His Thoughts; His Ways

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NRSV


It would be easy to give up and let the world have it's worldly way with you. But, the Word of the LORD reminds us to seek Him and His Way. God's ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. Following in the way our ego would have us go will only prove to be devastating to our lives and the world around us.  And... it may also be a good thing to remember that no matter how bad things get, God is still in charge. He can turn the greatest tragedy into the most marvelous triumph. From the most troubled time, He will lead us out in joy and lead us forth in peace; the peace that only He can give.

 

Seek the LORD and come to the One who knows the way; who is The Way. 

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Sinking in Sand

"rescue me
    from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
    and from the deep waters." Psalm 69:14

There is small spot on one of the islands in front of my home of sinking sand. It is a little over a foot wide; yet, it's a bit unnerving to accidentally step into it. As one's ankles and then calves become engulfed in sand you will not tarry. You will step out of it quickly and change your course just as fast. I do not know how much of a person it would swallow if one chose to test the sand. I have never desired to find out.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. We go in ways that are dangerous to ourselves and may even be active in leading others in the wrong way, as well. We stray from the path that Jesus prepared for us and purposefully attempt to travel the path of the unrighteous. There are many dangers on this path that leads away from our Father's house. Sinking in mucky, uncharted swamps is only one of them.

When we find ourselves in danger of sinking in the mire it is time to change course. It is time, to ask for God's help to get back on the path that He has prepared for us.

If you find yourself alone and sinking fast know there is one who can rescue you. There is only one who can save you. Ask and He will lead you on the path of eternal life in His Kingdom. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

I Don't Know; But, God Does

We had been planning a special service for All Saint's Day for some time. Then schedules got turned around and we couldn't do it, so I focused on something totally different than had been previously planned. At worship, yesterday, it turned out the schedules weren't as turned around as we had thought. We could have gone with our original plan; but, we didn't. I believe it went the way God intended it to go. He knows what's coming up long before we do.

Within the past week, we have had three deaths of family members from our congregation. I wrote my Sunday sermon early last Monday, focusing on the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God with all the saints. I did not realize until I actually started preaching that what I planned was exactly what was needed as two of the deaths occurred after I wrote it. I did not realize on Monday how many would need a reminder of comfort and hope in the eternal kingdom for all who believe until I was actually preaching it and seeing the response in their faces. But, God did. He knew long before Monday.

Years ago, while I was being trained to visit shut-ins, my mentor and I were sitting in the parking lot of a bar in a very small town discussing our plan for the day. A woman, who had been using the pay phone outside, came over, introduced herself, and invited us over to visit her mother and her. Until that day, neither of us knew of her. After our scheduled visits we went over to visit them. Her mother and my mentor were busy discussing the history of the area when all of a sudden he's talking about the death of a young person in his family. I was aghast. It seemed to come out of no where. It just seemed so off the wall and we were there to bring encouragement and comfort; not to be comforted ourselves. The woman who invited us in, began to cry. She related that she was visiting her mother because her husband had just died and she was having a very difficult time with the grieving process. This pastor's story opened the way for her to be able to begin talking about it and to be reminded that all who believe; yet, even though they die, shall live with all the saints in the kingdom of God. What seemed like a very odd turn in the conversation, turned out to be exactly what was needed to bring about a bit of peace and hope for the woman. I had no clue where this pastor was going. He didn't, either. But, God knew exactly where He was leading him.

Sometimes, we just have to follow the Spirit's guidance. We don't always know for what purpose we are being called or sent. We don't always know why we feel compelled to say things that would not normally fit the circumstances. But, God does. Listen to him. Follow where He will lead you. Do not be afraid to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God!

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Acts 28:1-10 Paul on Malta

Acts 28:1-10 NIV
Snakes have never bothered me, too much. When my sons were young, they were always bringing home different sorts of creatures to care for. They were usually allowed to keep and care for them when my husband was deployed. He wasn't too big on creatures in the house. I felt it was good for them to learn about God's other creatures. My eldest son brought home a slew of baby water moccasins when he was in Jr. High. We kept them for a while in a covered bowl on the kitchen table; at least, until the day I came home from work and they had all escaped. I rounded them up and released them into the National Forest behind our home. No more snakes. I also drew the line at the bats he tried to bring into the house... But, most other creatures, slimy, scaly, feathered, or furry were welcome.

