Grace

Gone Fishing

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. John 21:3-4

We used to live in a very small town. There was a store, a gas station, and a tiny post office. Moving there from the city was for us something of a culture shock. One of the most intriguing discoveries was to come to the store and find it closed during normal business hours. Usually there was a hand written sign with an explanation such as, “Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 12-3 PM: or “gone fishing”.

In the same way the when disciples didn’t know where to begin with what Jesus had called them to do they decided that going fishing was as good an idea as any. You might think that Jesus would show up and give them a long lecture. But instead of treating the disciples the way any “normal boss” would do He chose instead to show up and cook them all breakfast! Can you imagine the conversation around the breakfast table that morning?

The good news for us is that even when we like the disciples decide to go out fishing, Jesus comes to us with grace. He doesn’t wait for us to get everything just right. So why not remember to share His message of love with the same grace which he gave us when He waited all night for us to come home.

KIMG1749

The Power of Grace

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

I have been reading in my morning devotions about King Solomon. He was blessed by God with wisdom riches and peace. He built the first temple and consecrated it to God. His kingdom was unequaled in all the history of Israel. Beyond all of his accomplishments he also had the experience of God himself appearing to him. Solomon had so much going for him yet sadly he ended his life sacrificing to idols and building their temples. He was so blessed yet wandered so far from God.

Then I look to the New Testament and see the life of Paul. He began with privilege, wealth, and a good place in society. He was religious and respected but he was far from God. Then God appeared to Paul And his life was changed. But instead of being blessed Paul looks like he was cursed. He was rejected, impoverished, arrested and eventually executed.

Paul was confused and prayed for God to change things. It is comforting to realize how much he was just like us. He didn’t have it all together. He didn’t know all the answers. In fact Paul had none of the things we associate with success. But Paul had everything because God gave him grace! The good news is that God has grace available for us at the doctor’s office and in the hospital room. He has grace at the kitchen table filled with unpaid bills. He has grace when we are in a car accident even when it’s our fault. He has grace when we have made bad decisions and when we sin. He is the God of all mercy and our hope for this day!