Peace.  We all want it.

Peace for the world.  Peace in our hearts.  Peace in our homes.  Peace in our relationships.

 

 

Often, our struggle looks like the kitty here.

 

 

Let’s take some time together for a few reflections on peace.

 

For several years, I hosted an annual Christmas open house in my home.

One of the attendees had been there for quite a while when she said to me, “I love being in your home, it’s so peaceful.”

How is it that my home was a peaceful place when ladies were coming and going and eating and laughing and chatting?  That doesn’t seem very peaceful, does it?

This lovely woman was hungry for peace.

God wants us to experience His peace.  The peace that passes understanding, so when He sent His son to into the world He sent to us The Prince of Peace… Jesus.

For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6

Jesus IS our peace.  The Prince of Peace is our ultimate source of peace.

But… how do we get from Jesus being our peace to actually living a peaceful life?

 

How in this tumultuous unpeaceful world can we have peace?

We have to receive it.

 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” 
John 14:27

 

 

I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to make things complicated. I don’t mean to… I just do.

The longer I live the more I’ve come to realize that God doesn’t make things complicated for us.  We do.

The peace we long for comes as a gift.  And long ago it came as a priceless gift wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Within this incredible gift, we have an amazing blessing…

For God’s secret plan, now at last made known, is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the mighty, untapped treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:2-3

The peace that we so badly want for our lives and our world IS Christ.

We must choose to receive HIM… follow Him… trust Him… make Him our source for living.

Just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with him.  Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done.
Colossians 2:6-7

 

When our hearts and lives are rooted in Christ we give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to work in our hearts…

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23

One of the fruits of the Spirit’s work in our lives is PEACE.

That means that we become peacemakers, peace-givers.

 

Remember  the gal who attended my Christmas open house?

That wasn’t the only time someone mentioned the peace they felt when they were in my home.

It struck me… what each guest was sensing was the Spirit of the Lord.  He was there and they sensed His goodness, grace, and peace.

 

 

Our world may be filled with unrest, turmoil, and the lack of peace.

But this Christmas… you can bring peace to that broken hurting unpeaceful world.

And you can do it by stepping out of the busyness for a bit.  Taking time to reflect on your heart and on the gift you’ve been given.

You see this season of Advent is a little bit like Lent.

 

I don't think we're supposed to arrive at Christmas as if we were on a roller coaster making a downhill decent, sliding into the 25th of December with a screeching halt. Click To Tweet

 

I don’t think we’re supposed to arrive at Christmas as if we were on a roller coaster making a downhill decent, sliding into the 25th of December with a screeching halt.  Instead, I think that we need to purposefully decide to create times in our day to pause and reflect and meditate.

Some things to reflect on…

• Have you actually received the gift of Jesus that God has given you? (If you have not… do that now…  Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Guide and Peace.  Ask Him to forgive you for all the bad or wrong things you’ve done.  Ask Him to help you live His way… getting all your nourishment direction for life from Him. And thank Him for this amazing gift of New LIFE in Him.)
• If you have received God’s gift… are you following Him or making your own way?
• Are you rooting yourself in the Lord and in the Bible or are you too busy?
• Is He your source for living or do you look for answers and direction elsewhere?
• Are you allowing Jesus to influence your heart and mind in all matters of daily life?
• Are you developing a heart of gratitude?
• Would others be able to look at your life and say that they see fruit… love, joy, peace, patience….?

 

 

Because of Christ living in you… you can bring God’s perfect peace wherever you go.

Don’t let the craziness of the season rob you of your peace.

Make it a point to take some time to pause, reflect, meditate, and set your heart roots deep.

His peace will come and fill you and…

Experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

Peace…

Take time to receive God’s gift of Peace and share it with others.

May this be the Christmas when you are overwhelmed with Peace.

 

More Articles on Peace…

 Chaos? Stress? Anxiety? Or True Peace?

Light the Candle of Peace

Cleaning “House” for Christmas

 

 

It’s JoyDay!

And time to get our joy meters soaring!

Please join me in thinking back over the past week and counting seven things for which you are thankful.  This simple exercise of counting and giving thanks together in this space is something we do each week to reset our compasses and put our eyes back on the Lord.

I’ll start…

Thank you, God…

1. for your love sending us the Prince of Peace and filling our hearts with the peace that passes understanding.
2. for a very busy and productive week.
3. for meeting our needs in unexpected ways.
4. for the beauty of our first snow of the season… and for its lateness.
5. for the beauties you created in nature and the joy you’ve placed in our hearts when we get to enjoy it… if only for a little while.
6. for the joy of friendship.
7. for holding on to us and never letting go.

Now…it’s YOUR turn!

List your ‘seven’ in the ‘share your extraordinary thoughts’ section below.  You’ll be glad you did.

 

If you don’t have an advent wreath… you can quickly put together one like these…

Easy to Make an Advent Candle Wreath | Celebrate Christmas with Peace and Purpose

How to Make Coastal Advent Candles :: Preparing My Heart for Christmas

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your sweet thoughts.

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