What Can I Give?

Do you have people in your life you find it difficult to buy gifts for? My wife recently asked me what I wanted for Christmas. After a few seconds of thought, I told her I didn’t need or want anything…that I was content and happy with what I have. Melinda’s desire was to bless me with something that would mean something to me personally. In the moment I told her I didn’t want or need anything I basically became one of those ‘hard to buy a gift for’ persons!

As the days went by, I thought more about her question and I remembered something I had been given as a gift several years before that continues to bring me great joy to this day. After a surgery, my mind reacted to the anesthesia with great waves of anxiety. In those moments of terror and panic and fear, I would simply ask Melinda to speak truth to me. She would immediately begin going down the list of good things in my life.

“You have 9 amazing children and their spouses that love you.”

“You have many incredible grandchildren that adore you and bring great joy to your life.”

“You have the Lord right hear with you and He loves you with the massive immensity that transcends even the scope of the universe.”

It took only a few minutes of hearing the truth to completely quiet my anxious thoughts and bring me to complete calm and peace. God’s Word is true. Perfect love casts out fear.

When our daughter, Glory, heard that story, she came up with the most simple yet profound and helpful gift I could have ever received. She found a jar and asked her siblings to send her short personal thoughts about me, Bible verses that they thought might be encouraging to me, jokes that would bring a laugh and much-needed joy to my soul, and anything else they thought might bless me.

She put them on small slips of card stock, folded them, and placed them in a jar. Tied around that jar just below the rim and lid was a piece of twine. Attached to that twine was a slip of card stock with the words, “Read one as needed.” In the years since she gave me that jar, I have gone to it in moments of panic or anxiety - especially since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s - and pulled out one or two ‘as needed’ and applied them to my heart and mind…and fear, panic, and anxiety have been put in their proper place - out of my mind - and have been replaced by truth and love.

Here are a few examples of what my children put in that Blessing Jar:

“Dad, you always tell us who we are as Jernigans. I am so proud of the legacy you have built. I am proud of my children being able to go into life knowing the family we come from. I am so proud of you.”

“Remember who you are and Whose you are.”

“Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.” Micah 7:8 NASB

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

“When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:19

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” Psalm 56:3…You’ve got this, Dad!

“Two men walked in a bar. The third ducked.”

Cashier: “Would you like the milk in a bag?” Dad: “No, just leave it in the carton.”

“Why is there so much pressure to spend Independence Day with other people?”

“I loved it when you would sing us to sleep when we were little. I can’t wait for my kids to enjoy it, too.” the

“We are a rich family because we have you as a Dad. I love you.”

You get the idea. Everyone can give a kind word or a blessing to someone else - whether the person you are blessing realizes they need it or not.

Christmas is coming in two days! What gift can you give to the greatest Gift ever given to this world? Let’s make a quick list of things that we can give Him. We can give Him our intellect - our thought-life. We can give Him our senses for use in His kingdom. We can give Him our body as the dwelling place for His Spirit. We can give Him our emotions. We can give Him our relationships. We can give Him our burdens. We can give Him our time. Let’s do this: let’s go ahead and give Him all that we are! It’s called relationship. Let’s simply walk with Him today…

And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Luke 10:27 NASB

I will bless the LORD at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 34:1 NASB

Merry Christmas!

Dennis & Melinda Jernigan

He Is Lord of All

Why did Jesus come into the world in the first place? To save us from our sin. To save us from ourselves! He came as Savior and He came as Lord. We get the Savior part pretty easily, but we sometimes lack clarity on what it means for Him to be Lord.

To say Jesus is Lord is to simply declare that He is our master and guide and leader. He is NOT a dictator. Let me make that very clear. He is a Good Lord - a good Shepherd - who never beats His sheep into submission, but rather, leads us by example. He is a Shepherd Who desires relationship with His sheep. We can hear His voice and we can know His voice. Our life is only enhanced by surrendering to His Lordship. He never forces His love upon us and never forces us to love Him. That is amazing. Let us make the lordship of Jesus Christ very simple today. Just walk relationally with Him in every area of your life!

Let us be mindful today to allow the Lord to be a part of - Lord of - every area and aspect of our life. Make it simple. Ask the Lord to show you what to wear today. Ask the Lord to show you what to eat today. Ask the Lord to bring about divine encounters with people who need encouragement today. Ask the Lord what is on His mind today. Ask Him what He thinks about certain situations and circumstances facing the world. Just communicate with Him. Talk…and listen. Simply include Him in the living out of your life. I believe you will find He is the most loving, present Lord you could ever know. Need a friend? Let Jesus be Lord of all…

Dennis Jernigan

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 NASB

Redeemed!

“…He is MY REDEEMER…”

To redeem means to ‘compensate for the faults or bad aspects of something’ or to ‘gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment’. With His shed blood, Jesus compensated for our faults - our sins. With the shedding of His blood, Jesus bought us with the price of His own life and exchanged our old dead lives of sin for the new life we find when we place our faith in His redeeming blood and love. Think about the cost to Jesus you were to Him…and how that makes you feel about the depth of His love. That should take you an eternity to truly fathom…

"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.”

Job 19:25 NASB

We have been redeemed from the curse of sin and death! We are now new creations in Christ, washed clean of our sin and ensured of eternal life with Jesus Christ!

We have been redeemed from hopelessness! Our hope is no longer in our own strength or in our performance. Our hope is in Jesus Christ!

We have been redeemed from the attitude of selfishness! Our focus has been taken from self-focus to focus on our Lord Jesus Christ and upon meeting the needs of others!

We have been redeemed from the darkness of sin. We now walk in the light of the Word of God and in the Light of the world, Jesus Christ! We have been afforded a Lamp that will guide us through the darkness of man-centered thinking.

We are redeemed from stinking thinking! We no longer identify by our past failures or present temptations or present circumstances or even by what we feel. We identify by the Word of Him Who saved our soul. We are new creations in Christ.

We are redeemed from being pulled down by our past failures. What remains are the scars that bear witness to hurts and failures…and those scars are a testament to the fact that, yes, we went through those circumstances, but declare to others to look and see what God has done. They are reminders of God’s grace and of His redeeming love for us!

Let us walk as those who have been redeemed today. Redeemed is who and what we are!

Dennis Jernigan

If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay [on earth;] knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, [the blood] of Christ. 1 Peter 1:17-19 NASB

Redeemer

WORDS & MUSIC

Dennis Jernigan

Verse

Broken once

Broken no more

I am the one You were broken for

Broken body

Blood flowing down

Once lost but now I’m found

Bread of Life

Broken for me

Broken to fill me, make me complete

Living Water

Love’s cleansing Stream

Washed me, left me redeemed

Chorus

Redeemer!

My Redeemer!

With redeeming love flood my soul!

Redeemer!

Gave Your life, Redeemer!

Broken to make me whole!

Broken to make me whole!

Verse

Once in shame

Shameful no more

I am the one that You bore shame for

Once unworthy, I realize

Still I was worth Your life

Crown of thorns

Piercing Your brow

Ancient of Days somehow here and now

Wounded Healer

Cleanser of sin

Savior Who rose a-gain!

I Have My Sword

“God and his word are the reality we need - the Rock under our feet.” John Piper

"It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' “ Jesus Christ - Luke 4:4 NKJV

Today’s teaching is the story the song, I Have My Sword. The song came to me on July 16, 2016. The story behind this song is very simple. I woke up the morning of July 16, 2016 with the awareness that I needed a new song for our free monthly song-give-away. As I began to ponder which new song I needed to release, I felt an urging of the Holy Spirit that He would give me a new song...that very day! I had no idea what the song might entail...until a friend asked me to review a movie trailer she had created depicting the need for training in spiritual warfare. Coupled with the fact that in three days we would be celebrating our nation’s independence from tyranny, I was overwhelmed with the need for the body of Christ to wake up to the reality of spiritual warfare. In the film trailer, much of the action depicted entailed sword fighting as a visual representation of a spiritual truth. God’s Word is my Sword. As I meditated on that Truth, this song was born. It is a hymn of declaration and faith.

Spiritual warfare is real. We have the Truth of the Lord God Almighty being opposed by the lies of the enemy, Satan, the Liar. The goal of this Liar is to cause us to be tempted into living our lives by anything other than the Word of God. It is the wise believer who understands this reality and receives the weapons of that warfare from the Lord…from His Word…that lives an abundant life. In fact, I would surmise that the Word of God is THE weapon of weapons in our spiritual arsenal. In God’s Word, we have everything we need to vanquish the lies of the enemy. In God’s Word, we have been given the keys to the kingdom of God by which we are able to unlock the prisons of the lies we have believed and find freedom for our minds. The reason I say freedom for our minds is because of the simple most fundamental truth of spiritual warfare. The battleground is our mind. The war is won or lost on the basis of what we think…about Who God is…and about who He says we are.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NASB

When I am feeling something negative, I immediately trace that feeling back to the thought that put it in motion. If that thought does not align with the Word of God, I lop it off with the truth of God’s Word and replace it with the truth of God’s Word…and move on down the road! Let’s be honest here. Most of our battles are connected to what we perceive to be our identity. I can either allow the Liar and the current humanistic ideology to determine my identity or I can allow the Word of God to determine who I am. As I have said many times in my life, one of my personal rules concerning my thought life is this: Dennis Jernigan does not get to call himself something His Father does not call him.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 NASB

In order to renew my mind - which I believe is simply spiritual warfare birthed out of intimacy with Christ - I must recognize the real battleground. As I have already mentioned, the real battleground of every human that has ever existed or ever will exist, is the mind. It is imperative that I understand this truth if I am to walk in victory or settle for victimhood. Yes, I battle the physical malady of Parkinson’s. My physical body - my flesh - would have me focus all my attention on the physical pain and weakness, but I have come to understand that the real battle is for my thoughts…so I use the Word of God to overcome the suffering of the flesh by filling my head with the truth of God’s Word. This does not necessarily ease my physical pain or suffering, but it does give me the vantage point of the big picture. God wastes nothing…and, living or dying, I am with Him! I use the Sword of God’s Word to take every thought captive because I understand the true essence of where the ward is taking place. 


