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.”

What I Learned in our History Class

My 11-year-old grandson and I checked off “completed” by his home-school subjects one-by-one yesterday. I get to be his “substitute” teacher when His mom is away. The best part is I find that I learn as much as he does when we’re “in class”. Some of his curriculum (i.e., American History, geography, and reading) are interwoven in subject matter which ties an era together.

Presently, he is studying the 1850’s to the 1870's which looks closely at our Country during turbulent, violent years between the North and the South that led to the deadly Civil War. We were appalled as we uncomfortably read about slavery and how divided the states were about being pro or anti-slavery. In 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed all persons held as slaves in states of the rebellion “forever free” by The Emancipation Proclamation.

We were both moved, as we read the true story of young Harriet Tubman who was born into slavery and finally escaped because of her strong will and courage. “Someday,’ she said, “I’m going to be free.” And, she was. Then, as we read from the book “Across Five Aprils”, I was literally brought to tears when we read this excerpt because it was just so close "to home" today:

Shadrach, with his large eyes grave with sympathy said, "I wonder what the President is thinking." Jethro replied, "I guess Ole’ Abe has troubles over and above any of us." "MR. Lincoln, Jeth.” He would remember the rebuke to the end of his days. He would remember, and he would feel ashamed at the memory, but still, he would wonder. People – smart people, one would suppose since they printed newspapers and drew pictures for them – spoke of the President as “the baboon,” “the ugly, ignorant, backwoods Lincoln,” and other names as vicious and expressive of hate. Under no circumstance would he, Jethro Creighton, show disrespect to the President. “I think a lot of Mr. Lincoln,” he stated in quiet self-defense after a while. “I know you do, Jeth.” “Lots of people don’t. I could name you people that hate him like poison.” “Not only in this neighborhood – not only in the South, either. It seems that people everywhere are criticizing him. The abolitionists hate him as much as the sympathizers of the South do. People blame him for the mistakes of his generals; and they’re just as bitter about his grammar, his appearance, his family.” “I’m no wise enough to measure Mr. Lincoln, Jeth; I just don’t know. But I have a feeling of confidence and faith in him that I can’t always justify. Sometimes I’m angered with him as others are; sometimes I can’t understand him. But somehow my faith in him always comes back.”

I know you must know what I was thinking as I read those words about the divided country and the animosity for its President, and as we all know, President Abraham Lincoln became one of the most beloved presidents of all times. It often feels like we live in the worst times as we daily watch the news of wars, various factions who love, hate, honor, dishonor, protest or pro-act. Since the beginning of time, there has been always been conflict. What do we do with it all in this year of 2018? I like to think that the final lines from that book state where we should be: “Somehow my faith in HIM ((I insert God, here) always comes back.” Placing our trust in the ONE who knew ALL back in the BC and AD, in the 1800’s and now, the 2000’s. He is still overseeing it all, and is at the helm of this great big wonderful, and oftentimes, troubled world.

I don’t know what to make of all the craziness in our world today. But I do know Who holds our todays and tomorrows, and who holds our hands through it all. "History is in-the-making" today for generations to come. Frankly, I want to claim my place in history. I hope to be one who believed in something so strongly that I made a difference. I like to live knowing that this world is not my home, and the history I made was doing the things that mattered on earth because it matters in heaven. Loving, giving, caring, being kind, tender-hearted, morally centered, loving God and my neighbor just might be the way to make history that really matters. Choosing which side of history we'll be on should sure make us want to choose wisely.

I Found a Special on Storm Shelters!

Oh. My. Goodness. The verbal wrangling and bickering in politics are enough to want to find a storm shelter and stay there until Jesus comes or at least until the storm passes over. Recently, I’ve heard commentators and read articles that declared “America is Facing Another Civil War”. And, others warn “We’re Facing World War III”.

Maybe you're a 50s or 60s child and, like me, you remember the Duck and Cover drills we did for personal protection in case of a nuclear attack which could have come at any time without warning. We’d hear the alarm sounding and then we’d rush to get in the fetal position, face down and covered our heads with our hands. I look at this photo and I wonder how in the world would that position have protected us?

There has ALWAYS been verbal wrangling and bickering and there have always been wars and rumors of wars since the beginning of time. Unfortunately, that hasn't changed. Matthew 24:6, says “you will hear about wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you’re not alarmed….”

Thank God FOR GOD! In reality, there seems to be no certainty in anything anywhere, EXCEPT that our God is stable, secure, and is our ANCHOR that holds in spite of storms, wars and any other force that comes against us. Bottom line. We can live unafraid because God is our rock, our refuge, our shelter in the time of any storm or war or any force that can come against us.
The most dependable, unshakeable HOPE we have during peace times AND perilous times is GOD HAS NOT CHANGED!! As God's children, we do not have to live in fear or defeat. Instead, as His kids, we go to our War/Storm/Crisis Shelter and that place is found in a 9-1-1 call. I call this number regularly.

Psalm 91:1 (911) "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

If ever there was a time to find peace, security, and hope in our Father, it is now. He wants us to prepare and rise above these storms of life whether they are storms within our families, the storms of wars around our world or literal storms. It's time for us to pray passionately for the peace and presence of God in our lives. We need to pray for our world and the uncertainties that face mankind. We need to come back to our CENTER and find our peace in Him. Our peace is an incredible testimony in hard times and will help those around us to find Him as their Prince of Peace. He wants to make Himself known in the middle of the present shaking. I can't think of a better place to go to, and place to be than in God's shelter. This entire chapter is one I've prayed over my family for years. It is still relevant and precisely the "Word" for us today:

Psalm 91:1-16 -- "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings, you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”