Category: Peace

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Time for a Checkup

Nothing says back-to-normal-routine quite like a medical checkup. Our second day home and Dave got a voice message reminding him he has a routine checkup on Monday.

One of my least favorite things is the stack of papers we receive at nearly every medical appointment. It’s the same form from last year, I’ve always felt the first question on should be “has anything changed since your last visit”. If no, then you should get to go to the end of the forms and sign your name. But it doesn’t work like that, does it?

You answer all the questions on paper and then you are asked them again once you’re in the exam room. Since I’m following out this train of thought I have a question for you.

Do you have heart trouble? Has anyone in your family had heart issues? Are there triggers in your life that have or are now affecting your heart?

Then let me write you a prescription that will cure that immediately.

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

My Mom was such a sweet soul but she was a worrier and occasionally I find myself showing signs of that same dis – ease.

When we read through the Gospels and look at the life of Jesus, we see that He led a campaign for heart heath. His words were often “peace, be still”, “fear not”, “be not afraid”. Jesus spoke the words above to his disciples right before His crucifixion. If anything would cause “heart trouble” for them, it would be this. 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 that 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.

If you are experiencing heart trouble this morning, I’m sending you to my cardiologist, He’s never lost a patient yet.

“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. 27 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 14:26-287 AMP

Keep your heart healthy – fear not!

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More Than A Dream

We are back at home. We arrived on Wednesday morning. According to American Airlines flight tracker, traveled 11, 285 miles but that doesn’t even begin to cover it.

There were 4 additional local Greek airline flights, 8 bus trips, 9 taxi rides, 4 ferry rides and 100+ miles walked. It was, in a word, amazing!

We ate foods we had never eaten before, had bucket list items fulfilled, talked with countless people from at least 10 to 12 different countries and experienced a month of adventures that we had been dreaming of.

And there wasn’t one day or one experience that we didn’t stop and thank the Lord for providing – it was time of basking in His love. It was also a time of recognizing that every day of life should be just as adventurous as we look to the Lord and His leading.

This morning, I’ve been thinking about Jacob. You know the guy – Abraham’s shifty grandson. He had duped his father with his mother’s help, stolen his brother’s birthright and been sent off to his uncle’s to find a wife.

Not your typical “dream filled” vacation.

On the way, Jacob’s caravan stops for the night and devoid of the comforts of home, he uses a stone as a pillow. Until this time, Jacob had been self-absorbed. He had no time for a relationship with God – oh yes, he knew the stories of the Lord making promises to his grandfather and his father but he hadn’t experienced anything personally. 

“Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones there and put it under his head for a pillow. 12 And he had a dream. He saw steps going up from the earth to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and down these steps. 13 And he saw the Lord standing above them. He said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give to you and your children after you the land where you are lying…15 See, I am with you. I will care for you everywhere you go. And I will bring you again to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done all the things I promised you.’ 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘For sure the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.’”  Genesis 28:10-16 NLV

How many times have we experienced that same mindset? “For sure the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.”

For Jacob it was just a routine day. A night on the road but he came face-to-face with God’s presence.

It’s easy to see God’s provision when it’s something like a “dream vacation” but it’s also easy to overlook the miraculous when we are in our daily routine.

“For You have been my help. And I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. 8 My soul holds on to You. Your right hand holds me up.” Psalm 63:7-8 NLV

My prayer for you and for me is this, “Father, open my eyes to see that ‘you, Lord, are in this place’. Let me recognize the miracle of my daily walk with you. May Your presence be as real while I’m doing the laundry as it is while I’m living out a dream come true. Your presence, each day is what I long for”. Amen.

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The Rocks Have Something to Say

When we began to plan our trip to Greece years and months ago, I had one priority. I wanted to visit the island of Patmos, the place where John had been exiled, the place the Lord gave him the message of the end times, the Book of Revelation.

Little did I know that this is one of those places where “you can’t get there from here”.

