In my 1st book, Beach Blessings, I share my thoughts about God while enjoying and photographing His beautiful scenery at the beach. The beach gives me time to relax and savor the moving of His Holy Spirit, while listening to the contemporary Christian music on my phone.
I’m praying my book will bring Holy Spirit peace and calm to your heart as you drink in God’s beautiful scenery and learn of His faithful promises to you.
Please feel free to comment, ask questions, share prayer requests, or declare praise reports, when you’re directed by the QR code to my YouTube Channel at the end of my book, or simply share your thoughts while on this blog.
Please take a moment today to listen to the beautiful music and lyrics to: “Beloved” by Jordan Felice and “Testify” by needtobreathe.
Psalm 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.”
To get an autographed copy, or copies, of Beach Blessings, simply click on the PayPal button. Each book is $15.00 (+ shipping and handling).
Here’s a great idea, purchase two, keep one and give one as a gift!
Beach Blessings has 6 chapters, contains beach photos taken by me, along with Scriptures, contemporary Christian song suggestions to listen to, and devotional questions at the end of each chapter. Great for Bible studies.
My 2nd book, Let God Build It, and my 3rd book, a Christian fiction illustrated children’s book, called The Little Star That Couldn’t Shine, will both be published soon, also.
We’re working on a human video to “Lighthouse” by Anthem Lights…
With our A.L.I.V.E. Drama Team…
Powerful song!
I’ll walk you through my choreography!!
We’re thinking of adding lights for each lighthouse
(cell phone, flashlight, etc.),
a big light behind Jesus,
a fog machine for the ship scene,
and perhaps a black light!)
“Many of the songs on the record
speak about being the light of Christ in this world,
to how essential His light is in this dark world.
“Lighthouse”
is a metaphor for we are in this world.
Ours is a brave task:
“Climb to the highest point,
scream in your loudest voice,
there’s a lifeline waiting for you…
Strike up the brightest fire,
fan the flames and let it burn,
let it burn…
the world is waiting.”
It’s up to us to be the lighthouse,
to tell hurting people that they’re not alone
and there is more for them”
–ALAN-Anthem Lights–
Scene 1: Have 4-6 kids form the front of a ship by kneeling at an angle, so there’s a point, and linking arms, have them rock and shake when the waters get rough, and have the ship “sail” (move) closer to rocks
Have 1 kid be the captain of the ship, loading his gear on board, and then standing inside ship, steering, reacting to danger, and seeing the lighthouse as a place of refuge & rescue
Have several kids kneeling with head & legs tucked in to form rocks in the water
Have kids on their backs with arms & legs moving, like pedaling a bicycle, to be rough waves in the water
Have 1 kid stand with hands touching over their head as a Lighthouse, add light, if desired, have them turn as the light would on a lighthouse
Have 1-2 kids kneeling with their palms together on their foreheads as the fins of sharks in the water
Like ships bound for shipwreck
Most people just simply drift along
And miss their destination without knowing anything is wrong
No direction and without a care
Feels so good and then you’re lost out there
Don’t you remember how it felt ’til someone showed you the way
Chorus: Have Jesus come out to tell everyone to be a Lighthouse
It’s up to you, it’s up to me
To be the lighthouse
They should know they’re not alone
So shine so they can see the lighthouse
And find their way back home
Scene 2: Have everyone leave their position…and reposition as a church setting
Have 1 kid be the preacher, waving a Bible
Have 2-3 kids kneel as church pews
Have 2-3 kids sit on the backs of kneeling kids to face the preacher, who is preaching passionately
The seated “congregation” while “numb” at first, gets the message, and praises the Lord in agreement
Have 1 kid off to the side be the Lighthouse that the preacher is talking about
Tragically we’ve forgotten
The reason we’re even here at all
Worst still, we remember it’s just that we feel so comfortable
Do we notice, do we even care
All the people that are lost out there
Don’t you remember how it felt ’til someone showed you the way
Chorus: Have Jesus come out to tell everyone to be a Lighthouse
It’s up to you, it’s up to me
To be the lighthouse
They should know they’re not alone
So shine so they can see the lighthouse
