Author: pastorpete51

My Friend Jerry

/ pastorpete51 / 9 Comments

I cannot show you Jerry’s real photo because he lives in a memory care facility, but this smiling gentleman’s picture is close enough. I met Jerry a few months ago when he began coming to our Thursday hymn singing time. Today there was such a crowd of wheel chairs gathered around me, that when Jerry’s son came to visit, he could not even get close to his dad. Finally towards the end of our session one of the nurses managed to manuveur Jerry out of the crowd, and his son Greg gently guided him outside to the porch to sit and talk. On my way out as I passed by I paused to say hello and introduce myself.

Greg looked up at me with a smile and remarked, “You know I was really surprised to hear him singing with you. I can’t ever remember him singing those songs before!”

“Well he sings every week with us now.” I told him as I shook their hands to say goodbye. That little conversation this morning reminded me why I do what I do (besides that Jesus called me to go). There are so many Jerry’s and Nancy’s and Mary’s and Jim’s, who are waiting for someone to sing to them. In those places, there are some who had once put God off to the side, or even locked Him out of their lives for years, but now long to hear of Jesus and His love. They discover a hunger for heaven and the good news is that God still has a seat at His banqueting table reserved for anyone who will come. It is never too late to come to Jesus.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new!

Castaway

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Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. Hebrews 10:35 KJV

The film, Castaway, starring Tom Hanks, tells the story of a pilot who after crash-landing his airplane in the ocean, ends up on a desert island. As the slow plot line dragged on, I found my mind wandering and wishing that something dramatic would happen. Just about anything would do! But the reality was that until help came, there was nothing for this guy to do but talk to a soccer ball he named, Mr. Wilson. In today’s verse God urges us not to do this with our faith. Don’t give up! Don’t lose hope! Don’t become a castaway talking to a soccer ball! Yet when we face what appear to be never-ending challenges to our faith, we are tempted to do just that. But the confidence we have in God is a hope that doesn’t just sit around wishing for rescue; it is spiritual reality with a great reward! “That sounds great,” I can imagine you saying, “But where do I begin?” I suggest we start by another kind of casting.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7 KJV

If we were thrown overboard in a storm, I am pretty sure that none of us would unsnap our life preserver and cast it away. Yet when we face hardships and the very real problems of life, we are sometimes tempted to think that letting go of our faith and trust in God will bring us some relief. The Apostle Peter urges us to do just the opposite. Instead of casting away hope, He tells us to cast away our cares. In the middle of trials, we need to remind ourselves that God still cares for us. His mercies never fail and are new every morning: even mornings that dawn in emergencies rooms or on battle fronts.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 KJV

In the middle of the pressures of life we can have confidence because God cares for us and He carries us, and just as He did for the multitude on a hillside one day, He gives us multiplied bread to provide for our need. Now He is waiting to see what we will do with the bread of His compassion and mercy. Will we just gobble it all own for ourselves, or will we do just a little more casting?

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1 KJV
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Finding Buried Treasure

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments 
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 
Matthew 13:44 NKJV

One Spring Day, as I was getting ready to mow the grass for the first time, I happened to notice a cluster of tiny purple wildflowers growing right in the middle of our lawn. Hating to just cut down such a beautiful sight, I decided to put the mower away for a few days and went into the house. A minute later, I heard a knock on our front door, and when I opened it, I found my neighbor standing there. “I hope you don’t mind,” he sheepishly asked. “But my kids are hoping you would let us have a few of those little flowers growing in your lawn for our flower garden.”  

“Sure! No problem!” I answered, delighted that they loved those little flowers too. So, I hurried and found a trowel, then together we dug out a few clusters, which I slid into a small pot so my neighbor could carry them home. Their simple request reminded me of the treasure in the field, in Jesus’ parable. Because, just like the kingdom of God those blooms were almost overlooked. Just like God’s kingdom, they were a treasure whose value almost no one noticed. We need the eyes of those children who were living next door, who discovered God’s treasure right in our own back yard. Jeus tells us that if we must be willing to humble ourselves and go knock on his door, and ask, and He will be delighted to invite us to dig it up in His word and bring it home to plant it in the garden for our heart!