Patmos is a small island about an hour by sea from Turkey. They have no airport, the only way to the island is via ferry. What we did find was an airport several islands away on Samos. We caught a flight from Crete back to Athens and then to Samos. There we boarded a ferry, one of many that go to the island, for a three-hour tour. Yes, a three-hour tour.

We left Crete at 8 am and arrived on Patmos at 7 pm. After a good night’s sleep, we headed to the Cave of the Apocalypse, as it is called. This is the place where Greek Orthodox teaching say John was sequestered and there wrote the Book of Revelation.

Many times on this trip we have learned to trust the directions we were given by Google Maps. I truly believe this technology was God-guided. We saw that our destination was only .5 km from our hotel. It wasn’t too warm that morning so we decided to walk. It started out with a beautiful meandering through the narrow residential lanes of Skala. The incline became steeper and the humidity was increasing, our energy was being tapped. We stopped a few times to catch our breathe.

At one spot a local man pointed us in the right direction or who-knows-where we would have ended up.

This spot on the hilltop has been well preserved. There is a building where you enter and a corridor to follow back to the Cave. It is now a place of worship and prayer. Often times there is a priest there to give instruction on the significance of the site, but he wasn’t there when we were.

We truly did sense the presence of God. We went there to worship and give thanks for the Father’s abiding presence. Knowing that He has promised to never leave us or abandon us. Knowing that the Book of Revelation was written to warn us all of the events that will mark the end of time on earth. The wars, rumors of wars, destruction, famine, floods, men’s hearts turning to selfish ambition and ignoring the will of God are all signs the Bible tells us to look for before the Lord returns. These are the signs of our times.

Yet, in all of this the thing that had the greatest impact on me were the rocks. Outside, away from the structure, were these big rocks, steps had been hewn to make the walking easier but the rocks were the very same as those that had been there, under the feet of John, possibly causing him to stumble. These rocks were a living testimony.

“They said, ‘Great and honored is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord. There is peace and greatness in the highest heaven.’ 39 Some of the proud religious law-keepers who were in among the people said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, speak sharp words to Your followers.’ 40 Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you that if these did not speak, the very stones would call out.’” Luke 19:38-40 NLV

It’s interesting to hear people speak about how peaceful they feel on the island. Those who live there say the same thing. It’s a place free from turmoil. If we don’t speak to honor and glorify God, the rocks by their very existence will!

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Kalimera

That’s how you say good morning in Greek. Kalimera.

Today Dave and I are starting our second full day on this beautiful little island. We arrived late afternoon on Saturday and it’s now early morning Monday. There’s a 7 hour time difference with the East coast of North America and a 10 hour difference with our home state of Arizona.

We spent a good portion of yesterday sitting on the balcony watching the waves roll in and enjoying the warm sunshine. At the sea shore the water is a beautiful turquoise and further out it becomes a deep azure. It has held my imagination captive as I wonder how many ancient mariners visited its shores.

“Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in Your eyes, O Lord, my Rock and the One Who saves me.” Psalm 119:4 NLV

Every place we walk the people seem happy and content. Our taxi driver explained it best when he said they are a people who love what they do, where they live and the slower paced mindset than those in the bigger cities.

Was this what the Apostle Paul was talking about when he said:

“I know how to get along with little and how to live when I have much. I have learned the secret of being happy at all times. If I am full of food and have all I need, I am happy. If I am hungry and need more, I am happy. 13 I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:12-13 NLV

The amazing thing is we don’t need to travel half way across the globe to find contentment. We can find it right where we are!

In our homes or a prison cell, in a doctor’s waiting room or in the midst of a storm (physical, mental or emotional), there we can find peace. It’s there we rest in who Christ is and all He has done.

“The Lord Who bought you and saves you, the Holy One of Israel, says, ‘I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to do well, Who leads you in the way you should go.’” Isaiah 48:17 NLV

Paul was probably the apostle who faced the most physical and mental challenges and obstacles but he was content in Christ and the mission of preaching the Gospel.

The Bible’s promise of peace is universal to all who put their faith and trust in the Lord.