And find their way back home
Scene 3: Have your 2 strongest kids kneel next to each other, so your lightest kid can climb up on them, as if climbing up rocks, then act as if they’re screaming in their loudest voice
Transition to make a line of kids, pull as in a tug-of-war to make a Lifeline, preacher will pull them in
Have kids come together in a U-shape. and wave arms over their head as the flames of a fire
Have kids separate, and all become a separate Lighthouse,with hands touching over their head to look like a Lighthouse, add light, if desired, have them turn as the light would on a lighthouse
Have Jesus, come from the back, to touch and light each Lighthouse with His Presence, when He touches them they raise their hands higher, so we can see they are burning brighter with His Light to reach others
So climb to the highest point
Scream in your loudest voice
There’s a lifeline waiting for you
Strike up the brightest fire
Fan the flames and let it burn
Just let it burn, the world is waiting
Chorus: Have Jesus come out to tell everyone in the audience to also be a Lighthouse
It’s up to you, it’s up to me
They should know they’re not alone
So shine so they can see the lighthouse
And find their way
It’s up to you, it’s up to me
To be the lighthouse
They should know they’re not alone
Scene 4 (Ending): Have 2-3 kids wandering as lost, see the Lighthouses, and because of a Lighthouse, they are directed home to Jesus…then they kneel & praise Him
So shine so they can see the lighthouse
And find their way back home
Try the drama with your kids/teens!!!
I know you can do it!!
Any questions???
Let me know!
When we minister with this, I’ll blog some photos!!
John 8:12
“When Jesus spoke again to the people,
He said,
‘I Am the Light of the world.
Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the Light of Life.”
Psalm 43:3
“Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!”
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?”
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world.
A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
To believe that wholehearted commitment to Him is more important than any other thing or person in our life.
To know that nothing we do in life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made.
True faith means holding nothing back; it bets everything on the hope of eternity.
This whole swimming-upstream, pursuing-Christ, taking-up-your cross, counting-the-cost thing isn’t easy.
The road is narrow and few will actually find it!
We can’t afford to just assume we’re one of the few on the narrow way.
Be totally in love with Christ.
Even Heaven would be a desolate place without Christ.
Don’t just let life happen.
Love and desire Christ, for when we love, we are free!
Let God change us.
We need to let Him in our life.
We need God to help us love God, and if we need His help to love Him, a perfect being, we definitely need His help to love other fault-filled humans.
Don’t hold back, be consumed with Christ.
We need to show a “Love” that is crazy to the world.
True love, a kind found nowhere else, but through Christ.
Don’t be lukewarm, be obsessed with Christ.
People obsessed with Christ…
Love people and are friends to all…
They’re crazy risk takers for Christ…
They’re humble…
They serve…
They give…
They think about eternity…
They’re engrossed and delighted with God’s Word…
They’re passionately in love with God…
They’re unguarded and open with Him…
They meditate, are nourished by, and are rooted in the Word…
They’re dedicated and faithful to Christ.
They know they’re a child and a friend of God.
Let’s evaluate our lives…
Is what we’re doing, what we want to be doing, when Christ returns????
Taken from: Crazy Love by Frances Chan
Lukewarm is completely useless…
Neither like hot water (as in a comfortable bath)…
Nor like cold water (as in a refreshing drink)…
Interpret “hot” and “cold” in light of the historical context of Laodicea…
It had no permanent supply of good water…
Efforts to pipe water to the city from nearby springs were successful…
But, it would arrive lukewarm…
Located close to both natural hot springs by Hierapolis…
Often used for medicinal purposes…
And a cold, pure stream by Colossae…
Both hot and cold water are desirable…
Both are useful for distinct purposes…
All believers can be used of God…
The spiritual state of this church…
More closely resembled the tepid, lukewarm water…
That eventually flowed into Laodicean pipes…
Neither hot nor cold…
It was putrid!
