100,000 All-Time "Beautiful Feet" Pageviews

Yesterday, my blog surpassed 100,000 all-time pageviews.

Four years ago I started posting simple words of encouragement here at www.romanstenfifteen.blogspot.com and only because of God's Persevering Presence through my life has this 100,000-plus pageview milestone become a reality.

In my four-plus years of posting, here are the top ten countries who have viewed my writings:

 1. United States
 2. Russia
 3. United Kingdom
 4. Canada
 5. Germany
 6. France
 7. Latvia
 8. India
 9. Denmark
10.South Korea

While I have posted approximately 1,500 times in these four years, here are five of the top viewed writings:

1. "Crossing the Bar & The Sailor's Psalm" -- Jan. 2, 2012
2. "How Will They Know Unless We Tell Them?" -- Mar. 3, 2011
3. "John Wesley's Good Friday Message" -- Apr. 22, 2011
4. "Deception? Carnality Masquerading as Spirituality" -- July 26, 2012
5. "Quiet Confidence or Fast Horses" -- Nov. 14, 2011.

I want to thank everyone for journeying with me in my devotion to be EXCLUSIVELY GOD'S and ENCOURAGING OTHERS!

I pray those who know me will truly be able to say of my life: "How beautiful are the feet of this humble messenger who brings (brought) Good News." -- RomansTenFifteen

Grateful... very....
Kerry

"As-Long-As-It-Takes" Prayers...

This past week was our Virginia Church of the Nazarene District Assembly. Pastors and leaders from nearly 110 preaching points across The Commonwealth gathered for accountability, training, and encouragement. As a part of this gathering, each local pastor gave a one-minute highlight report from their local ministry area. It is a very real experience, complete with crying and laughing.

This year, my friend, Brad, who pastors in West Point, Virginia, had the most unforgettable line. Pastor Brad said this about the fellowship of believers he shepherds: "Our church has moved beyond praying 'as-quick-as-possible' prayers to praying 'as-long-as-it-takes' prayers." What a mark of perseverance, determination, trust, and hope I heard in his simple but profound declaration.

Recently, I have been saying to many people: "Waiting is worship!" Thanks, Pastor Brad, for giving me one more proof that it is true.

Grateful      

Keeping It Together

How can we not lose our souls when everything and everybody pulls us in the most different directions? How can we "keep it together" when we are constantly torn apart?

Jesus says: "Not a hair of your head will be lost. Your perseverance will win you your lives" (Luke 21:18-19).

We can only survive our world when we trust that God knows us more intimately than we know ourselves. We can only keep it together when we believe that God holds us together. We can only win our lives when we remain faithful to the truth that every little part of us, yes, every hair, is completely safe in the divine embrace of our Lord.

To say it differently: When we keep living a spiritual life, we have nothing to be afraid of.

- Henri Nouwen

Jesus is our Way of "keeping it together".

Grateful

"Happy Anniversary" -- Cord of Three Strands

This morning I called to say "Happy Anniversary" to my dad and mom. "Happy Anniversary Captain Billy and Lady Melba." Today marks 52 years of marriage for them. I am so grateful for their passionate love for God and for one another and for the model of perseverance in their "til-death-do-us-part" real romantic, love-relationship.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
-- Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV 1984)

Grateful for three-stranded longevity -- God, husband, and wife.
Billy and Melba's oldest son I am

With God, In God, On God, For God

When we live authentic Christian lives, our lives are characterized and identified with these two words, "praying always". There is no greater testimony of a true believer than for someone to say "He or She Prays!"

These four realities come forth as undeniable proofs from every life that is lived carefully and prayerfully in the presence of the Lord:

(1) Perseverance with God
(2) Confidence in God
(3) Dependence on God
(4) Reverence for God

And all the people said, "AMEN!"
Grateful

Let's Pray With Our Eyes On God!

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.
-- Oswald Chambers

(1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, (2) fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
-- Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

By Faith! In Faith! (Hebrews 11)
Grateful

An Extra Anchor

As the oldest son of a shrimp boat captain, I have spent a lot of time on the storm-tossed sea with my Daddy. At times, in an attempt to escape the angry ocean waves, Daddy would steer the vessel into an inlet and drop the anchor on a hard bottom. In especially threatening weather, my Daddy would drop an extra anchor over the side just to reinforce our survival and to give additional peace to his son.

Seven words from Psalm 27:14 in the Message Paraphrase of the Holy Bible are serving as an extra anchor -- additional peace -- for my somewhat storm-tossed soul today:

STAY WITH YAHWEH.
TAKE HEART.
DON'T QUIT.

Abba Father, Daddy Daddy, I know there is no human substitute for Your Holy Spirit. In life's stormy weather, let Your Faithful Holy Spirit hold my faith fast. In the name of Jesus, I ask it. Amen.

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

Outlast It!

Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. Hebrews 10:36 (NLT)

I often say to others "Longevity is the greatest convincer! So, I will be content to just let my life -- over the longhaul -- be my argument."

ALL JOY!
Grateful