Peace on Earth (Part 2)

Last week I shared about peace with God and peace within. Click HERE to catch up.

Third is peace with others. Peace with others can only come after we have done the first two. It comes when we shift our focus from others - in comparison and judgement - to God.

Imagine looking straight up to the ceiling. How much can you see around you? Not much. Your focus is on the ceiling and not on anything else. If we want to know what's going on around us we need to ask questions of the One Who can see clearly. 

When we look at others we interpret their actions and motives through our own filter. But when we look to God we can ask Him about their actions and motives. He can tell us what we need to know and how we can help. I'm not saying don't see people, I am saying don't filter what you see through your own eyes. Filter it through His. It's a beautiful, peaceful difference.

In all of this the inevitable result of the Prince of Peace's coming is conflict. Jesus said in Matthew 10:6,

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."

It seems to contradict but it doesn't. He didn't come to bring peace as the world expects. He's bringing Shalom - the fullness of life enjoyed in complete security. 

And the enemy hates it. The Prince of Peace interrupts the enemy's plan and he will not give up easily. Therefore there is conflict between Christ and Satan, light and darkness...

Satan comes to destroy peace with God, peace within and peace with others. In the garden he said to Eve "Did God really say?" (peace with God), "Surely you won't die" (peace within), and when God asked Adam and Eve what happened they responded with "She gave it to me" "The serpent said..." (peace with others). He presents us with a false peace, one without struggle or strife, one where we can have things our way. It's a lie.

Jesus came to disrupt the false peace and bring real, authentic peace. He says in John 16:33,

"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."

He knew that real peace didn't come from the world but in relationship with Him - the One Who overcame it.

It's a peace that says I am secure even in the midst of _________ (fear, disappointment, confusion...).

Jesus faced the cross for us, not with fear and doubt, but with peaceful courage. He surrendered His will in the garden of Gethsemane and showed us that it can be done. He walked the hill of Calvary while being mocked and spat upon and some of His final words were forgive them. He is the example and embodiment of the Peace of God that surpasses all understanding. 

Peace on Earth can be experienced with the Prince of Peace. Won't you let Him show you how?

No More

By Kim Beach

No More

 

How long do we sit in mourning?  

Lamenting the grief of our loss,

The pain of our transgressions 

The shame of our failures? 

How long do we hang our head,

Ash covered and naked?

How long do we weep tears of

Anger and hide in fear?

How long is acceptable?

How long do we wait?

How long must we wail

And beat ourselves with sticks?

Enough. It is done.  

No more. It is over.  

Look up. I am here. 

Emmanuel has come. 

Peace on Earth (Part 1)

"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Peace seems like a fairy tale. Especially when you turn on the news and read about the violence against all of humanity, all over the world. 

But then I turn on Christmas music and quickly I hear "peace on earth, goodwill to men." 

What is it about Christmas that makes us think of peace? I believe it's because the Prince of Peace came to earth and because of that, peace is truly possible.

In America the term peace is clearly connected with the absence of war. But the Bible describes peace (Shalom) as more than the absence of conflict  - it is the fullness of life enjoyed in complete security.

I want that! Is that even possible? Peace on earth? How can we experience the peace of God while living in this world full of war?

First off, it's impossible to have the Peace of God without first having peace with God. At the beginning of the world, peace with God was broken in the Garden of Eden. BUT with the coming of the Messiah, Immanuel (God with us), his life, death and resurrection paid the way for us to be reconciled with God again. We can have peace with God because of Jesus.


The world's peace - what it is trying to sell us - depends on other's behavior. I can say from experience that when my peace depends on how others behave I am always disappointed. We are all selfish creatures and can often have the attitude of "when others agree with me or do what I want, things will be better". Yeah. That's not gonna work.

God's peace depends on Him. He is faithful. So if we are reconciled to Him  - have peace with Him, we are one huge step closer to the peace of God invading our lives.

Second is peace within. This is possible when we stop fighting for control of our lives and circumstances and surrender to God. When we trust His plans for us. When we lay ourselves down so that He may be glorified in us. When we put aside our plans for His (something Mary and Joseph did!). 

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit and this means that we can't manufacture real, authentic peace without Him. We can have the illusion of peace from the outside but on the inside we are tied up in knots trying to make sure that people and circumstances continue to look and behave how we think they should. What a mess! Surrender seems scary but it is freedom and peace.


