Holy Living

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Peace Carriers

“Blessed are the peacemakers.” I used to think this was about dignitaries who negotiated ends to wars, counselors who sought conflict resolution between fighting parties, or mothers who settled arguments between their children.

But I am beginning to see peacemaking in an entirely different way. Maybe it means, in part, carrying such a deep quietness within ourselves, that an atmosphere of peace is with us wherever we go.

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“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” – Isaiah 26:3

How can we carry peace in our demeanor, our conversations, and our relationships? Only one way: By being totally, completely connected to God. By living in a trust relationship with Him, letting Him carry our burdens and direct our steps. By talking to Him, listening for direction, then calmly doing the next right thing.

If we become peace carriers, we will find these things to be true over time:

  • We project a quiet confidence.
  • The room becomes calmer when we enter it.
  • People feel emotionally safe with us.
  • Our peace draws others to Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Peace carriers stand out in the stressful world around us. Many people we know live in a constant state of anxiety. Maybe we can show them, even if just a little bit, the unexplainable, but amazing, peace that comes from knowing and following God.

“Live and abide in My words so others will feel safe in My presence.” – Macrina Wiederkehr

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Feeling Guilty?

“. . . return to your God!  You’re down but you’re not out.  Prepare your confession and come back to God. . . I will heal their waywardness.  I will love them lavishly.” (Hosea 14:1-2;4 The Message)

“Prepare your confession and come back to God. . . I will heal their waywardness.  I will love them lavishly.” (Hosea 14:2;4 MSG)

Years ago, a father went to Madrid searching for his son from whom he had been estranged since Paco left their quiet home for the allure of the big city. Discouraged in his unsuccessful search, the father placed a short ad in the city paper: “Paco, meet me at the Hotel Montana. Noon Tuesday. All is forgiven. Papa.” When the father arrived at the hotel that day, he was greeted by a waiting crowd of young men, all named Paco, all looking for forgiveness.*

We need it, too, don’t we? And we can have it. We don’t have to live with guilt any longer. We can be freed from our past and forgiven completely. Here’s how:

  1. In a quiet time before God, we take full responsibility for what we have done. No excuses. We allow the Spirit to show us our faults and we experience true sorrow for our actions and the pain they have caused God and others.
  2. We confess our actions or attitudes as sinful and we ask God’s forgiveness. He may or may not direct us to seek the forgiveness of another person as well. If He does, we obey.
  3. We celebrate. At that point, we are free, happy, and beginning to experience the wholeness God has promised those who stay near His heart, living in forgiveness.

Like Paco, forgiveness is already ours. We just have to show up before our Father and receive it. Today would be a good day to do just that.

“My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.”  – Brennan Manning

 

 

*Story attributed to Ernest Hemingway; I’ve not been able to verify.

Paying Taxes

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." - Zechariah 4:6b

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.'” – Genesis 1:27

When the religious leaders asked Him if it was right for them to pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus asked them to show Him a coin. He looked at it and then asked, “Whose image is on it?”

When they said “Caesar’s”, He said, in essence, “Then it must belong to him. Give it to Caesar.” Then came the zinger, “And give to God what is God’s.”

Caesar had claimed a right to the money by stamping his image on it. God has claimed His right to every human being by stamping His image on us. In God’s eyes the money doesn’t matter – give the government what is owed.

But, people! Oh how much each of us matters to God.

We belong to Him! He has made us, stamped us, sealed us, and written His name on us. We belong to Him, to His family, and to His kingdom. So, let’s pay our taxes. After all, we are simply giving money to the government. But we do not give ourselves to anyone but God. We are His.

Somehow, that puts lots of things into perspective for me. Belonging to God keeps me above the fray and gives me security, dignity, peace, and joy. Makes me want to do something good for Him today.

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. . . and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. – Colossians 3:10

 

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.  – Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897

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Becoming Prayer

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“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2

When I am rightly tuned in to God, I find myself praying all day long. I ask Him for direction, thank Him for the wonders I see in His world, ask Him to bless the person ahead of me in line at the bank, pray for the people involved in the situation wherever the ambulance is going, receive everything as a gift from Him, and talk to Him as I would a friend if there is something troubling me.

