The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

Yesterday was Mother’s Day. If your mom is still alive, I trust that you were able to connect with her and that your celebration was special. I am greatly blessed because of my dear mom who loved the Lord and my dear wife, both of whom are with the Lord. Both my mom and my wife knew the Lord and sought to walk with Him. Both were wonderful moms.

It reminds me of what Paul wrote to Timothy. He said, “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Timothy 1:3-5).

Timothy did not come from a perfect home. But he was greatly blessed by the consistent, faithful, godly instruction and example set before him by his grandmother and mother. Oh Mom, would God help you to understand that the most precious mission field begins with your own children and grandchildren! I can still hear my wife Karen sitting at the table working along on a project and singing the songs of the Lord with my children and grandchildren. How she loved to share Scripture and remind them that the Lord Jesus loves them and what He did for them so that He could be their Savior.

For today: No, I didn’t forget that yesterday was Mother’s Day. I just wanted to emphasize that Moms and grandmothers can intentionally rejoice and be faithful on your mission field. Ladies, even if you never bore a child, you can still have a huge impact for Christ upon the lives of the children around you.

“Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…But with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Some time ago I was watching Antiques Roadshow and enjoying the program. Person after person who was invited to come to the assigned area had a special object of interest. Those items seemed to be very old, very rare, or very ornate. They also were very valuable. Then came a lady who had a particular piece that the appraiser held in his hand. It looked beautiful. “This is going to be expensive. Look at the design of that piece of pottery,” I said to myself. “I have a feeling that she is going to need to get that insured.” I was positive. Then the announcement was made by the expert, “I am so sorry to disappoint you. This is not the real thing. This is an inexpensive and rather poorly made fake.” The lady’s countenance changed dramatically. She couldn’t believe her ears. Her prized pottery that was supposed to be an expensive antique was worth maybe ten dollars. “Someone sold me a fake,” she said sadly. How unlike our wonderful salvation purchased by the Lord Jesus. There is nothing cheap or artificial about the price that our Lord paid. He paid a great price, and the redemption He gives is the real thing! Have you accepted this gracious gift offered by the Lord Jesus?

For today: Rejoice in the redemption that is in Christ Jesus our Lord and Him alone. This gift is real and transforms our lives.

Today our Daily Prescription is for the birds! Literally!

“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:26).

The little birds have been singing quite a message to me lately. The Heavenly Father, Who feeds and cares for these little creatures, dearly loves and cares for His people. I love how the Lord Jesus phrased it. He literally told us to take a great object lesson from the birds. The same Lord Who cares for them will care for us. We are more valuable to Him than the birds.

It reminds me of the time that so many things had gone wrong for Janelle. Through no fault of her own, she had encountered several unexpected bills, her workplace had cut the hours of their employees, and now the check engine light on her car had come on. Feeling discouraged and overwhelmed, she sat that morning on her deck, drinking coffee, and reading her Bible. As she read through Matthew 6, almost perfect in the timing of it, along came a little sparrow who perched on the shrub nearby. Its sweet, quiet chirping was almost like a sermon to her of what she just read about the birds. This is a reminder we all need.

For today: Need a smile? Then just remember this! You are of more value than that sparrow that just flew by! Seriously, how awesome is the Father’s care for His people!

“He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).

She invited Pastor Kenward to pull a chair closer to her bed. “I am soon to go Home to be with the Lord Jesus, Pastor Kenward, I just know it. I have known it all along since I came here to Hospice. I can’t describe to you the comfort and joy that I am feeling. I know that it’s not the medicine that is making me feel this way. Though I am glad that the medicine is helping with my terrible pain, this comfort and joy is coming as I picture myself being one of those needy sheep that the Great Shepherd picks up and carries in His arms. That message you preached not long ago about our Savior being the Shepherd…and then you quoted a verse from the Old Testament. Was it Isaiah, Pastor? It’s where the Shepherd carries the sheep with special needs. That’s surely me, Pastor.”

With tears in his eyes because he knew that he had the greatest privilege in the world to be sitting with someone who was still on earth but in the next moments or hours would be in Heaven, the Pastor responded, “Yes, it was the book of Isaiah. It’s Isaiah 40:11. Would you like me to read it to you?” Pastor Kenward asked. She could barely nod her head as she closed her eyes to listen. After reading our verse to her, she said, “Yes. That’s me, Pastor. That’s me.” And friends, it is not just for those who are near death. It is for each of us who know the Lord Jesus as our Savior. It is for every day of our lives.

For today: Oh, how we need our precious Great Shepherd. I’m glad that I belong to Him. How about you? 

“Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints. For the LORD takes pleasure in His people…” (Psalm 149:1,4).

She came with a friend who was a member of the local church after being invited for several months. I’ll call her Martha. Poor Martha appeared as frightened and nervous as could be. Following the service the tears streaked down her cheeks as she shook my hand. “I’ve never been in a place like this before, Pastor,” she said to me. “The people here really worship the Lord. They know that the Lord loves them, and for the first time I saw real, genuine worship.  All my life I’ve been told that I am worthless, that I will never amount to anything. I’ve been told that even God had given up on me. Today you spoke of the Lord taking pleasure in His people. I just can’t get over it!” she said as she sobbed.

It would not be long before “Martha” would become one of the Lord’s people through her trust in Christ. Please understand. God is holy, and He never approves of sin. However, He, as our precious Father, does take pleasure in His people. Do you know Him as your Savior? Are you one of His people?

Please friends, take this seriously: If you have any doubt as to what it means to know Christ, please go to www.michaelpeck.org and click the banner “Heaven!”