It’s On My Heart...December 2009
(The following article was written 5 years ago. Although I strive to provide fresh content each month, I thought the article was appropriate for us again this Christmas.)
The very first Christmas present was the baby Jesus, an expression of God’s love and grace for mankind. As a baby, Jesus would have 10 very tiny toes and 10 very tiny fingers. I’m sure his mother and father counted them many times over. Baby hands are beautiful, delicate, dimpled and soft. When babies grow up, their hands do too. For Jesus, his hands became the hands of a carpenter. Rough, calloused, scarred, and skilled. It was his hands that fashioned together wood projects. It was his hands that later touched people to make them well, held high to calm the raging sea, clapped together when happy, made dirty as he made mud to put onto the blind man’s eyes, washed clean as he washed his disciples feet, and blood splattered when punctured by the Roman nail that held him to the cross. His hands were the hands of God. It was these hands Jesus held out to Thomas and said, “See my hands...” Thomas saw the nail pierced hands. Jesus said, “See my side...” Thomas saw Jesus’ sword pierced side. It was Jesus standing in their midst. And he was alive.
The story of Jesus’ hands reminds us of our own story. We all begin with tiny, dimpled and soft hands that over time grow and become skillful at our hobbies and jobs. How will we use our hands? Will God be glorified by what we do? Our hands become symbolic of what we do for our Lord. While Jesus was on the cross he cried out, “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” When life comes to an end for us, we too can commit ourselves into the hands of our Lord. His hands are loving hands that embrace each one of us, that sustains us in the tough times, and lifts us up in the good times. And it is His hands that will carry us to the heavenly shores and keep us for all of eternity.
At Christmas time, we celebrate the birth of Jesus who had tiny hands. Hands that would grow and reach out and minister through the years, reaching even to us today. As we celebrate Christmas, remember the tiny hands of baby Jesus that later were nailed to the cross for your sins. And don’t forget to thank the Lord for His love and grace which He poured out so freely to us in His Son.
Have a Merry Christmas,
Pastor Pete
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The Dance of Joy
It's On My Heart...November 2009
Thanksgiving is finally upon us when we will gather with family and friends to thank the Lord for His blessings. As a nation we set aside one day to give thanks. But did you know that God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude everyday? 1 Thessalonians 5.18 says, "give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
One of my favorite Scriptures is Psalm 100. It's title is "For giving thanks." If you ever wondered why or how you could possibly give thanks in all circumstances, day in and day out, Psalm 100 gives us the answer. This psalm gives us two reasons why we should have an attitude of gratitude. First, the Lord is God (verse 3). We don't worship just anyone or anything. Our Lord is God. He is the Creator who made all things including us. We live in a world where it seems that most people don't know God or simply ignore Him. We're not here by accident but by His design. We're not an accident of mutation but designed uniquely and for a purpose. God takes special delight and joy in His creation, especially those who belong to Him. God promises those who love Him, that He will use all things for our greater good. He can do that because He is God.
Secondly, the Psalmist says the Lord is good (verse 5). God could have been a malicious tyrant full of evil. Someone who garnished joy in our suffering. Instead, we are reminded that God is a God that epitomizes all that is good and right. He acts with mercy and kindness towards all that He made. He cares for us. Forgives us. Loves us. In addition, He is faithful in His goodness towards us. When we encounter difficulties of life, know that it does not originate with God, but God can use it to refine us and achieve His higher purpose and calling in us.
The Psalmist, upon remembering that the Lord is God and that He is good, began to shout with joy. When my kids were little we would play board games. When one of them won, I would pick them up and do a dance of joy. They won the game. It was something to rejoice about. It became something that they looked forward to. Perhaps we need to do a dance of joy. In a pickle and don't know what to do? Your heavenly Father does. Look to Him for He is God and He is good. Do the dance of joy. Everything seemingly going the wrong way? Maybe its time for a dance of joy. Feeling not too victorious? Well Jesus has already won the victory. So do the dance for joy for His win. You'll be amazed at how quickly life and our attitudes change when we express joy to our Lord. Worn out? Can't dance? Ask your heavenly Father to pick you up and do the dance of joy. For our Father is God and He is good. And He loves you so.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Pete
Thanksgiving is finally upon us when we will gather with family and friends to thank the Lord for His blessings. As a nation we set aside one day to give thanks. But did you know that God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude everyday? 1 Thessalonians 5.18 says, "give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
One of my favorite Scriptures is Psalm 100. It's title is "For giving thanks." If you ever wondered why or how you could possibly give thanks in all circumstances, day in and day out, Psalm 100 gives us the answer. This psalm gives us two reasons why we should have an attitude of gratitude. First, the Lord is God (verse 3). We don't worship just anyone or anything. Our Lord is God. He is the Creator who made all things including us. We live in a world where it seems that most people don't know God or simply ignore Him. We're not here by accident but by His design. We're not an accident of mutation but designed uniquely and for a purpose. God takes special delight and joy in His creation, especially those who belong to Him. God promises those who love Him, that He will use all things for our greater good. He can do that because He is God.
