Want a “peace” of this?
Most of us feel as though we just couldn’t fit another activity or another person into our lives. Rather than living a life we enjoy, our lives seem like a bag stuffed to its brim, ripping at the seams, and like a ball rushing and spiraling down a steep hill. Oh where, oh where, will it all stop? As much as we gripe and complain about all we have to do we still manage to squeeze in the next emergency or favor for someone that was not on the list. At the end of our busy days, we might breathe deep releasing anguish, sigh in exasperation, cry to express our emotions, laugh to bring relief to a heavy heart, feel dead and void that tells of our sadness or depression, and on some unique days feel somewhat content and accomplished.
But at the end of the day what brings you peace? For that matter what gives you peace in the morning, at the peak of day, at your most trying times, and at rest. “Peace,” you ask? “Can I buy that? Does it come in a bottle by the gallon?” Many of us do not know where to obtain it. We might jokingly and superficially question, “Really, where do I find it? Is it in my workplace, my head, at home, on the telephone, in my bed, at the market, in the car, in the shopping mall, in my pocket, or on my nose? Where?”
Society does not spend their time seeking peace. You might say we seek chaos. Yes “chaos.” Chaos is disorder, confusion, commotion, disarray, turmoil, madness, mess, unruliness, shall I go on? The funny part is that these things are hard to live with and unwelcoming, yet we choose to greet madness over peace, simplicity, and righteousness.
It is easier to ignore something that is not jumping up and hitting us in the face. It’s easier to remain the same, because we know “we can do that”! Jesus is our source of peace and He is not into violence. In fact, he suffered at our hands and didn’t fight. No, He’s a different sort. He’s waiting for you to come and when you are ready “He will bring you rest.”
Peace is missing from this world’s people. It has not found its way or been accepted into enough hearts. Peace may be what you just might be lacking too. Your heart ironically was designed by a “special heart maker.” He’s the cream of the crop in his field. His name is God. You might have heard about Him. There are many books written about Him. This same “heart maker” is also a fabulous “gift giver” and is very generous. You should get to know Him too! Amazingly enough, He made the heart so that it would know love at its greatest and would find peace in everyday. It has the potential to beat at a healthy steady pace and to keep a rhythm and warm spiritual feeling that is music to God’s ears and incredibly produces an abundance of grace from His heart. This heart if used properly would avoid many less than desirable heartaches and surely would make resting at night a breeze. Did you know that our special hearts have a special feature. They easily adapt to change and accept goodness whole-heartedly (No pun intended J.). In fact, goodness makes them flourish. However, unbeknownst to us, it is being limited and constricted by the way we live our lives.
Wonderful peace comes at the expense of giving up trials, grief, worries, sadness, busyness, and gossiping. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Peace is calm, quiet, stillness, tranquility, silence, harmony, and serenity. Do you think you might be ready for a different way of living? Do you think you might know why you don’t know it? Why you don’t experience it? Do ya think it’s something you might want a whole lot of? Ughhh, yeah!
This generation is at a wonderful crossroads in time. We have the luxury of learning and knowing the church’s history. We have modern technology that puts information at our finger tips and wonderful historians and writers who have documented our faith so that we would have truth and the answers at hand.
It’s time people for a bona fide “time out”. It’s time to get to know Jesus! He is the Prince of Peace! Jesus came so that we might have hope, love, true happiness and an eternal life (of course “eternal” comes after this life).
So where do you find Jesus? Well, you can call on him in your workplace, in your head, at home, on the telephone, in your bed, at the market, in the car, and in the shopping mall. (Well maybe not in your pocket or your nose.) Jesus is everywhere and is tuned in to you 24/7.
Jesus worked on generations of people to build churches so that you could spend time with Him. Have you spent time in one lately? He’s also touched many hearts with “a calling” to His work. These “called individuals” conduct bible studies, organize and keep motivated groups of faith and church ministries to help others.
You too have “a calling” but you’ve been too busy to hear, see and feel it. Take time out for you and find peace and discover “your calling.” Finding peace will not take away things from your “to do” list, but it will put life’s priorities into perspective. You will learn to eliminate useless worries, tasks that are time wasters and will be able to better focus on enjoying your life. One more thing that you will notice. You will be drawn to a whole group of people whom you’ve never noticed before and will become aware that they noticeably “seem different and happy.”
In church every Sunday, there are passages shared from the bible that tells us about the past. Take that message and keep it in your heart, in your thoughts, and in your actions all week. Use different resources to obtain readings that you can incorporate daily into your life. Be mindful of the day that these wonderful actions become habit. Imagine the day when Jesus is your biggest influence. Someone one day will say to you, “You seem different. How are you doing?” You will smile and respond, “I am fabulous. Life is good. I am happy, thankful, and grateful for all my blessings.” It will be then, in that moment, and many other moments and times in your life that you will know that you have found PEACE!
Peace be with you! With out new hearts, let us go in love and serve the Lord!
Inspired by 1 Sm. 3:1-0, 19-20
During the time young Samuel was minister to the Lord under Eli, a revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent. One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was. The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”
Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. Again the Lord called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” Bu Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to him as yet. The Lord called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me. Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth. So Eli said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the Lord came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. Thus all Israel from Dan to Beersheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the Lord.
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