Month: June 2019

Flying in Formation

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Having spent most of my life outdoors I can attest to the amazing complexity of birds gathering for migration. No single event or calendar day can contain the thousands of interactions that take place as flocks begin to grow. There is a lot of push and pull, as they swirl back and forth in every direction for weeks. But if things go according to design the day finally comes when they decide to form up and head for their Winter home.

Our family has experienced so many of the same issues that God has taught the birds how to overcome. There have been many conflicts and sorrows, changes and difficulties. But all through the years there has also been an overriding force that has kept us together. That force in our family has been the love of Jesus Christ. He continues calling us together in spite of all our differences. He seems to specialize in knitting our hearts together in times of adversity. He has worked tirelessly, day and night, year after year to teach us to fly in loving formation. All of this Jesus does, not simply to force us into His path; but rather to prepare us. He has looked at the forecast and He knows we need to prepare. He sees that just ahead lies a Wintertime and we must form up and be ready for our journey home!

Back to the Valley

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Recently we returned from our trip to Pennsylvania back to Florida. One of my favorite parts of that drive was the view as we descended into North Carolina. It may have looked a lot the same as the disciples came down from the mount of transfiguration. The truth however is that at the bottom of such a beautiful view lie our real life problems.

Instead of a home coming celebration, the first thing waiting for Peter, James and John in the valley was an embarrassing failure of faith. One father who had brought his son to the other disciples for help found out that Jesus’ followers were powerless his child. The harsh facts of suffering appeared to be greater than the prayers of God’s people.

But when Jesus came things changed. Jesus didn’t need a special meeting or even time to think up a solution. He simply said, “Bring him to Me.” When Jesus comes things change. Impossible problems find their answers.

Then Jesus answered … Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Matthew 17:17‭-‬18 NKJV

No matter what we are face to face with in life we can know that Jesus is also coming down into the valley for us. Unbearable circumstances will find release. Our hopeless hearts will receive help. And at the bottom of the valley of our struggles lie God’s answers to every one of our prayers!

Wait Courageously

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Have you ever raced over to the motor vehicles department on your lunch hour? Like me you grip the wheel hoping that the line will be short because you have a limited amount of time. Too often we treat waiting on the Lord like the frustratingly slow line ahead of us as we are forced to sit while those in front of us are served. We stare at the floor studying the pattern on the tiles. We wonder if our turn will ever come.

But waiting on God is not like that at all. With God our waiting time is the most productive part of all. In the silent moment He comes to sit along side of us. Like the Samaritan woman at the well we find Jesus there waiting for us. On His lips is the word of life if we will listen for it. In His hands is a cup filled to the brim with living water.

Wait with strong courage because it is especially in the wait that He will speak and strengthen our hearts!