So You've Become A Pirate Peter!

I was watching the movie Hook with my children a few days ago. There was a point early in the movie where Peter Banning and his family arrive at Ganny Wendy's home in London.
Peter is trying to describe what he does to make a living.
Granny Wendy listens and replies. "So...you've become a pirate Peter"
I suppose it struck me because like Peter Pan we are to retain our child like faith.
If we do not we become jaded, cynical, bitter, and hard like a pirate.


Lord break up the hard and fallow ground of our hearts.
Create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit with in me.

Much of the comedy of the movie Hook is about Peter Banning trying to remember how to be a child at heart again. He is highly motivated because his children have been taken captive by Captain Hook. With the help of the Lost Boys and Tink and the faith of his children does find the child with in himself and does rescue his children. I think even more through experience in Never Land he is rescued from a life quickly heading towards destruction.

I thought it was cool what gave him the ability to fly was to be able to find a happy thought. Childhood is filled with happy thought and thankful hearts. It is when we become a pirate that all we see is tainted by the bitterness of our heart and the only joy we know is in trying to steal it from others. Maybe like Captain Hook we can blame it all on the loss of a hand, job, a loved one. Life may be hard but we should continue to trust that God is in control and to have the faith of a child.

A Faithful Remnant

It has been many years now since we published a small ministry magazine called The Remnant. We never published it in huge numbers, it was mainly available to people on our ministry mailing list and available at our concerts. It was designed primarily for believers to fan the flame of their spiritual life. To encourage believers to spend time in the Lords presence and to be willing like Isaiah to say "Here I am Lord, send me." Also to encourage us all to remain faithful to Jesus even in difficult times.

I have felt the Lord prompting me to start writing articles of encouragement once again. I needed a name for this blog where I will post these articles. I decided it was time to "revive the remnant" in more ways than one. The magazine of course but more so the remnant of believers.

www.merriam-webster.com defines ¹rem·nant

1 a: a usually small part, member, or trace remaining
b: a small surviving group —often used in plural

2: an unsold or unused end of piece goods

Romans 11:5
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.

Jeremiah 23:3
“But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

(Malachi 3:16-18 NKJV), Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them: so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”

I like what A.W. Tozer says in the following quote.
"What is God trying to do with His believing people?-the Bible calls us a remnant according to grace, believers taken out of the great, teeming swarm of so-called religious people in today's world. I am inclined to join others in wondering if the Lord is postponing His coming because He is trying to get His Bride ready? For years it has been the popular idea in evangelical Christianity that the whole body of believers in Christ would rise like a flock of frightened birds when the Lord comes. But A.B. Simpson and William MacArthur and others in the past generation said, "Oh no! The Lord will take with Him those who are prepared and ready for His coming!" I do not presume to give an answer satisfying to everyone in our churches. But I know that many Christians are too smug about this, saying in effect: "I am converted to Christ through grace, so I can live as I please!" Of some things we cannot be dogmatic; but we know this for sure-God has no halfway house between heaven and hell where He takes us to fumigate us! "

Ezra 9:8 8 And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.

Isaiah 11:11
It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea.

The world we live in is becoming a frightening place. Just today I was reading about a super virus, MRSA that kills people with in days. Yikes and it seems to target children. There are big banks and financial institution's that are closing their doors. There are many people out of work, there are wars and rumors of wars. To date we are not persecuted too much here in the US but who knows how long we will enjoy our current freedoms. So I wonder will you be part of the remnant who remains faithful even when your end times scenario does not play according to the plots of popular book writers of our day.

It is not too late to humble our selves and pray and turn from our wicked ways.

Micah 7:18
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

Have you been kind of sleepy in your spiritual walk? It is time to wake up!

Is Your House Divided? by Margot Cioccio

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