Archive for the ‘Peace’ Category

10 Jun

One Way

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Culture, False teachers, God's Word, Peace, Spiritual Warfare.

Dear readers,

This week on Friday, we celebrated our sixtieth wedding anniversary. I was privileged to perform a wedding on that day, also. The following day there was a small gathering of friends here at the lake, with cake and conversation. Sunday, we attended worship at our church and had lunch at the local café. All in all, it was a busy weekend for us and good memories were made.

I have been seeing ads from self-identified mediums and fortune tellers. It disturbs me to think these things are being promoted. The idea that these practices bring inner peace and happiness is not supported by Scripture. In fact, God prohibits such things. There is only one way to inner peace and happiness, and that is to trust in the Savior. Cards, crystals, new age rituals, horoscopes, zodiac signs are worthless and those who promote these things have been deceived by the powers of darkness. These are objects incapable of telling future events. After all, these things are inanimate, and without any knowledge of anything.

The thing that bothers me most is why some who call themselves Christians would follow such people? The Bible tells us to depend on God and on His truth as revealed in the Word. In the book of the Law, called Leviticus, we read this: “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:31).

To the prophet Micah, the Lord said, “The seers will be ashamed, and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God” (Micah 3:7).

In another place we read, “The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore, the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd” (Zechariah 10:2).

These types of people are also called false prophets in scripture. In 2 Peter 2:1 we read, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them.”

Finally, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits… because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

“Blessed is he who trusts in the Lord” (Proverbs 16:20).

In Him,

Pastor Jerry

3 Jun

Who is in Charge?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Blessings, God's Word, Obedience, Peace, Trials, Trust.

Dear friends,

The month of June has arrived, the month of weddings. Love is in the air as is cotton from the cottonwood trees, not to mention all kinds of pollen.

We continue to be in the rainy season. Some folks have had much more rain than is needed, yet others can’t buy a passing shower. Agricultural people don’t really need more stress, and we need to pray for them.

After all, the Lord is the one who provides the sun and rain. We can only ask for those things to be provided and rest in the knowledge that he will answer those prayers in His good timing.

I have shared in the past that I used to stress over the weather during the haying season. If there was a forecast of rain, I wouldn’t mow and when I expected dry weather and mowed the grass down it would surely rain. While doing my daily Bible reading one day, I read a passage of scripture that changed my whole outlook. I’ll share it with you here.

“If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie.

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how a body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things” (Ecclesiastes 11:3-5).

After reading and absorbing the truth of this passage, I stopped looking at the clouds and experienced a lot less stress. Another stress reliever was Psalm 50. There was a point during an agricultural recession several years back, when our cows were sold by the bank. I thought those were my cows that I had worked to acquire. Suddenly I learned differently.

The Lord spoke to me through His word again: “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it” (Psalm 50:9-12).

Simply His,

Pastor Jerry

18 Mar

A Better Life

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Best Life, Christian Living, Faith, Peace.

Hello friends,

It is time again for another devotional thought from God’s Word. There is no lack of topics, it is just hard to decide which one to address. The weather is always a current event, but since we don’t control it there is not much we can do about it. Politics is an ever-present discussion point, or in some cases just another argument which no one wins.

Daily, we see proof of what happens when people turn their backs on God and expect life to get better. Little do they know that the answer to a better life is faith in God and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Starting with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, people have disobeyed the commands of God and tried to live without Him. This leads not to an improved life, but to unnecessary hardships and a meaningless existence.

What we really need, I believe, is a return to Christian and Biblical values in every aspect of life. No human endeavor will solve the problems we face, only renewed faith in our Creator will bring the solutions we seek.

“But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31).

Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things He has done for you (1 Samuell 12:24).

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning” Zechariah 1:3).

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Return to me,” declares the Lord Almighty, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty (Malachi 3:7).

Jesus’ words: “So do not worry, saying, ‘what shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:33).

God said to Jeremiah: “This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is His name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:2-3).

In Truth,

Pastor Jerry

25 Dec

Why Worry?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Peace, Trust.

Dear friends,

Merry Christmas! New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and no matter what the New Year brings, God is still on His throne. With that assurance we can have peace in our hearts, knowing His plan for the ages is still on track.

What will happen in the new year is unknown. We look at the events of the previous year and wonder what next? I do not doubt that question has been asked down through the ages. There are those who would claim to know the future, but over time they are shown to be only guessing what will happen.

We can worry about what we see happening in the world, but the remedy for worry is to trust in the God who created everything, and who holds the world in His hands.

