Archive for the ‘Trust’ Category

16 Sep

Dealing with Uncertainty

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Contentment, Faith, Peace, Trust.

Hello friends,
Another week of great fall weather has passed. The extended forecast is for more of the same, but we need rain, as the fire danger is elevated. I continue to adjust to my new “normal”, as the medicine is doing what it is supposed to do.

Uncertainty seems to be a recurring theme these days as we look at the unrest and strife around the world. We worry about the future, knowing that the future is out of our hands. I know there are things that we have control over, but in the big picture not so much. I have always seen myself as an optimist, but I must admit there are times when a note of pessimism creeps in. At those times I’m always drawn to the scriptures for encouragement.

“For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne” (Psalm 47:7-8).

Psalm 2 says it well: Why do the nations conspire, and the people plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off their fetters’. The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them like pottery.”
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lesCt 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.

The apostle Peter had these words, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10).

Blessings,
Pastor Jerry

12 Aug

True Assurance

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Best Life, Peace, Trust, Worship.

Dear friends,

We have been experiencing some fall-like temperatures. This is a welcome change from the hot days of recent weeks. I continue to recover from my stay in the hospital. The medication seems to be working, but I am soooo tired. Naps are frequent lol!

I have had much time recently to reflect on my life’s journey. From the early days when I was unaware of my need for Jesus in my life, to the day I came to the realization that he was all I needed. In these days of uncertainty, it is so encouraging to know that He is in total control. Whether it is the craziness of our world or turmoil in my own situation, the Lord of the universe will work it out for his glory. There are scriptures that encourage and strengthen us in our walk through this life. I will share them with you this week.

“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side” (Psalm 3:5-6). “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

“My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared” (Proverb 3:21-26).

In the New Testament we find these words of Jesus: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Finally, the words of Psalm 62:1-2, 5-6a, “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. Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.”

Sweet dreams,

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

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

18 Dec

Listening For His Voice

Posted by sandhillspastor in Calling, Obedience, Prayer, Trust, Truth, Worship.

Dear readers,

Merry Christmas to all. It was a quiet week at our house. We had a few appointments to keep but stayed home otherwise. We enjoy this thing called retirement, but in that we try to find things to do around home that keep us from growing stale, so to speak.

In this busy time of year, we can be overcome by the sounds that come at us from every direction. There is a lot of ‘noise’ in the world that distracts us from the important things. As I get older my memory sometimes brings up long-forgotten memories of situations and conversations. I’m not one to dwell on the past, but still there are those memories.

In a recent conversation, I was reminded of a time in the far distant past. Some folks, including myself, were engaged in small talk around the dinner table. One of the group, a professional truck driver was asked if he had a radio in his semi. His answer was, “No, I listen to the truck engine, that’s what is making the money!

In the Bible, we are told to listen for the voice of the Lord. For this to happen, we need to have a quiet time when we turn off the loud sounds of life to hear what is important. Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”

Basically, it says turn off the distracting sounds and listen for God to speak. Psalm 46:10 reads, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.”

The prophet Elijah was needing a word from God. As he stood on the mountain this happened:

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. (1 Kings 19:11-13).

Finally, some advice from the Lord Jesus: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen.” (Matthew 6:6).

Just listening,

Pastor Jerry

14 Aug

Subject to Change

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Blessings, Change, Obedience, Planning, Trust, Wisdom.

Dear friends,

We were blessed with more rain this week. This is a great help for the lawn and garden as it keeps the watering at a minimum. I mentioned last week that we had ordered a recliner for the camper; it has been put in its place and now we are anticipating another outing somewhere in the future. Looking at the weather forecast, we may wait for cooler weather.

Everyone has their hopes and dreams of how they see the future, and the things they expect will happen. It doesn’t take long to realize that dreams and plans are one thing, but reality many times takes some strange twists and turns.

The Bible book of James has something to say about our plans. From chapter 4 we read: Come now, you who say, “today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, “if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:13-15).

Here is wisdom from the book of Proverbs; Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established (Proverbs 16:3). A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps (16:6).

God has a plan for each of us. He gives us a mind to plan for our days and years, but he wants us to seek his direction as we make those plans. And don’t be surprised when his plans turn out to be different than ours. I can testify that the plans I had for my own life did not go in the direction I had envisioned. But guess what? I am convinced that his plan was much better than mine.

