His Way Is The Right Way; Whether We Comprehend That Or Not

Street in front of our home after Hurricane Irma.

Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
    or showed him the path of understanding?
                                 (Isaiah 40:13-15 NIV)

Who can comprehend anything that the Lord has done. The question is often asked why God would let bad things happen to good people. Maybe, the question should be why does God allow good things to happen to bad people. In truth, none of us are good. Without the righteousness of Christ to cover us we are all sinful beings and deserve nothing. But, because he loves us enough to make sure that his righteousness will cover us we love him and strive to love and care for our neighbors as even God loves them.

Hurricane Irma has come and gone. My household has been truly blessed. We lost power for only a very short time. Most of my neighbors still do not have power. We still do not have water due to the very high water in the creek. Spectrum has not yet fixed the television or the internet so I have not been able to write any blogs for quite a few days. But, yesterday my granddaughter was over to clean my house and she mentioned that she didn't think Verizon was giving out hotspots to hurricane victims like they did when Matthew was around last fall. After she had gone, with nothing better to do, I checked if just maybe Verizon had gifted us with hotspots. They have. So I am back to it on my computer this morning. "Thank you, Verizon!"

Thank you, Lord! We cannot fathom His ways; but, we can be confident that He is quite aware of everything that goes on in the world; both the good and the bad, and He is with us working things out for the good. We may not be able to comprehend or know it. But, we trust that this is true. 

It is most difficult to keep up with everything that goes on in the world; let alone what God has in store for us. We know that God's thoughts or ways really are not our ways. His path is not our path. Our path would lead us to destruction. His will lead us to eternal life. 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

                                          (Isaiah 55:8-9)

It will continue to be difficult (impossible) for us mere mortals to understand why God would allow bad things happen to good people until we can more fully grasp the idea that we are not such good people. 

May we be the righteousness of Christ cover us. May God help us to follow in the right path; in the path that Jesus has set before us: loving him and loving and serving our neighbors in time of need.

Gods Peace - Pr. J

Abandon Your Boat And Follow

"As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed him." Matt 4:18-20

Simon Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets to follow Jesus. I wonder if those who are not fishermen attached to the waters understand how difficult it would be to leave behind their boats and nets to follow after a teacher.

Although, I was never really good at it, I grew up fishing. My family spent a lot of time on lakes and rivers and creeks. I love the water. Today, I live on a creek. I look out at the water and am reminded of all the things that Jesus has done for me. The waters remind me of the washing and cleansing we have received through the blood of Christ. The waters remind me of my baptism into his death and resurrection. I have a small boat and a kayak that sit at the dock and rarely get used. They are reminder to me that I have been called to abandon my boat and go fish for people.

Following Jesus sometimes requires that we give up a thing or two that we love and enjoy so that we and others will know the greater joy of living in His presence. Now let's go fishing... for people. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Physical And Spiritual Health And Wholeness

Back On The Water For Physical And Spiritual Well-being!

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2 NIV

The third epistle of St. John is a private letter to Gauis. He begins his letter to Gauis by wishing him not just physical health; but overall health which would include spiritual and mental health as well. These three areas of wellness are co-dependent. If one part of our being is ill; the rest will suffer as well.

I have been delaying finding a doctor since moving to Florida. Last week, after a few years, I finally had a regular physical examination. The visit helped me to decide that I probably needed to make a few changes to my lifestyle. There were a couple of things that I have been neglecting to do which I actually love to do. I have not been doing what I would want and should do.

1. The next day I went out and bought me a kayak to use here on the creek as my other kayaks were left behind when I moved.. I've been kayaking for about twenty years; but, in these past few years, the exercise and the opportunity to be silent in God's presence hasn't happened quite as often as it should. I found lots of excuses not to go out on the water. I have always been drawn to the water. In my adult life, I have never lived more than a mile or two from large bodies or water or at least have had a creek running through my backyard.

Kayaking has a few benefits; including, a bit of exercise. It affords me the opportunity to be out in God's beautiful creation without disturbances other than a few fish jumping or birds flying or floating around on the water and those are good things. It clears my mind and refreshes my soul as I am reminded of all the benefits of water that God has worked for us. My baptism into the body of Christ being about the most precious benefit for me personally. Paddling about on the water affords me not just physical; but, spiritual and mental health benefits as well. Peace of heart and mind are good things both of which are side-effects of  being alone with God on the water!

2.  The day after I purchased the new kayak, I finally took the leap and found me a new massage therapist. My former massage therapist lives about twenty-five hours away or I would still be seeing her. A few years ago, I had a torn rotator cuff. During Lent, I found myself looking at possible surgery; as the only way I could lift my left arm was by using my right hand to pick it up. There was no way I had time to have surgery during Lent - way too busy! I started seeing Clare bi-weekly and within a few months, I had full use of my arm again. I kept seeing her. She used "Biblical Oils" like frankincense and myrrh as well as any others that she felt I might need depending on my well-being at the time. The physical benefits were great as were the mental and spiritual benefits. I spent much of that time communicating with God (once she and I quit talking - she ended up being my confessor LOL) The therapy was so relaxing that on more than one occasion I fell asleep.

She was so good, that I was a little nervous about finding a new therapist. I think it probably had to do with grieving losing her company. But, it was time and Larissa my new therapist also appears to be very well qualified and will be a great asset to my health and wholeness. 

Life is not so good when we don't take care of our physical, spiritual, or mental health. The three go hand in hand. When one area of our being is not doing well; the rest will also become weak.

I pray that you all enjoy good health and well-being.

God's Peace - Pr. J

I Just Want To Go Fishing

"The Fisherman" as our granddaughter nicknamed our friend, Eddie "DJ" DeJesus.

This photo was taken the last time we saw him before the Lord called him home.

     Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
     “No,” they answered.
     He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."
                                                                                                                                         John 21:4-6

I just want to go fishing! I ordered a small Jon boat a week ago so I can go fishing or crabbing or just floating down the creek so I can take in the beauty of it all. I spent much of my youth fishing with my parents and whether I catch anything or not is besides the point. I am actually a really lousy fisherperson. I rarely catch anything. I just want to be able to float around on the water and experience the quiet: no TV's, no radios, no electronic noise at all.

Most of my time is spent fishing for people. That is what Jesus told his disciples they were going to be doing when he asked them to leave their nets and follow him. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Mark 1:17) They did exactly that. But, as we read the gospels, we will find them, from time to time, even after they began to follow Jesus, fishing for fish as well.

So, I am waiting on my small boat to get here. I'll keep on fishing for people. After all, I don't know any other way to live. But, I'd kind of like to go fishing for fish, as well.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Beside Still Waters

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:2

He leads me beside still waters and not just figuratively. I have been blessed once again to live by still waters. The photo above was taken by my granddaughter in my new backyard. My last back yard was the mouth of a river. This one is a creek. I have been told that every now and then in the winter, I might see a manatee in this creek. I don't know how true that is; but, looking forward to seeing one, again. A few decades ago, I had the privilege of swimming with them. That, I understand is no longer allowed as they are awesome creatures and must be protected.

I have been most fortunate to live most of my life with a creek or river or even a Great Lake or ocean within at least walking distance of my home. I remember catching minnows for fishing in the creek near my grandmother's home when I was very young.

The waters reassure me of God's many promises to us. They are a reminder that through the waters of baptism our sins are washed away and we are born again. They are also a great reminder that there are some things that human beings cannot control as every now and then God will stir up even the stillest of waters. But, most of all the still waters remind of the peace that can be found only in Jesus Christ. No matter what storms might come; the water reminds me of God's peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J