Category: Peace

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When Things Go Wrong

I was reading some of my favorite verses this morning and the thought came to me, what do we do when things go wrong?

And they do, you know…

A flat tire, a broken washing machine, an explosion in the kitchen – these are the simple things but what about the bigger messes? Cutbacks at work, downsizing, illness, divorce, fire, hurricanes, political upheaval, what do we do then.

“ Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

8 Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. 9 You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.

10 The Lord has made me very grateful that at last you have thought about me once again. Actually, you were thinking about me all along, but you didn’t have any chance to show it. 11 I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. 13 Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Philippians 4:6-13 CEV

Paul was a man who knew what it was to have things go wrong.

He was thrown into prison more than once, run out of towns for preaching. Once he was stoned and left for dead. He was shipwrecked, snake bit, hungry, left afloat in the sea and he spent his final days under house arrest, not being able to travel to visit the saints he loved.

Yet, his letters were filled with encouragement for them and for us. He showed us how to live a life of faithfulness, trusting God in every situation!

I love verse 9. “Follow my example and God will give you peace”.

Peace? Peace!

And how do we achieve this? By praying about everything, worrying about nothing, and thinking on the goodness of God. Whatever is true, honest, pure, right, kind and holy. In others words having our minds stayed or anchored to God.

“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV

In the middle of the mess, we can trust. When the waves are ready to swamp our boats, we can trust. When we’re in the lions’ den or facing the giants, we can trust!

“Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Philippians 4:13 CEV

No matter where, no matter what, no matter how big the mess, Christ promises us the strength we need to go through it in victory.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 CEV

And we will be a sweet-smelling testimony to God’s goodness and faithfulness!

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Planting New Seeds

Fall is a good time to plant in Arizona. The cooler weather and our mostly mild winters provide a good growing environment.

I miss my garden and my flowers so now I plant a different kind of seed.

In years past, I have chosen my plants carefully. Measuring out the distance between, giving them enough room to grow without hindering the growth of what was around them. Potting soil added to the ground, automatic watering system in place and lots of tender loving care. I would imagine how they will look in 5, 10 and even 20 years. Gardens planted at homes I no longer live in brought temporary joy.

More important are the other seeds I have sown in the past 10, 20, 50 even 70 years. Seeds that have produced a wonderful marriage (although we had to pull up some weeds along the way), 3 children and their mates, 7 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, numerous friends who have been a part of our lives for so many years. Sowing seeds from God’s word to encourage, bring hope and God’s forgiveness of sin.

And then there are the seeds that had to be rooted out, things like bitterness, anger, insecurity, pride, selfishness and discontentment. These had to be dug up and pulled out by the roots so that the other seeds could grow and produce fruit.

This morning, I won’t be planting physical seedlings, I will be planting seeds of hospitality, acceptance, forgiveness, peace, joy, healing and restoration. It is my desire that all who share my life’s garden will know God’s goodness and the abundant life that He has given us in Christ Jesus.

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12 KJV

“This is what the story means: The seed is God’s message, 12 and the seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But the devil comes and snatches the message out of their hearts, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it. But they don’t have deep roots, and they believe only for a little while. As soon as life gets hard, they give up.

14 The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they are so eager for riches and pleasures that they never produce anything. 15 Those seeds that fell on good ground are the people who listen to the message and keep it in good and honest hearts. They last and produce a harvest.” Luke 8:11-15 CEV

Happy Planting!

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Don’t Panic – Pray

I’m so glad the Lord reminded me yesterday to hold fast to His hand.

There’s an old hymn, written in 1906, “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand”.

  1. Time is filled with swift transition,
    Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
    Build your hopes on things eternal,
    Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
    • Refrain:
      Hold to God’s unchanging hand,
      Hold to God’s unchanging hand;
      Build your hopes on things eternal,
      Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
  2. Trust in Him who will not leave you,
    Whatsoever years may bring,
    If by earthly friends forsaken
    Still more closely to Him cling.

Interesting first line for sure. “Time is filled with swift transitions”.

Dave and I headed into town early yesterday morning to pick up some building materials and a few groceries. On our drive home we saw a big white smoke plume rising in the desert.

It was hard to determine its exact location. In fact, we purposely didn’t take one road because we thought it might be blocked and we wouldn’t get through. So, we drove on to our normal road. As we got closer to Queen Valley, our little community, we realized the fire that had caused the smoke plume was just to the east of us.

Talk about a swift transition…

It looked like everything was being tended too. Unconcerned we drove home, unloaded the building materials and the groceries.

We learned within a few short minutes that our community had been placed on a “Set” response for evacuation.

