I preached from the words of Jesus recorded in Acts 1:8, especially these three words -- "Be My Witnesses."

This past week, our extended family vacationed together in our native North Carolina, and today as we were returning from the NC mountains, we passed a young lady with a flat tire as storm clouds were rolling in. She seemed so overwhelmed. 

I pulled the vehicle off and backed up to her front bumper and my wife and I got out and 12-15 minutes later I had the tire changed. Immediately the storm began, but Jackie hugged us and with teary eyes asked "do you go to church?" Yes, we said. Then she continued: "Thanks so much for helping me and please pray for my family. We had a cousin killed in a car wreck recently and our family is devastated by it." 

We pulled Jackie close and assured her that God loved her and we loved her and we would surely pray and God would help her and her family. (I've had her in my intercessions ever since.) 

As we pulled away from Jackie, the rain came down hard, however, my heart grew really soft. We had not said a word about God or church, yet the Lord witnessed to her through us. It was so humbling and fulfilling. When Jesus said: "Be My Witnesses" surely He intended on being Present with and within us always. "Christ in us, THE HOPE..." Colossians 1:27.

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT 

Grateful 

NC Mountains

One should not expect to advance while never taking time to retreat. A few photos I've taken while exhaling with my family in the Mountains of our native North Carolina. 

Lucy girl enjoying early morning ride to get groceries. 

Looking upward in town of Brevard.

Quilts for sale.

Artist's rendering of angel wings on rough board. 

Silver earrings I spontaneously picked out and purchased for my surprised wife. 

The youngest of our tribe at Hawg Wild BBQ Restaurant.

Jingle birds wind chimes. 

Marbles for sale in O.P. Taylor's Toy Store.

O.P. Taylor's called "coolest toy store on the planet!"

Bluegrass Band at Hawg Wild BBQ Restaurant played a special request for our family in honor of our late dad's birthday coming up in a few days. Song was "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" Sacredness indeed. 

 "Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

 

Leadership

The leadership of those who refuse to serve is illegitimate. 

"The Son of Man came to serve not to be served..." Matthew 20, Words of Jesus NLT

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful

Summer Breeze

Below are some photos I have taken during a week of exhaling along the coastline of my native home:

Cape Lookout 

Cemetery Angel a few feet from my dad's grave

Window Flower Boxes, Beaufort, NC 

My Granny and Grandaddy's old front porch newly decorated, Harkers Island 

My mom's one-winged angel 

Shrimp nets in the Summer Breeze 

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Helpful

These verses have helped me over the past days:

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Stronger

This song is often on my mind:

https://youtu.be/o7t9pDih2Ps

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Revival Song

I led a gathering this morning of people hungry and thirsty for a right relationship with God, and I believe those who met with me really get it--that we need revival. One of the participants sent me this wonderful revival song after our two-hour session. It is one of my all-time favorites. Pray as you sing and listen to this wonderful arrangement.

https://youtu.be/s00Hh1ALaE4

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Know God

This is such a beautiful verse tucked away in the Old Testament Book of Hosea, chapter 6, verse 3, NLT:

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Gathering Resumes

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

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Restore Us

Today, as I think prayerfully about dear people I know who are desperately broken either physically or relationally or spiritually or mentally, this verse offers hope to my own mind:

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Contradict God

This verse is so very direct and powerful:

"Worship Only God! Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Strong Warning

"The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does... Make the Lord of Heaven's Armies holy in your life... Isaiah 8:11a,13a NLT

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Nonverbal Communication

Focus on the Family excerpt: 

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful 

Jaws 🦈 Jonah

From Jonah 2 in my NLT Bible, I imagine Jonah being delivered from the literal "JAWS" 🦈 of death. Amazing is the mercy and patience of our God. 

(Click on image for full-frame rendering:)

"Worship Only God!" Rev. 22:9 NLT

Grateful