Prayer

Jesus is Right on Time!

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”          John 11:21-22 ESV

Just like Martha we spend a lot of time worrying when Jesus is going to show up. I have an expectation that He must do something but no matter how much I fuss or complain about my problem, Jesus sticks to His own timetable. But if we will we still believe like Martha, then He just might surprise you with a miracle. Someone once said, “The hurrier I go the behinder I get.” Though it sounds funny it is no fun experiencing it. After all they had done for Jesus, Martha and Mary were probably shocked when He didn’t come to help their brother. Maybe they began to wonder if Jesus was as kind and loving as they thought. But they both knew in their hearts that Jesus hadn’t forgotten them. Even though Martha couldn’t understand she still believed that somehow He could still come to help. At the deepest point in her sorrow she still believed that it was not too late!

Part of our struggle is that God doesn’t have the same goal that we do. When Jesus waited an extra few days while Lazarus died it must have seemed cold hearted. After all hadn’t he already healed hundreds of other people? Why wouldn’t He come as fast as possible to heal one of His closest friends? But God had something better in mind. He didn’t just come for healing…He came for resurrection!

Let’s Talk

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So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  John 21:15

There is an old gospel song that says, “So let us have a little talk with Jesus” When we think of having this short conversation it mostly comes to our minds what we will say. But there are times when we need to let Jesus talk first! Our verse today is about a conversation that Jesus had been trying to have with Peter for years. In the past sometimes Peter got it, like the time when he said, “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God!” But sometimes Peter didn’t know what to say and yet he talked anyway. (Sound familiar) And sometimes Peter just liked to boast such as when he said;

“…Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” Matthew 26:33

Even though Peter felt that because of his failure his life was over Jesus still loved him and still had a job for him to do. That was good news for Peter as well as for all the rest of us.

If you are reading these words it’s a sure thing that your life isn’t over either and Jesus wants to with you. It doesn’t matter how recently we have messed up or even how many times we have failed. God’s plan depends only on our willingness to listen and then do what He says; “Do you love Him? Then go take care of some of His lambs!”

Back to the Garden

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“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. John 15:1

Back in 1970 Joni Mitchell wrote the now unforgettable song titled “Woodstock.” A famous line says; “We’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.” Perhaps today in the midst of rioting, shutdowns and general societal chaos a lot of us feel that same longing to be able to get back to that first garden… the Garden of Eden. Though I have always loved Joni Mitchell both as a song writer and singer; the hope for returning to the innocence of creation’s garden doesn’t lie within ourselves. The path to that place runs through another garden where the body of our crucified Lord was buried. There on the third day when they came to find Him He was not to be found (At least not at first). But Mary Magdalene remained behind even when everyone else had gone home. By going and waiting in that garden she discovered that Jesus had been there waiting all along. Today He is there still waiting for you and I. It is the Garden of Prayer and He longs for us to come and meet with Him there.