Don’t panic. Pray. Hold on to God’s unchanging hand.

” 3 God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you. 4 So trust the Lord always, because in the Lord Yah you have a place of safety forever.” Isaiah 26:3-4 ERV

We were concerned for those neighbors who live out of state and were seeing things posted on Facebook. The calls and emails were coming in quickly and we did our best to reassure everyone.

God blessed our community with a wonderful crew of fire fighters both on the ground and in the air. Within a few hours the smoke had diminished. We are still on a “Set” alert and will be until the situation is re-evaluated this morning, but we are safe.

We do not know what each day will bring but when we know and trust God, we can rest, without fear, in His protection.

Let me close with this Psalm that I was reading this morning.

“You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert. 2 I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship. 3 Your love means more than life to me, and I praise you. 4 As long as I live, I will pray to you. 5 I will sing joyful praises and be filled with excitement like a guest at a banquet.

6 I think about you, God, before I go to sleep, and my thoughts turn to you during the night.
7 You have helped me, and I sing happy songs in the shadow of your wings. 8 I stay close to you, and your powerful arm supports me.” Psalm 63:1-8 ESV

As children of our loving heavenly Father, we hold tightly to His hand. Don’t panic – pray. He holds us up!

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Start With A Smile

Doesn’t take much to make me smile in the morning…a good night’s rest, a cool morning, coffee in my new mug and knowing how very much the Father loves me!

Do you remember in Isaiah where the names of Jesus are prophesied? Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, PRINCE OF PEACE!

Prince of Peace.

Aww, take that in! Prince of Peace. Our Jesus is the one who rules and directs peace. Peace must go where He sends, it must stay as long as He says.

“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]” John 14:27 AMP

Another verse that tells us what Jesus came to bring is in Isaiah 52.

“How beautiful and delightful on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace, Who brings good news of good [things], Who announces salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7 AMP

This lines up perfectly with what the angels said when they announced Jesus’ birth.

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. 11 For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah) …14 Glory to God in the highest [heaven], And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.” Luke 2:10-14 AMP

Peace: the presence of God and the assurance of God that all will be well. Exalt faith over fear; believe God more than your circumstances!

“Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth…As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. 7 But we live by faith, not by what we see. 8 We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord.” II Corinthians 5:1, 7 & 8 CEV

So, smile. Be cheerful and let peace rule your heart.

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Worthy of It All

I do not enjoy getting up to a messy kitchen, but this morning that is exactly what I encountered.

Let me explain.

Last night when I was getting the coffee maker ready to go for this morning, I took the coffee canister out of the cupboard and the lid came off spilling grounds all over the counter and filling the sink. Ugh!

I grabbed the Dust Buster and began sucking up all the grounds, until the battery died. I had to plug it in and leave it charging overnight. The grounds on the counter had been swept away but the bottom portion of the kitchen sink is still covered.

Now, this is not life-changing disappointment, not earthshaking in the least. Nothing like what those on the East Coast are experiencing with loss of homes, all their worldly possessions and great loss of life. My little disappointment doesn’t even make a blip on the radar screen.

So why mention it?

It seems so insignificant, but God wants us to keep Him forefront in everything. It’s what comes out of the heart in times like this that matter. God wants us to live in His presence of joy, basking in His goodness, not grumbling and complaining about things. In the monumental or the minute’, the heart attitude is what keeps us centered, full of peace and focused on God’s provision and protection.

Throughout the night the lyrics to a praise song kept coming into my head and my heart.

“We give You the highest praise
We give You the highest praise
We give You the highest praise
Jesus our Savior
You’re worthy of it all” by Phil Wickham

We give YOU the highest praise, YOU are worthy of it all!

When we are meditating on the Word of God, day and night, we keep ourselves in an attitude of praise. We keep our eyes focused on Jesus.

“Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.” I Thessalonians 5:18 CEV

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” Philippians 4:6-7 CEV

Notice that these verses don’t say that only when bad things happen that we need a stiff upper lip and we praise. No, it says whatever and anything; in other words, in all things, good and bad, we are to praise God and then we will be controlled by peace.

“Shout praises to the Lord! With all that I am, I will shout his praises. 2 I will sing and praise
the Lord God as long as I live…The Lord God of Jacob blesses everyone who trusts him and depends on him. 6 God made heaven and earth; he created the sea and everything else. God always keeps his word.” Psalm 146:1-6 CEV

If you’re in the midst of a terrible time, praise God that He is there with you and has promised not to abandon you but will bring you through it. If you have little annoyances, praise God that He has promised to keep you in peace as you stay focused on Him.

