Peace is Good

I posted this last summer, as part of a 12 week bible class study I did with my girlfriends at church ...this lesson was one of my favorites and I have been pondering many of its promises ...I have done some editing to include a couple different posts.

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Peace is something that everyone wants, and those in Christ are promised to have in abundance. Through the Spirit we are able to fill the hole in our spirits that desires peace more than anything. We have peace at our disposal through the God we serve, and the Son who died for us.

Peace is mentioned 247 times in scripture. Of the gifts of the Holy Spirit it is mentioned second only to love. It is referred to in all but one of the books of the New Testament, and all of the letters of Paul. It is an ongoing theme throughout the entire Word of God, mentioned in all but 14 of the 66 books of the Bible. God and Jesus are referred to as the God of Peace, and the Prince of Peace.

One way to learn about peace, is to learn what it is not ...

• Peace is not pretending that everything is "fine" ...because things dont have to be "fine" to be at peace.
  
• Peace is not something we can achieve on our own ..its a gift of the Holy Spirit. Its a result of having Christ in our heart, not what we do or dont do
• Peace is not "having it all together" ..because you can be at peace even when things around you are going crazy

Peace is...a reflection of God's character in us. "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through." I Thess 5:23

Peace is ...the message we speak to those around us. "You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” Acts 10:36

Peace is...the result of our eternal perspective. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

Peace is ...what happens when we allow our minds to be of Christ and the Spirit. "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Peace is ...the way of the righteous. "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever” Isaiah 32:17

Peace is... a blessing from God. Psalms 29:11 ..."The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."

Peace is ...a beautiful prayer for another believer. "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" Hebrews 13:20

Peace is ...to give all our oppressive thoughts and emotions to him.”Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6

Peace is ...God's desire for His church. …”If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18

When we are full of anxiety, fret and stress we prevent this wonderful experience from filling us to its full potential. Not that its not available to us, but when we are using up our senses with those light and momentary things, they arent available to be filled with the calm that comes from our experiencing Christ, the Prince of Peace in us.
Calm, rest, safe, trust ...peace.

Welcome, Ifellowshippers ..I am so glad you are here ..have a very blessed day!

Peace on Purpose

I know alot of us have been thinking in terms of living "purposefully".

I have been doing the same, especially as it relates to my use of God-given resources and the peace that comes from using them well. I am realizing that living simply, peacefully and a life of balance and awareness of God's purpose for us ..takes purpose!

To consider my very personal set of resources, hand picked by God for me ..takes purpose.

Choosing to use those resources in worthy ways ..takes purpose.

Being content with the resources God has given me ..takes purpose.

Basically, a life that is simple and free (or at least freeER) of unnecessary and unworthy stresses ..takes purpose.

Just like when we budget our finances on a monthly basis so that we are able to manage it the best, we need to be aware of how we are using our "everything we need" (2 Peter 1:3) on a daily basis.

It takes purpose to build a schedule that allows for resting our bodies, minds and spirits.

It takes purpose to make time for our husbands and children.

It takes purpose to be less judgemental of ourselves, so that we arent wasting mental and emotional energy on comparing us to others.

It takes purpose to let go of things that are not beneficial to us.

It takes purpose to consider what God wants of us more than what we want of ourselves, or what others make us feel we need to be for them.


To keep the theme going, you cannot expect your stress-less life to simply fall into place by itself.

Without effort you cannot expect your schedule to be open to nurture relationships in your life..

..or your home to suddenly become more ordered for the peace of mind of your family

...or your time with God to passively become a priority

...or find yourself with an abundance of relaxation and rest time for the sake of your body and mind


People who have created lives of simplicity and who balance their godly-assignments with their human resources, do so on purpose. I am working on living more purposefully all the way around ...these resources are too precious to be wasted on who knows what! :)

Portrait of Peace

In studying about peace, I was amazed to see how often Jesus spoke of peace, and how often peace and he were connected to each other throughout scripture.

Even before he was born onto the earth, there was a reference to peace as he was called, "the Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Zachariah, John the Baptist's father, sang a song that referenced both his son and the Son of God...Luke chapter one

^"76And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
⁷⁷to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
⁷⁹to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace."

His legacy of peace began before his life did. He was the son of the God of Peace, afterall.

And, as he ministry began he spoke of peace often to those he ministered to, be they those he healed or his disciples.

Mark 5:34
He said to her, "Daughter, (the woman who touched the edge of his cloak) your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Luke 8:48
Then he said to her, "Daughter (the woman who touched the edge of Jesus' robe), your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

Remember what he said when he was one the boat with His disciples on the Sea of Galilee and a storm suddenly came up? "Peace, be still." Mark 4:39 And the wind and waves obeyed Him.

