Remember those Who Are Hurting!

The weather yesterday and today has been quite refreshing ... especially consider the calendar reads "June 27th." Someone earlier today said they could take this kind of weather ALL SUMMER LONG. No argument from me on that! With sunshine and low humidity, it has been a delight to be outside (not to mention the delight I am feeling at keeping my air conditioner in the "off" position!).

But as delightful as it has been here, elsewhere it is a very different story. I am thinking of the flooding in north Florida and the wild fires raging in Colorado. Both of these natural disasters are just that ... disasters for those who are losing their homes and for some, their lives.

I think there is a lesson here in this for each of us. When things are going well for us ... and we are feeling quite comfortable with "life" - we must not lose site that for others it may not be so. Therefore, we need to be keeping our "radar" on .... being mindful that for many who surround us ... life may not be easy. In fact, it may be downright gut-wrenching! Let's all be intentional at asking God to help us to be sensitive to those who are hurting .... and let's be willing to offer a helping hand. After all, isn't that what God calls us to do (Galatians 6:2).

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Judging the Proverbial Book by Its Proverbial Cover!

Yesterday being a Monday was a day off for me ... well sort of. As I usually do on Mondays,  I slept in (which I did ... got up around 7:00 - AM that is, not PM!), got some projects done around the house (yep, cut the lawn, treated my trees (they needed some iron supplements) and balanced the check book), and ran some errands (did this too!). One of our errands was to head to the mall to pick up a suit I had altered (only to get there and find out that the suit had not come in yet! Such is life! And it helps not to sweat the small stuff, yes?).

On our way into the mall, I noticed a younger man sporting a beard and wearing clothes that I would not be caught dead in! In addition, he was carrying an aluminum brief case (of the likes I had not seen in some time). Oh ... and before I forget, he was wearing TWO wrist watches on each wrist. When I noticed that, I suggested to my wife that he wore a watch for each time zone in the U.S.

Now ...I know everyone has a story. And I do not know what this guy's story is ... but I do know we can make a lot of wrong judgments about people's stories by just looking at them. For all I know this guy is an undercover anti-terrorist agent working for the FBI. OK, probably not ... but the reality is I DO NOT KNOW.

So you are probably wondering what's my point with all of this? Here is the moral of my story. We need to get to know someone before sticking a label on their forehead. Perhaps someone you know appears standoffish and unfriendly. So you judge them to be cold and indifferent when maybe they are quite sensitive and caring but have been hurt by others in the past and are therefore very cautious in their relationships.

Don't judge a book by its cover. Open it. Read it. Then you will be in a better place to understand it ... and (since I am really talking about people) minister to the individual's needs. That, by the way, is what we are called to do (Galatians 5:13).

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

A Video Worth Watching!

A friend sent me a link to a CBS news video about a WW2 widow. Her husband was a fighter pilot during the war ... a war from which he never returned. I encourage you to take a minute or two (actually the video is about six minutes in length) to watch this moving video ... that has some lessons about marital commitment (Matthew 19:3-9) and giving honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). Click here to enjoy this video.

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

A La Carte Thursday

Hoping you find something here that will assist you in your spiritual journey!

1. Steve Saint (author of The End of the Spear and son of Nate Saint, missionary who, in 1956 lost his life in an attack by the Waodani Indians in Ecuador) was seriously injured last week during a test of a new device his ministry was developing. Here is a an update ... and make sure you scroll down the page and watch the video titled, "The Next Chapter." 

2. If you like rap ... here is one with great words about the sufficiency of Christ ... by Timothy Brindle.

3. How does one honor God in an unequally yoked marriage? Sarah Flashing offers some solid insights from Scripture. 


4. Nate Shurden shares 8 Simple Instructions to Share Christ. 


5. Here is a great article on laying hold of God's willingness in prayer. 


6. Here is a great list from Nancy DeMoss on 31 biblical virtues to pray for your kids!  


6. On a lighter note ... It's the Dad Life! (thanks Scott!)


Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

It's Vacation Bible School Week!!!

