Seek Peace and Pursue It

http://www.saltandlightdevotions.com/January_17_2017

For “whoever desires to love life

and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from speaking deceit;

let him turn away from evil and do good;

let him seek peace and pursue it.

1 Peter 3:10-11 (ESV)

The Apostle Peter refers to a passage from a psalm of David (34:12-14).

As children of God, we should all want to love life. However, those who have been abused or who suffer from mental illness can’t always look at life as God intends.

Because we belong to God, we are to refrain from evil language and from speaking falsehoods. Churches of the Holiness Tradition have their church disciplines (book of teachings) one section of which states that a Christian refrains from gossiping. Gossip is defined as: telling of an event that one of which a person was not a part.

David’s words tell us here that we need to shun evil and practice good behavior. As children we were told to choose our friends carefully. We learned to obey our parents and that disobedience had consequences.

He tells us to seek peace and pursue it. We seek peace in various ways. Personally, I try to not get into the middle of things that don’t involve me. It is not always easy to adhere to this personal rule but I know I have to in order to please the LORD.

The Bond of Peace

http://christrescuemission.org/36peace_weekly_bible_study

I, therefore, a prisoner for the LORD, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the believers at Ephesus. What he tells them applies to 21^st Century believers as well.

“. . . walk in a manner worthy of the calling. . . ”

 When we accept the LORD into our hearts, we learn to respect God. Certain former habits become disrespectful of Him. We learn to omit these things from our lives. The Holiness tradition sums it up this way. We are to avoid the appearance of sin.

“. . . with all humility and gentleness, with patience,”

Humility simply means that we recognize our place before God. We learn that, while God loves us like we are His only child, He has other children who might have greater needs than ours. When we are humble we recognize we are sinners and Jesus is sinless.

Gentleness is one of the Fruit of the Spirit. I recently had to fill in for our Sunday school teacher. The second Sunday, the topic was gentleness. The author cited a Gallup poll from 2002 that said that most Christian believers found they were *not* gentle. The one question that showed they messed up in this area was, “Do you ever raise your voice?”(1.) In preparing for this lesson, I realized that I have not always displayed gentleness.

Patience is a learned response. Babies and small children want what they want when they want it. Some adults possess this same attitude. The hardest thing for us can be to learn to wait. If we go to a fast food restaurant, we expect our order to be filled in a few minutes. If we have microwaves, we have become used to the short wait for we want. God works in a different way. He allows things to happen when He deems us ready to accept them. We are to wait for Him.

“. . .  bearing with one another in love,”

 As we deal with those around us, we are commanded to show love for them. Sometimes, we have to overlook the behavior of those who display certain actions. Other times, we have to protect ourselves and those close to us.

“. . .  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

This can be difficult. Our main goal is to have peace in our hearts, lives, nation, and world.  Sometimes, what I see reminds me of two school kids fighting on the playground. At some point, one of the parties has to ‘be the bigger person’ and walk away from the issue. Maybe, at a later time after they have cooled off, they can come to terms and put the difficulty behind them. 

.   1..  “The Spiritual State of the Union,” a study conducted for The Center of Religion and Urban Civil Society at the University of Pennsylvania (Princeton NJ: Gallup Organization and the George Gallup International Institute, November 2002) 24’29

Peace of God Guards Our Hearts and Minds

https://notashamedofthegospel.com

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ. Phil 4:6-7 (ESV)

Do we as humans have times of anxiety? Yes, we do simply because we are human. Certain issues of life can cause us to worry, just for a little while. 

We finally realize that we need to pray about that upsetting circumstance. We permit ourselves to open our hearts and tell God about the issue. We lay that burden at His feet. We ask Him to guide us through to the point of resolution. We ask Him for His will.

Next, God takes over and brings us peace. I, myself, have had times when, after I have prayed, the issue no longer seems as huge as it was. Sometimes, the circumstance actually becomes manageable or God takes it from my heart. Then, I have peace that guards my soul.

My prayer for all my local friends and online ones is that they can find peace about whatever plagues them.

Bless Us with Peace

https://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/16-amazing-quotes-about-peace

May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Psalm 29:11 (ESV)

A Psalm of David, entitled “Ascribe to the LORD Glory” He tells us to give God the glory due Him. He tells us to pay homage God “in the splendor of his holiness. We are to respect our heavenly Father for who He is. David speaks of the Lord’s voice powerful, using different forceful descriptions. Then David writes the words of our focus verse.

David seems to be asking the LORD make His people strong. The part of this focus verse is the part where the psalmist speaks of God giving His people peace.

Our church has had an unusual week. Our church started out the week with a 24-hour prayer vigil. Some of us have had a major concern since that vigil ended. The causes of this unsettling feeling are too involved to discuss here. But this scripture brings me out of the doldrums I have felt.