For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NASB

Yes, I suffer physically due to my sickness, but I am bound and determined to use even the sickness for the kingdom of God. Yes, I am physically weak a great deal of the time, but I boast in my weakness that God might be glorified. My weakness is then replaced by the strength of God. Another great paradox and mystery of knowing God: When I am weak, He is strong.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places.] Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil [one.] And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesian 6:10-17 NASB

If I understand the battle is for my thoughts and that it is waged in my mind, I must also understand that God has not left me defenseless in this battle. We have been given everything we need to defeat the lies of the enemy. I won’t belabor the point. Here is your spiritual armor and arsenal, overcomer:

• Loins girded with Truth. Why the loins? In a physical sense, this represents the conduit for creating new life. Our God is all about life and wants us to live it abundantly in spite of our circumstances. Let Truth guard your spiritual life.

• Breastplate of righteousness. This covers our heart. We are to guard our hearts with all diligence. This simply means understanding that we stand unashamed regardless of our past because Jesus became sin on our behalf and made us, as new creations, the righteousness of God! Guard your heart by proclaiming who and Whose you are…often!

• Shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. Wherever you walk in this life, you are standing on the holy ground of who you are in Christ and have been equipped to tell your story - the Good News/Gospel - of what Christ has done for you.

• The shield of faith. Hebrews 11:1 NASB says, “Now faith is the assurance of [things] hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This shield is like a forcefield around your mind which is used to dispel the fiery darts - the lies - of the Liar! All you need is a mustard seed’s worth!

• The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Jesus used the Word of God to put down the lies and the temptations the Liar presented to Him. We have been given the mind of Christ. That means we are equipped to do the same thing!

We really have been given everything we need to overcome the lies of the enemy. And the best news of all? Jesus is our Mighty Warrior who has already sealed and ensured the ultimate victory for us!

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:2-3 NASB

Looking back on my life to this point gives me a better perspective on what I am facing now. Throughout my past - when I have faced middle-of-nowhere moments in my life - I have been rescued and found solid ground for my thoughts by virtue of putting off the lies of the enemy and by wielding the Sword of God’s Word. He is faithful and true to His Word…and keeps His promises. He did not promise me an easy journey, but He did promise me He would never leave me or forsake me or give up on me.

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of [the] divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in [your] moral excellence, knowledge, and in [your] knowledge, self-control, and in [your] self-control, perseverance, and in [your] perseverance, godliness, and in [your] godliness, brotherly kindness, and in [your] brotherly kindness, love. For if these [qualities] are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:4-8 NASB

Reality is that I still experience persecution. Reality is that I still experience the pain of a mortal body. Reality is that I still have moments of fear. Reality is that I sometimes feel like giving up. Reality is as long as I live in this human body I will be faced with storms and middle-of-nowhere moments of life…but the greater reality is this: I win. I am more than a conqueror. I am soaked in and surrounded by the love and presence of God. And I have my Sword…

Dennis Jernigan

Listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast on this subject and hear the song, I Have My Sword, at

John Piper Quote - https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/word-of-god

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2019/02/26/19/52/sword-4022804_1280.jpg

Your Name Is Beautiful

“However weak we are, however poor, however little our faith, or however small our grace may be, our names are still written on His heart; nor shall we lose our share in Jesus' love.” Charles Spurgeon

Today’s teaching comes from the story  behind my song called, Your Name Is Beautiful. The words came to me on July 6, 1987 and the music arrived on August 8, 1987.

Following are the words I wrote about this song, Your Name Is Beautiful, when I first received it way back in 1987:

I was once challenged by someone who really questioned the need for outward expression of worship. This person asked me, “What if I were physically unable to express my worship? What if I could not lift my hands or dance before Him? How can I expect someone to do that?” My response? If we are talking about me, I am physically able to do so, so I WILL praise Him with my physical being, but let’s say I was unable to move my limbs. What would I do then? The answer would still be the same. I’d still praise Him for all He has done for me! I’d blink my eyes in worship! I would dance in my mind! I would breathe as loudly as I could breathe to express in one way or another what Jesus Christ means to me!
 When we think about redemption and salvation, we need to see ourselves as being rendered able to move in our spirits…though once crippled and incapacitated by sin. When we are washed clean and redeemed of that sin, we are healed of our weakness. Abiding in Jesus is learning to walk with Him. Worship is really like our spiritual therapy! Because I see how desperate my life was without Him, I would do anything He asked me to do in worship. I would be glad to do it. Because of that gratefulness in my life, I will use whatever gifting He has given me…whatever means I have available to give Him the glory He deserves. This song came as a result of these types of questions in my life. If I could not praise Him physically, I would find a way Think about it. What would you do?
 Since the penning of those words in 1987, the lyrics of this song have become both bittersweet and poignant; powerful and prophetic. In the song, questions are raised about whether or not I would praise God if I lost my ability to move…or to sing…or to praise my God with reckless abandon. Since my diagnosis with Parkinson’s, these words are sweeter and more meaningful than ever to me and bring much comfort to my soul:

If there never was a song

For my feeble tongue to raise

If there nevermore was music

I would find a way to praise Your name

Your beautiful name

If there never was a body

Or a fleshly hand to raise

If I could not dance before You

I would find a way to praise Your name

Your beautiful name

With the diagnosis of Parkinson’s, my world came crashing down in many ways. I lost my ability to sing as I once did. My body just doesn’t seem to be healing as I would hope. I find it difficult to get some notes out regardless of how much I try. Most days, I experience pain and suffering in a physical and mental sense, yet I still make a daily choice to praise the name of Jesus. As of this writing, we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping the world in 2020, leaving us feeling isolated and giving us moments of anxiousness as to whether we will be able to survive financially due to my illness. Even though the words of this song were written over 30 years ago, they ring more true than ever in my life:

If I never knew Your healing

If my days were filled with pain

Just the fact that You are near me

Gives me strength to still proclaim

Your name

Your beautiful name

If I lost all my possessions

Or the family I hold dear

I would gladly give my life up

If it meant the world would hear Your name

Your beautiful name

It is in the names of God that I find much solace from the world falling apart around me…comfort through the suffering of my disease. He is my Righteousness. He is my Holiness. He is my Healer. He is God With Us. He is my Shepherd. He is my Provider. He is my Peace. He is my Victory. He is Jesus. In that one name we find all that God is…and so much more. The way we develop intimacy with someone is often begun by simply learning the other person’s name. As I have learned the names God calls Himself, I have learned about His character - His nature. In the process, I have come to understand the meaning of my own name as a child of God. Dennis means ‘worshipper’. That is who I am…and I am known intimately by the One Who gave me my name. There is great peace in knowing God knows my name…and great comfort in expressing how I feel about all His name means to me…

Beautiful…

Dennis Jernigan

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;

The righteous runs into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10 NASB

To listen to the audio version of this teaching along with the song, listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast at http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/your-name-is-beautiful/

Photo courtesy of www.pixabay.com

Father, Sing Over Me

“I can't talk about my singing. I'm inside it. How can you describe something you're inside of?” Janis Joplin

You are my hiding place;

You preserve me from trouble;

You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 32:7 NASB

Since my dad passed away in August of 2017, I have had a very difficult time. Just being real here. After he passed away, I had several good weeks where I felt tinges of grief and felt I was traversing the journey pretty well and then the first week of December hit and I began to experience panic attacks and many sleepless nights. Grief was overwhelming me and I had not expected it to be so overwhelming. My first Christmas ever without my dad caught me by surprise - as did his December birthday.

Grief is the feeling of loss. Mourning is the outward expression of that loss and I was not doing so well at mourning. I finally began to get some relief as time passed by, but when March came around in 2018, I began to fall back down into the bottomless pit grief can become. Melinda had been fighting for me and holding me up emotionally, but by this time, she began to be overwhelmed by my emotional overloads.

She began experiencing what is called compassion fatigue. She had come to the end of her ability to hold me up along with her own emotional needs. She basically told me she could not do it any more and that I needed to begin fighting for myself, to fight harder at digging myself out of the deep dark pit of emotional self pity. I needed to hear that.

