Tag Archives: Peace

Aug22

Absolutely Nothing Can Separate Us From the Love of Christ

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Can anything separate us from the love of Christ?

 

Can trouble

Suffering,

Hard times,

Hunger,

Nakedness,

Danger,

Or Death?

Roman 8:35 CEV

 

The life of a believer is not always perfect.  We face many of the same kinds of problems today that believers have endured throughout history such as hardship, trials, hunger, illness, suffering, heart break, abandonment, danger, and even death.   Difficult times could cause you to fear that Christ has abandoned you.  Yet His death on the cross is proof of His unconditional love for each one of us.

Romans 8: 38 – 39 gives us one of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” (NIV)

 

Absolutely Nothing can stop Christ’s constant presence with us, and ~ nothing ~ in all of creation can separate us from His never-ending, unchanging, limitless, unfathomable, and eternal love for us.  If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will never fear, no matter what circumstances we face.

Aug18

You’re Invited…

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You’re Invited…

“Come with me

by yourselves

to a quiet place

and get some rest.”

~Jesus

 

Mark 6:31b

 

Imagine going to your mailbox and finding a personal invitation from your best friend to a relaxing, weekend get-away at an off-the-beaten-path location beside a beautiful pristine lake.  Just the thought of that could begin to melt away stress and worries!

Read the words of the divine invitation above from Mark 6:31b, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  Envision Jesus speaking this invitation directly to you.  Allow these words to penetrate your soul and pause to grasp the full meaning of each phrase.

“Come with me…”

 The Son of God is personally inviting you to join Him for a break from the busyness of your life.  He loves you, and He wants YOU to be with Him!

“…by yourselves…”

 The Savior of the World desires to have a personal relationship with YOU.  He longs for you to spend time alone with Him.  It’s difficult to get to know someone in a crowd.  True friendships are formed through one-on-one interaction, and Jesus is asking you to develop a one-on-one connection with Him.  He wants you all to Himself, without anyone else around…including your cell phone, computer, iPad or any other type of distraction…totally unplugged and disconnected from the outside world.

“…to a quiet place…”

 The Prince of Peace is inviting you to come away from your daily responsibilities and join Him in a quiet place.  There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to carry on a conversation with someone in a loud and distracting environment.  A quiescent place is tranquil and calm and free of disturbances.  It’s a place of peace, and the type of place you can focus solely on your interaction with the Messiah.  In that quiet place you can talk to the Wonderful Counselor and listen as He to speaks to your soul.  You can reverently honor Him and praise His power and majesty.  You can sense His presence and know that He is with you.  In Psalm 46:10a, God tells us to “Be still and know that I am God.”  Jesus’ invitation is encouraging us to come to a quiet place alone with Him so that we can truly know Him.

 “…and get some rest.”

 God knows the importance of rest.  Even the almighty, all-powerful Creator of the Universe, who never sleeps nor slumbers, rested from His work after He created the world and everything in it.  Jesus understands that we get tired and weary from all the demands and burdens of life, and He promises that a relationship with Him will provide rest for our souls.  (Matthew 11:28 – 29):

Dear Child of Mine,
 
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on Religion?  Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  (Matthew 11:28 – 29 MSG)
 
Love, Jesus
 

How will you respond to Jesus’ invitation?  He’s patiently waiting for your R.S.V.P.  Relax in the unforced rhythm of His grace and mercy, and find rest and peace in this life-changing relationship.

 

 

 

Jan12

Listen for His Song

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The Lord your God is in your midst,
A Mighty One who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you by His love;
He will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Take a moment to let the words of this scripture penetrate your mind and permeate your heart.  The same Mighty God who created the universe is in your midst.  As His child you are never alone.  Your Heavenly Father is beside you every step of the way.  He is always present in your life.  When the going gets tough, He’s not going to bail out.

God loves you unconditionally.  He celebrates and sings because of YOU.  As a mom of three sons, I know how it feels to “rejoice” over my children.  Be assured that my voice will be the loudest one cheering in the stands whenever there’s a home run, touch down or game winning basket.  I also celebrate other accomplishments with them such as good grades on a report card, learning a new skill, or making the team.  Truthfully, I rejoice over my boys each morning when I wake them up and each time they walk in the door from school.  So if an earthly parent can have such joy over her children, I can’t imagine how much more our Heavenly Father, who created each and every one of us, rejoices over all His children.

When you are fearful, hurting or sad, He quiets you and comforts you with His love.  Our All-knowing, All-seeing, ever present Lord knows your every need and thought.  He senses the pain you may be feeling.  He knows your circumstances and understands your fears with complete clarity.  Just imagine His divine arms wrapped tightly around you, holding you, consoling you, reassuring you, soothing you and calming all your fears.

God’s word is true.  So we can believe without a doubt that the Mighty One who will save is in your midst.  He is rejoicing over you.  He is quieting you by His love.  And your Heavenly Father is singing loudly over you with joy.  Acknowledge His presence in your life.  Sense His joy and gladness over you.  Feel His comfort, and listen for His loud singing throughout your day.

Dec30

God of Hope

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May the God of Hope

Fill you with all

Joy and Peace

As you trust in Him,

So that you may overflow with Hope

By the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Cardinals Cold Toes

Do you need encouragement today?  The words of today’s verse offer Joy and Peace to those who place their trust in the living “God of Hope.”

