It's Vacation Time
We continue
our word association with the month of June. This week: Vacation
Our gals
will reflect on the time our families need to get away. She’ll tell you how she escapes from the hustle and bustle
of life -- whether she travels to the beach, the mountains or her back yard.
Join us every day and discover how to go on vacation without leaving God
behind. You’ll hear stories of her favorite place and ways to connect to our
Creator. We’d love for you to join in and tell us about your favorite ways too!
Sit back, relax, enjoy. It’s vacation
time!
Sunday, June 22, 2014
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Peace to a Restless Heart
It wasn’t
fear I was feeling. It wasn’t doubt. It was restlessness, unsettledness.
The limited
window of time to finish my project was quickly closing. The thought of having
to wait nine months before I would have time to really work on it again made me
almost nauseous.
Then I read,
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Hear Me saying, Peace, be still to your restless heart.”*
“Peace, be
still? That’s familiar.” I found the reference in Mark, Chapter 4.
They awoke Him and said to Him,
“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose
and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind
ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why
are you so fearful? How is it
that you have no faith?” (38-40 NKJV)
That was it.
That was what I was feeling. “Jesus, do You not care that my dream is dying?”
For a long
while I wrestled with the wind and waves, the fear and lack of faith I finally admitted.
And I gave
in. “I’m trying to hear You saying ‘Peace, be still’ to my restless heart, but
all I want to do is sob. Please, heal my restless heart and bring peace.”
Then I felt,
“There. Was that so hard?”
I was
surprised. “No. But it still feels restless.”
“But it’s
not.”
The faith came
first. The peace came later.
But come it
did.
*(Sarah
Young, Jesus Calling, April 20)
Thursday, May 22, 2014
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Smiley Peace
“The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:26
“Alright,
that’s it! Listen up!” It was the end of another non-stop, chatty day with my
fourth grade students. Boy, did I need God to turn His face toward me and give
me peace in order to walk out the door wearing a genuine smile instead of a
frustrated frown.
Romans
8:6 isn’t the type of verse we tend to seek out, but I believe it holds a key
to times like I had today. “The mind of sinful man is death, BUT the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and
peace.” I could have ended my eruption by revisiting and making the issue
of talkative students worse than it was. Allowing it to eat away at me would
only bring a slow type of death to my inner spirit. Thankfully, because of God’s
Spirit, I practiced self-control.
I
ended my tirade by smiling and calmly stating, “Any questions? Good. Let’s head
on home kids.”
Thursday, May 22, 2014
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Where Peace Begins
(Modified and reprinted from Dec. 19, 2011)
Shutting off the T.V.? The computer? My phone? The light? Easy. Easy. Easy. Easy.
Shutting off my mind? Not so easy peasy. At the end of a long day, I often find my mind still running full speed ahead, trying to work on the problems of the day and the issues of tomorrow. On days like this my evening prayers go a little something like this: “Help me to stop working on all of this stuff Lord. Help me to rest. Give me peace.”
We’re big on evening prayers in my house, especially with our kids. And I’m glad that we are because the other night, my three-year-old, who is getting rather chatty with Jesus, said a prayer that challenged my working mind to take a break…
“Jesus I hope you had a good day at work. I hope you had fun and that your day wasn’t too hard.”
Now, I can honestly say that in my thirty-something years, I have never asked Jesus about his work day. Ever. And in the quiet darkness of my son’s room, his prayer still hanging in the air, I wondered why on earth not? Doesn’t he work every day?
And what is the nature of his work? You and me. He is at work on our hearts and lives every day. Trying to work on the worries of the world, as we often do, can be exhausting work …unless you are God. It is this very thought that now helps me quiet my mind at the end of each day.
Rest easy, friends. Whatever you are trying to carry, let it go. He’s working on it.
Rest easy, and sleep in heavenly peace, knowing that peace begins in the knowledge that His work day never ends.
“For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Romans 8:28
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
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I Heard a Bird Say Shalom
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…” (John 14:27)
For me personally, peace is a matter of trust. If I do not
feel peace, I know I am not trusting God. As a matter of fact, I will be so
bold as to say I am calling Him a liar.
Do not worry says Papa God.
But, but, but, but...?
We’re human, so anxious feelings bubble to the surface
and we begin to take note and make lists. Here’s a sampling of mine recently:
- “Will the new-to-us van be reliable?”
- "Will the school nurse call again?"
- "Will my husband ever be able to quit smoking?"