In a nutshell, this song was my way of fighting out of the darkness and what I have been challenging people to do for decades. I needed to practice what I preached! This has become my new go to song of deliverance. It also helps me to focus on the needs of others rather than on always having to focus on my own. My needs are met when I seek to meet the needs of others.

Concerning grief and mourning as it relates to the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, I had gone for far too long without even understanding that part of what I was experiencing was grief over my diagnosis. A friend just asked me one day, “Have you ever grieved the diagnosis of Parkinson’s?” Those words hit me like a ton of bricks.

What I realized is that I had been holding that grief deeply inside of me in order to appear strong for my family. When I realized that this buildup of sorrow was doing more damage than good, I began to pour out my grief in active, outward mourning. I let go of the sorrow I felt at the loss of my stamina…at the loss of my youth…at the loss of my mental stamina…at the potential loss of my life…at the loss of time with children and grandchildren…at the way my lack of mourning my diagnosis had robbed me of deeper intimacy with my wife. This song helps me mourn and move on from sorrow and into joy…because God praised comfort to all those who mourn.

God’s Word is true. He surrounds me with songs of deliverance. I just need to listen. He rejoices over me with singing. I just need to listen. When my Father sings over me, I am instantly aware of His presence completely consuming me…completely consuming my sorrow, my suffering, my pain, my worry, my fear, and my anxiety because He sings from the place of perfect, all-consuming love. The result of His singing? Grace to get through pain and deliverance from sorrow. What is left when grace and love intersect with a song from God’s heart? Peace and joy. Dare to believe God sings over you…

This song is dedicated to my wife, Melinda. Thanks for fighting for me and for fighting the enemy with me. I love you.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4 NASB

You are my hiding place;

You preserve me from trouble;

You surround me with songs of deliverance.

Selah.

Psalm 32:7 NASB

Here is my own translation of one of my favorite verses from God’s Word:

Zephaniah 3:17

The eternal self-existent God, the God Who is three in one; He Who dwells in the center of your being is a powerful and valiant warrior. He has come to set you free, to keep you safe, and to bring you victory. He is cheered and He beams with exceeding joy and takes pleasure in your presence. He has engraved a place for Himself in you and there He quietly rests in His love and affection for you. He cannot contain Himself at the thought of you and with the greatest of joy spins around wildly in anticipation over you…and has placed you above all other creations and in the highest place in His priorities. In fact, He shouts and sings in triumph, joyfully proclaiming the gladness of His heart in a song of rejoicing! All because of you!

(Translation by Dennis Jernigan)

Dennis Jernigan

To listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this teaching and to hear the song, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/father-sing-over-me/

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/09/21/01/04/father-2770301_1280.jpg

Father, Sing Over Me

WORDS & MUSIC

Dennis Jernigan

March 27, 2018

You are Living Water in a dry and weary land 

In the shaking times You're Solid Rock where I can stand 

When the storms of life come You're a Shelter over me 

You are Light in darkness Watching over me

In the times of wounding You come healing me 

When fear would come surrounding 

You come singing over me 

Father, sing over me when I'm losing it! 

Father, sing over me when I'm wounded! 

Father, sing over me with Your presence! 

Father, sing over me with Your love! 

Father, sing over me love unending! 

Father, sing over me! I'm surrendering! 

Father, sing over me with Your presence! 

Father, sing over me! 

Father, sing over me! 

Father, sing over me! 

I will be your Righteousness and you be My redeemed! 

I will be your Holiness and I have washed you clean! 

Child, hear Me singing! This is what I'm singing over you! 

I will be your Hiding Place! My love concealing you! 

I will be your comfort! Let My love come healing through! 

Child, hear Me singing! This is what I'm singing over you!

I will be Provider! I will meet your every need! 

I will be your Champion! Find in Me your victory! 

Child, hear Me sing-ing! This is what I'm singing over you! 

I will be right with you! I will never, ever leave! 

I will be your Shepherd! If you let Me, I will lead! 

Child, hear Me singing! This is what I'm singing over you!

Father, sing over me when I'm losing it! 

Father, sing over me when I'm wounded! 

Father, sing over me with Your presence! 

Father, sing over me with Your love! 

Father, sing over me love unending! 

Father, sing over me! I'm surrendering! 

Father, sing over me with Your presence! 

Father, sing over me! 

Father, sing over me! 

Father, sing over me! 

Janis Joplin quote - https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/janis_joplin_797295?src=t_singing

Live Worship Streaming from Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Use the link below to take part in the worship session of All In All Church from Wednesday evening, November 4, 2020! After clicking on the link, click the picture that appears and you will be taken to the recording of the live worship session. It has already been viewed over 1,300 times!

Blessings,

DJ

https://www.facebook.com/official.dennisjernigan/videos/1087691335026027

I Am Undone

“Everyone is broken; every mortal man or woman is broken in some way, shape, or form.” Matt Hardy

“This perfection is the restoration of man to the state of holiness from which he fell, by creating him anew in Christ Jesus, and restoring to him that image and likeness of God which he has lost.” Adam Clarke

The world would have me labeled a bigot, a hater, a fool for daring to say someone might possibly dare to leave behind a homosexual identity in exchange for a heterosexual identity. The old me was undone. The new me is in a constant state of ripping away the grave-clothes…I am still being undone…and still being reborn and rebuilt. I am undone emotionally - and in every way - by His deeply passionate love for me.

This year this song was born - 2013 - was like a whirlwind. Not only was I going to be a grandfather, but a film crew would be making a documentary of my life in the hopes of obtaining major theatrical release. In addition and in conjunction with the movie, I was writing my life story in a way and to such a deep level I was left feeling naked and exposed...but in a holy and cleansing and healing way.

As I think about all these things, I am overwhelmed at God’s redeeming love in my life. As the movie, Sing Over Me, is now available on Amazon Prime and the book by the same title is also available, I am more convinced than ever of God’s plan and purpose for my life...and more convinced than ever of His deep, abiding love for me. Yes, I was once emotionally undone by my sin yet bound in a tangle of lies and deceit...but God’s love leaves me even more emotionally undone yet stable and on solid ground, all while he undoes/unravels the mess sin had made of my life. This song was born in the midst of all these happenings and, once you hear it, you will understand the awe and wonder I feel at the revelation of God’s love in my life. That is my prayer for you as well...that you would see and feel and experience God’s deep abiding love for you...in the here and now.

Being undone by God’s love requires trust. Following after Jesus in a dark world requires trust. Running the race of life with a sense of purpose and destiny requires trust. Going through middle-of-nowhere moments when it is difficult to feel loved, to see the Light, to believe your purpose, and to know God wastes nothing in the entire process of life requires trust. When I am undone, I fall apart. The best place I have found to fall apart is in the arms of Jesus. To be undone by His love is to be restored in the deepest, darkest recesses of the soul.

Yes, I am physically, emotionally, and mentally undone by Parkinson’s…but I am learning to allow that ‘undone-ness’ to teach me how to glory in - and even boast in - my weakness that He might be strong in me. God has been so faithful throughout the course of my life to pick up the broken pieces of my existence and put them back together. He has restored my soul so many countless times before. What He has been faithful to do in the past, He is faithful to do in the here and now. My diagnosis did not surprise God or catch Him off guard. He is still the same loving, redeeming God Who wastes nothing…Whose love for me is a promise from His Word to me. How does Parkinson’s change or affect His restorative love for me? It doesn’t! I am, once again, undone…and once again, Father has met me there. He is using Parkinson’s for His kingdom and for His glory…and for my good. I trust Him. Period.

Dennis Jernigan

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;

It will not return to Me empty,

Without accomplishing what I desire,

And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11 NASB

I Am Undone

Words & Music

Dennis Jernigan

March 13, 2013

You took my broken heart

Once cast aside like trash is

You made my heart brand new

Brought beauty from the ashes

And here I stand in awe

Of perfect love and power

Here I stand in awe

Of my God!

I am undone by Your mercy

I am undone by Your grace

I am undone by Your goodness

And Your sure, strong embrace

I am undone by Your dying

I am undone by such love

I am undone by Your sacrifice

Who could love me that much?

I am undone

I am undone

You took a wasted life

And made that life worth living

You filled my heart with joy

Reduced me to thanksgiving

And here I stand in awe

Of perfect love and power

Here I stand in awe

Of my God!

I am undone by Your mercy

I am undone by Your grace

I am undone by Your goodness

And Your sure, strong embrace

I am undone by Your dying

I am undone by such love

I am undone by Your sacrifice

Who could love me that much?

