Thursday Thought - 9/6/2024 - Faith on Friday

Have you ever pushed things off until you couldn’t anymore? (sort of like I did with this Thursday thought that is now be written on a Friday!)  Just trying to stave off the potential for not having to go through something?  If you have, then you know how it feels when it actually happens, and you have to go through it.

As a church we have been looking at the 7 letters in Revelation to the churches of Asia Minor.  The apostle John was given the messages by Jesus while John was on an island in a penal colony due to his apparent non obedience to the Roman rulers of the time.  Basically, he was preaching and teaching what Jesus taught and said and was banished for it.

But in these letters, we get to the point of my initial paragraph.  In these letters we find Jesus calling out these churches to do better.  To hold on.  To live their faith in all situations. And to continuing look to God’s word for the truth of any situation.

See in any type of harsh or hard situation, it’s the faith that we use during those times that keeps us focused on the right track – and building faith.  Isn’t it true that when you are doing well, when things are not making you “go through something” you don’t really need to stand on your faith, or even count on it.

So, we go through things.  Even things we don’t like.  Because God isn’t finished with us yet.  He is always shaping and molding, wanting us to seek Him in ALL things.  Even the hard to go through things.

At our church we have been saying, sure, its easy to hear the things that you want to hear and process those.  But it’s the things that we NEED to hear, that can be hard to get through.

I challenge us today to continue to put our faith in the One who loves us above all others.  To have faith that builds, and capitalize on that even in those harsh, hard times.  For He Never Fails, and He Won’t!!

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought - 8/22/2024 - In Cathedrals

Several years ago, now, I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Italy.  It was for an anniversary for my wife and I which has become one that we will never forget.  When going to another country there are many things you must prepare for, and many things to worry about.  But for some reason, on this trip I was not too worried or uptight about how we were going to get around or even communicate with people.

Yes, you are right – I am Italian, and that should probably give me a reason to be more at ease than most on a trip such as this, however, that might mean something if I actually knew how to speak Italian, or at least knew something of the country that some of my grandparents came from.  But I don’t, and I know little about those times being that I wasn’t around.

And yet my comfort level was high.  In fact, it was probably as I entered my 50’s one of the surest times ever felt.  My confidence was high and so was my joy.  I ponder now why, and have only come up with this…

I felt the favor of the Lord.

Now if you have read my blog for any amount of time, you will figure out that I am a movie buff.  I have been since movies came out in the 1980’s came out that you could watch at home.  I have collected my favorites and enjoy having the option to even own digital copies now.

So, this phrase, that I felt the favor of the Lord takes me to a movie called “Chariots of Fire”.  A wonderful portrayal of Eric Lidell, a missionary who was also extraordinarily fast!  He ran for Great Britain in the Olympics and stood for his religious rights at the same time.  My kind of guy!!  And his quote in this movie which is in my top ten is “…when I run, I feel His favor…”

I get it.  There are things I do even now in my life in which I understand that because of the feeling the favor of the Lord brings.  And when I was in Italy, sightseeing, experiencing another culture, visiting the home of my relatives, and especially touring cathedral after wonderful cathedral, I felt the favor of the Lord.

When Brenda and I stepped off the train that took us to Venice – the city of waterways, and when we walked out onto the veranda off the train platform – The city stretched in front of us.  And through blinking tears and eyes wide with the beauty of Cathedral after cathedral and water roads, and the history and magnificence within it, and to whom these cathedrals were made to and for… It was breathtaking.

Psalm 84:11 NIV For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

So, think back to the last time you felt the favor of the Lord.  It might have even been this morning for you.  It most certainly wasn’t for me, as my dogs ran me in circles around our yard, but for you think of that time.

Take it in, breathe it in.  God wants us to be in His favor more, especially just in our regular everyday lives. 

I pray every day we can find a way to be in the favor of our Lord.

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought - 8/15/2024 - Where do we go from here?

It has been brought to my attention, that many times when we preach and teach the gospel that we do not follow through when people go through hard times.  It is quite simple for some to merely say “I will pray for you” or “I hope that things work out as God wills”.  And that is not to say that this may be all that a person can do at the time.  I realize and empathize with people whose lives are extremely busy or have many others who require your attention.  It can be a concern that our life puts us in from time to time.