Let’s take a minute to pray. I’ll pray here and you join me there.

“Father, I don’t know what types of challenges my readers are facing today but You do. Surround them with Your peace, the peace that surpasses our natural way of thinking, the peace that goes beyond our intellect and reaches our soul. Teach them to rely on You as You lead them in the way they should go. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Many of you will be enjoying a three day weekend, let it be filled with peace.

As they say hear “efcharisto”, thank you for reading. Go in the blessings of the Lord!

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One If By Land

This morning my thoughts are about “concerning” things. The things that pop into our minds trying to captivate our thoughts and rob our peace?

Pondering those things, a stanza of the “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” came to mind.

“Listen, my children, and you shall hear…

He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,—
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm.”

Now what does that poem have to do with anything?

Everything. It seems we always have a foe to face. Not many are an actual foe like the British were to the colonists during the revolution, but we fight them just the same.

We are ready spread the alarm when lay-offs threaten, when doctors’ reports reveal a dis-ease, a move takes us to an unknown place or death robs us of a loved one. Political unrest, social threats, even the smaller things like the first day of school, changing jobs, driving the freeway or facing a thunderstorm can be unsettling.

There’s a favorite verse of mine, I quote it often, however, this morning I couldn’t remember it’s exact location, so I put the words “perfect concern” in my Bible app to find it. Before I hit the enter key, I stared at those two words, perfect concern.

Our Father’s concern for our wellbeing is perfect! He wants us to come to Him in every situation because it’s with Him we find help. That’s another favorite verse of mine so, let’s look at both of them.

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:7-8 NKJV

“ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV

Worry keeps us from trusting God and believing His word. He is always ready to help and handle our concerns. Worry isn’t from the Lord, peace is.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

There’s that word “perfect” again and this time it’s coupled with the word peace. Perfect peace comes when we trust our Father.

So, if trouble is coming, whether by land, sea, air or just in our minds, we can hang a signal lantern in our hearts and the Lord will come to our rescue.

“He is the living God, the one who lives forever. His power and his kingdom will never end. 27 He rescues people and sets them free by working great miracles. Daniel’s God has rescued him from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:26-27 CEV

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Bad Dreams – Bad Day?

This morning I awoke from a very bad dream – I hate days that start like this. They can rattle my emotions and they try to destroy my peace!

Not the way I want to start my day. How do you regain control of your day, even when it’s only a few minutes old?

I picked up my Bible and with a prayer on my lips I said, “Father, this is the day You gave me and I will not give it over to disturbing thoughts”. I opened my Bible to Psalm 147, within the first few verses I knew what I needed to do.

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God. For it is pleasing and praise is right. 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He gathers those of Israel who had been taken away. 3 He heals those who have a broken heart. He heals their sorrows. 4 He knows the number of the stars. He gives names to all of them. 5 Great is our Lord, and great in power. His understanding has no end. 6 The Lord lifts up those who are suffering, and He brings the sinful down to the ground.7 Sing to the Lord with thanks. Sing praises to our God on the harp.” Psalm 147:1-7 NLT

It was time to sing!

I sat and quietly sang a song from long ago:

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing, I will sing,
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness,
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness to all generations,
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.”

My heart lifted with joy and my peace is returning. I know no better way to settle a disturbed heart than through prayer and worship.

“O Lord, the heavens will praise Your great works and how faithful You are in the meeting of the holy ones. 6 For who in the heavens is like the Lord? Who among the sons of the powerful is like the Lord? 7 God is honored with fear in the meeting of the holy ones. He is honored with fear more than all who are around Him. 8 Lord God of all, powerful Lord, who is like You? All around You we see how faithful You are. 9 You rule over the rising sea. When its waves rise, You quiet them. ” Psalm 89:5-9 NLV

The words from the song are the first three verses of Psalm 89 and then these are some of the following verses. It is wonderful what happens to a heart filled with praise!

So, now I will leave you and go back to praising. I have a feeling I will be singing in the shower this morning.

