Tag Archives: peace

I like Christmas, but what about when God does stuff I don’t like?

It’s Christmas-time! We all love reading of the miraculous virgin birth. We like the miracles and power of the Savior. We think it’s so cool that the King of Kings hung out with sinners and find it heart-warming that the He wept with Mary and Martha when Lazarus died. We love that the little childrenContinue reading “I like Christmas, but what about when God does stuff I don’t like?”

In THE PRESENCE of our enemies…

This Thanksgiving week, as I have counted my blessings, I’ve found myself counting something as a blessing I didn’t think I ever would. A couple of years ago, our family faced what felt like a true enemy in another flesh and blood person. It all seemed to begin right after we shared our faith withContinue reading “In THE PRESENCE of our enemies…”

We can’t control what comes our way, but we can still have PEACE!

As we come to the end of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi, there they are, the words that drew me here in the first place, the words my heart holds dear— “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil 4:11) “And my God shall supply all your need accordingContinue reading “We can’t control what comes our way, but we can still have PEACE!”

When God Doesn’t Seem Fair

When God Doesn’t Seem FairFrom Two Moms’ Hearts Five years ago. The surgery waiting room was packed with family and close-as-family special friends. We had been told the day before my tall, dark, and handsome twenty-three-year-old son’s mass was cancer. This second surgery would reveal if the cancer had spread to Will’s lymph nodes. (ItContinue reading “When God Doesn’t Seem Fair”

There is a PEACE that eludes so many who say they believe in God…

You can recognize it, you can agree with it, you can talk about it all day long; but if you fail to practice truth and follow the ways of God…. you will never have peace! Paul, is in essence, saying, “Don’t just observe the Christian life, LIVE IT! Live it, like I’ve lived it! That’sContinue reading “There is a PEACE that eludes so many who say they believe in God…”

THIS is the way we fight our battles and walk in peace.

Slow down, friend. Take note of this. This is some help-you stuff. The Apostle Paul doesn’t just say take a passing glance at good things, he says MEDITATE on them. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things areContinue reading “THIS is the way we fight our battles and walk in peace.”

“Be anxious about nothing.” Really, nothing?

Does nothing mean nothing? Cause I got some somethings that don’t feel like nothings! But there it is, “Be anxious for nothing.” (Psalm 4:6) And wouldn’t you know I’d come to this verse in my study of Philippians when I’m awake at 4am anxious over something?! Do I really have to live everything I writeContinue reading ““Be anxious about nothing.” Really, nothing?”

How can we find CALM in our CRAZY WORLD?

The Apostle Paul has just written those famous words, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21) He goes to say, he wasn’t sure which he would choose. He knew being with Christ would be far better, but he also knew serving out his purpose on earth, shepherding the flock, would reapContinue reading “How can we find CALM in our CRAZY WORLD?”

I know, I want God to fix it all too, but…

Others can see our peace most noticeably when our circumstances give little reason to possess it. I want to back up just a bit. I’m still in chapter one of Philippians and had made it through verse fourteen last Friday with our study. But verse twelve just grabs me- “But I want you to know,Continue reading “I know, I want God to fix it all too, but…”

How NOT to worry in these hard days

It’s dark outside. My house is quiet. I haven’t turned on the news yet, but I already had a “flash flood watch” pop up on my phone. But my anxious heart, it’s been on a sort of “watch” for days. …trouble seems to be looming around every corner—earthquakes, Hurricane Ida, CoVid, Afghanistan, inflation, division… IContinue reading “How NOT to worry in these hard days”

When you just want some PEACE…

It’s a battle for truth out there, and not just about CoVid and vaccines, but even basic things like human sexuality and identity. Truth is being twisted, and manipulated; and it is confusing and discouraging. I used to trust what I heard on the news. Now information is spun so much my head hurts. 😳Continue reading “When you just want some PEACE…”

Trusting God in your Trouble

I snapped a picture as my daughter and I drove near Asheville a few years ago. I was traveling to speak nearby, and I wanted to show her where our family had lived when she and her brothers were little. How we had loved living there. As those glorious mountains spread out before us, treesContinue reading “Trusting God in your Trouble”

Here I am, anxious again.

It’s early. I rolled out of bed with a mean headache, a side effect of the nitroglycerin patch I’m now wearing. My mind went quickly to my heart, and more tests I’m scheduled for next week. It was so early, only 5 am, yet there it was, that dark cloud again. I began to prayContinue reading “Here I am, anxious again.”

Get Used To Different!

The widely popular show, The Chosen, (I love it!) has a saying, “Get used to different”. People are buying out all the show’s shirts that say this. The point is, to emphasize, how, after Jesus comes into our lives, we are different. He changes us and things look different because of Him. When the worldContinue reading “Get Used To Different!”

Those who swear by Him, shall see His GLORY!

In the quiet,in the still,perhaps in the sanctuaryof the early morning,David wrote,“O God, You are my God;Early will I seek You;My flesh longs for YouIn a dry and thirsty landWhere there is no water.I have looked for You in the sanctuary.To see Your power and Your glory.” (Ps 63:1-2) In the sanctuary of the earlyContinue reading “Those who swear by Him, shall see His GLORY!”

a STRANGE passage and peace

For years, I had read this somewhat strange passage and wondered what it meant— “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and putContinue reading “a STRANGE passage and peace”

Ancient Words to Heed Today.

Naomi had lost so much in Moab (see yesterday’s introduction to the book of Ruth). She heard the Lord was blessing His children in the Promised Land again and decides to return home. She encourages her Moabite daughter-in-laws to return to their people in hopes they could find “rest” (likely remarry as they were bothContinue reading “Ancient Words to Heed Today.”

SILENCE

Silence. That day after the Savior had died. The pounding of the nails, the jeers of the crowd, His cries of pain. Now Silent. His body in the tomb. What now? They surely longed to hear His comforting voice. But Silence. They had left jobs, families, everything to follow Him. Now what? Silence. Nothing.But.Silence. Confused,Continue reading “SILENCE”

Two criminals. Which one are you?

Those two criminals.Bleeding.Bruised.Guilty. In the Savior’s final moments, one criminal hung on each side of Him. Those two represent all of us.We are each likeoneor the otherof them. It’s no accident, this true picture. There they were.So close to Jesus.Can you imagine? They both knew who He was.But only one of them would be saved.Continue reading “Two criminals. Which one are you?”