Category: Peace

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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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Time to Smile

The little guy in this image made me smile!

Three words went through my mind this morning as I was praying about what to share – rested, refreshed, relaxed. And then I found this little lamb and he was the embodiment of all three.

Have you ever had the opportunity to watch sheep while they are grazing in a field?

I have. In fact, it used to be a regular outing when our oldest was just a year old. I would put her in her stroller and we would go across the road to a fenced field that was being grazed off. She loved watching the ewes and the lambs.

They would make her giggle that little child giggle that seems to come from her toes all the way up her body and bubble out her mouth. I can still hear it.

A lush green field. The lambs, close to their mothers, would eat until their bellies were filled and then they would romp and play. Moments later they would be sprawled out in the grass, just like this one, sleeping soundly.

King David, who had been a shepherd, must have experienced scenes like this thousands of times and drawing from his experience and memories he penned Psalm 23.

“Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.

5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.

6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come.” Psalm 23 CJB

Rested, refreshed, relaxed…even in the presence of our enemies!

Has life had you going in circles? Too many activities/responsibilities and not enough time?

The Lord has a green pasture and a lush patch of grass just waiting for us to come lay down and take our rest. Stretch out and enjoy His presence!

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Carry the Load

I know there are so many hurting people in the world and those who are friends and family need us to help them with our prayers and encouragement. But as hard as we try, we can never really know the pain they are going through.

We can empathize and sympathize with them, but we are limited in truly understanding their grief, sorrow and personal battles.

However, there is One who knows the depth of the pain and has come to carry it.

“He was hated and men would have nothing to do with Him, a man of sorrows and suffering, knowing sadness well. We hid, as it were, our faces from Him. He was hated, and we did not think well of Him.

4 For sure He took on Himself our troubles and carried our sorrows. Yet we thought of Him as being punished and hurt by God, and made to suffer. 5 But He was hurt for our wrong-doing. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so we would have peace. He was beaten so we would be healed.” Isaiah 53:3-5 NLV

In one version of these verses it says, “He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”.

Christ came to carry the load. We are limited in our resources and understanding to help in life’s most trying times but not Jesus. He knows the depth of the hurt and He doesn’t want us trying to handle it on our own. He wants us to let Him carry the load.

“ Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 ERV

We can become weary, exhausted and emotionally drained from “trying” to do it all on our own. Our own efforts will fall short every time. But there is a place of rest and that is found in Jesus.

“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 CEV

Jesus grieved the death of His friend Lazarus. He wept. His heart was broken over the calloused ways of humankind. He wept. He was moved with compassion over those suffering with sickness and disease and also those who were ridiculed and considered social outcast.

He came to bring comfort and healing. He promises to be our help.

“ We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him…16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:14-16 ERV

When we come to Him, He promises to carry the load.

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A Strong Heart

So many advertisements and commercials encourage us to be “heart smart”. I agree we should, but it won’t come from eating a certain cereal, taking a low grain aspirin every day, or any other thing that man can advertise.

To truly have a strong heart we must take a good dose of Scripture every day.

“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.” I Kings 8:61

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

We should be trusting the Lord always and letting him direct our paths. He will keep us from accidentally running off course and colliding with discouragement, depression, anger and bitterness.

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

The Lord will strengthen our hearts when we feel emotionally drained and unable to go on. He came to heal the broken-hearted.

“ The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble. 19 He sent Me to tell of the time when men can receive favor with the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19 NLV

What we believe can either cause our hearts to fail or to be encouraged.

“If you openly say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, you will be saved. 10 Yes, we believe in Jesus deep in our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we openly say that we believe in him, and so we are saved. 11 Yes, the Scriptures say, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.'” Romans 10:9-11 ERV

Never disappointed – now that’s an amazing promise! I can honestly say I have not attained that, yet. I deal with disappointments some are just temporary, but others remain for a while and really increase my dependency on Jesus.

“ 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

Our Father desires to fill us with hope, joy and peace. He will as we trust Him, keep your heart strong.

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Let It Be

Reading through the Scriptures this morning I paused in several different places, reading and re-reading the verses, then saying “Lord, let it be as Your word says”.

You remember the words of the Beatles song – let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. There is no other place that we should go for wisdom than to the word of God.

Let it be!

In light of all we hear and see these verses are so pertinent.

“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. 16 Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 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 3:15-17 ERV

Peace in Christ should rule our thinking.

Thankfulness should always be in our hearts.

The Word of God should live richly within us.

Everything we do and say should bring honor to the Father.

The Father has placed these things within us – peace, thankfulness, His promises. There is one more verse I would like to add to these.

