Take Time to Rest!

 Recently, my wife and I took a few days off and headed to Ocean City, Maryland. On the way home, we stopped at Rehoboth Beach. There we encountered something we had never seen before: the replenishing of a beach. While several ships off shore were sucking up sand and sending it shoreward, large bulldozers and other pieces of equipment worked hard taking the sea soaked sand once it arrived and spreading it out over the ever expanding beach. 

Beach replenishment is necessary because of the existence of beach erosion. The constant pounding of the surf against the shoreline causes tons of sand to be swept out to sea every year. Across the course of a few years, that adds up to a lot of missing sand! 

Our souls are a lot like a beach. Living in a fallen world and an ever increasing secular age, our souls take a never ending pounding. Therefore, just as a beach needs replenishment over time, so our souls need to be replenished. How do we do this? Simply put ... we need to find rest for our souls. To do so, we must step away from life's constant pressures and turn our minds toward Christ. Jesus invites us to do so as he says to us all, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28).

I pray you will make time to find some rest in the midst of this "hurry up" world in which we live. Christ is waiting for you. What's keeping you from accepting his invitation today? 

Thanks for stopping by,

PJ

The Biblical Etiquette for Approaching Our King

If you or I were to receive an invitation from Buckingham Palace to have a private audience with the king of England, you could be sure we would be instructed on the proper etiquette we would need to display as we approached the king. I am guessing that for some of you, such an invitation would not be that big a deal. But given America’s infatuation with the British monarchy, for many of you it would be an experience of a lifetime. 

For those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus, we have a far greater privilege … That of approaching a king, not of some earthly kingdom, but the King of all kings, Jesus Christ. Yet too many of us, myself

included, don’t give much thought as to how we are to approach him. Tom Stallter in his excellent book, The Gap Between God and Christianity, makes it clear how we are to approach our God. Please take a moment to read what Stallter has to say and take them to heart the next time you approach our King in worship and prayer. 

“We must approach him with the all-embracing humility that we do not know all there is to know about him and how he may work in our world and other people’s lives. We must, instead, approach him with overwhelming gratefulness for what he has given us in his Word. We must retain a humble heart and mind allowing him to act in ways that are his own, realizing there is mystery in what we do not know.” 

Together let’s take his words to heart, knowing God is God and we are not! 

Thanks for stopping by, 

PJ

Unparalleled Love

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's most read poem, Sonnet 43, is better known by the words of its first line: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." The poem, published in 1850, is believed by most critics to be a declaration of the poet's love for her husband and fellow Victorian poet, Robert Browning. Her love for him was strong and passionate! 

This poem came to mind as I was reflecting on the reality that tomorrow is Valentine's Day. A day in which we are reminded of the joy of love. Indeed God has blessed me with a wife whom I have loved since the day we first met over 48 years ago. Rare is the day I do not thank God for bringing the two of us together. 

But Valentine's Day is also a good day to remind ourselves of One whose love for us is unmatched. For it was while we were yet sinners that Jesus Christ gave up his life for us! What love he has for us! As I began to reflect upon his affection for his people, I thought I would take liberty with Barrett Browning's poem and rewrite it from the perspective of Christ. 

How do I love you? Let me count the ways.

I love you no matter how far you might fall

Or how often you fail to give me your all.

Though you may deny me or often defy me, 

My love for you never ever loses its gleam.

Your heart may be prone to wander, 

But my heart for you only grows fonder.

 

So you ask me how do I love you?

Take a look at the palms of my hands, 

For next to the scars you will see a brand,

That I will carry with me for all eternity

Your name engraved for everyone to see. 

Thanks for stopping by,

PJ

When the Ground We Stand upon Gives Way

In the early morning hours while most were asleep, a powerful earthquake struck portions of Turkey and Syria on Monday. No warning sirens blared. No evacuations were ordered. All was dark and quiet as it should have been. Then the ground began to shift and shake. Hundreds if not thousands of buildings collapsed into piles of rubble. Thousands were killed. Tens of thousands

were injured. Multitudes were left with no where to sleep but the cold, snow covered ground. 

Our hearts go out to the victims as our prayers ascend to heaven. This is a human tragedy that will mark many for the rest of their lives.

I am guessing that most reading this blog post will not have experienced much beyond a mild tremor when it comes to earthquakes. At least literal earthquakes. But what about earthquakes of another kind. The ones that so rock our world that it feels like the ground we stand on is giving way. Everything we count on to bring stability to our lives is turned upside down. 

Since we are broken people living in a fallen world we will all face such times. If not today. Tomorrow. If not tomorrow. Next week or next month or next year. I am not being pessimistic just realistic. So, when life begins to collapse around us, what can we grab hold of that will keep us on our feet? Or perhaps, better said, WHOSE hand can we grip as we begin to lose ours? The Sons of Korah give us the answer in Psalm 46:1-3. But before looking at the first verse, consider verses 2-3:

2 

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 

though its waters roar and foam,

    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 

The writers here are describing an earthquake. In doing so, they are saying even if some sort of calamity falls upon us so that everything that brings stability to our lives is shattered, we do not have to fear! We need not go to pieces. Why so? Their opening verse gives the answer: 

God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

2 

So when life begins to seem like it's falling apart, we can flee to Christ. He is our refuge. We are safe in his arms. He is our strength. He is always near! So reach out and grab the hand that Jesus is always extending to you. He will help you to stand when you can't stand on your own! 