It's Vacation Bible School Week!!!

Yesterday was our second of five days of Vacation Bible School here at Grace. And what a day it was! 211 kids showed up! We were thrilled (and a bit apprehensive). But all went well and we are looking forward to Day #3 today!

Given the busyness of this week (I am playing the role of Kam, the guide of Promise Island. We do a skit at each opening and closing), I may not be able to blog quite so much as usual. But I am going to make an effort to give it my best shot!

What excites me most about our VBS is that during the week, we have a great opportunity to introduce these little ones to Jesus Christ. We know that children have a very special place in the heart of Jesus. When parents were bringing their children to Jesus, seeking a blessing from him, the disciples tried to send them away. In their minds, the Master had far more important things to do than to bless a bunch of kids. But when Jesus saw what his disciples were doing, he grew angry with them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:14-15). He then took the children in his arms and blessed them. 

That incident occurred some 200 years ago. And that same Jesus who rose from the dead and ascended to heaven - still desires to take the little children in his arms and bless them. It is up to us to share the gospel with these children so they can experience his blessing. 

When I was 11 years old, I attended a VBS in the city of Harrisburg. This was my first and only VBS experience as a child. But what an experience it was! There, for the first time in my life, I heard the good news of John 3:16. Even though I did not come to faith at that time, it did prove to be an important step toward my conversion at age 16. And so ... I guess you can see why I am a HUGE fan of VBS! 

Please offer up a prayer (or two or three) for the ministry of the gospel here at Grace this week.

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Is God Really Good?

Whenever something "bad" happens to us ... when the unexpected and uninvited difficulty crashes into our lives knocking us over and leaving us breathless ... it is at these times that the Enemy comes along and asks, "Is God really good? Don't you think if he were truly good ... then he certainly would not allow you to have to suffer this sort of pain, yes?"

This strategy of Satan of tempting us to doubt God's goodness is nothing new. It's as old as the Garden of Eden. For in his temptation of Eve, he implicitly suggests that God is holding out on her and Adam in giving them one (imagine that, ONE) restriction.  And so Satan says to Eve, "Listen, Eve. God doesn't want you eating that fruit because he knows that if and when you do, you will become like him. And as far as he is concerned, there is room in this universe for only one God .... and it's not you!" (see Genesis 3:4-5). Eve bought the devil's lie, and we have been paying the price ever since.

But before we come down too hard on Eve, we must look long and hard in the mirror. For we are quick (and at times VERY quick) to do the same! SO ... how can we fight off these temptations from the enemy to doubt the goodness of God? This morning, as I was reading some devotional thoughts by Jerry Bridges, he offered up some solid advice in answer to this question. Here' what he wrote:

"There’s no doubt that the most convincing evidence of God’s love in all of Scripture is His giving His Son to die for our sins. 'This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins   1 John 4:9-10, NIV). 

Our greatest need is not freedom from adversity. No calamity in this life could in any way be compared with the absolute calamity of eternal separation from God. In like manner, Jesus said no earthly joy could compare with the eternal joy of our names written in heaven (see Luke 10:20). God showed His love by meeting our greatest need — a need so great that no other can come close to it in comparison. If we want proof of God’s love for us, then we must look first at the Cross where God offered up His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Calvary is the one objective, absolute, irrefutable proof of God’s love for us (How Great Is Our God: Timeless Daily Readings on the Nature of God)."

So the next time Satan comes knocking, trying to get you to doubt God's goodness ... just remember the cross! 

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

A Prayer of Thanksgiving for God's Mercy!

O gracious almighty God,
How thankful I am that you are indeed
A God who is generous ... and who loves to be merciful.
I realize that I do not grasp just how desperate
I truly am apart from your mercy.

Help me this day ... as I worship you
To humble myself before YOU
As I rejoice and find comfort in your mercy.

Thank you, Father, for the gift of your Son.
Thank you, Father, for giving me life,
Forgiving my sins, for making me whole.

And thank you, Abba, for your never-ending,
Never-failing, always sufficient mercy!

In Christ's name I pray,
Amen.