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The Best is Yet to Come

Written by June Robertson

Monday, 20 February 2012 02:28

Dear Friends

During 2011 I started visiting the Hospice Home directly across the road from our church. If you have been fortunate enough to visit them you will know what I am talking about. If you have never visited them, may I tell you of my uplifting experience visiting them once a week.

Let me start at the motor gate. As one arrives you are aware of the well kept vegetable garden that makes one already feel like home. On the back verandah are lovely reclining lounger chairs and the plastic tables are always clean with table cloths on them. The smell of cooking as you walk towards the big open glass doors is very inviting. Sister Leigh will greet you with a very friendly Hello and one immediately feels welcome.

Every bed has a very beautiful crocheted colourful blanket on it. The curtains are so pretty, and tied back with the windows wide open to allow the fresh breeze or scorching hot day in to fill the ward. At the foot of each bed is the cutest fluffy stuffed dog. Sadly Cancer and Aids etc have no age restriction so one sees young and old. The dying teach me a lesson each time I visit. Here they are, some of them in lots of pain with their emaciated bodies all curled up as most of them feel cold, and when I say “Good Morning, How are You today” I AM FINE. If they are unable to speak I usually get a toothless smile and a thumbs up sign.

I used to ask myself what on earth makes them so happy and at peace. I think I have the answer at last.

These beloved people of God are being ‘ loved’. The bed linen is ALWAYS spotless, the pillows are constantly puffed up to make them softer. The patients are always tidy with lovely clean pajamas. Patients are being fed and changed by dedicated and beautiful staff, people who have been called by God to nurse the sick and care for the dying. Each time I leave the Home I walk back to the office with a spring in my step as the peace I see in so many of them is THAT PEACE which passes our understanding as they are being ‘loved into heaven’ and these people realize that for them “THE BEST IS YET TO COME”. No more sore bodies, no more pain, only PURE HEAVEN.

June

"When You Let God Down"

Written by Rev Dennis Gee

Tuesday, 04 October 2011 05:07

2^nd October 2011

READINGS: Hebrews 10:26 - 39

John 21:1 - 11

Good fishermen have a strong understanding of the best times to fish. The sun was rising in the water before Peter noticed it - a wavy circle of gold on the surface of the sea. A fisherman is usually the first to spot the sun rising over the crest of the hills. It means his night of labour is finally over.

But not for this fisherman. Though the light reflected on the lake, the darkness lingered in Peter’s heart. The wind chilled, but he didn’t feel it. Hid friends slept soundly, but he didn’t care. The nets were empty, the sea had been a miser, but Peter wasn’t thinking of that.

His thoughts were far from the Sea of Galilee. His mind was in Jerusalem, reliving an anguished night. As the boat rocked, his memories raced: the clanking of the Roman guard, the flash of a sword, duck of a head, an ear,

a touch of Malchus, a rebuke for Peter,

soldiers leading Jesus away.

“What was I thinking?” Peter mumbled to himself as he stared at the bottom of the boat. Why did I run? Have you ever run away from God? Afraid, ashamed of what you let happen? Peter had run; he had turned his back on his dearest friend and run. We don’t know where. Peter may not have known where. He found a hole, a hut, an abandoned shed - he found a place to hide and he hid. WHEN WE LET GOD DOWN: WE HIDE.

He had bragged, “Everyone else may stumble .... but I will not.” (Mat 26:3) Yet he did. Peter did what he swore he wouldn’t do. He tumbled face first into the pit of his own fears. And there he sat. All he could hear was his hollow promise. “Everyone else may stumble ... but I will not. Everyone else .. I will not. I will. I will not.” A war raged within the fisherman.

