peace – Your Daily Encouragement

More Than You’ve Ever Dreamt

eye has not seen, nor has ear heard

I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. —John 10:7–10 Msg

Every so often I come across an ad on social media about a “ground-breaking” new technology; a new teaching; one simple life-hack that deals with ________________ (fill in the blank).

I got sucked into one recently. in the video, multiple people claimed how this new info had changed their life, and answered every question they’ve ever had! The script was engaging and (like most SM) made you want to keep listening. While I waited for the “simple hack,” they veered off into another direction, saying something like, “But have you ever wondered why…” Finally, when it came to “Click here for more information,” I was out.

Therapeutic models, Life-coaching, new technologies, all these things have a place and can be helpful. But sometimes they promise more than they can deliver.

And because we can only see life from a human perspective, our own perception is limited. That includes every system of philosophy, ancient and modern.

If you want the big picture, you need a higher perspective—because there is more to life than this life. There is a life to come. And when it comes to gaining that higher perspective, there is only one source for my money. And that is Jesus.

Jesus told his disciples that while many had come to proclaim a new way or had many followers because of their powerful personality, Jesus gives us the truth behind his coming and his purpose.

John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, records Jesus’ words for us. Here is what he said:
“I am the Gate for the sheep.” Jesus is the entrance, for us, to God. “All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them.” While others were in it for themselves, Jesus is the one who was sent by God to be that door to the Kingdom of God. And while others claimed special knowledge available nowhere else, Jesus says “My sheep saw through all that and didn’t follow them.”

“Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture.” Not only will they enter God’s Kingdom, but they will find everything they need: protection, peace, grace, rest; wide-open spaces and all that comes with it.

Pasture. Peace.

One of the reasons I love the PNW is the unspoiled beauty of nature. You don’t have to drive far to get away from it all. Even in the brokenness of our world, we see glimpses of the beauty of what the Kingdom of Heaven will be like. Pasture.

Then he finishes with this: Remember a thief’s purpose: “A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy.” A thief cares nothing about the flock. They are there to steal and destroy—to take what they want and leave nothing of value.

But Jesus says, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.“

Real life. More and better than we’ve dreamt of. Forever. Not an extended version of this life, but life on a level we’ve never experienced.

Forever.

That is why Jesus came. No wonder we follow him.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

To CGM: A BIG Thank You

if you want to be wise, network with sages

So honored to have another post hosted by Christian Grandfather Magazine. This online resource is a treasure trove of resources whether you’re a grandfather, or a prospective grandfather.

In fact, every believer could benefit from the wisdom that CGM posts up on its site each day.

Here is the link to “Your Daily Encouragement” on CGM.

Love you,
Pastor Bill

No Worries

when you do this, the miraculous happens

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6-7

Worry is a dead giveaway that we think our situation is out of control. Worry will make you focus on your abilities instead of God’s abilities.

So for today:

Don’t overthink.
Don’t worry.
Instead, pray.

Instead of assuming that God doesn’t know what He’s doing, pray.

Pray about everything. Tell Him you’re overthinking. Confess your worry.

Tell Him what you need—bring it to Him! He loves to hear from his children.

Then thank him for all He’s done.

When you do this, the miraculous happens. The scriptures describe it this way:

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

His peace—the peace that transcends our ability to understand—will guard your heart and mind, as you continue to follow Christ.

This is a good time—right now—to bring Him what is on your mind.

And I would love to hear what your Heavenly Father does for you as you do.

Love you,
Pastor Bill

Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.

photo courtesy Toby Mac

Serious Contentment

keeping the main thing the main thing

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?” —Hebrews 13:5–6

Ever worried about not having enough?

Yeah, we all have. During the pandemic we were reminded how vulnerable our supply chain is. And because of it we experienced empty shelves and panic-buying.

The writer in the book of Hebrews is giving his people some basic instructions to live this new life as followers of Jesus, and in the middle of these instructions is the encouragement to keep our lives free from the love of money.

Why would he prioritize this—being free from the love of money?