I am undone

I am undone

To hear The Dennis Jernigan Podcast of this teaching and to hear the song, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/i-am-undone/

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/07/01/22/34/people-1492052_1280.jpg

Matt Hardy quote - https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/matt_hardy_942891

Adam Clarke quote - https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/adam_clarke_273288?src=t_restoration

Dance With Me, My King

“Intimacy is not a happy medium. It is a way of being in which the tension between distance and closeness is dissolved and a new horizon appears. Intimacy is beyond fear.” Henri Nouwen

“All the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill the history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill at dancing.” Moliere

This week’s teaching is the story behind an old song from the days when I first began leading worship in a public setting in Oklahoma City. God had been doing so many wonderful things in my life and I was being drawn more and more into the healing places one finds in an intimate relationship with Christ. Though I was still not publicly sharing my story of deliverance, I was still very honest and open with the Lord about my past. I discovered that as I openly confessed my sins and hurts to the Lord I was not rejected…but rather I found a depth of embrace I never thought possible before.
The thing I feared most was being found out and then being rejected because of my shortcomings. What I found was just the opposite. This song was a song of intimacy I would sing privately to the Lord during such times of intimacy. When I began to release it publicly, ladies would be drawn to dance beautiful dances of worship to the Lord and many people would be ministered to. Even though I could not share the depths from which the song had come concerning my past, I did find great joy in seeing others experience the same release and freedom one finds in an intimate dance with the Savior. And now you finally know the rest of the story!
As I deal with Parkinson’s and the loss of my voice, I have grown accustomed to - I expect - intimacy with the Lord. It is the key to my sanity and key to my comfort. Intimacy with God alleviates pain and dispels fear. Intimacy occurs when I turn to my God and say, “here is my heart, Father. Into-me-see”, hiding nothing from Him and withholding nothing of myself from Him. That is but the first step of intimacy with God, though. True intimacy occurs when I turn my heart to Him in naked honesty and He turns His heart toward me in that same moment and says to me, “Here is My heart, son. Into-Me-see.” It is in that moment that true intimacy is attained. Nothing hidden. Everything shared.
I will never forget the first time I danced with my wife, face to face. I will never forget the intimacy of that moment. I will never forget the physical intimacy of our union on our wedding night. Why? Because it was the first time, as a man, I felt completely known and accepted by another human being. It was also the first time I felt I knew another human being - my wife - in such a way that can only be described as pure holy ecstasy.
Knowing God is like that. He knows everything about me and loves me anyway! My greatest desire and the deepest desire of my human heart is to know and to be known by my Maker. It is this type of ‘nothing-hiddenness’ that I felt when writing this song. Completely known. Knowing another completely. I dance with my King for the sheer joy of the way He has transformed my sorrow into song…

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness…
Psalm 30:11 NASB

I dance with my King for the sheer massive worth of Who He is…

Let them praise His name with dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.
Psalm 149:3 NASB

I dance with my King for the cleansing He brought to my sin-stained soul…

"Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance,
And the young men and the old, together,
For I will turn their mourning into joy
And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.”
Jeremiah 31:13 NASB

I dance with my King for loving me even when I turned my back on Him…for loving me right where I was…for loving me enough to not leave me there…

"And the [prodigal] son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.”
Luke 15:21-24 NASB

I dance with my King as a child with a Father…just because…
Intimacy is everything. Relationship with God is the key to ultimate intimacy. It is my belief that every human heart’s greatest desire is to know and to be known. Let’s practice knowing God this week as we walk in intimacy with Him. Let Him inside your hidden places. He loves you even there. Let Him. Such knowledge makes me kinda wanna…dance!
Dennis Jernigan

To listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this teaching and to hear the song, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/dance-with-me-my-king/

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/02/22/23/06/ballet-3174227_1280.jpg

Dance With Me, My King
WORDS & MUSIC
Dennis Jernigan
September 28, 1987

Dance with, my King
While the heavens sing
I love Your name
How I love Your holy name
Dance with me, my King
While the heavens sing
I love Your name
How I love Your holy name

I love Your name
Jesus, how I love Your holy, holy name
I love Your name
Exalt Your name
Most high
I love Your name
Exalt Your name
Most high
Dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me, my King

Henri Nouwen quote - https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/henri_nouwen_588379

Moliere quote - https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/moliere_401227

Steal Away

“Look, if I were alone in the world, I would have the right to choose despair, solitude and self-fulfillment. But I am not alone.” Elie Wiesel

“Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five-minute-a-day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe.” Wayne Dyer

So many times in my life I have been confronted with a painful situation and wished I could run away and hide. When I was a boy struggling with same sex attraction, I wanted to be invisible. When I was called names and bullied, I wanted to be anywhere but in those moments. What do I do to steal away when Parkinson’s consumes me? What do I do to steal away when my once strong voice has been reduced to a weak and frail whimper? There have been more times than I care to admit when I wish God could just suspend time or could give me the ability to time travel to a place of future safety…but our God is the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is the God Who transcends time, stepping in and out of it as He sees fit. He has even been known to stop time!
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about God’s ability to suspend time. In Joshua’s day He caused the universe to stand still. Has anything changed in His ability to do so? I began asking Him to take the small portions of the day when I have brief times to spend with Him and multiply His presence. In other words, in a five minute window of time, refresh and restore as if I had just spent hours in rest or sleep. He is faithful to meet with us in our daily rush and hectic schedules. My song, Steal Away, is meant to be a catalyst to help us get away from it all - even when we can’t physically do so!


Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, 
"O sun, stand still at Gibeon,
And O moon in the valley of Aijalon."
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies.
Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.
Joshua 10:12-14 NASB

What I discovered is that God can meet with us in the middle of nowhere…in the midst of an overwhelming storm…in the midst of a fiery furnace…in the midst of financial ruin…in the midst of unbearable pain…in the midst of unfathomable sorrow…in the midst of the bombardment of the enemy’s lies…in the midst of the most seductive temptation…in the midst of a loud and boisterous crowd…in the middle of feeling utterly and irrevocably alone.

Am I alone in my Parkinson’s? No. God is there with comfort and love.

Alone in the grief of my diagnosis? No. God is there, mourning with me, comforting with His presence.

Alone in my suffering? No. God is there, sharing and bearing the burden with me, giving grace along the way.

Alone in the slow degradation and fading of my mind into the fogginess of Parkinson’s? No. God is literally there holding my hand through the fog, urging me to follow Him and bathing me with the mind of Christ.

My point? With God, time is irrelevant. He is with us in the middle of any circumstance we could possibly imagine…and He can take even a few seconds of our human awareness of time and multiply those few seconds into a day’s worth of rest and refreshment. Just as God caused time to stand still for the children of Israel when faced with the onslaught of their sworn enemy, He can do the same for us. The Deliverer - the God of Israel - is the same Deliverer and God with us. After all, He is Immanuel - God with us.

To everything [there is] a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven…
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Let’s allow God to help us make the most of our time. Let’s just practice doing everything we do with the awareness that we are not alone. We can steal away any time. Any place. Let’s steal away today…
Dennis Jernigan

To hear the song, Steal Away, listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast on the story behind the song at http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/steal-away-1598366673/

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/01/09/13/35/outlook-1130223_1280.jpg

I've Been Through Fire

“Tribulation will not hurt you, unless as it too often does; it hardens you and makes you sour, narrow and skeptical.” Edwin Hubbel Chapin

I’ve Been Through Fire
Words & Music: Dennis Jernigan
July 3, 2014

I've been through fire
Hot enough to make a grown man
Want to lay down and die
I've been through fire hot enough
To burn away everything
Leaving just a semblance of life
I've been through fire
Hot enough to make me feel
I have no place to call home
I've been through fire but I tell you,
Been through fire, been through Hell
But I have never been alone

Through the fire You have brought me!
Through the fire I have never been alone!
Through the fire You have sought me
In a fashion all Your own
With a passion hot enough to melt a heart of stone!

I’ve been through fire
Hot enough to make me wonder
Where I'd find that next breath
I've been through fire so consuming
Like I had some-one there grooming me
For imminent death
I've been through fire
Where the fury of the flame
Left my heart harder than stone
I've been through fire but I tell you,
Been through fire, been through Hell
But I have never been alone

Through the fire You have brought me!
Through the fire I have never been alone!
Through the fire You have sought me
In a fashion all Your own
With a passion hot enough to melt a heart of stone!

Lord, Your love is like a fire!
The flames keep growing higher to consume me!
Lord, Your love is like a fire!
Your love is my desire!
So consume me!
Burning fire fueled by passion
Where Your love, like waves, comes crash-in'
To consume me!
Burning fire fueled by passion,
Make my heart like You in fashion
And consume me!

Through the fire You have brought me!
Through the fire I have never been alone!
Through the fire You have sought me
In a fashion all Your own
With a passion hot enough to melt a heart of stone!

