Hungry Souls

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.

He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

                                                                                                (Lam 3:22-33 KJV)

The very sad thing is that humankind should find themselves in just despair that they sit alone. But, that is a reality. Humankind tends to think only of themselves without considering how they affect the people around them and so the whole world suffers.

There is one place we can go when our souls hunger. That place is to our Father in heaven. In Him we have hope through our Lord Jesus the Christ. Seek His presence. In Him you will find peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Time To Live In Love

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 KJV

Each new day brings us something different. There is a time for everything. Some of us may think that we're stuck in a rut. If we are it may just be because we have not opened our eyes to see the opportunities nor the challenges that each day presents to us. We have not asked God to empower us with the Holy Spirit to help us to overcome those challenges.

None of the milestones or challenges or knowledge or even wisdom is new to the world. What we know and experience today has been experienced by others before. The world around us might feel like it's falling apart. But, others have survived. They have gotten through the rough times and have experienced some of the most precious gifts that God has given us.

Consider well if today is to be the time for love; for peace; for healing, for  embracing; for laughing and dancing. Is it the time to plant and to not only keep but use the time God has given us to do good and to not harm? 

Not sure about you; but, in this time of self-fulfillment and personal agendas, I am ready to see some reconciliation in this world. It is about time. May God help us to love even as He loves and to live in peace with one another.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

A Time To Embrace

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 KJV

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

As a young person, I often suffered from periods of deep depression. It was in those times that I often turned to the author of Ecclesiastes to commiserate with. "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity." (Eccl 1:2) I could not have agreed with him more that everything was vanity and probably a really big waste of time; even life. Somehow the reality of everything being vanity got me through to a point where I realized that whatever I do amounts to not much more than survival. In order to really live, I had to trust in God and to live my life in Christ. 

We can never really figure out God's whole plan for us. We might think we know it and then whoosh... something happens and the plan changes just like that! What we thought was His plan for us is not. 

Today, I will lead the service at the funeral of a friend. He leaves behind a teen-age son. His wife, the son's mother, died years ago. It is a very sad time. It is a time to weep. As I consider the words of the preacher, I know that with the bad times; times of sadness; times of depression; God will also provide times of relief; but, in His time. God provides times of peace; times of love, times to build up; and times of embracing. 

Today is a time to weep; but, it is at the same time a time to love and a time to embrace one another. 

Whatever sorrow you may be enduring today remember the love of God in Christ Jesus for you and allow him to love you through others. And, don't forget to love others as Jesus loves you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

In Sheer Silence

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

                                                                             (1 Kings 19:11-13 KJV)

What indeed was Elijah doing at Mount Horeb? Was he merely running from Jezebel? Was he frustrated, confused or tired and needed to leave behind his call as a prophet for awhile? After all, all that he had done didn't seem to have any kind of lasting effect on the people. Or, was he simply in need of direction; maybe just a single word, from the Lord? 

We all need direction. We all need to hear from the Lord. We may know that we need it and even want it. But, take a lesson from Elijah. You're not likely to hear His voice in chaos. It may be there; but, you're probably not going to hear it in the deafening roar of noise. You will be too distracted to listen. You are more likely to hear it as a whisper when you take the time to be still and listen for it. Be still, slow down, and listen for it.

You are more likely to hear it as you worship in the sanctuary when the only thing that you hear is the reading of the word or the preaching of the sermon when no one or nothing else is making a racket. You are more likely to hear it as you are quietly contemplating your morning devotions. 

Shut off the television. Shut off the music. Look away from your social media for a bit. Meditate on the word and listen so that you might hear the slightest whisper of the Lord. In the midst of sheer silence you just might hear the words you need to give you the direction that you desire that will remove your frustration and confusion. It is the word of God that will refresh your soul and bring joy once again to your heart and mind.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Listen In Sheer Silence

He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
                                                                            (1 Kings 19:11-13 NRSV)

Alone in the wilderness, the prophets of the old testament spent much time. Elijah was very much afraid because he was being hunted down by that woman Jezebel because he had killed her prophets of Baal. Elijah ran for his life. 

