Sunday, March 17, 2024

Behind the Veil ... the Hidden Glory of GOD

I was preparing for Transfiguration Sunday and thinking about Jesus' interaction with His disciples. Had he come in glory, his purpose on earth would have been misunderstood, even in humility, the people that gathered to Him often came for the wrong reasons. Jesus veiled His real identity until His mission was completed. The following poem expresses my thoughts regarding the veil...

Behind the Veil                                       

Jesus came from heaven above, with humility and love.

Setting aside His glory, to be a servant of the Father.
Behind the veil of a humble man, was the One and only Great “I AM.”
 
Just a boy is a little small town, playing with sticks and stones,
Was hidden God’s chosen in a plan to buy back His own.
 
His identity was kept a secret by his father and mother dear,
Until in His heavenly Father’s timing His true mission drew near.
For behind the veil of this humble man, was the One and only Great “I AM.”
 
To John the Baptist first He came, to restore the order of creation again.
 After His baptism in the River Jordan, nothing in the world would ever be the same.
On that day John heard the voice and was blessed to see,
Behind the veil of this humble man, was the One and only Great “I AM.”
 
They should have known those disciples three, 
that there was something special in this man to see.
But their minds were dimmed until the time was right, 
what was hidden from them in plain sight.
For behind the veil of this humble man, was the One and only Great “I AM.”
 
On a mountain top one day, the veil was pulled away.
They saw the glory of their Lord, but only for a moment before it, the veil, was restored.
What was this vision that they saw? A dream or something more?
 
This man, their leader, teacher, and friend…glowing like the sun,
Standing and talking with the men of old … Moses and Elijah,
“Can we just stay here and build tents for everyone?”
And then the voice from heaven claimed, “This is my beloved SON.”
Jesus the man, claimed as the Son of the One and only Great “I AM.”
 
Pondering all and filled with awe, they kept it to themselves what they saw.
Who would believe it if they were to claim…
Behind the veil of this humble man, was the One and only Great “I AM.”?
 
On to Jerusalem and a cross and death, all seemed to be lost when He took His final breath.
And then the veil in the temple tore… and Jesus the man was revealed forever more,
As the God behind the veil of a man, the One and only Great “I AM.” 

 

Death could not hold Him in, He rose and appeared to the disciples again.
Now… now the vision became clear, no longer did they need to live in fear.
For now, they knew and we do too. ….
 
That behind the veil of this humble man, was the One and only Great “I AM.” 

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

The Peace of God

 I wrote this message for the third Sunday of Advent - Peace Sunday



Grace, mercy, and PEACE from God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you and fill you to overflowing. Amen.

We long for it, but never really experience it completely. Someday we will, and we look forward to that day. We have moments in life that we touch it briefly … But often these are just fading moments that pass like a beautiful sunrise or sunset, ...And then life moves on… much too quickly… and the moment is gone. We take vacations to find it, but for some it never really comes. And for others it seems as if they always have it. What we truly long for … is peace.

When I was younger and under a lot of stress… operating a dairy farm. Some days I wanted my world to just stop pushing me forward. Everything in my life was moving faster and faster, … I had trouble keeping up … I wanted a break. A day to just sleep in, a day of rest, a day with no bills to pay, …no expectations placed on me, no deadlines to meet, just a little peace and quiet.

Occasionally, I would drive the tractor out to the back of the farm and hide from everyone… But I knew that as soon as I returned home everything that I had neglected to do would still be waiting for me. The thing about dairy farming was that the chores always had to be done …everyday… milking every morning and every night… the same routine … Day in …day out… it never ended.

I loved it and I hated it! I longed for peace… sometimes I found it briefly… and then it was gone.

I spent most of my time fixing things… making due… hoping that tomorrow would be better than today… wanting do overs… surviving. … and the peace I sought eluded me. I envied others who could just get up and leave, take vacations, carve out time for their families, get involved in the community, …while I worked harder and harder with nothing to show for all of my effort. PEACE was just a dream that I sought but didn’t really find.