It doesn’t happen every day, but I wish it would. Those days have a sweetness and satisfaction that can’t be rivaled by anything else I know.

When I found this ancient prayer, I realized it expressed my heart’s desire. Praying it seems to reconnect me to my Creator. Maybe it will help you, too.

“Holy Spirit dwell in me,
that I may become prayer.
Whether I sleep or wake,
eat or drink
labor or rest,
may the fragrance of prayer
rise, without effort, in my heart.
Purify my soul and never leave me,
so that the movements of my heart and mind
may, with voices full of sweetness,
sing in secret to God.” – St. Isaac the Syrian

 

 

 

Prayer from The Book of a Thousand Prayers, compiled byAngela Ashwin, Zondervan, 1966, p. 19.

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A No-Hurry Day

I’m having a “no-hurry” day today. That means I didn’t jump out of bed the minute I woke up. I stayed still for ten minutes saying good morning to God.

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“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty.” – Psalm 91:1

Then, as I begin my day, I resolve to

  • Drive in the right-hand lane.
  • Walk at a relaxed pace.
  • Read instead of scan.
  • Speak more slowly.
  • Taste my food.
  • Wait in line without fidgeting.
  • Avoid multi-tasking.

A no-hurry day allows God to speak peace to my soul. It’s OK to slow down sometimes, to not take control of every situation, to let others lead, and to yield every moment, every task, and every relationship to God’s oversight. Try it. You may be surprised at how little time you lose by not hurrying and at how much more fun you have along the way.

“When the soul is understood and attended to, we can be liberated from hurry, preoccupation, unsatisfied desires, and chronic discontent”.  – John Ortberg

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Overwhelmed?

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." - Micah 7:7

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” – Micah 7:7

“They do not cry to Me from their hearts, but they wail upon their beds.” (Hosea 7:14)

Can we relate to God’s people in this verse? They had allowed their desperation to throw them into a downward emotional spiral and there seemed no way out. It happens to all of us at times. But we don’t have to stay there.

Do you see the alternative God gives? He invites us to cry to Him from our hearts. How do we do that? We get out of our beds, move intentionally into His presence, look at Him, pause, and realize who He is. Then, we are ready for heartfelt prayer. When the focus is on Him and not on us, we turn our situation over to the One who loves us completely and the only One who can actually do something about the problems we face.

Then, over time, we find the Holy Spirit makes a great exchange for us.

  • He takes our anxiety and gives us peace.
  • He takes our self-pity and gives us trust.
  • He takes our desperation and gives us hope.

We get to choose: Wailing? Or honest prayer? God is waiting at this very moment to hear the cries of our heart.

“God wants to completely fill you and unite Himself to you. Let the vain, complaining babble of self-love be silenced so that in the stillness of the heart you may listen to the love of God.” – Francois de Fenelon

 

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Mosaic Jesus

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“I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing . . . before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing: Salvation to our God on his Throne! Salvation to the Lamb!” – Revelation 7:9-10 (The Message)

Nataly is a friend of mine who is a mosaic artist and teacher. We were talking with some women one day about how, as Christians, we are a reflection of Jesus to those around us. Nataly thought for a moment then said, “But we each show just part of the image of Christ as if each of us is one piece of a great mosaic. Every chard, shape, and color is needed to present a complete picture of who Jesus is.”

That concept resonated with me. Jesus is so far beyond human understanding and so complex in His person, than none of us alone could possibly reveal Him accurately or fully. But joined together, with our various colors, shapes, and uniquenesses, we can give the world a more complete picture of the beauty and glory of God in the person of Jesus.

So we shouldn’t feel inadequate or unable to be Jesus to those around us. We just need to remind ourselves that we need each other to bear His image as He deserves and in ways that the world can recognize and receive.

