Joy

Rock and Roll in 1739

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments 
The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. Matthew 28:8 NLT

On Easter morning when the news broke out that Jesus had risen from the dead, I can’t imagine that the disciples simply sat down to discuss it quietly over a cup of coffee. Noooo!!! They were ecstatic, fearful and shocked all at the same time! Why should we sing the hymns of Easter with any less exuberance? Back in 1739, when Charles Wesley first composed Christ the Lord is Risen Today, His lively version would have struck the church leaders in the same manner that a rock concert at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral might ruffle some feathers today. But the joy of Christ, the power of His resurrection and the hope of life from the dead ought to rouse us today. No matter what we face or are going through right now, let that truth sink into your heart: “Christ the Lord is Risen Today! Hallelujah! Sons of men and angels say: Hallelujah!!!”

Unspeakable Joy

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 Peter 1:8 KJV

I love that, Peter, who had walked on water with Jesus, seen Him transfigured on the mountain and had a meal with Him after the resurrection, intersects with our world. Peter encourages us that even though we will never have the privilege of seeing Jesus with our own eyes, that it is God’s plan for us to experience a glorious unspeakable joy. I confess that most days, I miss out on that joy. I get so preoccupied with busyness, problems, or sorrow that I forget about Jesus. Like Peter did on the day He walked on water, I get my eyes on the wind and waves, or when I do experience a little of His glory, I end up sidelined by religious duties as Peter did when he offered to build three tabernacles on the mountain while Jesus stood shining before them. But, just as Jesus waited for Peter, after fishing all night, so He waits for you and me. No, we will not see him through the morning fog on the beach, but we can see Him through eyes of love and faith on the shoreline of our situation today. Jesus still walks out on the wind and waves to our boats, waits at the manger and lingers outside the empty tomb until the eyes of our heart recognize Him. Then – oh the joy that enters into the holy place of our hearts! Though not seeing, if we simply believe, God has promised to give us an unspeakable joy through all eternity through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

A Cheerful Heart

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments 
A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17:22 NKJV

In the last two and a half weeks, we have been through two hurricanes, an evacuation, a flood and are hosting a lady and her dog who lost their home. (Did I mention no garbage pick-up or mail!) With so much craziness it is easy to lose sight of the blessings that God has showered us with during this time. So, I thought now would be a great time to list a few of the blessings we have to be thankful for.

!) Banjo our foster dog and my new walking buddy –

2) A beautiful swan along with his buddies the ducks who greeted us at our evacuation home.

3) The lemon tree dropped enough lemons to make lemonade!

4) In the middle of all the disasters around us we never lost power!

5) I found a place to buy coffee this morning!

6) Friends, family members and neighbors we haven’t heard from in a while called to check in on us.

7) God has been with us every step of the way, kept us in health and taught us to count our blessings through everything ahead!