- "What if I lose my part time job?"
Hear me out. There is a difference between fear which causes
anxiety and concern which causes action. God's truth is not a reason to live carelessly. I should never worry about what or when God will provide because Scripture says birds “neither sow nor reap”. But you have never seen
a bird sit idly by and decide Papa God would do the nest building. God provides
resources and we must do the work when able.
What I’m talking about is when bad news looms and we have actual cause for
concern. Some time ago our daughter was tested
for Cystic Fibrosis and the days we had to wait for an answer could have been
very painful. However, I chose to lean in on the God who formed her in my womb and
knows her appointed time on this temporary home called Earth. I had to make a decision to trust God, that He
would place every resource available in our path to keep our daughter well.
It was only then that the peace which transcends all understanding, made our wait bearable. Thankfully, our little girl’s story is
continuing to unfold without a diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis.
I know not all stories have great news, but all have a great
God. Somehow in His mysterious perfection, He is always able to take a cross
and ultimately change lives.
May the Peace of Christ be with you my friend.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
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Peace: Practice Makes Perfect
"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27
Peace is a gift.
Did you get that?
A gift.
It's given to you, free of charge, no circus tricks required.
And on her best day, the earth cannot conjure it up.
Peace of mind and heart is a gift - from Jesus.
Purchased on the cross for all mankind.
It's a peace that passes all understanding, one that tells troubles and fears they must go.
What I find so stirring from this truth is - if peace is a gift, the only way I can get rid of it is if I give it away.
And this makes me wonder how often do I let people or circumstances steal my peace?
Peace that was given to me as a gift - peace that was always intended to be mine.
As a teacher of twenty-five 10-year-olds who are surely ready for summer break to begin, I have to choose daily to grab hold of the peace that is mine. But living in the promise of peace on a daily basis takes practice. A steadying and focusing of my mind to recognize the gift, and lay hold of it in my moments of frazzle.
But as they say, practice makes perfect.
"You will keep in PERFECT PEACE those whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts you." Isaiah 26:3
Monday, May 19, 2014
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Lessons on PEACE
This week we are sharing lessons we've learned about this gift called peace.
"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14:27
Monday, May 19, 2014
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Colors of Spring: Purple
Purple.
Look up the meaning and you will uncover an abundance of
words to describe the intermediate color between the coolest blue and fieriest
red.
You’ll find purple linked to royalty, nobility, luxury,
power, and ambition. You’ll also discover it represents wealth, extravagance,
creativity, wisdom, dignity, grandeur, devotion, peace, pride, mystery,
independence, and magic.
In Ancient Rome, purple was known as a position
of rank, authority, or privilege. But Jesus was mocked when He was dressed in a purple robe.
Why?
This week Sara, Katie, Lezlie, Debbie and I will be meditating
on how the color purple Jesus now wears in victory is so important for our King
of Kings. Would you kindly join us every day this week and read what God has
placed on our hearts to share with you?
Monday, April 21, 2014
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Clockwork Stars
The Star of Bethlehem by Rick Larson has been a life-changer for me. It is not only the catapult and scientific
basis for my current writing project Wise Men, but it has been instrumental in bringing
a new level of Peace That Passes Understanding.
This
Peace began as Rick Larson showed what the Star of Bethlehem actually was, and
continued with revealing the day and time Jesus died on the
cross. The beginning and the end of Messiah’s life, poetically cataloged in the cosmos.
The
revelation that brought me peace, though, was when he said this: For if the Star wasn’t
magic or a special miracle from outside of the natural order, then it was
something even more startling. It was a Clockwork
Star. And that is overwhelming. The movement of the heavenly bodies is
regular, like a great clock.
The Clockwork Star finally means that
from the very instant at which God flung the universe into existence, he also
knew the moment he would enter human history in the person of Jesus of
Nazareth. He marked it in the stars. And from before the beginning of time as
we experience it, God knew the very moment when Messiah would breath his last
on the cross”
Those
conclusions completely reordered my relationship with time, and with waiting.
If
the God of the Universe can so precisely, so intricately, set all things in
motion from the very moment of creation, He can certainly handle me running 5
minutes late.
If
He can handle me running 5 minutes late, He can handle the million other
time-related circumstances of my life, including when His promises are
fulfilled.
Waiting
takes on a whole new level of certainty. His plans, His purposes, His promises,
will arrive, like clockwork, in His perfect timing.
Isn’t
it amazing what we can learn from a Star?