I never would have thought of that, but Nataly did and I just had to share it with you as we join in the goal of reflecting His image today!

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? – A. W. Tozer

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Being Still

"Do everything with the awareness that you are acting before God and for His sake. At the sight of God's majesty, calmness and well-being should fill your spirit." - Fenelon

“At the sight of God’s majesty, calmness and well-being should fill your spirit.” -Francois de Fenelon

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Have you ever tried being still? It’s hard to do! When I was talking to God about that one day, it felt like He was telling me that I was going at it backwards: I was trying to be still so I could know Him. He wants me to know Him so I can be still.

“When you know that I am God, you will be still.

Behold Me. Look at Me. See Me for who I am.

You will find I am much, infinitely much, bigger than finances, accidents, cancer, relationships with toxic people, or any other problem you face.

I am God. Just stop for a few minutes and think about who I am. Being still is the only possible response to My glory.”

It seems that the secret of being still in God’s presence is beginning to understand who He really is. When we stop to view Him with amazement and wonder; when we accept the mystery of what we do not know of Him; and when we begin to glimpse His holiness, power, and love, the issues of our lives fade away and awed stillness is our only possible reaction.

Try changing your focus from your restlessness to God’s greatness and see what happens. It helps me a lot!

“Collect yourself in His presence with the one purpose and intent of loving Him.” – Michael Molinos

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Feed Me.

My husband had a cocker spaniel who would come running every time he entered the front door. Why? Because Lady knew he would have treats for her in his coat pocket. He earned her devotion with Milk Bones!

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“Give us this day our daily bread.” – Matthew 6:11

Where do you get the nourishment for your soul? It may be from another’s approval, mind-numbing habits, enjoyment of creation, art, or music, or new accomplishments. These may not be bad things in themselves, but are they meeting your deepest hungers? Probably not.

Maybe more importantly, we must realize that the source of our nourishment will have control over us.

While the people of Israel were totally dependent on God for manna, staying close to Him was fairly easy. But He warned that the danger would come when they entered the land, grew their own wheat, and made their own bread. Self-sufficiency breeds independence. I dare say that if Lady had her own Milk Bone supply, she would have been less attentive when the door opened!

If we see God as the only One who can satisfy our souls’ true hunger, we will never want to give up control to another’s approval or our own attempts at satisfaction. Instead, when we find that God’s Spirit ministers to our spirits, our souls are nourished and at rest.  Maybe that’s why He wants us to ask for our bread every day – so we remember that only He can fill our deepest hunger.

I hunger and I thirst;
Jesus, my manna be;
Ye living waters, burst
Out of the rock for me.

Thou bruised and broken Bread,
My lifelong wants supply;
As living souls are fed,
O feed me, or I die.*

*John S. B. Monsell, 1866

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Feelings Matter

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“As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” – Proverbs 27:19

How are you feeling right now? Mad? Sad? Glad? Bad? Sometimes we have to stop and identify our gut reaction to an event or circumstance in our lives. Why? Because it matters to our spiritual health.

God wants us to love Him with our total beings: mind, soul, mind, strength. That “soul” part is emotional. In my soul-focused journey, here’s what I am figuring out so far:

Feelings . . .
. . . help us become aware of God’s  specially-designed ways of calling each of us to Himself.

. . . encourage us to do more of what leads us toward God and joy.

. . . lead us to do less of what leads to sorrow and anxiety.

. . . help us see the difference between good and evil influences.

. . . bring vitality to intimate times with Christ.

One thing that helps me to learn from my emotions is to find time in the evening to review the events of the day in God’s presence asking questions like these:

  • When today did I feel most alive?
  • Was there a time when God felt especially close?
  • What activity or event brought about the deepest emotional response?

Then, I ask myself these questions:

  • What did I observe today that must be faced, embraced, or acted upon?
  • What do I feel God is calling me to do more of? Less of?

Emotions are one part of the way in which God directs our lives. Our feelings matter to us and they matter to Him.

So, what are you feeling today?

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart” – – Helen Keller