Author: pastorpete51

Gossip Weeds

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So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! James 3:5 ESV

My New England home is famous for its Vermont cheese, maple syrup and Fall foliage, but one lesser-known product which we have in abundance is poison ivy. This lovely plant has nice shiny leaves, prolific annual growth and pretty red berries. Those lovely berries are greatly loved by the birds, which happily gobble them down and then generously plant them everywhere that isn’t paved or under water. In today’s verse, the Apostle James tells us about a far deadlier poison than that in our ivy: That is the poison of our words. A single seed of malicious gossip, whether by text, social media or by phone, can destroy relationships, careers and even lives. James says, that though started by just a tiny spark, that they can set an entire forest on fire. But the good news is that in the same way that gossip spreads, words of grace can also spread, and in an even more powerful way, In Galatians, we are given the list of the kinds of seeds that God wants us to plant:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Galatians 5:22-23a

Right this moment we have the opportunity to begin planting loving words, joyful praises, peaceful phrases, patient encouragements, kind offers, good suggestions, faithful promises, gentle assurances and self-controlled responses. These seeds, when planted in our garden will lead to a far different and better harvest. James ends by calling it:

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:18

Though we must be patient because it will take a season for these seeds to grow, the harvest will be worth it. So, what’s growing in your garden today?

Reagan-movie review

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I rarely review either movies or books, but the new film titled, Reagan was such an excellent experience, I thought I would take a whack. Back in my younger days, though I was far from a liberal, I was fairly skeptical of President Reagan, mostly because he was an actor. I figured he simply played a role well enough to rise to prominence, and though he seemed nice enough, we were too busy raising our young boys to pay much attention to politics.

But back to the movie, itself, first off, Dennis Quaid as Reagan does an amazing job of portraying the president. Penelope Ann Miller also knocks it out of the park as Nancy Reagan. My only knock on the theater experience was the 27 minutes (yes I kept track!) of previews and commercials. My own first lady and I shed more than a few tears especially at the end. If like us, you lived through that time, you will recall many of these events from the 60’s-80’s but seeing them strung together gives a whole new perspective. So, if you have time this week, give this film a chance. It was a real blessing for us!

How is Your Garden of Prayer?

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Pulling Weeds in the Garden of Prayer

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. ForĀ we do not know what to pray for as we ought, butĀ the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Ā Romans 8:26 ESV

In my time as a landscaper, I think I learned more spiritual lessons on my knees in the garden, than on my knees in church. Maybe the most important was that weeds grow far better than flowers, both in a perennial bed as well as in our prayer life. This came to me after spending two days weeding and edging the flower beds at a weekend place in the country of one of my customers. Then on Saturday they ca3lled and asked me to stop by. That morning as we walked around surveying the vast flower beds, Mary Ann turned to me and said, ā€œI canā€™t believe it Peter. Youā€™ve done such a marvelous job. Those flowers are growing so strong that they are choking out the weeds!ā€

For a moment I was struck speechless but deciding that explaining the details of the 16 hours of work it took to make it that way, I simply smiled and nodded. Our prayer life in many ways is not unlike those gardens. When everything is in order and we are seeking God, amazingly things will blossom around us, as God goes to work in every corner of His garden. But when we neglect our time in the prayer closet, it wonā€™t take long for weeds to grow, and those flowers (answers to prayer) will not choke out the weeds. We need to get back down on our knees, and with Godā€™s strength and direction, begin to pull them out one by one. The kinds of weeds that grow are almost endless, but here are three of the most common –

The Weed of Prayerlessness – Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against theĀ LordĀ in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way. 1 Samuel 12:23 KJV

Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com

2) The Weed of Selfishness – You ask and do not receive, because you askĀ wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:3 ESV Ā 

Ā 

3) The Weed of Sleepiness – And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,Ā and he said to them,Ā ā€œWhy are you sleeping? Rise andĀ pray that you may not enter into temptation.ā€ Luke 22:45-46 ESV

We need the Holy Spirit to motivate us ā€“ to direct our hearts, wake us up so that the light of Christ can shine in our hearts again!