Rejoice For The Lord Is At Hand!

Philippians 4:4-9 KJV; Let not your heart be troubled no matter what troubles you encounter for the Lord is with you and for you.

Ask The Right Person; Ask Our Father

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

                                                                                          (Matt 7:7-11 KJV)

We do not live in vacuums. There are people around us and there is God our Father who is with us and for us. When things go terribly wrong life just seems like it is not worth it, maybe we should consider who we are depending on; who we are trusting, to walk with us through this life. Are they helping or hindering? Are we trusting someone to be there for us when they are not even there for themselves? 

Are you looking for peace in your life? There is one who can help us. That is God our Father who was willing to give us the most precious gifts of life and salvation through the sacrifice on the cross of His only begotten Son. When we are in dire need of help, ask Him. Ask our Father who loves you that much. He can and He will help you on the path to a life of peace.

Most of our earthly fathers would help us according to their abilities. That is what love is. How much more will our heavenly Father help us in our hour of need!

When in need, it would behoove us to ask the right person for help. Turn to Him and find relief; find peace; find joy in His eternal loving presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Wisdom Is Trusting The Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.
Proverbs 3:5-8 NRSV

I hear many a person confess their faith in the Lord. They say that they believe in him; they trust him and depend upon him. But, then I see and hear otherwise. We confess our faith in the Lord and then we turn around and trust in the wisdom or rather the lack of wisdom of humankind. We say that we are faithful to him; but, then our actions prove that we do not listen to the wisdom of God. We listen to the wisdom of the world; to our own demise.

May God help us to be more faithful to him and to follow our Lord in the way that he (not we) would have us go.

God's Peace - Pr. J

A Better Plan?

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt 4:4 NIV)

Today is one of those days when we really have to turn to the Lord and hear His promises! We must trust that He has a better plan and that it is a good plan.

My son was to close on a home today. It took a bit to find one that they liked and could afford. However, it does not look like that will happen. The seller has decided that she wants an additional $2500.00 to move out; $530.00 to pay what she would still owe after the closing; and seven additional days after closing to actually move out. That is an additional agreement outside of the original purchase agreement. Unfortunately, she has told so many stories that it is impossible to believe that she will actually move out after the additional days and it would take months to evict leaving my son and his family without a home themselves for four months. In fact, they have already turned in their notice to their present landlord and in about 3 weeks they will not have a home themselves unless they find something they can afford very quickly! The seller has made it clear since foreclosure is imminent on her home that she has nothing to lose if the additional terms are not agreed upon. She will lose her home either way. 

Man cannot live on bread alone; but, we cannot live without it either. But, life throws all kinds of unexpected curved balls at us and the only way we can either dodge or catch them to make the run is to trust in every word that comes from the mouth of God.

So today we are trusting that God has a good plan; an even better plan for my son and his family.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Impossible Without God

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  (Eph 3:20-21 NIV)

It is absolutely impossible for me to accomplish anything without the help of God. I must throw myself at his feet daily just to be able to do what little I am able to get done each done. 

I must confess that, unlike Paul who boasted in his weakness, I am not quite so ready to delight in my weaknesses even if I know that it in the end it will glorify God. (2 Cor 12:9-10) 

I know that in order to be fruitful that it must be Christ working within me. I cannot by own wisdom or strength accomplish that which needs to be accomplished. Yet, God often has to remind me that it is not I; but, Christ who lives in me (Gal 2:20) who does what needs to be done, glorifying our Father in heaven.

Consider how the persecuted gets through each day, each year, each decade. Around the world for as long as Christians have spread the gospel, followers of Jesus have been threatened with torture, prison, and even death. How have they continued to live trusting in the one who lived and died for them? They have continued in faith by trusting in the one who lives again for them and within them by the power of the Holy Spirit.  

And, so we pray and thank God that even though we are weak we will continue to trust that he is able to do so much more than we can ever ask or imagine according to His power within us. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Trust and Rejoice!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

There are many times in this world that we become anxious or disheartened. Depression may even get the best of us for a time. Life does not always dish out pleasantness. St. Paul reminds us today, as he did the Philippians, not to worry; but, to present our requests to the Lord. In bringing our needs before Him in prayer, we find the confidence to trust that all things are in His hands and He has a good plan for those who love Him. (Rom 8:28)

The trials that St. Paul endured were many and hard. If he could stand, trusting in and rejoicing in the Lord until the day of his execution, surely so can we. 

Think for just a moment about the problems you have encountered throughout your life. Did God not see you through them all? Was He not with you? Those problems are now nothing more than a memory. Rejoice then that any trials and tribulations you may be encountering today will also pass. Continue on in the way of the Lord. Trusting and rejoicing in Him!

God's Peace - Pr. J

A Mighty Fortress

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
                                        Psalm 62:5-8 NIV

A mighty fortress is indeed our God! When times get hard and even in good times to whom shall we go? Let us always seek the Lord, for in Him we cannot be shaken. Through Him comes comfort and hope. Our salvation and our honor depend solely on God.

