faith

No Care in Prayer

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6 KJV

If this were my letter I would have written, “Things are terrible here in prison. Please pray and if you can, send me a warm sweater and a box or two of cookies!” But instead, Paul writes to encourage his friends that God answers prayer, even while he is sitting in a cold Roman jail.

He begins by telling them, “Stop worrying!” That is because being in trouble, is like driving on an icy road. Prayer is our steering wheel; faith is the accelerator and worry our brakes. If our car starts to slide, the worst thing we could do is slam on the brakes. To put our foot on the brakes means taking it off our gas pedal of faith. A situation without faith will always skid out of control and directly towards the ditch. Instead, Paul tells us to grab hold of the steering wheel of prayer. We may not be able to change our circumstances, but we can always pray. It is as if Paul is saying, “Stop gripping the steering wheel in fear, instead relax and thank God.” When we give thanks in a crisis, is like gently keeping our foot on the accelerator of faith so we keep our traction on the road. Does it feel like your life is sliding out of control this today? Trust God and pray and He promises that a peace greater than we can understand will guard our hearts bring us safely on the road towards home!

I really love listening to David Wesley’s acapella renditions of some of the classic hymns of the church. I hope you will not only enjoy “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, but also listen and watch the short documentary at the end about Joseph Scriven. Have a blessed week everyone!

Precious Promises

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2 Peter 1:4 ESV

We used to keep a little box on the kitchen shaped like a loaf of bread that was labeled “Precious Promises.” I would occasionally pull one out, quickly read it, then slip it back in place. It was cute and made me think of God’s word a little, but I was missing the great and very precious part.

That part has come in the battles of real life. When my back has been up against the wall like this week as we sit in my sister-in-law’s house waiting to hear the next phone call from the hospital. Peace that is more than I can understand is now more true and precious. Peace not given as the world gives is greater than ever. Peace that has walked with me as I clean the house, sort through the memories of old photographs and knickknacks. Peace from Jesus that promises that our real life is hidden with Christ in God.

And then we have been wonderfully surprised as God has been merciful and granted Diane a reprieve. What seemed hopeless to Doctors last week when we flew across the miles has now changed to gradual improvement and they have scheduled for her to come home. “Miraculous recovery.” They are saying and those promises of our great and precious God are more real than ever. Not because of our perfect faith or prayers but because of the power of the grace of Jesus we are each granted promises, each one drawn out of a heavenly promise box at our times of greatest need. How amazing and loving is our Father in heaven. His plans are so much more wonderfully complex and wiser than ours! Thank you everyone who has been praying for us. This Sunday that begins Holy week we are simply overwhelmed with our weakness and amazed at how God’s strength is carrying us along. I love to take photographs of wild flowers so I’ll post a few from my morning walks here in California as a cheerful reminder to us all of the care God has for each of our lives.

The Captain’s Voice

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

L ord, if it’s really you,” said Peter, “tell me to come to you on the water.” – “Come on, then,” replied Jesus. Peter stepped down from the boat and did walk on the water, making for Jesus. But when he saw the fury of the wind he panicked and began to sink, calling out, “Lord save me!” Matthew 14:28-30 Phillips

One of the strongest memories I have of my Navy Captain grandfather is his voice. That low rumble that usually encouraged or joked with his grandchildren, could in an instant change. It didn’t get louder it just lowered even further and became the voice of command in our house. “Now hear this.” he would say with a power and ring of authority that snapped all of us to attention. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that when Jesus called Peter to come out to him on the water, His call was spoken with such power that even over the wind and waves Peter could clearly heard him,and it gave him the courage to obey.

Photo by Matt Hardy on Pexels.com

Right now my wife and I are being called out on the waters with the life of my sister-in-law drawing to a close. We are heading out to California to say our good-byes to a sweet precious lady who is also my wife’s best friend. Walking daily in such a life is more than challenging, it is overwhelming. Like Peter, we are overwhelmed by wind and waves and aren’t so sure we are ready to walk on water in the weeks ahead. But Jesus is calling us with a voice that fearlessly echoes out over our dark waters and carries with it both His peace and a command to venture out. Hearing His voice means that He is out there waiting for us. Our assurance is that our way is not just about difficulty, it is about the miracle of the presence of God’s Son. With His call comes His promise, to reach down and pull us out of the waters so we can walk with Him.

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”   Matthew 14:31 NKJV