Secondly, the Psalmist says the Lord is good (verse 5). God could have been a malicious tyrant full of evil. Someone who garnished joy in our suffering. Instead, we are reminded that God is a God that epitomizes all that is good and right. He acts with mercy and kindness towards all that He made. He cares for us. Forgives us. Loves us. In addition, He is faithful in His goodness towards us. When we encounter difficulties of life, know that it does not originate with God, but God can use it to refine us and achieve His higher purpose and calling in us.
The Psalmist, upon remembering that the Lord is God and that He is good, began to shout with joy. When my kids were little we would play board games. When one of them won, I would pick them up and do a dance of joy. They won the game. It was something to rejoice about. It became something that they looked forward to. Perhaps we need to do a dance of joy. In a pickle and don't know what to do? Your heavenly Father does. Look to Him for He is God and He is good. Do the dance of joy. Everything seemingly going the wrong way? Maybe its time for a dance of joy. Feeling not too victorious? Well Jesus has already won the victory. So do the dance for joy for His win. You'll be amazed at how quickly life and our attitudes change when we express joy to our Lord. Worn out? Can't dance? Ask your heavenly Father to pick you up and do the dance of joy. For our Father is God and He is good. And He loves you so.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
What a Great God We Serve
2 Peter 1.3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises…”
For the Christian, these words of St. Peter reassure and comfort us. God has given us all that we need. That is a huge promise. I have to admit that there are times when I am tempted to doubt this. Even in the darkest of times, God’s promises stand out as something we can hold onto because these promises flow from the very heart of God. When earthly things are taken away, what is left? If our hearts are set on earthly things, then we’ll think we have lost everything. But when earthly things are taken away, what remains are the things that will last. I’m not talking about things etched in stone or concrete, but the things that we really cannot place a price tag on. The permanent things of our lives are spiritual, not physical. The Bible warns that all that we see will one day burn up and disappear. So what is left? Our very lives and our relationship with God. If all we have is our lives and do not have a relationship with God, then we would be in a world of trouble. But if we recognize our need for God and trust Him, then we will become a part of something God is doing and that will never end.
The current economy along with every heartache is a reminder for us to not put our trust in money, or the economy, or even in people. We are to put our trust in God. But why God? Because He alone does not change. He alone is the One Constant in the universe. The eternal God has given us all that we need. He has given His word on it. We can bank on it.
So when you are tempted to give up, what are you allowing yourself to focus on? I’d gamble to say that you have separated your problems away from your thoughts of God. God’s promises should encourage us to remain resolute and strong. To not give up or given in. The Lord, speaking through the prophet Isaiah (50.7) said, “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” The Apostle Paul summarized this thought well when he asked in Romans 8.31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
When I attended Bible college, 2 events reminded me of this. First, when I was barely making it financially while paying for college, a letter arrived for me. In it was a money order for $150 with Philippians 4.19 written on the signature line. (Phil 4.19 says, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.) I still praise God for this gift even though it happened over 25 years ago. The second event was during the my senior year. One night my truck was broken into. The shattered side window revealed that the stereo and tool box were missing. The next day the battery was stolen. I had just purchased a new battery, so this was quite frustrating. While these things were discouraging, yet God was working in a way to encourage me. What I didn’t know was that my fellow students at the school took a collection and placed an envelope on my bed. Their love and generosity replaced my battery and window. Their actions reminded me that God indeed cared for me and also ingrained within my mind that when God provides and blesses, He often will use people. So when I’m down, someone else may be “up.” And if we are open to how God may lead us, we may be either the giver or the receiver. One gives to encourage so that God may be glorified and the other receives, praising God for His mercy and grace.
So, if you are in a time of need, look to God and wait on Him. If you are experiencing a time of blessing, look for how you might share that blessing with someone who needs a reminder that it is a great God that we serve.
Because of who God is and how he helps us, we can keep going. With God’s help we can stand strong. For God has given us His promise to give us all we need. Not the things that we think we need, but the things He thinks we need. So in the days ahead friends, let’s keep our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith, the Lord Jesus. Let’s rely upon His power and provision to see us through. And when better days come, let’s not leave the Lord behind us, but may we walk with Him all the days of our lives, and then enjoy Him forever.
For the Christian, these words of St. Peter reassure and comfort us. God has given us all that we need. That is a huge promise. I have to admit that there are times when I am tempted to doubt this. Even in the darkest of times, God’s promises stand out as something we can hold onto because these promises flow from the very heart of God. When earthly things are taken away, what is left? If our hearts are set on earthly things, then we’ll think we have lost everything. But when earthly things are taken away, what remains are the things that will last. I’m not talking about things etched in stone or concrete, but the things that we really cannot place a price tag on. The permanent things of our lives are spiritual, not physical. The Bible warns that all that we see will one day burn up and disappear. So what is left? Our very lives and our relationship with God. If all we have is our lives and do not have a relationship with God, then we would be in a world of trouble. But if we recognize our need for God and trust Him, then we will become a part of something God is doing and that will never end.
The current economy along with every heartache is a reminder for us to not put our trust in money, or the economy, or even in people. We are to put our trust in God. But why God? Because He alone does not change. He alone is the One Constant in the universe. The eternal God has given us all that we need. He has given His word on it. We can bank on it.