As Jesus was anticipated bringing his earthly ministry to completion, he assured his disciples

John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 14:27
"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."

Jesus must have had an air of peace about him, dont you think? This fella knew what he was doing, and where he was going. Even as he was distraught in the garden, he prayed that "Not my will, but yours" And when the soldiers and Judas came to take him, he was the picture of calm and peace when he told Judas, to "do what you came to do, Friend."

And, as he stood before those who falsely accused him, he remained quiet in the face of abusive questions (Luke 23:9), and as he was lead away to the cross his peace extended to those around him when he prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

What a picture to imagine that as the sky darkened and Jesus shouted, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," he breathed his last.

When appearing for the first time the the disciples three days later, having overcome the world of death he said to them first, "Peace be with you." Luke 24:36

There are so many instances in the life of Christ that his peace was evident. His life was a portrait of peaceful submission to his Father, and the task to which he was committed.

So also in Christ do we find our own peace, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1

Only in him, Christ our Prince of Peace, can we find that rest in our spirits, and comfort in our souls. Only in him can we find that thing that everyone desires, but we have within our possession as children of the Kingdom.

My prayer for you this day, "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 3:20

Week 4: Prayers of Peace

Its one of the most precious things you can pray for a friend ..this peace that passes all understanding.

To be able to pray that a person feels a sense of godly calm in the face of their struggles, anxiety, fretting, feelings of abandonment or being overwhelmed...what a gift.

I love how frequently Paul mentions peace when he is closing out his letters to the churches and people he loved writing ...

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." I Thessalonians 5:23-24

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

These are precious prayers for the people precious to the heart of a man of God. Are they not still precious when prayed for a fellow mom, sister or friend?

God called the Israelites through the prophet Jeremiah, to pray for their country "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jeremiah 29:7

Praying for peace for a fellow sister or brother in Christ is a blessing indeed. Paul prayed at least one blessing of peace in every one of his letters in the New Testament.

In class last week, we assigned what we called "Peace Partners". These were our fellow sisters, some we may know and some way may not ..but all with whom we share the Spirit. We took one name, and committed to praying for peace for her for the next couple of weeks. I hope that you have been faithful to that promise, because those prayers will reap righteous rewards in their lives. If you werent assigned one, then be assured that anyone you pray for will benefit from your blessings of peace trough Christ.

To borrow from Paul..."Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you" 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Pondering Point: In what areas do you feel like you need a prayer of peace in regarding your life?

Verse of the Week: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 5:1

Discussion Thoughts: Have you experienced a sense of peace in your own life, when you know that its being prayed for either by you or someone else? How do you feel that your peace changed the situation?

Shalom: Peace

The concept of peace has been a thread that has run through the story of God's people since the beginning of time. God, as the God of Peace has been such for his people since he created Israel to bring Him glory through the very peace he gave them.
For them, peace was shalom. For the New Testament Christians, it was eirene. Both carried the meaning of completeness, wholeness; healthy, complete. Shalom also means, "at rest".
In the Old Testament, God instructed his people and blessed His people through peace between the nations around them, and with Himself.
When he blessed them, they were at peace. "And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side." 2 Chronicles 20:30
When they were punished, they were without peace ..." If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. " Isaiah 48:18
In the New Testament, we are called to live in unity through a "bond of peace" (Eph 4:3). And are reminded that we are only to find the peace we seek in Christ Jesus, our Prince of Peace(Romans 5:1).
We are promised peace, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit...Romans 8:6 "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace."
Peace is something that while we all desire it, only those of us who have Christ in us can claim it. Christ is the only way to true peace. This peace is the rest, completeness and health that comes with a sense of all those things on every level of our being. We are at rest in body, mind, spirit and heart. This peace is not dependent on our circumstances, but on the soul level trust in God and his promises.
As Christian women, we have the power within us through the Spirit to rest inside of our many responsibilities and tasks. We are able to find the purpose in all of it, and find comfort in even the most difficult of situations. When we allow the Spirit to fill us, we have the ability to overcome the thoughts and emotions that prevent that sense of well-being (Phil 4:7), to find a place where we are able to experience "peace that passes all understanding."
What a beautiful blessing we have.
May you find your way to peace today. May you be able to put aside the part of you that is preventing you from fully experiencing the peace that is from God. May you allow the Spirit to fill you, by thinking on ", whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy ...and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:7

Week 3: Peace is Good

This week we are focusing on what we gain by decreasing our stress, instead what we are missing by having it! A refreshing change, dont you think?

In class we did alot of scripture referencing, and we want to do no less here.

Peace is something that everyone wants, and those in Christ are promised to have in abundance. Through the Spirit we are able to fill the hole in our spirits that desires peace more than anything. We have peace at our disposal through the God we serve, and the Son who died for us.

