February is often associated with love since Valentine's Day comes mid way through the month. Love is so interesting because there are so many facets to it. Each of us feels it, expresses, shows it, talks it, thinks it, promises it, and acts upon it. But the interesting part is that we do it all differently.
The fullest and deepest expression of love is found in what God did for us. The Bible says that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. The Apostle Paul put it into perspective when he wrote, "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God's love, full and uncompromising, deep and penetrating to our heart's deepest need, free yet costing Jesus His very life, so that we may live eternally with God in heaven. While the world struggles with what true love is, God reveals the ultimate definition of what love is in the person of His Son, Jesus.
Couples say "I do" at the marriage altar. These two words signify their deep love for one another, as well as their commitment to one another. When God sent Jesus, He expressed His commitment to us. A commitment that will not waver, even when we blow it, nor will it come to an end, but will last for all of eternity. Our commitments come in the form of promises. We promise to be there for one another, to stay with one another, to have each others back, to support one another and on and on our promises go. God has made promises to us too. Jesus said, "If I go away, I will return to take you to be with me." The Apostle Paul said that at the Lord's return we will be caught up with the Lord in the clouds, and so we will be with the Lord forever. What an incredible promise. We who believe in the Lord Jesus and rejoice in His love for us, look forward to the day that we will be with Him.
There is a song we used to sing at Mt. Gilead summer camp. I think it was a Barry McGuire song. It goes something like this: "Clouds, I can't keep my eyes off them clouds in the sky, 'cause I know it won't be long, it won't be long." Since the Lord's return could happen on any day or at any moment, we ought to live with the anticipation of His return. When you see clouds up in the sky, may they be a constant reminder of the Lord's love as well as His promise to take us to be with Him. The Lord's coming is the fulfillment of His promise to us, because He loves us.
May you be rooted and established in love, and be able to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
A New Year's Resolution
Our church's theme verse for 2012 is found in Hosea 10.12, which says:
"Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up the unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until He comes and showers righteousness on you."
When studying the Bible, context is extremely important. Hosea chapter 10 begins, "Israel was a spreading vine." The word "was" is a very sad word in this context. It implies that they were no longer growing or vibrant. Hosea gives us the reason why: sin. Although they were God's chosen people, they became a self-focused nation. Although they knew the Shema in Deuteronomy 6.4 which states, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength;" they had become a people with divided attentions and shared loyalties. Jesus put it this way: "no man can serve two masters." That's exactly what Israel had done, and in the process God had allowed the consequences of their sin to come upon them. God's punishment was meant to get their attention and bring about reform.
Though God does punish sin and sin has consequences, God still called out to Israel to repent and change their direction.
This is where our theme verse comes into play. Like a farmer that sows seeds, Israel was to begin sowing seeds of righteousness. Righteousness has the idea of being just or being in the right. It also carries with it the idea of being in right relationship, both with God and people. Sowing seeds of truth and right living that brings glory to God and benefits those who are around us. The result is seen in the fruit we harvest.
In order to plant seeds, the ground must be prepared. In Hosea's day, the farmer used a plow. God says to break up the hardened ground and prepare it for the good seed. A farmer would never throw his seed out on unplowed ground. It needs to be prepared.
When I think of the church in America, we've been plowing the same ground over and over, expecting a great harvest. I sense the Lord saying to us to quit doing church as usual and begin to plow where we have not plowed before. For us in Occidental, there is plenty of soil that has never been put to the plow nor has the seed of God's word been scattered over it. Now plowing is hard work, and so is the scattering of seed. But if we want a full harvest, we must get out of our comfort zones and do this. In a way, I'm plowing new ground and planting seeds because I have taken a part time job as a warehouse helper and fork lift driver. When I work, I bring Jesus with me, not to shine a blinding light in the faces of my co-workers, but to simply be Jesus to them. To serve them, to pray for them, to share the truth of the gospel with them, that they too may some day come to know Jesus. I have a hunch that some of us need to stop plowing the same ground and begin asking the Lord of the harvest where He wants us to plow.
The verse concludes with the admonition, "It is time to seek the Lord until He comes and showers righteousness on you." Let me say this: The time is short. The Lord is near. The Lord is looking to see who is faithful and dependable. Those who have undivided hearts and are willing to do the hard work of planting the seeds of the Word of God among a nation of people who no longer know about the Lord. God is looking to enrich the lives of those who are bearing fruit that lasts.
