Pursuing Peace - At What Cost?

Image by Denis Collette...!!! via Flickr

 

Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness - without it no one will see the Lord. 

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.  Hebrews 12:14-15 (HCSB)

What are the words Peace, Holiness, Unity, Fellowship, Harmony worth to you? 

What are you willing to say or do to obtain these?

Will you say, "I'm sorry" even if you did not strike the first blow?  Can you lay down your pride, hurt, anger, frustration and say, "I forgive you" even if  the offender never asks?"

Tonight I witnessed the airing of some dirtly laundry in a very public forum between two women of faith.  I don't know the circumstances that stirred up the family turmoil.  I only know that while checking my page, I became an unwilling participant in something that I shouldn't know anything about. 

Please know my heart here.  My heart is grieved for these women and their families  My heart is grieved for the people who commented and were caught up in the tidal wave of emotions.  My heart is grieved for the words spoken, that can never be taken back.  My heart is grieved because the Holy Spirit of God has been grieved by the entire situation.

The writer of Hebrews describes Peace and Holiness as something to be pursued - something to seek after eagerly, earnestly.  Will you join me in lifting up these dear ladies in prayer?  Pray that their hearts will pursue peace and holiness?  Please know that I make no judgements here on anyone involved.  I truly live by the saying, "But for the grace of God, there go I." 

My hearts desire is to see their hearts softened, their families reconciled, and that in the midst of all of this turmoil - somehow God would be glorified.  Will you pursue peace with me on their behalf in prayer?

 

Soothing Waters

I just love being around water. A river, lake, ocean or stream - it makes no difference to me. There's just something so calming about the sound of moving water.

Last week we spent a few days in Sandusky, Ohio. Jonathan and his friend Sean had a great time at the amusement park known as the roller coaster capital of the world.

But for me, the time we spent walking and talking along the shore of Lake Erie just soothed my weary soul. I thought of this passage from the gospel of Luke:

24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him." Luke 8:24-26

Have you ever felt that way? Like the winds and waves of life were about to do you in? I want to remind you today that Jesus is the Master of the wind and raging waters. At his word, peace can come in and calm the storm of your life, no matter how big.

Who is this who commands even the winds and water and the obey Him? It's Jesus! He's Creator, Sustainer, Healer, Peace-giver, Master, Messiah, Savior and Lord. Call to Him. He's willing. He's waiting. He's listening.

My Foot is Slipping

I love these words from The Message translation of the Bible:

If God hadn't been there for me, I never would have made it.
The minute I said, "I'm slipping, I'm falling,"
your love, God, took hold and held me fast.
When I was upset and beside myself,
you calmed me down and cheered me up.
Psalm 94:17-19

Have you ever felt that way? Maybe during a time of loss, a sudden illness or a catastrophic event. It's as if life just sweeps in and knocks you off of your feet. I have certainly had those times.

During the last 9 months our family has been walking that road. We have suffered the loss of a job, a ministry and income, a debilitating illness, struggles in identity, the loss of a church family, and a time of really not knowing what the future would bring.

And yet God! Those three, three-lettered words may form a very small sentence; but they speak volumes about who holds my future.

I can honestly say with the Psalmist, "If God hadn't been there for me, I never would have made it." I love how he goes on to say, "The minute I said, "I'm slipping, I'm falling," your love, God, took hold and held me fast. " God hasn't waited a week, or a month or a year. The very minute I cry out to Him He responds with his love. For the last nine months He has held us fast. He has never let go.

As a loving Father, He consoles me, comforts me, and when necessary calms me down. He takes my eyes off of my situation and refocuses them solely on Him. Without fail, as my focus shifts - He brings joy to my soul once again.

Though the road has been long, the journey has brought me to a place of surrender that I have never been before. I have seen God provide security in insecure times. I have seen God provide peace in turbulent days. I have seen God bring hope into situations that seemed hopeless. And yet God!

Today I just wanted to Praise God and thank Him for this journey! If I had to choose only one word to describe Him, it would be Faithful!

Father, I'm deep in love with you and I'll follow you where ever you lead. Even the hard roads can be sweet when my gaze is upon you.

** Praise alert **

The insurance company approved Randy's Spinal Chord Stimulator today! In a matter of days, his suffering may be over. I praise God that He has answered in His time and that the results of this procedure are in His hands.

My sincerest thanks to all of you for your prayers over the last several months.

Be Still and Sleep

Today I picked up my copy of a devotional book titled, "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman which was first published in 1925. As I read over the entry for June 1st, I thought it was so relevant for the times in which we live.

He said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and, "This is the place
of repose" - but they would not listen. (Isaiah 28:12)

How about you? Are you resting or are you weary from struggling, worrying or fretting? We call it by many different names.

Mrs. Cowman was a missionary aboard a great ship, in poor health, forced to return to the United States with her ailing husband. She wrote, "Why do you worry? What possible use does your worrying serve? You are aboard such a large ship that you would be unable to steer even if your Captain placed you at the helm. You would not even be able to adjust the sails, yet you worry as if you were the captain or the helmsman of the vessel. Be quiet, dear soul - God is the Master!"

Stop and think about that for just a second. Why do we spend so much time trying to control something that is so much bigger that we are equipped to handle? Why do we spend so much time trying to do in our own lives what only God can do? Is it any wonder that we worry? Isn't that exactly where the enemy wants us to be - overwhelmed, stressed out, discouraged, hopeless and in utter despair?

Listen to this poem (I guess you'll have to read it since I'm not there to read it for you).

Tonight, my soul, be still and sleep;
The storms are raging on God's deep -
God's deep, not yours; be still and sleep.

Tonight, my soul, be still and sleep;
God's hands will still the Tempter's sweep -
God's hands, not yours; be still and sleep.

Tonight, my soul, be still and sleep;
God's love is strong while night hours creep -
God's love, not yours; be still and sleep.

Tonight, my soul, be still and sleep;
God's heaven will comfort those who weep -
God's heaven, not yours; be still and sleep.
- Charles H Spurgeon

God in all of His infinite wisdom, lovingly holds you in the palm of His hands. He is waiting to take all of your cares, all of your concerns from you. He is the Master of your ship, the Master of your life and He will guide you safely home. Will you give up the helm to Him? Or will you continue to aimless steer?

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the
righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

He is trustworthy. He is faithful. He is true to His Word. What are you waiting for?

Battlefield of the Mind

It's time again for me to chose the next verse for the Living Proof Memory Verse Challenge. This is the 6th of 24 verses I will memorize this year. I have chosen Isaiah 26:3:

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

This is a verse that I really need right now. So much going on. So many decisions to be made. So many things to do.

I want my decisions to be God led. I want my actions to be God inspired. I want to bring honor and glory to Him in all that I say and do. And yet, life can be so distracting. A husband who is ill, a household to run, a job that's demanding, a child to raise. So many people clamoring for my attention.

What I want, what I need is peace in the midst of the storm. This can only be accomplished by fixing my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds me,

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

Father, The victory has already been one. Guard my heart and my mind. Keep me focused on you. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - lead me to think about such things. Because you Lord are all of those things. Fill me with the peace that only you can give.