Mountains

Mountain Moving Faith

/ pastorpete51 / 9 Comments 
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you." Matthew 11:20

I have found that the biggest mountains are right in the middle of my heart. Exchanging my choices, desires, and goals for His, no matter how small a sacrifice, is a mountain moving challenge every day. But every smallest obedience we take is a step of faith. And Jesus tells us in today’s verse that even the tiniest mustard seed step, will release the power of God to cast our biggest mountains into the sea!

And Yet God’s Grace

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…” 2 Corinthians 12:9a

There is nothing I like about weakness, and I loathe the inabilities that have come with age. My fingers sometimes ache when I play my guitar and my voice takes time out for lunch while I am trying to finish a song. There is so much that needs to be done which requires, more strength, endurance and intelligence than I possess – and Yet God inexplicably delights in those moments. When I am no longer capable of once very ordinary things, God’s grace that lay dormant in my younger more capable days, becomes active.

I hate sitting and only listening when I feel I should speak. It is frustrating to spend nights tossing and turning over struggles which should be old hat by now and-Yet God- has promised that even when I can no longer trust myself, I can trust that He will give me grace. His grace is enough in every need. His grace is enough when I cannot understand. His grace is enough when my plans tangle like threads which His fingers alone can unknot and weave into a beautiful tapestry. His grace is enough when I cannot sing a note to give me song in the night. Oh yes – I do not love my weakness – and Yet God- has promised that in my weakness His power and strength will be made perfect, His grace will carry us through, and He will get all the glory and praise!

2 Corinthians 12:9b
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, 
so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   

When Life is Shaken

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

The changes in our government, our way of life and our world have threatened to shake us all to the core. In light of these events especially the news from The Ukraine I was encouraged by what Pastor Rick Warren wrote today.

Everything on earth will eventually crumble—except the church. No business, school, government, or nation will last forever. Only the church will last forever, because it is built by Jesus, and he’s focused on building his family.

Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (NLT).

Are you feeling shaken? God has a place of refuge for you not only in Heaven but also right here on earth. That place is a family…His family , and when we need them the most we have fellow believers to pray with us, come alongside or even just listen. Have a blessed day no matter what that day is looking like in your part of this planet. Jesus’ promises will still be standing long after every evil plan on earth has fallen!