Being a Peacemaker

Thanks to Adam and Eve and their "fall", we are all hardwired with certain tendencies that aren't so pretty and sweet. One tendency is to get angry. But, thanks to Jesus and His sacrifice, He gave us a higher standard. He calls us to be peacemakers — not just peacekeepers. Peacekeepers usually avoid conflict, but peacemakers resolve conflict and reconcile relationships.

We need a world of peacemakers! And, that includes you and me. The Bible promises this: “Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness” (James 3:18). We planted a lot of seed on our Oklahoma ranch. We had huge vegetable gardens and we found that planting a few seeds could yield a bumper crop. We also had an apple orchard that started from a few apple seeds. Those good seeds resulted in many apple trees and delicious apples that made the best pies and jams. It’s the law of sowing and reaping. The same is true in planting seeds of anger and hate or peace and love. If we plant seeds of hate, we’ll reap anger, bitterness and trouble. But the Bible says if we plant seeds of peace, we will reap a harvest of peace, kindness, and goodness in return.

One of the most important life skills we will ever learn is conflict resolution. Let’s consider a bitter argument between a husband and wife. Someone must make the first move toward peace. I remember sleeping on the far edge of our bed because I wasn't about to start the peace conversation. I waited for my husband to make the first move. These many years later, I found the better person is the one who takes the initiative to resolve conflict and make amends.

Jesus took the initiative to show mercy to us. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:8,10). Jesus didn’t wait for us to apologize. He didn’t even wait for us to feel bad about our behavior. Jesus made the first move. And he wants us to do the same thing. He wants us to call for Peace Summits – where the expected result is always peace!

I know this blog today comes from God's prompting to me. More than anything, He wants us to live in peace with each other. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Being a peacemaker is one who doesn’t come forward with accusations and ways they've been hurt or speaking about whose fault it was. Peacemakers start with humility – “I apologize for anything I did or said that created this conflict. Will you please forgive me? Jesus made the first move -- shouldn't we?

He is Our Storm Chaser

Most of my posts come from my own personal life experiences with the sincere hope that what I share will encourage and even open your eyes to our great Storm Chaser. I learned some very difficult lessons the hard way so my goal is to pass along the wisdom from those lessons to give you shortcuts to your prayers being answered and your faith increased.

It's our human nature to have the mindset: "I've got to figure this out on my own!" Many times, seeking God for the answer is the last thing we do to escape our storms. "I've tried everything else. I might as well, as a last resort ask God for help! Instead of asking "God, can't you see how great my storms are", we should be saying "Storms, can't you see how big my God is?"

The disciples passed their lessons learned onto us. We can learn a lot from their mistakes if we would not go the way of their lack of faith. They knew Jesus was on land and they discounted that He was the authentic, unparalleled STORM CHASER and PEACE MAKER. They toiled and feared, but Christ was praying on the shore for them. He saw the storm come up. HE SAW. He knew. And He sees and knows the storms we're going through. They are no surprise to Him. In fact, they are part of His plan to build our faith and trust in Him more. He is hearing our prayers in the midst of OUR storms and He will carry us safely to the other side.

We can know this: There is no difficulty in life that is stronger than Jesus. We can face our difficult times with courage because He promised to ALWAYS be with us! I love knowing that His peace is ours in the midst of our storms....and how reassuring to know that right behind this storm is a rainbow of blessing! He promised it, and I've come to count on it! Since we know our circumstances are no surprise to Him, let’s surprise Him with our trust in Him – in all circumstances and in all seasons.

The calm and quiet nature of Christ is what calms the storms in our life and in others. By sharing the presence of Christ within us, we introduce the nature of Christ. He is our Storm Chaser. He pursues us to let us know that we can trust Him. He calms our storms when we ask Him.

Dear Lord, we come to you and ask you to increase our faith. We acknowledge that one of the best ways to grow in faith is to experience storms in our life. For only in those times, can we exercise and experience trust, so that we may receive true peace and increase our confidence in You. By growing in our trust, we receive the calm and quiet nature of Your presence. May people be attracted to my soul that expresses calm in any and every situation. I invite you into my boat and ask you to take control. Amen.

Live as Children of the LIGHT.

My word for today is LIGHT: the brightness that dispels darkness. Christmas LIGHTS are getting scarce now as most of us have taken down the LIGHTS from our homes and businesses, and packed them away for another year.

