As we draw ever nearer to Christmas and the notes of Christmas music fill the air, I hear numerous renditions of Silent Night. Most are familiar with the chorus line: Sleep in heavenly peace......
I've been rolling that phrase around in my mind....heavenly peace. My world this year has felt far from heavenly, let alone peaceful! Maybe your world has been too. Each year seems to have its own joys and concerns. Sometimes a year just seems to be especially filled with issues that are beyond our control and drag us out of our comfort zone.
I could provide a list of all the issues and related chaos that has seemed like our own personal blizzard, but some is not mine to share and some is "just" a different stage of life due to growing up. I will roll it into a snowball of moving into another phase of life with our children that are now "adults" (at least by age) and our parents that sometimes need our help more than they (and sometimes we) are comfortable with.
Heavenly peace sounds like a package deal, you either have it or you don't. SO in case you fall in the don't column, I have a proposition. We will begin to look for our peace in pieces. Little pockets of time where things are good or at least suck less. ;)
Ongoing health issues have provided us time with family members.
God's timing is always better than ours.
I have learned much about how I and our families function during good, bad and worse times. Honestly, we have come out stronger than when we went in.
Laughter (and tears) solve many issues.
Email, text, cards are all important forms of encouragement and support.
When you need to remind yourself to take a deep breath, you are TOO stressed. Breathe in peace, exhale stress.
God told us that this life would not be easy, however, he also told us that He has had a plan all along: the Christmas that we celebrate, the silent night that didn't stay silent as angels sang to shepherds in a field, the baby that the wise men sought and wise people still seek. So, my dears, sleep. Sleep in heavenly pieces.
John 16:33 (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Noble Peace
I usually try to stay away from being too political....especially on here. There is usually a wide gap between left and right without a lot of meeting in the middle. The big issues that the two sides can't agree on do not have a lot of gray area.
The recent news of the Nobel Peace prize awarded to the president was interesting. I do not really know a lot about his career before becoming president to know if it is deserved or not. Do I think he's riding the fame of the now generation? More than likely. For interest sake, a list of previous winners is available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_Peace_Prize_laureates I did not know the award had been around since 1901. There were also some years the award was not given out. My information learned for the day.
Then I saw today's verse on BibleGateway:
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”- Romans 12:2 (NIV)
I started playing around with the idea of the spelling. Rearranged Nobel Peace becomes Noble which made me think of God. I tend to get bogged down by details and where the world seems to be heading. So I'm thinking a renewing of my mind is in order. Then I looked up the verse about peace that passes understanding. The verses before and after are good too.
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)
The recent news of the Nobel Peace prize awarded to the president was interesting. I do not really know a lot about his career before becoming president to know if it is deserved or not. Do I think he's riding the fame of the now generation? More than likely. For interest sake, a list of previous winners is available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_Peace_Prize_laureates I did not know the award had been around since 1901. There were also some years the award was not given out. My information learned for the day.
Then I saw today's verse on BibleGateway:
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”- Romans 12:2 (NIV)
I started playing around with the idea of the spelling. Rearranged Nobel Peace becomes Noble which made me think of God. I tend to get bogged down by details and where the world seems to be heading. So I'm thinking a renewing of my mind is in order. Then I looked up the verse about peace that passes understanding. The verses before and after are good too.
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
The verses above are an excellent reminder to guard our hearts and our minds. Find our way to NOBLE PEACE and it won't matter what the world does.
I'll move past doubt in the events of this world and think on true, noble (didn't even know that was in the verse at 1st! - guess that ties it all together!), right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy things.
How about you? Ready to be a transform-er?
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Fighting fear with PEACE
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”- Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
Let's admit it....especially lately, there are a lot of things that can drag our fears out into the open. Wall Street, stock market, election (the end of political ads, YEAH!), other countries, etc. AND that's just the stuff that affects everybody....not even the stuff that affects our own personal lives and family.
The verse above states what trips us up: fear of man. All the things listed are "us" created they are not from God.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."John 16:33 (NIV)
God knew we would have troubles and fears here. However, he sent Jesus so we could regain peace. He has overcome death AND the world. So where do you want your focus?
We can fight and struggle on our own, or accept the peace God offers. Then even when the troubles of this world seem overwhelming and our emotions are getting the best of us, there is still peace to fall back on.
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
What a great picture, God's peace TRANSCENDS (/www.webster.com: to rise above or go beyond the limits of b: to triumph over the negative or restrictive aspects of : overcome, c: to be prior to, beyond, and above limits) our anxiousness. Just ask.
We heard a sermon on peace Sunday. I was reminded of a song from Sunday School (another verse of Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in my Heart)
I have the peace that passes understanding down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart
I have the peace that passes understanding down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.
Chorus:
And I'm so happy, so very happy,
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart!
(repeat)
Look beyond your own understanding. God stands with arms open wide to welcome us back to fear-free living. Take Him up on it! :)
Let's admit it....especially lately, there are a lot of things that can drag our fears out into the open. Wall Street, stock market, election (the end of political ads, YEAH!), other countries, etc. AND that's just the stuff that affects everybody....not even the stuff that affects our own personal lives and family.
The verse above states what trips us up: fear of man. All the things listed are "us" created they are not from God.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."John 16:33 (NIV)
God knew we would have troubles and fears here. However, he sent Jesus so we could regain peace. He has overcome death AND the world. So where do you want your focus?
We can fight and struggle on our own, or accept the peace God offers. Then even when the troubles of this world seem overwhelming and our emotions are getting the best of us, there is still peace to fall back on.
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
What a great picture, God's peace TRANSCENDS (/www.webster.com: to rise above or go beyond the limits of b: to triumph over the negative or restrictive aspects of : overcome, c: to be prior to, beyond, and above limits) our anxiousness. Just ask.
We heard a sermon on peace Sunday. I was reminded of a song from Sunday School (another verse of Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in my Heart)
I have the peace that passes understanding down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart
I have the peace that passes understanding down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.
Chorus:
And I'm so happy, so very happy,
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart!
(repeat)
Look beyond your own understanding. God stands with arms open wide to welcome us back to fear-free living. Take Him up on it! :)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Peace Stealers - Guard Your Heart
The last couple of days have gone by in a blur. I feel like I'm on some sort of countdown to get everything I can done before the end of the month...but really not feeling like doing anything! I feel tired and stressed out...letting little things bother me and turn me into a not so nice person to live with. It seems when one or two things happen, we can manage. When those little things start to pile up, our feeling of peace can get stolen away.
There are different kinds of peace stealers. Things we can control and those we can't. I think my lesson for myself right now is to limit the things I know are stealing my peace. If we don't guard our hearts, no one else will. Stay alert, find peace where you can and keep God in the picture. He's there to help, but we need to reach back.
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV) 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
There are different kinds of peace stealers. Things we can control and those we can't. I think my lesson for myself right now is to limit the things I know are stealing my peace. If we don't guard our hearts, no one else will. Stay alert, find peace where you can and keep God in the picture. He's there to help, but we need to reach back.
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV) 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
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