Coming to the Still Waters

  " ...but is patient toward you,... "  The scoffers in verse 5 overlook a fact but in verse 8 the beloved are to not overlook a fact.  The fact is that God is God and we are not.  God is in control.  God's clock is different than our clock.  God has been active and will be active against the wickedness of this world.  Peter uses the common phrase, " ...with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. "  This common phrase is not a mathematical equation but rather a phrase to make a point.   " Boy, he has a chip on his shoulder. " - potato chip, computer chip, etc. " T hat was a piece of cake. " - german chocolate, carrot, etc. " That will cost you an arm and a leg. " - surgeon necessary, wooden leg and hook, etc. " You are barking up the wrong tree. " - coon dog, what kind of tree, etc. You get the point.  God's clock is different than ours and therefore what we think as slow is no...

  I am so thankful for Peter's elevation of what God has said; what God has done; and what God will do in relationship to what He has said.  It has been great to go back to the Gospels and see where Peter is pulling from the words of Jesus.  Peter also refers back to the Old Testament and the words of the prophets and psalmists and the great events like the Flood.  Peter is contemporary enough to pull from the words of Paul who was penning the words of God through the Epistles.  Peter is using the whole counsel of God. In chapter 1 Peter reminds us that we have a great salvation from God that we are to be living out for God and it is based on the more fully confirmed words of God than even his own eye witness experiences.  In chapter 2 Peter warns about the false teachers among the flock who make Jesus less than He is, offer other ways to God, and diminish or twist the words of God.  These false teachers attract followers with their arrogance (confiden...

  What you see is the Sunrise Service at 7 a.m.  We are utilizing one half of the sanctuary because the other half is set up for the breakfast to follow.  This was probably my favorite service of the week, same level and just my Bible in my hand.   Holy Week consisted of a Palm Sunday service followed by a daily Monday through Friday " come and go " early morning prayer event.  We had a traditional Good Friday service covering the 7 phrases of Jesus on the cross.  Resurrection Sunday included a Sunrise service followed by a breakfast and then the regular Morning Worship service.  Each was well attended so I was spent by all the personal interactions. It is a challenge to craft messages around passages of scripture that are always referred to during this time of the year.  It is similar to what happens during the Advent season.  I am reminded though that Peter in our study of 1 and 2 Peter is always reminding the beloved of things t...