Now, it’s up to us to represent and be THE LIGHT to our family, our neighbors and our world. We are "the chosen ones" to be the peacemakers, servants, joy and hope bearers to this world that needs that LIGHT so much. We must live as Children of the Light! Ephesians 5:8 "For you were once darkness, but now you are LIGHT in the Lord. Live as children of LIGHT."

Just before Christmas my family and I went to see the new Star Wars movie: The Final Jedi. As with any Star Wars movie, the LIGHT Side and the Dark Side are at war with each other. You can sure tell that jealousy, hate, bitterness, anger and revenge caused Kylo Ren to champion the Dark Side. When we examine our hearts, it’s quite possible, we won’t find that we hate anyone, but every little “dark” thing that we allow to remain in our hearts can have a “dark” effect on us. We might not be in darkness, but we certainly might find ourselves in the “shade”.

In 1 John 2:5-7, John writes “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is LIGHT and in Him is NO darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Jesus is the ultimate, ever-ready, radiant, source of LIGHT that dispels darkness, but He told us in Matthew 5:14-16 "YOU are the LIGHT of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shines to all that are in the house. Even so let YOUR LIGHT shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

What if OUR LIGHTS were shining so brightly that when people pass our way, they draw toward THE LIGHT and their world of darkness is dispelled? Maybe at the beginning of this new year, we should have a winter clear-ance sale and clear out all those things that hinder the LIGHT in us. Let’s open ourselves to His healing and empowering LIGHT today. When we declare with the Psalmist, “The Lord IS MY LIGHT and my salvation, who should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge, of whom should I be afraid?” – then there will never be a shadow of doubt which side we’re on, and all the dark forces that try to draw us to their side, will never win! May we BE the LIGHT that keeps on shining -- all year long!

The Perfect Gift

Do you remember your all-time favorite Christmas gift as a child? MIne was a Tiny Tears Doll set. It was so awesome that she cried real tears and wet her diapers. LOL! My nephew, Mark David Lawrence, to this day, remembers his favorite gift -- it was one of those 60s electronic football games (not computer generated) from my Mom (his Mamaw). It was his dream come true. Those gifts for us were the perfect Christmas gifts!

I keep getting email messages that the subject line reads, "Give your family and friends "THE PERFECT GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS". I've been deleting most of those and not even checking to find out what they meant until yesterday. THE PERFECT GIFT??? A Gift Card. And, I thought, yes, gift cards are great because you can buy anything you want. But, why not just give someone cash? What's the big deal of the PERFECT GIFT being a Gift Card? Is it perfect if the receiver of the gift card doesn't need or want anything from that particular store. They just don't shop there....and then when they get to the store and start looking.....it takes FOREVER to find something there they want to use the gift card for. PERFECT? I don't think so.

I think you know where I'm headed with that observation. THE PERFECT GIFT? That ONLY PERFECT GIFT we could ever give, is that of HIM, Who is the PERFECT One, Who isn't a tangible "thing", but is the ALL in ALL, BEGINNING and END of joy, comfort, peace, life, love, happiness, and life everlasting. He is John 3:16 "For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son -- that whoever believes in Him, would not perish but have everasthig life."

So how do we give that PERFECT GIFT to others -- by giving ourselves as peacemakers, servants, joy-peace-hope bearers, by being LIGHTS that this world so needs and wants. Though Jesus is the ultimate, ever-ready, radiant, source of LIGHT that dispels darkness.....He told us in Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shines to all that are in the house. Even so let YOUR light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Your GIFT this season? YOU and YOUR LIGHT shining brightly so that others will come to know THE PERFECT GIFT -- Jesus Christ!

Everybody Deserves Somebody

Day 261 of Photo Inspirations -- Everybody Deserves Somebody
I have the solution for relationships that last, whether it be a marriage, partnership, or friendship.  It's also the solution for raising kids, caring for elderly parents, maintaining healthy appreciation and cooperation in dealing with extended family.

There are so many opportunities for conflict and disputes in whatever relationship we may have. But....if this one criteria is met, I can guarantee success.  It is being CENTER-FOCUSED on the PEACEMAKER.  He who speaks "PEACE BE STILL" and He who is the epitome of unconditional love --- is the ONE who, if placed at the core of every relationship we are in, we will be operating in HIS LOVE and will have appreciation for each one in our lives -- regardless how sweet OR not so sweet they may be.  How can that be?  God IS LOVE and when He is invited into the equation of our friendships and relationships, then His love will be in us and going through us to others.  

