Peace

Life by the Spirit…Peace

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Peace is a choice.  It is all about your attitude no matter the circumstances.  There are people that live what is considered a good life…they go to worship, they pray, they treat others well and they go about their daily business and life in a respectful manner.  This is just a small taste of living what could be a Godly life!  I know this because the above describes me for several years…I have read that this type of living can be described as living on the surface of the ocean.  There are many days when things are calm and peaceful but sooner or later storms will come and the surface can be very turbulent during those times.  Deep below the surface no matter what is occurring above there is serenity and Peace.

This is a calm that is known by some that have decided they are going to go diving in…this true sense of Peace that can be found in the most difficult circumstances of life is available to anyone willing to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

                                                                                                                                Philippians 4:6-7

I pray we all will seek a faith deeper than the surface in this life and choose the sense of Peace that comes from knowing and having a relationship with Jesus.  Amen.

I will be back tomorrow to continue the Fruit of the Spirit series to discuss…wait for it…Patience.

A Place Where You See God

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If you stop and think about it, where is that place in your life?  Is it a physical location or something different?  Is it in an act of kindness you have experienced or seen happening to another person or in a story you have heard about other people?

Sometimes it can be hard to find him…when I think about it and realize I haven’t seen him or been aware of him…I have learned not to ask God to show himself in some way but rather give me eyes and ears to see your work in the world.  For me, the key is where are we focusing our attention…if we are self-focused we will miss just about every opportunity to see God’s work in the world.  As we learn to focus on a relationship with God and others first we begin to acquire a new perspective.  This type of change in focus requires a commitment to change your routines and habits in life.  If we just try to work it all in to our current schedule and life we will fail…I speak from experience.

For many years I was consumed with my work and the company I worked for and my “position” in the social stratosphere.  I would work in “my time” with God on the weekend before getting down to business.  This life created several false idols for me, because deep in my heart I had not surrendered and committed myself to Jesus.  When I finally stopped pursuing my plans, my ideas for how things should be and truly dedicated daily time in devotion and worship…I finally started to see opportunities to connect with the world through God.  Some would argue that I have given up on living my life…my response is…you are correct in that I have given up trying to live my life my way and instead I am trying to live my life the way God has intended for me.  Of course, I am human and still make plenty of mistakes and have trouble with temptations but my life has never had more joy, more peace and contentment.

So where is it?  Where is the one place in your life right now that you see God?  Where is it that God has cracked a door or a window in your life and you just need to open it and step through trusting that no matter what happens God will be at your side and if you commit to meeting with him daily you will begin to experience life in a whole new way?

May God’s peace be with you

A Hymn and a Prayer

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When I awoke this morning a hymn and a prayer began playing in my mind.  This is not the first time this has happened.  It comes from my childhood and is another clear indicator to me that even when I was not paying attention to God he was working on and paying attention to me.  What an awesome God!  I share this particular hymn and prayer with you today:

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul. 

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness, ever joy. 

Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

Amen