Category: Peace

Posted on

Absolute Peace

The last few days have not been days I would like to repeat! So many peace robbers.

This morning it is time to re-establish peace!

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

The best way I know to stay established in peace is to focus on the Father’s goodness and keep my heart in an attitude of praise.

Will you join me in speaking out praise to the Father?

“God, you are my God.
    I am searching so hard to find you.
Body and soul, I thirst for you
    in this dry and weary land without water.
2 Yes, I have seen you in your Temple.[a]
    I have seen your strength and glory.
3 Your faithful love is better than life,
    so my lips praise you.
4 By my life, I will praise you.
    In your name, I lift my hands in prayer.
5 When I sit down to satisfy my hunger,
    my joyful lips hunger to praise you!
6 I remember you while lying on my bed.
    I think about you in the middle of the night.
7 That is because you are the one who helps me.
    It makes me happy to be under your protection!
8 I stay close to you,
    and you hold me with your powerful arm.” Psalm 63:1-8 ERV

Father, I will stay close to you, I will be under your protection, and I will be at peace! Thank you for Your faithfulness, even when I forget to be focused on You.

Posted on

Wrapped in Peace

Last night Dave grabbed my phone and captured this beautiful end to a raining afternoon. I didn’t see the shots he took until this morning. They brought a smile to my face and a sense of peace to my heart.

The image made me wonder how many skies like this Peter saw on the Sea of Galilee and many times Jesus looked up at the end of a long day and saw the rays of the sun shining through the clouds?

Peter would see the clouds and think like a fisherman. He would be focused on the natural while Jesus was about His Father’s business and the lives that needed to be changed.

I don’t know Peter’s thoughts or concerns, but I do know that Jesus was always intent on doing what the Father had sent him to do, to serve mankind and tell them (us) of the Father’s love.

He would draw away from his disciples in the evening and then again in the early morning hours to pray. He was always aware of the Father’s presence, and He was wrapped in the peace that only comes from above.

One particular night Jesus had sent his disciples off in a boat and He stayed by himself to pray.

“At once, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. 23 Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later in the evening, he was still there.

24 By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves. 25 A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples. 26 When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.

27 At once, Jesus said to them, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:22-27 CEV

The disciples had seen miracles that day but out in the boat the miracles and power of God had been forgotten. They were focused on their desperate situation and fear had set in. Jesus spoke words of protection and peace.

Don’t be afraid!

Peter was emboldened by Jesus’ presence and said, “Lord if it’s you let me walk on the water too”. Jesus said, “Come on”. Peter stepped out of the boat and started walking toward Jesus but then he looked at the waves and felt the wind. He was no longer trusting in the one who said “Come” and he began to sink.

Jesus took him by the hand and they joined the other disciples in the boat. Peace was restored.

How many times do we start out on a course that God has designed for us and become frightened by the circumstances around us?

“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

Take your worries and concerns to the Father in prayer. Our Father who fills the sky with His beauty will wrap you in His peace!

Posted on

Live in Safety

Every day I meet campers who have traveled hours to our campground. They are excited to be here, in the cooler climate.

This weekend there will be many of you on the road or perhaps, in the air. I found myself praying for all of you.

Safety in travels, safety from natural disasters, safety during medical procedures, safety in daily routine, safety for soldiers, first responders and all in harm’s way. Safety during fun family activities.

Safety!

And then I read again God’s word and His promise of safety.

“1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
    spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
    I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
    under them you’re perfectly safe;
    his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
    not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
    not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
    drop like flies right and left,
    no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
    watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
    harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

14-16 “If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
    “I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
    if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
    I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
    give you a long drink of salvation!” Psalm 91 MSG

Praise God for His protection and love. Thank God for our nation and those who purchased our freedom.

Posted on

Guard Your Thoughts

Do you ever daydream? You know what I’m talking about – you’re alone with your thoughts planning for something special, going over the details and then out of the blue a disturbing thought enters in.

It’s some thought that wants to take you in a wrong direction – it can be unnerving and even make you fearful.

How do you counter that?

“ My son, pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my words. 21 Don’t let them out of your sight. Never stop thinking about them. 22 These words are the secret of life and health to all who discover them. 23 Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.” Proverbs 4:20-23 ERV

Be careful how you think…

Good advice from a very wise man, Solomon. Now here are some words from Solomon’s father, King David.

“May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.” Psalm 19:14 ERV

“The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made.
2 Each new day tells more of the story, and each night reveals more and more about God’s power.” Psalm 19:1-2 ERV

These verses are from the same chapter – one from the beginning of the Psalm and the other is the last. King David tells us how to keep our thoughts centered – we stay focused on the glory of God and His power at the beginning and ending of each day, our thoughts will please our Father.

When troubling thoughts come, and they will, we counter them with God’s promises. especially those verses that counter fear.