So when you are tempted to give up, what are you allowing yourself to focus on? I’d gamble to say that you have separated your problems away from your thoughts of God. God’s promises should encourage us to remain resolute and strong. To not give up or given in. The Lord, speaking through the prophet Isaiah (50.7) said, “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” The Apostle Paul summarized this thought well when he asked in Romans 8.31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
When I attended Bible college, 2 events reminded me of this. First, when I was barely making it financially while paying for college, a letter arrived for me. In it was a money order for $150 with Philippians 4.19 written on the signature line. (Phil 4.19 says, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.) I still praise God for this gift even though it happened over 25 years ago. The second event was during the my senior year. One night my truck was broken into. The shattered side window revealed that the stereo and tool box were missing. The next day the battery was stolen. I had just purchased a new battery, so this was quite frustrating. While these things were discouraging, yet God was working in a way to encourage me. What I didn’t know was that my fellow students at the school took a collection and placed an envelope on my bed. Their love and generosity replaced my battery and window. Their actions reminded me that God indeed cared for me and also ingrained within my mind that when God provides and blesses, He often will use people. So when I’m down, someone else may be “up.” And if we are open to how God may lead us, we may be either the giver or the receiver. One gives to encourage so that God may be glorified and the other receives, praising God for His mercy and grace.
So, if you are in a time of need, look to God and wait on Him. If you are experiencing a time of blessing, look for how you might share that blessing with someone who needs a reminder that it is a great God that we serve.
Because of who God is and how he helps us, we can keep going. With God’s help we can stand strong. For God has given us His promise to give us all we need. Not the things that we think we need, but the things He thinks we need. So in the days ahead friends, let’s keep our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith, the Lord Jesus. Let’s rely upon His power and provision to see us through. And when better days come, let’s not leave the Lord behind us, but may we walk with Him all the days of our lives, and then enjoy Him forever.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
A Simple Prayer
It’s a rather simple prayer found in Psalm 118.25, “O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success.” There has never been a time when we could do without God’s saving touch and blessing. I know there are times when we don’t think we need God and certainly times when we live as if God doesn’t exist, but the truth remains, we need God.
Though we act independently, yet there are times when we get ourselves into a pickle or two, and really need God’s help to get out of it. The recession we’re in has taken a toll on all of us. Some of the decisions we made a short while ago are now haunting us. It could be the debt we’ve added on or the mortgage that is now upside down with our house values. We thought prosperity was great, but the recession reminds us that nothing lasts forever, except the Lord. Our money can’t save us. Nor can our possessions or any other material thing we hold onto. What will get us through this life is God’s saving touch. We need to lean on Him, not away from Him. The temporary things of this world often mask the real need of our hearts. But with these things being removed one by one, they reveal the truth that God is all we need.
Our world is rapidly changing, and while mankind’s need for God hasn’t changed, we now live in a world which does not want to hear about it from us. I see this in the recent debate over prop 8. Not that everyone who voted for prop 8 were Christians, but a lot were. Actor Tom Hanks called those who voted against gay marriage as “un-American.” I think it was the most American thing we did. We are a democracy. The issue has been debated twice and voted on twice. But our world is subtly moving towards quieting those who dissent with the way of the world. Though biblical values are viewed as hate speech by some, we still have a message to proclaim. It is a message of hope and love because God still is in the business of saving and blessing.
If we are to experience God’s blessing, we must live life God’s way. Too often we want God’s best yet are unwilling to do what God says. That will need to change, first with us who believe in God. If we’re unwilling to do it right, then why should the world listen to us or more importantly to God? So a simple prayer becomes a challenge. Lord save me- completely. Not just a guarantee of eternal life, but transform our hearts and minds too. Lord bless me-in measure to my obedience. That we may see God in our own lives and that others may see God at work within us. May our prayers and lives rhythm that God may be praised.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Though we act independently, yet there are times when we get ourselves into a pickle or two, and really need God’s help to get out of it. The recession we’re in has taken a toll on all of us. Some of the decisions we made a short while ago are now haunting us. It could be the debt we’ve added on or the mortgage that is now upside down with our house values. We thought prosperity was great, but the recession reminds us that nothing lasts forever, except the Lord. Our money can’t save us. Nor can our possessions or any other material thing we hold onto. What will get us through this life is God’s saving touch. We need to lean on Him, not away from Him. The temporary things of this world often mask the real need of our hearts. But with these things being removed one by one, they reveal the truth that God is all we need.
Our world is rapidly changing, and while mankind’s need for God hasn’t changed, we now live in a world which does not want to hear about it from us. I see this in the recent debate over prop 8. Not that everyone who voted for prop 8 were Christians, but a lot were. Actor Tom Hanks called those who voted against gay marriage as “un-American.” I think it was the most American thing we did. We are a democracy. The issue has been debated twice and voted on twice. But our world is subtly moving towards quieting those who dissent with the way of the world. Though biblical values are viewed as hate speech by some, we still have a message to proclaim. It is a message of hope and love because God still is in the business of saving and blessing.
