God Did Not Abandon Us!

For we were slaves, but in His unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery.
-- Ezra 9:9 (GNT)

Yesterday, we had a 5.9 registered earthquake in Virginia that was felt across the east coast of the USA. It's the most powerful earthquake in these parts in over 100 years. While it was a time of helpless uncertainty for humanity here, we escaped with no loss of life and little damage. Could such a timely tremor be tied to God's immediate nudgings, so we will turn totally to Him to avoid His ultimate judgings?

Hurricane Irene is also headed towards the east coast of the USA with landfall expected Saturday. We need You, God! We want You, God! We love You, God! Because in Your unfailing Love, You first Loved us. In Jesus' Name, You will not abandon us. Give us hearts abandoned totally to You. Amen.

Holiness Unto the LORD!
Grateful

Our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, Redemption.

This past Sunday I preached a message titled "The Afterglow of Pentecost -- Sanctify Me". The passage of Scripture I began with is still on my mind. May it serve to bless you today with encouragement in the One Who is our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption -- The One Called Wonderful, Jesus Christ.

(30) But from Him you are in Christ Jesus, who for us became wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, (31) in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.
-- 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (HCSB)

We really do need God!

Holiness unto The LORD!
Grateful

Wise In My Own Eyes?

My God, as King Solomon requested wisdom and insight, so do I, yet, I don't want to ever be so wise in my own eyes that I would somehow tragically cease to love You, to want You, and to need You, both now, to the very end of my earthly life and for all Eternity.

(Read 1 Kings 3 for background)

God, I Love You! God, I Want You! God, I Need You!
Grateful

God's Perfect Promise

The promises of God recorded in His Word are so wonderful. I remember my Granny Margery quoting them to me day-after-day from her old King James Version of The Holy Bible. These past few days this one promise has continued to echo nonstop in my mind and keeps lifting my spirit with great expectations as I hope exclusively in Him:

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in Thee. -- Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! -- Isaiah 26:3 (TLB)

Lord, You are unafraid of the word "perfect" and I am so glad! Because "perfect peace" is what You promise and what I need. In Jesus' Name, I claim Your "perfect" promise. Amen.

This song by Big Daddy Weave is Peace-full for me:
Click > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70xy8sPEE4&ob=av2el

Every time I breathe, God, I Need You! You are my Perfect Peace!
Grateful

You Encourage Me

This week I was blessed to hear Dr. Dennis Kinlaw speak at a conversation gathering for pastors and evangelists in Wilmore, Kentucky. Because he is advancing well into his eighties, he was wheeled in a chair to the front of the lecture hall where he greeted us in His encouraging Christlike manner and delivered one of the most wonderful messages I have ever heard from the book of Genesis on the topic of God wanting us to be His conversation partners for life and eternity. He spoke well over an hour but it seemed like a few fleeting moments to me.

After the sacred session, I walked to the front to thank Dr. Kinlaw and to ask him to personalize a copy of his newest book to me. He graciously did. Then I handed the book and pen to his precious granddaughter, "Cricket", who serves as his personal research assistant and who was his caretaker for the day and asked her to also personalize the book on the same page that her grandfather had just written. Humbly, underneath her grandfather's gracious words, she signed her name and referenced what is probably her life's verse -- Psalm 138:3.

The Lord sure encouraged me through Dr. Dennis Kinlaw and his precious granddaughter, "Cricket".

When I pray, you answer me; You encourage me by giving me the strength I need. -- Psalm 138:3 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

"GOD, I NEED YOU!"

I was in a prayer session with about 70 leaders from our local church this past Monday night. It was the most honest season of corporate honesty before God I remember being immersed in ever. One precious young lady, with deep cries from the depths of her desperate soul, prayed this four-word, heart-wrenching prayer to the top of her voice: "GOD, I NEED YOU! GOD, I NEED YOU!"

Her honest crying immediately gave way to our humble crying. It was indeed 2 Chronicles 7:14 illustrated. I have been echoing that prayer ever since and will surely echo it for many days to come:

"GOD, I NEED YOU! GOD, I NEED YOU!
In the Name of Jesus. Amen and Amen."

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a (one) righteous person has great power and wonderful results. -- James 5:16 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Grateful