At that moment the instinct to survive collided with his allegiance with Christ, and for just a moment allegiance won. Peter stood and stepped out of the hiding and followed the noise till he saw the torch-lit jury in the courtyard of Caiaphas. He stopped near a fire and warmed his hands. The fire sparked with irony. The night had been cold. The fire was hot. But Peter neither. He was lukewarm. Rev. Vs

Luke describes, “Peter followed at a distance.” 22:54. He was loyal from a distance. That night he went close enough to see, but not close enough to be seen. The problem was, Peter was seen. Other people near the fires recognized him. “You were with him,” they had challenged. “You were with the Nazerene.” Three times people said it, and each time peter denied it. And each time Jesus heard it.

WHEN CONFRONTED BY THE WORLD WE ARE AFRAID TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHRIST.

Please understand that the main character in this drama of denial is not Peter, but Jesus. Jesus who knows the hearts of all people, he knew the denial of his friend. Three times the salt of Peter’s betrayal stung the wounds of the Messiah. You can’t hide your fears, thoughts, concerns from Jesus.

How do I know Jesus knows? Because of what he did for Peter, I know what he does for us. “Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter” (Like 22:61). Then the rooster crowed; Jesus turned; His eyes searched for Peter and they found him. At that moment there were no soldiers, no accusers, no priests. At that predawn moment in Jerusalem there were only two people - Jesus and Peter.

Peter would never forget that look. Though Jesus’ face was already bloodied and bruised, his eyes were firm and focused. They were a scalpel, laying bare Peter’s heart. Though the look had lasted only a moment, it lasted forever. And now, days later on the Sea of Galilee, the look still scared. It wasn’t the resurrection that occupied his thoughts. It wasn’t the empty tomb. It wasn’t the defeat of death. It was the eyes of Jesus seeing his failure. Peter knew them well. He’d seen them before. In fact he’d seen them on this very lake.

This wasn’t the first night Peter had spent on the Sea of Galilee. After all he was a fisherman. He, like the others, worked at night. He knew the fish would feed near the surface during the cool of the night and return to the deep during the day. No, this wasn’t the first night Peter had spent on the Sea of Galilee. Nor was it the first night he had caught nothing. There was that time years before..... We have denied Jesus many times before.

Most mornings Peter and his partners would sell their fish, repair their nets, and head home to rest with a bag of money and a feeling of satisfaction. This particular morning there was no money. There was no satisfaction. They had worked all through the night but had nothing to show for it except weary backs and worn nets. WE ARE WEARIED BY THE WORLD AND ROUTINE.

And for Peter, what’s worse. Everyone knew it. Every morning the shore would become a market as villagers came to buy their fish, but that day there were no fish. Jesus was there that morning, teaching. As the people pressed, there was little room for him to stand, so he asked Peter if his boat could be a platform. Peter agreed, maybe thinking the boat might as well be put to some good use.

Peter listens as Jesus teaches. It’s good to hear something other than slapping of waves. Then Jesus finishes with the crowd, he turns to Peter. He has another request. He wants to go fishing. “Take the boat into the deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish” Luke 5:4.

Peter groans. The last thing he wants to do is fish. The boat is clean. The nets are ready to dry. The sun is up and he is tired. It’s time to go home. Besides, everyone is watching. They’ve already seen him come back empty-handed once. And, what’s more, what does Jesus know about fishing?

So Peter speaks, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to fish” (v5). Mark the weariness in the words. “We worked hard.” Scraping the hull; Carrying the nets; Pulling the oars. Throwing the nets high into the moonlit sky. Listen as they slap on the surface of the water.

“All night.” The sky had gone from burned orange to midnight black to morning gold. The hours had passed away as slowly as the fleet of clouds before the moon. The fisherman’s conversation had stilled and their shoulders ached. While the village slept, the men worked. All... night.... long.

“Trying to catch fish.” The nights events had been rhythmic: net swung and tossed high till it spread itself against the sky. Then wait. Let it sink. Pull it in. Do it again. Throw. Pull. Throw. Pull. Throw. Pull. Every toss had been a prayer. But every drag of empty net had come back unanswered. Even the net sighed as the men pulled it out and prepared to throw it again.

