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May my heart be soft
As you make your impression
Heavenly Signet
I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Jeremiah 31:33
Category Archives: inspiration
Jairus’ Joy
I see the Master and fall at his feet.
“My daughter is ill. Touch her,”I plead.
I motion for Jesus to follow me home.
The disciples join in—we walk then hear moans
of mourners who gather, their wails and their shouts
turn to sneers and mocking as Jesus cries out.
“She’s not dead, only sleeping. Get out. Leave,” He says.
We walk to the room where my little girl lay.
He holds her limp hand, “Daughter arise.”
She awakes and I see—she is alive!
Oh the Master’s word. The Master’s touch.
Revives. Brings life. Savior thank you so much.
Filed under Bible, God, Healing, inspiration, Jesus, Miracle, pentecostal, poem, praise
A Crow’s Nest, An Oak Grove and An Apron
The inner chamber, a phrase from Isaiah 26:20, means any place apart. For Edward Wilson, it was the crow’s nest on the ship Terra Nova. He’d often climb to it during his expeditions to Antarctica. He called it his private chapel.
Vesta Mangun’s father, Royal Gibson would slip away to his favorite place of prayer–a secluded oak grove not far from his house. Many miracles and healings occurred throughout his ministry. He knew that power with God came through unwavering faith in His word and in the power of the name of Jesus.
Susanna Wesley, (1669-1742), mother of nineteen children including John and Charles Wesley, would sit down and pull her apron up over her head. Her children knew to be extra quiet during this time so they wouldn’t disturb her time of prayer.
What does this have to do with outreach? Everythng! John 6:44.
We must pray until~
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize
And shout while passing through the air
Fare well, fare well, sweet hour of prayer.
(Last verse of Sweet Hour of Prayer)
Selah
Filed under apostolic, Bible, devotional, encouragement, evangelism, God, holy ghost, inspiration, Jesus, pentecostal, prayer, Uncategorized
A Voice in the Wilderness
Mmmmm. Roasted grasshoppers. Six grams of protein in each one.
While on a family camping trip, my brother demonstrated grasshopper flambé–one of the many survivalists’ skills he learned in the military. After spearing a grasshopper, he carried it to the picnic table and held his arthropod appetizer over a flaming candle. Assured the grasshopper was fully cooked he allowed it to cool a few seconds before popping it in his mouth. Crunch. Crunch. Swallow. He smiled at his wide-eyed audience and soon four young boys were hunting grasshoppers, all eager to check this accomplishment off their man-card. Besides, God’s word says their clean (Leviticus 11:22).
As strange as it seems, this is exactly what John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus ate in the wilderness, (along with wild honey). He was the voice commissioned to break four hundred years of silence. Clothed with leather and camel’s hair, he heralded the news, Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John 3:2.
Although our clothes and diet are different from John’s, our mission is the same. We are the 21st century voice in this millennial wilderness.
Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming!
May this mission drive everything we do–our interactions with our family, co-workers, friends, neighbors, store clerks, waitresses and even the unexpected divine appointments at Walmart and TaMollys.
Hmmm? Grasshoppers and salsa anyone?
Crunch. Crunch.
Filed under apostolic, Bible, devotional, encouragement, evangelism, holy ghost, inspiration, Jesus, outreach, pentecostal, soul winning
A Compassionate King
For years Nehemiah thought about his ancestors’ desecrated graves. These thoughts troubled him. Then one day he could no longer hide his feelings behind a forced smile and his routine servant-cup-bearing duties.
“Why is your face so sad?” asked King Artaxerxes. Thick silence filled the throne room.
How do I answer him, thought Nehemiah. Will my reply cost me? My job? My life?
With trembling knees and hands he drew in a deep breath, admonished the king, then told him his desires.
If an earthly king can detect a downcast servant how much more can our Heavenly King discern our intents and desires (Hebrews 4:15)?
Dear Jesus,
You’re our Creator–a God of details. Your word teaches us we ‘have not because we ask not’ (James 4:2). You know the longings, and at times the aches in our hearts. Help us to give voice to those yearnings as we cast our cares on you. More importantly, cause our thoughts to align with your will. In your name we pray, Amen.
Filed under Bible, devotional, encouragement, inspiration, prayer
An Orchestrated Wilderness
PIt’s in the wilderness I broke.
I emptied out and You poured in.
In weakness I gained strength and my vision became clearer as I viewed the battle of good and evil, flesh and spirit and the strategy of the enemy.
There I felt Your grace–genuine grace.
My unplanned wilderness was all in Your plan.
Such a productive time.
Thank you Lord.
Thank you.
Filed under Bible, devotional, holy ghost, inspiration, life, ministry, praise, prayer
I Just Want to be a Sheep . . . baa
I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.
John 10:14 NLT
Filed under Bible, childhood memories, inspiration, Jesus, reflection
Don’t Ask the Blessing, Offer One
Why do we pray before meals? Habit? Tradition? For the answer, click here:
http://www.joyfulheart.com/thanksgiving/offer-blessing.htm
When I read this eight years ago it changed my pre-meal perspective and consequently my prayer. Now instead of asking God to bless my food, I bless God, the provider of my food.
Filed under Bible, childhood memories, devotional, family, food, God, inspiration, Jesus, philosophy, praise, prayer, reflection, religion, worship
The Best Carpenter
Volunteers in Phoenix, Maryland renovated the home of a terminally ill child where this note was found written on a scrap piece of drywall. It reminded me of a poem.
The Best Carpenter
Tools in the days gone by.
Building dreams of gold
A carpenter nailing my life.
His words are so bold.
They are built on wisdom.
The best carpenter can build you.
Let Him use His nails.
He’ll turn you into something new.
Bill Pearce
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Filed under construction, devotional, inspiration, Jesus, poem, praise
How Long?
During a weary time in my life I asked the Lord,
How Long? How long do I stay faithful?
Later that day I found the answer.
. . . be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10
Filed under Bible, devotional, God, heaven, inspiration, Jesus, philosophy, praise, prayer, religion