It is because he understands that what we love, we will serve.

If you love God, you will serve him and his purposes. If the affections of your heart are for money, you will love and serve it. Financial advisor Dave Ramsey says that money is “a wonderful servant, but it is a horrible master.”

Why is the love of money such a problem for us? Because it competes for first place in our hearts. Jesus told us that the first of all the commandments was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. When our hearts are constantly focused on money, it misdirects the affections of our heart from God to cash.

Money promises to meet all the needs we have in life, and when we believe that, we live under the myth that we would be happier if only we had more money.

Someone has said that the only advantage that the rich have over the poor is that the rich know that money won’t make them happy.

While some love and make acquisition of money their main goal in life, we must remember that money is simply a tool. Money is neither good, nor bad. It is a tool to meet the needs of people. And if we handle it wisely, there is great reward.

Here is why he says to stay clear of the love of money: because money comes and money goes. But God has said that he would never leave you—never forsake you.

Instead of looking to my finances to meet my needs, he encourages us from Psalms 118:6-7, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” —Hebrews 13:5–6

So, keep this in mind. Money is simply a tool. It can either be used for good or bad. But rather than making cash your motive for living, prioritize God himself. Look to him. He is the one who meets every need. He is the one who will never leave, or forsake. He is the one who is your helper, your protector who gives confidence.

Trust God, be content with what you have and manage your financial resources well. When you do that you can say with confidence, “God is my helper, my provider, the source of every blessing in my life.” This is the place of contentment.

Serious contentment.

Image by Larisa Koshkina from Pixabay

God’s Hand Of Blessing

the place of hope

The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.” —Psalm 32:8

If I had to rate the most difficult challenges in life, at the top of difficulty would have to be decision-making (especially as a first born!).

In fact, one widely used statistic is that we make 35,000 decisions per day—most of which carry lesser impact than others. One source claims that we make 227 decisions every day on food alone.

But the fact that our decisions carry weight and consequences in our lives is real. Every day (especially on viral social media posts) we see people make decisions that bring destruction into their lives. How do we make wise decisions—decisions that deliver hope instead of destruction?

Psalm 32 is a powerful reminder of where hope and blessing come from: these flow from our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Follow me in this poem, because King David’s logic is revealing. It starts out with the joy that comes in forgiveness:

Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those
whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty! —Psalm 32:1–2

David starts with the recognition that God is the King and we are his servants. This is so powerful. Don’t overlook the impact of recognizing and confessing our disobedience to God—because this confession leads to a clear conscience. And this clear conscience now gives us the ability to live honestly and guiltfree.

David reflects how troubled he was when he denied his guilt before God, when he tried to sweep it under the rug. But when he confessed his rebellion, it changed everything. So, David gives us the remedy to clouded thinking:

“Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.” —Psalm 32:6–7

In confession there is peace—in God’s presence there is protection. He is a place of safety and gives us joyous victory.

Which brings us to verse 8. And here is where reconciliation with God leads to his blessing:

The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.” —Psalm 32:8

When we get honest with God, his blessing comes over the path of our life. How? God, himself, says he will advise; He will watch over us. His hand will guide and direct.

Don’t miss this powerful truth. When we are reconciled to God, his hand will guide in our life decisions.

This is the path of hope, wisdom and joy.

Image by Peter H from Pixabay

Thank You Victor

precious and faithful

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. —Psalm 116:15

I met Victor one day at CenterPoint, and what caught my eye was his exuberance. Victor shined with the love of Christ.

Victor with his son Dylan and wife, Lesa

One day he said, “Pastor, can we get together?” So, we meet at a local coffee shop and he shared with me how he had begun following Jesus: how he went from homelessness as a boy (in the 1960’s) to following Jesus through the Jesus Movement in Southern California. He told me how a Christian couple took him in and loved him in a way he had never experienced.

Jesus—through His people—changed Victor’s life.

He shared how he went through a number of ups and downs, but the love of God had been with him through every high and low. As we spoke, I asked him if we would like to be part of a group we were about to launch, called “the Disciple-making Path,” and his eyes lit up—he was totally down for it.

