Give Peace A Chance

 

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Give Peace A Chance

 

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Give Peace A Chance

 

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Give Peace A Chance

 

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Give Peace A Chance

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Give Peace A Chance

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Give Peace A Chance

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Give Peace A Chance

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Give Peace A Chance

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Give Peace A Chance

To be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:6

A common misconception of Christian believers is that we are isolated from what's going on in the world around us.  For instance, I was recently talking to a good friend and was trying to lift their spirits with words of encouragement.  No matter what I said, there was always another excuse and much of the conversation was dominated by the typical "woe is me" talk.  Sadly, my friend wouldn't listen to  anything I said as it pertained to matters of faith...

The truth about followers of Christ is they too also experience disappointment and hurt just like everyone else.  We also face temptations on a regular basis. The biggest difference is that when our peace is disrupted with havoc and chaos, we don't stay down for long.

Believers are filled with the Spirit, so we are able to refocus our attention on the bigger picture and acknowledge the truth that our peace comes from God.

Get Closer

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.  James 4:8

As challenging and cumbersome as my career has become in lieu of health care reform legislation, one of the perks to working as an insurance broker is being offered the occasional ticket to see a concert or attend a sporting event.  I must say, that I have always enjoyed music, specifically live music, so it’s rare that I would ever hesitate to go to an event.

As believers in the body of Christ, each one of us has also been given a ‘free pass’ through our faith, to enjoy and be in God’s presence. It’s when we put our faith and trust in Jesus that we can enter God’s presence with utmost confidence.

The closer we come to God, the closer he draws to us!  Thanks be to God!!

Home At Last

You go before me and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head…I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence!  Psalm 139:5-7

There is no greater feeling in the world than being welcomed home by your family after a long day at work.  I have always heard the saying “being away makes the heart grow fonder.”  While this may be true in most relationships, the one relationship that this does not apply to is our relationship with God.

You see, when you have a relationship with God, His presence is always with you.  When you truly believe this wonderful promise, you will begin to see the events in your life as evidence of His presence with you.

Open your heart and allow God to be a part of your life.  He desires to open the flood gate of His blessings and express His love for you, every minute of every day.  You are never alone!

Always Something There To Remind Me

You go before me and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head…I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence!  Psalm 139: 5-7

The deeper my relationship with God grows and the stronger I my faith becomes, I am more aware of His presence around me at all times.  God’s Word promises each of us that when we have a relationship with God, His presence is always with us.

The people that we meet and the events that take place in our lives simply do not happen by chance.  For instance, you could meet someone at a random place, such as the gym or at a restaurant, and being aware that God is always present, you must look beyond the surface to see if God has placed this person in your path for a specific reason.   The same holds true for events.   Seasons of waiting help refine our faith and while God rarely answers our prayers in the ways we want, He never fails to answer them in the ways that we need.

When you believe this promise of His presence, you will experience His love for you and receive His many blessings.

Rescue Me

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.  I will protect those who trust in my name.  When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue and honor them.  I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”  Psalm 91:14-16

It’s hard for me not to feel a sense of peace and comfort when reading the above scripture from Psalms.

Simply stated, God loves us because he made us.  Contrary to some schools of thought, we are not just creatures that randomly evolved, but are instead created in God’s image so that we could have a relationship with Him.

God does not only want a relationship with ‘church people’ or the religious elite; but with ALL people.  Yes, you read that last statement correctly, the Creator of the Universe desires your love and friendship and is, in fact, pursuing it now.

We must stop running from Him and discover the purpose in which He made us.

Get Closer

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.  James 4:8

As difficult and cumbersome as my career has become in lieu of health care reform legislation, one of the perks to working as an insurance broker is being offered the occasional ticket to see a concert or attend a sporting event.  I must say, that I have always enjoyed music, specifically live music, so it’s rare that I would ever hesitate to go to an event. 

As believers in the body of Christ, each one of us has also been given a ‘free pass’ through our faith, to enjoy and be in God’s presence. It’s when we put our faith and trust in Jesus that we can enter God’s presence with utmost confidence. 

The closer we come to God, the closer he draws to us!  Thanks be to God!!

A Day In The Life

The Lord is both kind and fair; that is why He teaches sinners the right way to live...The Lord shows His faithful followers the way they should live...I continually look to the Lord for help, for He will free my feet from the enemy's net. (Psalms 25:8,12,15)

Being brutally honest about my Spiritual life the past few weeks, I would say that I have been on "automatic pilot" and have just been going through the motions with God.  I have rushed through my daily Bible reading or have been skipping my nightly prayer before I go to sleep at night and probably sound like what my dad used to call, "a broken record," repeating the same prayers and petitions over and over to God when I do pray in the mornings. 

It's when we go through our daily routine without recognizing God's presence in our lives, that we miss out on the peace that He gives to each of us.  Let's face it, there is no "stress-free" job or career out there.  (If there is, someone please let me know!)  Add a family and finances to your worklife and it's easy to become consumed and forget who's really in control.  God is in control.  God is also right there with you on the most mundane days and also the most stressful ones. 

Make the time, if only for just a few moments, before you go to bed to reflect on your day.  Look closely, and you will undoubtedly see that God has been with you every step of the way.  Understanding His presence in our lives helps us to get out of the rut of just 'going through the motions' and helps us to live in His perfect peace and wisdom.