faith

Running to the Finish Line

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 1 Timothy 4:7

Sharing this message at Life Care Center last week was a moving experience for me, both as I watched the faces of the residents and thought back over the years of God’s grace and faithfulness in my own race. In long-term care, we have so very few minutes to share the message of Jesus. Each minute matters. Run your race, not someone else’s, and be patient with the other runners. Run with all your strength. There is not another life in which you can give your best. Today is the day of salvation, healing and deliverance, and another day on this planet is not promised. Last of all, we are not running to the finish line. We are running to Jesus who waits beyond the end of our race. He is calling out, “Don’t give up! Don’t turn back! You can do it!” And He waits with the crown of righteousness, not only for those we consider, “The Saints”, but as Paul says, in 2 Timothy 4:8 “For all those who love His appearing.” I pray that the seven short minutes of this video will be an encouragement, a challenge and a blessing. Have a great week everybody!

Are You Ready for the Storm?

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

Many years ago, when I was working at a home in upstate New York, the owner invited us downstairs to take a look as his foundation. On reaching the bottom step, he turned and smiled, then flicked on the lights and pointed. There to our astonishment we saw that the entire back wall, consisted of an enormous rock ledge.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 ESV

In New York, building your house on rock is a curiosity, but here in Florida it would be a miracle. Here we have nothing but sand, and while we have lived here, I have learned it is wise to keep an eye on the forecast from June through September because that is hurricane season. They advise us to have extra water on hand, keep our cars filled with gas, buy a generator, and have an evacuation plan in place. Just like our weather forecasters, Jesus warns that storms are coming, and the question is not whether they will arrive, but whether we are ready. How I wish that the Christian life was like one long sunny day at the beach. But the reality is that health crises come, car accidents happen, and sometimes people we trusted walk out on us. Real life has only three forecasts. We are either in a hurricane, have just come out of one, or a storm is on the horizon. Jesus says that we cannot change the forecast, but we can be prepared by putting into His words practice. Loving our enemies, forgiving one another, turning the other cheek, and spending time in prayer; are not just nice suggestions, good ideas or wonderful ideals. Putting these words of Jesus into practice is the rock foundation that prepares us for the hurricane. Don’t wait for the storm to arrive. Turn to Jesus right now, confess any sin, and ask Him to be Lord of your life. He is the Carpenter of Galilee and only He can help us build our house on the rock!

Sitting By The Pond

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments 
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39 NKJV

I always loved the poetry of Robert Frost, and as a fellow New Englander, deeply appreciate his use of the small details of its seasons. “Birches, The Mending Wall,” and “The Road Not Taken,” all reflect the scenes from my own childhood. Perhaps, “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening,” is the best of all these. For Frost, that moment on a windy hillside gave him pause to think and inspiration to write of things beyond the snow and chill of the evening. But for me, having worked outdoors for forty winters, I am quite content to settle on a bench by our pond in Florida, to think and pray!

“Lord, I’m just tired” I said as the breeze pushed up tiny ripples on our pond. “You are in control.”

Though no answer came, contentment washed over me as I released the pain and exhaustion from my recent surgery to Him. “God, if this is as far as my road is to be, I’m okay with that Lord.”

As I sat, an Ibis, quietly swooped over the surface of the water and a squirrel raced across the branch of a slowly dying sycamore near my bench. Then His voice came, “You’re not finished yet. There are still miles to go.” Then it was silent again. Perhaps unlike us, God feels no urge to elongate His conversations. Just as after Jesus spoke, “Peace be still.” Perhaps He simply listened to the quiet lapping of waves as the disciples rowed. And in my own heart a peace settled in. I could hear only the rush of wings skimming over the waters of my heart and a still small voice saying, “Just a little further child.”