The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

I have a challenge for you today as I challenge myself as well. Long ago, I challenged myself to find a way to intentionally be kind to at least one person daily. I discovered great blessings in being on the kindness pursuit. This is based on a wonderful, wonderful verse of Scripture. Let me share it with you.

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Let me tell you about Rick. He pulled into the drive thru lane of a popular coffee shop. For some reason Rick had been very sullen that morning and just didn’t seem to be able to shake it. His ride to his college class seemed to go wrong on every count. He had hit every light red. Someone had blown the horn behind him because he missed the light turning green. At the intersection of Brown Avenue and Carlisle Drive, a careless driver had pulled out in front of him causing Rick to spill his entire cup of coffee on the floor of the car. He had screamed but to no avail. What a bad morning.

Up ahead was another coffee shop. Once again, he ordered another coffee and a donut to go with it. “That will be $4.56. Please pull ahead to window number one,” the attendant said. Rick muttered, “What else can go wrong today?” When it was his turn at the window, he received his order and the server said, “The driver ahead of you just paid for yours and asked me to tell you, ’The Lord has been very good to me and I want to pass it along.’”

With gratitude Rick received his order. “No one has ever done anything like that for me. WOW!”

So! Let’s get started on today: How will you be able to demonstrate kindness to someone today?

Just like that, we begin a new month together. Thank you for taking a few moments with me. If “Dr. Mike’s Daily Prescriptions” have been a help or blessing to you, may I invite you to share them with your friends. They would be welcome to subscribe simply by going to michaelpeck.org and subscribing on my Homepage.

I am thinking of a powerful verse today.

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Many skilled writers have defined faith in various ways, including assurance, belief, trust, and obedience. There are many ways to describe it and many, many ways in which to live it out in our personal lives. If you are like most of us, there is something right now in your life that is upon your heart. You don’t know how the situation will turn out. There are folks involved that you care deeply about. You need the Lord’s help in ways that are beyond description.

Then you read once again, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Years ago, in a time of deep, deep water and heartbreak, I wrote my definition of faith. Through my tears I wrote, “Faith is knowing my Father and depending fully upon Him. Therefore I will trust when I cannot see, believe when I don’t understand, and obey even when the situation doesn’t make sense to me.”

This I know! The more that I am reading His Word, believing what He says, and acting upon it, the more my faith will grow (Romans 10:17).

He is risen.
He is risen indeed.

“The angel answered and said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead” (Matthew 28:5-7).

Years ago I wrote this hymn lyric and wanted to share it with you today. You’re welcome to use it in your family gathering.

Wonderful Is Our Savior
(To the Tune of Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee)

1. Holy, holy is our Savior, Lord of glory, highest Name.
Down from glory to the manger, laid aside His glorious fame.
Come the Shepherds to behold Him; this is surely God’s own Son!
So amazing to behold him; Heaven’s best has truly come.

2. Lowly, lowly is the stable, such a place for royalty.
So amazing is the picture, shepherds rushed to come and see.
Angels giving God the glory; Word made flesh was born that night.
Yonder in the stable lowly, hush at such a precious sight.

3. Perfect, perfect is our Savior, down to earth to die for sin.
Shed His blood for us on Calvary; our salvation He would win.
Lamb of God, our great Redeemer, glory in the highest praise.
We will ever serve the Savior – walk with Him through all our days.

4. Highest, highest is the glory, His great Name above all names.
Every knee before Him bending; “Christ is Lord!” the world proclaims.
What a day of glory coming! Christ will rule in majesty.
Thank you, precious risen Savior, gladly do I bend my knee.

Blessed Resurrection Day, my friends. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

It’s Saturday, but the Glorious Resurrection Sunday is coming tomorrow when we get to proclaim once again that our Savior is alive. It was all part of the Lord’s plan. The Lord Jesus had told His disciples (and us as well),

“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem; and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day” (Matthew 16:21).

What grace is this right before our very eyes today. Be mindful not to allow the true meaning of Easter to be robbed by giving it to candy and bunnies.

The price was far too great.
The sacrifice was far too incredible.
The agony was far too excruciating.
The accomplishment was far too grand.

You and I need to keep Christ the central focus and worship in our hearts.

It’s Good Friday.

“Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1).

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).

“Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him…” (John 19:16-18).

The price was severe.
The love was amazing.
The plan was incredible.

It was for you and me, friends.

It’s Good Friday, but Sunday is coming!