For twelve hours they’d fished. And now .. Now Jesus is wanting to fish some more? And not just off the shore, but in the deep? Peter sees his friends shrug their shoulders. He looks at the people on the beach watching him. He doesn’t know what to do. Jesus may know a lot about a lot, but Peter knows about fishing. Peter knows when to work and when to quit, He knows there’s a time to go on and a time to get out.

Common sense said it was time to get out. Logic said cut your losses and go home. Experience said pack it up and get some rest. But Jesus said, “We can try again if you want.” THE MOST DIFFICULT JOURNEY IS BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU FAILED.

Jesus knows that. That’s why he volunteers to go along. “The first outing was solo; this time I’ll be with you. Try it again, and this time with me aboard,” and Peter reluctantly agrees to try again. “But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will” Luke 5:5. It didn’t make any sense, but he’d been around this Nazerene enough to know that his presence made a difference. That wedding in Cana? That sick child of the ruler? It’s as if Jesus carried his own deck to the table.

So the oars dip again and the boat goes out. The anchor is set and the nets fly once more. Peter watched as the net sinks, and he waits. He waits until the net spreads as far as the rope allows. The fishermen are quiet. Peter is quiet. Jesus is quiet. Suddenly the rope yanks. The net, heavy with fish, almost pulls Peter overboard.

“James, John!” he yells. “Come quick!” Soon the boats are so full of fish that the port side rim dips close to the surface. Peter, ankle deep in flopping silver, turns to look at Jesus, only to find that Jesus is looking at him. That’s when he realizes who Jesus is. What an odd place to meet God - on a fishing boat on a small sea in a remote country! But such is the practice of God who comes into our world. Such is the encounter experience by those who are will try again .. And again .. with him.

JESUS MEETS YOU AT YOUR POINT OF NEED.

Peter’s life was never same the again after that catch. He had turned his back on the sea to follow the Messiah. He had left the boats thinking he’d never return. But now he’s back. Full circle. Same sea. Same boat. Maybe the same spot.

But this isn’t the same Peter. Three years of living with the Messiah have changed him. He’s seen too much. Too many walking cripples, vacated graves, to many hours hearing his words. He’s not the same Peter. It’s the same Galilee, but a different fisherman. WHEN YOU FOLLOW JESUS YOU BECOME A NEW PERSON Why did Peter return? What brought him back to Galilee after the crucifixion?

Despair? Some think so - I don’t. Hope dies hard for a man who has known Jesus. I think that’s what Peter has. That’s what brought him back. Hope. A bizarre hope that on the sea where he knew him first, he would know him again.

So Peter is in the boat, on the lake. Once again he’s fished all night. Once again the sea has surrended nothing.

His thoughts are interrupted by a shout from the shore. “Catch any fish?” Peter and John look up. Probably a villager. “No!” They yell. “Try the other side!” the voice yells back. John looks at Peter. What harm? What the heck! So out sails the net. Peter wraps the rope around his wrist to wait.

But there is no wait. The rope pulls taut and the net catches. Peter sets his weight against the side of the boat and begins to bring in the net; reaching down, pulling up, reaching down, pulling up. He’s so intense with the task, he misses the message. WHEN WE ARE TOO BUSY WE MISS GOD’S MESSAGES

John doesn’t. The moment is déjà vu. This has happened before. The long night. The empty net. The call to cast again. Fish flapping on the floor of the boat. Wait a minute. He lifts his eyes to the man on the shore. “It’s him” he whispers. Then louder, “It’s Jesus.” Then shouting, “It’s the Lord, Peter. It’s the Lord!”Peter turns and looks. Jesus has come. Not just Jesus the teacher; but Jesus the death defeater, Jesus the King ... Jesus the victor over darkness. Jesus the God of heaven and earth is on the shore .. And he’s building a fire. Peter plunges into the water, swims to the shore, and stumbles out wet and shivering and stands in front of the friend he betrayed. Jesus has prepared a bed of coals. Both are aware of the last time peter stood near a fire. Peter had failed God, but God had come to him.

