Archive for the ‘Blessings’ Category

6 Oct

On Aging

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Blessings, Christian Living, On Aging, Reward, Salvation.

Dear friends,
Here we are at the beginning of a new month. Another reason I like October is that I get to observe another birthday. I have reached number 81 as of today. God has blessed me with more years than I could have imagined when I was younger.

One might wonder how to become wise as our years advance. We all can remember when we were young and unwise, sometimes getting into trouble because of the lack of wisdom. Scripture has good advice on achieving wisdom. Psalm 111:10 reminds us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His instructions have good understanding.” In Proverbs we read, “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).

We are encouraged to persevere in our faith as we advance in years, knowing the Lord will be with us: Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4). Moses asked this of God, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

As we age, we remember the lessons we learned in our early years. Wisdom is using those lessons in a practical way. As it says, the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, not that we are afraid of Him but we respect and acknowledge God as our creator, giving Him all the honor and glory that is due Him. When we do that, He gives us wisdom to apply what His word teaches us.

Someone once said, “I became old and wise because God protected me when I was young and stupid.” I might add this observation; we are still here because there is more God wants us to do for Him. It begins with this: “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life” ( John 6:40

I leave you with this from Solomon. “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Living for Him,
Pastor Jerry

30 Jun

It’s His Plan

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Blessings, Faith, Miracles, Planning, Trials, Trust.

Hello all,
We continue to recover from our car wreck. The bumps and bruises are healing, and we continue to attest to God’s providence and protection in all of this. Weather-wise, in the past ten days we have recorded 6.5 inches of rain in our high-tech gauge. After what was a long, dry spell, we are grateful for abundant moisture.

In feedback from last week’s column, it was pointed out that it sounded like I was promoting the idea that God protects us from everything all the time. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that. What it does say is that in this world there will be hardships, including death and dying. There is sickness and disease, pain and sorrow. Sometimes He protects us from harm, but sometimes He doesn’t. Whatever the outcome, God is never surprised and His perfect plan is being carried out.

Let me share some informative scriptures with you: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2). Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of glory that God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). Notice that James said when you face trials, not if you face trials.

Peter wrote this, concerning trials, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1: 6). Also, Peter said, “Dear friends do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

The words of Jesus after telling His disciples of trials to come: “I have told you all these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

In Romans 12, Paul reminds his readers to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12).

We may say, If I had done this or that, taken a different road, or chosen a different route, this would not have happened. But as I have said before and continue to say, it is all in God’s plan and through it all He is fulfilling His purpose in each life and in each experience.

Trusting Him,
Pastor Jerry

23 Jun

God’s Protection

Posted by sandhillspastor in Blessings, Faith, Milestones, Miracles, Praise, thanksgiving.

Hello friends,
We had one of those weeks you remember for a long time. The weather has been very warm, but we also had some rain. My opening sentence has nothing to do with the weather but with a memorable happening. It started as a normal week, with a couple of doctor’s appointments.

On Wednesday, after our appointment, we decided to tour around and check out some local campgrounds. We had been talking about taking the camper out for a few days but wanted to look around first.

Our first stop was Davis Creek, south of North Loup. Then, we took some dicey back roads, courtesy of Google maps, to Sherman Reservoir. After lunch in Loup City, we went to Ravenna with the idea of visiting Buffalo County Park. We have been there before and wanted to check out the improvements since we last visited.

As I started to turn onto the road to the park, we collided with a pickup I had not seen. Airbags in the car deployed with a loud bang and we came to a sudden stop. I never want to have that experience again!

The car was totaled, but neither we or the other driver had life-threatening injuries, although we were bruised and sore. Over the next few days, we found more bruises, but we are slowly healing. Know this though,
airbags are great but work better if used with seatbelts also.

In all this we are thankful to God for His protection. This could have turned out much worse without it. As I reflected on this, scriptures came to mind that assured me of His guiding hand upon us.

Psalm 121:7-8 reads, “The Lord will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.”
Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. And let us not forget Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…”

Our experience last Wednesday was not “luck”, but the Lord taking charge for his plan and purpose. He’s not done with us.

All praise to Him,
Pastor Jerry

26 May

Memories

Posted by sandhillspastor in Blessings, Eternal Life, Families, Memorial Day.

