"Happy, Happy, Happy" In Haiti

Thursday was another wonderful day with the pastors and church leaders here in Kenscoff, Haiti. I am so very grateful for the prayers you have prayed and will continue to pray as the gathering concludes today, Friday.

And yes, I got to encourage the people. The theme of the message the Lord gave me to share was "From Heaven, God Will Hear Us In Haiti, When We Pray." The overflowing church house seemed to be rocking back and forth as the precious Holy Spirit of Truth spoke the Good News of God's Word through me and the interpreter, Pastor Jean Alix.

Pastor James preached before me on "Walking in the Light" and Pastor Jeff Griffith followed me telling the crowd, "The Blessed, Must Become Blessers." Then, Pastor Ron Skeeters concluded the gathering by distributing new Bibles to everyone who attended. On the first day all the pastors got new study Bibles, but Thursday everyone in attendance got a new Bible in their native language, Creole.

Just before the Bibles were distributed, a precious, old Haitian man who was sitting behind me named Tyna, said, "Brother, your message made me very Happy, Happy, Happy inside. Can you please make sure I get a new Bible?" He then showed me his only copy of God's Word. It was old and worn out from much use, and the type-size was small and getting more difficult for him to read as he is aging. As soon as the cases of new Bibles came from the side room, I walked up and pulled one out for Brother Tyna and hand-delivered I to him. He was overcome with joy. "Happy, Happy, Happy!"

And yes, if you read my blog yesterday, the little, crippled boy came back my way. He was smiling all over himself as he approached me for the second day in a row. I still cannot find out his name, but I did find out that he about 6-years-old and was born with crippled legs. It has done nothing to break his spirit, however. He too is "Happy, Happy, Happy!" In fact, the backpack he carries has one word written across the back of it -- "Happy!" So for now, I have named my little buddy "Happy!"

Today's theme at the gathering will be "Surrendering to God's Plan".

Pray God's favor will prevail.
Grateful      

Fragrance Cannot Be Hidden

Psalm 45:7 (NLT) says the fragrance of joy is to be the unhidden fragrance of our lives, poured on us, even in us, as an anointing from the Lord:

You love what is right and hate what is wrong.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

John 12:3 (NLT) is proof that fragrance cannot be hidden: Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance.

Dear Lord, Your Spirit of Truth is the Oil of Joy in us, yes the Holy Anointing that you have filled our lives with. Your Holy Spirit's fragrance cannot be hidden. Make our lives a living sacrifice, poured out at Your feet for Your glory and for the good of eternal souls. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

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

The Name of Jesus

From a prison cell the Apostle Paul penned these words in his "Book of Joy" -- Phillipians 2:10-11 (NIV): ...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

And in Romans 14:11, these words are given to us from the same Apostles pen: "'As I live and breathe,’ God says, every knee will bow before me; Every tongue will tell the honest truth that I and only I am God.’" (The Message)

Yes, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. I choose to kneel and confess this day and everyday day-after-day until That Day.

The Name of Jesus has taken on a whole new power in my life this week. The lyrics of this old hymn make great poetry to pray. I invite you to join me in praying in Jesus' name:

Take the Name of Jesus with you, Child of sorrow and of woe,
It will joy and comfort give you; Take it then, wherever you go.

Precious Name, O how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heaven.
Precious Name, O how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heaven.

Take the Name of Jesus ever, As a shield from every snare;
If temptations round you gather, Breathe that Holy Name in prayer.

O the precious Name of Jesus! How it thrills our souls with joy,
When His loving arms receive us, And His songs our tongues employ!

At the Name of Jesus bowing, Falling prostrate at His feet,
King of kings in Heaven we'll crown Him, When our journey is complete.

ALL... JOY TO YOUR WORLD!
Grateful

The Perfectly Balanced Life

Spirit of the Living God, please reign within us and give to us The Perfectly Balanced Life. Only You, Sweet Spirit of Truth, can give us from within a God-ordered simultaneous balance that imparts to us a blessed overlap of adoration, occupation, recreation, and restoration. Yes, we cry out to You, our Loving Lord, to be our Peace and so engineer our lives that we might be the opposite of driven people. We want to be perfectly tuned by Your indwelling presence in the areas of worship, work, play, and rest. In our lives Lord Jesus be glorified, be magnified, and be satisfied. Amen.

ALL JOY!
Grateful

Holiness...

Holiness is not about what we put on, but about Who God puts in us -- the Spirit of Truth.

John 14:16-17 (NIV) -- (Jesus speaking...) (16) And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—(17) the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know him, for He lives with you and will be in you.

Lord, we do not want a humanly manufactured self-righteousness of our own. We do want a holy manifested Holiness that is Yours.

ALL JOY!
Grateful