If we are to experience God’s blessing, we must live life God’s way. Too often we want God’s best yet are unwilling to do what God says. That will need to change, first with us who believe in God. If we’re unwilling to do it right, then why should the world listen to us or more importantly to God? So a simple prayer becomes a challenge. Lord save me- completely. Not just a guarantee of eternal life, but transform our hearts and minds too. Lord bless me-in measure to my obedience. That we may see God in our own lives and that others may see God at work within us. May our prayers and lives rhythm that God may be praised.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Thursday, July 30, 2009
August 2009
Transitions remind us that nothing remains the same. Everything is constantly changing, including you and me. Transition means change. When we first came to Christ, there was a transition that took place. We were sinners in need of a Savior. Then we met Christ, and now we are sinners saved by grace. An artist uses oil paints to depict her picture. It begins with an empty canvas and then is transformed as her imagination is transferred to the canvas. The more she paints, the more vivid her picture. God is painting our lives. Some of us have only a few brush strokes, others are near masterpiece quality. But it is God who is the artist. He is the One giving us life and color, bringing out the uniqueness and vividness of each one of us with great detail. The Apostle Paul put it this way in 2 Corinthians 3.18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord…” We are in the process of transformation. From a worldly likeness to that of Christ. A transition from being self-centered and self-pleasing to Christ-centered and Christ-pleasing.
Like John the Baptist, God must increase, we must decrease. We are a people in transition.
Life is very real. It’s like we are living our own “reality tv show.“ It is full of joys as well as sorrows. The path we find ourselves often does not match our dreams or expectations. As we face the hardships of life, our world shouts out, “give up on God” or “why bother?” But because of God’s great love, we can still have hope for the future. God uses the tough times to mature us and enhance us for His use. When we go through the tough times, we cry and want to give up. But it is God who embraces us and is tender towards us, and as we heal, we become aware of those around us who have the same hurts, and God uses us to administer His grace to the hurting. Our hurt increased our sensitivity so that we might express tender love and mercy to those who hurt as we did. That is a transition of sorts as well.
The Bible also speaks of a transition that will happen in the twinkling of an eye, when the trumpet shall sound and we shall be with the Lord in the air. Whenever I see clouds up in the sky, I wonder if today could be the day that I stand in the clouds with my Savior, the Lord Jesus. This transition leaves behind the temporary and lays hold of the eternal. This is the hope of every follower of Christ since the disciples stood still, looking up at Jesus as He ascended to heaven. The angels present that day said that Jesus would return in the same way. So we look up and wonder when this wonderful day of transition will be.
Our lives take us from birth to death. Our life with God begins the moment we put our trust in Him and will never end. Transitions may come and go, yet it is God who remains the same. He is the One Constant in an ever changing universe. When all around us everything gives way, yet He is the Rock, the Corner Stone, the Foundation of our Faith. God will not change and His Word will not change. So God invites us to trust Him as we go through the ebb and flow of life. With Christ we do have strength for today and hope for the future. So don’t let any transition, whether good or bad, take that away from you, for you belong to God.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Like John the Baptist, God must increase, we must decrease. We are a people in transition.
Life is very real. It’s like we are living our own “reality tv show.“ It is full of joys as well as sorrows. The path we find ourselves often does not match our dreams or expectations. As we face the hardships of life, our world shouts out, “give up on God” or “why bother?” But because of God’s great love, we can still have hope for the future. God uses the tough times to mature us and enhance us for His use. When we go through the tough times, we cry and want to give up. But it is God who embraces us and is tender towards us, and as we heal, we become aware of those around us who have the same hurts, and God uses us to administer His grace to the hurting. Our hurt increased our sensitivity so that we might express tender love and mercy to those who hurt as we did. That is a transition of sorts as well.
The Bible also speaks of a transition that will happen in the twinkling of an eye, when the trumpet shall sound and we shall be with the Lord in the air. Whenever I see clouds up in the sky, I wonder if today could be the day that I stand in the clouds with my Savior, the Lord Jesus. This transition leaves behind the temporary and lays hold of the eternal. This is the hope of every follower of Christ since the disciples stood still, looking up at Jesus as He ascended to heaven. The angels present that day said that Jesus would return in the same way. So we look up and wonder when this wonderful day of transition will be.
Our lives take us from birth to death. Our life with God begins the moment we put our trust in Him and will never end. Transitions may come and go, yet it is God who remains the same. He is the One Constant in an ever changing universe. When all around us everything gives way, yet He is the Rock, the Corner Stone, the Foundation of our Faith. God will not change and His Word will not change. So God invites us to trust Him as we go through the ebb and flow of life. With Christ we do have strength for today and hope for the future. So don’t let any transition, whether good or bad, take that away from you, for you belong to God.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Thursday, July 9, 2009
July 2009
Jeremiah 17.14 says, “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”
We often will pray for others to be healed or to be saved and forget that we too are in the need of God’s healing touch and deliverance. The word “heal” is translated from the Hebrew word “rapha” which comes from a word meaning “to mend.” It has the idea of making healthy and whole. Something is broken and needs to be repaired and mended. The word “saved” comes from the Hebrew word “yasha” which has the idea of deliverance, especially in battle. The word is often used in the context of saving us from moral troubles. When we put the two words together, we come to the realization that all of us are in the need for God’s healing and deliverance. Like the old spiritual, “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer…”
Our lives are a lot like onions- we have many layers and we make those closest to us cry. When we peel back one layer, we discover another. We have surface deep hurts that are easier to mend than the ones that are found layers deep, often masked so well that its hard for us to identify what they are. But they are there just the same. Perhaps that is what the Psalmist was thinking when he wrote, “search me O God and know my heart” (Psalm 139.23). We have physical hurts as well as spiritual hurts. God uses doctors and medicine to heal our physical pains, but when it comes to our spiritual and deeper life issues, there is only One to whom we can find relief- Jesus. The prophet Isaiah (53) predicted that it was by his stripes that we are healed. It is only as we turn to the Lord that we discover a wholeness that we never thought possible. Perhaps that is why healing and deliverance are connected in thought in Jeremiah’s message.
