The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

The Stuff We Face and the Twelve Things We Can Absolutely, Positively Know! My friends are reading this post in different parts of the world. We have different strengths and weaknesses. We have a wide variety of interests and abilities. We come from many walks in life. In spite of these things, we truly share […]

“Better is the poor that walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool” (Proverbs 19:1). Two people walked down a sidewalk in a quaint little town that afternoon. It was well known that the Van Fleet family was very well-to-do. The January winds were cold that day […]

I will never forget May 26, 2020 at 6;30am.

I don’t talk about it often. I don’t dwell on it. The events of that day have never caused me to dwell on them. However! People have quizzed me about it. On a number of occasions I have been asked, “What was it like to nearly die? Were you afraid?”

Let me take you with me into the sudden crisis of a massive heart attack. My plans for the day changed suddenly at around 6:30 that morning. I could hear the sirens and the air horns of the ambulance as we were rushing through traffic to get me to the hospital. I could see paramedic on the phone as he spoke to the ER physician. The news at the hospital was critical and would worsen quickly. A very concerned Cardiac Care Unit doctor would tell me, “Your heart is in distress. The helicopter is in the air coming to transport you the downtown campus of Cleveland Clinic. A team is assembling and will be waiting for you. I’m calling your family.”

It reminds me that the Apostle Peter went through tremendously difficult times in his life. He was no stranger to hardships. While not living in denial, listen to what he wrote to believers. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

It is not a case of “if” hard times come. It is only of “when” will hard times come? I can share honestly with you from my own personal experience, that I found great help and peace because I remembered this little acrostic that I shared with so many over the years.

R stands for REMEMBER that He is God. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

E stands for EXAMINE my life. Be ready to receive His teaching. Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach, for You are the God of my salvation: (Psalm 25:4-5).

A stands for ADMIT my need for Him and His wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

D stands for DEPEND fully upon Him. Run to Him and trust Him. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

E stands for EXPRESS worship and praise to Him even in the hard times. “Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100).

R stands for RESPOND obediently in faith to what He says in His Word. “But with faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

These six things are not from a textbook of theory. They are based on God’s Word and I can tell you friend, they really work. You don’t need to be in a life and death crisis. Whatever you are facing, these are the six principles you possess if you know Christ as your Savior.  www.michaelpeck.org

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding there with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).

Alarms were sounding on the smart phones and computers. The voice on the warning system blared, “This is a dangerous situation that is setting up. The low pressure system is intensifying, and winds are expected to be in excess of 70 to 80 miles per hour. A high wind warning has been issued for our part of the country,” the voice continued. Sarah looked at her children who were quite frightened. “Come to me, my little loved ones. Don’t be afraid. We will be fine. We’ll sit here in the middle of our house and listen to some of your favorite children’s gospel songs, and we will be fine,” Mom assured her children. The storm raged on for nearly an hour. During that time Mommy and her children prayed and sang. They quoted some of the verses they had learned in JOY Club. Overhead they heard branches hitting the house and a loud cracking noise. When the storm subsided, they discovered that the oak tree in their backyard was still standing. However the maple tree they had planted many years ago was uprooted and lying on its side. Dad came home early from work and seized the opportunity. He reminded his family, “We will face storms in our lives just like the storm that blew through our neighborhood. But we can face those storms because we are learning more about the Lord Jesus as we read the Bible, pray, go to church, and have our devotions together. We are kind of like the oak tree that is deeply rooted, not like the maple.” He hugged his children and his wife.

For today: Being rooted and grounded in Christ does not mean that we have no emotions or are indifferent when storms come. It just means that we don’t blow away!

1. Pull miserable fitted sheet out of drier and shake violently to find brown dress sock from previous wash load.

2. With right hand find left hand corner and pull towards your chest.

3. With left hand find grab middle of sheet and pull over your head.

4. With your knees hold onto bottom of sheet.

5. Now twist that wretched sheet in a northeastly direction until the bottom of the sheet pops out from between your knees. Do not become discouraged, you are well on your way to Uncle Mike’s finished product.

6. Now, (and this is very important!) with your loudest voice growl with your deepest vocal sounds as you throw the wadded sheet on the floor. It must be thrown with energy. If you wish, you may pick it up and throw it to the floor repeatedly.

7. Leave that fitted sheet on the floor. Walk away. Put on size twelve white sneakers. Tie firmly.

8. Return to wadded fitted sheet on floor.

9. Stomp on silly fitted sheet until flattened.

10. Pick up from floor and place in the back of the closet under towels where no one will see the work of art.

11. Smile at your great accomplishment. At least you have washed that miserable fitted sheet. Some folks leave it on the bed so long that after taking it off, the only remedy is to burn it!

12. Get cup of coffee and thank the Lord for the many friends you have in life and on Facebook who will smile with you and get on with the rest of their day. Oh, and most importantly, don’t forget “He it is that does go with you; He will not fail you, nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6)