Dear God, Is Peace Possible?

In my quiet and peaceful prayer spot yesterday morning, I prayed for peace in our country. My heart ached as I thought how divided our country is -- seemingly louder and noisier than ever before. I saw these words by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman "Civil War in America may be coming if we cannot find a way out of the tribalistic political and cultural fracturing that threatens our future." I remembered studying American History with my young grandson a couple of months ago. The studies were about the deadly Civil War -- the most turbulent, violent years between the North and the South. I thought "Dear God, is peace possible?"

Oh, but very quickly, to straighten me out like He often does, my loving Father/Dad/Papa sent me these words: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.' 2 Chronicles 7:14. Notice He said, "If MY people....." Scrolling through my FB timeline yesterday morning, I saw that one of my Canadian friends' "shared" a video of a huge prayer meeting that was going on in Washington D.C. on Thursday. God's people were humbling themselves and praying.

Judge Kavanaugh will be confirmed to the Supreme Court if a favorable final vote count comes in today. Whatever way it goes, God's Word gives no room for gloating or pouring "vinegar in a wound" to those who opposed this confirmation. In fact, King Solomon put it this way in Proverbs 25:20-22 "Don't be like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or pours vinegar on a wound, or who sings songs to a heavy heart. If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you."

God’s Word calls us to defend our faith “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). We are to “honor everyone” (1 Peter 2:17), whether they honor us or not. We are to “show no partiality” (James 2:1) as we show the world “brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8).

In so doing, we continue the earthly ministry of Jesus. He prayed that we would live in such a way that the world would believe in Him because of us (John 17:21). Then He returned to heaven so his Spirit could bear witness to Him through Christians all over the world (John 15:26-27).

Our work of loving, giving, serving and living as Christ did should be stronger than ever before. Charles Spurgeon said: “You have read lives of Christ, beautifully and eloquently written, but the best life of Christ is His living biography, written out in the words and actions of his people.”

Remembering to Remember

Yesterday was Memorial Day and I couldn’t help but notice all the photos of tombstones on FB that represent fallen soldiers. I also saw many FB posts and photos that were honoring loved ones who served in the armed services, as well as to those loved ones who were so dearly loved and remembered on this day.

Remembering the past is vital to living in the present. It causes us to remember those who died in defense of our nation and express the most profound gratitude we can by how we live our lives.

Besides those who served our country, we should never forget those steadfast, strong, immoveable and unshakeable people who built that same tenacious spirit in us. One of the greatest ways we can carry on and repay our loved ones for all they did in leaving a legacy to us, is to leave a legacy for those who follow us by living lives of character, strength, honor, faith, and love for our fellow man.

My sweet little mama had so little in terms of earthly goods to leave me, but what she did leave me was a legacy that continues to speak volumes in how I live my life today. She lives on in me because she left me with the stuff that mattered.

The question is “What will we be remembered for? What will we leave our heirs and those who know us? More than the tangible inheritances we will leave, our character (good or bad) is creating a legacy that will continue to speak after our life on this earth has ended. "Unquestionable character" is one of the greatest gifts we can leave our heirs....and that comes as we embrace the character of our Father God. Character begins with our example - our life. I know I want to leave a legacy that says “Donna was most known for keeping God at the center of her life – it showed on the outside….. and behind closed doors.”

Charles Spurgeon said, “A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts – not on marble.”