Hello friends,
Since our last visit, we have been blessed with abundant rain. The rain bucket here showed over two and a half inches. God is good! In other news, we made our annual pre-Memorial Day cemetery run. The odometer in the car shows we drove 204 miles.

Memorial Day was intended to be a day to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country. It has since become a day to remember all who have gone on before us. Yesterday as we traveled and visited the graves of family members, I was reminded of many good times, and some that were not so good. Mostly though, they were the good kind of memories.

In the Bible God instructed His people to set up memorial stones to help them remember His guidance and protection through the years. An example of this is recorded in the Old Testament. After the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, twelve men were instructed to “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever” (Joshua 4:5-7).

The memorial stones we see in our cemeteries are not memorials to God, but are there to remind us of our ancestors, both those who gave their lives for our country, but also as reminders of our heritage and family ties.

I have written in the past that the most important memorial Christians can leave to our descendants is that they know of our faith in the Lord Jesus, and they will know for sure that when we die, we have gone to be with Him in heaven. Stone memorials have their place, but our faith and trust in Christ is everlasting. Be bold to share that Good News with all your family and friends. Their salvation will outlast every stone monument.

In Him,
Pastor Jerry

7 Apr

Shine!

Posted by sandhillspastor in Blessings, Calling, Culture, God's Word, Obedience, Praise, Salt and Light.

Dear readers,
I see a few signs of spring and it makes me feel winter is almost behind us. Bring on the showers and the flowers that brighten the landscape. God is good and His creation shows it.

I learned a lesson by going into my tool trailer and failing to turn on the light. Recently, I went into the trailer where I keep my tools. Being in a hurry, I didn’t turn on the light and my leg collided with a wooden box on the floor. As could be expected, the resulting collision resulted in pain and agony in my right legs. It is now about three weeks later, and the bruising has begun to fade.

There is a spiritual application in this concerning the teaching that Jesus is the light of the world, come to shine the light of God’s love into a dark and dangerous world.

As a result of the failure of Adam to heed God’s instructions, we live in a world that is broken by sin and inhabited by dark forces of evil. As we navigate the darkness, it is important to have light so that we can see the dangers around us and take the safe path.

Scripture says much about walking in the light and avoiding the darkness. The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Regarding Jesus, John wrote, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7).

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…

Blessings,
Pastor Jerry

20 Jan

Return to Respect

Posted by sandhillspastor in Blessings, Christian Living, God's Word, Obedience, Politics, Stewardship.

Dear readers,
January is slipping away and before we know it, we’ll be leaving winter behind. This winter hasn’t been bad compared to some I remember and that’s okay. As I write this, it is windy and there is a cold spell forecast, but hopefully it will be short-lived.

As America transitions to a new president, let us remember that the future of our nation lies not in a new political leader, but in a return to Christian values and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us we are to respect the leaders of government, also that our first allegiance is to the Lord and to the truth of the Bible.

Psalm 2 sums it up rather well: “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.” (verses 1-3). At the end of the Psalm we read: “Therefore you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (Psalm 2:10-12).

In Romans 13:1, Paul wrote, “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Peter also spoke to this issue in his first letter: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God honor the king” (1 Peter 2:13-17). I believe it is proper to substitute the word ‘president’ in place of ‘king’ in this passage.

We need to return to showing proper respect for our leaders, and for each other.

God bless America,
Pastor Jerry

16 Dec

Christmas Memories

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Blessings, Christmas, Giving.

Dear friends,
Winter-like weather has returned. Not with snow, but with cooler temperatures. I’m glad for a warm house these days, because I really can’t cope with the cold anymore.

As our thoughts turn to Christmas Day, a bit of reflection is in order. Rather than focusing on what we might get in the way of gifts, let us consider the Greatest Gift of all. I have received many wonderful gifts from family and friends over the years, but some stand out more than others.

There was the Red Ryder BB gun when I was a youngster. I took it out hunting and came across a mouse. No, I didn’t shoot it. I beat it with the gun stock and broke my new gun. A memorable experience and a lesson learned. An earlier memory is of a Christmas when “Santa” brought a puppy in a burlap bag and dumped it out on the floor of our living room. How exciting that was!

