Finding Rest Along the Path

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11 ESV

After traveling twelve hundred miles for a family reunion and then staying a week or so with old friends, on our final day we stopped to visit Steve and his wife Diane. Our kids grew up together with theirs, and though we had not seen each other in a long time it felt like yesterday that they had been going to youth group together. Knowing that Steve had been battling prostate cancer and now that he has elected home hospice care, we had tried twice before to go, but between various nurse’s visits and his not feeling well, it hadn’t worked out till our final day. We really didn’t know what to expect, but when we stepped into Steve’s room we experienced something totally unexpected: the peace of God.

After a moment of greeting and finding places to sit down, Steve greeted us with a smile. Of course we asked the silliest of questions to ask a dying person, “How are you Steve?”

But Steve didn’t seem at all uncomfortable to answer and he knew we meant more than just a report on how he was feeling. So he smiled and said, saying, “I’m okay. I have peace. I know I am going to be with Jesus, but I am sad for my family. Please pray for them, especially Diane.”

Feeling that genuine peace emanating from Steve, we began reminiscing, sharing photos of our grandkids and exchanging stories. Of all the dozens of people with whom we had spent time with on our trip, no one seemed more at rest than Steve. He wasn’t worried about the future, the bills or what he could accomplish. He just knew, without need of explanation, that everything was in the hands of God. Half an hour later, as we stepped out of the doorway, got into our car, and drove away, we left Steve behind, but the reality of his trust in Jesus journeyed home with us. Now in my quiet times, when I am alone, Steve’s smile, and absolute certainty of God’s grace, challenge me to also rest in Christ along the narrow path that He has called for me to walk.

Great Trip – Grateful to Be Home

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

After two weeks and three thousand miles, it was good to be finally pulling into our own driveway Saturday night. Though our journey was cut short by a kerfuffle in our original plans, we were able to spend quality time with old friends and family members some of whom we hadn’t seen in over thirty years. Other than feeling oddly disoriented and slightly worn out, we are grateful for how God has brought us through safe and sound. This morning as I was busying myself with cleaning and planning our next project, it struck me that no matter where we lay our heads at night, we really are never truly home, till we find our home with God. Only He is our Father, our Savior, our Comforter, our Defender, our Hope, our Salvation, and our Dearest Friend. God made a lonely place in the desert, where Jacob’s only pillow was a stone, into the House of God. Isaiah tells of someone who becomes the shadow of a rock in a weary land. David discovered God to be His Shepherd, preparing a banquet table for him in the wilderness. So, wherever you are, no matter how distant from your familiar surroundings, God is able to make it home by His grace. The great question is not where we feel comfortable, but what we learn along our journey, who we have loved and served, and if our heart finds its rest in God.

Along the way, we spent time in the Catskills, a small New England town and at a lake house in the Endless Mountains of NE Pennsylvania. Here are just a few photos from our journey.

Bruised Reeds

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Visiting with our oldest friends, sharing updates on our families over almost forty years is more than just talking over happy times and successes. As we have all grown older, we also have more than a few bruises to show for our journies. Thank God that His promise is for us as well, who are no longer young and restless. He was bruised for our sins, and knows all too well the paths we have walked, because He has walked beside us all the way!