Write it Down!

Greetings,

Yesterday my daughter and I went out for a rare mid-week breakfast, and it would have been perfectly fine except one of my greatest pet peeves was on full display. The lovely and courteous waitress committed our entire order to memory as opposed to writing it down.  I thought about saying something, but since she was so sweet and obviously confident in her retention skills, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I shouldn't have. She forgot the applewood smoked turkey sausage I asked for. 

God really wants us to write things down for the same reason. When we take the time to remind ourselves about God's love, His provision, and His guidelines for beautiful and blessed living, we are less likely to make mistakes. 

  

"Listen, The Lord is our God, and we must love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. We must commit ourselves to His commands...write them down. We must do what is right and good in the sight of our Lord so that it may be well with us" (ICB Version / Deuteronomy Chapter 6)!

I have several verses written down (Okay, they are typed and printed out, but it's the same concept) that I have posted around my desk, nightstand, and even in the bathroom.  I have also purchased several signs that I have hung up around the house that constantly remind of what is important. 

Pick an encouraging verse, and then WRITE IT DOWN! Put it where you can see it.  Many times I will give Jorge a verse written on a sticky note, and he will put in on his steering wheel. When you follow through with God's advice it will comfort you, it will bless you, and most importantly, it will be well with you.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We need to be constantly reminded of Your presence in our life. Thank You that You are willing to give us whatever we need as often as we need it. Your Holy Bible provides a practical and inspiring verse about how we can always have You in mind: We must write things down. As we seek encouraging verses to make our own today, guide us. We love You, and we thank You. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

 

Mega Do-over

Greetings,

Have you ever messed up and wished you could get a do-over?  I have.   But rather than share a personal story, I want to talk about Peter in the Bible.  There are failures and then there are epic failures; Peter's would be the later, and the details are found in the 26th chapter of Matthew.

Right after sharing Holy Communion and a few hours before His arrest and subsequent crucifixion, Christ tells Peter and the other disciples in verse 31 that "Tonight all of you will desert Me."  Peter is quick to respond in verse 33, "Even if everyone else deserts You, I will never desert You." 

However, Jesus knows better and replies, "...this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know Me."  Peter, so sure of himself yells, "No!, Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You!"

Those are reassuring words, and since they are emphatically punctuated with exclamation points Peter really wants Jesus to get the message that he is a true friend.  

A few verses later, however,  Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He is in "anguish and distress" over what's about to happen, and asks Peter to stay close to Him and "keep watch with Me." Suffice to say that Peter fell asleep at the time Christ needed him most.  Christ is then arrested and "Peter followed at a distance."  What happened to "I will never desert You?" 

It gets worse...

As our Lord is being beaten not only is Peter a safe distance away "out in the courtyard," but when someone says to him, "You were one of those with Jesus," verse 70 says, "PETER DENIED IT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE."  Ouch. The third and final time he denied Christ he swore that "I have never laid eyes on the man!"

So much for "I will never deny You!"

The rooster did indeed crow immediately after Peter's final denial, and all Peter could do upon realizing what he had done was, "cry, and cry, and cry."

That's not the end of the story, thank God.

After Christ's death and resurrection He appears to the disciples at the Sea of Galilee where they are fishing.  Peter is there, and Jesus is about to do something very powerful: He invites Peter to a home-cooked breakfast.

He doesn't yell, accuse, express disappointment or anger.  Instead, He lovingly provides for Peter's very real human needs and welcomes him back into fellowship by sharing a meal together. 

Christ's love and grace overwhelms me  and transforms Peter.  It gave him a mega do-over, and after that beachside feast, Peter is on fire for the Lord.  He goes on to heal the sick, preach to thousands, and eventually die for his faith, but not before leading even his jailers to Christ.

(I wonder what would happen if I kept my mouth shut and cooked breakfast more often?)

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are so forgiving and kind.  It amazes us how You treated the one who denied You, but it also shows us that You are all about do-overs.  We could all use one  -  another chance to get it right.   Thank You that our failures will never have the final say when we accept Your invitation.  In Your name, Amen~