Peace, Like a River…
Anxiety
in life is like a fog that rolls over the earth obscuring land marks
and sign posts. The tight feeling in the stomach and squinting to
see our next step. The fear of a wrong decision, a mis-step.
Suddenly a hand that guides, a voice gentle with love makes the way
clear. The anxiety fades and again there is peace in my heart.
in life is like a fog that rolls over the earth obscuring land marks
and sign posts. The tight feeling in the stomach and squinting to
see our next step. The fear of a wrong decision, a mis-step.
Suddenly a hand that guides, a voice gentle with love makes the way
clear. The anxiety fades and again there is peace in my heart.
The
death of my Dad, Herman Siemens, was preceded by anxious days and
nights as he lay between life and death. One night Mother left his
side as the evening shadows gathered, I asked how she could sleep. I
remember her words….In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you
alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
death of my Dad, Herman Siemens, was preceded by anxious days and
nights as he lay between life and death. One night Mother left his
side as the evening shadows gathered, I asked how she could sleep. I
remember her words….In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you
alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
How
was Mother able to be so calm and have such peace when her beloved
husband of 50 years lay dying? Tears overflowed as I realized Mother
had something I didn’t. I was filled with anxiety and dread as I
watched my Dad in the hospital after his heart attack. I remember my
husband telling me before I left home, “Your Dad will be OK, either
way!”
was Mother able to be so calm and have such peace when her beloved
husband of 50 years lay dying? Tears overflowed as I realized Mother
had something I didn’t. I was filled with anxiety and dread as I
watched my Dad in the hospital after his heart attack. I remember my
husband telling me before I left home, “Your Dad will be OK, either
way!”
Peace
doesn’t come from various techniques or pills, peace comes from
choosing to follow our God. Wait a minute. Just what is this peace?
How can we make it ours? To truly know that perfect peace?
doesn’t come from various techniques or pills, peace comes from
choosing to follow our God. Wait a minute. Just what is this peace?
How can we make it ours? To truly know that perfect peace?
As
a child, when I couldn’t sleep, Mother told me, “Think of beautiful
things, like butterflies, birds and flowers.” Somehow I didn’t
find those things that God created as an antidote to the unrest I
felt – then. I learned, as an ever growing process, to think
beautiful things.
a child, when I couldn’t sleep, Mother told me, “Think of beautiful
things, like butterflies, birds and flowers.” Somehow I didn’t
find those things that God created as an antidote to the unrest I
felt – then. I learned, as an ever growing process, to think
beautiful things.
Finally,
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about
such things. Philippians 4:8
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about
such things. Philippians 4:8
Think?
Think! Think about such things. That easy? It wasn’t – don’t
think about bad things, but think on beautiful things. Fill my mind
with whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable,
excellent or praiseworthy. Tim Keller says that it is a smart peace
to think, not a stupid peace.
(http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/peace)
Think! Think about such things. That easy? It wasn’t – don’t
think about bad things, but think on beautiful things. Fill my mind
with whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable,
excellent or praiseworthy. Tim Keller says that it is a smart peace
to think, not a stupid peace.
(http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/peace)
Peace
is not the absence of strife or warfare, it is the presence of peace
despite being in difficult circumstances. A thinking peace is the
presence of more than that – it is the presence of God. The
Children of Israel were told – Fix
these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as
symbols on your hands and bind them on your
foreheads. Deuteronomy 11:18. We keep our hearts and minds on Jesus
Christ and in doing so, we know the peace of God.
is not the absence of strife or warfare, it is the presence of peace
despite being in difficult circumstances. A thinking peace is the
presence of more than that – it is the presence of God. The
Children of Israel were told – Fix
these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as
symbols on your hands and bind them on your
foreheads. Deuteronomy 11:18. We keep our hearts and minds on Jesus
Christ and in doing so, we know the peace of God.
Have
you ever been called to the Principal’s Office? As a teacher who
ushered disobedient children to the Principal’s Office, I saw the
concern and fear of punishment in their faces. The fear of the
consequences of their choices was upon them. One principal
heightened the suspense with intense commands to ‘stand up straight’!
What would have happened if the Principal (or I) would have hugged
the child, told him all was forgiven, and then meted out the
consequences.
you ever been called to the Principal’s Office? As a teacher who
ushered disobedient children to the Principal’s Office, I saw the
concern and fear of punishment in their faces. The fear of the
consequences of their choices was upon them. One principal
heightened the suspense with intense commands to ‘stand up straight’!
What would have happened if the Principal (or I) would have hugged
the child, told him all was forgiven, and then meted out the
consequences.
When
we ask God to live within our hearts and lives, we have forgiveness
through Jesus Christ. He took the sins of all upon himself as he
hung on the cross so that we could have complete forgiveness in our
sin-filled lives in this fallen world. It was not created to be a
fallen world, but through the first sin, it became so.
we ask God to live within our hearts and lives, we have forgiveness
through Jesus Christ. He took the sins of all upon himself as he
hung on the cross so that we could have complete forgiveness in our
sin-filled lives in this fallen world. It was not created to be a
fallen world, but through the first sin, it became so.
Can
you imagine a world filled with peace? With joy? With love? That
sounds like Heaven, doesn’t it? Imagine a world created in the
colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and
violet. Altogether they form the promise of God’s love and care.
They are made up of joy (red), peace (orange), patience (yellow),
kindness (green), goodness and gentleness (blue), faithfulness
(indigo) and self-control (violet). When we are secure in His love,
we want to share that experience of peace we have in knowing Jesus.
you imagine a world filled with peace? With joy? With love? That
sounds like Heaven, doesn’t it? Imagine a world created in the
colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and
violet. Altogether they form the promise of God’s love and care.
They are made up of joy (red), peace (orange), patience (yellow),
kindness (green), goodness and gentleness (blue), faithfulness
(indigo) and self-control (violet). When we are secure in His love,
we want to share that experience of peace we have in knowing Jesus.
Peace,
peace, to those far and near, says the LORD.
“And I will heal them.” But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. “There is no
peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 57:19-21
On
of my favorite songs reminds me of the strength of peace:
of my favorite songs reminds me of the strength of peace:
When
peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows
roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has
taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows
roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has
taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It
is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Horatio
Spafford, author, lost four daughters at sea and wrote this old
hymn. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul)
Spafford, author, lost four daughters at sea and wrote this old
hymn. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul)
His
Peace
Each
morning when I walk, I look into the sky
And
feel your peace, From Your place on high.
As
I search the clouds, I know you are there
What
joy it gives me, For I know You care.
My
peace comes from You, Not from ignorance
But
from your lavish love, And endless assurance.
As
I walk each day, I lift my hands to pray
And
breathe a soft, “Yes.”, A beautiful way to start the day.
EAC
(written a year ago)
–
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity
will come to you. Job 22:21
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity
will come to you. Job 22:21
–
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people
with peace. Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people
with peace. Psalm 29:11
–
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14
–
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government
will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government
will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
–
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3
–
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:9
–
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
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
–
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone. Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone. Romans 12:18
–
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Comments? eacombs@att.net