Hymns

Two or Three

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Yesterday when I got home from the store I discovered three doves by our front door. They reminded me of the scripture of two or three gathering in Jesus name. They were so peacefully hanging out that I hated to disturb them by getting out of the car. Of course Jesus isn’t surprised by finding us together because He knows all things, but I get the sense that He delights in finding us praying together. Can’t you picture Jesus quietly tiptoeing in so as not to scare us away?

This coming weekend I would love to have some of you to pray for a small prayer gathering at a fountain in a senior village by a long term care facility. As some of you know our nursing home ministry has been limited to sending videos, cards and flowers since March. But wonder of wonders I was invited to play some hymns for this outdoor meeting on Saturday. Some of the folks from our home group are coming and we are excited to see this small beginning. I hope everyone is having a good week. God bless and I hope to be back with a great report on Saturday. Blessings all!

Jesus Our Shepherd

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 ESV

We are nearing the six-month mark of a life that is completely different from anything we have known before. No plan, no relationship and no expectation has gone untouched. Churches have services online; large companies battle just to stay afloat, and the doors have been closed to family and visitors of long-term care facilities. But through everything you may have been through this year Jesus remains the Good Shepherd for anyone who comes to Him.

What exactly is a good shepherd? An ordinary shepherd is just the one who owns sheep, but a good shepherd is someone who cares about them. An ordinary shepherd drives his sheep where he wants them to go; but a good shepherd goes ahead of them to make sure the way is safe. Jesus told us that He is the good shepherd and that to make the way safe for us He gave His life. If we follow Him; He promises to walk ahead of us through everything that lies ahead. Why would we put our trust in anyone else? Only Jesus has given His life. Why not make Him our Good Shepherd today?

Surrender to the Potter

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Have you ever worked with clay? Probably Jeremiah had not, so when God wanted to explain His will He invited the prophet to take a walk with him down to the potter’s house.

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear Or will cause you to hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel.  And the vessel he was making of clay was ch. spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Jeremiah 18:1-4 ESV

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

If you are like me there are days when you feel as helpless as clay in the grip of events far beyond your control. “Have Thine Own Way” sung by Deborah Kim reminds me of the comfort He gives when I realize that it is God who is in control of the potter’s wheel. God doesn’t expect me to understand all the details of His plan. He doesn’t ask me to form the pattern of my future. He only waits for me to humbly surrender His almighty hands. So whether we are in the middle of a hurricane or simply drifting through unknown waters we need to ask; “Have I surrendered my heart and will to Jesus today?” At that moment of yielding to His hands He becomes my potter and more wonderfully still – we become His clay!

“While I am waiting – Yielded and still.”