A Case for Peace

On this evening, I am sitting at the dining room table, surrounded by stacks of books, a journal, an empty granola bar wrapper, and a partially consumed Coke Zero. A word has been on my mind since this morning when I read some thoughts that were penned by Julie Garmon, a Daily Guideposts writer from Monroe, Georgia.... "I'm choosing to seek God's peace every single day. Absolutely nothing is worth losing it - no events in my past, no bitterness in the present, no fear about the future. No one has the power to take my peace from me; I have to choose to give it away..."

Yes, the word is "peace". As a young girl, I sang the following words with other GAs at a wonderful mountain camp: "I have the peace that passes understanding down in my heart, down in my heart to stay." Those words were taken directly from Philippians 4:7 - "And the peace of God which passes (transcends) all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

At that time of youth and innocence, I had no comprehension of what the future would hold for me, or of how that peace that truly goes beyond all understanding would stay with me throughout the years of my life. But, as a 9 year-old girl, I chose to place my trust in the One Who has never failed me. It was the most crucial decision of my life.

Even in times of heart-wrenching grief and loss, that underlying peace of God has sustained me. When my body was found to be housing cancer....in times of abandonment, whether through death or other means....God's faithfulness and peace have seen me through. Does that mean that we do not grieve? Absolutely not! It is normal and healthy to work through the stages of grief when there is a sense of loss. And, no one can dictate a time frame when we should "get on with it" or "get over it".

Jesus comforted His disciples with these words in John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

On this day, I am choosing peace. As Julie Garmon said, nothing is worth giving away that peace. And, no one or no circumstance has the power to take that peace from me.

Oh, here is the rest of the song: "And I'm so happy, so very happy; I have the love of Jesus in my heart, down in my heart. And I'm so happy, so very happy; I have the love of Jesus in my heart."

Colossians 3:15 - "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

Lord, thank you for putting a song in my heart, and for being the source of my peace.

Ordinary People

For a moment, let's play a "what if" game. What if you were a member of a large family.....and some important guests were coming to your home for a visit.....and your dad had been instructed to gather all of his children.....and a great honor was to be given to one of the children, but no one knew who the chosen child would be.....and you were doing your ordinary, assigned chores that you did every day.....and you were not invited to be a part of your family's visit with the distinguished guests.

What thoughts might run through my mind if I was not invited to the mysterious gathering? Am I not a part of this family? Does my father love me and think of me as his child? I try so hard to please him! He must not believe that I am very smart or capable of being anything other than ordinary.

When Samuel went to meet with Jesse and his sons, Samuel did not know which son would be anointed as king. God instructed Samuel to go with the promise that, at the right time, He would show Samuel what to do and which son to anoint.

When Jesse's sons started parading in front of Samuel, he started looking for all of the outer attributes that he thought would make a good king. But, God stopped Samuel and told him that he was looking at all of the wrong things.

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outer appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

So Jesse didn't follow his instructions to gather all of his sons. And, Samuel was looking at Jesse's sons' outer appearance as he was searching for a king. And, David was out in the field doing his ordinary job of tending the sheep. Yet, when God called David, his ordinary life was suddenly extraordinary.

David's brothers (and even his father) were surely shocked when David was anointed as king. I can hear some of their comments as David was being brought in from the field. What a waste of time to bring David in! He is just an ordinary shepherd! I am the oldest! I am the strongest! I should be the one! There must be a mistake here!

Have you ever felt left out? Or, like David's brothers, have you ever expected an honor, but found yourself helplessly watching as that honor was presented to another person? Have you ever felt like, no matter what you did, you could not measure up to your parents' expectations of you to be smart or pretty or talented or ______ (you fill in the blank)?

Our Heavenly Father is watching and guiding us on those days when we feel so ordinary. His love for us is not based on physical appearance or talent or any other performance. What a comfort to know that there is nothing we can do to make our Father love us more, and there is nothing we can do to make Him love us less. He reminds us that His invitation is always open to us, and that no one is excluded. This loving Father longs to spend time with us and to comfort us when we feel discouraged and beat up by the world.

