Ponte Vedra Beach’s Palm Valley Baptist Church where Broken Hearts become Brand New!

I felt so welcomed at Palm Valley Baptist Church! I have driven by this church nestled amongst the live oaks on Palm Valley Road a million times on the way to the YMCA (okay so not a million; 3 times a week at the most given the destination!) and have always been drawn to worship there. Pastor George Powers gave the FCA service on Sunday morning at THE PLAYERS Championship this year so it took me 6 months what can I say! I do know why my friend Caddie Michael Carrao is a member here… it’s all green (carpet) from the front door to the altar and beyond! A make-able putt for anyone to make on the way to The Holy Spirit beyond the altar! Always golf and life and spirit with me!

Pastor Powers, true to his name, gave a powerful message (sermon) starting with the Call and Welcome to Worship—noting that we can only see God’s Power & Majesty and not control it as in the case of the approaching Hurricane Dorian. We all prayed for the Bahamians and that it stays off shore of mainland America.

“Take my life and let it be… Broken hearts become brand new; that is what Faith can do were the words of the songs leading to Pastor Powers “Free to Run” message… Galatians 5:7-12 (see below).

I couldn’t help but realize the significance of the location of this Church—in a Valley of Palms—reminiscent of Jesus’ triumphant (so we thought) entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday,,, and The Holy Spirit above the altar representing not only Christ’s Resurrection but His Presence today…

Pastor George shared stories of his earlier school 880-yard running career and his post-50 5k continuation with his wife Janet. Evidently Janet is both the sprinter and endurance runner in the family!

We are all running that good race with our track of a lifetime… “the way we start does not guarantee how we finish (and vice versa)… sometimes we don’t even finish… like the Parable of the Seeds there are no deep roots… like the Galatians we get off to a good start but things come upon our lives… even the backup generator needs gasoline to perform during a storm!”

“Beginning is our Conversion; the end is our Final Judgment’ the prize is Eternal Life; our life is the Gospel Race… the Race of Saints…”

By obeying the Truth of the Gospels… no need to run our race with unnecessary weight… unaddressed sin; set aside lust for money and other sins…

Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us.”

We need to practice… get outside the pack to have a free run… God is not the source of our sin… Satan is pushing back… we can take our sin to God at any time… Jesus is our intermediary… so to not only finish but win the race and become a New Creation in Christ!

2 Corinthians 5:17 “So whoever is in Christ is a New Creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Follow the Gospel; follow the Word of God… Stand Tall… god will defend us…

The Christian Life is a Race… Run on the Path of the Gospel—We are Free to Finish; there will be hindrances to overcome—It will not be easy; we will have to get rid of any push-back—Running and Resting with Jesus!

2 Timothy 4:7-8: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.”

Hindrances to overcome… brought to mind the movie Overcomer… but will save that for another post…

What a beautiful message on a beautiful Sunday Morning… literally the calm before the storm!

Be and Stay Safe!

Galatians 5:7-12: “You were running well; who hindered you from following [the] truth? That enticement does not come from the one who called you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident of you in the Lord that you will not take a different view, and that the one who is troubling you will bear the condemnation, whoever he may be. As for me, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case, the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. Would that those who are upsetting you might also castrate themselves!