Tag: perfect peace

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Resting

You all know how much I love to sit in the morning quiet and spend time with the Father. This morning is no different than the others. I am finding such a refreshing for my soul.

We had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. Our daughter’s house was filled with family and friends. We laughed, we talked, we ate and we just enjoyed the love we all share. It was loud, lots of giggles; it was Arizona hot but fun and also tiring. When we got home Sunday afternoon I was tired. Really tired.

We had been gone from home for ten days. We unloaded the car, unpacked the suitcases, threw a pizza in the oven and crashed. I think I took a two hour nap. The last two days have been filled with laundry, going through the mail, making phone calls, paying bills and generally getting caught up. I don’t do well with clutter, not in my house and not in my head.

As I come to my morning quiet time today I am finding the Father here to restore my soul. I’m feeling refreshed, encouraged and energized!

“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.” Psalm 23:1-3 CJB Complete Jewish Bible.

I feel so blessed to know that He knows what I need when I need it! He loved spending time with His friends and ministering to the needs of those who followed Him. Jesus also knew the importance of pulling away and spending time with the Father. It was in those times that He was refreshed.

I think that’s why He told Martha that she was “cumbered about with much serving”. Jesus made himself a servant to all so He knew the responsibility of meeting the needs of others. Like Mary (Martha’s sister), Jesus knew when it was time to “Choose the good part” and listen to the Father.

“While Jesus and his followers were traveling, he went into a town, and a woman named Martha let him stay at her house. 39 She had a sister named Mary. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. 40 But her sister Martha was busy doing all the work that had to be done. Martha went in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things. 42 Only one thing is important. Mary has made the right choice, and it will never be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 ERV

Thank you Father for restoring and refreshing. Thank you for friends and family who fill my life with so much love. Thank you for reminding me to choose the good part!

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Sleeping Like A Baby

With everything that has been in the news lately about the coronavirus and the stock market some have found it very hard to sleep well and maintain their peace.

Peace of mind – tranquil thoughts – going to your happy place! Generations have sought peace, inner peace, as if it were some sort of illusive butterfly! This isn’t something that is unique to the American populous and it has a been a problem for thousands of years; the prophet Isaiah talked it about long before Christ was born.

There is only ONE place where we will find real and lasting peace. When we focus our thoughts and attentions on God and His love; His provision and His strength, we find peace.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” Isaiah 26:3-4 KJV

Some key words in this verse; keep, stayed, trusteth. Keep – to hold on too; to preserve; to value. God is the one who does the keeping. Stayed – fixed; focused on; established; single-minded – we are the ones who are responsible for the staying. Trust – to believe in; confidence; hope; assurance; intimate knowledge – we are also the ones who do the trusting. However, the trusting part comes easier the more we keep our minds stayed on the Lord.

Another translation puts it this way:

“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. 4 So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].” Isaiah 26:3-4 AMP

The long and short of it is this – is our mind at peace? Then we’re trusting God. Is our mind worried or in turmoil – then we’re not trusting God. It’s an easy thing to ascertain. The more we walk with God the easier it is to trust.

Maybe today we need to say like the man who wanted Jesus to heal his son. Jesus asked him if he believed and he answered “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” This father had so many years of “experience” with his son’s illness that he found it hard to believe but He also knew that Jesus was able to do miracles so he CHOSE to KEEP his mind STAYED on what God could do.

Peace is God’s gift to us. Once we receive it I guarantee we will be sleeping like a baby!

P.S. Just as a side note – I had this all written and ready to publish and it disappeared! I had a wonderful opportunity to “stay in peace” and I almost failed. Don’t let circumstances steal your peace – stay focused. God is faithful!

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Overslept

I overslept this morning. For some, my statement makes them chuckle because they know me as one of their early rising friends. But really I slept until 5:15 – not a common occurence. I so enjoy my morning quiet with the Lord, watching the sun come up, hearing the birds start their morning songs and having my coffee and time with all of you.

So since I overslept it seems only appropriate that I share what God’s word has to say about rest and sleep.

The practicality of the God of Word is ingenious! Large or small there is no problem that it doesn’t address.

“There are some who ask, “Who will be good to us?”
Let your kindness, LORD, shine brightly on us.
7 You brought me more happiness than a rich harvest
of grain and grapes.
8 I can lie down and sleep soundly
because you, LORD, will keep me safe.” Psalm 4:6-8 ERV

In the King James, verse 8 says that “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” …lay down in peace and dwell in safety – that will give you a good night’s sleep.

This goes along with a verse in Isaiah that tells us how to live in peace – stress free, free of anxiety and fear.

“The LORD gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm.
4 So always trust the LORD because he is forever
our mighty rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4 CEV

When we keep God and His Word as the center of our focus we will be in perfect peace and we will rest and sleep in safety.

Here’s to a day of peace and rest!

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