Another passage refers to this living hope:

 [Praise to God for a Living Hope] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:3
 

So no matter what sort of trial you may be facing in your life, if you are a child of God, you have a living hope inside of you through your faith in Jesus Christ.  With Christ, you have the power to “overflow with Hope.”

Today, instead of focusing on whatever problems you may see in your path, turn your thoughts to our God of Hope and ask Him to fill you with Joy and Peace to the point that you are bubbling over and overflowing with Hope.  Your problems will fade in comparison to the peace and joy you feel in God’s presence.

Peace, Joy and Overflowing Hope be to you!

Jul10

Dear Child of God…

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Dear Child of God~

 “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. 

  I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. 
   When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place, 
   it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God, 
   The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you…
That’s how much you mean to me! 
   That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, 
   trade the creation just for you.”

“So don’t be afraid: I’m with you.”

With My Unfailing Love,

                Your Heavenly Father

Isaiah 43:1b – 5a (MSG)

Feb1

The Recipe For Happiness

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I’ve found the recipe for being happy

whether full or hungry,

hands full or hands empty.

Whatever I have, wherever I am,

I can make it through anything

in the One who makes me who I am.

Philippians 4:12-13 (MSG)


Are you content in any circumstance you face? True contentment is that divine sense of inward sufficiency which comes from finding your worth through God’s point of view instead of through worldly gain. Often the drive to accumulate more or better possessions is an outward sign of an inward void. The continual desire to acquire greater wealth, recognition, fame or belongings is sometimes evidence of an inner longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. The emptiness appetite is insatiable if we try to satisfy it with money or assets.

We can trust that God will supply our needs in ways that He knows are best for us. If we focus on finding our purpose in Him and drawing our strength from Him, He will replace our attitude of discontentment with inner peace. With God as the center focus of our lives, we can say with confidence, “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”

Jan17

A Cure for Worry

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Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, a Peace which surpasses all understanding , will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7(MSG)

Worry causes us to experience our troubles many times over. Most of what we worry about never comes to pass, and we expend enormous amounts of brain power fabricating thoughts of what might happen at some point in the future. How many times have we lost sleep with agonizing thoughts running through our heads instead of peaceful dreams? As we try to think ahead and rehearse different scenarios of “what ifs” on the stage of our mind, we lose focus on the fact that God is right beside us through any trial we face, and He knows every detail of our lives. He has planned each moment of our days, and He will perfectly equip us for any battle. When we take our concerns to our Heavenly Father through prayer and focus our hearts and minds on Him, His presence displaces our anxieties and infuses our soul with Peace that surpasses our understanding. Instead of worrying…pray.

Jul1

Peace for Today

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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.

John 14:27 (NIV1984)

 

Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles;

It takes away today’s peace.

(Author unknown)

 

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV1984)

 


 

Jun29

Rest Secure

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“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him

for He shields him all day long,

and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders.”

Deuteronomy 33:12 NIV

 

We live in a fast paced, action oriented world. There are days when I feel like I am so busy that I can’t even take a moment to “come up for air.” It seems as though there is never enough time in the day to accomplish everything on my plate of responsibilities. Yet God demonstrated for us the importance of rest. When He had finished all the work He had been doing of creating the universe and everything in it, He rested.

 

“For six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them,

But He Rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath and made it holy.”

Exodus 20:11

 

If the Creator of the Universe rested from His work, then it should not surprise us to know that we also need to rest. In fact, rest is so important to God that He commanded His children to set aside one day each week for pure, restorative rest. Not only did God know that we need a day like this each week to revive and rejuvenate our bodies, but He also wanted His children to use it as a day of worship and remembrance. “Above all, keep my Sabbaths, the sign between me and you, generation after generation, to keep the knowledge alive that I am the God who makes you holy…There are six days for work but the seventh day is Sabbath, pure rest, holy to God…Yes, because in six days God made the heavens and the Earth and on the seventh day He stopped and took a long, deep breath.” Exodus 31:12-17 MSG

 

“Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

 

After a period of exertion or labor, rest is a blessing. It is refreshing and rejuvenating, and it is a relief from any type of weariness. As we take time to quiet our bodies and spirits, God desires for us to spend time remembering and focusing on all the amazing things He has done for us.

 

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

 

God can also use this time of repose to speak to us. It is difficult for Him to gain our attention during the hectic activity of your daily life. When you sit still in His presence, you will hear the calming whisper of His voice.

 

“My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

 

When your time of purposeful quiescence is over, you will be revived and renewed, ready to face new challenges and strengthened for your responsibilities. By taking time to periodically observe a day of rest, you will be physically stronger and mentally sharper. You will be better equipped to accomplish your goals and purposes than if you did not take the time to rest.

 

Listen to your Creator in regards to the importance of rest. Your Heavenly Fathers knows what is best for His children.

 


 

Jun9

A Forever Love

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He who builds his lofty palace in the heavens
   and sets its foundation on the earth,
Who calls for the waters of the sea
   and pours them out over the face of the land—
   the LORD is his name.

Amos 9:6

“How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” (Ephesians 1: 3 – 6 MSG)

You are God’s beloved child. He knew you ~ and loved you ~ before He created the world. Despite any mistakes you might have made, He still considers you to be His treasured possession. Take time today to thank Him for His unchangeable, unending and unfathomable love for you.