For one of the few times in his life, Peter is silent. What words would suffice? The moment is too holy for words. God is offering breakfast to the friend who betrayed him. And Peter is once again finding grace a Galilee.

What do you say at a moment like this?

What do you say at a moment such as this?

It is just you and God. You and God both know what you did. And neither of you is proud of it. What do you do? You might consider doing what Peter did. Stand in God’s presence. Stand in his sight. Stand still and wait. Sometimes that’s all a soul can do. Too repentant to speak, but too hopeful to leave - we just stand.

When you let God down. And we do, don’t we? Stand still and wait. Sometimes that’s all a soul can do. Too repentant to speak, but too hopeful to leave - we just stand.

Stand amazed. He has come back. He invites you to try again. This time with him.

Amen.

"Are you ready to pass your most important exam of your life?"

Written by Rev Dennis Gee

Monday, 10 October 2011 01:54

9^th October 2011

READINGS: 2 Corinthians 4:18

John 12:42 - 50

We all look at life in a particular way. Our view is an individual outlook. Here’s is one person’s view. He is pastor and he gave this perspective of what life was like in the 90’s. We can adjust the number for 2011.

If you are really a person of the nineties you feel life is passing you by at ninety kilometres an hour. You work ninety hours a week; and you still have ninety things to do on your to-do list. You’re on a 90 calorie-a-day diet because you look 90 kilo’s over weight; in your swimming costume.

You’ve got 90 different accounts to pay. And you’re R90.00 overdrawn and that’s just the interest for the week. You’re still paying R90.00 a week off on your credit card and you don’t know where you’re going to get R90 000 to pay for your kid’s varsity fees next year. You’ve got 90 different DSTV channels to choose from and there’s still nothing to worth watching. You drive the kid’s to 90 different and activities each week. Your toddler just asked, “Why”, for the ninetieth time; and you think everything would be fine if you could just earn R90 000 a month.

We’ve look at grace over the last two weeks but even the knowledge of grace and how we can cope, how we’re forgiven doesn’t help to define and help us find the meaning of life. I’m going to spend the few weeks looking at the different aspects of finding meaning and purpose and wrestle with how these can apply to our daily lives.

So let’s reflect as a starting point: your life is not your own. “It is God who directs the lives of his creatures: everyone’s life is in his power.” Job 12:10. Your purpose on life is far greater than any of your own personal ideas. It is greater than you family; your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. All the secular books and guides may lead you to worldly success by the world’s standards of success. But being successful and fulfilling your life’s purpose are not the same issue. You could reach all your personal goals; become a raving success by world standards and still miss the purpose for which God created you.

You were made by God and for God – and until you understand that, life will not make sense and you will not know peace.

That means that your life, your birth, who you are; your character, your talents and gifts are not an accident. You are alive because God wanted to create you. God described every single detail of your body. He custom made you with exact specifications. Long before you were conceived by your parents you were conceived in the mind of God.

If there was no God we would all be “accidents”, the result of some astronomical radon chance in the universe. But there is a God who made you; made you for a reason and your life has profound meaning.

YOU AND I ONLY DISCOVER MEANING AND PURPOSE WHEN WE MAKE GOD THE REFERENCE POINT OF OUR LIVES. Romans 12:3 says, “The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us.

Because God created you and had a specific purpose in mind he is going to ask you at the end of your life what you did with it. Let me tell you, that one day, for everyone of us; one day your heart will stop beating; that will be the end of your time here on earth; but it will not be the end of you.

