30-Dec-14

For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” I Peter 3:10-12How easy it is to lash out with our tongue in anger, stirring a pot of evil doing.  Yet, when we turn away from evil, bite our tongue and hold back anger, we experience peace in our hearts and minds.  I like the words – seek peace and pursue it.  There is no sitting back and relaxing.  Vigilance, watching for peace and chasing after peace is God’s way.  There are no claims of ‘my rights’.  There are no claims of ‘justice’ for Right and Justice belong to the Lord.  We simply pursue peace with all that is in us.  It is a life and death pursuit — for it is a pursuit that ends with an eternity with Jesus.All we can do is learn self-control of ourselves, it is impossible for us to control anyone else.  We are not to be anxious about anything, but let our requests be known to God.  He is in control.  He loves us, and everything that happens is His will…and the best for us.  The thinking that we do must capture what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, of excellence, worthy of praise, THINK about these things.  And our lives are in His hands.  How true — are the lyrics, He’s got the whole world in His Hands, He’s got the whole world in His Hands, He’s got the whole world in His Hands.  He’s got the little bitty baby, you and me sister, you and me brother — in His Hands….”  When you doubt, get ruffled up, remember He’s got the Whole World in His Hands~…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:6-8