Pastor Thompson's Message

As Jesus was meeting with His disciples before His crucifixion, He said to them, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you". (John 14:27) His greeting to them after His Resurrection on that first Easter evening was, "Peace be with You". (John 20:19) The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Christians in Philippi, said, "And the peace of God which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus".

Catherine Marshall, in her book, "Touching the Heart of God", once wrote the following story: My friend Marge had an experience aboard a plane bound for Cleveland, waiting for takeoff. As she settled into her seat, Marge noticed a strange phenomenon. On one side of the airplane a sunset suffused the entire sky with glorious color. But out of the window next to her seat, all Marge could see was a sky dark and threatening, with no sign of the sunset.

As the plane's engines began to roar, a gentle Voice spoke within her.

You have noticed the window, He murmured beneath the roar and thrust of the takeoff. Your life, too, will contain some happy, beautiful times, but also some dark shadows. Here's a lesson I want to teach you to save you much heartache and allow you to "abide in me" with continual peace and joy.

You see, it doesn't matter which window you look through; this plane is still going to Cleveland. So it is in your life. You have a choice. You can dwell on the gloomy picture. Or you can focus on the bright things and leave the dark, ominous situations to Me. I alone can handle them anyway.

And the final destination is not influenced by what you see or feel along the way.

Learn this, act on it and you will be released, able to experience the "peace that passes understanding".