May we remember that David did not receive one of the first invitations to the gathering where he would be anointed as king. That shows us what can happen on an ordinary day when an ordinary person is touched and chosen by an extraordinary God!

When others see a shepherd boy,

God may see a king.

Even though your life is filled

with ordinary things.

In just a moment, He can touch you,

And everything will change.

When others see a shepherd boy,

God may see a king.

(Chorus to "Shepherd Boy")

Lord, thank you for loving and choosing ordinary people.

Provision Challenge

On this late night when the outdoor temperature is dipping into the teens, I am propped up against a beautiful peach colored satin pillowcase (made by my sweet mama!) and am surrounded by some of my favorite things....books, journal, calendar, pen, highlighter, soft cream colored throw, a bear named "Pinky"....You get the picture. And, on this night, I am thinking about provisions.

My sister, Jan, is a wonderful example of someone who watches for God's provisions on a daily basis. She encouraged me to start listing God's provisions in my calendar as they occur. So, I have decided to take her up on what I will call the "2012 Provision Challenge". Perhaps I will share about God's provisions throughout the year. In fact, I will start right now. Yes, it is only the third day of 2012, and there are already provisions listed and highlighted in my new calendar.

On January 2, I wrote in my calendar that I get to skip my house payment for the month of January due to refinancing at a lower interest rate. Because of that lower interest rate, my future house payments will decrease by $177 per month. Provisions! On this evening, I stopped by a local Christian bookstore with a coupon and a gift card in hand. When I left the store, I had two new books and a nickel to spare on my gift card! That provision is penned and highlighted in my calendar.

We have a choice to live with a scarcity mentality or an abundance mentality. In the scarcity mentality world, we believe that there are only so many blessings and provisions to go around. But, in the abundance mentality, we live in a world of unlimited blessings and provisions. I am choosing the abundance mentality. After all, Jesus came to give us an abundant life. It is not His desire that we live in the scarcity mindset.

Sometimes we are blind to God's provisions, even though they are all around us. But, when we have a true desire to see the blessings and provisions, it is as if God peels the scales from our eyes. I am going to be watching for those provisions with an abundance mentality during this fresh new year!

Deuteronomy 28:11a - The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity...

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

John 10:10b - I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.

Lord, help me to watch for your abundant provisions. And, thank you for sisters who challenge us and lead the way.

Peace and Peanut Butter

On this first day of 2012, I am eating a bowl of oatmeal with peanut butter (my favorite!) mixed in, drinking a Coke Zero, and reading the first Daily Guideposts devotion for this new year. After reading the devotion, I usually turn to the back of the book and read about the writer of the devotion for that day. I have tried to make it a habit to breathe a prayer for the writer after reading about him/her.

One thing I have learned is that the Daily Guideposts devotion writers are real people who have become a family. I look forward to reading about what has happened in the lives of each writer throughout the year. There is always a theme for the year. I am so excited to learn that the theme for 2012 is "The Things That Make for Peace".

Let me back up and say that, throughout the year, there are the inevitable days when I don't slow down enough to sit and read the daily devotion. But, when I do, there are always blessings and timely messages which seem to be penned just for me.

As I read the devotion by Marion Bond West on this day, these words jumped off of the page: "I'm trying to practice being still and quiet and letting God be God." Marion, I'm with you! Your words are my heart's desire on January 1, 2012.

Psalm 46:10a - Be still and know that I am God.

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.

Lord, help me to take time to be still and quiet in this noisy world as I listen for Your voice. And, help me to let You be God!

Last Day on the Balcony

Words from a handwritten journal on my last day on the balcony:

I am sitting on the balcony again on my last morning here at the beach. From my 8th floor "perch", I can see families, couples, "snowbirds" who live at the beach several months of the year, people walking their dogs, shell and sharks' teeth seekers, and an occasional person walking alone by the sea.

