Happy Saturday! Today we were in different directions. Travis worked, Geni floated down the Guadalupe River and became seriously sunburned but had a wonderful time while Bruce and I went to Corsicana and Waxahachie to take care of door issues. I watched a master craftsman at work, met two different homeowners and it was a delightful day.

John 20:19 “Peace be with you.”

Okay Moms and Dads, do you remember when your babies were tiny and they began to cry? This time not just a regular cry, but a screaming cry that would not stop. This is a cry that was so hard and strong that brought about tears to your baby and to you. Your tears were tears of frustration and fretfulness because nothing you were doing was having any effect at all on this crying baby. This baby who could not tell you what was wrong, but something was definitely wrong and their only way to communicate was to cry. Did you pray peace over your “colicky” baby?

I have stood in the living room and rocked back and forth, sang, changed diapers and even gotten in the car and driven the baby around the block a few times. They don’t know how to relieve their pain and you don’t know how to relieve their pain and you feel frustrated, tired and sleepy. (Because these episodes only seem to happen in the middle of the week and you have to go to work in the morning!) Who needed peace more, you or your baby?

Jesus spoke these words to the believers gathered in that upper room after the crucifixion. The disciples were gathered knowing that when the crucifixion happened they had scattered in fear. Now they were without their Lord and Master. Among them were betrayers, failures and cowards. And then, just when the point of despair was settling into their brains and hearts and their spirits were sagging, they hear these words, “Peace be with you,” spoken by the Voice they had grown to love and count on for the prior three years. Enter Jesus. Jesus did not come into that room and say, “You guys bailed on me when I really needed you.” He said the exact words they needed to hear, “Peace be with you.” Jesus did not come to chastise them, but to offer peace to their troubled minds and aching souls. Jesus came to tell those He was so close to that He still loved them and that He forgave them and offered them peace, not judgment, not harassment, not alienation, but peace. When He offered peace, Jesus once again offered Himself. The storm in Jerusalem was still going on and the men were still afraid, but now Jesus was among them. He was in the eye of the storm where there is peace.

Do you have a lot on your mind? Do you need to sort things out? Do you need to talk to the Master? Call on the Master. Do not be afraid because I think the first words He will say will be “Peace be with you.”

Take joy in the journey. See you in worship. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.