nursing homes

Where is Jesus?

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. John 7:45-46 NIV

Can you imagine the scene of today’s verse? Here was a squad of trained, professional soldiers, coming back from their assignment, which had been to arrest Jesus. But instead of bringing in the Rabbi they had been authorized to detain, they show up on the doorstep empty handed. “Where is Jesus?” their commanders asked. “Why are the handcuffs empty?”

“You don’t understand sir,: the captain of the detachment replies. “No one ever spoke like this man!” You see, it isn’t just during our worship time, that the things of earth can grow strangely dim. This little story tells us that when Jesus was seen for who He truly is, even His enemies weren’t sure what to do with Him. We may try to look away, but His eyes hold ours, His words penetrate our hearts and the power of His presence is more than we know how to deal with. Today it is two thousand years later, but people are still asking, “Just who is this Jesus?” The answer of our faith is that, He is the King of kings and the Lamb of God. He is the carpenter from Nazareth and the Word of God in human form. Jesus is the beginning and the end. He is the bright and morning star. Jesus is the Holy Son of the Living God and the Savior of the world. He humbly rode in on a donkey, but one day He will victoriously return on a white horse. Are you ready for all of who Jesus is? Am I? Why not turn our eyes upon Jesus this morning? Let’s look full in His wonderful face, before we go out to face the world, so that we will be empowered to report to others, “No one ever spoke like this man!” I pray you will be blessed by this simple version of the old hymn, along with the short message, from our Sunday service at Watermark.

River of Life

/ pastorpete51 / 11 Comments 
But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 ESV

I remember having a cistern for a few years, when we lived on a farm. It was filled with rain water, during the rainy times and in drought we called for a water truck to come and fill it. The water was kind of okay, but the day we were able to replace the cistern with a deep well, the transformation was unbelievable. Cool clean water flowed endlessly from our well, and the taste was wonderful! Jesus promised us the same. Before we have Jesus, we may have religion - maybe even the Christian religion. But our spiritual life is stale because, none of it is coming from within. All we have is dependent on an outpouring in church or a teaching from the pulpit on Sunday. But when we come directly to Jesus for ourselves, He creates within us a well of water that is dependent on no one but on Him. Neither circumstance, nor failure can un-dig the well that Jesus gives. All we need is now available directly from His presence that has come and made a home in us. 

When I first became a Christian, many years ago, one of the first songs that I learned at church was "Spring Up O Well" It was short, easy to sing and upbeat, but it also it tells a truth that we need to daily remind ourselves of. That well of that comes from the living water that Jesus gives, is promised to every one of us who comes and asks Him for a drink. You might think that because of the bouncy nature of the music that it is a more recent composition, but in all actuality the words were written by Mary Lathbury all the way back in 1884! This week, I was blessed to have been able to go back to the nursing home after having Covid (again!) and had a blast teaching this to our people. Since it was unfamiliar to many, many folks just listened, but by the smiles on their faces as they clapped along I could see that it will soon be a favorite. I hope you will enjoy and maybe in join in with us too on our sweet little song video for this week. Have a blessed weekend everyone!

Looking Out the Windows

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

‭‭Psalm 68:5 ESV‬‬ Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

As I walked up yesterday, I saw Norma’s hands pressed against the glass door panels of the memory care ward. She stòod there looking out and wondering if anyone would open the door for her again, as they did when she was young and lovely. But now, the door is locked. She cannot leave, nor can anyone enter without being buzzed in. There is little fresh air, no place to walk in a garden, no bench to sit at in a park, nor any birds to feed. There are just two hallways, an activity space with a television and a small lunch room. Visitors are few and the staff is often overwhelmed both mentally and physically. But God remembers. He knows her name, her heart and every sorrow. He came to earth not only for the strong, the young and comfortable. He came because He remembered all the Norma’s, and offered Himself as a friend and a Father, who has counted every hair and then gave His life on the cross for us all.