The metaphor condemns Laodicea for not providing…
Spiritual healing (being hot)…
Or, spiritual refreshment (being cold) to those around them…
Revelation 3:15 is a condemnation of their lack of works and lack of witness.
They spread spiritual disease…
What disease?
They believed they were spiritually rich…
When in fact they had gone bankrupt…
They thought they could see…
But they were blind…
They thought they were healthy…
But they were corrupt….
They thought they were fully clothed…
But they were naked…
The difference was in their opinion of themselves…
vs reality…
They thought they were well off…
But they were starving to death…
They were spiritually content and self-satisfied…
Although actually they were wretched and pitiful…
In Revelation 3:17, they had the audacity to say…
“I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.”
The problem with being lukewarm…
And the case against Laodicea…
Revolves around the idea of self-deception…
They were self-deluded…
The church at Laodicea was made up of Christians…
Who were trusting in themselves and their wealth…
Or, what they thought their wealth could buy them!
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, says,
Lukewarm…
Useless and self-deceived…
They thought they were of great value…
But were hypocritical…
Promoting themselves, as those who saw the truth…
When in fact they did not…
Actively covering their sins with a cloak of religious observance!
Lord…
Help us to be obsessed with You…
Show us where we’re lukewarm…
Give us the strength to deal with these areas…
Do whatever it takes…
For us to please You…
We need constant infilling of Your Presence…
A constant love relationship…
Constant prayer…
Constant worship…
Constant renewing of our minds…
With the Word of God…
We don’t want to be lukewarm:
A believer who isn’t a threat to satan’s kingdom,
A person who is unable to accomplish anything for the Lord,
Who no longer brings God glory,
Who no longer accomplishes His will,
Who no longer builds His kingdom.
Refresh!
Rekindle!
Our lukewarm hearts…
Restore!
Us to a heart perfect in its commitment to You!
Amen!!
Lukewarm is not enough…
Try Crazy Love!
Ahhh…
My new non-lukewarm refrigerator!!!!
Cold and Colder!!
To match my repaired non-lukewarm dryer…
Hot and Hotter!!
Forget lukewarm!
If a dryer’s not HOT…
Or, a refrigerator’s not COLD…
They’re useless…
And so are we!!
Amen!
Don’t sing these Top Ten Songs Of The Lukewarm Christian!!!
1. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style
2. Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
3. I Surrender Some
4. I’m Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
5. Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
6. What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
7. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
8. He’s Quite a Bit To Me
9. Oh, How I Like Jesus
10. It Is My Secret What God Can Do – See more at: http://diggingtheword.blogspot.com/2010/03/top-ten-songs-of-lukewarm-christian.html#sthash.IJf1kito.h1RhYzKB.dpuf
1. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style
2. Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
3. I Surrender Some
4. I’m Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
5. Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
6. What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
7. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
8. He’s Quite a Bit To Me
9. Oh, How I Like Jesus
10. It Is My Secret What God Can Do – See more at: http://diggingtheword.blogspot.com/2010/03/top-ten-songs-of-lukewarm-christian.html#sthash.IJf1kito.h1RhYzKB.dpuf
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have in my hands a copy of today’s top ten list.”
“Today’s list is top ten songs of the lukewarm church.”
1. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style
2. Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
3. I Surrender Some
4. I’m Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
5. Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
6. What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
7. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
8. He’s Quite a Bit To Me
9. Oh, How I Like Jesus
10. It Is My Secret What God Can Do
Let’s be fired up this Sunday when we sing. Our Savior was passionate for us and we need to be equally as passionate for him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have in my hands a copy of today’s top ten list.”
“Today’s list is top ten songs of the lukewarm church.”
1. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style
2. Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
3. I Surrender Some
4. I’m Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
5. Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
6. What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
7. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
8. He’s Quite a Bit To Me
9. Oh, How I Like Jesus
10. It Is My Secret What God Can Do
Let’s be fired up this Sunday when we sing. Our Savior was passionate for us and we need to be equally as passionate for him.
