Flowers

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.

It’s Almost Spring!

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments

The flowers appear on the earth, the of singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle(dove) is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:12

While our year begins in Winter, with the month of January, you might be very surprised to learn that God’s calendar begins with a month called Abib in the Spring and coincided with the barley harvest. Spring was also when the Jewish people celebrated the Passover, their deliverance from Egypt and their beginning as a nation.

But did you know that Abib was also the month when Jesus died?  Just as the Israelites passed through the Red Sea to their freedom, so the death of Jesus on the cross means freedom from the power of sin over us as believers and the beginning of a new life.

So with Easter just two short weeks away, let’s pause and remember that our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead also means the celebration of the beginning of a new life. As we tear off the final page of our calendar every December 31st and put a new calendar on the wall, why not tear off a page this Spring and put a fresh calendar of God’s promises on the wall of your heart. You may just be amazed to watch as He parts the Red Sea and leads you into the freedom of a wonderful new life in Jesus Christ!

Alone With Jesus

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.            Mark 9:2 NIV

One of my favorite hymns begins with the words, “I come to the garden alone.” Those ring in my memory as I take my morning walks or as I sit in my chair with the Bible and a cup of coffee. Often when we read this verse, we think of going up a high mountain, as if to get a better view on life, or about the sight of the clothing of Jesus beginning to shine. But what really gives either one of these facts a deeper meaning is that Jesus first asked for Peter, James and John to be alone with Him.

That makes me wonder when the last time was that my heart was quiet enough to hear the voice of Jesus calling me in the garden or any where else. God does not always lead us up high mountains. There are just as many times when His path leads through the valley of the shadow of death and the garden of Gethsemane to pray. We must be careful to listen.

What matters is not just being alone – but being alone with Jesus. Even if you began today running so fast you failed to hear His voice, He still gives us an invitation to come alone with Him. Whether sitting in a garden, climbing a mountain or carrying a cross, if we will walk with Him and talk with Him, He will share a joy none that other has known. Listen! He wants to be alone with you!