"Praise The Lord!"

"Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:6b)

Finished this morning the Book of Psalms for the month.  I have decided to give the rest of this day to doing Psalms 146-150. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I praise You.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

It's Not In The Knowing--It's In The Doing

"Teach me to do Your will...."  (Psalm 143:10a)

Notice it is not, "Teach me to know Your will." 

I can say that over the years that our Lord Jesus has "taught" me to, "....do [His] will."  From my perspective, it seems as though the best way to "learn" His will is to do it.  "Thy will be done."  Jesus does the will of Father.  Our part is to step out praying, "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done...."  We can pray, "Thy will be done..," in our "closets," but will never participate in His will until we get out of the closet.  Don Basham once said, "You can't steer a ship until it's moving."

Most tend to put too much emphasis on "knowing the will of God."  It is kind of like Peter sitting in the boat and demanding some guarantee from Jesus that he will be, indeed, able to walk on water.  The only way Peter would ever have known he could walk on water, that it was Jesus' "will for his life," was to, that's right, walk on water.  As Nike says it, "Just do it."

What "guarantees" are you waiting for today?  "Well, if I do that, how do I know it's the will of God."  If you don't do it, you'll never know.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I continue to pray, "Teach me to do Your will."  Amen.
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I would encourage those who do not have Facebook to get it for at least one reason: That is how I send some photos and updates on the DC Mission.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Where Do You Get Your Fish?

"'I'm going out to fish,' Simon Peter told them, and they said, 'We'll go out with you.'" (John 21:3a,b--NIV)

When bewilderment comes, works must take over.  Or, when we don't believe, "The Word of God," we have no choice but to rely on ourselves, our works.

It seems to me from our text that you and I have a choice.  We can work all night and catch nothing, or come to shore and partake of what our Lord Jesus Christ has already done and provided.

After the crucifixion, Peter went back to fishing.  It seemed as though all was over, for naught.  I'm not saying that he went back to his fishing vocation.  He just seemed at a loss as to what to do next; hence, go back to the familiar.  But it only yielded nothing.  Then Jesus appeared to them and invited the men to come on shore.   When they did, there was what they were looking for.  A Black Pastor once had one of the "Words from the Cross" in a Good Friday service.  It was, "Woman behold your son."  His title was, "Always providing."  When will we ever learn?!?

We as individuals and our nations need to look at what we produce out on "the lake," then look at what Jesus has already provided on "shore."  America, by in large, has decided for the lake provision and rejected the on-shore provision.  What America's "end" is I don't know.  I can know, however, what yours and mine will be if we give up our lake ministry for Jesus' shore ministry.  Maybe, "....the end from the beginning," or, "I gotcha covered," is a good reminder here.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You so much for Your invitation to, "Come and dine."  Amen.
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Off early tomorrow for DC.  It's chaotic down there; all prayers appreciated.  I'm choosing to "go ashore."

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Are You a "Free-Will Offering"?

"I warn everyone who hears the Words of the prophecy of this scroll:...If anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll." (From yesterday's reading, Revelation 22, NIV)

I had a dream last night which was one of the most "realistic" dreams I can remember.  In it, I believe, was a warning for the Church.  I am not going into detail, but I believe that the warning was for us to be on close "watch," ready to act.  The Serpent is about to rear his ugly head.

I will be following up this devotional with a short letter from one of my early mentors in the Renewal, Bob Mumford, who was rejected by most in that Renewal----- at its/their own peril.  I still receive some of his communiques; I hope and pray that you read this one.  Prophetic events are unfolding with increasing intensity in the earth.  I hold to that verse which I read a couple of days ago in Psalm 110:3, "Your troops will be willing on Your day of battle" (NIV).  According to the Interlinear, the Word is translated most often as, "free will offerings."  We are called to be, "free will offerings," in Jesus' Kingdom.

Jesus told Moses, when the People of God were walking in rejection of His Words, "....but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord."  Psalm 104:24 says, "....the earth is full of Your possessions."  Indeed, "The Earth is the Lord's."  Jesus will have His Way.  The sobering question always remains: Will we be left out, or will we be included?  It's our decision.  Be very aware of any who, "adds to these Words," or, "takes away from the Words...."  They will miss and be left out, "....on Your day of battle."  Any "words" which you and I hear must only be in agreement and affirming, "The Word of God," Himself, Jesus.

The dream has been becoming more clear as the day moves along, and my encouragement to all of us is to consider the prophetic word of Mumford.  Jesus tells us that in the, "last days," people will be very fearful at what is happening in the earth.  You and I, as we walk in Jesus, His Words, in the Holy Spirit, praying, "Our Father Who is in Heaven:... Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth..," in Your Church, in me, "....as it is in Heaven", need fear nothing or no one.  I think, "Your troops," who, "will be free will offerings on Your day of battle", will be able to say what the US Secretary of Defense Maddox said when someone asked him, "What keeps you awake at night."  He replied, "Nothing.  I keep other people awake at night." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, may I always be a, "free will offering[]."  Amen.     
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* Please pray for my time in DC, September 27, 28, preaching on Oct. 1 & 8, and the Mission, October 28-November 15.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2