Lord, Please Give Me PEACE about this PEACE Sign

While being my kids' dogs' sitter, I've enjoyed the inspirations at their home for my blogs. After I blogged a few days ago about the peace-sign hand on my daughter's wall where she does her video shows, of all things, when going to look at one of the books under it, I knocked the hand off the shelf and it broke into all these pieces shown here. I was dismayed, especially because it was purposed for that spot. I found a tag under the bottom piece, tried to order it from that store, but all their stores were sold out. When I couldn't subtlety get a replacement, I called and confessed to my daughter. In her encouragement-mode, she said, “Mom, don’t let that broken peace sign steal your PEACE. Don’t worry about it!” I tried to keep my peace. After all, my blogs carry a common theme -- living in peace.

I would not be denied. I tried the internet and found the exact peace sign figurine on Amazon and ordered it. It came the next day, but to my chagrin, it was in an envelope instead of wrapped in a box -- broken into pieces (seen in this photo)! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I sent the photo to Staci. She replied: “Devil can’t break my PEACE!” And, he won’t break my PEACE either. I reordered it again and my intention with this blog was to show it -- all tightly back in place!

Oh, but not so! The second one came to me the next day – same packaging – and broken. I talked to a kind young man at Amazon support who assured me via his personal email to me: “I sent over your feed back to the company you purchased the item from to make sure your item arrives in perfect condition.” I keep reminding myself “Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Me” (Isaiah 26:3). I knew the PEACE sign would get here, tomorrow, and this time – the day I leave for Austin to take care of my two youngest grands for a few days. Dogs-sitting to boys-sitting!

Thursday, September 3rd: Doorbell rings. Buddy, the 85-pound Australian Shepherd is barking like a wild, man-eating machine. I peek through the blinds. Oh, it’s the Amazon guy with my package, but OH NO! It’s packaged the same. I quickly open the door to nab the delivery guy before he leaves the package and Buddy rushes past me and nabs the guy for me – on the leg! Dear God! Help! The guy gets out through the gate as I am pleading for his forgiveness. I ask to see his leg and thank, God – only scratched. That was my fault – Buddy is a great guard dog, but his protection isn’t needed when it’s a friendly visitor. We typically put him in another room when a stranger comes to the door! But, here’s the absolute determining factor that satan has zeroed in on my peace zone – to steal it from me. The PEACE hand in the same packaging, is also broken. And, poor Buddy, with his ears back is in time-out!

I pour my heart out to Staci about this inability to maintain my peace. What is wrong with me? I say it again – my President is running an entire country and has so many reasons to REALLY be stressed-out – and here I am in this little Peace Zone space – losing it. Staci says “Mom, let it go! Let the peace come. Maybe this is all for good. I have let it go. Maybe someone might be watching one of my shows and see that peace hand and for some reason it offends them.” She gives me so much reinforcement that I need this day. So I do let it go! Lord, have mercy! I have conquered way more stressful situations than this. I get it. The enemy's goal is to steal our peace that comes from our Prince of Peace.

So, here I am crawling, limping, and wimping back into my Peace Zone. I’m getting bandaged up, wiped up, and straightened up to be God’s girl of peace, sweet peace again. Why shouldn’t I be in peace? God promised it to me if I would live in that place. It’s a choice I must make daily. In John 14:27, Jesus said, “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.” I shall go forward — embracing these sweet days with these doggies and onto my people in Austin. I’m choosing to be care-free and unafraid and daily living in my peace zone! I’m sending that peace out to you today – AND NOT, with that very breakable peace hand sign!

Check Out This Peace Zone

My daughter and I met up to nail down our supplies and food list for Payton's annual-birthday-celebratory fishing trip next week. Always his birthday request! Meeting at their courtyard was the perfect place. You can see by Emma’s peaceful demeanor, it is definitely a peace zone. That is – until another dog strolls by and, she thinks she’s a hundred-pound Doberman by the way she’s ready to take that dog out. It's hilarious because, at her ripe age, she has very few teeth left. It is definitely her bark – not her bite that guards their home!