I've been through fire
Hot enough to make a grown man
Want to lay down and die
I've been through fire

©2014 Shepherd’s Heart Music, Inc./Dennis Jernigan
7804 W. Fern Mountain Rd.•Muskogee, OK•74401
1-800-877-0406•www.dennisjernigan.com
Administered by www.PraiseCharts.com

The following words are what I wrote concerning the initial writing of this song. Since its writing, the fires of my life have only seemed to multiply and grow more intense. Sometimes I feel I will be completely consumed by them…but then I remember how much my God loves me. For each and every fire I have had to endure, what is not of the Lord has been burned away, leaving only what is purely of the Lord standing. As I am able to look back now and see each incident from the Lord’s point of view, I don’t see the ashes of loss. I see the richness of and the abundance of the treasures of my life…and have come out shining like gold.
Yes, I have been persecuted. Yes, I have been dealt the loss of my voice. Yes, I have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Yes, I have been betrayed by friends. Yes, I have been guilty of believing the lies of the enemy from time to time. Yes, I have been wounded beyond what I ever thought I could bear…but I do not see ashes of my life. I see a faithful, loving, beautiful wife of 37 years (as of this writing). I see nine amazing children, six amazing sons and daughters-in-law. I see (so far) eleven mind-blowingly awesome grandchildren who infuse my life with exquisite joy. I see thousands of songs born out of the trials of my life that are now sung literally around the world. What has taken the place of the ashes of my life is a long legacy of testimony to the power and love of our amazing God.
(Here is what I wrote at the initial writing of this song): I have had to endure a lot of fire through the years simply based on my leaving the homosexual way of thinking - my OLD identity - by virtue of my relationship with Jesus Christ. Many people seem happy for me. Many seem appalled. Many seem fearful to take a stand one way or the other. I just want others to know freedom is possible through Jesus Christ - those who desire such freedom. Because of a documentary that is about to be released detailing my story (Sing Over Me), I fully expect the fire to intensify. In my own strength I am not ready, but by God's grace, I will be in the moment. Just as He was in the midst of the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I know He will be with me. Incidentally, I prefer to hear this song sung from the Father's perspective toward me.
As I have already detailed in previous chapters, I have experienced persecution - fiery trials - on many occasions. What has kept me going in such middle-of-nowhere moments is the understanding that I have never gone through one single fiery trial alone. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were cast into a furnace as punishment for not bowing to and worshiping the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. Three were cast into that unsurvivable oven but four were seen walking about in the flames unscathed!

But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, [were thrown into] fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, “Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.” He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” Daniel 3:23-25 NASB
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not alone. The Lord was with them IN the furnace, gong through the fire WITH them. He is the same God that walks with us through the fires of our lives! Death by fire is painful. Being burned, period, causes some of the deepest and most excruciating pain any human can encounter. Fires leave scars. Fires burn things away leaving ashen ruins. I have experienced deep excruciating mental and emotional pain to such degree I wish I could have died…but God has always been there to bring comfort. My life has been forever scarred by the fires of this life…but I have chosen to see these scars as the evidence of God’s grace. A scar simply means I have gone through something painful but serves as evidence of the healing power of God. My scars say to the world, “Yes, I have been through fire. I have the scars to prove it…but look what God has done!”
Within the short biblical account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego I used there is one phrase that speaks volumes to the fiery trials of life. In the words of king Nebuchadnezzar, He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm!” The key phrase there? “I see four men LOOSED!” Those three men who had been cast into the fire simply for standing alone for God Almighty had been cast into that fire BOUND! Fire is painful…but fire has a way of burning away the things that bind us.
Since the release of the documentary of my life, Sing Over Me, I have received many vile comments and have been mocked and scorned and reviled as if I were Satan incarnate…but all those momentary experiences of pain are soothed by the balm of God’s grace with each person who tells me they have seen the film and that God has used it to change their lives forever. God has taken the ashes of my life and made something beautiful of them. This is the legacy and story behind the song “I’ve Been Through Fire.”

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to [those who are] bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:1-3 NASB

To listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this teaching and to hear the song, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/ive-been-through-fire/

Edwin Hubbel Chapin quote - https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/edwin_hubbel_chapin_157035

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/08/06/15/53/fire-2593636_1280.jpg

The Middle of Nowhere

“Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for.” Dag Hammarskjold

In 2017, I was asked to minister in the town of Hartley, Texas at Hartley Christian Fellowship. As people asked the question, “Where is Hartley?” I explained to them it was located about 78 miles north of Amarillo. Their response? That’s the middle of nowhere!
As was my custom, I asked the pastor if there was any specific need he wanted me to address as I ministered to his congregation. He wrote me back with “I pray for renewed passion and an openness and love for our changing community culturally.” A return to our first love as followers of Christ.
Taking this to heart, I began to ask the Lord if there were any things He would have me specifically address in relation to what the pastor had written. All I could hear in my thoughts was the phrase ‘in the middle of nowhere.’ I could not shake that thought - and knowing how the Lord operates in my mind, I prepared to receive a song about being stuck in the middle of nowhere.
The more I pondered that phrase, the more definitions I came up with as to what it means to be ‘in the middle of nowhere.’ According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the phrase literally means ‘far away from any towns and cities and where few people live’. Hartley certainly fit that definition, but I knew the meaning would have deeper spiritual ramifications…so I kept meditating on the phrase...and a song was born. Following are some of the thoughts that emerged:
The middle of nowhere could mean being lost in the wilderness. Just as the children of Israel wandered around in a physical wilderness, their wilderness was also one of a spiritual nature. Although they did not always correlate the two, the spiritual was actually more important than the physical. The physical wilderness was provided to show the people of God their spiritual condition.
They had just spent the past 400 years in the wilderness of slavery to Egypt and now they found themselves free from that bondage. It did not take long for attitudes of gratitude to change to second-thoughts and grumbling against leadership. In the very midst of the wilderness of the Sinai, God Himself had led them by a cloud in the daylight and by a pillar of fire by night. He had parted the Red Sea. And on a more personal level for each family and individual, He provided food fresh each morning in the form of manna. Yet, they chose to see the wilderness rather than the love and presence and power of God being demonstrated in their midst!
How often do we gaze upon our circumstances, surmising we are in the wilderness - smack dab in the middle of nowhere - yet we neglect to see the love and presence and power of God being demonstrated in our life daily?
Being in the middle of nowhere can be as simple as feeling alone. In that respect, being in the middle of nowhere can mean feeling alone in the middle of a crowd. The middle of nowhere can be in the middle of millions of people in New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and feeling as if no one can even see you.
The good news is that we cannot possibly ever be alone if we remind ourselves that the God we are in relationship with is anywhere we happen to be. Being alone with God is not a bad place to be. In fact, I - being an introvert aside - find being alone with God rather invigorating. To be with God in intimacy - Him seeing all of me and loving me anyway and me taking the time to gaze into His presence - is to recharge my batteries on every level. Jesus intentionally went into the middle of nowhere for this very reason: to be alone with His Father and to recharge his spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical batteries. In other words, being in the middle of nowhere can be a very good thing.
When we are willing to stand alone for our faith; whenever we are willing to speak Truth to those we love; whenever we risk loving through service; we face the risk of being misunderstood. Because of the nature of my own story - freedom from homosexual identity and now identifying as heterosexual - I often feel as if I live in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of being misunderstood. The simple fact of the matter is that if we pursue Jesus with the passion He pursued us, we will be misunderstood. Each of the apostles had to walk through the wilderness of being misunderstood. They preached love. The world heard hate. The world - thanks to the deception of the enemy - is walking in darkness apart from Christ. The most loving thing to tell someone is that they need a Savior because of their sin. No one wants to be told they are wrong about anything, yet that was one of the most loving things ever spoken to me. “Dennis, you are in sin.”
Just as Stephen who was stoned to death for his faith in Christ, we may be misunderstood to the degree that our very life is threatened. Just as with the children of Israel who had the choice of seeing and experiencing God’s love, presence, and power, Stephen chose to see from the Lord’s point of view while in the middle of nowhere. While being stoned to death for preaching the Truth of Jesus, He chose to look into the heavenly places, ‘but being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”’ Acts 7:55-56 NASB

The stoning continued but so did the faith of Stephen. ‘They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Acts 7:59 NASB

When finding ourselves in the middle of nowhere, whether in a desert, in a crowd, or being stoned, we must recognize and realize that even there we are not alone. In fact could it be that finding one’s self in the middle of nowhere is a good - and grand - thing? It all depends on the point of view, I suppose.

We can see a cloud of obscurity, or we can see a cloud that guides.

We can either see a fiery trial or we can see a fiery pillar of God’s protection.

We can see a sea raging all around us with no way through or we can see a parting of that very sea.

We can see eking out a bare existence or we can see even the smallest morsel as manna from heaven.

We can either see emptiness or the opportunity to be filled.

We can see brokenness or the opportunity for being poured out.

We can either see a desert or we can see a chance to meet with our Maker in the oasis of His love for us.

We can see wounding or we can offer our hearts and hurts to the Healer.

We can see the middle of nowhere or we can see the love, presence, and power of our God.

Ultimately, the middle of nowhere is a good and grand place - because it is there that we meet the God Who meets all our needs!

Dennis Jernigan
March 8, 2017

The Middle of Nowhere
WORDS & MUSIC
Dennis Jernigan
March 3, 2017

Where can I go from Your presence?
Where can I go from Your grace?
How wounded and how broken must my heart be before
Your healing can't reach that place?
In the middle of nowhere!
In the middle of nowhere!
Where can I go when forgotten?
Where can I go when alone?
How long before my blinded eyes are able to see
This world is not my home?
In the middle of nowhere
In the middle of nowhere!

In the middle of suff'ring!
In the middle of sorrow!
In the middle of pain!
In the middle of heartache!
In the middle of a desert!
In the middle of a driving rain!
Oh, Father, meet me there!
Father, meet me there!
In the middle of nowhere!
In the middle of nowhere!

