Christ, My Life

“Christ is all and in all.” Col. 3:11

The service of Christ is the business of my life.

The will of Christ is the law of my life.

The presence of Christ is the joy of my life.

The glory of Christ is the crown of my life.

— D.L. Moody

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Song of Deliverance

One of my Celebrate Recovery brothers sent me this song today. Awesome truths set to music!

https://youtu.be/NPOUJp6nKWE

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

God Will Help His People

Words of Jesus From Luke 18, God’s Word Translation

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful  

The Best / Thank You The Cross

https://youtu.be/URy7h5Vpgb4

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Everyone Needs Compassion...

As Kim and I walked through the alley ways of St. Thomas, The Virgin Islands, with others pastoral couples, I spontaneously photographed this precious, yet desperate soul, unawares. While I am still whispering the Name of Jesus over him, I surely cannot deny that “everyone needs compassion...”

https://youtu.be/uSl5KTc2D0o

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Your Life

Your life is so very sacred. 

Your are a beloved child of Father God. 

Your life matters. Jesus gave His Life to gain yours. 

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Morality Matters

“Real suffering (often) comes from bad morality. Yet, preaching morality has been declared taboo by the gatekeepers of the public discourse. And, the voices that could help are not being heard, and the voices that are heard, don’t help.” 

— Riley Ellison 

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Prayer Specifics

Lord, we ask for Your blessing, wisdom, and enlightenment in our conversations today. Give us new insight as we journey onward.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18 KJV 

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful

God’s Will

I learned from a wise friend of mine, that if you are about to make a life-decision that requires a major transition, begin by praying specifically that God would reveal His perfect will by either giving you desire, burden, and passion to say “yes”, or that He would withdraw at least two of the three, so you can have freedom to say “no”.

“Nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done.” 

Prayer of Jesus

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20 

Grateful 

Satan’s Lie — God’s Face

“Satan begins with a lie and builds momentum from there to discourage us because we proclaim The Lamb of God — Jesus.” 

— Gene Tanner 

“If you’re gonna hang your head, hang it up so you can see the face of God.”

— Capt. Billy 

(Read it again.) 

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Best Friends

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Entire Sanctification

“Entire Sanctification depends entirely on my willing, conscious, definite break with sin at the Cross, and by an act of faith appropriating Christ on the throne. The world, the flesh and the devil are conquered. Christian sanctification is the indwelling holiness that guides our lives as spontaneously as breathing. It depends not on my longings, yearning, praying, fasting, weeping, or howling, but entirely on my will.” 

— Oswald Chambers 

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Lead us to...

These words were a portion of a hymn sung at a funeral I attended last week. Still, praying these words from deep in my own soul...

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Incandescent for God’s Glory

“The Holy Spirit’s work of grace is not finished in one’s soul until that soul has had a personal Pentecost. God’s work is not done, as He came to do it, until you have been filled by God’s Spirit. When a Christian is filled with the Spirit, the Spirit comes to dwell within and the indwelling Holy Spirit will make you incandescent for the glory of God. You cannot do God’s work unless the Holy Spirit infills you completely. Allow God to complete His work in you?”

— Oswald Chambers 

How?

1. Ask God for the infilling/indwelling of His Spirit.

2. Believe He knows how/wants to give you His Spirit. (That is, believe/surrender what you want for yourself for what God wants for you — to give you His Spirit.)

3. Receive this work of God’s grace by simple faith.

4. Become truly incandescent for God’s glory! (That is, dedicate/consecrate your whole story for His holy glory.)

Yes, Be Light! Go Shine! 

Jesus lamp, Nazareth Village

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful  

Keep Moving Forward

Maranatha — “Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20 

Grateful 

Personal, Passionate Devotion to Jesus

“No one can ever destroy the individual whose heart is in personal, passionate, devotion to Jesus. Beware of your own inward intentions to make sure you have this dominant note of fervent love for the Lord.” 

— Oswald Chambers paraphrased 

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”

Grateful 

Believing Without Seeing

A few years ago, I watched a television mini-series on the life of Jesus. While there were many touching scenes, no scene touched me more tenderly than the one portraying the words of Jesus recorded in John 20:29. It brought me to tears in fact. Why? Because I knew the blessed ones Jesus spoke of in His words, included me...

Here’s the scene:

https://youtu.be/gLfzfiLU7lA

Here are the words:

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

“Craig”

A dear brother sent me this country song my way today. Read the lyrics then click the link to hear the story in music... 

https://youtu.be/Da0g7a7tPN8

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”

Grateful 

The Holiness Road

At a funeral today, I thought these words from the opening hymn make for a marvelous prayer... 

This was one verse in the opening Scripture reading...