“Let your light shine in front of men. Then they will see the good things you do and will honor your Father Who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NLV

We should be a shining light for all to see.

I can’t help but think that the light Jesus was referring to was the peace, joy, thankfulness and the promise we have from the Father. In all these things we are a conduit from the Father to those around us. When they see these good things, our Father will receive honor.

Say with me, “Lord, let it be”!

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Under the Circumstances

Too many times people become overwhelmed by the circumstances that surround them. I remember once I taught a ladies Bible Study on “Are You Under the Circumstances or A World Overcomer?”

This was a six week study so suffice it to say that I won’t be doing the full teaching here…

The enemy tries to get us to focus on the circumstances. Daniel had to face lions, David went up against a giant, Peter was in a small boat on a stormy sea, Paul was shipwrecked, beaten, bitten by a poisonous snake, stoned and imprisoned.

However, I continually find myself going back to these verses and principles, putting myself in remembrance of what God says my life should be. The Father wants us to look up, above the circumstances, to His promises, power and peace.

“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 16:33 ERV

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” I John 4:4 NKJV

“Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. 5 No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” I John 5:4-5 CEV

So when you are feeling overwhelmed or under the circumstances do what King David said.

“God, hear my cry for help. Listen to my prayer. 2 From a faraway land I call to you for help. I feel so weak and helpless! Carry me to a high rock where no one can reach me. 3 You are my place of safety, a strong tower that protects me from my enemies.” Psalm 61:1-3 ERV

I can almost hear someone say, “that’s fine and good for you but my lifestyle isn’t close to God. He probably doesn’t want anything to do with me and wouldn’t help me if I asked.”

Let me remind you of a young man who felt that way about his father. He had squandered his money – lived with prostitutes, gamblers and didn’t care about anyone but himself. Then when he got to the bottom, he thought he would try to go home and work as a hired hand.

The Father had other plans. He saw his son coming from a long way, ran to him, hugged and kissed him and restored him to right standing. And so, He WILL do it for you too.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the world instead overcome it in Jesus!

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Are You Weary?

It seems I have been writing about weariness or the need to rest quite frequently lately. It must mean we have some weary readers out there.

Fatigue is real. Weariness is real. That’s why God so wisely instructed us to rest.

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” Exodus 20:8-11 NLT

Resting on the Sabbath, the Lord’s Day, was given for our benefit. God rested and so should we. If asked, many people could come up with a number of the Ten Commandments – don’t lie, steal, murder, don’t have an affair, don’t swear, honor your parents – but one that is often overlooked is resting.

We get up early and stay up late. We fill our days with multiple activities, we pride ourselves by being the “masters of multitasking”. We can be fixing breakfast, answering emails, making lunches for the kids and doing our on-line banking all at the same time and we wonder why we feel overstimulated before 8 am. Then we lay down at night still answering emails or texts and doing one final internet search.

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalm 127:2 NLT

Setting aside time, dedicated strictly to the Lord, reminds us that He is worthy of worship. It is a weekly reminder that our blessings and strength come from the Lord. He is the one who supplies what we need. He gives us wisdom and insight. He provides us with health and goods. He is our source of joy, peace, kindness and understanding.

“ Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day.” Deuteronomy 5:15 NLT

We haven’t been in physical bondage like the Israelites were in Egypt but oftentimes we are enslaved to appointments, deadlines, obligations and responsibilities that God never intended for us to take on.

When we stop for that “day of rest”, we can focus on the One who causes us to rest in green pastures, beside still waters and restores our soul.

“For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.” Jeremiah 31:25 NLT

Make time to rest – remember, that’s an order from God, Himself.

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Listen!

If you’re anything like I used to be you are probably in a rush this Wednesday morning. The week’s about half over and you have lots that you NEED to get done.

Listen…No 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, the hum of the computer fan and a myriad of other noises all competing for your attention.

I am blessed to live where there are no sounds of traffic, sirens, planes or other such noises. I hear the birds, the air conditioning and the clock ticking.

Yesterday morning I had a very strange experience. I called my doctor’s office to get the results of my lab work. Four times I called. Each time I would hear them say hello, I would say hello and then “click”. I was disconnected. I was frustrated to say the very least; you could hear my frustration in my voice when I finally got through. The nurse on the other end was also frustrated, her phone system was malfunctioning. She apologized and so did I.

Is that what is must be like for God? He calls, we say hello and then He gets a disconnect. Or maybe He calls and we’re too busy so we send Him to voice mail and/or put Him on hold.

I love when I wake up each morning I can 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”. And we don’t realize that God is trying to get through to us. It’s a bad connection.

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!

“…a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.” I Kings 19:11-12 NLT

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

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