Dawn

Early in the Morning

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: Genesis 19:27

Often when we think of early morning prayer times, a picture of a hot cup of coffee and a Bible in your hand comes to mind. But Abraham had a different idea. He went outside and found a place to stand and listen to God. I can identify with Abraham because I have loved waking up super-early since I was a kid. One of my earliest memories is hearing my mom say, “Go back to bed, it’s only six o’clock!” Maybe I was hungry or maybe I just felt that I might miss out on something exciting if I lay under the covers any longer. Either way mornings remain special to me and today that time includes going outdoors, weather permitting. While I am out walking around our neighborhood, the song that often comes to mind is “This Is My Father’s World.” According to the story, this was also the hymn writer’s inspiration when he would head outside, telling his wife, “I’m going out to see my Father’s world.”

Some versions have attempted to “Improve” the song by removing all Father and male references. Such silly theology misses the point that we have not just a God but a Father in Heaven. He watches over us all through every night and is waiting every morning to greet us and speak to us about our day. There is nothing more important that we could do than to stand before him and listen. One day we will all stand before the Lord, why not freely chose to do so today? No one could ever love us like a Father who sent His only Son for us that we could spend every morning with Him in Heaven and worship at His feet!

Since it is Father’s day week I thought I would share my Father’s day video this morning which includes This Is My Father’s World. Have a blessed day everyone!

Jesus Returns at Dawn!

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Titus 2:13

My wife had always dreamed about us relaxing and enjoying a few days on a carefree cruise. Since I was afraid of being out on the ocean that didn’t sound at all relaxing to me, but I finally agreed and we booked a four-day cruise to Cozumel Mexico. Strangely the tension and nervousness I felt as we boarded the ship gradually subsided. As we began to experience life aboard the beautiful ship, Nancy was delighted with the delicious food, friendly staff and the romantic music in the ballroom.

But above anything I found on the ship, the most amazing thing to me was the sunrise at sea. I suppose for those who have been on ships the sight of the first rays of dawn streaking across dark waves is ordinary. But as I held on to the railing with one hand, while, clutching my camera in the other I was stunned by the beauty of an endless ocean painted with the colors of dawn.  

In the same way, the Christian life is something like a cruise though not without its storms and trials. Often God blesses us way beyond anything we expect or deserve along the way but we must never forget that we have an invitation to the most amazing event of history – the return of Jesus Christ. Just as the sky had already brightened and the sea begun to shimmer with the approach of the dawn, so also we already have some of God’s light beginning to shine in our lives. But we have a blessed hope and a longing in our hearts for something more. That is a hope which will carry us through every dark night and every violent storm. Our hope and His promise is that one day Jesus will return. We can choose to either live our life fearfully huddled below or we can go out onto the deck with the hope of catching the first gleam of dawn!  

Just as Day is Breaking

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

Every morning Jesus is standing at the shore in our life. He is waiting for us to recognize Him and come running. He has watched us all night as we worked hard without him to fish.

Jesus is waiting at our shore eagerly anticipating our arrival with fresh bread and fish on the fire. He is willing to share all He has with us when we pull in our nets once more at His command.

Jesus is standing on our shore waiting for us to see Him, waiting to share and waiting with a question. “Do you love Me?”.

Let us answer as Peter did, “Lord you know all things. You know that I love you.”

Then Jesus reminds us all once again. “Feed my sheep!”