He had no clue what he should do. He needed instruction. He needed to know the Lord's will. An angel of the Lord instructed him to go and stand on the mountain where the Lord would pass by him. When angels speak, that usually catches our attention, so Elijah did as he was instructed. He went to this isolated spot on the mountain and waited. He did not hear the Lord in the wind. He did not hear the voice of the Lord in the earthquake. He did not hear it in the fire. But, when there was nothing; not another sound, Elijah heard the voice of God!  God spoke to Elijah giving him direction as to what he was to do next. He was to anoint Jehu as king over Israel and Elisha as prophet in his place.

How often do we wonder what exactly God's will is for me? How often do we wonder what it is that God would have me do? Where would he have me go? What would he have me say? If these questions often plague you, find a quiet place, a place with sheer silence and listen for the voice of God speaking to your heart and mind and soul.

The prophets of old found quiet isolated places to communicate with God. Jesus found quiet places to speak with and listen to our Father in heaven. It is most difficult to hear the voice of God when the noise around you is so loud that you cannot hear the whisper of God's voice. 

As children sometimes think that their parents are hollering at them when they are not yelling; but, are simply giving the same direction to them for the hundredth time; I admit that I, too, have ignored the voice and direction of God and when I finally accepted that it was God's will; it has felt like God has been hollering at me, as well. 

God still speaks to his people. Find an isolated place; shut off the noise, and listen. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Your Silence Denies Christ

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NRSV)

There are those who profess to be Christian; yet, when someone tells them that everyone goes to heaven, they do not tell them the truth. They do not want to hurt the feelings of the person that thinks no matter what you believe you will live eternally in paradise. According to Jesus, that is not happening. If you love them; if you love Jesus, you must tell them the truth. If they refuse to hear, then that is on them. But; if you refuse to speak, your silence will affirm what they falsely believe and that is on you. Your silence will, in effect, deny the truth. Your silence denies Christ.

Jesus is the only way. He is the truth and the truth is all who believe in him is reconciled to the Father eternally in the Kingdom that Jesus prepared for you. 

That Kingdom is indeed available to all people. So please let them know that Jesus is the only way to our Father's Kingdom. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

God Speaks To Us

"This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’" (Jer 33:2-3 NIV)

Prayer is not just about talking to God. It is also about listening to him. He promises to speak to us; but, we will not hear unless we take the time to listen. His voice comes to us in many ways: in the reading or the hearing of scripture; through the sermons or teachings that we hear while at Worship or Bible Study; through our neighbors as we spend time with them; and in so many other ways. Yes, we can even hear his whisper in our inmost being if we take the time to be quiet and listen. It is most difficult to hear God with the television or radio blaring. Elijah could not hear God in the chaotic winds or earthquake or fire. He heard God's gentle whisper in the sheer silence. (1 Kings 19:11-18)

But, not everyone wants to hear God speak to them. He may tell us something that we do not want to hear. He may ask us to go where we would not choose to go for ourselves; to do something for others that we'd rather not spend our time or talents on. He might even suggest very strongly that we repent; that we turn our lives around and follow His Son. That would require a sacrifice that we do not want to make. So, we turn on the radio, the television, and whatever other noise we can find to lessen the chance that when God speaks we might hear.

God still speaks to His children. Listen to Him!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Listen To God In Silence

God Speaks To Elijah In The Sheer Silence; 1 Kings 19:11-18

Elijah had gone up on the mountain in anticipation of being in the presence of God. There was a strong wind; but, Elijah heard nothing from God. There was an earthquake; but, God was not there. And... then in the sheer silence, Elijah heard the voice of God. Elijah talked to God and God spoke to him, giving him instruction. Think about it for a minute... When we are in a crowded room, with lots of people talking or sitting at home with the television blaring, how hard is it to hear someone speaking to us? Turn off the TV, the music, all of the noise and just listen. Unless, that is, of course, maybe you don't really want to hear what God has to say to you.

My new home (an RV) is not real quiet as there are three of us living in it. So, I came a little early to the church building to spend some quiet time praying. I did not come early enough as I was not quite finished talking with God before everyone started showing up for various reasons. That actually is a good thing. I would love to see the church filled with people every day! I will just have to come a little earlier from now on so that I can kneel in sheer silence and listen for the whisper of God.

May God give each of us many moments of quiet throughout the day so that we might find rest in the presence of God and just maybe hear His voice comforting and guiding us all.

God's Peace - Pr. J