And God’s promise of peace seemed artificial, unrealistic, and unobtainable. …Yet, because it came from God, I knew in my heart that it was available and meant for me. I was looking for emotional or physical peace. 

God’s peace is spiritual peace.

Often we hear people talk about peace… world peace… the end of fighting or wars or conflicts or hunger or homelessness or abusive relationships. These are all the result of sin. In the world, as long as Satan still roams and sin is running its course, we will continue to have all of these things. Godless people will do godless things to hurt or harm others because they are by nature sinful and unclean. They live loveless lives and follow after Satan, who has NO love in him. They live for themselves, show very little mercy, and have no concept of peace.

I often acted out in anger, as a godless person, hurting those around me, because of the sin within me, … and I had a hard time of receiving God’s forgiveness because I had trouble believing that He could forgive me. I sought emotional peace, but because I continued to carry the burden and guilt of my sin, the load within me became heavier and heavier, and that peace I sought became more and more distant from me… more fleeting… and out of reach.

One day I hit bottom… I had been trying so hard to make my life right but to no avail…  I was spent… physically… emotionally… and spiritually spent !  I cried to God because I had nothing left.   He heard my prayer.

He said, “Trust ME! I AM ENOUGH FOR YOU!”


Slowly … my fear, my guilt, my worthlessness, started to be transformed. I found myself become more at peace and less angry. I didn’t get set off or as upset about breakdowns. I found peace in everyday routines. …Comfort in set schedules. And I even found time to spend with my family without experiencing the guilt of being lazy… I found some sense of balance between work and play, family and community, time on hobbies and time with God… peace has started to become more of a reality.

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, it is also known as Peace Sunday. We have the pink candle lit today to remind us that Jesus came to bring us peace. Not the kind of peace that the world is seeking, for because of sin the world hates Jesus. The world wants Jesus to overlook their sin and join them in their prideful celebration of sin.

NO, the peace that Jesus brings to us is the cleansing of our sin. The removal of our sin by His death and resurrection. The daily act of sanctification… confession and absolution… washing and regeneration. The assurance that He is capable of removing our sin and that He is willing and eager to remove our sin. Jesus has defeated Satan, destroyed the power of sin, and conquered death. In Jesus Christ we need not live in fear… our sin has been forgiven. We have been washed in the blood He shed for us on the cross.

This washing is a spiritual washing, an internal washing of our daily sin.

How often do you wash your hands in a given day? Five times or ten or maybe twenty or more? Daily Jesus is washing away your sin … every dirty thought… sinful desire… fear… bitterness… contempt… anger… envy… jealously… we daily sin much, yet out of love … Jesus continues to sanctify us (that is He is washing our sin away making us clean within).

 And that is where we start to experience the peace of God…  When we recognize that our sin is forgiven and we except God’s forgiveness of our sin… our guilt starts to melt away… peace starts to take its place… a peace that we can’t explain or even at times comprehend begins to fill us from the inside… The triggers that used to set us off … don’t.  Conflicts with family or friends or coworkers or even our spouse become more tolerable or manageable because we have this inner peace… spiritual peace… a peace that can only come from God… the kind of peace that Jesus Christ brings to us.

It is a calm in the middle of a storm. It is the assurance that God is in control … that He is watching out for us … that He will provide us with the strength to face whatever it is that we are facing … grief … or illness … or financial hardship … or pressure and stress. We can trust Him.  He is with us.  We are His children.  

He will provide for us.  And He will fill us (you) with His peace.  Hear these words of comfort again from Paul,  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; Hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (ESV)

We pray, Lord Jesus as we make plans to celebrate Your first coming, help us to be at peace in the midst of all of our family plans and activities. Grant us joy in the celebration of our families. Yet, continue to guide our thoughts and prepare our minds for Your second coming. Keep our eyes focused on You that we would live throughout this season for the glory of Your Holy Name. Amen.

