God’s Love

God Loves You!

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments 
 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life John 3:16 ESV

Marie* wants to see you in the cafeteria after the message” they told me. Marie suffered from Parkinson’s Disease that often leads to depression, and that afternoon she was so depressed that she hadn’t come in for our song and prayer time at her nursing home. As I went in to sit with Marie, she began to cry and took hold of my hands blurting out, “God hates me!” 

She felt isolated from the outside world, because no old friends ever came to visit, no family came for her birthday or Christmas. “What in the world can I say?” I wondered. What good news do I have to share with her?” Then I remembered the verse we all learn in Sunday School, and I said, “God loves you, Marie! Because the Bible says, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…” At those simplest of words, Marie calmed, her face brightened, and she happily listened as I took my guitar back out of its case to sing her favorite hymn, “In the Garden”, and afterward we prayed together.

Maybe you aren’t in a facility, and don’t have Parkinson’s, but at some time in our lives we all face moments like Marie did. No one understands our hearts, and it feels as if God has turned His back or simply forgotten about us. In those darkest of moments, we have to remind ourselves that just as God did not forget Marie, He has also not forgotten us. Though we may not be the richest person in the world, we have its richest hope, because we have received the lavish gift of God’s love. We also need to remember that there are Marie’s and Bettys, Bob’s and Joe’s all around us every day. There are people we bump into at the store, on the street corners or even in our family, who desperately need to hear about the hope of God’s love. Yes, “God so loved the world!” So, why not pass that great hope of Jesus on to others today?

The Table of the Lord – Part Two

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment 
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Song 4:2 NKJV

Though no one seems to know who wrote the chorus, “His banner over me is love!”, based on this verse, it became one of our favorites worship songs back in the early 1980’s. As a young person back then, I didn’t understand what the words meant, nor did I even realize it was from the Bible, but it was lots of fun to sing! On this second day of looking at the Lord’s Table this song reminds me that, God not only prepares a table for us, but He also has spread a banner over that table. His banner shields us spiritually, in the same way that shelters which people set up on the beach in the Summer protect them from the sun. This banner also designates us as His people, like a team flag tells you which university your players represent. Anyone seeing us under its shadow, will know that we belong to God. Then last, but certainly not least, God’s banner of love, like a privacy lattice we put on our back porch, gives us an intimate place where we can share a meal together. So, when God invites us to His banqueting table, remember that He doesn’t just shout “Come and get it!” Instead, He sets up His banner of love over His table, and then gently and lovingly beckons us to come and sit with Him, hear His voice and delight in His presence. If your Christian life seems to resemble more of an assembly line of activities, demands and expectations, maybe it is time to step back, take a deep breath and begin singing again. “He brought me to His banqueting table. His banner over me is love!” P. S. I hope you will enjoy listening to the Cedarmont Kids show us how it is supposed to be sung!