So, is there another answer?  Or is there a complete answer.  Many times, when I find myself saying “I will pray for you” or “can I pray for you right now” – it might be the absolute best thing I can do.  We talk all the time about the power of prayer and how we believe and trust in it.  But we know how powerful and how important prayer is in James.

James 5:13-16 NIV Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

I am reminded of a song (Games People Play) by the Alan Parsons Project.

Where do we go from here

Now that all of the children are growin' up.

And how do we spend our lives

If there's no one to lend us a hand?

 It makes me think that yeah, we made it this far, but what about tomorrow?  And in my crazy connections in my brain, it reminds me of this verse that Jesus so sweetly tells us while He is preaching the sermon on the mount,

Matthew 6:34 NIV Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

It’s like we are saying, yeah – but what have you done for me lately?   I am not sure when we decided that we were the most important, but it sure is prevalent.  God tells us that He is in charge, that His plan is in place, and that He is in control.  Do we need more?

Now I realize there are people in this world that are very troubled.  They are in need of serious intervention in order to make a change occur.  But that is not the norm.  Most of us need to realize that God is in control, that these questions like Where do we go from here? Or how do I handle this situation are ready to be handled and settled by our Heavenly Father.

And in order for Him to do that, we need to be in a relationship with Him!  So, I wonder, is it our questioning about what we need, what we want, or how come things seem to be not going well for us. Or aren’t we just acting like children and stomping our feet?

Speaking for myself, I need to give things to God more, pray more, seek His face more, read scriptures more, and question less.  He will guide and direct.

Proverbs 16:9 NIV In their heart’s humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Peace,

PTV

Thursday Thought - 8/8/2024 - Hello God

Hello God,

It’s been a few days since I talked to you.  I need to be better at that.  How are you?  I know, that seems silly to ask, I mean, you’re God.  Of course you are fine!  You are the Creator of the Universe, the Bright and Morning Star, the Fairest of 10,000 to my soul.  So, I know you are good.

Me?  I’m ok.  What?  Yeah, I’m fine.  No, really, I am doing okay.  Yes, I know you know all things and can see all things.  Yeah, I know that you are with me all the time, so you know what’s going on in my life.  So why do I need to say it?

Ok, ok.  I’ll tell you.  I understand you just want me to talk with you.  Yeah, it’s been hard lately.  A lot of things seem to come at me very unexpectedly, and it feels very overwhelming.  I have tried to just give it all to you, but it seems like you won’t take it.  Well, yeah, I know you can handle all things.  But I am still going through it, and need to hold onto it a bit to make sure everything is ok. Don’t you realize how hard this is?  You do? How come it seems I’m alone? You are right here? Can I hold your hand?

I mean I’m a good person.  I try to follow you in all aspects.  I purposely put myself in the way of people who need to know you and hear about you.  I plan my days around serving you and making sure I am open to the leadership of your Holy Spirit.  I continue to try to be merciful and graceful to all.  I am on a 24/7 type of life, serving others for you God.  But apparently that is not enough!  I feel like I gave up everything for you, family, friends, career, where I live, and still, I go through things.  Do you even know how that feels? 

What?  Oh, yeah – you do understand what it feels like to lose friends, to be spit on and beaten.  You have been misunderstood, and betrayed.  You do know what it’s like to be lonely and tired.  To be desperate and willing but wishing things were different.  You do know what difficult situations are like. Oh yeah, you gave up your life, for me… Yeah, I guess you really do understand.

What? Have I seen what you have done in my life? What do you mean? Oh, you mean my friends, new and old? Yeah, they are really great. My home? I love it. Yes, I know you were in that happening God. My wife, yeah I really don’t deserve her. My family? Yes, you are faithful. Thank you. I see you God. At least sometimes… help me see you more.

God, I want what you want.  I want You to be in charge of every aspect of me.  I realize that this life will be hard.  I mean, I know people who have things way worse than me, and you should see them smile praising Your name!  Oh, you do.  Right. Yeah, you see them too.  Got it.

Please help me God to trust you more.  In everything that goes on.  Even when I am so tired I don’t feel like getting out of bed, or driving, or talking, or even listening.  Please help me God to focus on you even when things are out of focus, and blurry.  Help me to see you, hear you, listen to you.

Thanks for listening God.  I know, I know.  You are always here to listen and talk with me, why do I wait so long?  Thanks God.  It means a lot that you care about me, in fact it means so much that you love me.  I do believe it.  I have too.  I’m all in on this God, just help me to stay strong.

Love,

Tony