May this coming year be a year of sowing and reaping, of seeking and enrichment.
Above all, may God be praised.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
"Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up the unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until He comes and showers righteousness on you."
When studying the Bible, context is extremely important. Hosea chapter 10 begins, "Israel was a spreading vine." The word "was" is a very sad word in this context. It implies that they were no longer growing or vibrant. Hosea gives us the reason why: sin. Although they were God's chosen people, they became a self-focused nation. Although they knew the Shema in Deuteronomy 6.4 which states, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength;" they had become a people with divided attentions and shared loyalties. Jesus put it this way: "no man can serve two masters." That's exactly what Israel had done, and in the process God had allowed the consequences of their sin to come upon them. God's punishment was meant to get their attention and bring about reform.
Though God does punish sin and sin has consequences, God still called out to Israel to repent and change their direction.
This is where our theme verse comes into play. Like a farmer that sows seeds, Israel was to begin sowing seeds of righteousness. Righteousness has the idea of being just or being in the right. It also carries with it the idea of being in right relationship, both with God and people. Sowing seeds of truth and right living that brings glory to God and benefits those who are around us. The result is seen in the fruit we harvest.
In order to plant seeds, the ground must be prepared. In Hosea's day, the farmer used a plow. God says to break up the hardened ground and prepare it for the good seed. A farmer would never throw his seed out on unplowed ground. It needs to be prepared.
When I think of the church in America, we've been plowing the same ground over and over, expecting a great harvest. I sense the Lord saying to us to quit doing church as usual and begin to plow where we have not plowed before. For us in Occidental, there is plenty of soil that has never been put to the plow nor has the seed of God's word been scattered over it. Now plowing is hard work, and so is the scattering of seed. But if we want a full harvest, we must get out of our comfort zones and do this. In a way, I'm plowing new ground and planting seeds because I have taken a part time job as a warehouse helper and fork lift driver. When I work, I bring Jesus with me, not to shine a blinding light in the faces of my co-workers, but to simply be Jesus to them. To serve them, to pray for them, to share the truth of the gospel with them, that they too may some day come to know Jesus. I have a hunch that some of us need to stop plowing the same ground and begin asking the Lord of the harvest where He wants us to plow.
The verse concludes with the admonition, "It is time to seek the Lord until He comes and showers righteousness on you." Let me say this: The time is short. The Lord is near. The Lord is looking to see who is faithful and dependable. Those who have undivided hearts and are willing to do the hard work of planting the seeds of the Word of God among a nation of people who no longer know about the Lord. God is looking to enrich the lives of those who are bearing fruit that lasts.
May this coming year be a year of sowing and reaping, of seeking and enrichment.
Above all, may God be praised.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Saturday, December 3, 2011
What's In Your Family Tree?
I find it amazing to look at the family tree of Jesus, for it is not what one would expect of the Savior of the world. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke give us two different Family Tree's of Jesus. Some stumble on this by setting aside the Bible and conclude it is full of errors. Upon closer examination though, we see that Matthew, who wrote to the Jews, recorded the legal line from King David to Joseph. Matthew's account is a list of "Who's Who" in Judah's history. Many of the names recorded were kings of Israel. Luke records the biological line of Jesus through Mary. It was the custom of the day to not list the mother. In Luke 3.23, Luke said "Jesus...was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph," and then proceeded to list the Family Tree. God said through the prophet Jeremiah (22.24-30) that none of Jeconiah's children would ever sit on the throne of David. If Joseph, a direct descendent of Jeconiah, were the father of Jesus, then Jesus could not sit on David's throne nor fulfill the promise given to King David that one of his heirs would one day sit on his throne forever. The Bible tells us that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, not Joseph.
There is also the matter of five women being mentioned in Matthew's Family Tree of Jesus. They are" Tamar (1.3), Rahab (1.5), Ruth (1.5), Beersheba (1.6 described but not mentioned by name) and Mary (1.16) Very unusual to record a woman in the family tree. But these were no ordinary women. Tamar posed as a prostitute and became pregnant by her father-in-law; Rahab was a prostitute in Jerricho who helped the two Israeli spies escape; Ruth was from Moab- an outsider; Beersheba commited adultery with King David; and Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph- a status similiar to our engagement period but according to Jewish law were legally married. During the engagement period the bride and groom were to be kept apart until the wedding day. Mary's pregnancy was a scandal in the little village of Nazareth. You could say that the Family Tree of Jesus was messed up. Yet God worked through both the faithful and sinful of Judah to bring His Son to earth to save us from our sin.