This kind of love is only possible, when we fix our eyes and hearts on the ONE who loves us unconditionally even though we fail Him and disappoint Him. He gives us forgiveness over and over. He overlooks our faults and He lavishes His grace upon us when we sure don't deserve it.  If we follow His lead and always consider WWJD "What Would Jesus Do?", then we'll become more and more like Him.  

This first photo inspiration came from the Amish Restaurant that we went to yesterday.  It absolutely described me. "Everybody deserves somebody who makes them LOOK forward to tomorrow."  I had been looking forward to this day for days.  So, of course our day, yesterday, prompted this post.

My two walking buddies, and I, took a road trip to celebrate Nancy Crow​'s birthday.  We planned this day for weeks.  There's nothing like "girl time" when we can be silly (especially with a selfie stick), talk about lots of things, go shopping, and eat lots of yummy food.  But, here's the glue that has bonded us together.  We each love God with all our hearts.  Most of our conversations are about the goodness of God, and if one of us veers off into any worry or concern, we tenderly rein each other back in with encouraging each other from promises in God's Word.  We love to celebrate, appreciate and inspire each other.  For a fact, I know that girl friends make us healthier, happier, less stressed, and I know we'll live longer because of each other.  Seriously, we ALL need friends.

These two gals inspire me so much.  In fact, many of my FB posts and blogs come from something they said in a casual moment.  These women make me stronger. I see them caring for others and in spite of some "stuff" in their own lives that are not perfect, their inner strength that comes from their relationship with God, causes them to rise and shine daily.

If today, you are lonely or tired of going it alone through life, go out and BE a friend.  Show yourself friendly.  Be an encourager.  Brighten someone's life with generosity.  Pray for a friend.  Pray God gives you true friendships -- and make sure that THE FRIEND who sticks closer than any brother is RIGHT in the middle of those relationships.

Make Me a Channel of Your Peace

Day 239 of Photo Inspirations -- Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
I love that song -- the lyrics are from St. Francis' Prayer that goes "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace".  That is sincerely my prayer -- to be a peacemaker AND to live in that peace.

How do we do that when the world is full of clamor and noise and so many distractions -- not to mention cranky, mean-spirited, angry, and unhappy people?

We have to MAKE peace our priority. We have to practice peace. We have to exit the room when conflict presents itself.  It really is a priority.

We can find it sitting in a peaceful scenic area, in a cozy chair, in a chapel, while rocking a sleeping baby OR in a monastery.  A monastery?  Talking about peace ON PURPOSE, I found it yesterday.  It truly is a house of prayer and peace.  I was attending a mini-retreat at St. Joseph's Monastery, but before the retreat started, I was able to visit one of my mentors and dear friend, Sister Marie Pierre.  Oh, how I love this precious saint.  After 50+ years of ministry, she retired and lives in a small space at St. Joseph's but it is everything she hoped for in this season of her life.  We made each other cry as we shared some sweet memories, but even more so about our future.... getting to graduate to heaven. We talked about how our loved ones and the saints and Jesus are cheering us on to the finish line.  I could tell she is longing for the day when she'll go home, but in the meantime, sitting at her feet, feeling God's presence and His peace all around her, and in her, is the season she is in.  God continues to use her to touch our lives.  She has MANY children -- of course, not biologically, but she sure had a hand in raising many of us in the ways we should go.

Before I left her side and headed on to the retreat, she wanted to show me her garden that many of us contributed to when she moved to St. Joseph's.  A labor of love created it for her -- the one that her labor of love touched us so much.   Her garden is her daily retreat -- the water splashing from the fountain, the serene place of peace and quiet where birds and butterflies are abundant.  It's a place of contentment, rest and PEACE.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  Jeremiah 29:13.  I found Him today in the form of one of His precious daughters. She looked like Him.  She smelled like Him.  She sounded like Him.  That's because she lives with Him in such close proximity.  No wonder I left there wanting more.

"Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised."  Proverbs 31:30

The song "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace" -- is so befitting of Sister Pierre.  Oh, that we are that peace channel, too!