Whatever Happens

A dear sister of the Lord in our local church, Liz, told me this is her Scripture for 2012:

(16) Always be joyful. (17) Never stop praying. (18) Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (GWT)

Whatever happens, let's keep looking to our loving Lord Jesus!
Grateful

PASSION 2012 -- Final Day

Well, we made it safely back to Virginia from Georgia. The journey was delightful from beginning to end. When the Lord assembles a group, you can know the chemistry will be miraculous. The Passion Gathering was a God-Thing, for sure. I was totally humbled to just serve the Lord and these young believers of Jesus.

Because it's about 1 a.m. as I am making this post and because I was the bus driver and am somewhat wondrously weary, let me just close with a few details about the Final Day of Passion 2012:

(1) Louie Giglio, The Passion Gathering Founder, shared a heartwarming closing message. He basically affirmed a message I share all the time with people. In my own words: "No matter what your age, get over searching for God's will. Just become God's will, and now!"

(2) The NASCAR rookie who won the Daytona 500 in 2011 on his 20th birthday, Trevor Bayne, was introduced as an attendee of the Passion Gathering. Louie told how Trevor gave glory to God after his win and then later when he had to miss races because of Lyme's disease continued to give God glory. The young congregation was reminded that they do not have to wait to speak for the Lord. 20-year-old Trevor Bayne didn't wait! When given the opportunity he was bold as a witness of His Lord.

Click here: 2011 Daytona 500 - Trevor Bayne Wins - YouTube

(3) Also, the 40,000-plus, 18-25-year-olds raised -- drum roll please -- 2 1/2 million dollars in three days to help prevent and to begin to bring an end to human slavery around the world. In addition to that, another giver inspired by the generosity and sacrifice of the Passion attendees gave $500,000. So,yes, your math is correct -- $3 million raised to hopefully bring that 27 million slaves around the world number down, one freed slave at a time! May the Lord be glorified!

(4) The Passion attendees also brought towels and socks for the homeless to Atlanta. Last count I heard there was about 25,000 towels and even more socks, even blankets came in though they were not requested. The stacks of these items in the Georgia Dome foyers were unbelievable to see. Teamwork really does make the dream work!

Please keep praying and thanks for following us along the Passion 2012 journey on my blog. I hope the photos have helped to encourage you as well.

Ephesians 6:19 (GWT) -- Also pray that God will give me the right words to say. Then I will speak boldly when I reveal the mystery of the Good News.

Deo Volente -- Whatever God Wants!
Grateful

Are We Becoming The Will Of God?

...that I myself may be in them.
-- Final Seven Words of Jesus' Prayer in John 17:26 (NIV)

The disciple who abides in Jesus, is the will of God.
-- Oswald Chambers

Lord, instead of always searching for Your will as if it is a destination to reach, help us to live in Your presence as Your presence lives in us, thereby, becoming Your will presently. In Your Wonderful Name, we pray. Amen.

The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message.
-- Colossians 1:27b-28a (The Message)

Count it all joy.
Grateful

This World is Fading Away

(15) Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. (16) For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. (17) And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.
-- 1 John 2:15-17 (NLT)

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

Revival in Season Every Season

Please join me in praying that revival season will be in season every season until we see the face of our Lord coming in the clouds. Will God not continuously keep His promises to pour out revival in the lives of us, His people, if we will continuously meet the conditions He makes clear for revival in 2 Chronicles 7:14?

Then if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land. -- 2 Chron. 7:14 (NLT)

God, revival is obviously Your will. I pray It will obviously be what we want, too. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

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

Jesus Says, "Come!"

Consider these five instances when John the Beloved Disciple recorded Jesus saying, "Come!"

(1) I have come... John 10:10 (NIV)
(2) I will come... John 14:3 (NIV)
(3) Come to me... John 7:37 (NIV)
(4) You refuse to come... John 5:40 (NIV)
(5) You cannot come... John 8:21 (NIV)

The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.
-- Jeremiah 8:20 (NIV)

Lord, before it's too late, I fervently pray these words over eternal souls: No more missed opportunities! We want to be able to echo John's words in Revelation 22:20: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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

obeDiEnce

Do you see the two, simple-but-profound, one-syllable words at the very heart of obeDiEnce? "i DiE!"

If I am to become the perfect will of God, that is, wholly obedient to His Holy Desires, my will must become one in crucifixion with the will of Jesus. I must personally echo His Gethsemane prayer of total surrender to the Father: Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) -- I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

1 Samuel 15:22 (NKJV) -- ...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...

Lord, I want to be wholly obedient to Your Holy Desires! Help me to know that obeying You is an overflowing joy, not an overwhelming job. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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

Best Advice Ever

I was recently surfing the website of a college baseball team. One of the freshman players is a new friend of mine. I eventually found his personal profile page. While the whole page glorifies God, one question in the interview section especially touched my heart. When the young ball player was asked to share the best advice he had ever been given, he simply but profoundly answered: Proverbs 3:5-6. WOW! What an awesome answer!

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) (5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. (6) Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths.

Today, consider yourself a recipient of the best advice ever. (According to a 19-year-old baseball catcher named Billy, who also happens to have a great heart for God.)

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

Surrendered Heart. In Unity. We Get To.

By now, must who of you probably know that I was a professional photographer for about fifteen years before becoming a full-time minister. Though I do not use my photo skills often these days, I do publish a yearly full-color calendar titled "Surrendered Heart" and it contains photos I have taken of the places I love or have traveled in the previous year. The purpose of the "Surrendered Heart" calendar is to encourage others day-by-day, or at least month-after-month and yes, it is one way to keep my creative skills at least dusted off?

My 2010 calendars are almost totally distributed now, marking seven straight years of publishing these "Surrendered Heart" calendars. While there are thirteen color photos in each collection -- a front cover image and a monthly selection -- the final page of the calendar is the most important to me. Yes, on the back inside cover of each yearly calendar I write inspiring words that are especially close to my heart and take time to dedicate each particular calendar.

In today's blog entry, I have decided to print the words from this year's back inside calendar cover. I hope it inspires your life in some meaningful measure.

"Surrendered Heart -- We don’t have to. We get to."

True Love has a Surrendered Heart.
True love is marked by giving, not getting.
We love because we want to.

Philemon 8, is an irresistible and inspiring invitation:
“I appeal to you on the basis of love…”
In other words: “You don’t have to. You get to.”

In John 14:15, Jesus teaches us that our love is proven by our will.
Listen to His Love letter:
“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
We do not obey Him to prove we are His.
We obey Him because we are His.

We love God so much, because He first loved us too much.
Holy God is True Love.

True Love is not a job-description. True Love is all joy-description.
True Love is not about hard and stressful, religious duty,
but holy and blissful, relational devotion.

True Love is undeniably about pleasure, not pressure --
opportunity, not obligation -- invitation, not intimidation.

I dedicate this year's calendar to the local church that has partnered
with me in Love & Unity for 16 years. We don’t have to. We get to.
Yes, to the family -- Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene --
You’re a generous people. I’m a grateful pastor. All Joy!

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

One Quarterback's Message

The University of Florida Gators' football team has a quarterback named Tim Tebow. Recently, after overcoming an injury and returning to the field of play where he led his team to a hard-fought victory over Louisiana State University, I noticed this "Scripture reference message" written clearly in the "football war paint" under Tim Tebow's eyes: 1 Thess. 5:18.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) says: No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

What an awesome attitude, whether playing a game or living a life.

ALL JOY!
Grateful