Gods Peace

 I once heard a statement that caught my attention. It was “if you protect your peace, your peace will protect you”.  I also had a friend that used to tell me all the time “Go where your peace lies”. I pondered those statements for a few days.

While I knew it was true, I was searching for a scripture to confirm it. I do not have to look very far.

 

Philippians 4:7 says, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

I found some interesting things as I began to study the word ‘keep.’ In the Strong’s Concordance, this word means; to be a watcher in advance, to mount guard as a sentinel (post spies at gates); to hem in, protect, keep.

It further means; to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight.

 

As I have shared with you before, peace is an aggressive weapon. We now see, it is also a guard and a protector. Yes, peace is a weapon, a guard, and protection. Yet before you can possess this wonderful blessing you must first have peace in your life, your heart and mind.

 

Sadly, these days, peace is not something I sense on most people, not even on Christians. Personally, I struggle to find that place at times.  I am learning more and more how to find that peace.  I don’t think people realize the power of peace. If they did, they would fight to obtain Gods peace and to maintain His peace.

 

Jesus said in John 14:27, Peace, I leave with you, MY peace, I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

Can you see what God has given us, according to this scripture? He gave us HIS peace. The same peace that carried and protected Him through crowds who wished to stone Him. The same peace that carried Him through the cross. The same peace that carried Him, that garrisoned about Him, through hell. The same peace that led Him out to rise again. THAT peace is the peace He has given you and me. A peace that rules and reigns if we allow it to. This is a peace that protects and guards.

 

So, how do you begin to get this peace? That answer is found in Isaiah 26:3.

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in you.

 

We can’t keep our mind on the problems, challenges and what is going on in the world and walk in peace. 

I am guilty of struggling with this.  We must keep our mind on God, His Word, and His promises. Then and only then will we walk in this God kind of peace.

 

Once we have peace, we must protect it. We can’t allow things or people to come in and steal our peace. And trust me, the enemy will do everything in his power to steal your peace. However, he can’t touch it if you don’t allow him to.

 

Jesus gave you His peace. It is yours. Yours to keep, or yours to let slip away. I can tell you from experience, nothing compares to the peace God gives.

Nothing. Once you truly lay hold of His peace and begin to walk in it, you will fight to keep it.

 

Peace is a weapon – one that will guard and protect you – all the days of your life.



Just as the scripture says, that peace will watch out for you and warn you in advance. It will garrison about you and protect you. It will help you to stand your ground when things try to invade your atmosphere. Peace is an aggressive weapon and a strong protector. Combine Gods peace with praise and worship…. Mountains will move!! And that peace….it is yours for the taking. In Jesus Name!!

Is It Well With My Soul? Peeling The Layers

      

 This morning as I was praying with my best friend, I had asked God to show me what it meant to be at a place where it was “well with my soul”.  He's been telling me to keep focused, my eyes on Him, like in Psalm 121.  When I opened my eyes, I looked across my room to see a plaque I’ve had for a few years staring me in the face.  It literally said “It is well with my soul”, and I lost it. I’ve seen that plaque a million times, to the point of where I hadn’t noticed it in months. That morning the Lord had laid that phrase on my heart in the early morning hours. I remember telling my best friend that I didn’t know how to “get” to that place. The place where I can say  “it is well with my soul”, because so much of my life does not feel “well with my soul”.   I begged God to show me how to do that. To show me what He was trying to teach me, to teach us in that moment. 

Later in the morning I began the continued work of projects on the house trying to get it ready for market. I got to a place where I finished painting and then began to rip up carpet. I had not planned to do it that day but decided to just check to see what was underneath for future reference as I knew I would pull it up eventually. I found beautiful hardwoods underneath. I immediately started trying to cut it up and pull up the layers. It was stuck down good and not an easy task. I pulled and cut and ripped. I grunted and pried  up the million strips, nails, staples, padding etc… During that time I found myself walking through full range of different emotions. I felt the anger of abandonment on several levels, forced to deal with these projects alone. I felt enraged at allowing myself to be robbed of self worth. Infuriated that Id forgotten who I am in Christ as I was treated to believe my contribution didn’t matter or wasn’t enough. That I believed I wasn’t worth being treated as a priority. With each pull and tear of layer, each nail, each staple, I felt myself release things Id been holding on to, both verbally and emotionally and spiritually. I would work on an area at a time, and then clean it. I did this until nearly the entire room was clear. I then took time to polish parts of the floor. When it was done I stood in peace and in awe at what God had led me to do and its beautiful transformation. By the end, I was both exhausted physically and emotionally, but felt a sense of freedom, inner strength, and peace I had not felt in some time. I had watched God give me an example of what He was doing, both literally and figuratively. I had watched the layers be peeled away. I had watched things that had been stuck down tight be released and removed, smoothed out and then polished.  Im still learning  and asking God to reveal to me what it means to claim “it is well”.  
This morning, He woke me and reminded me to walk in His “bold confidence” as He continues to peel away layers and refine me and remind me my foundation in Him is strong. I pray with each layer I can recognize how He not only calls me deeper but also higher with each breath as my soul heals. 
I pray today, as you read this, that as the refining and peeling away of layers in your own life in this unpredictable world. I pray that you will hear the peace He whispers to you as He carries you both deeper and higher. I pray you recognize the place that “it is well with your soul”, only possible with He alone as your foundation.  
Psalm 46: 1-3
God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way 
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging

