To Refresh Hearts. To Strengthen Churches.

In addition to beginning full-time preaching in 1992, ever since the year 2000, the Lord has given me the privilege and responsibility of traveling throughout most states of the USA, over foreign lands, and yes, even overseas in His name.

My first overseas journey was to the Middle East. My second was Germany and many repeat journeys are now in the books to both places. A few years ago I was called to Turkey to lead a prayer gathering for Christian leaders and last December, I was summoned to Haiti to meet with and to train pastors, there.

Sometimes people ask me, "Why do you do it?" It's simple really. Two verses of Holy Scripture validates "why I do it." Yes, there's a twelve-word explanation taken from combining two verses of the Holy Scriptures:

(1) "To Refresh the Hearts of God's people."
(2) "To Strengthen the churches, 'There'."

Yes, "wherever "'There' may be" at any given place and at any given time." It's an Isaiah 6:8-thing.

So, together, Acts 15:41 and Philemon 1:7 are the verses hold the secret. Here at the full verses:

"Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often 'refreshed the hearts of God’s people'." -- Philemon 1:7 (NLT)

"Then he (The Apostle Paul) traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, 'strengthening the churches there'."
-- Acts 15:41 (NLT)

Today, I am in Mainz, Germany to fulfill, in part, this humbling call of God on my life. Tonight and tomorrow, I will be in Frankfurt, and Sunday and Monday, in Kaiserslaughten (K'Town).

I am indebted to God, all eternal souls, and especially to my local church for prayer-cover and overwhelming support -- Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene -- and also to my prayer brother in the cause of Christ, Steve Thigpen, who often travels with me handling logistics and having my back in intercession.

And I want to thank you for your interest as you "travel" with me on this "how-beautiful-are-the-feet-of-those-who-bring-good-news blog".

Finally, in case you are wondering... Yes, whenever I arrive in these faraway places "to refresh the hearts of God's people" and "to strengthen the churches here", as always, I expect seemingly hopeless pre-believers to "come to Jesus."

Be lifted up, Jesus! In my life, Lord, be glorified, today, I pray.

Grateful

P.S. Isaiah 6:8 (NIV) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 

You Saw? Well, See Again!

A friend of mine in The Lord Jesus recently reminded me of this refreshing New Testament passage:

Acts 9:17-19 (The Message) 

So Ananias went and found the house, placed his hands on blind Saul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes—he could see again! He got to his feet, was baptized, and sat down with them to a hearty meal. 

Lord, open our eyes. Yes, we want to see You, Jesus!

Grateful

The Secret of How to Live

"The keen enthusiasm of letting the Son of God manifest Himself in us is the only thing that will keep us in joy in disagreeable circumstances," -- Oswald Chambers

The Apostle Paul's words in Philippians 4:12-13 (GWT) -- "I know how to live in poverty or prosperity. No matter what the situation, I’ve learned the secret of how to live when I’m full or when I’m hungry, when I have too much or when I have too little. I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."

Grateful

Pray to God for Me (A Pastor's Request)

Brothers and sisters, I encourage you through our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that the Spirit creates, to join me in my struggle. Pray to God for me...
-- Romans 15:30 (GWT)

These words recorded in Romans 15:30 by Pastor Paul (a.k.a. The Apostle Paul) are positive proof that pastors need others to pray with them, and especially to pray for them. Each Tuesday morning, men from our local church gather with me as part of "The Pastor's Prayer Patrol". It's humbly named The "Pastor's" Prayer Patrol, because as a pastor, I realize how very much I need other people interceding with me, and especially interceding for me, in fervent prayer.

Recently, a dear brother-in-the-Lord e-mailed me a very touching prayer. It was a prayer he was praying for me as a pastor. Amazingly, this dear brother does not even attend the local fellowship that I pastor. In fact, he lives many miles away from me. However, the distance surely doesn't stop him from realizing that pastors desperately need prayer. Hear and join in on the prayer he prayed for this pastor, yes for me:

"Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of leadership you have given to Pastor Kerry. It is a holy calling. It's a calling to watch over himself and the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made him overseer. The church has been bought with the blood of your Son, on the cross. The responsibility you have given to Pastor Kerry is awesome. He too is tempted and tried by the enemy. He has many responsibilities be it in his family or in the community and so it is our prayer that he would be kept from the evil one and that you would empower him to live a godly life, so that out of his fullness he would share the message of the gospel boldly. Help Pastor Kerry this week as he searches the Word and Your will for the congregation. Will you grant him the
health and strength he needs to share Your message in humility and with clarity. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

I am humbled, grateful, and speechless for this prayer, Brother Keith. I pray it will encourage others to pray for pastors everywhere, beginning with the pastor-author of this blog.

Pray to God for me...
Grateful (a.k.a. Pastor Kerry)

In Youth... In Age...

In youth we learn; in age we understand.
– Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, 19th century German writer/novelist

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. – The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV)

By Faith! In Faith! (Hebrews 11)
Grateful

Through Suffering We Gain A Friendship.

Suffering is grand when the heart is right with God. Through suffering we gain a friendship with God. Oh, unspeakably blessed is the suffering of the sanctified.
-- Oswald Chambers

I want to know Christ and the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings...
-- The Apostle Paul, Philippians 3:10 (NIV)

Count it all joy! (James 1:2-4)
Grateful

Feeling Weak and Helpless? REMIX

Not too long ago, I shared thoughts similar to the ones below, but this morning the same thoughts were very strong on my mind. So, enjoy the REMIX:

"As long as you feel your own weakness and helplessness, you will find help from above."
-- John Wesley

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
-- The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT)

By Faith! In Faith! (Hebrews 11)
Grateful

I Fall To My Knees And Pray...

Today, as "I Fall To My Knees And Pray" I invite you to do the same. Seriously, go ahead right where you are, yes, if you're able and you want to, right now, just physically get on your knees.

Take a few moments just to allow your heart, mind, and soul to spiritually breathe.

Now, let's pray together the Apostle Paul's prayer from Ephesians 3:14-19 (NLT). I will pray the prayer for you and you pray it for me. It is really a prayer of blessing:

(14) When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, (15) the Creator of everything in Heaven and on earth. (16) I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit. (17) And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. (18) And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. (19) May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Amen.

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