Our honor, without Him, truly does not exist. For there is only one who is honorable. There is only one who is truly faithful. There is only one who was willing to carry the sins of the whole world for our sake and for the sake of our salvation. In him we shall trust. He is our rock and our salvation and on that rock we shall stand trusting in our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Pray with faith

"Whatever you ask for in faith, you will receive." Matt 21:22

Pray, pray, pray and pray some more. We must be persistent, trusting in God that He will work things out according to His will and in His time. God does indeed answer prayers. Sometimes, it takes a little longer than we would like. Sometimes, it takes a whole lot longer than we would like. But, He does answer them. The answers don't always come in the way that we would like, either. But, they do come. God is good and "we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Rom 8:28

I do love Him. God is good, all of the time!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Peace And Joy Beside Still Waters

Baby and Adult Manatee, Bulow Creek, FL

"He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul..." (Psalm 23:2b-3a NKJV)

God has once again blessed me with a home where I can sit beside still waters and know a semblance of peace. In the midst of a small village with homes all around, I can sit on the dock in the backyard and watch wildlife. That is an activity that brings me both peace and joy.

And, what joy it can bring. I spent most of last evening, until it became too dark to see, sitting on that dock watching manatee swimming about in the canal. These huge sea creatures are so gentle and trusting. As I stood at the edge of the dock one of the adults and the baby came up to me repeatedly lifting their heads out of the water to both breathe and take a look at me. They move slowly and gracefully through the water as though they do not have a care in the world.

I noticed even the young alligator who normally come out to take a look at me stayed far away from them. There is only one real predator of the manatee and that is humankind. No, they are not hunted here in the U.S.. But, our boat propellers, discarded and tangled fishing lines, and other human sources are the main cause of death outside of natural death due to aging. The large manatee that greeted me last night is quite scarred up from boat propellers. It appears she has run been run over by more than one boat. 

In spite of the fact that humankind is the only real danger to them, it does not stop them from investigating us close up. They are not afraid. They appear to live in peace. I thank God for the reminder of peace and the joy that they bring to this sometimes fretful heart.

May God help you to find still waters.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Listen

"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him." Deut 18:15 NIV

I am not always sure of what congregations expect of a Pastor in today's world. I celebrated the 20th anniversary of ministry to Lutheran congregations this year. One of my first mentors, that many years ago, informed me that included in my unwritten job description was this: "comfort the afflicted and afflict the too comfortable." Comfort the afflicting meant sometimes sharing the message of God would not be taken so kindly by everyone.

Now, prophecy in this context is not about being able to read fortunes or someone's future. Prophets of old were men (and sometimes women) who most often warned people that they needed to change their ways and live according to God's good will for them. Prophets of old did not speak to please the "itching ears." (2 Tim 4:3) They spoke to please God and in doing so to help others to be in a right relationship with God.

Afflicting the too comfortable is simply warning people when they begin to lift up their own abilities to maintain a viable congregation or their own status above trusting the Lord to grow His church. And, that is a major point. It is His church, not ours. We are members of it; but, the church and we as members of it belong to Him. Afflicting the too comfortable happens when pastors and other shepherds remind the flock or members of it that they are worshipping false gods. Sometimes, the false gods end up being the church building. Sometimes, they are our own egos, as we stand back and look and say: "See what I (or we) have done. Isn't it marvelous!" forgetting that without God we can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Sadly, too often, those who are too comfortable are too comfortable in the affliction they bring causing others to be uncomfortable. Yes, I am talking about bullying; I am talking about persecution even within the church.

Pastors are called to point out harm that is being done to others; to the Body of Christ, within faith communities, so that the church on earth might serve God and all of God's people, in unity and in peace. It is not optional for a shepherd to step aside while the sheep are being hunted down by wolves in sheep's clothing. (Matt 7:15)

May Almighty God open the ears of all His children so that we might know His good will for all people and empower us by the Spirit of Christ to follow in His Way.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Persevere

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36

Believe me, there are days when I'd like nothing better than to just throw in the towel. But, I don't. I wake up the next morning and ask God, once again, to carry me through the day and to be with, guiding and protecting, those whom I love. Life can be rough for all of us. Intentional sin can make it rough not just for ourselves; but, for everyone who loves us, for everyone around us. There are consequences to sin. There are consequences to breaking the law and they are usually not nice consequences. But; even then, if we turn back to God, He will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Reluctantly, I read the news online this morning. Again, mass murders! What in the world is wrong with humanity? I guess, I may have just answered my own question. We have a tendency to follow in the ways of the world, turning away from God.

Without the gift of being able to be in God's presence, trusting in Him, I would have no hope for the world. But, He gives me the confidence to keep on praying for the people I love, for people that I don't know, even for the whole world trusting that He has a good plan and knowing that in the end His will will be done.

Help us, Lord, to keep from throwing in the towel and to trust that your good will will be done for all whom we love.

God's Peace - Pr. J