Monthly Archives: September 2019

This has been a good week!

The weather has been beautiful, I’ve gotten a lot done, and work has gone well. However, the best part is, my mother came home!

For the last 4 months Mom has been wandering from place-to-place, visiting her other kids and scattered relatives. She has enjoyed her travels and getting to spend time with everyone, but she says she’s tired of being a gypsy. As we pulled into our driveway Wednesday afternoon, she let out a little sigh of relief and whispered, “It’s good to be home.”

Looking for Home

I know how Mom feels. Nothing is better after a long trip or a long day, then the feeling of coming home. Yet, even though we’ve lived in Cashmere for 8 years, I still feel a vague restlessness. I love where I live, our church and our friends, but I could leave tomorrow with few regrets. Even though I call this place “home”, I’m searching for something more.

The truth is we are all searching for something more, for a place to call home. We wander from place-to-place, from job-to-job, from relationship-to-relationship, looking for a place where we belong, yet nothing we find fully fills the emptiness we feel inside.

Home is Not a Place

What we’ve failed to realize is “home” is not a place. It is a Person. It is in the arms of Jesus where we belong. Only there will we finally find peace and love and a place to truly call “home.” Only there will we ever find rest for our souls.

Someday soon Jesus is coming to take us to our heavenly home. That’s a day for which I can hardly wait! However, we don’t need to wait till then to find rest from our wanderings. Jesus says to us today, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

The Invitation

Home is wherever Jesus is and He is by your side right now. This very moment He is holding out His hand, inviting you to come home, to find rest and peace and a love which will never let you go.

Aren’t you tired of wandering in search of a place to call your own? Jesus is what you’re looking for. Don’t wait a moment longer. Give Him your life today and once and forever –

Come Home!

I’m a person who hates conflict. I go out of my way to avoid it. I hate when I have a disagreement with my wife, my children, or a co-worker. I just want everyone to get along, to be at peace.

Peace – it is such an elusive concept. It is something we all long for, but very few have found. Millions of dollars and countless hours are spent by diplomats in search of peace, yet it seems all for naught, as conflicts escalate and thousands of innocents suffer the consequences. “‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14 NIV).

Today, September 21, is the International Day of Peace. This day was established by the United Nations in 1981 “…as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.” (https://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday)

Unfortunately, as I watch the news, it appears this effort by the UN has been a dismal failure. Everywhere we look wars rage, conflicts brew, and people suffer. Overwhelmed by what I see my heart echoes the Psalmist when he declared, “Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” (Psalm 120:6,7).

However, all is not lost. Jesus came to this world “to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:79). There is reason for hope. Jesus is our hope. He alone can “guide our feet into the path of peace.”

All the negotiations of diplomats, the manuvering of governments, the well-meaning declarations of the UN are doomed to failure, but Jesus says, “…take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Someday soon Jesus will come again and finally and forever make “wars cease to the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 46:9).

Until that day, we, His people, have a work to do. We are called to “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14).

You may not have the power to make “wars cease to the ends of the earth”, but you can seek to bring peace to your little corner of it. You can “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44 KJV) You can strive every day to “live at peace with everyone”, because “God has called us to live in peace.” (Romans 12:18, 1 Cor. 7:15 NIV).

Today, on this International Day of Peace, in spite of the conflicts all around you, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:15),. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3) and “encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” (2 Corinthians 13:11).

Peace may be an elusive concept, but with Jesus in your life everyday can be a Day of Peace. So have a Happy Sabbath and “may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” (2 Thess. 3:16).

Saying good-bye is never easy. My brother, Larry Edison, and his wife, Bonnie Edison, are discovering this for themselves. After 5 years in Pennsylvania, they are moving to New Hampshire where Larry has accepted a new job.

My sisters are thrilled to have them living so much closer, but for Larry and Bonnie the move is stirring up mixed emotions. While they are excited about the new opportunities awaiting them in New Hampshire, it is hard to leave their friends behind. They’ve developed some good relationships in Pennsylvania and it is difficult to say good-bye.

Bonnie posted today on Facebook a prayer her granddaughter, Maylia, prayed recently, which is helping Bonnie deal with this transition. Maylia prayed, “Dear Jesus, please send your angels to wrap their arms around my MImi and Pop Pop and hug them tight on their long journey to their new home.” As Bonnie said, how can anyone be too sad after hearing a prayer like that?

We are all on a “long journey”, a journey called life! Like any journey, this one comes with its ups and downs, its setbacks and disappointments, and way too many good-byes. Sometimes the road is so rough, the destination so far away, and the good-byes so painful, we are tempted to give up in despair.

For each of us the journey is different, but no matter the path you are called to follow, know this – you do not walk alone! You have a Heavenly Father who promises to “never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV) He promises “I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.” Exodus 23:20 NLT

This week, when the journey seems too hard and you’re not sure you can take another step, remember, you are not alone! Your angel goes before you and will lead you to the place “prepared for you.” Lean into his arms today and feel him hug you tight on your long journey to your new home. It’s going to be a wonderful trip!

God bless and have a happy Sabbath!

This last Tuesday I was able to pay off Ana’s car loan 3 months ahead of schedule. I was so excited I posted the good news on Facebook and received almost 80 likes and comments!

We all love to hear stories of people breaking free from debt, because we’ve all been there ourselves. We all know how heavy the weight of those monthly payments can be. We all remember the feeling of desperation when there is more month left at the end of the money.

Paying off the car loan was quite an accomplishment and I thank God for making it possible, but I’ve got more good news. The auto loan wasn’t the only debt I’ve been set free from. I had a far greater debt, one I had no hope of ever repaying – the debt of my sin. But, thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross today I am DEBT FREE!!!

This morning I’ve got good news for you too! No matter how heavy the weight of your sin, no matter how great the debt you owe, you too can be DEBT FREE! God promises in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

The debt has already been paid by God on the Cross, because “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7). All you need to do is accept the payment and be set free. And “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36).

Why struggle any longer under your burden of guilt and shame, a debt you no longer owe? Jesus paid the price! You are DEBT FREE! Just accept the gift right now and let Jesus lift the burden away today! Then go and tell someone else the good news so they too can be set free!

Have a Happy Sabbath!

BTW: If you’ve become DEBT FREE because of Jesus’ gift share the good news by posting “I’m DEBT FREE!” in the comments below. Then we can all celebrate with you!