The Deck

     A few month's ago my wife Beckie gave me an ultimatum. Get the Deck power washed and sealed by  Mother's Day. You see my wife s a huge flower gardener as well as one who enjoys decorating our deck with flowers galore along with all of that other artsy stuff she has learned about from HGTV. So last Wednesday afternoon I borrowed from my friend Paul Skoog, his power washer. Now this was no ordinary power washer. This was Industrial grade! You dare not put your fingers in front of that spray, that is if you valued them. Man I was washing away crud I didn't know existed embedded in the grain of those wooden planks. It caused me to think about the Industrial Power Washer Christ must have had to use on me to make me like it says in Psalm 51:7"Wash me and I will be whiter then snow". Sometimes you and I build-up many layers of crud/sin in our lives that only can removed by this Guy, we know as Jesus, who was willing to die for us. And why? Because His love for us cannot be matched by anyone on this globe.
   O.K. now the Deck is clean, on to the next step. Come Friday afternoon I began to use my trusted Thompson's sealer to protect my deck from the elements. Two and one half hours on my knees with a roller. My 55 year old back and knees were barking at me! But it was done. Ephesians 4:30 tells us that you and I as well have been "Sealed by the Holy Spirit". That God not only cleansed us, but then sought to seal into our hearts all that good stuff he has passed down and that he did this by giving us the Holy Spirit!.
    So for those of you who have Decks or porches you enjoy spending time on and ones that you have put into a little elbow grease. Remember how our Father has done the same for you tthrough His Son Jesus and through the Holy Spirit. Now get outside and enjoy that deck this Summer!
Pastor Rick Koch Dutchtown Church