The people on Malta figured that Paul was as good as dead when a snake latched onto his hand. But, no. Paul merely shook it off into the fire and he was unharmed. Opinions change. The people then wonder if he is a god. How much more they must have thought that when he prayed and laid hands on Publius' father and the man was healed. No, Paul was not a god. But, God was with him on Malta as He led him to Rome to stand trial. The power of God continued to minister to others through Paul to the day of his death.

Paul was not afraid. He was calm as he shook the snake off his hand. He did God's will without hesitation as he prayed for and healed the sick man. May God help us to serve Him and His people, one day at a time, one step at a time, wherever he will lead us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 5:1-11 Fishing

Luke 5:1-11 NIV
When Jesus took them fishing, Peter, James and John caught so many fish that their nets were breaking. Then he told them that from then on they would be fishing for people. "So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." (vs 11)

What does this mean to leave everything behind to follow Jesus? Does it mean to spend an hour at Worship on Sunday mornings? Does it mean we share the good news when it's convenient and easy to do? What does it mean to you? These men made their living at fishing. They left their boat and nets and followed to learn a new thing. They left their very livelihood behind to follow Jesus. If they are like most fishermen that I know, they loved fishing. They left this thing that they loved behind them and went off to follow this itinerant teacher and preacher. They trusted that they would not starve to death. They trusted that he would be with them to lead them. They were unafraid to go follow this new vocation: fishing for people.

Jesus is with us. May God grant that He teach us and give us the courage to fish for people.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 13 - Peace When There Is No Peace

“‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,  therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth." (Ezekiel 13:10-11 NIV)

God's peace be with you. Every Sunday morning we greet one another with words similar to this. When we do this, we are breaking down any walls that may have stood between us and the persons we share this peace with. Ezekiel likens false prophecies of peace to a poorly constructed wall. This false peace will break down walls, as well. But, instead of truth and the genuine heart felt peace of God; it will open up the gate so that false idols might enter in.

These false declarations of peace, when there is no peace, does not actually create unity. It divides as it creates more victims. This false sense of peace whitewashes the injustice that is being done so that the doer of injustice is given a free pass to continue persecuting others; to do what is not right in the eyes of God. I'm OK. You're OK. Everything and everyone is OK. But, everything is not OK. There are still multitudes who are hungry, multitudes who do not know justice, multitudes who are lonely and afraid, multitudes who live without the knowledge of God and His great love for them, and the list goes on.

There is only one way to everlasting peace. That way is through Jesus the Christ.

May His peace be with you always. Pr. J.

Isaiah 11 - The Wolf Will Live With The Lamb As A Little Child Leads Us

A blog can't even begin to touch these marvelous prophecies of Isaiah! They are the predictions of not only Israel from the Assyrians, but they look even more forward than that.  The Davidic line will be no more than a stump, the tree having been cut down. But, from that lineage which has been pretty much decimated, will spring forth a branch, a leader, a king, who wears righteousness as his belt and faithfulness as a sash around his waist. (Isa 11:5 NIV) Isaiah predicts the coming Messiah, who is Jesus the Christ.

The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lordas the waters cover the sea. (Isa 11:6-9)

I find it providential that this lesson is coming up today, even as I have been working on another blog article regarding the wolf. In it, I ponder how to discern the difference between a sheep and a wolf in sheep's clothing and how dangerous it is to the flock to knowingly allow a wolf in disguise to be active in a congregation. So, as I consider this chapter from Isaiah, I wonder if the time has come that has been prophesied where the figurative wolves and the sheep (lamb) can live in peace alongside one another, doing God's will. You all know what I'm talking about. There are wolves in almost every congregation and some of them border on being very carnivorous. They are those antagonists who smile a lot, yet manage to stir up a lot of divisions between the members and sometimes even between the members and the pastor. They come disguised as a little lamb, but inside are ravenous wolves. Yet, God manages to bring it all around to a good purpose and even what seems to be the worse case scenario to us, where the congregation actually closes its doors, maybe in the long run we will see the good that God intended from that, as well. All I know is that somehow He manages to produce fruit through even the wolves. Wolves, sheep, lion, ox, cow, bear all gathering together. Even I can be a bear, at times. In fact, I'm thinking, would I rarely, except maybe by some of our youngest children ever be likened to anything as peaceful as a lamb. We live together, as the one who came to us as a little child, leads us. (Isa 11:6)

Peace is good. It is very good, indeed! May the righteousness of God be the rule in our lives. May peace abide in us and we in the Prince of Peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J