Thursday, February 06, 2014
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It Is Good To Be Reminded
My tea cup
reads “Out of my mind, be back in 5 minutes”.
But I don’t
want to be back because being in my mind for these past several days is a chaotic,
boisterous, violent swirl of negativity that is threatening to devour my very
being. Sounds harsh, yes. But depression can be so completely defeating and I
need to stay out of my head for fear of becoming consumed by what I am battling.
And then I
hear it -- the clicking of something against my watch. They are my reminder
bracelets, one I made and the other made by a friend. I wear them every single
day without fail. They remind me of God’s promises and as long as I keep moving,
they are reminding.
God is Who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do.
I am who God says I am.
I can do all things through Christ.
God’s Word is alive and active in me. (from Believing God by Beth Moore)
So I remind
myself of the limited power my troubles have:
“...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” John 16:33
And I remind
myself God brings peace; He is my rock while everything crumbles around me:
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah26:3-4
Because:
“In love I am blessed, chosen, adopted, favored, redeemed, and forgiven” – Beth Moore
Are you
experiencing trouble today?
May I
suggest you wear something to remind you of God’s promises? Buy a bracelet,
make one, tie a ribbon on your wrist. Do whatever it takes to remember.
Keep moving,
because in the moving we are reminded. Run, walk, crawl if you must…to the very
One who is always moving like life giving water, our Savior and Redeemer. Keep
your eyes on Him. He has already overcome the world and He will bring you through
whatever you are going through. You will not be consumed.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
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Toward God's Heart
How do I cultivate the “peace that
surpasses all understanding” Paul talks about in Philippians 4:7? During the
next couple of weekends, I’ll be trimming my rose brushes, lavender plants, and
hydrangeas: pruning and cutting back. Likewise, the Holy Spirit lets me know
when I need “cutting off" or turning away from something. Yet, repentance is
more than turning away from; in turning away, one must also turn toward.
The
other day, I felt a twinge of rejection. A good friend looked pass me and onto
the next person as if I wasn’t even there. My thoughts began to breed vain
imaginings. “Why
did she treat me that way? What did I do to deserve that? Who does she think
she is, Lord?” I found myself tense and negative in thought.
I
had a choice: harbor self-pity, which could easily boil over to resentment,
then anger; or, I could repent. I silently asked God what He saw. He showed me my heart.
Thorns had sprouted and poked out--instead of soft petals created to release a
sweet fragrance.
“She’s
my daughter, just like you are.” He whispered. Ouch! I knew what I had to do. Hebrews 12:11 reminded me, “No
discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it
produces a harvest of righteousness and
peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Through my harvest of repentance, I
turned away from and back to, the peaceful, joyful heart of God.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
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Peace is Part of the Armor
Eph. 6:14-17 - "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."This heavenly wardrobe is specifically designed to help us fight off and stand against all the attacks of the devil.
- The helmet of salvation - protects our mind
- The breastplate of righteousness guards our heart
- The belt buckle of truth holds everything together - standing on the truth of God's Word
- The Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) cuts through those lies of the enemy and destroys the works of darkness
- The Shield of Faith fights every fiery dart (lies and accusations) sent by the enemy
I think it means simply that everywhere we go, we should be walking in the Spirit and remembering to be about our Father's business - spreading the good news of the Gospel - and telling people that Jesus is the Prince of Peace!
Isaiah 52:7 - "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"So let's put on the full armor of God - especially this time of year, let us remember those shoes of the gospel of peace...and proclaim the Good News!
Angie Mauer is your server this week! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
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Inviting Peace
Toward
the end of 1999 my husband and I found ourselves in an unthinkable situation. While living in our first house in Fairfield,
we bought a house on the other side of town.
We soon realized we needed to add on to the new house, in addition to the
remodel we had already planned. Then, on
a Thursday in late November, my husband decided he was going to quit his secure
9-5 job to join his dad in the much more risky farming operation. Did I
mention we still owned our first house, and would for another five months?
Two
houses + one addition and remodel + no guarantee of any income for the first
year = one enormous panic situation for me.
As far as I was concerned, this read like the first chapter of “How to
Declare Bankruptcy in Two Months or Less.”
I
told my husband to not turn in his resignation until Monday. “I” was going to pray about it. I
begged, “Lord, if this is what You want, You are going to have to give me Your
peace, because right now I am so panicked I can’t see straight.”