Perhaps you may be thinking your Family Tree and life are messed up. Perhaps your family tree has a few scandals of its own. Perhaps there is a history that you would like to sweep away. Perhaps you see your own children living life apart from God. Yet, even in the worst of circumstances God is at work and accomplishing His plan. Take your eyes off of the failures and place them on the One who is Perfect, Holy and who died on the cross for you. Put your trust in Jesus, who overcame the curse on his Family Tree and became a curse on Calvary's Tree in order that we may have the curse of sin removed from us and live a life in freedom, love, joy and peace with God. For this is why Jesus came to earth and why we celebrate His birth.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Pete
There is also the matter of five women being mentioned in Matthew's Family Tree of Jesus. They are" Tamar (1.3), Rahab (1.5), Ruth (1.5), Beersheba (1.6 described but not mentioned by name) and Mary (1.16) Very unusual to record a woman in the family tree. But these were no ordinary women. Tamar posed as a prostitute and became pregnant by her father-in-law; Rahab was a prostitute in Jerricho who helped the two Israeli spies escape; Ruth was from Moab- an outsider; Beersheba commited adultery with King David; and Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph- a status similiar to our engagement period but according to Jewish law were legally married. During the engagement period the bride and groom were to be kept apart until the wedding day. Mary's pregnancy was a scandal in the little village of Nazareth. You could say that the Family Tree of Jesus was messed up. Yet God worked through both the faithful and sinful of Judah to bring His Son to earth to save us from our sin.
Perhaps you may be thinking your Family Tree and life are messed up. Perhaps your family tree has a few scandals of its own. Perhaps there is a history that you would like to sweep away. Perhaps you see your own children living life apart from God. Yet, even in the worst of circumstances God is at work and accomplishing His plan. Take your eyes off of the failures and place them on the One who is Perfect, Holy and who died on the cross for you. Put your trust in Jesus, who overcame the curse on his Family Tree and became a curse on Calvary's Tree in order that we may have the curse of sin removed from us and live a life in freedom, love, joy and peace with God. For this is why Jesus came to earth and why we celebrate His birth.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Pete
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Occupy the Land
It seems that Occupy Wall Street has every one's attention, whether you agree with it or not. It does reveal that people are wanting change. The Book of Joshua begins with a huge change. Moses has died and Joshua is selected by God to lead the people of Israel into the promised land.
While many things on earth change, there is something that never changes. What remained constant was God. God promised Israel the land of Canaan. God said to Joshua, "I will give you everywhere you set your feet." What an incredible promise. But success wasn't guaranteed. There were things that Joshua and the people of Israel had to do.
The secret of their success is found in their desire to obey all that God commanded as well as remembering that God was with them as they stepped into the promised land. God has given us promises which still ring true and relevant today. Success doesn't come to us just because we are Christians, but does come when we seek to honor God in all we do. The Israelites were to work together. No one could rest until all of the tribes took possession of their land.
This took a willingness to obey God first in their lives, then to put others before themselves. This sounds similar to the conversation Jesus had with an expert in the Law of Moses. Jesus was asked which is the greatest command. Perhaps this was asked to trick Jesus in some way. The response surprised the religious leaders while reminding us of that which is most important. Jesus said the greatest command is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second is like it. To love your neighbor as yourself.
This was put into practice by the people of Israel as they occupied the promised land. I'm not sensing God leading me to join up with an Occupy Wall Street movement, but I do sense this: that wherever I am and wherever I go, I am to honor God through obeying His commands and by loving others. This may not necessarily lead to worldly success, but it will lead you to be right before God, which is the best success one could ever desire. Go occupy the land for the glory of God.
While many things on earth change, there is something that never changes. What remained constant was God. God promised Israel the land of Canaan. God said to Joshua, "I will give you everywhere you set your feet." What an incredible promise. But success wasn't guaranteed. There were things that Joshua and the people of Israel had to do.
The secret of their success is found in their desire to obey all that God commanded as well as remembering that God was with them as they stepped into the promised land. God has given us promises which still ring true and relevant today. Success doesn't come to us just because we are Christians, but does come when we seek to honor God in all we do. The Israelites were to work together. No one could rest until all of the tribes took possession of their land.