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Three Simple Words

 



I couldn't sleep last night and woke up working out this poem in my head. 

I got and grabbed a pad and pencil to write it down before it disappeared.

It is titled... 

Three Simple Words

You are not the first to hear these words

Nor will you be the last.

I’ve said them thousands of times before

And will thousands of times again.

That doesn’t mean that they mean any less than they did at the first.

From deep within they express my every thought

My passion and desire.

They express my joy and flood my eyes with tears

They cry out in pain when you are far

and burst out in relief when you are near.

But it is not enough to just say the words

I need to show you too.

There is nothing I wouldn’t stop to do

To express the way I feel.

They are who I AM.

They are so much more than these three simple words… I LOVE YOU!

They are who I AM!

They are what I say and do

Some will understand and some they never do.

They are who I AM!

That’s why I say the words by what I say and do.

They testify to my most inner being

To what is truly true.

They are who I say I AM.

That’s why I say these simple words…

I LOVE YOU!  

(Peter Keyes 5-9-2023)

I was thinking how we can love so many people in our lives and still never come close to the capacity that God has to love the whole of creation. He is Love. 

May that bring you comfort today. Blessings, Peter.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Empty Promises!

Empty Promises! We like Peter deny Jesus out of fear. 

John 13:36-38 (GW)
36  Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “You can't follow me now to the place where I'm going. However, you will follow me later.”
37  Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, why can't I follow you now? I'll give my life for you.”
38  Jesus replied, “Will you give your life for me? I can guarantee this truth: No rooster will crow until you say three times that you don't know me.
(God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, www.godsword.org)

Living daily by faith requires daily surrender. We cannot stand on our strength, trust in our ability, or faithfully serve God by sheer determination. No matter how sincere, how committed, or how strongly we desire to follow God and live for Him; we will fail if we try to live by our own power and might, human ambition, or desire to please others. The life of faith comes through the death of our sin-filled self-nature (our old Adam). However, that sin-filled self-nature does not die without a battle and self-preservation can cause us to deny even our closest friends.

If we were in Peter’s place would we have denied Jesus? Maybe we need to take a closer look into our lifestyle or our daily encounters with people; do we try to hide our light of faith to keep our friendships intact? Do we keep our mouths shut when we are given opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus with a neighbor, a relative, or a friend? Denial can take the form of silence just as easily as a verbal expression. Fear can cause us to keep our mouths shut or to say things we don’t really mean or believe just to avoid conflict and confrontation. 

Our human nature, that sin-filled self-nature, continues to fight for the control of our life. It fills us with fear and anxiety. It puts self-preservation ahead of friends, family, and even our faith. It needs to be put in its proper place, every day! It needs to be reminded that it has been rendered powerless by the power of God’s Spirit in the waters of our Baptism. Thank God for the gift of Baptism! It is God’s gift of grace. It serves as a constant reminder that the old Adam has been drowned.

Our life in Christ is a life of submission and surrender, the death of self and new life in Christ. We live by the power of God in us. We live for Him, through His strength, dependent upon Him, renewed by Him, by faith in Him – faith that was given as a gift from Him. Our old self is nothing and will only cause us to sin and fail. Our new self, living in submission and under the power and authority of Jesus Christ, has the power to resist sin, speak words of truth, and proclaim Jesus as Lord even if it causes us to face ridicule, persecution, or death.

 
This is our daily struggle. We fail, God forgives! We fail, God forgives! Again and again! And through this struggle God helps us to grow in our faith. He teaches us to depend on His strength and to trust in His provision instead of our old self-serving nature.


Dear Lord, Give me the courage to trust in your strength and to resist the self-preservation of my sinful self-serving nature. Humble me. Forgive me. Fill me with Your Spirit. Crush the fear of disbelief and allow me to rest in the peace of your authority over my life.    