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Sheep That Went Astray

I have a special friend that I visit about once a month who is in jail. And whenever I go to see him, I always feel as if I am going to see Jesus. 

Today, was about my fourth visit to the jail to see my new friend. We always have meaningful conversation and I always walk away humbled and grateful for the opportunity.

Today he told me, “I am just a sheep who went astray”. Nevertheless, he has now turned his back on the darkness and is walking in the light with The Good Shepherd again. Though he still has possibly 3 1/2 years of prison time to complete, I can see the light of hope in his eyes when we have conversations.

At the conclusion of our half-hour conversation today, I surprised my new friend somewhat by asking him to pray for me. He was hesitant at first but with my encouraging he began to pray aloud. With his head bowed he prayed for about five minutes. I have never heard a more beautiful prayer prayed over me and I truly felt as if Jesus Himself had in some way prayed for me. As I left the corridor, I felt blessed and humbled and grateful.

Remember what Jesus said:

A Holy Land Shepherd with his sheep. If you turn the photograph upside down you will notice in the reflection that it appears the shepherd is tending to just one sheep in his flock. Could this be the sheep that went astray but turned back toward the good shepherd?

My Tweet after leave by the prison:

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Our Light Affliction

The Apostle Paul was imprisoned, shipwrecked, starved, and stoned, yet we hear him speaking about “our light afflictions, which is but for a moment...” 

(2 Corinthians 4:17) 

Oswald Chambers Commentary 

Think about it. 

Prayer: Lord, give us eternal perspective in the midst of our earthly problems. 

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Those Who Fear The Lord

From Psalm 112, God’s Word Translation, verses 1, 7, and 8a are so strong...

1: Praise The Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying His commands. 

7: They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. 

8a: They are confident and fearless.

So be it, Lord, in my life. 

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Be Ready for Christ’s Return

These words by Francis Chan matter...

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Holy Day of Epiphany

From my Instagram post today... 

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Rewards for Burdens

This was my Project Galilee Tweet this morning:

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

Journey Home

Yesterday, my wife, Kim, and I, along with our hound dog, Lucy, made our journey home from The Outer Banks to The Shenandoah Valley. We are grateful to have had some exhale time in North Carolina and are equally grateful to be back in Virginia.

Here are some images I stopped for along the road back from the coast to the valley...

Time to go home? What ya talkin’ ‘bout Willis?! 

Old school flea mall

Trawlers at rest near Newport News

Take 2: Trawlers In Harbor

Now that’s a big bow. Premium Outlets store window display. 

Sweet Creme-filled pretzel at WaWa

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

OBX — Exhale Season Ends

Last night was our final evening of exhale on our native North Carolina Coastline. We leave today for our Shenandoah Valley of Virginia Home. 

Here are a few images that have inspired us these past 24 hours or so... with my morning devotional thoughts at the very end. 

Marshes lighthouse at Manteo

Harbor lights 

Frozen sound — seating for two :)

A new fave seafood restaurant in Manteo

14-layer chocolate fudge-iced cake to go

Morning walk along the Atlantic Ocean at Kill Devil Hills

A souvenir conch shell from the sea picked up a’midst Sweet Lucy’s tracks

Winter on the beach. Goodbye. 

My morning devotional thoughts sacredly Tweeted.

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

“Disturb Us, Lord...” / Prayer

A friend sent me this prayer this morning, saying she thought of me and my church staff (vision crew) when she came across it... 

Atlantic Ocean from Kill Devil Hills, N.C.

Maranatha — “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful 

New Year / Outer Banks

One saying people may one day remember me for is: “Longevity is the greatest convincer.” Nevertheless, there is another saying I repeat often, especially to myself: “If you forget where you came from, you won’t know where you are going, and you won’t know who you are when you get there.” 

So, as often as possible I return to my island roots to remember where I came from. Especially, I like to return to my island roots as an old year is giving way to a new year. Today, my wife, Kim, and I — along with our hound dog, Lucy — journeyed along The Outer Banks of our native North Carolina. 

Here are a few images I captured as I renewed remembrances of my childhood in the invigorating winter winds along the shoreside...

Last night, Ocracoke Island, decoy carver’s front porch, in the afterglow of an island Christmas...

Chicamacomico Old Coast Guard Station / Lifesaving grounds in Rodanthe along Graveyard of the Atlantic... 

Beach House used in movie “Nights in Rodanthe...”

Pea Island Lifesaving Station at Oregon Inlet...

Bodie Island Lighthouse, south of Nags Head...

“Island roots” near Bodie Light...

Sunset over the sound near Nags Head...

Island roots silhouetted...

Bodie Light over Lightkeeper’s House...

Maranatha — “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev. 22:20

Grateful