Peace is mentioned 247 times in scripture. Of the gifts of the Holy Spirit it is mentioned second only to love. It is referred to in all but one of the books of the New Testament, and all of the letters of Paul. It is an ongoing theme throughout the entire Word of God, mentioned in all but 14 of the 66 books of the Bible. God and Jesus are referred to as the God of Peace, and the Prince of Peace.

What is so great about this thing, called peace?

Peace is...a reflection of God's character in us. "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through." I Thess 5:23

Peace is ...the message we speak to those around us. "You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” Acts 10:36

Peace is...the result of our eternal perspective. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

Peace is ...what happens when we allow our minds to be of Christ and the Spirit. "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Peace is ...the way of the righteous. "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever” Isaiah 32:17

Peace is... a blessing from God. Psalms 29:11 ..."The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."

Peace is ...a beautiful prayer for another believer. "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" Hebrews 13:20

Peace is ...to give all our oppressive thoughts and emotions to him.”Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6

Peace is ...God's desire for His church. …”If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18

There is so much to learn of peace ..and we will keep focusing on learning more about this incredible gift of God in us.

For now, consider that when we are full of anxiety, fret and stress we prevent this wonderful experience from filling us to its full potential. Not that its not available to us, but when we are using up our senses with those light and momentary things, they arent available to be filled with the calm that comes from our experiencing Christ, the Prince of Peace in us.

Calm, rest, safe, trust ...peace.

Ponder Point: What does peace mean to you?

Verse of the Week: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. '" Romans 15:13

Discussion Questions: Do you feel that stress takes away your peace? In what way?

What is Peace?

I think that everyone wants peace ..but do we know for sure what that means?

One thing that we can look at is what peace is not ...

• Peace is not pretending that everything is "fine" ...because things dont have to be "fine" to be at peace.
  
• Peace is not something we can achieve on our own ..its a gift of the Holy Spirit. Its a result of having Christ in our heart, not what we do or dont do
• Peace is not "having it all together" ..because you can be at peace even when things around you are going crazy

Peace is ...

• a result of our perspective that God is bigger than everything we see or experience ..its trusting that God will work it all out ..Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

• a result of allowing the Spirit to reside in your heart ..Romans 8:6 "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace."

• something that is achievable in every situation, in all things ..Philippians 4:12 "...I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

• a feeling that comes from bringing all things to Him Philippians 4: 6-7 " Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

• affected by our thinking "...Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things... And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9

• considered a blessing and gift in scripture ..Psalms 29:11 ..."The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."

• One of the most precious blessings to pray for someone else ..."The LORD bless you and keep you; ²⁵ the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." ' Numbers 6:24-26

This is certainly not an all inclusive list ..I am excited to keep adding to it as I keep learning. Peace is an incredible thing that we have as a resource through life in the Spirit!

Do you have an aspect of peace that you would like to share?

Stress Less for the Kingdom

We have been talking much in our Sunday services and adult classes about our influence for the good of the Kingdom. We are talking about it in context of prayer, and how that can affect the outcomes of those being brought to the Lord.

Also, based on recent conversations with friends, this idea of bringing people to know Christ is one that has been on my mind a lot. I know that I have long thought about what it is that makes people find Christianity appealing from an example perspective. In other words, what do people of "the world" see about Christians that would make them want what we have?

Watching others and how they relate, listening to how they talk not only about Christians but about people in general ..I realize that one thing that people seem to be attracted to is peace. Its joy amidst the struggles, and peace within the chaos that is life. They may not even realize what it is about someone, but that they "handle everything so well" or that "never complain".

I think that our stress levels can really work against our witness when we are in the world, and when we allow them to get to the point that we are not letting that peace shine through.

Thinking about Christians who have influenced you the most in your own life, are they people who seem frazzled, stressed out, constantly worried or anxious? Are they people who are always fretting, or seem on the verge of being out of control? I would guess not.

Peace, as a fruit of the Spirit (the effects of the Holy Spirit being in us, and God working through us) is one that is hard to hide. You cant fake peace (even with a smile on your face, most people can see through it) and true peace is something that is obvious to christians and non-christians alike.

I am not the best a sitting down with someone and reading scripture to them. But, I would hope that God in my life is expressed through the ability to remain peaceful even when things seem out of control. Afterall, its not me but the Spirit in me.

If however, I let myself be stressed to the max all the time, and that becomes what people see instead of the peace that underlies it ..what is that saying about God in my own life?

Why would they want that? How is that any different from any other person in the world today? ..from their perspective, there isnt much of one.

I think that peace speaks to those around us, and by decreasing the amount of stress we have in our lives and really seeking that peacefulness in our spirits we are making powerful our effectiveness as Christians for the Kingdom.