Rescue Me From Sinking Mire

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
    At an acceptable time, O God,
    in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help rescue me
    from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
    and from the deep waters." Psalm 69:13-14

The Silver River is extremely high again this year. It has invaded the back yard creating a bit of a mess. In order to get to the river's edge, one must trudge through the muck and mire, sometimes sinking up to one's knees. But, the important thing is that we will, in fact, be able to get to the river's edge; to the place of promise. We may have to trudge through some sludge; a bit of muck and mire; but, the goal is well worth it.

Even as we find ourselves journeying through a lot of muck and mire in this world, we know that God hears our prayers and answers. In His time, out of the abundance of His love, He delivers us from our enemies, even if our enemy is our self.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Keep Your Eyes Fixed on the Goal

Just about every year we have at
least one (sometimes more) who affirms
their faith and faithfully enters the race.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
Have you ever tried to walk a puppy on a leash? They tend to want to go in many directions. Puppies and little children can get distracted very easily. Children of God must discipline themselves if they are going to run the race marked out for us. It is very easy to be distracted if we don't keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (vs 2).

It is almost time for our group of young people to affirm their baptisms with the Rite of Confirmation. They have not finished any race. They have simply been in spring training so that they can be prepared for the race. Sadly, we will not see many of them again, except for possibly at Christmas. Many will lose site of the goal. All that training and no race! Those who choose to actually run the race seem to be few in number. Some will return, but not all. There will be too many distractions and attractions in the world for them to ever see the cross of Christ clearly, again. But, thanks be to God for those who will continue on to reach the goal.

Lose site of the goal and you will fall out of the race... May God help us to always remember the joy that comes with finishing in His Kingdom; in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Philippians 3 Focus on the Goal

Philippians 3 NIV

Focus on the Goal; Stay on the Path

So much time and energy wasted striving after things of this world. Of course, we all need to work for basic necessities. St. Paul had written to the Thessalonians, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” (2 Thess 3:10) But, often our focus is so centered on "stuff" that we forget that we are to focus on the Kingdom of God in Christ Jesus. We think that our worship and service can be relegated to one hour per week and the rest of the week is to strive after and, yes, even worship and glorify "stuff" of the world. We lift up powerful people and even sports heroes and musicians and other such celebrities. We envy and strive to be like those who have earned much in this world; after all, they have done so much for themselves and look how happy they aren't! In this world it is a sign of success to have earned much "stuff."


But, "stuff" that you've been striving after will not save you. "Stuff" will only drag you down. It will require your focus and energy to obtain and maintain. "Stuff" will not save you. The world will not save you. You cannot save yourselves by your own power and might. Only Jesus saves. Put, aside those things which have puffed up your ego and set a new course. Strive for the goal; life in Jesus' presence, in his Kingdom. Press on and take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of for us. Set aside egos and desires of this world. Set aside your confidence in your own flesh to earn anything worthwhile. Because, I can attest that lots of stuff is not worthwhile. It is a waste of time and energy. Trust Jesus and live life in him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Self-Discipline; Running the Race

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV
My husband is a Detroit Lions fan. Most everybody else that I know belong to the Green Bay Packers club. Personally, the only sport I am interested in is the race that St. Paul is talking about in today's reading. "Run in such a way as to get the prize," he says.

No matter what sport one participates in, one must practice. Those who don't play and only observe practice sitting on the edge of a couch or stadium seat. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself) That would take a lot of self-discipline on my part to sit for that long and watch others play. But, no matter what it is that we desire; we must discipline ourselves to reach for what we desire. That goes, not just for sports, but for all areas of life. Toini Heikkinen, a neighbor and a former music teacher (she has since reached the end of the race.) use to insist that her students practice every day. It was not an option. She expected them to discipline themselves if they truly wanted to play the piano well.

All these things are well and good. But, remember they only satisfy for a time here on earth. If our ultimate goal is living in the presence of God; in His eternal Kingdom, then we might want to discipline ourselves in our journey (race?) for that goal.

In reality, we cannot run the race and win; for life in the Kingdom of God was already won for us on the cross by our Lord and Savior, Jesus. I feel justified in calling it a race only because some days I seem to be in a pretty big hurry to see that Kingdom in all of God's glory.

May God bless your journey...

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 13:31-35 Threats Do Not Dissuade

Luke 31-35 NIV
Run! Herod wants to kill you, some Pharisees had warned Jesus. Oh well! Whatever! Jesus had a mission and he was not going to run from Herod. He would continue driving out demons and healing people until he reached his goal. His goal was the cross. He was going to die, so what difference did it make whether Herod was looking to kill him or not. He wasn't about to let a few threats dissuade him from continuing the work he was called to do.

Personally, I get a bit weary of the threats. I am not Jesus. But, he is with me and gives me strength to continue onward wherever he will call or send me. He has led me this far. He will lead me home. I know that even though Jesus' journey took him to death on the cross; it also took him through death to the Kingdom of God. So, threats may wear me down a bit, but they will not strike me down completely. I will continue toward the goal, even if it includes a journey to the cross (which it will).

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 46 - Move Forward; Not Backward

“When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed festivals, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which they entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate." (Ezekiel 46:9 NIV)

Sounds like God is even managing the worship traffic... Imagine instructions for getting up to the altar during Holy Communion in your congregation. Go up the middle and back to your seat by going around the side. Stay on the right side of the aisle as you go the altar and return on the left. I'm thinking that crowd control is the basic reason for this direction from God.

Have you ever found yourself on a one way street going the wrong way? It does cause a bit of a problem, doesn't it? It delays your arrival at the place that you were intending to go. God reminds us to keep going forward in the way that that He's set before us. As you worship the LORD, keep moving forward. Do not take side roads. Do not go backwards. Keep your heart and your mind on the goal that has been set in front of you. One step at a time, move forward to receive the Kingdom of God.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)

And... may the peace of the LORD be with you on your journey, as you press toward the goal of the Kingdom in Christ Jesus.  Pr. J