But, this morning, Emma isn’t distracted by anything outside of her domain. She’s at peace. And with that, Staci and I strike up a conversation about less striving, less hustle, less hassle and more living in that place of peace that only comes from a deep, intimate relationship with the Prince of Peace. Emma must know Him intimately.

Don’t we desire that more than anything? That simply flowing, abiding and living in the peace that Jesus lived in when He walked this earth. I mentioned it before and I urge you again to watch “The Chosen” series. Throughout the series you see Jesus meandering along – intentional and purposeful – yet unhurried, not filled with anxiety or trepidatious about what is about to happen, but always on the look-out to strike up a conversation, to bring understanding and peace to matters of strife, to calm troubled waters – both naturally and in the people He encountered.

The scripture that comes to mind is from Luke 4, the passage where people became so angry at Jesus, as He taught in their synagogue, that they tried to push Him off a cliff. But in verse 30, it says “He walked away”. I love that. He walked away from the chaos to get into His peace zone. I purpose to live in that peace zone too. When I choose that peace and something comes up that unsettles me, then I walk away too!

And, in the matters of life, as long as I fix my thoughts on my Prince of Peace, I'm stable and at peace. I know the world's peace depends on calm seas, favorable circumstances, getting our way, things going as expected, with very few challenges. That sounds comfy, but as soon as our "apple cart gets turned over", the peace of the world dissipates and we are left with anxiety and concern. The peace I know well is the peace Jesus gives. That peace helps me face circumstances with a quiet confidence that guides me -- not contingent on what's going on around me, but what's inside me -- better yet, WHO'S inside me. Jesus said, "Peace, I give you -- my peace I give you -- not as the world gives I you! Let not your heart be troubled." John 14:27

Going to His Houses for a Pick-Me-Up

I amuse myself when I consider what kind of over-the-top, super-Jesus-fanatic I must seem like to those who don’t take their faith walk quite as seriously as I do. I love hanging out with those who talk the same talk and walk the same walk that I do. You know us. Those “Praise the Lord!”, “Thank you, Jesus!”, “Praise God!” cliche-speaking people who take attending church so seriously that we get there at least 30 minutes early to find the closest seats to the front. We’re the ones who attend Bible studies, retreats and serve on ministry and outreach teams. We just can't carry on a conversation without interjecting something about God’s goodness and even quoting a scripture or two. Besides, I know that we BECOME who we hang out with. So I make sure I'm hanging out with loving, kind, compassionate, brilliant, passionate, alive and giving people.

So, on Sunday, I went to two filling-stations for a pick-me-up! First, I attended Life Austin, a non-denominational church where Randy Phillips of the Gospel recording group, Phillips, Craig and Dean, is the pastor. I got caught up in the wonderful music and praise. Then the message on love gave me more reasons to love myself so I can love others stronger. The scripture reference was “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Mark 12:39)

I left that service and headed to Emmaus Church where, as you enter the property, you see the statutes of Jesus and the two disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus. Quickly, you're reminded of the scene of them not recognizing Jesus until He broke bread with them. That is what we do when we break bread in Holy Communion. And I love the enormous cross with Jesus ascending to heaven statute in the sanctuary. I rejoiced in our risen Lord when we sang Hillsong’s “Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing”. The pastor spoke on -- guess what! “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” I think God was impressing that message to me. Pastor Samuel shared that the disciples wanted Jesus to rain down fire on the Samaritans and Jesus was so incensed at the disciples’ attitude that he rebuked them for their intolerance and unacceptance of the Samaritans. He urged them to love others. (Luke 9:54) Pastor Samuel said, “It doesn’t sound too different than what our country is like today – intolerant of each other and, quite frankly, we would even like God to rain down fire on those who don’t agree with us." I heard God's "love" message loud and clear!

The "icing on the cake" came at the end. The children just finished their “God is Good” VBS (the same as ours in Frisco) and the children sang their theme song for the congregation. It was worth my efforts to be with God’s people this Sunday morning. It was raining outside and it was raining showers of blessings and bucketloads of God’s faithfulness on me on the inside. Indeed, “I was glad when they said unto me ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1).