This took a willingness to obey God first in their lives, then to put others before themselves. This sounds similar to the conversation Jesus had with an expert in the Law of Moses. Jesus was asked which is the greatest command. Perhaps this was asked to trick Jesus in some way. The response surprised the religious leaders while reminding us of that which is most important. Jesus said the greatest command is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second is like it. To love your neighbor as yourself.
This was put into practice by the people of Israel as they occupied the promised land. I'm not sensing God leading me to join up with an Occupy Wall Street movement, but I do sense this: that wherever I am and wherever I go, I am to honor God through obeying His commands and by loving others. This may not necessarily lead to worldly success, but it will lead you to be right before God, which is the best success one could ever desire. Go occupy the land for the glory of God.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Are You Awake?
Romans 13.10-12 says, "Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."
Some people sleep walk. They get up out of bed and go about various activities while asleep. They might turn on the TV. Others go to the fridge and eat. Some walk around outside. But they all have this in common: they are asleep.
Many Christians live in the state of deep sleep, unaware of what they are doing or for that matter what God is doing in their lives. Due to their slumber, they are unaware that the things they are involved in are not pleasing to God. God is always present and at work, but we proceed through life unaware of His presence or activity, whether it is in our life or in anothers. Jacob had an experience like this. On a journey, he came to the place to camp for the night. Finding a rock for a pillow, he laid down and fell asleep. During the night he dreamt of a stairway to heaven, and the Lord speaking to Him about giving his descendents the very land where he was sleeping. When he awoke, he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Up to that point, he went through life unaware, as if he were sleep walking. But at that moment he became aware. He awoke up from his sleep, fully aware that God was present and promising to do great things for him and his descendents.
The Apostle Paul said, "It's time to wake up." God is present. God is at work. God will fulfill all of His promises to His people. If so, how should we be? To be spiritually awake is to be aware that God is with you always. Saints in both Old Testament and New have taken great comfort in this fact. The Psalmist said, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." And "The Lord is my refuge and strength. An ever present help in time of trouble." Jesus promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Are you going through life aware of God's presence and work? If not, you just might be asleep.
To be spiritually awake opens our eyes so we can see what God is doing. Philippians 2.13 "it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Are you aware of what God is doing in your life? I wonder, what is it that God wants to do? What is it that He needs to do? Yes, God is a surgeon and surgeons work best when the patient is asleep. This is different though, because spiritual sleep is self-induced, often brought on by a casual regard for sin. But God is telling us to "wake up." Paul reminds us that "the day is almost here." The day when our Savior returns. Will he find us awake and aware, embracing the presence and work of God or will we finally wake up on "that day" and realize all that we have missed?
Friends, the Bible tells us we are in the last days leading up to the Lord's return. This isn't a time for sleep but to be awake and to engage our world. People around us are hurting. It seems the whole world is on edge. Edge of default. Edge of crisis. Edge of war. Edge of loss jobs, illness and famine and more. Why not ask the Lord to tell you what you should do? What could our response be to so many who are hurting? Could it be that the Lord is waiting for us to wake up in order to tangibly touch people in His name?
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Some people sleep walk. They get up out of bed and go about various activities while asleep. They might turn on the TV. Others go to the fridge and eat. Some walk around outside. But they all have this in common: they are asleep.
Many Christians live in the state of deep sleep, unaware of what they are doing or for that matter what God is doing in their lives. Due to their slumber, they are unaware that the things they are involved in are not pleasing to God. God is always present and at work, but we proceed through life unaware of His presence or activity, whether it is in our life or in anothers. Jacob had an experience like this. On a journey, he came to the place to camp for the night. Finding a rock for a pillow, he laid down and fell asleep. During the night he dreamt of a stairway to heaven, and the Lord speaking to Him about giving his descendents the very land where he was sleeping. When he awoke, he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Up to that point, he went through life unaware, as if he were sleep walking. But at that moment he became aware. He awoke up from his sleep, fully aware that God was present and promising to do great things for him and his descendents.
The Apostle Paul said, "It's time to wake up." God is present. God is at work. God will fulfill all of His promises to His people. If so, how should we be? To be spiritually awake is to be aware that God is with you always. Saints in both Old Testament and New have taken great comfort in this fact. The Psalmist said, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." And "The Lord is my refuge and strength. An ever present help in time of trouble." Jesus promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Are you going through life aware of God's presence and work? If not, you just might be asleep.
To be spiritually awake opens our eyes so we can see what God is doing. Philippians 2.13 "it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Are you aware of what God is doing in your life? I wonder, what is it that God wants to do? What is it that He needs to do? Yes, God is a surgeon and surgeons work best when the patient is asleep. This is different though, because spiritual sleep is self-induced, often brought on by a casual regard for sin. But God is telling us to "wake up." Paul reminds us that "the day is almost here." The day when our Savior returns. Will he find us awake and aware, embracing the presence and work of God or will we finally wake up on "that day" and realize all that we have missed?
Friends, the Bible tells us we are in the last days leading up to the Lord's return. This isn't a time for sleep but to be awake and to engage our world. People around us are hurting. It seems the whole world is on edge. Edge of default. Edge of crisis. Edge of war. Edge of loss jobs, illness and famine and more. Why not ask the Lord to tell you what you should do? What could our response be to so many who are hurting? Could it be that the Lord is waiting for us to wake up in order to tangibly touch people in His name?
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Saturday, July 30, 2011
WHICH TEAM ARE YOU ON?
I noticed a store advertisement to join their team of employees. Since then, I've noticed the same kind of sign elsewhere. The signs are similar: "join the TEAM and enjoy a friendly workplace environment with great benefits."
Jesus invited people to join His TEAM. While Jesus had many followers who would come and go, Jesus chose a select group of disciples to become TEAM JESUS. Jesus invested in them and then gave them marching orders to continue to expand the TEAM. Though we live 2,000 years later, we are a part of that extension and also have the privilege of passing the good news on to others, inviting them to join the TEAM too.
What does it take to be a member in good standing on TEAM JESUS?
I'm not talking about being religious, the world has enough of that. I'm not talking about being a great church member either, although this aspect of your life will be affected too. I am talking about what it looks like when a person truly follows after Jesus.
Matthew 16.24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.' " While people may interpret and apply this differently, there is no getting around the idea of self-denial, nor of the daily dying to self implied by "taking up his cross." The cross, though glorified now and adorned as jewelry, was a symbol of a violent death. If we are dying and denying ourselves, then what is it that we are coming alive to? The answer is God through faith in Jesus.
As we go through life, we no longer ask what we want, but what Jesus wants. No longer are we concerned with what others say, for the only thing that truly matters is what Jesus says. We will move from being concerned with what others are thinking and want to know what Jesus is thinking. No longer will we be people pleasers, but God pleasers. No longer will we live by what we see, rather by that which is unseen. To follow Jesus means we are set free from our sinful world and all that concerns the world. To be on TEAM JESUS means to be an extension of His life in ours, so that the life of Jesus may touch the world with His love, grace and peace.
We have 2 teams. TEAM SELF and TEAM JESUS. Which team are you on?
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Jesus invited people to join His TEAM. While Jesus had many followers who would come and go, Jesus chose a select group of disciples to become TEAM JESUS. Jesus invested in them and then gave them marching orders to continue to expand the TEAM. Though we live 2,000 years later, we are a part of that extension and also have the privilege of passing the good news on to others, inviting them to join the TEAM too.
What does it take to be a member in good standing on TEAM JESUS?
I'm not talking about being religious, the world has enough of that. I'm not talking about being a great church member either, although this aspect of your life will be affected too. I am talking about what it looks like when a person truly follows after Jesus.
Matthew 16.24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.' " While people may interpret and apply this differently, there is no getting around the idea of self-denial, nor of the daily dying to self implied by "taking up his cross." The cross, though glorified now and adorned as jewelry, was a symbol of a violent death. If we are dying and denying ourselves, then what is it that we are coming alive to? The answer is God through faith in Jesus.
As we go through life, we no longer ask what we want, but what Jesus wants. No longer are we concerned with what others say, for the only thing that truly matters is what Jesus says. We will move from being concerned with what others are thinking and want to know what Jesus is thinking. No longer will we be people pleasers, but God pleasers. No longer will we live by what we see, rather by that which is unseen. To follow Jesus means we are set free from our sinful world and all that concerns the world. To be on TEAM JESUS means to be an extension of His life in ours, so that the life of Jesus may touch the world with His love, grace and peace.