Victor—a 68 year-old man—wanted to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Wow! Wherever you are in your life, it’s never too late to keep growing.

Victor started up with our new group and he rocked it. When he spoke, he brought wisdom and experience to the group, all of whom were younger than he was. He came every week ready and read-up on that week’s devotionals.

The group took a break this summer, and he was looking forward to the upcoming group time this fall, and start year two—that is, after he returned from a trip to Europe he and his wife Lesa would be taking this next month. Victor and his wife Lesa hosted exchange students in their home and were looking forward to visiting them in their home country for a few weeks.

We got the news this last Tuesday night that Victor passed quietly in his sleep. He had been called home to be with One he loved and served for over 40 years.

Victor reminded me that our time here is short: we don’t know how long we have, but one day we will join him in leaving this world.

Moses asked God: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” There is wisdom in remembering the brevity of this life. And although I will miss him dearly, I know that there is no place safer for him than the arms of Christ.

But there is something new that Victor taught me in his passing, and it is in his name.

Victor.

John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, wrote ‘Every child of God is victorious over the world’ —1 John 5:4. John says those who follow Jesus are “victors.” And by the “world,” John means we are victors over the values of this world system—that Jesus’ followers will overcome the corruption and evil of this world and ultimately overcome even death itself.

Victor is a victor.

And Victor isn’t actually dead; he is more alive today than he has ever been. He is standing in the presence of Christ and one day he will accompany Jesus when He returns to bring God’s Kingdom to this world and restore what was lost in the fall.

And what a day that will be.

Image by Shah Rokh from Pixabay

Know God, Know Hope

no God, no hope

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. —Romans 15:13

In the first century there was a young, fledgling group of Jesus followers who met in the capital of the world, the city of Rome. And while they struggled with how to make their new faith practical, three times, throughout this letter the Apostle Paul encourages their “confident hope.”

Hope is a powerful word—especially in a world that can be brutally hopeless. But an overflowing, confident hope? That is above and beyond.

So, is that even possible—in this world? To have a confident hope?

It is. And this is why the Gospel (an old English word that means Good News) is such good news. The Good News is that God’s Son has come into the world to deal with every barrier that keeps us from knowing God.

That means when Jesus went to the cross, he paid the penalty for every offense we’ve committed against God—every sin, every wrong-doing—and now offers complete forgiveness to anyone who asks. And when we receive that forgiveness, we come into a new relationship with God—he adopts us into his family. Hopelessness is turned back and hope is restored.

It is a new life; a new beginning—not only for this life, but for the life to come as well.

Joy and peace have the freedom to fill our hearts.

Follow the logic of God in Romans 15:13: This hope comes from Him, whose presence fills us with joy and peace as we continue to trust in him. Because of this, Paul continues, you will overflow with confident hope (there it is), through the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life.

And the essential ingredient in hope is the presence of God. But don’t stop there, allow Him to fill you with overflowing confident hope. That is what he does.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

The Path Through Chaos

Monday Meditation

“Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10

Ever felt overwhelmed? Abandoned? Like life is out of your control? In these moments we can become anxious. Apprehensive. Stressed out.

In Psalm 46, the writer describes the reason for our anxiety. Often it is due to the circumstances beyond our control—some of it by natural catastrophes, and some by manmade catastrophes.

And sometimes by our own making.

But right out of the chute, this Psalm begins by affirming the confidence we can have in God’s protection—even in chaotic times. It says:

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.

Especially in times of trouble. So…

“we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge.”

So, when chaos comes from natural events in our world (earthquakes, flooding, etc.), here is God’s promise:

A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
Because God lives here, it cannot be destroyed.
God’s protection is here, 24/7.

Wherever God is, there His peace and protection is. Next Psalm 46 describes the chaos of manmade events:

“Come see the glorious works of the LORD:
See how he destroys destruction in our world.
He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
burning the shields with fire.”