One last thought before I sign off. Though we cannot travel to Turkey and Syria to help, we can “lend a hand” in the relief effort by opening our wallets and making a contribution toward the aid that is so desperately needed!

Thanks for stopping by, 

PJ 

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Recently I read the following rather sobering assessment: "Data published in 2020 by the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that the U.S. could see a shortage of 54,100 to 139,000 physicians by 2033. That shortfall is expected to span both primary- and specialty-care fields."

After reading this, I found myself nodding my head in agreement. I was NOT surprised. I am guessing you are not either. For all of us who need to see a doctor, whether it be our primary care physician or a specialist, we are growing more accustomed to being scheduled days, weeks, or even months out! So yes. We could certainly use more doctors (as well as nurses, imaging techs, pharmacists, etc.). Good bodily health demands it! 

There is much better news when it comes to the health of our souls. In this case, we have only one doctor. He is the only one we need. Our Great Physician, Jesus Christ,
is on call 24/7/365. His capacity for patients is unlimited. His wisdom to diagnosis our need is infinite. His bedside manner unmatched. So no matter your heart need, you can go to Christ and find his loving care. Depressed? He is the light of the world. Broken hearted? He is the one whose heart was broken for us. No matter our need, he, our gentle and lowly shepherd, will take us in his arms and comfort, heal, encourage and strengthen us. Hallelujah, what a Savior! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

PJ

"Behind Every Great Man . . . "

 

It's been said often that behind every great man is a great woman. In the case of Abraham Lincoln there is little doubt this proved true. 

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, is arguably one of the greatest if not the greatest of American presidents. He served in a tumultuous time in which a wrong decision on his part may have very well led to the end of the Union as we know it today. Thankfully for our nation, his crisis leadership, faith, courage, and strong intellect was exactly what our country needed at that moment in history. When the survival of the union hung on a thread, Lincoln came through. Not only did the Union survive, the evil institution of slavery was destroyed. Yet Lincoln, was a most unlikely prospect to become president, let alone save the Union!

Lincoln was born in poverty in the back woods of Kentucky. Schooling? In his own words it came in "littles,” a day a week here and a month there. Historians believe that when you add up the "littles" his formal education amounted to about a year. And
yet this man, through educating himself went on to write one of the most brilliant presidential speeches ever given, the Gettysburg Address! So how did he get from a one room, dirt floor log cabin to the oval office in the nation's most famous house? The answer in part can be found in one woman in his life.

When Lincoln was just nine, two years after his family moved from Kentucky to Indiana, his mother died. A year later his father, Thomas, took a trip back to Kentucky and returned with a new wife along with her four children. Sarah Bush Lincoln became a champion for young Abe. She persuaded Thomas to allow his son to read and study at home along with any of the "littles" young Abe could grab when schooling opportunities happened along. Af first Thomas was reluctant, but he gradually came to the point of offering some mild encouragement to his son in this regard. 

The championing of Abraham Lincoln's step mother of his desire to learn was certainly a key to him becoming the man for his times. Without her influence, we might need a passport to travel to Virginia today! 

All of us need a champion. One who will have our best interests at heart. One who will stand by us through both good and hard times. One who will always encourage us to keep on keeping on. I can think of a number of "champions" who greatly impacted me. I would not be the man I am today without their fingerprints on my life. But I can only think of one "Champion" who has changed me (and is continuing to change me) from the inside out! His name is Jesus. He is behind everything I do. And he has promised to never leave me no matter how many more steps remain on my journey through life. 

How about you? Is Jesus YOUR champion? Have you heeded his call to come to him, realizing you need a Savior? And if you have decided to follow him, how is that going for you? 

If you'd like to chat, feel free to reach out to me at jsmith@gracewv.org. 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

PJ

Flying Fast and Getting Nowhere!

Back in my childhood days, getting a rare sight of Canadian Geese was a thrill! Every fall, I could look up into the skies and see (and hear!) flocks of various size winging their way south for the winter. Six months later, they returned overhead, now flying north to their summer breeding and feeding grounds. But over the years, an increasing number of these beautiful creatures have been staying put in their locales all year round (except for those in the far north).  

My wife and I moved into a new home at the end of August. We soon discovered there were numerous geese who make their home nearby. Each day I hear their loud honking overhead as they encourage one another to fly on! But fly where? Unlike their migratory cousins, who appear on the northern horizon only to disappear as they wing their way south, our neighboring geese fly in circles trying to decide which empty field might yield some tasty delights. 

I see myself in these neighboring geese. I am often running here and there, seeking this or that, when I should be running the race God has set before me. There is a finish line ahead. I am called to run toward that goal, keeping my eyes focused on Jesus. He stands there at the finish line cheering me on. Yet, like my feathered neighbors, I an prone to run fast ... but to run in circles. This happens when I take my eyes off of Christ, and look to find satisfaction in what this fallen world has to offer. 

How about you, my friend? Do you find yourself flying fast and getting nowhere? If so, take a look at the thoughts filling your mind, the values filling your heart, the activities filling your days. Are these things helping you to grow more in love with Jesus? Take stock. Stop flying fast and getting nowhere. Instead go hard after Jesus. For he, and only he, is the way the truth and the life.

Thanks for stopping by, 

PJ