We have 2 teams. TEAM SELF and TEAM JESUS. Which team are you on?
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Friday, July 1, 2011
A tool in God's hand
It happened again this past Thursday morning just as I was ready to leave for the day. I rubbed my eye which caused my contact to fold up and disappear somewhere in the deep recesses of my eye. It's happened before, so I was not too worried. But it was an irritation to my eye and my driving ability. About an hour later I felt something odd in my eye and out the contact fell into my hand. Within a minute I had the contact cleaned and reinserted back to where it was designed to be.
Contact lenses are a wonderful tool that enable us to see without having to wear glasses. They are wonderful only when they are in the right place and at the right time. Although they are a great tool, they do not help my eyesight at all when folded up and hiding somewhere in the back of my eyeball. Nor are they useful in their package. Contacts are a tool only when they are inserted correctly and doing what they are supposed to do.
People are like tools in God's hands. The Bible says that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2.10 NIV
How many times has God intended to do something good through us, yet we remain in the wrong spot, intent on some purpose other than that which God so designed us for. We miss out on the good God planned to do through us because we are out of place and focused on "ourselves" instead of seeking to bless others in Jesus' name.
God made us for a purpose. We are His creation. God gave us our personalities, our gifts and natural abilities. Are we living up to God's purpose? Perhaps all it would take is a rearrangement of location. My contact only had to move a short distance and it was where it was supposed to be.
Perhaps you desire to serve the Lord and it is a struggle, like trying to force a square block into a round hole. Maybe it's time to find the correct shaped hole for which you were designed to fit. We may be in the right place but with the wrong attitude, much like a piece of dirt on a contact lens. This too is irritating. Perhaps we need an attitude adjustment or ask the Lord to forgive us and cleanse us so that we can once again be useful for our Master.
A friend of mine was hired to teach 6th grade. At the last minute before the school began, he was switched to Kindergarten. That was where the need was, but he didn't fit. He struggled with it for several months before he quit. He was not wired to be a Kindergarten teacher. Later he was hired at a different school and for a job he was "wired" to do. What a huge difference he has made in the lives of 6th-8th graders.
God has a plan and purpose for you, so that no matter where you are or where you go, you may glorify your heavenly Father. Jesus said in Matthew 5.16, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Are you fulfilling God's purpose for you? If not, what would it take for you to step into His purpose? May you find great joy as you serve the Lord. May each of us be instruments in His hands that He may be glorified.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Contact lenses are a wonderful tool that enable us to see without having to wear glasses. They are wonderful only when they are in the right place and at the right time. Although they are a great tool, they do not help my eyesight at all when folded up and hiding somewhere in the back of my eyeball. Nor are they useful in their package. Contacts are a tool only when they are inserted correctly and doing what they are supposed to do.
People are like tools in God's hands. The Bible says that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2.10 NIV
How many times has God intended to do something good through us, yet we remain in the wrong spot, intent on some purpose other than that which God so designed us for. We miss out on the good God planned to do through us because we are out of place and focused on "ourselves" instead of seeking to bless others in Jesus' name.
God made us for a purpose. We are His creation. God gave us our personalities, our gifts and natural abilities. Are we living up to God's purpose? Perhaps all it would take is a rearrangement of location. My contact only had to move a short distance and it was where it was supposed to be.
Perhaps you desire to serve the Lord and it is a struggle, like trying to force a square block into a round hole. Maybe it's time to find the correct shaped hole for which you were designed to fit. We may be in the right place but with the wrong attitude, much like a piece of dirt on a contact lens. This too is irritating. Perhaps we need an attitude adjustment or ask the Lord to forgive us and cleanse us so that we can once again be useful for our Master.
A friend of mine was hired to teach 6th grade. At the last minute before the school began, he was switched to Kindergarten. That was where the need was, but he didn't fit. He struggled with it for several months before he quit. He was not wired to be a Kindergarten teacher. Later he was hired at a different school and for a job he was "wired" to do. What a huge difference he has made in the lives of 6th-8th graders.
God has a plan and purpose for you, so that no matter where you are or where you go, you may glorify your heavenly Father. Jesus said in Matthew 5.16, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Are you fulfilling God's purpose for you? If not, what would it take for you to step into His purpose? May you find great joy as you serve the Lord. May each of us be instruments in His hands that He may be glorified.
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
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