Monday, October 17, 2016

BOLD Christian Outreach Reflections from Psalm 40

Subtitle: There is hope! God has not left us on our own!


Psalm 40:1-17 (GW)

1  I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me and heard my cry for help.
2  He pulled me out of a horrible pit, out of the mud and clay. He set my feet on a rock and made my steps secure.
3  He placed a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see this and worship. They will trust the LORD.
4  Blessed is the person who places his confidence in the LORD and does not rely on arrogant people or those who follow lies.
5  You have done many miraculous things, O LORD my God. You have made many wonderful plans for us. No one compares to you! I will tell others about your miracles, which are more than I can count.
6  You were not pleased with sacrifices and offerings. You have dug out two ears for me. You did not ask for burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin.
7  Then I said, “I have come! (It is written about me in the scroll of the book.)
8  I am happy to do your will, O my God.” Your teachings are deep within me.
9  I will announce the good news of righteousness among those assembled for worship. I will not close my lips. You know that, O LORD.
10  I have not buried your righteousness deep in my heart. I have been outspoken about your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not hidden your mercy and your truth from those assembled for worship.
11  Do not withhold your compassion from me, O LORD. May your mercy and your truth always protect me.
12  Countless evils have surrounded me. My sins have caught up with me so that I can no longer see. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost heart.
13  O LORD, please rescue me! Come quickly to help me, O LORD!
14  Let all those who seek to end my life be confused and put to shame. Let those who want my downfall be turned back and disgraced.
15  Let those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be stunned by their own shame.
16  Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad because of you. Let those who love your salvation continually say, “The LORD is great!”
17  But I am oppressed and needy. May the Lord think of me. You are my help and my savior. O my God, do not delay!



When I started this series of reflections I wanted to create a tool that would encourage others to share their faith with confidence knowing that God’s Word does not return empty. I had set a goal of posting once a week, as life’s challenges and other activities got in the way, I changed my goal to posting once per month, even that goal became difficult to maintain. I originally thought that it would take me three years to get through the 150 Psalms (averaging one per week). When I recalculated my goals, I thought I would get to Psalm 40 in about three years (posting 13 times per year). It was doable but not obtained. Here I am, 6 years later, finally posting a reflection on Psalm 40.

Many things have happened over the past 6 years, in my ministry, in the world in which we live, and in the life of the church. Six years ago, I would never have thought that marriage in our country would be redefined to include two women or two men in union with each other, (from a biblical perspective, it is impossible to join two men or two women together in a marital relationship), but now according to our government it is legal. As shocking as that is, just this month, so called sane elected officials, are mandating that boys who want to identify as girls should be allowed to change and shower in the same facilities as girls and girls who want to identify as boys should be allowed to change and shower in the same facilities as boys. Any school, official, parent, child (either boy or girl) that objects is subject to punishment under anti-discrimination rules, loss of federal support, or some other form of punishment. All of this makes me want to shout out in anger some, not so very kind words. It appears that morality in America has fallen into a “horrible pit”.

David wrote, “I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me and heard my cry for help. He pulled me out of a horrible pit, out of the mud and clay. He set my feet on a rock and made my steps secure. He placed a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see this and worship. They will trust the LORD. Blessed is the person who places his confidence in the LORD and does not rely on arrogant people or those who follow lies. You have done many miraculous things, O LORD my God. You have made many wonderful plans for us. No one compares to you! I will tell others about your miracles, which are more than I can count.” Psalm 40:1-5 (God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Societywww.godsword.org)

There is hope! God has not left us on our own! God has already sent His son Jesus Christ into the world to destroy the power of Satan and pay the price for our sin. Those who are influenced by Satan would have us believe in lies. Satan would have us believe that each individual has the right to do whatever feels right for them, that individuals don’t need God, or need to follow the natural laws that God created that establish order in the world. When Satan convinced the elite of the world that they evolved from lower beings and that we are continually evolving, he opened the door for the perversion of our entire society. And our society, like many that have gone before, will be reduced to nothing, because it is of the world.

