The Peace That Surpasses All Understanding

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 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. ~Phillipians 4:6-9

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. There have been so many times when I have said to myself,"I can't wait to experience that kind of peace someday." What I have come to realize is that I already have experienced it. In my mind, it's like being in the eye of the storm: a place of calm with chaos all around. Some of us look forward to better times, being healthier, or being okay in the secular sense of what okay means. God has given me peace,and I would venture to say that He has given it to many of you as well. I cannot count how many times I have had several serious things go wrong at the same time. Any one of these things could push someone over the edge, but through God’s strength I have been able to find peace. Even in the midst of uncertainty, worry, fear and heartache,I can see how many times in my past that this passage has been realized in my life.

This peace may not last very long; the earthly world doesn't allow that. Those days, hours, or even moments when I feel fine, and have that feeling of almost floating along, is the peace that my Savior promised me. It's kind of funny when I think about it now, because God really does always answer my prayers. When I ask him to guide me, He does and often to somewhere I would not have chosen on my own. When I ask Him to intervene, He always does and sometimes in ways I don’t like. When I pray according to His will, that is exactly what I receive from him. In the long run I know that He lets me go through the valleys to make me grow and help me become the person He wants me to be.

I can only imagine what it will be like to have eternal peace someday. In those times when the chaos around me doesn't matter, I think He is providing me a glimpse of what is in store for me. When I only focus on what is pure, lovely and true, that feeling lasts longer. Nothing else and no one else can take me to that place of peace. I hope and pray that you have that peace as well. I want you to know my God, one who so loves me and who is merciful, faithful and true. I wish you the depth of love and understanding that only He can give, and the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Christmas brings with it great meaning and for some great difficulty.  It's the time when our losses are are heart felt once more, and the changes that have come with those losses, are emphasized.  This is especially true when attending family gatherings and parties, or in some cases being alone. For me, the reminder of what Christmas is really about, makes the difference between sadness and peace.

I find it interesting that in the Christmas carol "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," it speaks of "tidings of comfort and joy." Comfort is what it brings to me, that God loved us so much that He sent a part of Himself as a man to save us all. There is a  wonderful assurance of heaven after this short life, in which we will all be fully healed in His presence. There were times when I felt mad at God for what he let me go through in my life, but look at what Jesus went through in His life.  Absolutely nothing was for Him, it was all for us, people who were ungrateful and didn't deserve it.  God made us all as we are, illnesses and all, for a reason, which we will surely never know.  What I have learned is that he uses everything for the good (Romans 8:28), and that His plan for us is ultimately for good (Jeremiah 29:11.)

Christmas brings mixed feelings to many of us, but going to God with all these feelings brings such a sense of peace, and yes comfort to me.  What about you?

This Christmas, I wish you all "tidings of comfort and joy."

Merry Christmas!

If

Sometimes it takes just one simple but thought provoking sentence to change your perspective.  Three days ago, that happened for me, and this sentence has stuck with me ever since.  The sentence was, "If all you had today was everything you thanked God for yesterday, how much would you have?"  What this question made me think about was all the things that I don't think to thank God for.  There is much that I tend to take for granted that many do not have.  I believe, that if I were to make a list of everything there was to be grateful for, it would take a very long time to finish it.

Isn't it funny how sometimes, when we need it most, we hear or see the very thing we need right at that time?  I have had multiple issues to deal with recently that have been very difficult, and are not going to resolve overnight.  When my mind fully embraces gratitude, it gives me strength and peace.  It's like a finding a bright, warm flame in the darkness. Everything I have and all I am are from God. They are His to give and His to take away; it's so easy to forget that.  Every morning, I am now taking a few minutes to embrace my blessings, and it seems to be making life easier to deal with and to be changing how I view everything..

Thank you Lord, for all You are, for all You have made of me, and all you have given to me.  Thank you for embracing me with Your incredible love. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Cry Out To Jesus

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
~"Cry Out To Jesus" by Third Day


Grieving is a process we go through when we feel loss in our lives.  Although we associate grieving with loss of a loved one, grieving also takes place when we feel any loss in our lives.  Examples of this would be loss of dream, a relationship, a job, an illness, the list goes on. Change can cause us to grieve, even when we know that it is a good change; it still causes us to leave our comfort zone.

How do you deal with grief?  Do you try to stay overly busy and avoid feeling it?  Do you sink into the depths of despair?  Do you get angry and look for someone to blame?  All of these are normal reactions to grief.  So what is the best way to get through it?  What does God have to say about this?  The Word, and reaching harder and more often to Him helps me the most.  Below I will share some of the passages that speak to me about grieving.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4
"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous fall" Psalm 55:22.
"Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and .   learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matthew 11:25-30.

What these passages say to me is that we are to bring our grief to the Lord, and he will take it on himself. The emotions and reactions that weigh us down will be lifted from us when we ask Jesus to do so.  Although the grieving process is still there, it isn't as difficult to bear.

"Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5
"Do you not know, have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:18-31
"The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on her ruins, he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.  Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing."  Isaiah 51:3

What do these passages say to you?  What they say to me is that there is hope, that God has compassion for us and that He will make us even better than before.  It is easy to reach for what is physically near us, but our true comfort and hope lies with our God.  I try to remember and think of him as "my God"; He cares that much for me.  It is hard when we want immediate feelings of relief to go to Him, since sometimes his answers take some time to see.  When I take the time and make it a priority, going to Him in prayer and in the Word ultimately is the most healing and comforting of all.  What passages speak to you and provide the most comfort and hope to you?

He Is Strong In Our Weakness

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.   ~2 Corinthians 8-10

Feelings of weakness and vulnerability are very difficult for me to handle.  I want to feel on top of my game, like I have things under control!  In the above passage the apostle Paul is talking about the "thorn" that God left him with.  Many speculate as to what that thorn might be, but one thing is clear.  It left him weak, taught Him to depend on God in a whole different way, and to always know how small he was and how large God is.  It gave him humility.

What does this mean to you and I?  What did it mean to Paul, who was one of God's chosen ones?  Although I do not have to choose to wear a label, I believe God wants me to be transparent, to let people see the weaknesses I want so much to cover up.  I think there is no better testimony to others of the power of Christ than for people to see him working in our lives, and yes in our weakness, in which He is strong.

What do you think?