All Things New

     As I sit at my kitchen table this is the view that caught my eye. Fall is tied as my second favorite season with Spring, following summer in the lead. I admit I get awe struck when the leaves begin to change and the artistic beauty God gives us to behold. The words in my head immediately were a verse from 2 Corinthians ….”old things are passed away, behold all things become new”.

The color change we see in leaves means they will soon be passed away in preparation for the new to come. It doesn’t happen right away, it takes time. As I look at my life right now it simply feels like I have dealt with more loss of people and things than one should in my 52 years. If you know me well, you already know my story, but this isn’t a boo hoo moment, and not really about me. I could choose to focus my life on the loss or what has fallen away in my life, but Id rather focus on the growth. Id rather focus on the healing, I’d rather focus on Gods provision and promises, that He is still batting 1000 on in my life. It may look different than Id  ever imagined  but He’s done all He said He would do in His timing and not mine. 

I took communion at my kitchen table this morning even before the sun rose because I wanted to be reminded and thank God for His sacrifice so that I could live a life of freedom in Him. That doesn’t mean its without pain but it means no matter what circumstances occur, He’s got me.  

The scenery we see happen before us  this Fall, is a visual of His promise to make all things new.  We may grieve the old things…whatever that looks like for you. Its normal to grieve, and you should. In some ways you will always grieve in some way regardless of time or distance. New things however, are coming. He knows our deepest desires. He knows the plans He has for you. Plans are for a hope and future. In order to move forward we must make peace with our yesterdays. You don’t have to like what occurred but we have to make peace with it, otherwise we will never recognize the New He speaks of. when He decides to reveal it. 

As seasons change in your life or as leaves fall away, thank Him in advance for the NEW thats coming, the NEW that is promised. He made the ultimate sacrifice so that it could. ❤️ Blessings. 

   Wrote a song about it years ago that Ive recently been reminded of called “You Make All Things New”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_2_Ot0pG-E&feature=share&si=ELPmzJkDCLju2KnD5oyZMQ

 

To Be Present with His Presence

 

     As a teacher and in my position, I get paid to think ahead. I get paid to plan, to think ahead for those things that could go wrong, to head off problems, to be strategic in managing my staff and students for the best possible educational outcome.  In my job it works and is beneficial. In life, however, the reality is that we cant fully do that because no one knows what tomorrow brings. There is an uncertainty. We can buy insurance, invest in retirement, plan our savings etc… but it still doesn’t solidify the future. Planning isnt a bad thing, we should all be prepared. However, when our mindset is so much on planning, preventing, analyzing the future or whats to come, we can miss what is in the present. We miss whats right in front of us. Fear is really good at stealing the present. Fear will destroy, distort and discourage you.  Fear will destroy your present moment, distort the rationale of your future, discourage you and attempt to steal your joy and hope. Fear is also direct disobedience to what God says, because He says not to fear. 

Over the last several months especially, Ive worked very hard at being especially mindful of my thoughts of the present. Trying to stop those moments, those spiraling thoughts, that tempt to press my brain ahead to worrying about the future and consume me. When that happens, I miss moments right in front of me with people I love. Some of them read me well enough to assist me in stopping those thoughts in their tracks when they see it happening. It’s usually a distant look I get on my face and they will say “where are you?” Or “where did you go?”

Im a nature girl. Its one of my favorite places to be. I love, especially, being out on the water. Gods creation is always somewhere I know I can stop and focus on the present. The sound of the paddle hitting the water, birds chirping, the waves crashing. The breaking of a branch, the sound and smell of a crackling fire, and the way the fire dances across the wood. The sound of laughter, a smirk, a smile, or glance , the sound of voices of those I love. Being present is a gift to yourself and those you love. 