Bad dreams? What bad dreams? This is a day for praising the Lord!

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Thorns

A couple weeks back Dave was walking across our big area rug when he stepped on some prickly pear needles. If you notice in the picture, they grow in a small cluster.

He was able to get one out by himself and then he told me he needed my help to remove another one. I had him sit down, I got the tweezers and slowly applied pressure to remove it.

All better!

But not really, a week or so later he was still complaining about his heel being sore. I looked at his foot again and saw a small dark spot but I couldn’t get to it. The skin on his heel was so calloused. Even though he had soaked his foot I was unable to get to it. Honestly, I figured it would work itself out.

While we were on vacation, we did lots of walking. Some days he complained that it was sore but for the most part he walked on, relatively unhindered. We had teased that Kym, a nurse, should do “surgery” but then we forgot about it again…until yesterday.

Dave was favoring his foot so much that he had a hard time walking. More soaking – and then I remembered the little electric foot file I have. Long story short, I was able to remove a good deal of the callous, exposing the end of another cactus needle and it popped out.

Relief!

I bet you’re wondering how all this applies to this morning’s devotional thought.

“…let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us. 2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor…3 If you want to keep from becoming fainthearted and weary, think about his patience…”Hebrews 12:1-3 TLB

There are so many things in life trying to slow us down, trip us up and/or cripple us in our daily walks. Things like fear, anger, worry, jealousy, heartache, envy, disappointment, low self-esteem. I’m sure you can come up with your own list of things that have tried to destroy your walk with the Lord, things that have discouraged you and tried to get you to quit.

Keep your eyes on Jesus!

We can become so discouraged that we allow our hearts to callous over. Just like Dave’s heel, that tough exterior keeps us from getting to the root of the problem. Left unattended the pain grew worse but when we allow God’s word to scrape away the surface, the thorn is exposed and can be removed. Healing begins.

“God’s word is alive and powerful! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.” Hebrews 4:12 CEV

Perhaps you’re trying to avoid dealing with some “sore” spots today. You’ve been wounded by life’s thorns. Isn’t it time to let the Lord help you remove them, so they are no longer a hindrance?

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I Am With You

Yesterday we came to our granddaughter’s home and had the privilege of spending the day with her family. We’ll be here until tomorrow morning and then we’ll head home. It’s been an amazing visit.

During these times with family I am reminded so much of the Father’s great love.

Last night we went to dinner and when we left the restaurant our great granddaughter reached up and grabbed Dave’s hand. She’s 3 1/2 and knows that we don’t cross the sidewalk without holding a grown-up’s hand. Her dad took this picture and sent it to my phone.

I love it.

It begs the question, when we are in a potentially dangerous situation whose hand do we hold?

“‘Do not be afraid. For I have bought you and made you free. I have called you by name. You are Mine! 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not flow over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The fire will not destroy you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Who saves you.'” Isaiah 43:1-3 NLV

Don’t be afraid – I am with you!

How comforting that is! I am with you. The promise of the Father’s presence causes our hearts to rest.

The other day I shared a verse from Psalm 16 where the writer expressed his feelings about being in God’s presence. He said “in Your presence is the fullness of joy”. Not partial or temporary joy but the fullest expression and experience of joy. When we are in the Father’s presence there is nothing that can disturb our joy and our peace.

I don’t know if you’re old enough to remember a song that was written and released in 1970 but it was called “The Man From Galilee”. This was the chorus:

“Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water

Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea

Take a look at yourself, and you can look at others differently

Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee”

When we walk hand-in-hand with Christ our perspective changes. We realize there isn’t anything that is too big for God to handle.

“God is our safe place and our strength. He is always our help when we are in trouble. 2 So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and the mountains fall into the center of the sea, 3 and even if its waters go wild with storm and the mountains shake with its action.” Psalm 46:1-3 NLV

Enjoy the simplicity of childlike faith – let the Father take your hand and walk this life together.

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Something Old

This morning I sat here praying and I told the Lord that I really didn’t think I had anything new to share. His answer came quickly, “Then share something old”.