“And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.” Philippians 4:7 ERV

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 NLT

I find such peace in the beauty of the morning sunrise and the evening sunset. They are a constant reminder to me of God’s power and provision. For all of time past, there has never been a day that there wasn’t a sunrise or a sunset. Since God keeps all of nature on its course, He surely has established a plan for my well-being. I can trust Him!

“ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT

Father, I keep my mind fixed on You and Your good plan for me. Your peace will stand guard over my thoughts. I trust you!

Posted on

Comfort!

This morning the city of Uvalde, Texas is in need of comfort!

We get very little news up here, so I don’t know much about the situation in that town but what I do know is that we need to be praying for them. There is no way to make any sense of what happened.

“God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort!” Matthew 5:4 CEV

Join me in praying for those who are hurting in such a horrible way.

“Holy Spirit, you are the Comforter. Minister to these families, those who mourn. Wrap them in the Father’s love and ease their pain. Bring peace where there is fear. Bring compassion to the community as they reach out to their hurting friends and neighbors. Do what only you can do, in the name of Jesus”.

It’s hard to know what to say or do, but if we open our hearts to the Lord’s leading, He will show us how we can be used to bring His love and compassion to those who are hurting.

“I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! 3 Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort.” II Corinthians 1:2-3 CEV

We may not know anyone who is personally affected by this recent horror, but we may have people around us who are experiencing their own kind of deep and emotional loss. We need to be aware of those types of situations so we can share the comfort of Christ.

“Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others.” Philippians 2:1 CEV

Posted on

Singing Before Dawn

This morning I slept a little longer than normal. How did I know? I was awaken by the birds singing in the pines just before dawn.

Normally I’m up and have had my first cup of coffee before they start their chorus. It’s a glorious way to start the day.

Listen…Stop right now and listen for 10 seconds…If you’re anything like me you’re morning starts with the sound of the coffee pot and the hum of the computer. But it hasn’t always been that way.

I remember what it’s like to wake to the alarm clock. Have kids that need to get up, be fed and taken to school on my way to the office in the busy traffic. Radio’s playing, tv spilling the morning news, emails to read, FB to check in on – so much noise.

When you stopped to listen did you hear the voice of God?

I love that when I wake up each morning I say “I love you Father, I love you Jesus, I love you Holy Spirit” and then I can hear that inner voice say “We love you too”. WOW!!

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Folks spend much of their time looking for the big, the spectacular, the miraculous and miss the simple, still small voice of God trying to lead them and give them insight.

How many times have you heard someone say, “I knew I shouldn’t have done that” or “It just dawned on me” or “I was just thinking about that very thing”? We often don’t realize that God is trying to get through to us.

Elijah was looking for God’s answers during a very serious time in his life. He was seeking God and there came a great wind and then an earthquake and then a fire and finally a still small voice. God spoke in a still small voice!

“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” I Kings 19:11-12

The song of the birds is my morning reminder, the still small voice, as it were that God has the day in order. The birds wake singing praise to God for His provision.

“ I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?” Matthew 6:25-26 CEV

The most important thing you’ll hear each morning, if you listen, will be the still small voice of the Lord. Sssssh – just listen!

Posted on

You Understand!

This morning I’ve spent a lot of time in prayer. My heart is aching because I have been praying for those who are going through such tremendous seasons of hurting or failure.

I found myself saying, “You understand what it’s like to see Your children go through such trying times. You understand what it is to weep over those You dearly love. You understand…”

Oh my, dear reader, He does understand.

“ We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. This is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. 15 Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:14-16 CEV

Not only does He understand, He is there to help us with every need and every weakness.

Some of you are experiencing the loss of a loved one while others are plagued by debilitating fear. Financial set back and even bankruptcy looms large on the horizon for some families and businesses. Physical health issues are threatening fatally while some face the darkness of dementia. Perhaps your family is fractured by separation or divorce.

The hurt, the grief, the hopelessness are real. He understands!

He cried over the loss of a loved one, He was misunderstood and publicly ridiculed and maligned. He felt lonely and used.

He understands!

Bring your weariness, your heart ache, your pain – bring them to Jesus. Let Him comfort and console. Let Him bathe you in peace and joy unspeakable. Receive hope, hope that was gone.

“ Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest.” Matthew 11:28-29 ERV

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me]to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives
recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19 NKJV

“ I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 ERV

Dear friend, never forget that He understands and He is always willing to help!

Posted on

Admitted Failure

This morning I’m going to share the thing that has been frustrating me that last couple of weeks.

It’s my refrigerator!

About six weeks ago our new refrigerator started to malfunction. The freezer section is perfect, a minus two degrees; the refrigerator, however, has issues. It only cools to forty-four to forty-six degrees. This temperature is too warm to store eggs, milk, and other items that can spoil.