After I became a believer in Jesus Christ and we were going through some hard times, there was no money for Christmas gifts for our boys. I had mentioned our predicament to our pastor and he and his wife gave us money out of their savings so we could have a good Christmas for our two boys. I will never forget that gift, given in the truest picture of Christian love for others. I have had opportunities to pass that gift on to others in the name of Jesus.

In John’s gospel, we read the following: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17).

Paul wrote to the church in Rome: “Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2)

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:10, 13). “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)!

In Him,
Pastor Jerry

9 Dec

The Giving Season

Posted by sandhillspastor in Advent, Blessings, Christmas, Culture, Faith, Giving, Obedience.

Hello friends,
Hasn’t the weather been nice for December, so far? I was able to work in our uninsulated garage in my shirt sleeves Saturday afternoon. I suppose it will cool down, but as yet there is no snow in the forecast.

As we enter the Christmas season, I have been thinking on the topic of giving. After all, ‘tis the season for gift giving. Christmas shopping has become a big deal. People go to great lengths to find that perfect Christmas gift for that special person. For some it is a year-long project and for others, a mad dash early in the morning on what is called “Black Friday.”

What about our giving to others throughout the rest of the year? Scripture encourages, even commands us to give to the Lord with grateful and cheerful hearts. We are also told to give to others as God blessed us. It may be a financial gift, or a gift of serving others, Whatever resources we have, God would have us share those blessings with those who are needy.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all times having all you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9).
Paul goes on to say, “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (verse 11).

Paul is not talking about a “name it and claim it” strategy. He is talking about God taking care of us when we honor him with our giving generously, even when it scares us.

If we can move past that fear, we’ll get to see why God enriches us—not to bring more bling into our lives, but to “multiply our seed for sowing.” He multiplies our resources not to increase our standard of living but to increase our capacity for giving.

Some food for thought in this giving season. Praying for increased blessings to all.

In Him,
Pastor Jerry

25 Nov

Thanks to the Lord

Posted by sandhillspastor in Blessings, God's Word, Praise, thanksgiving, Worship.

Dear friends,
We have come to the time of the year when we focus on being thankful for the blessings we have received from the Lord. This brings early deadlines for those who write for local newspapers. My normal habit is to sit down on Sunday afternoon to compose this devotional, but I need to put my brain in gear a little sooner this week.

Since Thanksgiving is this week, we should be mindful of the many ways the Lord has blessed us. We can be thankful for the things we have, the people in our lives who bless us, our food, our home; the list goes on. However, ultimately all the things we have come from God. Whether you believe in Him or not, He is the provider of all things. The traditional doxology of the church begins, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below.”

The Psalms are filled with the idea of giving thanks to the Lord. Psalm 107 begins, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name” (Psalm 100:4). Several verses in Psalm 107 read; “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men” (vs. 1, 8, 15, 21, 31).

There are references to giving thanks in the New Testament, as well. Paul encourages Christians to, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20).

More from Paul: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4).

Here are a few ways to be thankful: Every morning, thank God for a different provision he has given you. Focus on just one gift each morning.
Every night, answer this question: “What happened today that I’m most grateful for? Push yourself to see God’s goodness, even in the tough situations of life. Thank Him. And then thank Him again.

Thankful for His goodness,
Pastor Jerry

28 Oct

Remembering

Posted by sandhillspastor in Blessings, Milestones, Praise, Wisdom.

Hello friends,
I trust you are enjoying the nice October weather. It’s not often we have these temperatures at this time of year. The only downside is we still need some beneficial moisture.

Sunday morning, I was doing some mental review of the past year. Our great-grandson is one year old, we celebrated our 60th anniversary in June and in October I reached the age of eighty. We are truly blessed!

The Bible has many commands to remember the times we are blessed by God. The Israelites were to place markers in remembrance of the times he blessed them with protection or provision. I believe we also need to remember those instances when we have been blessed. That is why we celebrate birthdays and other important events and give the Lord praise for those many times. Let’s look at some examples of God’s provision from Scripture.

He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name (Psalm 111:5,9). He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call (Psalm 147:9).

Yet he has not left himself without testimony. He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy (Acts 14:17).

After the people of Israel crossed the Jordan river into the Promised Land we read: And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God. (Joshua 4:20-24).

Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me (Isaiah 46:9).

Just thinking,
Pastor Jerry

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