In about an hour, this relaxing and renewing time will be a wonderful memory as I return to the responsibilities that wait for me at home. But, I am grateful for this gift of time with Rob, and for the quiet moments that I have had to be still and feel Your presence. Help me to slow down in my everyday world so that I will hear Your voice as You lead me in the days ahead.

Psalm 16:7a - I will praise the Lord Who counsels me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths (make your paths straight).

Proverbs 2:3-5 - And if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Lord, I am trusting You, leaning on You, and acknowledging You as the one Who created everything and Who is in control of everything. Thank You for directing my path. I am calling out for insight and crying aloud for understanding.

Show me the way.

From the Balcony...

On this 29th day of December, I am thinking about some verses in the 29th chapter of Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Lord, I am so glad that You know the plans that You have for me. You didn't say that You think You know, or that You may know. Even though I don't know Your plan for this next chapter of my life, it is a comfort that You know.

Jeremiah 29:12 - Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

Lord, I am calling on You, and coming to You, and praying to You. In this world, there is a lot more talking than listening. Thank You for listening and hearing my heart, even when I can't find the words.

Jeremiah 29:13 - You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

On this morning, I am sitting at a table on an 8th floor balcony which overlooks the ocean. As I listen to the crashing waves, I am overwhelmed by the majesty and magnitude of Your creation. And, from this balcony, I am seeking You with all my heart.

Jeremiah 29:14 - I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity.

Lord, am I in captivity? Have I created a prison for myself? Perhaps a prison of comfort and mediocrity? Have I limited Your plans for me by remaining in my self-constructed cell? If I have become comfortable in a prison cell, then I am ready to break free!

Psalm 142:7 - Set me free from my prison, that I may praise Your name.

Psalm 143:8 - Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.

From this balcony, I have just watched six people riding on horseback by the ocean. What a beautiful sight! Five horses and riders stayed on the safe, dry sand. But, the horse that caught my attention was the one that danced in the ocean waves with abandon, free of fear.

Lord, help me to dance with abandon in the beauty of Your creation, free of fear. Just as the ocean is singing a majestic song to me on this morning, let my life be a song of praise to You.

Vision

On this peaceful December morning, I feel nudged to share the thoughts that I have journaled. Perhaps sharing will help me as I walk through this new chapter of my life. And, just maybe someone else will be able to relate. Psalm 139 is my favorite chapter in the Bible. On this morning, it is on my heart.

Psalm 139: 5 - You hem me in - behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.

Lord, thank You for hemming me in with Your protection.

Psalm 139:9-10 - If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.

Lord, as I am writing, I am looking across the ocean to the horizon. As You well know, I lived on the far side of the sea in Germany for seven months of my life. Just as You guided me in Germany twenty years ago, I know that You are guiding me now. Even though my human eyes can only see a finite distance, You are all-seeing. Your vision is infinite. You are near-sighted and far-sighted. My aging, far-sighted eyes cannot compare to Your eyes that see everything, even before it is there.

Psalm 139:16 - All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.

Lord, You knew that I would be at the beach with my 19 year-old son on this beautiful, sunny day in December. As he is sleeping on this quiet morning, I am searching for what You have in store for me during this new chapter of my life. And, it is no surprise to You that I am searching. I want to serve You.

So, please show me what You have in mind for me. You already know that I have given up something that I have loved doing for 17 years. My hands, mind, and heart are open to serve You. I get very comfortable with the familiar. But, I know that You will reveal Your will in Your perfect timing if I will be quiet and listen. And, You already know that being quiet and still do not come naturally to me!

Psalm 139:23-24 - Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Take my life, lead me Lord;

Take my life, lead me Lord;

Make my life useful for Thee.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me;

By His own hand, He leadeth me.

His faithful follower I would be;

For by His hand, He leadeth me.

Lead me, Lord. And, give me eyes to see what You have for me during this time in my life.