So whether it is a natural disaster, or manmade chaos, God tells us that He has it covered—that He knows and will bring relief. Then the Psalm finishes with this comforting command and promise:

Be still, and know that I am God!

Be still: Let go of your striving, worry, anxiety—and rest. Trust Him.

Trust that he is God. Trust that He knows the end from the beginning. Trust that He has your back and is in control.

And here is the promise:

“I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

In a world that is given to chaos, God promises that one day His peace and righteousness will extend around the globe. Every wrong will be made right. At that time He will rule with perfect justice. Our deepest hopes will be realized.

All because the King rules. That day when Jesus comes to reign and rule as King of kings and Lord of lords.

In the meantime, Psalm 46 reminds us:

The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

The Commander of the armies of heaven is here. Now. Among us. And He is our protector. Our fortress. So, let the chaos swirl. God is with you.

No wonder our hearts can be at rest.

Be still. Know that He is God.

Even in the chaos.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

The Gift of Peace

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” —John 14:27

While Jesus was with his disciples, they struggled to trust. Then, as he prepared to leave, they became anxious. So he gave them a gift: peace. The peace that comes with the presence of God. And he extends this gift to his followers even today.

But like every gift, it doesn’t become ours until we receive it.

This is a good time to take a moment to thank him for providing the gift of his salvation, for the gift of the Holy Spirit—who lives in us as we follow Jesus—and the peace of God that transcends all understanding.

This is the peace that will guard your heart and mind from every fear and anxiety as you walk with him.

Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay

Hallelujah!

praise the Lord y’all!

Praise the LORD.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD. —Psalm 150:1–6

Because we are so close to Joint Base Lewis McChord, we have a number of great military families at CenterPoint.

A young woman who is part of the CenterPoint family is expecting and is about 8 months into her pregnancy. And because her husband is in the military, he is on assignment out of the country. So her mother flew into town to be with her as her delivery day approaches.

I met this soon-to-be grandmother this past week and there is a quiet peace about her. She speaks Spanish, mainly, and I was able to speak a little with her through my limited Spanish. But it was this quiet peace that intrigued me.

It is difficult to put into words, but when you see it, you know it. Small in stature, but strong in spirit. I welcomed her to the CenterPoint family and spent some brief moments thanking her for coming to be with her daughter.

But this inner peace; her quiet strength stayed with me and I wondered, “What is it that is so palpable in the life of this lady that is so different from the average person you might meet on the street or bump into at the Mall?”

I am convinced it is worship. This lady has spent her life loving God and worshiping Him, and raised this daughter who (even in her pregnancy) is actively part of a disciple-making group at CenterPoint. This young woman has seen the example of her mother and father and now continues that legacy of humble surrender to the Spirit of God.

Worship is surrendering to God’s Spirit and allowing Him to fill our lives. But that requires the difficult work of emptying ourselves of our own will. The Spirit of God cannot fill the life of a person who is full of themself.

Humility is key.

The strength I witnessed in this grandmother wasn’t in word, posturing or title. It was her humility and allowing the Spirit of God to be forefront her life.

Like a capstone on a beautiful building, Psalm 150 is the final Psalm in this book of praise. It uses the word Hallelujah in the original language, which means “Praise the Lord.” And it is in the plural, imperative. So in English, we might say “Praise the Lord, y’all.”

It directs everyone—you, me, all creation—to sing Hallelujah to the One who has made us and every other person we’ll ever meet in this life.

The Psalm describes how every instrument can be used to give praise to the One who made it all: our voices, brass, stringed instruments, percussion, pipes, cymbals—anything—everything! And then it finishes with these words:

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Hallelujah!

So, whatever comes into my life, I can say with confidence Hallelujah.
When disappointment settles over my mind, I can look ahead with assurance and say Hallelujah.
When my expectations don’t come to fruition, I can surrender to the King of heaven and say Hallelujah.

And not because I’m a fatalist, but because I know that He has everything in hand. It is surrender to the Spirit of God. That is worship.

This is the life and place of peace as we follow Christ.

Praise the Lord, y’all!

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay