2 Peter 3 Scoffers Abound

2 Peter 3 NIV
Scoffers abound! Peter wrote: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." (vs 10) The disciples expected an almost immediate return of the Lord. 2000 years later, we are still waiting and watching for the final judgment on the world. It's a fairy-tale, a fable, a myth, I am told. Just because you do not believe; that does not make it an untruth. "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (vss 8-9)

Scoffers abound! I'm not sure if people have forgotten that the Lord will come again or maybe they just don't believe. The world lives as though they have eternity to live for their own pleasure. Some might even live under the delusion that they can repent on their death beds and they will be saved. That is true, if one truly turns to the Lord. But, one never knows when our final moments will come. It would be wise to be prepared before that day comes. He will come like a thief, without warning, except for the word which we already have.

Be prepared and be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of the lawless. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the glory of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 16 - Apart From Him We Can Do Nothing

With David I say to the LORD: “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”  (vs 2 NIV) God has truly been good to me.  I will not say there have not been rough times.  There were some real tough ones.  There still are.  But, no matter what happens, I know that the LORD is at my right hand.  He is at my side, protecting me, guiding me.  He has filled me with joy in His presence.  He has blessed me with eternal pleasures. 

There is nothing more pleasant, more joyful, than walking, living, in the presence of God!  In the immortal words of Mikey:  "Try it, you'll like it!" 

We have had an extraordinarily pleasant week-end, blessed by the LORD.  Our youth helped lead Worship yesterday morning.  It is always so awesome to see their joy as they participate in serving the LORD.  Zoey received the Sacrament of Baptism, as the children and the whole family of God welcomed her into the Body of Christ.  We ran out of bulletins!  That's a good thing!  And, in the afternoon at our annual benefit concert for Toys for Tots we ran out of space, as usual.  We overflowed into the narthex and the library.  The concert is ecumenical - people of every denomination and congregation gather together to glorify the LORD with their musical gifts and people of every denomination and congregation in the area gather to hear it.  The concert was a huge success!  It produced over $4,000.00 in monetary offerings and toys for children of the area.  Thanks be to God!

God has blessed this people with many gifts.  We have some outstanding gifts of music.  But, the greatest gift He has given us is love - love for one another and love for the one who first loved us. 

We give thanks to God for all His gifts - for apart from Him we can do no good thing.

God's Peace - Pr. J