Thinking ahead is not a bad thing unless your thoughts are soaked in fear and it suffocates you from being present. Fear is self absorption. Fear keeps you from seeing past your own kingdom walls to the good things He has provided for you presently. Being present means you trust Him to hold the future even when it doesn’t make sense or looks different than you ever imagined.  Being present means bringing down the walls, even if temporarily, to engage in His blessings and His purpose. 

Being present also means being vulnerable because it means exposing your heart and it feels risky. God has still ordered your steps just like he did Peters when he stepped out of the boat. You may not want to step out of the boat and be present, but Jesus already knows you, your thoughts, how your brain works. He knows how you will overthink and second guess everything. I am so incredibly guilty of this. He is still there though, waiting with extended hand. Seek Him first. (Matthew 6:33) You may sink enough to feel the water tickle your nose hairs, but the waters wont sweep over you. (Isaiah 43:2)

Keep your eyes on Him, stay focused, keep taking steps. As my best friend and I often remind one another, “we ARE gonna get to the other side” but won’t you want to be present when you get there?! Yes and Amen. 

"There are

only two days in the year that

nothing can be done. One is

called yesterday and the other is

called tomorrow, so today is

the right day to love, believe,

do and mostly live."

Standing Alone

      Hiking along a trail last weekend in the woods, I was intrigued by a lone evergreen  in the middle of the forest of other trees. I swear I had not seen another one like it the entire hike. There it was, just standing alone of its kind, like a neon sign.  I felt a smirk come across my face and my best friend immediately picked up on it and inquired…”you’re gonna write about it aren’t you? “  I said “Im not sure but definitely wanna take a pic and let it marinate a bit.” He quickly obliged me and took one for me. I  knew I would write at some point, just had no idea what exactly, as I always wait for God to lead. 

     Have you ever stood alone? It can look a lot of different ways. Have you ever had to stand for yourself, with someone, or for something? Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room? Where you are surrounded by amazing people but still feel like you are alone. Its not because of lack of effort, it’s because the things happening in your head and heart feel so contrast to what anyone around you may comprehend. You may be standing alone because you know its right simply from an integrity stand point. It doesn’t mean you don’t love, its simply means you will not allow yourself or others to be left vulnerable, used, scapegoated, disrespected…etc…whatever fits a plethora of situations. 

Maybe in your situation you were forced to stand alone. In that standing you felt the emptiness of space, the deafening silence that echos into the eardrums of your souls core.  The excruciating pain of abandonment,  rejection, or discovering that instead of ever being a priority to someone you were simply an option. You then had to make a decision to  either allow the weight of it to fold you into mental depletion, or to fight to stand and remember who you were created to be, and to learn and heal. 

There are so many scenarios of “standing alone”. It can look a lot of different ways. Whether it be a situation you chose  or didn’t, there is always something to be learned, and growth that can occur from it. 

     A long time friend commented to me a couple weeks ago after a brief exchange, “Our God is sometimes the only raft left to hang on to, as it should be”. 

Jesus stood alone many times. 

Do you remember early in Jesus’ ministry when he and his new disciples were in Capernaum? He had just endeared himself to Peter by healing the fisherman’s mother-in-law. The sick and demon possessed were being set free. The book of Mark says that “the whole town gathered at the door.” By all accounts, it was a great night.

Early the next morning, Jesus snuck out to pray alone. Reading into his motives a bit, I think he understood the temptation to go with the crowd. So he pulled away for perspective. To have a conversation with the Father. 

His solitude was cut short by Peter and his friends exclaiming, essentially, “What the heck are you doing? Everyone is looking for you! You should get back and keep doing miracles like yesterday!”

But Jesus made a different decision. That time alone gave him discernment and courage to stand alone, even from his closest friends. He risked being misunderstood to choose what was right and best.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

     In the various forms of standing alone we can easily feel unseen. We quickly notice the ones who are no longer around. Those we no longer hear from. Its possible that the “scenery” has changed as seasons do, but its doesn’t mean we are fully alone. This evergreen is alone of its kind but surrounded by various other, striving to grow , trees who are also trying to live and grow and thrive.  Sometimes we focus so much on who we think isn’t standing with us that we miss the treasure of the ones right in front of us who are. Sometimes the forest feels so thick, that as the old saying goes….. we “can’t see the forest for the trees”. 

We also need to remember the truth is that God sees us. He knows your every thought, every tear, every beat of your heart.  In Him you are never alone. 