There is more to life than just the here and now. Your life here is a preparation for the next life which is for eternity. God has a plan and purpose for your life on earth, but it doesn’t end here. His plan involves far more than the few decades you will spend on this planet. It is more than an opportunity of a lifetime. God offers you an opportunity beyond your life time. “God’s plans endure forever: his purposes last eternally.” Psalm 33:11

What is your perspective of life? How do you see your life? There are many different ways and many different answers. Some people say life is a circus; others a minefield; a rollercoaster; a puzzle; a symphony; a journey or maybe a dance. People say life is a carousel. Sometimes you’re up and sometimes you’re down and sometimes you just go round and round. Life can be a 12 speed bicycle with gears we never use; or life is a game of cards; you have to play the hand you are dealt.

What is your life picture? What image would you chose to describe your life? I want you to hold on to that view; consciously or unconsciously in your mind.

That is the description of how you see life working and what you expect from it. This image influences your life far more than you might realise.

Your image or symbol of life determines your expectations, your values; your relationships; your goals and your priorities and your response to what happens around you.

If you think life is a party, you live life with a sense that having fun is important. If you see life as a race you will value a fast pace and most probably be in a hurry most of the time. If you view life as a marathon you will place value on endurance; have a high regard for stamina, perseverance. If you view life as a game or maybe a battle winning will be important to you; overcoming opposition is a focus.

There are some suggested biblical views that we should base our lives on. It we chose these they will mean that they will challenge the traditional world view held by so many that are forced on us. To do this takes courage. “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God.”

First we need to understand that life is a test as we see in the biblical image in many of the stories throughout Scripture. God continually tests people’s character; their faith; obedience; their faith; their love and integrity and their loyalty. There are many examples of people who failed and those that passed.

Adam and eve failed their test in the Garden of Eden. David failed his tests from God on several occasions. The Bible also gives us many examples of people who passed a great test such as Joseph in the OT; Ruth; Ester; Jeremiah and even Job.

Our character is both developed and revealed by tests. All of life is a test. You are always being tested. God continually watches our response to people; to the way we face problems; our successes; how you handle conflict; illness and disappointment and even the weather.

We don’t know all the tests God will give us but we can predict some of them based on the Bible. We are tested by major changes; delayed promises; seemingly impossible problems; unanswered prayers; undeserved criticism and even senseless tragedies. Even in my own life I have noticed how God tests my faith through problems; how my faith and trust is test through problems that I have faced; it is how I handle my possessions and the tests my love through people.

A very important test is how we act when we can’t feel God’s presence in our life. Sometimes God just feels remote. When we understand that life is a test, we realise that nothing in life is insignificant. Even the smallest incident has significance for our character development. Every day is an important day; every second is a growth opportunity to deepen our character, to demonstrate our love and trust in God. Some tests seem overwhelming; while others we don’t even notice. But all of them have eternal implications.

The good news is that God wants you to pass the test of life. God never allows the tests we face to be greater than the grace he gives to handle them. The Bible says, “God keeps his promises, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Every time we pass a test, God notices and makes plans to reward us in eternity.

Then Life is a trust.

All our time on earth; our energies; our intelligence; our opportunities and relationships; our resources and all the gifts from God that he has entrusted to our care and management is a test of our trust.

We are stewards of whatever God gives us. This concept of stewardship begins with the recognition that God is the owner of everything and everyone on earth. “The world and all that is in it belongs to the Lord; the earth and all who live in it are his.” Psalm 24:1.

We never really own anything during our brief stay on earth. God just loans the earth to us while we are here. We look after what God has provided. It was God’s property before we arrived. And God will loan it to someone else after you die. We get to enjoy it for a while.

When God created Adam and Eve he entrusted the care of his creation to them and appointed them as trustee of his property. “God blessed them, and said, ‘Have many children so that your descendents will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge.’” Genesis 1:28

The first job god gave humans was to manage and take care of God’s stuff on earth. This role has never changed, never been rescinded. Everything we enjoy is to be treated as a trust that God has placed in our hands.

The way we see the world and the culture is, “if you don’t own it, you won’t take care of it.” You see this when you rent a home. But Christians live by a higher standard. We say, “Because God owns it, I must take care of it.”