You’re picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today Matching up socks and sweeping up lost Cheerios that got away You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips and head out the door And while I may not know you I bet I know you Wonder sometimes does it matter at all Well let me remind you it all matters just as long as you
Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you ‘Cause He made you to do Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face And tell the story of Grace With every move that you make And every little thing you do
Maybe you’re that guy with the suit and tie Maybe your shirt says your name You may be hooking up mergers, cooking up burgers But at the end of the day
Little stuff, big stuff, in between stuff God sees it all the same And while I may not know you I bet I know you Wonder sometimes does it matter at all Well let me remind you it all matters just as long as you do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you ‘Cause He made you To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face And tell the story of Grace with every move that you make And every little thing that you do
Well, maybe you’re sitting in math class Maybe on a mission in the Congo Maybe you’re working at the office Singing along with the radio Maybe you’re dining at a five star Or feeding orphans in Myanmar Anywhere and everywhere you are Whatever you do it all matters So do what you do and don’t ever forget to do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you ‘Cause He made you to do Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face And tell the story of Grace as you do Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you ‘Cause He made you to do Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face And tell the story of Grace with every move that you make And every little thing that you do Every little thing you do
This includes every Mom– smiling while wiping off the highchair, and the floor around it, yet AGAIN!!
This includes every Teacher-cheerfully, reminding kids ONCE AGAIN to be kind to each other!
This includes every Dad-happily playing with the kids, even AFTER a tough day at work!
This includes every Waiter/Waitress/Salesperson/Cashier-being patient EVERY DAY with difficult customers!
This includes every Student-Doing well in school, even when they’d rather be ANYWHERE else!
Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain Holy, Holy, is He Sing a new song, to Him who sits on Heaven’s mercy seat
Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord God Almighty Who was, and is, and is to come With all creation I sing Praise to the King of Kings You are my everything And I will adore You
Clothed in rainbows, of living color Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be to You the only wise King
Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder At the mention of Your Name Jesus Your Name is power Breath, and living water Such a marvelous mystery
2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made Him
who had no sin
to be sin for us,
so that in Him
we might become
the righteousness of God.”
Revelation 4:8
“Each of the four living creatures
had six wings
and was covered with eyes all around,
even under his wings.
Day and night they never stop saying:
‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was,
and is,
and is to come.'”
Revelation 22:1-21
Eden Restored
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life,
as clear as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
down the middle of the great street of the city.
On each side of the river stood the tree of life,
bearing twelve crops of fruit,
yielding its fruit every month.
And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
No longer will there be any curse.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,
and his servants will serve Him.
They will see His face,
and His name will be on their foreheads.
There will be no more night.
They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun,
for the Lord God will give them light.
And they will reign for ever and ever.”
John and the Angel
“The angel said to me,
‘These words are trustworthy and true.
The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,
sent His angel to show His servants
the things that must soon take place.’
‘Look, I am coming soon!
Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.’
I, John,
am the one who heard and saw these things.
And when I had heard and seen them,
I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel
who had been showing them to me.
But he said to me,
‘Don’t do that!
I am a fellow servant with you
and with your fellow prophets
and with all who keep the words of this scroll.
Worship God!’
Then he told me,
‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll,
because the time is near.
Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong;
let the vile person continue to be vile;
let the one who does right continue to do right;
and let the holy person continue to be holy.’
Epilogue: Invitation and Warning
‘Look, I am coming soon!
My reward is with Me,
and I will give to each person
according to what they have done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.
Blessed are those who wash their robes,
that they may have the right to the tree of life
and may go through the gates into the city.
Outside are the dogs,
those who practice magic arts,
the sexually immoral,
the murderers,
the idolaters
and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
I, Jesus,
have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
I Am the Root
and the Offspring of David,
and the bright Morning Star.”
The Spirit and the bride say,
‘Come!’
And let the one who hears say,
‘Come!’
Let the one who is thirsty come;
and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:
If anyone adds anything to them,
God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.
And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy,
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A text & video blog striving to honor Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through Bible lessons, devotionals, Sunday School studies and small group studies.
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