Pastor Bob's Corner
...Need a little inspiration this week? Try reading one of Pastor Bob's sermons to get you through!
One year, my wife and I were visiting her cousin, who’s a recovering alcoholic. As a gift, he gave me a copy of the Big Book. It’s the story of Alcoholics Anonymous – including the 12 Steps and testimonies from people whose lives were changed by AA.
As part of their morning devotions, Libby’s cousin and his wife read this paragraph from the Big Book: "...acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is.... I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes." (Page 449).
That message of acceptance is important to me. How often do I lose my peace of heart because things didn’t go my way? How often do I get impatient with others because they’re not who I want them to be?
I have found, countless times, that the road to peace in my spirit is to yield my will, give up what I’m demanding, and accept life and others as they are. This often involves prayer. Even the matter of yielding is not something that I can do alone. I need God’s help. Acceptance brings a change in my heart not because I’m working hard to create it, but because I surrender to the LORD. Then God works his change in my heart.
St. Augustine, who lived from 354-430, was a preacher and bishop in the church. He said, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you."
God has joy for me, and blessing, and peace for my heart. But as long as I’m out there trying to force life into my parameters, I’m going to be frustrated and I’m going to miss what God is doing. When I rest in God, who is love, then I find myself at home. I don’t have to hide from God because he knows everything and still cares for me. When I rest in him, I am truly myself.
Day by day, and bit by bit, God’s Spirit works in the yielded heart to build a new creation. We become less judgmental and more patient, less cold-hearted and more caring, less frustrated, angry and demanding, and more generous, giving, and joyful. This is the promise of God to us in Christ Jesus, that those who surrender to God will be transformed to become like Christ.
This is why we worship – so God can get a hold of us and make this change. This is why we pray together, join in small groups, read Scripture. In all these things, God sends his Spirit to work to remold our hearts and fill us with the peace of God.
God bless , Bob Kuntz
Past Sermons
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