In the middle of empty!
In the middle of the wilderness!
In the middle alone!
In the middle of the fire!
In the middle of darkness!
Middle of far from home!
Oh, Father, meet me there!
Father, meet me there!
In the middle of nowhere!
In the middle of nowhere!
In the middle of nowhere!
Father, meet me there!

Nothing I go through is wasted
When seen from the King's point of view
My life a grand adventure where I'm never alone
And when I get there I find You
In the middle of nowhere
In the middle of nowhere

In the middle of grateful
In the middle of deliverance
In the middle of joy
In the middle of triumph
The middle of the enemy
In the middle of a lie destroyed
Oh, Father, meet me there
Father, meet me there
In the middle of anywhere
In the middle of anywhere

In the middle of a healing
In the middle of life
In the middle of grace
In the middle of a miracle
In the middle of freedom
In the middle of a King's embrace
Oh, Father, meet me there
Father, meet me there
In the middle of anywhere
In the middle of anywhere

Dag Hammadskjold quote - https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/dag_hammarskjold_130197

To listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast and the song, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/the-middle-of-nowhere/

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Overwhelm Me: How to Rest in Jesus

Welcome to the All In All Church Teaching Site. The purpose of this Teaching Site is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures.
Today’s teaching is the story  behind not one, but two of my songs. One is intimate worship while the other is a song of deliverance from Father’s heart to yours. Both songs are from the studio recording Kingdom Come. The first song I’d like to share is called Overwhelm Me and was born on April 18, 2001.
I believe the deepest yearning of every human heart is to know and to be known. We are wired for intimacy…intimacy with God and intimacy with one another. Our deepest needs are met in relationship with our Maker. Many have been the times I have longed to be simply overwhelmed by His presence and by His love…and many times, I have been deeply overwhelmed by both. Like wave upon wave of God’s love rolling over my soul, the overwhelming presence of God brings comfort and shelter in the stormy times of life. Our God is with us…and He hears our cries…

Hear my cry, O God;
Give heed to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.
Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.
Psalm 61:1-4 NASB

When I was on staff at a church in my home town from the mid 90s until about 2005, once a month during the year our local body took time to come together for a corporate prayer summit. On this particular evening, I was leading worship and flowing in ministry with the pastor. He would lead in prayer and ministry and I would lead worship accordingly during those times. At one point in the evening, the pastor sensed that there were many who felt like giving up. As we prayed and sang over those who stood for ministry during this time, the Lord began to give me a song. This song was born spontaneously and I shared it at the close of the ministry to those who stood. The chorus and verse one are just as I received them that evening. Verse two came a few days later. Allow the presence of Father God to overwhelm you right now as you read the lyrics of the song, Overwhelm Me.

Overwhelm Me
Words & Music: Dennis Jernigan
April 18, 2001

Chorus
Overwhelm me with Your power!
Overwhelm me with Your grace!
Overwhelm me with Your glory,
As I rest in Your embrace!

Verse One
Let me see a light
At the end of the tunnel!
Let me hear Your voice
When alone in the dark!
Let me feel Your presence
Both below and above me!
Let me hold Your hand
So I can know where You are!
I will not give up the battle;
Run the whole entire race!
I will keep my eyes on You, Lord!
I will rest in Your embrace!

Chorus
Overwhelm me with Your power!
Overwhelm me with Your grace!
Overwhelm me with Your glory,
As I rest in Your embrace!

Verse Two
Let me see with eyes
That can see where You're going!
Let me run with strength
To the battle and fight!
Let me feel Your passion
Like a fire that's growing
Strong enough to pierce
The very darkness of night!
I will not give up the battle;
Run the whole entire race!
I will keep my eyes on You, Lord!
I will rest in Your embrace!

When the circumstances of life overwhelm us, there is One Who can overwhelm those circumstances with grace and love and power…Jesus Christ…and we must run to Him and abide in Him during such times. In His presence is fullness of joy and peace that passes our understanding and hope to take that next step.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NASB

Brothers and sisters, we never leave God’s presence. We either forget He is with us or we choose to ignore Him. Let’s choose to include Him in every area and aspect of our lives today.

The second song of today’s teaching is called Rest. It is a song of deliverance and it was born on September 5, 2007.

I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
I have set the LORD continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
Psalm 16:7-9 NASB

What do you do when someone you love is hurting? What do you do when there’s nothing you can do…except pray? One of my children called and was in the deepest anguish I had ever felt one of my children suffer. I prayed with my child and fell apart after our phone call…right into the arms of Jesus. And that is how I prayed – that they would fall apart in the arms of Jesus.
Later that same day, I had been with a friend and his wife who were experiencing some deep, wrenching turmoil that was directly affecting their marriage. Seeing my friends in pain, I did the same thing I had done for my child: I prayed for them and then fell apart in the arms of Jesus. This song came as I sang over these situations…and am glad to say that the Lord powerfully intervened in both situations! Use this song to bring healing to those you know who are in emotional pain. Here are the lyrics:

Rest
Words & Music: Dennis Jernigan
September 5, 2007

When everything you are
Just seems to fall apart
And you're alone in the dark;
Sorrow, like endless rain,
No longer hides the pain
And now you've drifted too far;
Come down from the ledge
Of your own broken heart.
Run here to My open arms
Where you can fall apart!

No more tears left to cry.
Wishing that you could die
And make this hurt go away!
This endless raging storm
Has left your heart so torn
You simply can't see a way!
Come down from the ledge
Of your own broken heart.
Run here to My open arms
Where you can fall apart!

I'll be your Light in dark!
I'll be right where you are!
I'll hold you close through the pain!
I'll calm the raging tide!
I'll be right by your side!
I'll shelter you from the rain!
Put your head on My shoulder!
Put your head on My shoulder
…and rest.

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. Hebrews 4:9 NASB

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8 NASB

We are spiritual beings in physical bodies that get tired and worn out and weary. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to simply rest. After all, rest is part of God’s plan for us. Let us set aside a day each week in which we allow our entire being to just rest. Use the songs from today’s teaching to help you do just that!
Dennis Jernigan

To listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast on today’s subject matter, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/overwhelm-me-and-rest/

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It's Gonna Be Alright

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.
Psalm 56:3 NASB

This is the story behind one of my favorite songs of deliverance - a song from Father’s heart to ours. It is one I enjoy singing over broken-hearted people and one I sing over my own soul as I battle with Parkinson’s. The bottom line of what I have come to know is simple. God means Parkinson’s for my good. He wastes nothing. Victory and defeat are determined by the viewpoint I speak to my own soul…and I believe God wants nothing but what is best for me and will use whatever He wants to achieve that end.
Notice the date this song was received. November 7, 2007. This date is the day in 1981 when the Lord delivered me from my sin. Because I spend this day in reflection each year, many songs tend to be born on this date. Mostly they are songs of worship, but this one comes from a different perspective: that of the Father. Because of my needs through the years to hear the Father sing songs of deliverance to me (Psalm 32:7) I have become somewhat attuned to listening for what He sings over certain situations.

You are my hiding place;
You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Psalm 32:7 NASB

Having 9 children has also helped me understand what the Father must feel towards us, His children, when we go through trying times. As the Lord would have it, the day the day I spent reflecting on God’s grace in my life this year was also a day when dear friends were facing fiery trials concerning their marriage…and a day when I was singing over one of my own children as they were going through their own fiery ordeal in their own marriage. As a Dad, I want to make everything all right…and I can’t always do that…but there is One who can make it all right.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. Romans 8:28 NASB

Because He is perfect and is utterly concerned with our best, we can rest assured that even the trials we face are going to help us draw closer to Him and heal us in some way. As I sang over these two situations, this song was born. And, by the way, both those marriages are going and growing stronger than ever before. It is one of my favorites to sing in ministry now. To hear the song, listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast at http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/its-gonna-be-alright-1596032656/

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18 NASB

This tells me our Father is a good Father. He’s the BEST Father! Our God surrounds us with songs of deliverance. He wants what is best for His children. In fact, He rejoices over us with singing! He sings for the simple fact that we exist and are His! Need I say more? Listen to the song as often as you need to this week…and allow it’s truth to soak into your soul…allow the deep, deep love of Christ for you to permeate all the wounded places of your heart and mind…just use the song to soak up and in the presence of Father God!
Dennis Jernigan

To hear the song, It’s Gonna Be Alright, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/its-gonna-be-alright-1596032656/

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2020/08/26/18/43/sadness-5520345_1280.jpg

It’s Gonna Be Alright

It’s gonna be alright, child
Even through the darkest night, child
I’ll even use the darkness
To teach you how to hear Me
It’s gonna be alright now
Even if you don’t see how
I’ll even use your failure
To help you to draw near Me

Hear Me. I am calling,
“Child, come falling deeper in love with Me.”
Trust Me, you must let go
Or you will never know any deeper love in Me

It’s gonna be alright here
If you will let Me hold your heart near
I’ll even use your sorrows
To teach You how to love Me
It’s gonna be alright, child
I’ll hold you really close and tight child
I’ll even use Your woundings
To help you know more of Me

Hear Me. I am calling,
“Child, come falling deeper in love with Me.”
Trust Me, you must let go
Or you will never know any deeper love in Me

Why do you hold on to the things of your past
Let go and cling to Me and love that will last
How can you know Me if you do not trust My love
Let go! You’ll find My love is more than enough


Words & Music: Dennis Jernigan
November 7, 2007
©2007 Shepherd’s Heart Music, Inc.

