"Finally, In The Boat" -- A Testimony

I recently received this inspiring testimony in the form of an early morning e-mail message from one of the men who prays with me and my Pastor's Prayer Patrol on Tuesday mornings.

His name is Scott, and he gave me his blessing to share his words with the world. Here's some of what he wrote:

Pastor Kerry, 

Having been raised the way you were as the son of a fisherman, this thought that keeps resonating inside me may seem very simplistic, even so I would like to share it with you...

I AM FINALLY IN THE BOAT!!!  Years and years of just being "saved", being dragged along,  hanging on to my Christian life preserver. Swallowing salt water, being battered by the wake of life's debris, foolishly having thought that being out on the water was were the fun is.

My arms were so tired of just being "saved", of just hanging on.

Then Jesus beckoned me from the boat, saying "get in".  This is your boat,  Scott,  I OWN it but I will let you steer it and not only will I let you steer it, I will be WITH you as Lord and Master, guiding you around and/or through all of the trials and joys of life.

Thank you Pastor Kerry, for helping me see my MASTER and COMMANDER.

Grateful

Adonai

The Names of our God are so Glorious.

This song below celebrates one of His Holy Names, Adonai. Abraham addressed God as Adonai, meaning Lord, Lord, LORD, my Master -- the Master has a right to His possession.

Click here: Paul Wilbur - Adonai - Live - YouTube

Exclusively God's Possession!
Grateful

"A Few Things"

His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!"
-- Matthew 25:21 (NIV 1984 Edition)

Lord, teach me to know what the "few things" are that you want me to be faithful with, and let me never lose focus of those "few things" so I can immediately and ultimately hear You saying, "Well Done!".

Let it be so, Lord.
Grateful

Weary Prisoners of Sin? Yield Now to Jesus!

If I am a slave to myself (my disposition of sin, my right to myself), I am to blame because at a point a way back I yielded to myself. If I obey God I do so because I have yielded myself to Him. Yielding to Jesus will break every form of slavery in human life.
-- Oswald Chambers

All who are weary prisoners of sin are invited to yield now to Jesus! Listen to the wonderful words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 11:28, yes, hear Him calling out to all who are burdened and in bondage: Come to Me, and I will give you rest!

Lord, help us to yield only to You, because whatever and whoever we yield to takes control of our lives. We want to be controlled only by Your holy, perfect love never by human, perverted lusts. Teach us to yield to You, embracing sanctification, lest we yield to sin when in temptation. Let us not become prisoners of anything except Your holy, perfect love. In Your Matchless Name, we pray. Amen.

Don’t you know that if you offer to be someone’s slave, you must obey that master? Either your master is sin, or your master is obedience. Letting sin be your master leads to death. Letting obedience be your master leads to God’s approval.
-- Romans 6:16 (GWT)

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

How Will They Know Unless We Tell Them?

An early 1980's neighbor of mine, Joe, was a master guitarist with great love for The Master, Jesus. When I say he was a master guitarist, I mean just that. Joe had a master's degree in guitar. In other words, he was very good with the wood and the strings. Joe was also a songwriter. When I say he had great love for The Master, I mean he wrote songs from a Jesus perspective.

Joe's best song, or at least my favorite song that he played and sang, was based on Romans 10:13-14. I don't remember all of the lyrics but the lyrics that I do remember are forever engraved in my mind:

How will they know unless we tell them?
Unless we tell them one-by-one?
All the love of God's dear Son?
How will they know unless we tell them?

Joe Lovell, whenever I used to walk into your house, you knew I wouldn't leave until you picked up your guitar and sang to me that soul-searching song. It still challenges me today, almost 30 years later. So, wherever you are, my brother, I say a huge thanks for playing and singing over-and-over, again-and-again for me your simple and profound love song for lost souls.

(13) For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (14) But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? --- Romans 10:13-14 (NLT)

Will we tell them? Will you? Will I?
Grateful