Making Peace - being at Peace

When Paul wrote these words, we know that they come from his own personal experience: 

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” – Romans 5:1

It seems that one of the things that alludes many faith seekers is a genuine Peace with God. We try our best to please God with all kinds of religious practices and rituals, but these don't always give us peace. 

I guess that Paul could speak from both perspectives - from being zealous and obeying all religious laws, to really knowing authentic PEACE with God.

"So, since we have come to be considered righteous by God because of our trust, let us continue to have shalom with God through our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah." - Complete Jewish Bible

So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." - The Living Bible

Prayer: Ask God to give you his genuine peace, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Living in grace

D3LM3

The presence of Christ in the midst of your storm

In Mark's gospel there is a lovely narrative about the disciple's experience in a fierce storm (Mark 4:35-41). Their ordinary sailing trip across the Sea of Galilee soon becomes a nightmare. And in their panic, they call out to Jesus, "help us", "we are drowning!"

Mark tells us that Jesus calms the storm with a command and the disciples are amazed what this miracle. Maybe they were only calling Jesus to help them bail out the water in the boat - they needed all hands-on deck - and Jesus superseded their request. He actually had authority over the wind and waves!

Let us remember that when we are confronted by storms in our lives, that Jesus is present with us. Sometimes he may give us the strength we need to keep sailing, but other times he may grant us a miracle.

Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.

Psalm 46:1-2 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.”

Living in Grace

D3LM3

In Christ Alone

I was grateful for the words of 'In Christ Alone' this past week. It is wonderful how the lyrics and melody of songs have the ability to speak into our lives. Here are the words of the first verse of this song:

“In Christ alone, my hope is found:
He is the light, my strength, my song.
This cornerstone, this Solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease,
My comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.” – Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

May you find deep security in the presence of Jesus Christ. Our Hope is found in Him.

If you would like to listen to the song, please click here

Living in Grace

D3LM3

How can we sing?

Singing is often connected to a state of joy - although not always, but it is a lot easier to raise your voice when you are feeling joyful. Zephaniah urges God's people to sing and shout aloud, despite their present circumstances. He says: 

"Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm." - Zephaniah 3:14-15

As if Zephaniah hears the question from the people, "why should we sing", he gives them a few reasons why they must lift their voices:

1. The Lord has taken away your punishment
2. God has turned back our enemy.
3. God is with us.
4. We don't need to fear anything anymore.

As you contemplate the words of Zephaniah, may you know the peace of Christ upon you.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees

In sharing on Hebrews 12 this week, I definitely feel that verse 12and 13 are my highlights. I offer them to you and pray that they may be a blessing to you.

"Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. (NIV)

"So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. (NLT)

"So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!" (The Message)

I pray that God would strength your tired hands and shaky knees. May you know his strength as you walk forward in faith. 

If you would like to listen to the audio podcast of the Bible Study, you are welcome to click here.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Becoming an instrument of peace

What does it mean to seek Peace? What did Jesus really mean when he said: "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

Over the next few posts, we will explore a little more around this topic, but perhaps the best place to start is to reflect on these familiar words first:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (Saint Francis of Assisi)

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Take my hand

There are many stories of how difficult circumstances have birthed songs, books or poems. The songwriter, Thomas Dorsey, wrote the words to "Precious Lord, take my hand", after hearing of the tragic death of his wife and infant son. I can't imagine the pain he must have been experiencing, but I find it remarkable how he was able to put his emotions into these words. I believe that these words can offer us all some hope and courage in our own times of difficulty. 

Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:

Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river, I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:

Psalm 73:23 - Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

A prayer for the night

There are many wonderful and insightful prayers that come to us from the Celtic tradition. Here is one entitled: A Celtic Night Prayer (written by Beth Maxwell Boyle).  

"Creator God who upholds me,
Send your peace to sooth me,
When this world and its troubles,
Press hard down upon me.

Like a fair breeze from the south,
Your words they comfort me.
They make me long each day,
For everlasting justice and peace.

You alone have the wisdom of the ages,
You alone understand my heart.
Please Holy One give me rest and repose,
Give me the peace that only you can grant.

Give me repose this night and every night.
In the name of the Lamb,
The redeemer and the comforter,
Christ our King. 

Amen."

Psalm 42:8 - By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

 Prayer

r God who upholds me,
nd your peace to sooth me,
When this world and its troubles,
Press hard down upon me.

Like a fair breeze from the south,
Your words they comfort me.
They make me long each day,
For everlasting justice and peace.

You alone have the wisdom of the ages,
You alone understand my heart.
Please Holy One give me rest and repose,
Give me the peace that only you can grant.

Give me repose this night and every night.
In the name of the Lamb,
The redeemer and the comforter,
Christ our King.

Amen

​

By Beth Maxwell Boyle

Praying for Peace - the last word of History

When confronted by conflict, war and turmoil, Peace often seems the furthest thing from our minds, yet it is a Hope that stirs deep in our bellies. We know that war, revenge and terrorism is not the answer to our problems - if it were, then we would have settled all our disputes thousands of years ago. 

Peace is the elusive gift we long for, pray for and believe will eventually be experienced.

As Christians, we are called to be agents of peace, yet we so often become vessels of division, polarization and self-righteousness. I am challenged by this prayer from John Paul II, which he offered to the Church in 1978.

"Peace is our work: it calls for our courageous and united action. But it is inseparably and above all a gift of God: it requires our prayer. Christians must be in the first rank of those who pray daily for peace. They must also teach others to pray for peace. To everyone, Christians, believers, and men and women of good will, I say: Do not be afraid to take a chance on peace, to teach peace. 

The aspiration for peace will not be disappointed forever. Work for peace, inspired by charity which does not pass away, will produce its fruits. Peace will be the last word of History."