There are some things that are so overpowering that we can not set ourselves free. We need a helping hand. Like a bear caught in a trap, we find it impossible to free ourselves. Every twist and turn only deepens the claws on our legs. Every noise only frightens us further. Life has many traps that we easily get into and rarely get out of without help. There is one trap that we can never free ourselves from outside of Divine help. I’m talking about the trap of sin. Once it takes hold, it holds on until death overtakes us. The good news is that through Jesus Christ, God has released the trap of sin and has given us the possibility of life lived in victory Jesus accomplished on the cross. I’m talking about true deliverance. And there’s only One who can truly deliver- God.
As we make our way through the lazy days of summer, enjoying sunshine, picnics and swimming, may we never forget that we are in need of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we find every spiritual blessing God has poured out for us to enjoy, and without whom we can never know what true wholeness and victory are all about. If you feel broken, turn to Jesus and He will make you whole. If you feel defeated, turn to Jesus and do what He says, and you will live in the victory that is ours through our Lord. If you need the ultimate refreshment, you won’t find it at a drive through window, but you will in Jesus.
Have a great summer.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
We often will pray for others to be healed or to be saved and forget that we too are in the need of God’s healing touch and deliverance. The word “heal” is translated from the Hebrew word “rapha” which comes from a word meaning “to mend.” It has the idea of making healthy and whole. Something is broken and needs to be repaired and mended. The word “saved” comes from the Hebrew word “yasha” which has the idea of deliverance, especially in battle. The word is often used in the context of saving us from moral troubles. When we put the two words together, we come to the realization that all of us are in the need for God’s healing and deliverance. Like the old spiritual, “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer…”
Our lives are a lot like onions- we have many layers and we make those closest to us cry. When we peel back one layer, we discover another. We have surface deep hurts that are easier to mend than the ones that are found layers deep, often masked so well that its hard for us to identify what they are. But they are there just the same. Perhaps that is what the Psalmist was thinking when he wrote, “search me O God and know my heart” (Psalm 139.23). We have physical hurts as well as spiritual hurts. God uses doctors and medicine to heal our physical pains, but when it comes to our spiritual and deeper life issues, there is only One to whom we can find relief- Jesus. The prophet Isaiah (53) predicted that it was by his stripes that we are healed. It is only as we turn to the Lord that we discover a wholeness that we never thought possible. Perhaps that is why healing and deliverance are connected in thought in Jeremiah’s message.
There are some things that are so overpowering that we can not set ourselves free. We need a helping hand. Like a bear caught in a trap, we find it impossible to free ourselves. Every twist and turn only deepens the claws on our legs. Every noise only frightens us further. Life has many traps that we easily get into and rarely get out of without help. There is one trap that we can never free ourselves from outside of Divine help. I’m talking about the trap of sin. Once it takes hold, it holds on until death overtakes us. The good news is that through Jesus Christ, God has released the trap of sin and has given us the possibility of life lived in victory Jesus accomplished on the cross. I’m talking about true deliverance. And there’s only One who can truly deliver- God.
As we make our way through the lazy days of summer, enjoying sunshine, picnics and swimming, may we never forget that we are in need of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we find every spiritual blessing God has poured out for us to enjoy, and without whom we can never know what true wholeness and victory are all about. If you feel broken, turn to Jesus and He will make you whole. If you feel defeated, turn to Jesus and do what He says, and you will live in the victory that is ours through our Lord. If you need the ultimate refreshment, you won’t find it at a drive through window, but you will in Jesus.
Have a great summer.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Friday, May 29, 2009
June 2009: Who Speaks For God?
I talk to God a lot- especially when I drive and even more so when I ride my motorcycle. At times, I'm tempted to think that my talking to God is enough, however, a relationship is a two way street, requiring communication to flow both directions. Do I wait and listen for God's voice? Do I read His Word to find out what He says? Do I meditate on His Word and let the Holy Spirit minister to me?
I also know that a lot of people presume to talk for God, especially when it comes to the issues of our day. The recent Supreme Court decision on Prop 8, defining marriage as that between a man and a woman, reminds us of that. Pastors have lined up on both sides of the issues. One acquaintance I know wrote on his face book page that he was proud of his Pastor for taking a stand with gay rights and for being arrested while demonstrating on decision day. Other Pastors speak with condemnation towards gays and liberals and wonder where our country is heading. I have to wonder though, what does God say?
All sin is awful, from the little white lies we say to the ugly things we think, from our fits of rage to our selfish pride, from judging others to acting outside the scope of love. All of it stands in contrast to who God is and what God says. Sin leads us down a path away from God. When it comes to God’s voice, we have one tool to measure it- the Word of God. If what is said contradicts God's Word, you can be assured it is not God speaking. If it affirms God's Word, then we can be assured that it is God's voice leading us. What about the times when we are unsure? We can look to God's Word and make sure we are living according to God's truth. We can pray hard and long, waiting for God's leading. In the mean time, we are to love God with all of our being, and love others as ourselves. Loving others doesn't mean that we agree with them or that we ignore their sin. Loving others means that we treat them with respect. That we listen to them and affirm their God given worth and value, which is so tangibly demonstrated by Jesus Christ, who died for all. Not just for "good" people, but “all” people. For all of us are sinners and all of us need God's grace.