We Run This Race

Psalm 18:25-29 NASB says,
With the kind You show Yourself kind;
With the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
With the pure You show Yourself pure,
And with the crooked You show Yourself astute.
For You save an afflicted people,
But haughty eyes You abase.
For You light my lamp;
The LORD my God illumines my darkness.
For by You I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall.

My reason for sharing that passage? It has everything to do with having the endurance to run the race of life well, no matter what our circumstances.
So much of my music and ministry was born at Western Hills Church in Oklahoma City under the pastoral care of Jerry and Debbie Wells. Several months before this song, We Run This Race, was written, I had received word that Debbie was battling cancer. I had written If I Could Just Sit With You Awhile for her father-in-law, Bob Burgess, under very similar circumstances way back in 1991.
In mid April of 2007, I was able to talk with Debbie and as usual it was she who encouraged me. Debbie, a deep worshipper, and one of the most genuine and loving people I have ever known, was a reflection of Jesus whenever she worshipped the Lord. Open and demonstrative, graceful and unassuming, she was never a distraction during times of worship. She always had a way of encouraging me even while I was leading her in worship.
At a time of worship sometime during the spring of 2007, I noticed someone in the congregation, hands lifted, body swaying and commented that his person reminded me of my friend, Debbie – and it was Debbie! How I loved when she worshipped because I felt so blessed in every way. That was the last time I experienced worship with Debbie Wells on this earth.
Her mother-in-law, Joy, called with the news that Debbie was with Jesus…and she asked me if I thought she was marching around heaven with a banner or if she was dancing. I know she was dancing. Joy then told me Jerry (Debbie’s husband) had asked if I would sing at her memorial service. This song was born after Jerry called me a day later and asked me it we could do like old times again – he had a word and asked me to meditate on it. The word – running the race - Debbie was a marathon runner.
As she ran in a physical sense, she ran in a spiritual sense. She ran well and finished her race, hearing her Father say, “Well done.” I received this song on May 5, 2007 after meditating on what it means to run one’s race of life well…and I shared it at her memorial celebration. You should have felt and seen the response as I shared this song with the 1500+ worshipers. I ended the song and went right into You Are My All In All as every person stood to their feet in honor of God and in honor of a life well lived.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB

Brothers and sisters, we have not been guaranteed an easy life, but we have been guaranteed that we would never be alone for even one step of the journey…for even one step of this race we call life. Debbie understood that she was not running a sprint, but she was running a marathon…and she ran to win! Even though battling cancer, she ran with the attitude and thoughts of one who ran to win!

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but [only] one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then [do it] to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NASB

Let’s take the words of this song to heart this week. Let us remember that we may not have a choice as to our circumstances or the length of our life, but we always have a choice as to how we will respond to those circumstances. Because I am suffering with Parkinson’s, I have an entirely different perspective on life than I once did. I do not want to waste another second worrying about my physical wellbeing or one more second fretting about my circumstances. I choose to run the race to win. Period. That’s my choice! What do you choose? Let’s choose to run to win!
Dennis Jernigan

To listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this teaching, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/we-run-this-race/

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We Run This Race
WORDS & MUSIC
Dennis Jernigan
May 5, 2007

Verse One
Let us run the race.
Let us gain the prize.
Let us run with grace
To where we fix our eyes!
Let us all endure
Storm and fiery wind.
Let your gaze be sure.
Run your race to Him!

Chorus
We run this race!
We run to win!
We run this race!
We run to Him!
Our race is done
When we have run so far
That we have run
Into His arms!

Verse Two
Let us look to those
Who ran before with praise,
Running like we know
The outcome of this race!
Run, though weak, be strong.
You belong to Him.
Sing your victory song
And run this race to win!

Bridge
The legacy of every runner
Is to run this race
In such a way that others come
To know His love and grace!
So run through sorrow!
Run through trials!
Run with joy through pain!
Run with all your heart to Him
Whose life He freely gave!

Our Calling as New Creations in Christ

Matthew 18:11 in the NASB says, “…the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”

Jesus came to save that which was lost - mankind - and He has called us, as new creations, to be ambassadors for Christ and to declare salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. When the Lord set me free in 1981, my heart was on fire to do that very thing.
As a new creation in Christ, I am called to the ministry of reconciliation. Since I was reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ, I am to lead others to do the same…to use my life to call others around me to be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
As a minister of reconciliation and as a new creation in Christ, I am called to be an ambassador for Christ. What does an ambassador do? An ambassador represents the interests of those they are in service to. What are some of the interests of Jesus Christ? To seek and save those who are lost. To tell the world that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life they need. To tell the world He loves them so much He laid down His own life to make them His own! To tell the world there is a way out of sin!

In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 in the NASB, God’s Word says, 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [he is] a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all [these] things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

We are all called to the ministry of reconciliation, calling others to find reconciliation with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Luke 4:18-19 in the NASB gives us specific ways in which to be ambassadors for Christ. It says, 18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”

If you still don’t know what to do to be an ambassador for Christ, make it simple. Tell anyone who will listen what Christ has done for you!

Psalm 107:1-2 in the NASB makes it very plain. It says, 1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so,] Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary…

Let’s spread the name and love of Jesus to the world around us…one person at a time!
Dennis Jernigan

To listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast in this subject and to hear a song inspired by this material, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/jesus-1594739144/

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Hallelujah! He Reigns In Majesty!

The LORD reigns,
He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Psalm 93:1 NASB

Today’s teaching is actually the story behind one of my oldest worship songs called ‘Hallelujah! He Reigns in Majesty’. I wrote the song on May 27, 1986. You did not misread the date this song was received. It is one of the first praise choruses I received when the Lord began showing me how to lead out in worship while we were still in Oklahoma City.
If you have been around me or know of my early recordings, you will have heard this song before. Since I have never put it on one of the ‘big’ recordings, I thought it was a shame to not have this beautiful and simple little song out there blessing the Lord. In the early days, we would sing this song with all our hearts, people would dance. People would kneel. People would shout at the simple joy of exalting God.
In accordance with the simplicity of the song itself is the simplicity of what the word hallelujah means. It literally means ‘praise the Lord’ . It is not an empty, meaningless word meant to take up musical space. It is one of the most profound words in all eternity. It is being uttered in heaven around the throne of God right now!

Then I heard [something] like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” Revelation 19:6 NASB

Praising our God will never go out of style! The word hallelujah and the depths of the richness of its meaning will never grow stale or overused. The quickest way to make one’s self aware of the atmosphere of heaven is to worship God!

And all the angels were standing around the throne and [around] the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, [be] to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 7:11-12 NASB

Let’s do this in the coming days. Let’s purpose in our hearts to exalt the Lord by using the simple word ‘hallelujah’ whenever we are made aware of His presence or His goodness or His love for us. He is enthroned on the praises of His people. He is worthy of our praise. Let us use praise to help us fix our eyes on Jesus. Hallelujah!
Dennis Jernigan

To listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this teaching and to hear the song, Hallelujah! He Reigns in Majesty, just go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/hallelujah-he-reigns-in-majesty/

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Reign, King Jesus

Psalm 146:10 NKJV SAYS,
The LORD shall reign forever
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!

Over the past few months of 2007, the Lord had been leading me to remember my calling and my first love as it relates to the Kingdom of God and to the body of Christ. In my view, we sometimes separate the two – but the Lord never intended that separation. We are to seek first the Kingdom of God and we are to be a living thriving relational body within that kingdom. As we walk in a relationship of intimate worship with Him, that relationship permeates our human relationships. As we exalt Christ in all we do and lift Him up, He draws men to Himself.
For the past several years, Melinda and I had been involved with the body in a place we always thought we would be for the rest of our lives, but on January 6, 2008 it became apparent to my wife and I that the body of believers we had helped establish so many years ago was no longer the place the Lord would have us call home. The grief I felt at leaving was helped somewhat by the truth that it was indeed the Lord calling us away…but that didn’t bring a stop to the pain.
The next day, my heart was in turmoil as I wrestled with the Lord as to whether or not I was hearing/sensing Him correctly. As I learned to pray a long time ago, I began to pray again….”My Father in heaven, Holy and exalted is Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done…on earth as it is in heaven.” As I began to ask the Lord to show me what His kingdom truly looked like in my particular ‘calling away’ this song began to fill my heart.
Even when staying put where I had been for all those years would have been a good thing, I desired God’s best and asked Him to show me what His kingdom coming in this part of my life could possibly mean. All I can hear these days is to remind the body of Christ that Christ is King and is to be praised regardless of our situations. The world will see and hear and know that God is on the throne when we, the believers, act like it. My beliefs transcend my human ability to understand a God even our best theology isn’t adequate to fully explain. He‘s so much more.
My faith transcends my human need to be understood by those around me (or to even understand everything myself!) because man’s attempts at religious institutions aren’t adequate to fully explain a God who is unexplainable. My hope transcends the written Word of God in the sense that, while I love the Word of God, I do not have a relationship with a book. The Book guides me to the living, breathing, intimately indwelling Word of God – Jesus Christ! He lives in me. The King of the Universe lives in me! And if He is King, I will follow wherever He leads!
In what areas do you need to see His Kingdom come? In what areas in the life of the flock you lead do you need to see His Kingdom come? use the Word of God to remind yourself and others that there is one King and that He rules over every circumstance of life…if we will let Him.