When we come to faith in Christ, God begins to shape us into the person he has planned us to be. As Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Philippi, “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

So, go ahead and make those plans, but leave room for the Lord to make changes.

In Him,

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

8 May

Pray On

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Blessings, Christian Living, Faith, Prayer, Reward, Trust.

Dear friends.

We have finally seen some rain! According to the “official” gauge on our deck, it totaled 1.40” of precious moisture. We did not get any hail, but some areas did. This doesn’t mean we stop praying for rain, but that we remain persistent in prayer. There is a story in the Bible about a woman who was persistent in asking for a favor.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

For some time, he refused. But finally, he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming.’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for  his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:1-8).

At the end of the parable, Jesus asked his disciples this question: Wil not God bring justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? If an unjust judge who does not fear God will rule justly in a poor woman’s favor because of her persistence based on the law, won’t a holy God give justice to his people who pray to him with perseverance based on his word? The question isn’t about God’s willingness. It is about our willingness to persevere by faith in prayer based on God’s Word. (The Tony Evans Bible Commentary).

Elsewhere in Scripture we are told to pray without ceasing. That is, to be always in an attitude of prayer. So, don’t give up praying for rain during a drought. Keep on praying for that prodigal son or daughter. Don’t stop praying for the healing of a broken relationship. Don’t cease praying for physical healing. God answers prayers, and He will answer those heartfelt prayers. Keep in mind He will answer in one of three ways: Yes, No, or Not Right Now.

Pray on,

Pastor Jerry

13 Mar

Sleep Well

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Christian Living, Faith, Peace, Rest, Trust.

Dear readers,
We have been experiencing typical March weather, in which conditions change day by day and sometimes in minutes. The next phase appears to be a return to cold temps for a few days, followed by a two day warmup, then a little snow thrown in for free by the end of the week!

On the home front, my sweet wife is recovering nicely from her knee replacement surgery, in spite of my best nursing attempts. She will see the doctor on Thursday and start therapy after that. Thank you for your prayers, they are much appreciated.

As we get older and those doctor’s appointments become more frequent, we may begin to worry about the future. This is not much different from the worries and concerns we can have at any age. We worry about feeding our families, or if our job is secure. If we are involved in agriculture there are concerns about the weather or the price of grain, the price of cattle and whether we will be able to make expenses. Many parents believe that if they don’t stay up late, get up early, and stay on top of every detail, then not only will things fall through the cracks; the whole physical, emotional, and spiritual health of their family might be in peril.

If you are sleeping, who is watching over the city? If you’re not up at the wee hours, who is making the crops grow?

God is.

You can place your trust in God, who cares more about your children’s well-being than even you do. You can work hard and then go to sleep, entrusting God with your “city,” knowing that, even while you sleep, he is at work. The Bible says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

When we were commuting between the ranch and the church, people would ask who was caring for the cattle, my answer was always the same; the Lord is, even when I’m home!

Just knowing and trusting that the Lord is involved in our lives will free us from unnecessary worry. Jesus himself tells us not to worry. As someone once said, why should I lie awake all night, God never sleeps. He’s got this!

Sweet dreams,
Pastor Jerry

6 Feb

Peace Amid Chaos

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Faith, God's Word, Gospel, Hope, Peace, Trust.

Dear friends.

Warmer weather is finally here. If you are not happy with this, we need to talk! I noticed the annual frenzy over Ground Hog day. I don’t believe the shadow of a woodchuck has anything to do with the weather in six weeks. Truth is, spring comes when it comes. In any case, we will be ready when it gets here.

The news seems to get stranger every day. People are doing things to other humans that are outright insanity. There are ideas floating around that have us asking, whatever happened to common sense, morality, and decency? Then there was the Chinese balloon that floated over North America last week. People are concerned about where the world is headed, and how are we to respond to these things?

I do know from the study of God’s word that there will be times of uncertainty and unrest in the world. Jesus spoke of things that will precede his return. He warned of storms, earthquakes and the like. I am not going to say we are close to his returning, because no one knows the answer to that except God the Father. Suffice it to say Jesus said he would return at some point, and the world has been moving in that direction for over two thousand years.

“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still 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 24:3-9).

The Bible is clear, if we are to have peace in the midst of all that we are seeing and experiencing, we would be wise to place our faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can give you peace in a chaotic world. Trust in him today, and know true peace.

In Him,

Pastor Jerry

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