Jesus told His disciples that they were not to worry about the future, but to live for today. Let’s look at some of his instructions regarding this thing called worry. We try to call worry other names so that it doesn’t seem we are worrying. Christians like to use words like concern, anxious, or bothered. Those are all synonyms for worry.

Now, back to the scriptures. Read with me the words of Jesus; “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matthew 6:25-34).

Have a happy, blessed, and worry-free New Year,

Pastor Jerry

20 Nov

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Blessings, Christian Living, Peace, thanksgiving, Worship.

Dear friends,

We have been enjoying some great fall weather, but there is a cool-down in the forecast. We have no room to complain about the weather to this point. With the Thanksgiving holiday coming this week, we have plenty to give thanks for.

In family news, the adoption of our great-granddaughter is complete. She takes great pleasure in telling everyone, “My name is Maria Schoenenberger.” We were excited to be able to attend the court proceeding finalizing this blessing. It was a great day, finished off with cake and ice cream. Also, I saw my cardiologist on Wednesday last week, and he said to come back in six months.

All of this reminds me to give thanks to the Lord daily. Every day holds some new or repeated blessing from Him. Continuing a thought from last week, how could anyone deny the existence of a loving and caring God, when there is so much evidence of his presence?

I understand that not everything that happens to us is something we would consider a blessing. Some things are far from being pleasant or pleasing, but if our faith is in God through a relationship with Jesus, those things are meant for our good. I’m reminded of a passage of scripture that speaks to this issue.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). We should not stop with the first part of that verse, but understand the promise is not for everyone, only those who love God, and are called by God to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. That happens as a result of placing our faith in the resurrected Son of God.

We come now to verse 35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Paul says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-39).

Life is filled with both blessings and hardships. Scripture reminds us that there will be suffering, but in good times and bad if we have placed our faith in the Lord, we can give thanks to Him in every situation.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (1 Corinthians 9:15)

Blessings,

Pastor Jerry

30 Oct

Contentment

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Best Life, Blessings, Contentment, Faith, Peace, Possessions.

Dear friends,

In weather news, as predicted earlier in the week winter has arrived. Cold and snow were the words of the week. We had a small amount here at the lake, but others had more. Another arrival happened this week, also. Our new great-grandson made his appearance on Friday. Mom, Dad, and baby are doing well as of last report. He weighed nine pounds and is named Maverick Wayne Schoenenberger. Quite a handle for one so small, but I’m sure he will grow into it.

I have been holding down the fort here at home while Milrae has been with Alex’s family in South Dakota. His work takes him out of town for a couple of days a week, and Breanna wanted someone to stay with her. I expect she will be coming home soon. Our camper is up there, but it has been winterized and may stay there for a while.

As I age, I find it easier to see good things around me that I probably overlooked when I was younger. There is a tendency to be more content, I suppose because I don’t feel like I must be chasing some dream. I’m not fast enough to catch one and wouldn’t know what to do if I did. It has gotten to the point where I can’t even find anything in the farm supply catalog I want or “need”.

I am just content with what I have and where I am. Part of this comes from understanding that God will supply my needs. Even when I didn’t know it, he always provided. Sometimes by not giving me what I thought I couldn’t live without, and other times giving me things I didn’t know I needed.

Here are some verses of scripture I have come to love. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal” (Isaiah 26:3-4). “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:1-2). “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:33-34).

Blessings to all,

Pastor Jerry

23 Oct

God is Still on His Throne

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, End Times, Eternal Life, Faith, God's Word, Peace, The Good News, Trials.

Dear readers,

Our weather has been a bit average this week. Just three words dry, mild, and sunny would cover it well. We are still waiting for the arrival of the new great-grandson; perhaps there will be something to report next week.

The cold bug found me early in the week, and I do not wear it well. I’m somewhat of a wimp when it comes to sneezing, coughing and all that goes with it. The thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that it only lasts for about a week. I was once told by my doctor that a cold lasts for a week if you treat it, and seven days if you don’t. So here we are.

The world news doesn’t get better. Every day there is new evidence of a world that seems to be spiraling down to destruction. Are we living in the end times as described in the Bible? The only answer I have, is that scripture tells us that the earth will be destroyed at a point that only God knows. We cannot know when the end will come, only that it will. Jesus told his disciples, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it you are not alarmed. Such things must happen , but the end is yet to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:6-7).

The apostle Peter wrote this to the believers: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith a shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 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 1:3-6).

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33.)

Whatever is causing you to be apprehensive about the future, remember this; God is still in control of every circumstance.

In His grip,

Pastor Jerry

31 Jul

Be Encouraged

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Faith, Holy Spirit, Hope, Peace, Trials.