No problem, it’s under warranty. We had a tech come troubleshoot the problem, reported it to the manufacturer, finally we received approval for a replacement and waited for the trucking company to deliver it so it could be installed.

All of this was to happen before April 28 because we were supposed to leave for the mountain on May 2. The refrigerator wasn’t delivered until April 29, one day after our scheduled install. We had to reschedule, and we couldn’t get an appointment until tomorrow, May 5.

We are late getting to our campground on the mountain where we will be hosting again this summer. Did I mention that I am frustrated? I hate being late for anything and especially this.

Each morning the refrigerator, the schedule, the entire situation is a partial focus of my prayer time. And if I’m truthful, I’m not really praying about it I’m complaining! There, I said it.

I talk with you each morning about trusting the Lord with all the issues in life – the big and the small. I quote the verse:

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8 NKJV

The Lord perfects or completes the things that concern me – this refrigerator has been a big concern. How foolish! I’ve allowed this cooling box to heat my emotions. I’ve allowed it to cause unrest in my soul and complaining from my mouth.

“God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing. ” Philippians 2:13-14 CEV

The Lord is more concerned with my heart than with the temperature of my milk and eggs. Which one has a more eternal value?

Some of you may be reading this and saying “I can’t believe she is getting so upset about a refrigerator. The world has bigger problems than this.” And you’re right – I agree completely. So, learn from my error. Keep your heart right; I have repented, and I may have to do it again before this situation is resolved.

My verse for today is this:

“Help me to guard my words whenever I say something. 4 Don’t let me want to do evil
or waste my time doing wrong” Psalm 141:3-4CEV

I will guard my words and my heart and I choose to let God’s peace rule. I hope you do the same.

Posted on

Sit Quietly

This morning is one of those times when sleep eluded me. Awake at 1 am and up at 1:45. It was time to get up, pray and let the Lord speak to my heart.

I cherish those times of sitting quietly in His presence.

I began to read some of my favorite passages and found myself in Colossians. It’s there I stayed; my heart was flooded with complete gratitude – there truly are no words to express my thankfulness.

“God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. 14 The Son paid the price to make us free. In him we have forgiveness of our sins.” Colossians 1:13-14 ERV

Every sin I have ever committed and every one that I still will are forgiven!

Christ paid the price for our sin, once for all, we have been made right with God. I have been made right with God!

“At one time you were separated from God. You were his enemies in your minds, because the evil you did was against him. 22 But now he has made you his friends again. He did this by the death Christ suffered while he was in his body. He did it so that he could present you to himself as people who are holy, blameless, and without anything that would make you guilty before him. ” Colossians 1:21-22 ERV

No longer separated from, no longer enemies but friends. And not just friends – we’ve been adopted as His own. Christ died for me, to forgive me and then presented me to the Father as one who is holy, blameless and without guilt.

“You will show me the way of life. Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever.” Psalm 16:11 NLV

“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

I am welcome in His throne room. I am invited to spend time in His presence. It’s important to sit quietly in His presence with no agenda or requests. In His presence is the fullness of joy!

Posted on

Kindness & Peace

We just returned from a week’s vacation visiting our son and his girlfriend. We had a wonderful time; most of it was spent visiting and enjoying one another’s company. COVID had kept us apart for over two years.

Sunday we visited Alcatraz. When we were on the ferry, returning to the pier, I heard a young child say, “Today was a good day. Thank you, Mom, for the best day ever”. I had to turn around and see this kid’s face. He had a smile from ear to ear, so much kindness and gratitude from someone so young. He was only about 6 or 7. It warmed my heart.

We can always use more kindness and peace.

It would mean a great deal if people treated each other nicer, right? I think we can get a hearty amen to having less drama in our lives. What can we do to see that we are being used to bring these two elements into the lives of those around us?

“This letter is to all of you in Rome. God loves you and has chosen you to be his very own people. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!” Romans 1:7 CEV

We can begin by praying for God to bless those we know with kindness and peace and then we can follow through with being kind. Kind to the other drivers on the roads, to the salesclerks and waiters. To receptionists and executives. To the person sitting at the next desk or our biggest competitor. To our kids and our spouses.

We are all naturally drawn to people who are kind, people who live drama-free lives. A genuine expression of kindness or compassion can be life changing.

The Apostle Paul also said this:

“God has been kind to you. He has been very patient, waiting for you to change. But you think nothing of his kindness. Maybe you don’t understand that God is kind to you so that you will decide to change your lives.” Romans 2:4 ERV

God’s goodness is what brings people to Him. When we emulate God’s character, we are being used to bring others to Christ. We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit working through us.

I once read a statement similar to this: “If we preach less on sin and moral failure and more on the love of God and his goodness, we will see less sin and moral failure”.

“God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” Galatians 5:22-23 CEV

Today I’m praying that God’s goodness and peace will overflow in our lives!

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress