Daily Verse

No More Regrets!

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments 
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV

As I have grown older, one battle I often find myself in, is with letting go of regrets. Oh, I am fully convinced that Jesus has paid the price for my sins, and for reasons beyond my understanding has chosen to include me in His family. But when I look back at parts of my life, that were dominated by selfish actions and choices, I am filled with regret and shame. A few years ago, I turned down the invitation to my 50th class reunion, mostly because of regrets. But God has been working in my heart over this issue, and I thought I would share the hope I am finding with others who struggle with this issue. In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul speaks directly to our problem of regret and makes a differentiation between, godly grief and worldly grief. He says that our grief over our sins cannot be avoided. We must come to recognize that it was our sins that drove Jesus to the cross. Our wicked actions meant His beating, mocking, cruel crown of thorns and nails through His hands and feet. Anyone who simply thinks they may dance into God’s kingdom without passing through repentance, has entirely missed the gospel message. The grief that God intends will bring us to the cross, but it does not leave us there. God does not want us to live our entire lives engulfed by shame, instead He wants us to look up to the face of Jesus and listen to His voice, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus has forgiven all our sins and with them, every regret. God’s will is not for us to live consumed by regrets, but instead filled with praise, both in Heaven, and on earth. We will be far more effective witnesses of His love, forgiveness, and compassion if we release those regrets to God and show others that true repentance is God’s chosen pathway to life, not the place where He wishes for us to pitch our tents. How wonderful the depth, breadth, and height of the love of Jesus Christ! How beyond our understanding is His release from regrets and the loving purpose of His heart!

A Florida Winter Wonderland

/ pastorpete51 / 10 Comments

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: Ecclesiates 3:1 ESV

While I do enjoy seeing the amazing photography of Gary Fultz displaying the beauty of the frozen Winter wonderland where he lives, You should check out his latest post: Winter Wonder Wander However; I with my back against the wall and tired of hanging my head in shame over our own special brand of winter here in Florida, I thought I would share a few snap shots of my own.

God has made everything as well as every place with its own special personality. Those that move to the Sunshine State, thinking Disney, Spring Break and fishing aren’t completely wrong, but the unique features of living here are only appreciated after a few years. Here are just a few of my January favorites. A couple of Sand Hill Cranes hanging out in my friend’s yard, and a juvenile Blue Heron watching the Ibis’s chowing down on my left over chips. Then on on day trip to walk the causeway out to Howard Beach there is a look back over the Inter Coastal Waterway to the mainland, some afternoon clouds kissing the tops of palm trees and the newly painted life guard station. The last two are a wind surfer, just hoping for a bit more wind and a Black Bellied Plover, just hanging out with his buddies. Oh yes, the featured image is the unlikely duo of a Snowy Egret with a Small Blue Heron, tip-toeing across the top of a hedge, and the one at the bottom of the page is a sunset at a local beach. Each of these shots, tells a story and carries with it just a trace of the glory of the Great Creator. So, I tip my hat to you who love shushing through snow drifts, or hiking mountain trails in mid- January. Just don’t forget that God has also created beauty in warmer climes. The wonder of His creation, needs an entire universe to tell just the first chapter of the story of His glory!

Christ Our Life

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 
Colossians 3:2-4 ESV

It was so early that the sun was not even thinking of rising and I was snuggling deep under warm covers when I felt a little hand on my shoulder. As I pried open one eye, I saw the smiling face of our 5-year-old son Ben. “Can we get up Dad?” He asked. “It’s already 6 o’clock and it’s Christmas!” Hearing the eagerness and joy in his voice, any thoughts of being annoyed evaporated. Ben just couldn’t sleep even one more minute, because he was thinking of all the fun of opening presents. That is one of my sweetest memories, but every morning as we wake up, a far less endearing list of questions gets thrown at us. “What will we do first? What will we eat? What will we wear?” Now it’s normal for a five-year-old to be anxious on Christmas, but if we allow anxious thoughts to drag us out of bed every morning, they will change our choices, manipulate our moods, and govern the words that come out of our mouths. They are hoping to hurry us on, without stopping to pray. Their plan is for us to open packages of impatience, selfish thoughts, and nasty words. But today’s verse has wonderful news for those of us who are Christians. It reminds us that we have the ability to say, “No!” to those dastardly door knockers, and “Yes” to the Christ, who is already living inside of us. We may not be able to see Jesus, but by faith we can turn to Him. He is far more than just a part of our day’s agenda. He loved us and died so we could freely receive eternal life. Since Jesus is our life, let’s get up and open the gifts that He has waiting for us today!