I
wrestled with God and myself quite a bit that weekend, but by Monday I had peace,
the one “which transcends all
understanding.” (Philippians 4:7) Common
Sense says I should not have had any peace.
It’s a good thing God’s ways are higher than Common Sense.
I had that Peace because I asked
for it, and God gave it. “You
do not have because you do not ask of God.”
(James 4:2)
The Peace was a gift, but it was mine to accept or reject. I could have continued to panic and doubt
(and some days I did), but when I (again) asked for His peace, He gave it.
What
do you need peace about in your life? Maybe if you ask The Savior, born in Bethlehem into a world nearly void of peace, He will give it to you.
Debbie Legg is your server today! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
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Prints of Peace
Dear family and friends,
Tis the season for celebrations! It’s that time of year again when I sit down and write a little annual greeting. I am thrilled to update you with some special news this year: He’s coming!
The King! The one we’ve been waiting for – the one who will rescue us from our cycles of suffering and sin. The child is coming. A son is being given to us all. All of our waiting will be worth it!
He will be in power – and in control of all things. He will be not only be our King, but a wonderful counselor. He will make wise decisions and teach us how to do the same.
He will be our mighty God.
Our everlasting Father.
Our Prince of Peace.
His influence and power in governing all things will increase forever.
And – get this- there will be no end to the increase of peace in the land.
And in our hearts.
And in our minds.
He is bringing the eternal cease-fire to every circumstance, and the most wonderful rest. Here’s a promise – as we keep our eyes on this King, he will keep us in this perfect peace – a resting from the unrest of the world. God’s passionate excitement is doing it all!!
Join me in waiting with joyful anticipation!
Love,
Isaiah
Isaiah 9:6-8, 26:3
Sara Rust is your server this week! Find out more about her here and don't forget to sign up for updates by email or RSS before you go.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
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Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Shutting off the T.V.? The computer? My phone? The light? Easy. Easy. Easy. Easy.Shutting off my mind? Not so easy peasy. At the end of a long day, I often find my mind still running full speed ahead, trying to work on the problems of the day and the issues of tomorrow. On days like this my evening prayers go a little something like this: “Help me to stop working on all of this stuff Lord. Help me to rest. Give me peace.”
We’re big on evening prayers in my house, especially with our kids. And I’m glad that we are because the other night, my three-year-old, who is getting rather chatty with Jesus, said a prayer that challenged my working mind to take a break…
“Jesus I hope you had a good day at work. I hope you had fun and that your day wasn’t too hard.”
Now, I can honestly say that in my thirty-something years, I have never asked Jesus about his work day. Ever. And in the quiet darkness of my son’s room, his prayer still hanging in the air, I wondered why on earth not? Doesn’t he work every day?
And what is the nature of his work? You and me. He is at work on our hearts and lives every day. Trying to work on the worries of the world, as we often do, can be exhausting work …unless you are God. It is this very thought that now helps me quiet my mind at the end of each day.
I hope that as Christmas approaches, you too remember that Jesus is always at work for you. Some might say he clocked in about 2,000 years ago, before the break of day, in a quiet manger.
Rest easy, friends. Whatever you’re trying to carry, let it go. He’s working on it. When it comes to you and me, His work day never ends.
Rest easy, friends, and sleep in heavenly peace.
“For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Romans 8:28
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Monday, December 19, 2011
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The Missing Peace
As a child, I recall singing a song in our school choir that started with the lyrics, "Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me."
Let it begin with me. Yikes. Really?
Here is the good news.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. All the time. It doesn't begin with ME, but, rather, with Him. And it continues with Him. He is my model.
So, what's missing?
In my "world", or sphere of influence, do I reveal Peace through the way I choose to treat those with whom I come into daily contact?
Do I reveal Peace by committing to attempt reconciliation with those whom I have conflict?
Peace can be tough. It doesn't mean the avoidance/absence of conflict, or ignoring the need to speak truth. Peace doesn't run from loving confrontation. Peace isn't born out of a denial of the tough junk. It's often a result of tackling the junk.
Thankfully, God is present through it all. He is our Peace. He gives us Peace - and the ability to give Peace to others.
At times, it feels as if Peace is missing our world. I have a hunch that He is NOT the missing piece.
Our turn.
At times, it feels as if Peace is missing our world. I have a hunch that He is NOT the missing piece.
Our turn.
James 3:18 (The Message (MSG))
17-18Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
Joline Atkins is your server daily! Find out more about her
Monday, December 19, 2011
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