The Peace of God

"Let the peace of God rule in your heart" Colossians 3:15

This verse was given to me by the Lord on Tuesday morning before I knew my sister had died.  It is amazing how the Lord gives you just what you need-sometimes even before you know you need it. 
I woke up at 5:00 am this morning with everything on my mind and a mixture of different feelings-grief, sadness, memories of happier times, etc.  I remembered the verse above and realized that the first word in this verse is Let.  Let the peace of God rule in your heart.

My heavenly Father is there to provide peace for me but I must be willing to let Him provide it in my heart.  He is the only one who can provide that comfort but I make the choice to receive it. 

And then as I read my devotion for today, it confirmed what He was teaching me:

"It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love." Song of Solomon 5:2

Life is a Weaving

 "Let the peace of God rule in your heart" Colossians 3:15

My sister died today.  She was 58 years old.  I never thought she would die before my 85 year old Mother who has Alzheimers but she did.  The one thing I know is that she had accepted Jesus as her Savior.  Knowing that gives me comfort.

The verse above was given to me in my quiet time this morning.  God is so good that He provides for us before we know there is a need or the extent of the need.  He and only He can give me peace.

I study from several different devotion books and this morning I was reading from "Come Away My Beloved" by Francis J. Roberts.  I have read this book probably 5 times in the past 10 years and every time, the Lord speaks to me through it. 

Today's scripture was the one above with the following comments:

"My child, your life is a weaving.  Beauty will not come to you by joy alone.  Life may be tortuous at times and the pathway rough. From fabrics of lovely silk and from cords of rougher materials, I fashion what pleases Me.  You may never know why certain experiences come.  It is enough that My hand brings them all.

My grace is not limited by sorrow and difficulty.  Indeed, it shines like a strand of gold mixed in with the black of grief.  My hand moves with infinite love, and I am creating a pattern of intricate beauty.  Never be dismayed.  The end will bring rejoicing."

Sorrows and grief are inevitable in this life.  That is what sin did beginning with Adam and Eve. How we meet these parts of life depend on the our relationship with God.  I know my Redeemer and He gives me comfort and peace in knowing that He has prepared the path before me and nothing can come my way unless it is first sifted through the will of the Father.  I can endure.  I can have comfort.  I can have peace because of His great love.  And at the end of my life when all the threads both gold and black are woven into the story of my life, I will rejoice in His presence.  I will be reunited in joy with those who have gone before me.

When this life is over there there will be rejoicing!  That great and wonderful joy will come from simply being in the presence of the eternal God.  How do we enter into His presence? Only through Jesus Christ.  The Jesus who died on the cross as a sacrifice for sin.

Accepting Jesus as Savior is a personal decision.  It can't be because you go to church or your parents believed in Jesus as Savior.  It has to be your choice to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and know that your sins are forgiven.  If you have not done so, please confess your sin, accept the sacrifice He made on the cross for the forgiveness of sin and ask Him into your heart as your Savior and Lord.  You never know when the appointed time will come for your own death.

The Voice of the Shepherd

 

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me" 

John 10:14

Jesus used sheep as illustrations to teach many lessons in the New Testament.  Because of the culture of the day, the people of Israel would have caught the lessons immediately.  I, on the other hand, have never been around sheep to learn their characteristics, so what I know of them is not through experience but through reading, studying or listening to teaching about the subject. 

Recently, during a Bible Study by Anne Graham Lotz "Pursuing More of Jesus", I learned several interesting things about sheep.  The shepherds in Biblical times were assigned sheep from the time they were born.  They were more like pets and the shepherd would often name each one.  In other words, the sheep had a personal relationship with the shepherd.  They knew his voice. They recognized it because everyday, they would heard his voice.  They knew the shepherd only had their best at heart and took care of their needs for water, food and protection for harm.  They trusted no other.  In fact, if someone else called them and they didn't recognize the voice as the voice of their shepherd they would run the opposite direction in fright.

For those who know Jesus Christ as Savior, the lesson is clear.  He knows us and we know Him.  He speaks to us through His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We can recognize His voice and can distinguish it from other voices-the voices of the world and Satan.  We should trust no other.  

Are you listening for the voice of the Good Shepherd?  Can you hear His voice?  What about the voices of the world?  Are they so loud that the voice of Jesus has been drown out and replaced by fleshly things?

The Works of Your Hands

Psalm 24:1,2,10  The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
       the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas
       and established it upon the waters...who is He, this King of glory?

       The LORD Almighty—
       He is the King of glory. 

Staying the Course

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the the throne of God."  Heb 12:1-2

Running has never been my thing.  I can begin with full intention of running all the way to the finish line.  About half-way (sometimes even before) my body begins to cry out--"stop, stop. What do you think you're doing!  You're not meant to run.  You're out of breath and your muscles are hurting.  What about those knees? Better watch out, you're going to fall!"

My race to eternity is the same way.  I run toward the finish line trying to stay on course, trying to jump over or go around the obstacles I find on my path. Sometime those obstacles are there because of my own stubborn will or my disobedience.  I desire to endure instead of listening to the voices of those who discourage me and those within me that say just do what you want to do. 

Temptations try to draw me from the path to places that appear to be either a short cut to the end or a place of rest neither of which are part of the race or the proper path that God has prepared for me.  When I focus on the path or on the next step I often miss the blessings of the beauty around me. 

Luckily, I have a personal trainer-a guide by the name of Jesus.  He is not only my guide but my destination as well.  I must fix my eyes upon Him.  He will bring me to the finish line to guide me to heaven where my race will be over.  I will cross the finish line and I will receive the prize of eternal life.

God's Answers

 God's Answers     A poem by an unknown Confederate Soldier:

I asked for strength that I might achieve;

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be wise. 

I asked for power that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for.

But everything that I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered;

I am among all people, most richly blessed.

The Day the Lord Has Made

 Psalms 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

"Today is unique! It has never occurred before and it will never be repeated.  At midnight it will end, quietly, suddenly, totally.  Forever.  But the hours between now and then are opportunities with eternal possibilities."  Charles R. Swindoll