If you have a sink full of coffee grounds, be thankful that you had enough to make the morning coffee.

In everything, yes everything, give thanks for this is the will of God. He is worthy of it all!

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A Reliable Cure

Have you ever been to the doctor and had them ask you about your medical history and your family’s medical history? Lots of questions and sometimes you wonder if they are even listening as you answer.

This morning, I have a question for you. Do you have heart trouble? Are there triggers in your life that have or are now affecting your heart?

Then let me give you a prescription for the cure.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1 KJV

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples right before His crucifixion. If anything would cause “heart trouble” for them it would be this, but Jesus’ command was don’t be troubled.

“My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. 21 Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh. 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:20-23 AMP

King Solomon knew the way to prevent “heart trouble” was to pay attention to God’s word. It provides health and healing to all who choose to live by it.

The dosing instructions for this prescription were given to Joshua by the Lord.

“Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 ERV

Twice a day are the instructions but more if needed – day and night.

So, if you are experiencing heart trouble this morning, I’m sending you to my cardiologist, He’s never lost a patient. You have a private consultation with Him, listen to His instructions.

“ I have told you all these things while I am with you. 26 But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.

27 “I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am leaving, but I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going back to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am. 29 I have told you this now, before it happens. Then when it happens, you will believe.” John 14:26-29 ERV

I guarantee you that Jesus knew about situations that could weaken the heart. He had faced physical and spiritual attacks, mental temptations and reputation destroying lies. In the final night before His death, He was preparing the disciples to withstand the attacks of the heart.

“ I have told you all this now to prepare you. So when the time comes for these things to happen, you will remember that I warned you… 33 “I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” John 16:4 & 33 ERV

Take the Great Physician’s prescription and keep your heart strong!

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Organized & Peaceful

I woke up very early this morning; my mind was hurriedly making lists. For the next few weeks things are going to be quite busy for me and I want to make sure that I don’t forget anything. That’s why I have lists.

I got up, fully intending to come out to the living room and write a few things down, but instead, I picked up my Bible first and went to a few of my favorite passages on organization and peace.

There are some lessons the Lord teaches us and it’s to our benefit to revisit them often.

“ My son, don’t forget my teaching. Remember what I tell you to do. 2 What I teach will give you a good, long life, and all will go well for you. 3 Don’t ever let love and loyalty leave you. Tie them around your neck, and write them on your heart. 4 Then God will be pleased and think well of you and so will everyone else.

5 Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 7 Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the Lord and stay away from evil. 8 If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.” Proverbs 3:1-8 ERV

Solomon’s words for a long and healthy life are simple. Trust the Lord and not yourself, walk a road of love and loyalty, it will keep you on the right path all the days of your life.

Further along in this book is a verse that the Lord used in my life many, many years ago and has repeated it to me hundreds of times throughout my life.

“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 AMPC

This verse serves as my stress meter. Am I anxious? Am I frustrated? Am I stressing out over the details? If I answer yes, then I know that I have not rolled my works on the Lord and that I am trying to do them in my own effort and wisdom.

This morning, I wrote in my journal “Father, thank you for a peaceful heart and an organized mind”.

Did you know that Moses wrote one of the Psalms? This is his prayer for us.

“Teach us to use wisely all the time we have.” Psalm 90:12 CEV

Moses seems to be saying the same thing here that Solomon said. Trust the Lord and not our own wisdom.

I have one more verse to share with you.

“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV

You may have a long list of things to accomplish; there are unknowns and there is the temptation to worry and fret. I’d like to give you some Biblical advice, roll it all over on the Lord and let Him direct your path.

His way will give you a peaceful heart and an organized mind.

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Consequences

How many of you have heard these words?

“No temptation has taken you that is not common to man and the Lord will give you the ability to escape it” I Corinthians 10:13

That verse comes from I Corinthians chapter 10. Paul was giving instruction to the Christians about the example they had received from their forefathers who had murmured and complained in the wilderness.

They had seen all of God’s power when He delivered them from Egypt; crossing the Red Sea; living under the pillar of cloud by day; eating manna from heaven; drinking water from a rock and still they complained and rebelled.

So now Paul is giving strong admonition to them. Don’t let the temptation to complain and murmur about your circumstances cause you to stray from the Lord.

God is faithful and He will provide a way of escape. Don’t be confident in your own abilities because when you are, you will fall but be confident in Christ and what He has done for you.

“So anyone who thinks they are standing strong should be careful that they don’t fall. 13 The only temptations that you have are the same temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it.” I Corinthians 10:12-13 ERV

Good word for today. How many times a day do we find ourselves complaining about something? How many times are we trusting in our own strength and not His?