Since we are at the beginning of summer, when we look for ways to relax and enjoy life, why not plop into a patio chair situated in the shade, with your favorite cold drink, and spend time in God’s Word. Not just reading it, but meditating on it. Don’t rush it. Give God time to speak through His Word to you.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
I also know that a lot of people presume to talk for God, especially when it comes to the issues of our day. The recent Supreme Court decision on Prop 8, defining marriage as that between a man and a woman, reminds us of that. Pastors have lined up on both sides of the issues. One acquaintance I know wrote on his face book page that he was proud of his Pastor for taking a stand with gay rights and for being arrested while demonstrating on decision day. Other Pastors speak with condemnation towards gays and liberals and wonder where our country is heading. I have to wonder though, what does God say?
All sin is awful, from the little white lies we say to the ugly things we think, from our fits of rage to our selfish pride, from judging others to acting outside the scope of love. All of it stands in contrast to who God is and what God says. Sin leads us down a path away from God. When it comes to God’s voice, we have one tool to measure it- the Word of God. If what is said contradicts God's Word, you can be assured it is not God speaking. If it affirms God's Word, then we can be assured that it is God's voice leading us. What about the times when we are unsure? We can look to God's Word and make sure we are living according to God's truth. We can pray hard and long, waiting for God's leading. In the mean time, we are to love God with all of our being, and love others as ourselves. Loving others doesn't mean that we agree with them or that we ignore their sin. Loving others means that we treat them with respect. That we listen to them and affirm their God given worth and value, which is so tangibly demonstrated by Jesus Christ, who died for all. Not just for "good" people, but “all” people. For all of us are sinners and all of us need God's grace.
Since we are at the beginning of summer, when we look for ways to relax and enjoy life, why not plop into a patio chair situated in the shade, with your favorite cold drink, and spend time in God’s Word. Not just reading it, but meditating on it. Don’t rush it. Give God time to speak through His Word to you.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
It's On My Heart...May 2009
Being a member of the club is important when you're a child or when, as an adult, your car breaks down and you pull out your AAA card and call for a tow. The American Express motto for years was, "membership has it's privileges." I've found that through my life I've belonged to lots of clubs. Some intentional and others because of circumstance. When I graduated from Seminary with a Master's Degree, at that time there were only about 4% of Americans who had graduate degress and were part of that club. Recently the AARP sent me an invitation to join their club. Now that was a real affirmation. When I accepted Christ as my Savior, I became a member of club whose members now belong to God. When I ride my motorcycle, it is very common for other riders to wave at oncoming riders. We're members of the club. Like the princess wave during a Disney parade, motorcycle riders have a "rider's wave" down. Not too high, hand below the handlebar, a subtle wave that is returned. We're members of the same club.
When my brother-in-law lost my sister over a year ago, he said he felt like he was a member of a club. Just the mention of the death of his wife connected with others who had lost loved ones. Instantly they knew the heartache of losing one you love. The mere mention of your loss becomes a catalyst which forms a bond with others who have experienced similar losses. It is a club that none of us want to be members of, yet in due time, we will. Being a member of God's club helps us in our time of grief and distress when other clubs come knocking at the door of your life. The Psalmist asks, in light of who God is and who we are as humans, for God to "teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90.12) Since life is short, we need godly wisdom to make the most of each and every day. We become wise when we number our days, that is, when we realize that our days are a limited resource.
Since death comes to us and to those we love, we should live as if today is our last day, yet prepare as if the Lord will grant us another 30 years. Prepared to meet our Maker on any given day. Prepared to deal with life, both short term and long term dynamics. So, don't let today pass you by without thinking what God wants you to accomplish today. Don't let words be left unspoken that really need to be expressed. Don't worry about the AARP or other clubs that ask you to join. Some clubs you get to choose to belong to. Others you don't. My prayer is that you belong to God's club and then grow in your faith and knowledge of God, so that whatever may come your way, you are prepared to face it with the Lord's help.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
When my brother-in-law lost my sister over a year ago, he said he felt like he was a member of a club. Just the mention of the death of his wife connected with others who had lost loved ones. Instantly they knew the heartache of losing one you love. The mere mention of your loss becomes a catalyst which forms a bond with others who have experienced similar losses. It is a club that none of us want to be members of, yet in due time, we will. Being a member of God's club helps us in our time of grief and distress when other clubs come knocking at the door of your life. The Psalmist asks, in light of who God is and who we are as humans, for God to "teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90.12) Since life is short, we need godly wisdom to make the most of each and every day. We become wise when we number our days, that is, when we realize that our days are a limited resource.