Dear friends,

Our camping trip last week was interesting as usual. My best laid plans usually go awry somewhere along the way, and this was no exception. The first and most important lesson learned; find out about water availability before leveling and unhooking the camper, especially when it is 95 degrees out and there is no breeze! After solving that issue, things went reasonably well. We’ll wait for cooler weather before venturing out again.

On a more serious note, it has again been brought to my attention through various conversations this week, that there are many people dealing with the difficulties of life. Health issues, relational issues, economic trials, and nasty weather are just a few I could name. The passage of scripture referenced in church this morning seems appropriate for a devotional lesson.

I have used these verses before but am drawn back to them this week. “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings (Romans 8:22-26).

When the cares of the world begin to weigh heavily on us, we feel weak and defeated. We cannot even find the words we want to say to God and this scripture tells us that God’s Holy Spirit will help us. He will bring our prayer requests to the Lord with the clarity we are unable to put into words. God knows our needs, even if all we can make are groaning sounds as we pray.

The next verse encourages us in those times of groaning under our burdens in this way, “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (verse 27).

Take heart in your trials, God hears and understands your groanings.

In His grip,

Pastor Jerry

26 Jun

Security

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Peace, Praise, Trust.

Dear friends,

The last week was mostly spent preparing to be gone for a few days. The garden was covered with hail screen (in case of hail). Shade was provided for the cucumbers (in case of too much hot sun), and everything was given a last watering (in case it didn’t rain). The reason for all this was so I could go to Omaha and get a final repair to the aortic aneurysm we have been watching for the last several years. I can report the procedure was successful, so that concern is behind us.

N.M.C. is an interesting place (to say the least). How anyone can find their way around that place is beyond this old country boy. We stayed in what is called Nebraska House, what I think is a floor of patient rooms converted to sleeping quarters, like motel rooms. There is a shuttle service supplied by the Med Center. At 5 A.M. the shuttle vehicle is an SUV staffed by two security guards. We were picked up by them and dropped off at the entrance to Clarkson Hospital. As Milrae and I were entering the vehicle, those two men were on high alert, searching their surroundings until we were seated in the back. I had the feeling of being a K-9 officer in its barred cage. We were securely in the care of these two young men.

This got me thinking about where we are most secure. Is it at home or in our car? With family or friends? Or is it in an SUV escorted by two armed guards? Obviously, homes can be broken into and there is safety in numbers to a point. Security guards cannot stay on high alert indefinitely because they will need to sleep eventually. As a matter of fact, the only secure place in the universe is in the arms of our Lord.

“Lead me to a rock that is high above me, for you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy. I will dwell in your rent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings” (Psalm 61:2-4).

“He will not allow your foot to slip, your protector will not slumber. Indeed, the protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep” (Psalm 121:3-4).

Is your security in the Lord? He’s always awake and alert!

In His grip,

Pastor Jerry

19 Jun

Justified

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Best Life, Blessings, Faith, Gospel, Hope, Peace, The Good News.

Dear readers,

We have received wonderful rain! Amounts vary, but most places near to us have seen some moisture. Friday and Saturday our gauge showed just over 1.5 inches. The garden is happy! The camper has been cleansed of the evidence left behind by some mice who lived there last winter. We are now ready for the next adventure. Several memories were made on the last journey, most of which centered around the absent mindedness of a certain elderly man.

The Bible tells us that when a person puts his or her faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, that person is declared righteous because God sees that person as being covered by the righteousness of Christ. The term used is justification. What follows are some results of the believer being justified in the eyes of God.

We have peace. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) There was a time we were God’s enemies because of unbelief, now in Christ we have peace with God (Romans 5:10). Peace with God means our problem with sin has been settled by the blood of Christ.

We have access to God. “Through whom we have gained access by faith into the grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:2a) Before our salvation we were condemned; but now in Christ, we have perfect standing before God and can enter his presence (Hebrews 10:19-25).

We have hope. “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2b). The unsaved person is “without hope” (Ephesians 2:11-12). Through faith in Christ, we have the sure knowledge of eternity with him.

We have confidence in the trials of life. “Not only so, but we also rejoiced in our sufferings” (Romans 5:3). We know for certain that in those trials God is with us, because of our relationship with Christ (Romans 5:3-4).

We experience the love of God. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God showed us his love at the cross when Christ died for those who were without strength, who were ungodly, sinners, and enemies, thus proving His great love.

This is the gospel of Jesus Christ, who came as the only one who could save us from our sin. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

In Him,

Pastor Jerry

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