Memories

Crossing the Bridge

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8 NIV

When I was about fourteen our parents often took my younger sister and I on day trips to the museums in New York. Like the average young boy I was hoping to see dinosaurs , but my step-father decided it was a better education to trudge through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim or anyplace filled with paintings. One day after bringing us over to the Pratt Institute of Art in Brooklyn they decided to head back to Manhattan for lunch. At first I could hear mom say, “Look, there’s the Empire State building, just head that way and we’ll get there!” So, my step-dad headed through downtown Brooklyn towards the landmark which they could see in the distance. I don’t recall much except hearing him say, “I’m not going to stop and ask for directions. They always tell me to turn around and go the other way!” So they just kept driving, always keeping what was then the tallest skyscraper in New York in view. Unfortunately, when we came to the river our parents suddenly realized that they had forgotten they needed to cross a bridge!

Life is often like that. We are pretty sure we know where we need to be going and how to get there but we have forgotten that we need to cross God’s bridge. In Psalm 32, David shares with us how God had helped him out of the very lost part of his life, when he had sinned by having an affair with Bathsheba. But before he could receive God’s promise, David had to stop and ask directions – an act we call repentance. We often delay this as long as possible, because we know that, just like my step-dad, we will be told to turn around and go in the opposite direction.

But, if we will just humble ourselves and admit we are going the wrong way, God has a wonderful promise. First, He says that He will instruct us – In other words He will open His GPS app, called the Bible, and show us the way to the bridge. Next, God promises to teach us. In other words He gives step by step directions at every turn. But the best part comes at the end of the verse when He promises is to guide us with His eye. What an amazing Savior we serve. He is watching right now, wondering what we will do when we finally realize we need to find the bridge! He is always waiting for us to stop and ask for His help and forgiveness. When we do this, He promises that He will lovingly keep His eye on us by coming down, sitting next to us and riding alongside all the way across the river!

This is Going to Hurt!

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For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:7 ESV

Maybe the phrase, “This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you!” is imprinted indelibly in my memory, because it always preceded several well aimed smacks on my behind. It was not that I questioned the truth my step-father’s intentions, it was simply the fact that I never listened to any of the words that came after, and “This is going to hurt!” So when I first came to this passage in Hebrews my mind slipped back in time to those moments of discipline and I inwardly cringed as I waited for God’s punishment to fall.

But, as true as the fact that we need to be disciplined by our heavenly Father, is the reality that it really did hurt God far more than it hurts us. After all, God is correcting us for things we have done wrong but Jesus went as an innocent lamb to the cross to pay for our adoption into His family. Like Thomas we worry that we have been left out of blessings that we think we deserve. But the good news is that Jesus came even for a doubtful Thomas and as showed him the marks of the nails in his hands and the scar from the spear in His side. It’s as if He looked lovingly into Thomas’ fearful eyes and said, “Stop your doubting and just believe. This really did hurt me more than it hurt you, but it was worth it because I want you to be my son!”

For Our Good and Mr Turtle

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

A few folks might have wondered why I haven’t been posting and suffice it to say that the last 4-5 days have been filled with everything I own is breaking. The dryer only works if you shake it, the older of our two cars has an incurable disease that Suzuki doesn’t make the parts for anymore and my new lap top is on its way back to Dell. When God says that all things work together for my good I always wish I got to pick which things. But since that is obviously not the plan of my loving invisible Father I have decided that must mean I need to stop complaining and wishing for what I think of as better times and start doing what I can with what He does give.

One great thing God allowed was that on Saturday we were given permission for the first time to meet indoors with the Seniors from Sunshine Christian Village. Even in Florida, Winter can mean some chilly days for folks coming in on Jazzy scooters and wheel chairs. With the indoor venue it was heart warming to see a larger group come. We were all with masks and spaced about 10′ apart so it was as safe and far more blessed than a trip to Walmart. Unfortunately I can’t show the video yet so I’m posting a classic from a few years back that I pray will be a blessing to you.

Mr. Turtle and Life From the Dead

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31 ESV

Long ago I brought home a little turtle I had found crawling across the road. As I walked in the door that afternoon our two young sons rushed over to see what I was holding. They were so excited to see this curious new pet and they quickly made up a box for him complete with water and grass. But Mr. Turtle wanted nothing to do with his cardboard home. He wouldn’t eat or drink anything. In fact each day he grew weaker until finally he barely moved. We sadly explained to our boys that Mr. Turtle was sick and needed to be set free.  Our car was filled with an atmosphere of mourning as we drove out of town, to find a spot to release him. Finding a quiet wooded area we pulled over then took him gently out of his box and put him on the ground. At first Mr. Turtle remained motionless, but after a minute he slowly eased one foot out of his shell and then the other. Finally he poked out his head, stood up and raced away as fast as his stubby legs could carry him!  Mr. Turtle’s surprising ending reminded me of another story. It made me remember the day that they buried Jesus and walked sadly away. But just three days later He placed first one foot, then the other on the ground; sat up, ran out of the grave and into the light!