Revelation 19:11 NKJV says, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”

Let us bow our knees to the King Who is called Faithful and True this week. Let us seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…by seeking intimacy with Him. The truth is, He reigns regardless of what our circumstances might be and in spite of how we might feel and in spite of what the world around us is doing. Jesus is King of Kings…and He reigns! Let Him reign in you today.
Dennis Jernigan

Listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast dealing with this subject matter and hear the song, Reign, King Jesus, at http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/reign-king-jesus/

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If It Means More Glory

Very often - more often than we like to admit - we hold on to the things of this world and deny the deeper places of intimacy with Jesus Christ. We hold on to possessions as if they would save us from pain. We hold on to the desire for fame or recognition and deny the very existence of God in every area our life. We hold on to what others think of us and miss the rock solid anchor of our identity in Christ.
Reality is that anything we hold on to in place of Jesus is like holding onto absolutely nothing. It is when we place everything we have and everything we think and everything we hold dear upon the altar - or upon the cross - of Christ that we find what we were always looking for. Far too often, we fear loss of the things we hold on to and miss the One Who holds onto us!

[1Peter 1:3-9 NASB] 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to [obtain] an inheritance [which is] imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, [being] more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

The song this teaching is based on - If It Means More Glory - was born for a church Melinda and I helped found and were members of for 10 years. As is often the case, God brings about change and change brings about growth…even if it means momentary pain. After 10 years, God called our founding pastor away and we were left facing the departure of our pastor and his family. It felt sorrowful and devastating…and the dreaded day was drawing ever closer when we would have to say goodbye. As I sang over our little church one day, I saw us placing our pastor and his family on the altar. I was also facing some shifts and changes in my personal life and ministry and felt God calling me, once again, to place everything upon the altar. This song was born as a cry of my heart to give God glory in all circumstances…no matter what. We sang this song as a body for the first time just a few weeks before our pastor and his family left…and we corporately laid him and his family on the altar….and he and his family laid us there as well.

What do you need to lay on the altar today?

[Phl 3:7-11 NASB] 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from [the] Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which [comes] from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Jesus Christ gave Himself on the altar for us…and all He asks is that we do the same for Him. Not always easy but always worth it. It is a wise person who takes inventory of their life and willingly places each facet of that life on the altar of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a sacrifice of praise and a sacrifice of self…a denial of self…a giving away of self to gain what is even more real and more tangible than any earthly possession…to gain ever-deepening intimacy with Christ.

[Mat 16:24 NASB] 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”

Let us do that this week…deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus. Following Jesus always leads to growth and always leaves us enveloped in the very glory of His presence.
Dennis Jernigan

To hear the podcast version of this teaching and to hear the song referred to, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/if-it-means-more-glory/

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/08/22/00/33/sky-2667455_1280.jpg

A Work of Art

I originally wrote this as a gift for my wife on her birthday in 2019, but felt it was appropriate to share with you what it means to me to have her in my life as we celebrate our 37th year of marriage today.

A Work of Art
I will never forget the first time I ever saw you. With one glimpse of your beauty my breath was taken from me and my heart nearly stopped beating…yet I knew you were far, far out of my league. I saw you and your radiance as something more captivating and exquisite than the Mona Lisa. Saw myself as a formless lump of clay that could never be worthy of even being in the same room as such an amazing work of art. You were at once a complete mystery to me yet a mystery that intrigued me enough to consider pursuing…
When you spoke, all I could hear was the most melodic and romantic symphony that could have only been created by a master musician, such was your wisdom and knowledge and charm and grace. When I spoke - or attempted to speak - all I could hear was the banjo theme of a country bumpkin attempting to sound like he had never seen even one episode of Hee Haw…yet my ignorance always gave me away.
Still, you began to let me into your heart - into your world. Most of the time I felt absolutely overwhelmed at the sheer lack of sophistication I saw in myself but stood amazed at the sheer sophistication and confidence in which you seemed so comfortable magnified a thousand times in you. It was almost too good to be true - that someone like you could even acknowledge the existence of someone like me. A work of art caring for a lump of clay. Sounds so ridiculous when I say it out loud, but that is how I viewed us.
I had absolutely no framework of reference of how to treat such a priceless treasure as you seemed to me, much less a frame of reference as to how to properly and sufficiently navigate any type of romantic relationship with you. Yet, you saw something in me that I could never see. I saw it in you in droves. Worth. You were worth more than me risking hurting you by speaking the words, “I love you”, just to gain physical touch. I saw you as a fine piece of alabaster, fragile yet strong, beautiful beyond measure…to be cared for and valued above all else. I wanted you to feel treasured and valued…yet found it difficult to communicate that to you because I possessed neither in my own life. The lump of clay.
That you would even attempt a relationship with me made me love you all the more. The closer we became, the more fear gripped my heart and mind. How could I ever possibly give you what you needed when I felt so absolutely needy myself? I felt like a ping pong ball, bouncing from ‘could it be possible to love someone like you the way you deserved’ to ‘if she sees me as I truly am, she will reject me’. By the time we were seniors in college, I knew a day of reckoning was coming.
I will never forget the look on your face when I told you I never wanted to see you again…how broken your heart seemed to be. My reason? Better to break her heart once and for all than to drag her through years of torment and insecurity and failure and pain. After all, a work of art deserved to be displayed with other works of art…and I was no work of art. In that moment I felt more like a shapeless, formless, worthless lump of clay than ever. You seemed more exquisitely beautiful to me than ever. In my heart, I felt I had done the right thing.
Funny how God uses the brokenness of our lives to bring about the most exquisite works of art. The heartache of losing you sent me into a downward spiral that ended in a miry pit of self-loathing mire…and Father met me there with love like I had always imagined possible but never thought possible for myself. By the time I hit rock bottom, this lump of formless clay had become so hard and brittle that it had finally shattered…but the Master Artist began to put me back together, piece by broken piece…until a mosaic that looked a lot like redemption began to take shape.
With a stroke of masterful genius, the Master Craftsman used a feeble prayer to lead me back to you. “If you want me to be married, Lord, speak that through my parents.” The very next week, my parents told me they always thought I would be the first of their four sons to marry, to which I flippantly responded, “Who do you think I should have married?” Without one moment’s worth of hesitation, they both said, “Melinda was the one for you.”
That moment sent me reeling with hope yet simultaneously sent me careening through my thoughts with fear! Reeling with the hope that someone like you could love someone like me…and careening through my mind at the same moment the fear of being rejected by someone like you! So I asked the Lord to speak through your parents if this was truly his will…and He did.
Your mom answered the letter I wrote her and gave me permission to pursue you. A month later we were engaged. Almost a year later we were married. The complete fulfillment and contentment and satisfaction and pleasure of knowing you in every way filled my heart with more joy and hope than I thought I could possibly ever experience in this life. I thought I knew you…but the mystery was just beginning!
God was transforming me into a work of art and He was doing the same in you. I was learning how to be a man. You were learning how to be a woman. But more importantly, He was teaching us how to be a son and a daughter first…to know our identity. It was like starting at ground zero and working our way through a grand adventure of discovery…a thrilling journey called life, chock full of twists and turns and tragedies and triumphs, an epic saga and greatest love story ever told.
Still as opposite from one another in almost every way possible, yet still both valuable works of art in the Master Craftsman’s hands, He was slowly teaching us the dance of romance…a divine and diverse set of steps and motions that we are still attempting to learn to this day.
We danced through the season of raising our nine children with many trips and falls along the way, but what was left in our wake - nine magnificent children - was worth every misstep and challenge along the way.
We now dance into the latter years where children begin to marry and begin dances of their own. We are learning the precious dance of grand parenting that we get to pretty much make up along the way. What an adventure! Such adventures are always more joyful when shared with another…and I am so grateful I get to share these adventures with you!
You are still a mystery to me. A mystery I feel even more challenged to unravel with my final days. Though we face a season where my health has become the major challenge we face - we face it together. Without you, I would not…could not last a day longer.

You are priceless to me…

You are a precious treasure to me…

You are the obsession of my heart…

You are the perfect fit for me in every way…spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically…

You are a symphony straight from God’s heart to mine that declares, “See how much I love you, son?”…

You truly are a work of art…and you helped transform this former lump of clay into something I never thought I would or ever could be…whole…

You are the wind beneath my wings…

You make life feel like an intricate dance that truly captivates my heart…

You are the muse that inspires beauty and melody and music to my soul…

You absolutely complete me…

Though the seasons of our lives change, these things I have spoken will always remain…always…

I absolutely and honestly love you…

Happy 37th Anniversary…

DJ