David reminds me that God can bless his people with peace.

Peace and His Guidance Needed

www.christcenteredmall.com/stores/art/anderson/prince-of-peace.htm

I have said these things to you, in me you may have peace.

In this world, you will have tribulation.

But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 (ESV)

In our present-day world, we hear of tragedy striking somewhere in our world every day. Some of these are in our own nation, even sometimes close to home. The latest one happened in Las Vegas. I have a friend from high school who has an ex-son-in-law who works there. People from all over our nation vacation there.  Companies hold conventions in that town.

The news media calls this the worst tragedy in our modern history. 58 people, thus far, lost their lives and 500 suffer injuries. I saw the brother of the man responsible speak on one of the news channels. He did not know of any reason for his older brother’s behavior.

Our church is holding its annual 24-hour prayer vigil today. This latest event has caused me to be more mindful of the need for God in our lives. How many people will be senselessly killed or maimed before we, as a people, think seriously about our relationship with God and recognize Him?

Jesus told the disciples He disclosed His Father’s plan in order that they may have peace. He then warns them the world will bring them tribulation.  Some of us have had times of personal peril, protracted times of hardship, and uncertainty. We, as a nation, have weathered the storms of war, economic upheaval, and natural disasters.

Jesus then told His disciples that He has overcome the world. Jesus is bigger than the tragedies and disasters the world puts us through. If we permit Him, the Father guides us through those times. We have to allow ourselves to yield to God’s guidance as we progress through these times.

A Look into Life for an Author

http://wildbirdclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Looking-through-binocular-010.jpg

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12English Standard Version (ESV)

As September comes to a close, I reflect on its events and look ahead to the coming months. The month started out with my trying to put together a tri-fold display board about my book.  It did not go well. I wound up cutting out things for it and placing them in a box “to work on later.”

I had to cancel two book signings due to a problem of getting good copies from my printer. It took a while, but I now have copies I have chosen to live with.

I ordered a quantity of copies for the two book signings at area libraries that I was able to reschedule for October. (The people I talked to at both places were gracious. Even the small town newspaper will run an article about the book again.) Now, every time I see someone from church, that person tells me they want a copy of my book. I was at the grocery store this week and ran into a lady from church. After we exchanged greetings, the next thing she said was, “I want one of your books.”

When I went to my doctor a couple of weeks ago, I took a proof copy just to show her. She looked at it and said, “I want one.” She also said something about getting some to order some for Christmas gifts. I went back this week for a flu shot and took her one.

I am thinking, I may need to order more books before my book signings in October. I also find I need to carry some with me when I go to church.

October is going to be rather busy for me. We start drama practice the first Saturday of the month and will practice each week. I am directing this drama entitled “Thankfulness.” One of those Saturdays, I will not be able to be in practice, due to a book signing. I have my assistant director who will fill in for me that day.

The first Friday in November, I will be signing books at a locally owned gift shop in our town. The first two Saturdays that month, we will have dress rehearsals for our drama. On the second Sunday—the 12^th- we will present the drama at both services. (I had two of the six parts become open this week, one of those parts got filled by a young man who came to our meeting just because he was interested. He has been a part of the group in the past.)

The weekend before Thanksgiving weekend, there is an Artisan Fair at our local library that I will be participating in. Someone asked to be my Facebook friend late this week who says she will be there, also signing books.

Our Thanksgiving meal will probably be on Saturday of the next weekend. Our son will more than likely have to work on Friday. Since he has been back in Indiana, we have had our meal on Saturday. It works out better for us and for him.

As I look back over this, I realize I can’t do these activities without God. 

Trials

http://www.cynthiafeenstra.net/navigating-trials-temptations-storms-life/

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation.

1 Peter 1: 6-7 (ESV)

I found this quote I liked when I reviewed this one book. “Our gracious God never wastes a trial He permits to enter our lives. If we cooperate, He will use every difficulty, heartache, and hardship for our good and His glory.”^(1.)

God’s word gives us several scriptures to guide us through those times of trial. Jesus tells us he has overcome the world. (John 16:33)  The apostle James tells us our tribulations actually strengthen us.  We become stronger in our faithfulness. (James 1:2-4) The Apostle Paul tells us “suffering produces endurance” which produces character, which, in turn, produces hope. (Romans 5:3-4)

After we who follow Jesus reach a certain age in life, we reflect on those times of trial and realize God’s working in our lives. He allows us to minister to and comfort others who face difficult circumstances in their own walk with the LORD.

We all have endured something that has initially caused us grief. God chooses to permit those situations into our lives in order to let us see who we really are. Then, He guides us through the issues, murky as they might be, to a new understanding of who He is and who we are. He does these things because of His vast love for us.

1  1.  Lavish Grace, Kathy Howard New Hope Publishers, Birmingham AL © 2016 page 123.