I love that last sentence: Peace will be the last word of HISTORY!

I believe that to be true, because I believe that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. When he comes again, He will be the last word of History. Peace.

John 16:33 - "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Action: Let us join together to pray for peace in our troubled world!

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Inspiration from Martin Luther King

When remarkable people die the world searches for ways to remember them. Perhaps it is not just about keeping their memory alive, but rather about recapturing the legacy they leave for all of us. The third Monday of January is marked as Martin Luther King Day, in memory of the civil rights leader, who fought for racial equality in America. 

When one reads some of his inspiring words, one can't help but feel compelled to make the world a little better. I have chosen a few of his quotes that must have been inspired by his strong faith and his belief in Jesus Christ.

“I have decided to stick to love...Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”

Thought: We may not get the chance to share our faith in speeches or sermons, but we all get the chance to honour Christ with our lives. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The Lord is ....

In times of great uncertainty and distress it is good to hold onto the promise that God IS our guiding Light and the One who comes to our rescue. There is no question about it - this is a true reality of Christ's birth, and the miracle is that we are invited to be a part of this gift. 

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27

May you know the guidance of the Light of the World this Christmas season and may you find God's strength carrying you into the New Year.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Beautiful gifts come in small packages

"In telling the Christmas story, the Gospel writers remind us that when things seem darkest, joy can come in unexpected places and small packages. Children remind us of the joy of playing, giving, learning, and loving. In the presence of such joy, our inner child can awaken our Christ nature and then the Messiah is truly born.

Christmas is not an event that happens only in December or 2,000 years ago in Palestine. Christmas happens as we open to the possibility of hope, when we live in the understanding of peace, and when we give love." - Rev. Kevin Daigle

Luke 2:12 - This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

May we not fall into the trap of believing that the 'biggest gifts' are the best. The smallest of children have changed the world. One child offered hope to millions of people - his name is Jesus. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

In conflict with ourselves, but at Peace with God.

In sharing about the PEACE that Christ gives to the world, I have been caught up in thinking how many people refuse to love themselves. Of course, there are plenty of people who have no problem with this (loving themselves), but there are millions of people who struggle to love who they are. There are a myriad of reasons for this, but in essence, the truth still stands - we are often in conflict with ourselves.

In response to this, Jesus says in John 16:33:

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (NIV)

Complete Jewish Bible - “I have said these things to you so that, united with me, you may have shalom. In the world, you have tsuris (distress). But be brave! I have conquered the world!”

The starting point for our peace is to know Jesus. We can experience true Shalom when we know that we are loved by Jesus.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Not just for me!

Many people are hell-bent on taking care of Number One (themselves). We note that a large majority of our world live with 'blinkers' on and try to appease only themselves. As Christians, we have to fight against this urge the whole time - it is like swimming upstream. Jesus teaches us to love our neighbour and to serve our fellow man/woman, but this is tough to do.

Advent offers us a different perspective on 'giving' and 'sharing.' So, we look to God as the source of all goodness and mercy - and then we should make an appropriate response. 

God gave us Jesus and he then invited us into his abundant mercy. However, this mercy, hope and peace are not just for us to keep (for ourselves), but to offer to others. 

“Advent challenges us to live in the present moment as agents of this future hope. We can begin to share this hope wherever we find despair and discouragement.” – Trevor Hudson

2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

An amazing story of hope

What amazes you about this story?

"When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.  “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." - Matthew 8:5-10

As I read this, I am taken aback by Jesus' willingness to engage with all people. This centurion was not Jewish, but he was desperate for help. He put aside his pride, position and honour to beg Jesus for help. And in return, Jesus sees into his heart and offers help.

Question: If Jesus could see into your heart today, what would he see?

What 'big' request do you have today? Are you willing to ask Jesus for help?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

St Francis of Assisi - words of wisdom

At this time of the year many people in Church circles remember St Francis of Assisi. His ministry left an indelible mark on the church and changed the lives of many outside the formal structures of the faith. It is hard to sum up the many aspects of his life, but one gets some idea of his heart when we reflect on his wise words:

It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.

While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.

Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received - only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.

May we do all we can to live our lives to the Glory of God.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." - Psalm 37:23-24

Life with God

"Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties." - C.S. Lewis

Jesus said the same thing 2000 years before C.S. Lewis, but this is still a hard reality for us to grasp.

“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 16:33

Jesus makes it clear that we will face difficulties, but that we will find our deepest peace in Him, and not in anything else.

May we learn to 'take heart' in the One who brings us Peace.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The illusive gift

If you hadn't realised it as yet, the world offers us many gifts to try and appease our feelings of unease. These take the form of many disguises and facades, but in the end, they usually fail to meet our deepest needs. Jesus steps into the fray and offers us something remarkably life-giving - it is the gift of himself. 

"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." - John 14:27

In my experience, the PEACE that we are invited to share, is not just a 'feeling', but a relationship with the ONE who is PEACE personified.

What do you feel?

Where do you find your peace? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Being prayed for

There is something special about knowing that people are praying for you. It gives you a sense of hope and support. However, how does it make you feel when you consider that Jesus prays for us? Read these words from John 17:

"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message." - John 17: 20

Romans 8:27 - And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Whatever you are facing today, may you be encouraged that the Lord is praying for you. God will grant you His strength. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

In every situation

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all." - 2 Thessalonians 3:16

There was something about this verse that struck a chord with me this week. It relates to circumstances involving the church in Thessalonica, but it can so easily be speaking into our lives today. As you read through this verse ask yourself how these words offer you hope right now?

Matt Redman -  We can always find a reason to praise. Situations change for better and for worse, but God's worth never changes.

May the Lord be with you today.

Living in Grace

D3LM3