Where does our hope come from? It comes from the LORD. David’s empire was built by the help of the LORD. David also experienced multiple trials; personal family rebellion, personal attacks, corruption within the ranks, and moral failures. However, David also recognized the authority of God in his life and leaned on God to rescue him from his enemies. Even in the midst of persecution, David professed and proclaimed his faith in God, the only one who had the ability to control the outcome of his life. David laid it on the LORD to redeem him. We must do the same! Only God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit – the Triune God) can provide and deliver us from the evil in this world. Only God, through the work of Jesus Christ, can redeem and forgive the sins of those who hate Him. Only God, the true God, the God of the Bible, through the power of the Holy Spirit can lead someone to faith in Jesus Christ. Our role is to proclaim the good news trusting that God, through the power of His Word, will produce the results.

I have decided that this is a fitting place to end this journey. I have a dream to create these reflections into a forty-day meditation series for lent or some other occasion. They would be edited and would include four parts. First, the reading of a Psalm for the day; second, the reflection on BOLD outreach promises; third, a place for discussion questions and answers; forth, a place to journal highlighted by a photo from God’s creation.



The BOLD Outreach blog will continue with a broader focus in the future as I will share highlights from outreach based resources and personal stories of encounters with people along the way. Until next time, blessings as you BOLDly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ with the people  God places in your path.


DCO Peter      


Monday, February 1, 2016

BOLD Christian Outreach Reflections from Psalm 39

Subtitle: What is the value of our work?


Psalm 39:4-7 (GW)
4  “Teach me, O LORD, about the end of my life. Teach me about the number of days I have left so that I may know how temporary my life is.
5  Indeed, you have made the length of my days {only} a few inches. My life span is nothing compared to yours. Certainly, everyone alive is like a whisper in the wind. Selah
6  Each person who walks around is like a shadow. They are busy for no reason. They accumulate riches without knowing who will get them.”
7  And now, Lord, what am I waiting for? My hope is in you!
(God’s Word, Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society, www.godsword.org)


What is the value of our work?
If we spend our days working for material gain to the neglect of our families or other relationships, who will benefit when our life comes to an end?

If we encourage our children to get good grades and push them to focus on their financial future, while we neglect to teach them about Jesus Christ and the faith required for their eternal life; Have we wasted the time we have been given and the opportunities to really make an eternal difference in the lives of those we claim to love?

We keep the peace in our families while we watch those we love walk away from God and the salvation that only Jesus Christ can bring. Is this really love? 

Love tells the truth, even if it hurts, because love means we care for the eternal safety and salvation of those we love. Love isn’t afraid to hurt the feelings of those we love if in the end we save them from eternal destruction.

What is the value of our work?
God has told us that our works will be tried by fire.
If what we have done is built with straw it will be consumed.
On the other hand if what we have done is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ then it will last. 
Relationships forged from steel are formed in fires where the truth is spoken in love and where faith in Christ is put to the test. Peace on earth isn’t nearly as important as forming a relationship with the one who has the power to forgive or destroy sin and the unrepentant.

What is the value of our work?
To point our children, families members, or loved one to the one who saves.
     David knows that this one is the LORD, the Redeemer, the Savior, the Messiah.
We know that this is Jesus Christ, the Sent One, the Son of God.
He lived, died, and rose from the dead. He gives us life worth living.

If we would only spend half as much time pointing our children to Jesus as we do pushing them to achieve better grades in school, our time would be better spent. All of the education and money in the world cannot make up for an eternity spent in Hell.

Yet there is good news, a BOLD Outreach promise from God; 
    OUR HOPE IS IN JESUS!
Jesus will rescue those who call upon Him for help.
    Spend your time wisely. 
    Teach your children about Jesus their Savior.
He will save those who trust in Him.