Peace...

Peace * calm * serenity * order * harmony *symmetry * balance * equilibrium * stability *constancy * tranquillity *composure * quiet *relief * satisfaction * relief * repose *restfulness *stillness *placidity * ~ Circle 1—3 words above that best describe what you need in your heart and life right now. ~ Where do you need peace? ~ Where do you seek to find it? ~ What disturbs me most is… John 14:27 – "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you…." "Peace comes from looking into His face—and realizing His undisturbedness—calm, pacified, untroubled, tranquil, unruffled…. The mirror of peace, or reflected peace, is the proof that you are right with God—because you are at liberty to turn your mind to Him…. Abide in Him. (2) Lay it all out before Him." [Chambers, 8/26] ~ For me, "the great life" would be… John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you:…Let not your heart be troubled…" "Peace comes from "complete reliance on God… The seal of peace comes when you obey God. When you obey, the problems are not between you and God but as "probes" to keep you amazed at how God is going to unravel that problem. Keep obeying. (2) Watch in joyful delight as He deals with the problem. [Chambers, 12/14] ~ Why is it more precarious to live without God than to live in obedience? "Your life is hid with Christ in God" Colossians 3:3 Peace comes from living in right relationship to God and staying in the light. The plateau of peace provides plenty of room to live and grow: "You have enlarged my steps under me." Rather than a peak of a mountain, a life free of sin, full of the Spirit, bathed in His light is a plateau. (1) It is impossible to doubt when He is with you. (2) His words are real when you are in personal touch with Him. [Chambers, 12/24] How are you going to mirror His peace, model the seal of His peace, and live on the plateau of His calm today, this week, from now on?

Divine Contentment

What is the definition of sheer bliss to you? To some it's a place, for others sheer bliss is a peaceful feeling of being just right with God. We are encouraged to be content whenever, wherever (Phil. 4:11-13; 3:7-10). What about these promises of seeking divine contentment? * I resolve to be content...because even when I don't feel His presence, He is with me. That is CONFIDENT contentment, because "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Philippians 1:6. * I resolve to be content...because even when I [still] don't know where to go, He is guiding me. That is OBEDIENT contentment, following Christ's example--with His power to make it possible--by emptying myself of self. Here's what this obedient contentment looks like: 1-I am empty of my rights to self. 2-I am ready to serve--God and others. 3-I am humble (all of my human resources are harnessed and available to the Divine Driver's rein/reign). Check out Philippians 2:5-8 to get inside the mind of Jesus as He embraced the form of a servant, humbled Himself to be obedient to death, making Himself nothing in the process, all the while looking out for our best interests. * I resolve to be content...because even when a storm rages inside of me and all around me, He anchors my soul. That is COMPLIANT contentment. Philippians 2:14-17 describes the manifestation of this malleable peace: 1-No complaining, griping, or arguing. 2-Radiant. 3-"Spent" for the cause (holding back nothing). * I resolve to be content...because even when my enemies conquer me, my friends leave me or let me down, even when the light of my release from this torment is a mere pinpoint, He can see the rescue and lives on the other side of my defeat. That is RELIANT contentment. Philippians 3:17-21 captures the essence of this trusting peace: 1-My destiny and my citizenship are in heaven. 2-My God is Jehovah. 3-My glory is in Christ alone. 4-My mind is set on things above. Not bound by space or time, God is, at once, not only in the midst of the vortex of our angst--settling peace on us, but also He is already living in the peaceful victory that lies on the other side of the any disturbance to this earthly realm. He IS peace. His divine contentment resides in our confident, obedient, compliant, reliant rest in Him.

What's Up with You and God?