Of course, why didn’t I think of that?

We’re here at our oldest daughter’s for the week, dog sitting. As I look around, I see lots of old things; pieces of furniture, pictures, clocks, a cookie jar, some books and me. We call those family heirlooms and antiques.

The old stuff is the good stuff.

“My son, do not forget my teaching. Let your heart keep my words. 2 For they will add to you many days and years of life and peace. 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them upon your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding. 6 Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from what is sinful. 8 It will be healing to your body and medicine to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your riches, and with the first of all you grow. 10 Then your storehouses will be filled with many good things and your barrels will flow over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:1-10 NLV

What could be better than the old instruction we receive from God’s word?

His word adds peace and years to our life. Kindness and truth give us favor with men and with God. His word makes our path straight, gives us health and blesses what we put our hands to do.

There’s a reason that back in the “olden days”, as we used to call them, that school children used the Bible in their classroom studies. The truth in the Bible is timeless. As far as I know, no laws have ever been written to outlaw love, joy, and peace.

But the perversion of God’s word is also as old as time.

“Now the snake was more able to fool others than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say that you should not eat from any tree in the garden?’ 2 Then the woman said to the snake, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden. 3 But from the tree which is in the center of the garden, God has said, ‘Do not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’

4 The snake said to the woman, ‘No, you for sure will not die! 5 For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.’” Genesis3:1-5 NLV

Satan was the first to twist God’s word and try to make it say something God never intended, and people have been doing that ever since.

I would like to encourage you to find something old today – find your Bible. Don’t read it from your computer screen, your tablet or your phone. Find the book, hold it in your hands, read the words from the page and let the Lord impress them on your heart.

Something old? Yes, but treasured and timeless!

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Spa Day

Let me share some of my day with you.

I’ve been waiting for yesterday to come. You see I had a very special appointment. For my 70th birthday my family, kids and grandkids, gave me the one thing I asked for – a spa day!

Oh my, I’ve been looking for to it for weeks. Facial, massage, mani/pedi, the works. Believe it or not, I’ve never been pampered like this. I had imagined how wonderful it would be. My appointment was for 11:30, I was there by 11:15.

I walked in and since no one was at reception to meet me I signed in. I sat there patiently for the next 15 minutes. Finally someone came to the reception desk and asked why I was there. I told them I had an 11:30 appointment. Her next words caused my heart to sink, “I don’t have anyone scheduled at 11:30”.

“Surely, there’s a mistake” I said. “I was called yesterday to confirm my appointment”. After this dialogue she assured me that I was in the wrong. I asked if they had another location and she told me there was another location at least 20 minutes away. (I won’t explain how there is another spa with the same name and they are not affiliated but it’s a thing.)

I left there, almost in tears and called the other location to let them know I would be late and explained what happened. The young woman put me on hold and when she came back she told me that I would probably not get my massage, because I was late, but they could do the facial and the mani/pedi.

Big sigh!

“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.” I Peter 5:7 CEV

Now, it was time to pray. Before any of you think this is too petty to pray about your wrong. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing and to pray about everything. I resolved not to be disappointed if I couldn’t get the massage I had been looking forward too and to keep my attitude pure.

“God, examine me and know my mind. Test me and know all my worries. 24 Make sure that I am not going the wrong way. Lead me on the path that has always been right.” Psalm 139:23-24 ERV

When I arrived, the masseuse was at reception. She understood my frustration and said this has happened before. She had looked at her appointments and would be able to fit me in if we rearranged the order of my services.

Thank you Jesus!

What I’ve conveyed this morning is not some deep Biblical truth, it’s simple. The Lord cares about us and all we do. He’s big enough to heal cancer and also concerned about the small things in our life like a delayed spa appointment.

Plain and simple the key to walking with the Lord is trust.

The more we read His word, the more we will realize the many facets of His character and as we grow in knowledge of our heavenly Father our faith will grow also.

Each day walk with Him, trust Him. He’s even concerned about a spa day!

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