Part 2 next week

Throwback Thursday - A New Old Song

(originally published in 2011)

I was praying the other day for several people I know who are really going through tough times. They've either lost someone they love or have financial/health struggles. This time of the year is difficult for many people. They feel lonely, sad, broken ... It's my favorite time of the year but I know that that isn't true for everyone.

As I was praying I started praying specifically for comfort and joy. I prayed for God's comfort during the difficult moments that are sure to come and I prayed for joy despite circumstances that already exist. Joy that comes with knowing that our Savior was born so that we may be with him forever.

And because I LOVE Christmas carols and am always amazed how they can minister to me no matter how many times I've heard them I wasn't surprised when I started humming God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. But when I started to really think about what the words meant...an old song became new to me. A song that speaks to the hurting.

There are 7 verses (that I can find) but I picked 3 that were meaningful to me. If you are hurting or lonely or sick or just not really loving this time of year, please read these words and know that there is always hope. And Jesus came to bring comfort and joy....for you.

God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day
To save us all from satan's power as we have gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Throwback Thursday - Simply Christmas

(originally published in 2011)

I recently read an article that said that even religious people aren't going to church on Christmas or including any religious celebration during the Christmas season. That they are just too busy with parties, dinners, shopping etc...It made me really sad.

Really sad that Jesus is being pushed out of His own birthday party. I can't imagine putting together a party with all the decorations, sending out the invitations, making tons of food, decorating a cake, buying and wrapping gifts and spending weeks in anticipation of the blessed event only to not invite the celebrant. Doesn't that seem odd? I'm pretty sure my children would have none of that (I'm just imagining Kale preparing for his birthday party only to find out he's not invited). Yet that's what happens at Christmas. We can get so distracted with the party that we forget about the Guest of Honor. Jesus. I am guilty of this many times throughout the Christmas season. I get so into all of the fluff that I have to literally stop and think again of my reasons. Could I "do" Christmas without all of the fluff? I sure hope so. The fluff is traditions, memories, fellowship and fun. There's nothing wrong with that. But my hope is that even without the extra stuff...Christmas is still Christmas to me.

At the very heart of Christmas is simply a baby in a manger. Born to bring us peace and joy and hope and love.
Born to live a sinless life.
Born to teach us how to love God and love others.
Born to heal the broken, the sick, the blind.
Born to give us a new life.
Born to die on a cross and then 3 days later rise from the grave to conquer death. Born to reconcile God and man.
Born to show us amazing, endless, unconditional love.

If I miss that....I miss Christmas. I pray that your Christmas is filled with family, friends, joy, laughter and lots of love. But I pray more than anything that your Christmas is centered around, and filled with, the love of Christ.

Simply Christmas

Consider Why This Christmas

Christmas has gotten complicated.  Actually Christmas isn't complicated, our celebration of it is.  Christmastime is my favorite.  I love the music, the food, the parties, the decorations, the presents, the pageants, the beautiful services...I love the celebration of Christmas.  But have I complicated it a bit?

As I've been pondering our traditions and our commitments this year, God has challenged me with the Why.  I think to make sure that I know why I am doing what I am doing and to keep my focus on His priorities.   He's not upset that we decorate or bake or listen to music or party or even have Santa come to our house.  But He has gently reminded me of His priorities.

The greatest commandment - His greatest priority - is to Love Him and the next priority is to Love Others.  That's it. 

So the question becomes, am I making His priorities my priorities as I'm baking, decorating, singing songs, going to parties and having Santa come to my house?  Do my kids know what God's priorities are?  Am I forgetting Him in my "doing" of Christmas?  I will continue to ask Him throughout this month and throughout this year because His priorities don't change with the seasons and with the holidays.  They are always the same.

Love Him.  Love others.

I will love Him and teach my kids about the miracle of His birth.  About prophecies fulfilled.  Of lives saved.  Of the hope, love, joy and peace He brings.

I will love the check out clerk at the store as I buy gifts for my loved ones.  I will bless people in need.  I will look outside of my self and my traditions to see people around me.  I will smile at folks hurrying around to get their lists done.  I will love on children who come to church for the first time on Christmas Eve and bless their parents with a little break to hear the message and hope of Christ.  I will do my best not to focus on MY plans but HIS.

And I will do my very best to teach this to my children, even as I learn it myself.

I pray that you, too, can experience the joy of Christmas as you keep His priorities YOUR priorities.