Over the last week we have talked about planting seed. The seed, Jesus said, is God’s word. That’s good seed. Our words are also seed; when we murmur and complain it is far from good and we need to pull it up before it takes root and produces a crop. Some of us should pray for crop failure.

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing. 15  Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world” Philippians 2:14-15 CEV

Paul was instructing the Christians in Corinth and in Philippi on godly living. It’s good instruction for us as well. He wanted them to see that words have consequences. Words of praise and words of complaint both produce a crop.

“You can trust this: Every word that God speaks is true. God is a safe place for those who go to him.” Proverbs 30:5 ERV

Let’s remind ourselves of how the Lord has been faithful in the past and it will keep us from complaining about the present or worrying over the future. It will bring about a consequence of peace.

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Out of Balance

The first of our three youngest grandchildren woke up about 30 minutes ago. She wanted to cuddle on the couch with me; 15 minutes ago Dave and the 2nd grandchild got up. She was cold and needed under the blanket. Still one grandchild, the boy, is sleeping upstairs in the loft.

It makes my morning a bit out of the norm. Quiet time cut short, coffee just getting made but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Just that things happen a little later than normal. But whether it’s routine or a break in routine God is always the same.

Practical.

God is practical. Everything He does has balance. Gravity, sunrise, sunset, changing seasons; earth, sky and water created before fish, plants and animals. Sun produces light and heat, the moon reflects light and no heat. Balance.

What’s out of balance and impractical about God is His unconditional love!

It doesn’t matter what we do or don’t do, God’s love for us will be the same. (Now that doesn’t mean He approves of everything we do, not in the slightest but He always loves us.)

People won’t go to hell because God hates them. They will go because they don’t accept His gift of love and His sacrifice for them.

Since we have Christ living in us it’s His love that should be flowing out of us.

” Together with these things, the most important part of your new life is to love each other. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful…17 Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:14-17 ERV

The most important thing we can do is love each other. Love brings us to a place of peace. When we love we know that we have done all God has asked of us and God will do the rest. When we trust God to do what only He can do we can be thankful because He definitely has the talent and capability of handling His part.

We love not because those around us deserve our love but because God first loved us and so we can extend that love to others. It makes our Father happy to see us acting like Him.

I’m not asking you to go out and love the whole world, but I am asking that you extend God’s love to your co-worker, your neighbor, your child or spouse or sibling. Love unconditionally the way God loves you.

Now I’m off to love on some sweet grandkids.

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Sounds of Refreshing

What sounds wake you up in the night? For me it was the sound of distant thunder. About 2 hours ago, it was slightly muffled, and I knew it was far away but there it was. Hopefully, the promise of rain.

All around us there has been rain but here in our little community we’ve had very little. As I listened the thunder seemed to be coming closer and then the patter of rain drops on the roof. At first, I stayed in bed thinking it was but a brief shower. To my pleasant surprise it wasn’t. It’s a gentle shower, not a pelting deluge, that has continued for well over an hour.

I walked out on the patio and just stood there taking it all in. There is something so soothing about the smell of rain in the desert. The dry earth welcoming the moisture; the sage brush, palo verde, mesquite, saguaro and the ocotillo exhale their dryness and welcome the refreshing.

Oh, the refreshing! The welcomed refreshing.

“When your land was thirsty, you sent showers to refresh it.” Psalm 68:9 CEV

“Thirsty deserts will be glad; barren lands will celebrate and blossom with flowers. 2 Deserts will bloom everywhere and sing joyful songs. They will be as majestic as Mount Lebanon, as glorious as Mount Carmel or Sharon Valley. Everyone will see the wonderful splendor of the Lord our God.” Isaiah 35:1-2 CEV

But rain isn’t just for the dry ground or the barren desert. The Lord promises a refreshing for our souls.

“I will bless the thirsty land by sending streams of water; I will bless your descendants by giving them my Spirit. 4 They will spring up like grass or like willow trees near flowing streams.” Isaiah 44:3-4 CEV

“Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun;
he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.” Hosea 6:3 CEV

“The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.” Zephaniah 3:17 CEV

“You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water,
3 and you refresh my life.” Psalm 23:2-3 CEV

There’s only a few light sprinkles falling now but the earth is refreshed. Let me share one more verse of refreshing with you.

“Rain and snow fall from the sky. But they don’t return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat. 11 That’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.” Isaiah 55:10-11 CEV

God’s word is like the rain that showers the earth bringing new life and refreshing. If you are thirsty, if you are dry, look to God’s word and soak in the rain of His Spirit.

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