faith

Back to the Valley

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Recently we returned from our trip to Pennsylvania back to Florida. One of my favorite parts of that drive was the view as we descended into North Carolina. It may have looked a lot the same as the disciples came down from the mount of transfiguration. The truth however is that at the bottom of such a beautiful view lie our real life problems.

Instead of a home coming celebration, the first thing waiting for Peter, James and John in the valley was an embarrassing failure of faith. One father who had brought his son to the other disciples for help found out that Jesus’ followers were powerless his child. The harsh facts of suffering appeared to be greater than the prayers of God’s people.

But when Jesus came things changed. Jesus didn’t need a special meeting or even time to think up a solution. He simply said, “Bring him to Me.” When Jesus comes things change. Impossible problems find their answers.

Then Jesus answered … Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Matthew 17:17‭-‬18 NKJV

No matter what we are face to face with in life we can know that Jesus is also coming down into the valley for us. Unbearable circumstances will find release. Our hopeless hearts will receive help. And at the bottom of the valley of our struggles lie God’s answers to every one of our prayers!

Wait Courageously

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Have you ever raced over to the motor vehicles department on your lunch hour? Like me you grip the wheel hoping that the line will be short because you have a limited amount of time. Too often we treat waiting on the Lord like the frustratingly slow line ahead of us as we are forced to sit while those in front of us are served. We stare at the floor studying the pattern on the tiles. We wonder if our turn will ever come.

But waiting on God is not like that at all. With God our waiting time is the most productive part of all. In the silent moment He comes to sit along side of us. Like the Samaritan woman at the well we find Jesus there waiting for us. On His lips is the word of life if we will listen for it. In His hands is a cup filled to the brim with living water.

Wait with strong courage because it is especially in the wait that He will speak and strengthen our hearts!

Strength to the Powerless

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

Are you trusting or even just wishing for God’s help in some area your life this morning? Is it a broken relationship with a family member or the disabling shame of a past memory? God is not far off nor is He waiting for us to get smart enough or strong enough to get it right. In fact Isaiah tells us that it is quite the opposite.

I who am not so great or good at many things am hopeful at His promise. God has a lifeline prepared for folks just like me. He is not looking for someone to impress Him. He is not reserving a seat next to the throne for “important” people. He is simply waiting on us to come to the end of ourselves and find in Him all the strength anyone could ever hope for! What a wonderful God we serve!