It's amazing to me how many of my friends are struggling with what God is saying to them. Many days I struggle with it, too. It is the hardest, most grueling thing because He is relentless in His pursuit. Sometimes there is no sleep, your appetite may go away, and nothing seems to satisfy the longing. Maybe what would be helpful is if we focused on what He IS saying, on what He says to us ALL THE TIME. Perhaps it will encourage you--and focus my thoughts--to recount a few of His all-of-the-time feelings for us: *I love you. I gave my Son for you. You are worthy of my Ultimate Sacrifice. (Who wouldn't adore Someone like that?) 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; John 3:16 *I have a plan for your life. It's a purpose that includes prospering you, not hurting you or taking advantage of you or looking for your weak points to capitalize on them. By the way, I have got your future sewn up--no raveling, no slip showing, no pants-dropping in public settings. I have got your back--and your front. Get to know me and the details will fall into place. Jeremiah 19:11; Psalm 142:3b *I will answer any time you call me--no call screening, no leaving a message, no "Hey, this is a bad time. Call again." Jeremiah 33:3 *Nothing is too hard for me. I created you, didn't I? Did I mention that there is this warranty for all of my children? There is absolutely NO CHANCE of your life not meaning anything. I gave it meaning and purpose--guaranteed. Jeremiah 32:27 *I surround you with a circle of my love. Psalm 139:5; Isaiah 52:12 *I will meet your needs, even though you are surrounded by rebellion. Isaiah 58:11 *My relationship with you is like a secret garden. Nothing can get in and desecrate what we share. Blossoms are evident 24/7, every day of every year, in season and out of season. Even when the thorns and weeds tempt suffocation, I am there to prune the suckers (John 15:1). Fresh fruit is guaranteed out of your life as long as you cling to me (John 15:5). *As a faithful child of mine, whatever you do in my name will prosper. Psalm 1:3 *You are a garden of delight to me. Only an unpruned life is a desolate wasteland and useless to my purposes, but you are seeking me and begging me to reach down and clean you up. Let my rain fall on you and return the sparkle to the leaves of your heart. Isaiah 5:4-7a *I will watch over you day and night so that no one can hurt you. I will nourish your spirit continually. I want to be your safe haven, your refuge, your den of peace. I want to bear fruit in you so that the world may know my peace. Isaiah 27:2-6 *I will guide you along a path that constantly feeds your soul. You will never thirst for me. Just bend and drink. Isaiah 49:10 *Do you feel like you are a desert inside? Well, I have compassion for you. I can make those wastelands into oases. No more crying but gratitude and singing for joy will flow from your lips. I have promised it, and I cannot lie because I am your Way, Truth, and Life. Isaiah 51:3; John 14:6 What is God saying to you? Would you share it with me?

Keeping the Faith

Did you realize that visible faith costs comfort? Hard times create perseverance in us… which leads to character… which leads to hope (Romans 5:3). It's like strength is a butterfly borne from the cocoon of hardship (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Ultimately, our perseverance is Christ’s product, or outgrowth, in us when we are faithful. We hang on; He produces (2 Thessalonians 3:2-5)! As far as our perspective on life goes, perseverance involves looking beyond the obstacle to see the possibility (James 1:3-4). When it comes to dealing with mounting pressure, perseverance is basking in God’s compassion no matter destruction rages around me (James 5:10-11). We cling to hope when we keep facing obstacles, because perseverance leads to effective, productive lives (2 Peter 1:5-8). When we keep the faith, our stick-to-it-iveness upholds Christ’s light in a dark society (Revelation 2:2-5). In matters of trust, perseverance is remembering what Christ has done in the past and trusting in what He will accomplish in my present and future. It is a deliberate commitment when I see no way (Hebrews 10:32—11:1), like a marriage that chooses to honor its vow before God even when the love dims to barely a flicker of its previous blaze. Faith is really perseverance looking ahead to the end result, to the promised and expected reward (Hebrews 11:24-27). Oswald Chambers puts it this way: "Patience is more than endurance. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and then the saint says—‘I cannot stand any more.’ God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God’s hands." (Chambers, May 8) How trusting was Job when he uttered, "Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him" Job 13:15. Ultimately, perseverance is letting God keep me, even when my faith is slipping and I'm not sure I can keep holding on.