Jesus Is The Light

Psalm 119:105: Jesus is the light that will lead you out of darkness.

His Thoughts Are Not Our Thoughts

Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV; His thoughts and ways are different than ours. We ought to seek his way. 

Lift Us Up

 

"The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places." 

(Hab 3:19 KJV)

On some days life can be pretty rough. Troubles and obstacles can bring us down. On those days we pray that the Lord will lift us up and lead us through the tough times.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Help our feet to walk in your high places. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Set Free

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 

                                                                                      (Acts 12:3-11 KJV)

Peter could hardly believe it. He thought at first that he was dreaming. But, it was no dream or vision. An angel of the Lord released him from Herod's prison.

When Peter showed up at Mary's doorstep they could hardly believe it. Believe it! God can open the chains that bind us. He can unlock the doors that keep us locked up no matter whether those doors are physical or spiritual. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)

You will be free just as Peter was to go and tell the world what the Lord has done for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

His Thoughts; His Way

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 

For 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 KJV) 

It would be easy to give up and let the world have it's way with you. But, the Word of the LORD reminds us to seek Him and His Way. God's ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. Following in the way our ego would have us go will only prove to be devastating to our lives and the world around us. 

And... it may also be a good thing to remember that no matter how bad things get, God is still in charge. He can turn the greatest tragedy into the most marvelous triumph. From the most troubled times, He will lead us out in joy and lead us forth in peace; the peace that only He can give. 

Seek the LORD and come to the One who knows the way; who is The Way. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lead The Way

"For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light."  (Col 1:9-12 NRSV) 

We pray for one another. But, what do we pray for? 

I know that I pray for a lot of people for a lot of things. Some of the things I'm asked to pray for sometimes seem a bit worldly to my senses. That does not stop me from praying for them. I include in all of my prayers that their ears, their hearts, and their minds might be opened so that they might know God's will for them. I pray that they will have a better understanding of the way in which God would have them go and that God would empower them to follow in that way.

I know of no greater gift that one could have than to be able to live the life that God intends for them; today and for all of eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

We Go By Faith

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

Lead Us Wherever You Would Have Us Go

“I will make you into a great nation,
   and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
   and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
   and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
   will be blessed through you.”
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.
                             (Genesis 12:1-3 NIV)

The Lord tells Abram "pack up your stuff and go. I am going to bless you and bless everyone else who blesses you, as well." Abram doesn't question if God will keep his promise. He doesn't not trust God to be with him. Abram hears the word of the Lord, believes him, and goes. He packs up everything and everyone and takes off into the wilderness to follow wherever God will lead him. He's not concerned where. He just goes.

I've often thought about this story when I've heard Pastor's say they can only answer a call to serve somewhere if it is near a good school; if there will be jobs available that will enhance their spouses careers; if it's not too hot; or too cold. We can find so many reasons not to go where God would have us go. I've also known Pastors who have packed up everything or sold it all and with their families went off to live and serve in mission fields in areas that many others would never even consider worth visiting. 

God told Abram to move and he did. He simply trusted God. 

If God l is calling you to reach out and go somewhere or do something; won't you listen, trust him, and follow wherever he would lead? Our Lord, Jesus did; after all, promise you a marvelous thing: that he would be with you even to the end of the age. What greater blessing can there be than that?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Christ Alone

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

                                                                                       Col 1:28-29 NIV

You're kidding right?! There's that look I have whenever anyone lifts up their own good works. Over and over and over again I remind people, through proclamation in the pulpit and out of the pulpit, that without Christ we can do nothing to glorify God. We can do nothing to save ourselves! Our striving is useless without the energy; without the power of the Spirit of Christ that works in and through us. 

Get over it! Without Christ we are nothing.  With him we can do all things through him who strengthens us. (Phil 4:13) It is Christ who lives in us who does all things. (Gal 2:20)

It is time to give it up and trust God in Christ Jesus to lead you and be the strength that is required to follow wherever he will lead you; as the Good News is proclaimed through you. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Wisdom and Knowledge

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Rom 11:33 NIV)

Knowledge and wisdom are certainly worthy riches. It would be so nice to be able to have both without having to gain them the hard way. Unfortunately, as humans, we don't like to learn too much from the mistakes of others. We have to gain wisdom and knowledge with a lot of study, with a lot of work; and, with a lot of very hard lessons.

We really cannot have all the wisdom and knowledge of God. We cannot know everything. We are not God. But, He is willing to advise and lead and show us the way that He would have us go if we would only ask and listen to Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

The Sixth Petition.

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?--Answer.
God, indeed, tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and gain the victory.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 

Every day we face temptations. To some of these we succumb. To others we do not. Often we fail to even recognize that we are being tempted to do or say or think something that we ought not. The world around us tells us that what is wrong is right and what is right is wrong. It can be very confusing.



It can be especially confusing for young people who grow up with just a little knowledge of God; but, with way more knowledge of the progressive and materialistic world that we live in. They have been taught (by adults and the world around them) to follow in the ways that they think will provide them with happiness in the moment and not to consider too much the long term consequences of their choices. 

 

God's way is not our way. His way is not the way of the world. We have to be careful that what we say and do is not because this is the way of the world; but, that this is the way in which God would have us go. I know how very difficult it is to discern what is right and what is wrong in many circumstances and so we pray that God would guard and keep us from temptation and when we are tempted that He would help us to be able to stand and say no to them.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Experience Peaceful Waters

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." Psalm 23:2

Some of us really enjoy green pastures and still waters. It is a place where we can experience God's presence and His peace more fully. Others do not do not appreciate it so much. Others prefer the chaos so often found in the world.

Like a descended, the things of this world often attempt to descend upon the glory of God's Kingdom so that we cannot see or experience clearly the gift of peace that comes with following Jesus. But, God is always there for us; to lead us out of the fog and into His glorious light.

May God grant that the fog be lifted for all who would believe that we might live in His peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Let Go And Let The Shepherd Lead!

The Lord is my shepherd;I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1

What don't we get about this? The Lord is our shepherd. The Lord watches over us. Why do we trust in men to watch over us and protect us when we have a God who has promised to do that and is so much more capable than humankind? Why do we put our faith in ourselves to watch our own backs when the Good Shepherd has our backs?

I can't watch my back. But, God can. And, He does. I can accomplish nothing without Him. The Lord who is my Shepherd watches over me and over you. He does all things for the good of those who love Him. (Rom 8:28)

Just give up the ego, already! Let go of the garbage you've been packing and let God carry your burden! Trust Him to lead you on right paths because He can and He will.

Rejoice! The Lord is our Shepherd!

God's Peace - Pr. J