Since death comes to us and to those we love, we should live as if today is our last day, yet prepare as if the Lord will grant us another 30 years. Prepared to meet our Maker on any given day. Prepared to deal with life, both short term and long term dynamics. So, don't let today pass you by without thinking what God wants you to accomplish today. Don't let words be left unspoken that really need to be expressed. Don't worry about the AARP or other clubs that ask you to join. Some clubs you get to choose to belong to. Others you don't. My prayer is that you belong to God's club and then grow in your faith and knowledge of God, so that whatever may come your way, you are prepared to face it with the Lord's help.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
It’s On My Heart...April 2009
Easter is about God coming to us in the person of Jesus to redeem us. It is God reaching out to mankind with His love and grace. It is Jesus dying in our place, that we might truly live with God. It is Jesus rising from the dead so that we know His promises and our hope are true. It is all about God reaching out to us.
God didn’t wait for us to reach out to Him. During his ministry, Jesus had people seek Him out and come to where He was. But Jesus also went to where the people were. As he passed through Samaria, he stopped at the well, the place that everyone comes for water. He met Zacheus under a tree and went to eat dinner in his home. He was often in the company of "sinners" as well as with the "saints" in the temple. He went to where the people were. When Saul was on his way to Damascus, Jesus reached out to him. That encounter changed Saul, from the inside out. He no longer was Saul, but now Paul.
Easter is one of the biggest opportunities of connecting with our community. As we plan Easter events, we expect people to come to us. And some will come and hear the good news of Jesus. Some will respond like Paul who contemplated for 3 days and then met Ananias who laid hands on him and gave him a prophetic message from God. Our Easter service may be the first encounter of several, that will ultimate lead a person to faith in Christ. It may be the final encounter of many that God uses to draw someone to Himself, so please pray for our Easter service.
In our reaching out, we often plan and prepare great and wonderful events with the expectation that people will come to us. What if we looked for ways to connect with people outside of the church service? What if we were in the market place and went where people gathered for "water"? We have several opportunities to do just that. The first is our involvement with the Apple Blossom Parade and Fair. Our school, Pleasant Hill Christian School, will have a float in the parade. Following the parade is the Fair at Ives Park. Both PHCS and our church will have booths in the children’s area. The booths will offer a "make and take" craft for kids at the fair. What an opportunity to meet the people of our area as well as an opportunity reach out. We’ll have our school and church names on the booths. We’ll have materials ready to hand out, such as our VBS flyer. The fair is like the well. It is where the people gather. Perhaps like Saul who had an unexpected encounter with Jesus, the people of West County will encounter Jesus through us.
The second opportunity will begin later this year. We’re planning to have a booth once a month at the Occidental Friday Night Market. We’ll have to decide what to have at our booth, but the point is that we are going to where the people are and not expecting the people to come to us.
That’s exactly what God did for us. John 3.16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." God reached out to us. Could we, in His name, reach out to our community?
Have a blessed Easter and remember: He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Easter is about God coming to us in the person of Jesus to redeem us. It is God reaching out to mankind with His love and grace. It is Jesus dying in our place, that we might truly live with God. It is Jesus rising from the dead so that we know His promises and our hope are true. It is all about God reaching out to us.
God didn’t wait for us to reach out to Him. During his ministry, Jesus had people seek Him out and come to where He was. But Jesus also went to where the people were. As he passed through Samaria, he stopped at the well, the place that everyone comes for water. He met Zacheus under a tree and went to eat dinner in his home. He was often in the company of "sinners" as well as with the "saints" in the temple. He went to where the people were. When Saul was on his way to Damascus, Jesus reached out to him. That encounter changed Saul, from the inside out. He no longer was Saul, but now Paul.
Easter is one of the biggest opportunities of connecting with our community. As we plan Easter events, we expect people to come to us. And some will come and hear the good news of Jesus. Some will respond like Paul who contemplated for 3 days and then met Ananias who laid hands on him and gave him a prophetic message from God. Our Easter service may be the first encounter of several, that will ultimate lead a person to faith in Christ. It may be the final encounter of many that God uses to draw someone to Himself, so please pray for our Easter service.
In our reaching out, we often plan and prepare great and wonderful events with the expectation that people will come to us. What if we looked for ways to connect with people outside of the church service? What if we were in the market place and went where people gathered for "water"? We have several opportunities to do just that. The first is our involvement with the Apple Blossom Parade and Fair. Our school, Pleasant Hill Christian School, will have a float in the parade. Following the parade is the Fair at Ives Park. Both PHCS and our church will have booths in the children’s area. The booths will offer a "make and take" craft for kids at the fair. What an opportunity to meet the people of our area as well as an opportunity reach out. We’ll have our school and church names on the booths. We’ll have materials ready to hand out, such as our VBS flyer. The fair is like the well. It is where the people gather. Perhaps like Saul who had an unexpected encounter with Jesus, the people of West County will encounter Jesus through us.
The second opportunity will begin later this year. We’re planning to have a booth once a month at the Occidental Friday Night Market. We’ll have to decide what to have at our booth, but the point is that we are going to where the people are and not expecting the people to come to us.
That’s exactly what God did for us. John 3.16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." God reached out to us. Could we, in His name, reach out to our community?
Have a blessed Easter and remember: He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
It’s On My Heart...March 2009
The Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Lent has been a Catholic tradition which many Protestants have begun to observe. Lent is considered to be the 40 days prior to Easter. If you look at a calendar, you’ll notice more than 40 days. There are 6 Sundays which are not counted because Sunday is a weekly celebration of the first Easter Sunday, when Jesus rose from the dead.
