Daily devotion

Sharing the Message with the Next Generation

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment 
Now also when I am old and grayheaded O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, 
Your power to everyone who is to come. 
Psalm 71:18 NKJV

Our opinions about old age change when we begin experiencing the aches and pains that usually come along with the passing of years. Our previous criticisms of mannerisms or styles of older folks, begin to sound hollow now that we are one of them! We value our friends and family more and begin to treat them with care. God has taught us to have a tender touch with others now our hands are bruised by difficulties and worn out from serving. In today’s verse, the man who once slew Goliath, is no longer praying for victory in battle. Now, he asks to share with his children, grandchildren and neighbors, his relationship with God. The crown on his head, now sits on gray hair and the power he wields comes from faith. David prays to have the strength to share the wonderful message of how great God is and God answered it in the Twenty-third Psalm. Many assume that David wrote this Psalm as a teen-ager, but scholars tell us that he actually wrote it at the end of his life. In six short verses David teaches us that the Lord is our Shepherd, He leads us on His path and stays by our side through dark valleys. Then, when we are surrounded by enemies, God prepares a feast for us and invites us to His home forever. Now that’s a message I am so glad David shared! If we know Jesus, He also has a message for us to give. We only need to ask Him how.

God’s Kindness Changes One Life at a Time

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Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, 
not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 
Romans 2:4 ESV

It is easy to become overwhelmed with a sense of hopelessness, when reading the headlines of the latest cruelty, perversion or political movement that seems to hate even the merest vestige of Christianity. Such temptations to despair sometimes can get our eyes off of what God has called us to do and call us to respond with harshness, criticism or sarcasm. But Jesus had another way when He faced an unreasonable and seemingly hopeless mission. The path that Jesus took, unleashed the power of God’s kindness.

Yes, Jesus wept over the city, but then He walked down into it and gave His life. No, Jesus did not stop teaching the hard things about the Kingdom of God, but when they nailed Him to the cross, He didn’t hurl angry accusations against His opponents, instead He prayed, “Father forgive them.” How foolish and weak that must have sounded! Forgive? What good would forgiveness do? How could that change the situation? The answer came not only on the third day, when they found Jesus alive again, it also unfolded on the day of Pentecost when three thousand of the people He had wept over repented and believed. Soon all of Jerusalem was shaken, and tens of thousands became Christians. It all began in a moment on a hillside, when judgement seemed the more logical response, but Jesus chose the power of kindness, and that kindness has changed the world. Kindness doesn’t win military victories, elections or Hollywood awards but God’s kindness changes the world one life at a time. I know it has changed mine!

Quiet Sunday Thoughts – Christmas Joy

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10 ESV

Today we begin the first of four caroling events at various Senior facilities in our area. This is our small part in carrying the same message of joy that the angels brought to shepherds 2,000 years ago. Others will bring it to children, some to prisons and some into the marketplaces of our world. The message never changes though every generation hears it in a different way. Jesus came into the world to find us, heal us, shed His blood for our sins and call us to live our lives for Him. We may not know the answers to why the problems and sorrows of life have happened, but God’s message is that Jesus came in the middle of them all and He came for you and me! Now that is definitely a hope that brings comfort and joy! Have a blessed Sunday everyone and pray for our outreach at 2 pm this afternoon!