Pastor’s Ponderings: Our Shepherd’s Certain Presence
In this “humble offering”, Pastor Jim reminds us that God is like a like a shepherd and is always with us. Even if we run away, God’s mercy and love follow us in hot pursuit.
Read MorePastors Ponderings: His Love Endures Forever!
God was faithful to people like Noah, Moses, David, and Paul. David wrote that “His love endures forever.” But is God’s love and faithfulness deep and long enough to reach into our time?
Read MorePastors Ponderings: Jesus Overcame so We Can’t Be Overcome
Even in the seemingly insurmountable obstacles of this pandemic, God has already overcome. He loves us, delights in us, and He will bring us through this journey.
Read MorePastors Ponderings: Jesus is Already Here!
Claiming God’s promises that He is with us now enables us to have the strength and hope for this moment. Be of good cheer! Don’t give up! Keep the faith! Jesus is here!
Read MorePastors Ponderings: Be Strong!
During the coronavirus pandemic (in April of 2020), Pastor Jim wrote these encouraging reminders from scripture. God is with us and continually watching over us; even when things seem like they’re falling over the edge of a cliff.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Help on a Rough Road
Psalm 121 reminds us that “our help comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and earth”, even while traveling on a road that might seem to be blocked by insurmountable obstacles. In this devotion, Pastor Jim offers encouragement with the powerful truths that are proclaimed in this short Psalm.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Pray Anywhere, Anytime, Any place
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, we must maintain “social distancing,” and many in our church have begun to participate in a prayer group using email. Pastor Jim wrote the following devotional on 3/27/20 to encourage our prayer lives during this difficult time… Greetings Friends: I pray that all of you and your families are well. As we continue to journey through this unusual time in human history, I would invite all of us to be spending time in prayer. Prayer...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: God’s Faithfulness
The lightning might be crashing, the wind might be howling, and the rain may be pouring in torrents, but a rainbow will come (even if figuratively). Our Prince of Peace is faithful to His promise. Pastor Jim sent out these words of hope in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis…. “After every storm comes a rainbow.”
Read MorePastors Ponderings: A Word of Encouragement (3/17/20)
In the midst of the Coronavirus crisis in March 2020, Pastor Jim sent out some words of hope. All of our worries and fears are defeated by our hope in Jesus. Instead of “Don’t worry be happy,” we need to be thinking “Don’t worry, trust Jesus.”
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Embrace Change!
Change is all around us in our lives; we can’t avoid change. Change brings fear. But do we really need to be afraid? How can we avoid the anxiety and fear that change brings? Can we even embrace change and grow because of it???
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Time to Sharpen Your Blade?
Is your Christian life a burden? Shouldn’t it be a Joy to follow and serve Christ?!? If life is a burden, maybe you need to “sharpen your blades” and re-connect with God.
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: The Grace of Giving
Bishop Robert Schnase in his book, The Grace of Giving shares about the importance of God’s people to be generous. Generosity presents itself in multiple ways as we express our faith through the church and in our daily lives. Below is a small part from that important book. I would invite all of us to prayerfully consider these words and reflect upon them and what God might be saying to us. There are many scripture references in the following text! Notice that all of them are hyperlinks which...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Prayer Brings Peace in the Storm!
As Pastor Jim wrote this article (on 8/25/17), Hurricane Harvey was barrelling down on Southeast Texas. In addition to the other tragedies facing the world, each of us faces our own times of stress and change. In the midst of impending storms, and in the middle of storms, be reminded that prayer offers a tremendous pathway for peace… Greetings Friends: Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with...
Read MorePastors Ponderings: To Sing is to Pray Twice!
Our service on 6/25/17 didn’t have a sermon! Instead, we turned to Music to lead us to and through our time of worship as we celebrated God’s Grace.
Read MorePastors Ponderings: A Divine Love Song
Pastor Jim submitted the following on April 5, 2017… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: 1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (NASB). PLEASE READ: Hebrews 6:1-2 “Let us stop going over the same old ground again and again, always teaching those first lessons about Christ. Let us go on instead to other things and become mature in our understanding, as strong Christians ought to...
Read MorePastors Ponderings: Christ the Lord is Risen Today!
No Easter Sunday at PUMC would be complete without singing the hymn Christ the Lord is Risen Today. In this article (and in the corresponding podcast on the UMC website), Dr. Paul Chilcote guides us through this hymn’s verses and shows us how to take the Risen Christ into the other 364 days of the year.
Read MorePastors Ponderings: Dump it all In!
Pastor Jim submitted the following thoughts on 3/20/17 regarding our commitment. Do we trust God enough to follow His instructions to give our all? Or do we hold back and keep some for ourselves just in case God doesn’t come through? Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Isaiah 58:11 & 13a… “The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never...
Read MorePastors Ponderings: Running into a Burning House!
Pastor Jim submitted the following thoughts on 3/18/17… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: Matthew 9:35-38 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the...
Read MorePastors Ponderings: Who is St. Patrick?
Pastor Jim submitted the following on 3/17/17… Greetings Friends: A very Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all! Below is a brief yet informative article about Patrick and this day. I cannot take credit for it other than I received it from Christian History Institute, of whom I am a member. I hope you are blessed by this humble offering about a wonderful Saint of the Christian Church. Pastor Jim We all Know St. Partick’s Day… but what about St. Patrick Himself??? ON...
Read MoreRest, Relax,and Rejuvenate
We are entering the summer season, a season that affords opportunities for Rest, Relax & Rejuvenate rest and relaxation. Let’s make it a priority to look for these moments that we can relax physically and renew ourselves emotionally and spiritually.
These moments are gifts from God. Let’s embrace the gift and “loosen the bow” this summer!
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