Peace

The best part of being at the beach this afternoon, was not jumping in the water to cool off, but feeling the breeze quiet my heart and mind. It has always intrigued me how Jesus never said that the world did not offer peace. He only said that the peace He gives is different (and way better) than what this world can offer us.

It’s not that the peace we can find on this earth is always bad, but rather it is always temporary. We had to come home from the beach, tomorrow we go to the doctor and then come blood tests and then come bills and on and on. The peace that calmed my heart for a moment at the shore will be forgotten but God’s peace rests on the unchanging truth of His word. His promise of life, forgiveness and rest for my soul stretch on past the horizon of eternity. Peace more sure than a river and broader than all oceans is available any time and any place in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

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Going with God

After 16 years of Sundays this was our last at New Covenant Fellowship. Serving as assistant pastors with our Brazilian brothers and sisters has forever changed and marked our hearts and lives. We have learned so much more than just Portuguese and how to enjoy a good plate of Vaca Atolada ( cow stuck in the mud), we have been adopted into a family. Just as in any family we’ve had our share of struggles and tears but in the end our hearts have been forever knit together by the love of Jesus Christ. We entered in to the church with hope and last night as they prayed for us a blessing we were given the verse from Isaiah 55: ” you shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace…”

In Portuguese there is a farewell exchange : ” Vai com Deus” “Go with God” to which you reply “Fica com Deus” , “Stay with God”. That is what our hope and prayer has been. It has been a great honor to have served and as we go out with their blessings our prayer is that God’s blessings will remain in the hearts the hands and families of our church.

Where ever God is leading you today may you also experience His blessings as you go out with joy and His peace leads and directs your path!

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or you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.55.12.NKJV

Walking in Light

Are you puzzling through making hard decisions today. Does it seem like everyone else knows what to do except you? Slow down and relax. Jesus told us that everything in life boils down to just two things…loving God and loving our neighbor. I have discovered that when I put aside all my trying to figure everything out and simply choose to love, that God takes control. He stills storms, multiplies bread and forgives sin, then guides me right down the road He has chosen all alonf!

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