Standing, in and of itself, is hard but when it feels combined with “alone” it can be excruciating. I imagine and cringe at Jesus crucifixion and the agony of being separated from the Father. Place yourself there for a minute. Wow. 

Whatever your season, let me challenge you to take a good hard look at your forest surrounding you. Although your circumstance may be different than anyone you know, and nobody can fully understand exactly how you feel, there are still those God has strategically placed and kept in your life for such a time as this.  You may feel like the only one of your kind but that doest mean your root system isn’t being supported by those around you (do a study on how tree systems support one another). We simply need to look below the surface to see it more clearly. The people who truly love you, you will not only know them by their fruits, but also their roots. 

I have “Be Still -Exodus 14:14” tattooed on my left wrist and “Breathe- Exodus 33:14” tattooed on my right forearm. Both tattoos mean something deeply to me because its my reminder in my anxious “standing alone” moments to always refocus on Him. Seeking Him First, above all else. He will provide what or who is needed. The enemy would love to ingrain in your brain that you are fully alone and abandoned, but God says differently. We need to trust His Word, and His truth. Reminding myself this day. 

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

The Life of Sea Glass

      My collections of things I am obsessed with are marbles, shells and apparently now some shore rocks and sea glass.  Over the years one of my favorite things to do is to comb the shore for shells or other treasures that “speak” to me.  I never know exactly what I am looking for but when I spot it I just know.  I have such an obsession with shells that kayaking can be “painful” at times when I spot beautiful shells at the bottom of the river bed or lake bed, almost taunting me through clear water that is too deep for me to snatch up without tipping my kayak. . This weekends treasures, however, consisted of a couple cool rocks and mostly sea glass, or I guess technically Great Lakes glass if you will.  

I love to think of the journey of sea glass.  I always believe it to be much like life.  I pray that one day I can express my own journey like sea glass.  I already can say that the currents of life have tossed me to and fro….more so than I would even like to admit, but its true.  It's been a journey in my 50 plus years.  Seasons have shaken me up but honestly by the grace of God has used them to clean me up. The tossing and turning continues to smooth my sharp edges.  As the years pass I want to be not “broken” but supple.   

I had a great conversation with friends the weekend where I spoke of my need to want my ducks in a row, but over the years have gotten better with them just being in the room or within a general vicinity, but it depends on the circumstance. I hope that my tossing and turning will bring me closer to the point of simply riding the waves, and going with the flow as the currents and tides change.  

It feels like recently I have withstood some hard places.  I pray that when I encounter those, between a rock and hard places, that I will learn to rest in Him as He strengthens me to know where I am flowing to next. That I will not look at my situation as “stuck” but rather as a point and place to be refined in the waiting or a place to reflect on the “pause”.  That I will look toward Him and be ready to catch the next wave in His plan maybe just a bit “less broken” than I was and a bit more supple when I leave that destination. 

I pray that as an unsuspecting soul comes across my journey while they are on theirs, that what they discover is connection, and encouragement, and maybe feel a bit “less broken” than before our paths crossed, as we move to the ebb and flow of life.  I’ve said for years to people that have experienced worship with me that I pray that they forget they are seeing me at all, and simply journey to the throne room along with me in the presence of the Father.  Like sea glass, I don’t want to be too flashy or too dull, but to have the perfect luster that the light of the SON can use me to reflect just enough to grab the attention of those needing to feel HIS love, HIS presence, HIS embrace. That they just might wonder enough to take that piece with them and allow His presence in their life to become treasure I know it can be. To be the reminder of His  truth of who HE says they are. 

2 Corinthians 3:18

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

New Life

 I admit to not having a green thumb. I water this plant when I remember to….mostly on time. Its been a bit of a hectic season, with regular stuff, plus my daughters sport season AND trying to purge and pack through this house to get it ready for market. I kinda forgot about my plant. Yesterday I apologized to it for neglect and watered it well. This morning this is what I saw……new life coming up to bloom, even during a harsh few weeks.  

I was like…”how?!”  Even amongst what felt dry and dying, it kept pressing forth to its calling. Thats life. No matter what things look like, what is said about you, whether you feel rejected or abandoned, you keep pressing. You keep your face toward the Son. He is faithful to bring new life by His Word, by people He places in your life to encourage and point you back to Jesus, by reminding you of who He says you are and the plans He set for you are still for a hope and future. Run and reach to Him first and He will have “all the things” in place at the perfect time. 

Im reminded of the song “Run to the Father” by Cody Carnes. Its worth a listen.