The Bible says, “Those who are trusted with something valuable must show they are worthy of the trust” 1 Corinthians 4:2. Jesus often referred to life as a trust. He told stories to illustrate this responsibility toward God. In the story of the talents a business man entrusts his wealth to the care of his servants while he is away.

When he returns he asks each servant in turn how they have handled what he left in their care and rewards them accordingly but punishes the one who didn’t. The owner says, “Well done my good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things: I’ll put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

Most of us fail to realise that money is both a trust and a test that God gives us. God uses finances to teach us to trust him. For many people, money and possessions is the greatest test of all. God watches how we use money to test how trust worthy we are. “If you are untrustworthy about wealth, who will trust you with the riches of heaven.” Luke 16:11.

This is such an important truth. God tells us that there is a direct relationship between how I use my money and the quality of my spiritual life. How I mange my money (worldly wealth) determines how much God can trust me with spiritual blessings (true riches). Life is a test and a trust and the more God gives you, the more responsibility he expects of you.

As we look at Jesus, God’s only son who endured the cross, we lean and understand how much God loves us. It is absurd not to trust him. God loves you and if he loves you so much we can be sure he will never deprive us of anything good. Our motivation for living the Christian life is our love of the Father!

Our model in life is the example of Jesus; God’s son. This means we can live this life through him.

Right now, God is inviting you to live for his glory by fulfilling the purpose he made for you. Really, that’s the only way to live. To live any other ways is just to exist. Real life begins by committing completely to Jesus Christ.

Lastly, LIFE IS A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT

The Bible teaches us that this earthy life is temporary and transient. Earthly life compared to eternity is extremely brief. We just passing through, just visiting earth. Real believers understand that there is far more to life than just a few decades we live on this planet.

We need to remember that life is a test, a trust and a temporary assignment. We are preparing for something far better than this life. “The things we see now are here today and gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 msg. This life is not the end of the story.

That’s why God has kept us from becoming too attached to things on earth. God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life. These longings will never be able to be satisfied and fulfilled here on earth. Earth is not our final home; you were created for something much better. You’ll never feel satisfied on earth because you made for much more. Yes there will be happy moments here; but nothing compared with what God has planned for you.

It is fatal to assume God’s goal for your life is material prosperity or popular success.

The abundant life has nothing to do with material abundance. Faithfulness to God does not ensure success in a career or even in ministry. Your time on earth is not the complete story of your life. You must wait until heaven for the rest of the chapters.

You will not be in heaven for two seconds before you cry out, “Why did I place so much importance on things so temporary!”

So, how do you view your life now? What is your purpose? One day who’ll stand before God and he will audit you life, a final exam, before you enter eternity. “Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgement seat of God..... Yes each of us will have to give a personal account to God.” Romans 14:10b, 12.

What is your purpose in life? Are you sure you will pass your final exam?

Amen.

"How to have yourself totally remade. Inside Out"

Written by Rev Dennis Gee
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 01:44
READINGS: 1st Reading: Romans 7:14 – 25 2nd Reading: John 3:1-16 Two sons of a king went to their father and him asked this question. “Is a man born a gentleman or made a gentleman?” The father answered, “What do you think?” The one son replied, “I think a gentleman is born a gentleman.” The other replied, “I disagree. A man becomes a gentleman by training and discipline.” The king looked at his sons and issued a challenge. “Prove your case by presenting me an example. I give you each a week to return with proof of your opinions.” And so the two sons went off in their different directions. The son, who believed a gentleman was made not born, found his proof in a tavern, (Bar). He ordered a cup of tea and was amazed when he saw that the waiter was a cat. This cat has been trained to stand on his hind legs and carry a tray in his forepaws. He wore a tiny uniform and hat and was proof that a creature could overcome his nature with training and discipline.
Last Updated ( Monday, 17 October 2011 05:25 )
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