During Lent, believers will often fast and pray. Fasting originally meant going without food for a set time, in order to focus more on the Lord. People today will "fast" from their ipods, TV’s, sporting events, movies, alcohol and more. The idea is going without. It means subtracting something from your life, not for the sake of subtracting it, but in order to replace it with something better. Some habits are formed over years and we do not even realize that we do them. The way that we eat or drink. Prayer before a meal. The way that we respond to criticism. The way that we respond to our alarm clock each morning. Attending church every Sunday is a habit, and is a habit encouraged in the Bible because it is a good habit to have.
Imagine the spiritual growth potential in our lives if we were to go without the things that distract us from God and focus on things that draw us closer to Him. Lent helps us to let go of some habits (whether good or not) and helps us replace them with something else. For instance, if our habit is to watch TV each night, perhaps during Lent, we could read a devotional book one hour each night instead of watching TV. Or, if you fast from eating out at restaurants, perhaps you could spend that time in prayer and use the money you save for something that would glorify God. The more we let go of this world and embrace our Lord, the more vibrant our faith will be. The more our hearts belong to God, the more God will choose to work through us.
So, let’s do the math. Although Lent is perceived as a time of fasting (subtraction), it can be a time of adding a new dynamic to our walk with God (addition), and when we walk closer to God, God has a way of using us more for His kingdom (multiplication). Whether you like solving math problems or enjoy the TV show "Numbers" where math geniuses help the FBI solve their cases, this is one math equation that we need in our lives. Subtraction plus addition equals multiplication. Let’s not just imagine this potential, let’s get rid of some things in order to add better things so that God may be glorified in our lives and further His kingdom.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
The Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Lent has been a Catholic tradition which many Protestants have begun to observe. Lent is considered to be the 40 days prior to Easter. If you look at a calendar, you’ll notice more than 40 days. There are 6 Sundays which are not counted because Sunday is a weekly celebration of the first Easter Sunday, when Jesus rose from the dead.
During Lent, believers will often fast and pray. Fasting originally meant going without food for a set time, in order to focus more on the Lord. People today will "fast" from their ipods, TV’s, sporting events, movies, alcohol and more. The idea is going without. It means subtracting something from your life, not for the sake of subtracting it, but in order to replace it with something better. Some habits are formed over years and we do not even realize that we do them. The way that we eat or drink. Prayer before a meal. The way that we respond to criticism. The way that we respond to our alarm clock each morning. Attending church every Sunday is a habit, and is a habit encouraged in the Bible because it is a good habit to have.
Imagine the spiritual growth potential in our lives if we were to go without the things that distract us from God and focus on things that draw us closer to Him. Lent helps us to let go of some habits (whether good or not) and helps us replace them with something else. For instance, if our habit is to watch TV each night, perhaps during Lent, we could read a devotional book one hour each night instead of watching TV. Or, if you fast from eating out at restaurants, perhaps you could spend that time in prayer and use the money you save for something that would glorify God. The more we let go of this world and embrace our Lord, the more vibrant our faith will be. The more our hearts belong to God, the more God will choose to work through us.
So, let’s do the math. Although Lent is perceived as a time of fasting (subtraction), it can be a time of adding a new dynamic to our walk with God (addition), and when we walk closer to God, God has a way of using us more for His kingdom (multiplication). Whether you like solving math problems or enjoy the TV show "Numbers" where math geniuses help the FBI solve their cases, this is one math equation that we need in our lives. Subtraction plus addition equals multiplication. Let’s not just imagine this potential, let’s get rid of some things in order to add better things so that God may be glorified in our lives and further His kingdom.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
January 2009
Choices. We make many of them everyday. We choose to do one thing over another. Where we shop, what we buy, how we celebrate Christmas, what we give. To tell the truth or to lie. To protect or let go. To spend or save. We make decisions on what to eat, where to vacation, what to read, when to rise and when to go to bed. To attend church or to sleep in. To read the Bible more or to fill our lives with something else. Our lives are full of choices.
Some of our choices are better than others. Shortcuts that take much longer. Investments that can’t lose, but do. Fixers that become money pits. Extending the hand of friendship to one that abuses it. The list goes on and on.
OCC's theme verse and emphasis this year is all about choosing that which is best. At the very center of the Bible we find Psalm 118.8 "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." The most important choice we will ever make involves who we will trust. Whether we put our trust in God or in ourselves or others. When I think of my own efforts to achieve my own expectations about myself, I realize I fall far short too often. When I think of others, they too at times will let me down. But God will never let us down. He invites us to put our trust in Him.
Trusting in God is the best choice we can make. In the weeks ahead, we will explore what it means to really trust God over every other option we have when it comes to trust.
Some of our choices are better than others. Shortcuts that take much longer. Investments that can’t lose, but do. Fixers that become money pits. Extending the hand of friendship to one that abuses it. The list goes on and on.
OCC's theme verse and emphasis this year is all about choosing that which is best. At the very center of the Bible we find Psalm 118.8 "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." The most important choice we will ever make involves who we will trust. Whether we put our trust in God or in ourselves or others. When I think of my own efforts to achieve my own expectations about myself, I realize I fall far short too often. When I think of others, they too at times will let me down. But God will never let us down. He invites us to put our trust in Him.
Trusting in God is the best choice we can make. In the weeks ahead, we will explore what it means to really trust God over every other option we have when it comes to trust.
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