Today we will look at Peter.  He is one of my favorite people to study in the Bible.  He was a man who deeply desired to serve Jesus, and loved him without question.  However, it seems Peter was always in a predicament.  A well-known story is Peter walking on the water.  Some consider this a failure on his part because he sank.  However, no one else even attempted the impossible, so was it really failure?  Another incidence is when Jesus tried to wash the disciples feet, Peter said, "no Lord you will not wash my feet".  In his mind that was too lowly of a job for his Master.  When Jesus replied,  “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”  Peter replies, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Peter's zeal, passion, and loyalty can be felt through the pages of the scripture.  
      Have you ever felt like Peter?  You honestly had the best of intentions, but life happened, and you failed to follow through.  Today we will look at Peter declaring he was ready to die for Jesus, but in reality he was unprepared.  We will find our scripture for today in Luke 22:31-35.
       After the meal Jesus told Peter "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you as wheat.  But I have           prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."  But he said to Him "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." Then he said, "Peter the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny me three times." And He said to them " When I sent you without money, Knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?"  They said, "Nothing".
       When Jesus speaks to Peter, he reverts to his old name, and repeats it twice.  Repetition in scripture is meant to bring urgency to the situation.  Simon had been his name when he was walking in the flesh, not following Jesus.  The fact that he reverts to Peters old name, may be to intensify the rebuke because he was being overly confident in his flesh. If you will remember Peter stated that he was ready to be imprisoned or die with Christ.  
        Jesus states, "Satan has asked to sift you".  The "you" used in this text is plural, meaning all the disciples, not just Peter.  Peter may have been called by name just because he would experience the most strife, or because he was the most vocal among the disciples.  Satan wanted to toss them around as wheat is in a sieve; to distress them, to fill them with doubts, and to make them fearful of being alone, once Jesus was gone.
        Sifting grain was a way of life in the time of Jesus, so this concept would be easily understood by the disciples.  Sifting was a two-part process.  One step involves tossing the wheat in the air to allow the chaff to blow away in the wind. The second stage involves a sieve that would be used to separate what is valuable and useful from what is not profitable.  The disciples were about to see what they were really made of, so to speak.  Their teacher, Rabbi, was no longer going to be physically there to strengthen and encourage them.
 The best part of the text however is when Jesus says these words "I have prayed for you".  Literally, God in human form had already prayed in advance for Peter.  Not only had he prayed for Peter, but said, "When you return to me, strengthen your brothers." In essence, it is going to be rough, but you will make it, and be an encouragement. How wonderful it is to have a heavenly Father, who at this very moment, is interceding for us, just as he did for Peter.  It is only by his blood and intercession, we are able to have failings, but are able to rise again, and not be destroyed.
       God allowed Peter to face failure and heartache, only  to be stronger on the other side.  He also permitted these trials  in order for Peter to strengthen his brothers in Christ.   As you go on to read about Peter's life, he in fact denied Jesus three times.  The Bible says that even as he was denying him the third time, the rooster started to crow.  Peter realized he had failed to be the man he thought he could be, and wept bitterly. You can feel the pain of defeat, the sorrow of betrayal, and the heartbreak of disappointment in the heart of Peter. However, Peter was being prepared for a greater purpose.  The same is true with us; God allows people, circumstances, and events in our lives to take place in order to prepare us for His purpose. I am convinced God allows events, sometimes tragic, in our lives for the purpose of ministering to others.  There is a big difference between sympathy and empathy.  Sometimes we have to be able to give empathy in order to minster in certain situations. 
         The man that some considered a failure, ended up being the "rock" foundation for the Gospel.  Although we fail God miserably everyday, it is by grace, that we are not destroyed and have hope.  May God strengthen us through our trials to help us be the "rock" just as Peter was.

"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him" (PSA 62:5). 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (ROM 15:13). 

Have a Great week

Bridgette

Have you ever experienced a time of Soul sadness?  I am not talking about a day when you didn’t feel well, or when you had a bad day.  I am talking about emptiness down to your core.  Sometimes in life we are doing what we feel certain God has called us to, yet we sense we are in a deserted land. There are no signs saying we are in the right place, there are no fruits we can actively see, and God seems to be in the distance.  If you have never been here, you probably will be.  And if you have been here, you don’t need a reminder of the feeling.  

What causes us sometimes to be where God has called us to be, yet not feel the joys of serving? I think somewhere along the way we loose our spiritual eyes.  At some point, I think we only look through our fleshly vision, and cannot see what God sees.  When we are looking through our fleshy eyes we see problems, disruptions, and one obstacle after another.  Our very Soul becomes discouraged, and maybe the devil even tempts us that it’s not worth it.  However, if we take the time to look through our spiritual eyes we might see something very different.

Once there was a man walking through the forest.  He came to a beautiful meadow with a huge oak tree, dandelions, green grass, and butterflies fluttering through the air.  The scene was exquisite, and the man knew he would visit it often.  A week later the man came back to visit his favorite spot, only to find it had been demolished.  A farmer had plowed over the whole field, and nothing lay there but the bare earth.  The green lush grass was gone, the butterflies and birds had moved on, the man stood with deep disappointment.  How could someone ruin something so spectacular?  The man walked away and did not return for some time.  However, when he returned he saw a beautiful crop of golden yellow corn.  The birds had returned, and the sun shown brilliantly in the distance.  The man realized when the ground was bare; he could not see the vision of the farmer.  What he thought the man had ruined, had only been prepared for a great harvest.

Sometimes in our life we cannot see the vision because we get stuck in all the ruts.  All we see is the bare ground of the day-to-day grime we are facing.  We forget to put on our spiritual glasses and recognize, just maybe, God is laying the ground- work for a great Harvest.  I know it can be tough at times to do what God has called you to do.  You may to sitting in an office, a classroom, a doctor’s office, etc. wondering; God what am I doing here?  What is your plan for me?  Sometimes people find it hard to believe, but ministers sit in their office and contemplate the same questions.  Am I being effective, am I leading in the way you have asked, and on and on the question go. The truth is no matter what our job title, we can all loose sight of what we are living for, and in essence who we are serving.

1 Corinthians 9:

22……….. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

 

One phrase can sum it all up.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel.  If we are doing it for any other reason, we will always be disappointed.  But God has promised, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  I love what New Song sang, “When I can’t see his plan, When I can’t trace his hand, Trust his heart.”  In the end it’s all about our Faith, and learning to trust someone besides our self.  I hope this email finds you thriving in what God has called you to do, but if not, be encouraged the Harvest day is coming.

Have a great day

Bridgette