Climbing the Mountain to the Cross

My son kept saying “Mom, I’ve got to take you up the mountain to see the cross! It’s so beautiful up there!” He was up early (5:30 am) the next day to give me the sunrise view! The sun was rising and the timing was perfect. It was well worth the climb to the top where this cross statute sits high above the Sea of Cortez.

Indeed, this would be a “peace zone” moment. I wanted to stay there. I wanted to be still and know my God. It was sacred. A mere cross statute. Certainly not a majestic, towering cross that caused our eyes to look up to remember He Who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our redemption. Just a simple cross in a quiet, mountaintop location. I couldn’t help but be inspired -- not to mention it seemed I was touched by the sun’s rays. My son did a great job capturing the inspiration for me. There was nothing else at the top of this mountain. No signs that identified the artist, the sculptor, the reason for placing it there. But, really, was an explanation necessary? The cross -- whether built as a towering structure or the cross I wear around my neck -- no words are necessary. We know its meaning. We know its symbolism. We know THE ONE Who made the cross famous.

How can one symbol represent so many polar opposites? Death and life, hate and love, violence and peace, accusation and forgiveness, sin and purity, brokenness and wholeness, destruction and restoration, defeat and victory. Once the cruelest form of torture and execution, yet now we proudly exhibit the cross in churches, steeples, and walls and mantels in our homes. The climb to the top of the mountain caused me to re-examine what the Cross means to me -- especially during this season of Easter. The word that fully encapsulates the work of Christ on the Cross, for me, is – SELFLESSNESS.

Someone told me years ago, the symbol of the Cross is simply the cancellation out of the letter “I”. When you put the minus sign over the letter ‘I”, you get the Cross. The crossing of the letter “I” describes the removal of me my and places all of me on all of HIm. Jesus going to the Cross was the ultimate act of selflessness.

His thoughts were only of us and for us. Even to those who were violent and cruel towards Him, He called out to the Father to forgive them, because they knew not what they did. There was no “poor me”, “why me” moments with Him. The Cross meant death for Him but He cared more that the Cross would mean life for us.

Most of all, the cross is LOVE. Christ died for us. The cross was His love. "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8).

I pray the cross of Christ becomes more meaningful to you than ever before. After all, if you were the only one He died for, you were worth it!

There is no Journey Like the Journey of Faith

This day, 7 years ago, I wrote my first-ever blog. It was the beginning of the faith journey of our lives and I knew God wanted me to live our journey out-loud to document the abiding and constant love that we knew that the Father would pour out on us. We wanted our light to brighten the way for others who may have been facing similar situations. We were embarking on travels that were not without God's oversight and provision. While we had always considered our walk with Christ to be an amazing faith journey, with its many twists and turns and ups and downs, we were always secure in knowing He was on board with us, come what may. But, this new road we were on, was one that came out of the clear blue, unexpected and we needed to put on our combat boots and gear to handle this one. I invite you to read that post. You'll notice how full of faith, determination and great expectancy we were living in.

I know, as you read, you might think "Bless her heart, with all that faith, ultimately, their prayers weren't answered. Oh, contraire! They were answered when he survived the first surgery which the medical industry says is the most dangerous and life-threatening surgery there is. They were answered when God gave us a first class medical team that was second to none. They were answered when we would laugh and celebrate in the midst of the pain. They were answered when God supplied our needs during those times of loss of income. They were answered when friends and family members co-partnered with us in prayer, providing meals, and support. They were answered when doctors, nurses, other patients and visitors were touched by the strong courage we maintained. They were answered when the most incredible peace that passed all understanding kept our hearts and minds throughout the journey. And they were answered incredibly as this widow still maintains that trusting wholeheartedly in God's faithfulness is the ONLY way to handle life and all that it brings us.

What would I do differently than what we did? Absolutely nothing. We did exactly what God's Word says to do:
2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we live by faith, not by sight."
1 Corinthians 16:13 "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."
James 1:3 "because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

https://livinginthepeacezone.blogspot.com/2010/04/our-great-faith-adventure-begins.html