Perfect Peace

I’m sure most of my readers know what a benediction is, but in case there is one who doesn’t, a benediction is most known as the short blessing at the end of a religious service such as a prayer or Scripture verse.  A benediction is also known as an expression of good wishes.  For me, a benediction reminds me of an end to something.  As stated in the definition, it’s at the end of a worship service.  But more than that, I think of the benediction of the end of a person’s life. 

The purpose of a benediction is to declare a reality. It speaks a spiritual fact about your life.  So when it comes to the end of your life, the final benediction will most likely be at the graveside.  What would you like that last benediction to be?  I’d like to hear others say that I lived my life pleasing to the Lord.  Though I will not physically hear it said, that is what I want others to remember about me, and in the words of a song, “May all who come behind us find us faithful”. 

“May the God of hope fill you with
all joy and peace as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13, NIV

This is not my last post on this blog and not the last one about peace, though I will write on other topics as well.  But if it was my last post, I would want to leave you with a benediction such as the one above or below.

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself
give you His peace at all times and in every situation.
The Lord be with you all.”
II Thessalonians 3:16, NLT

A benediction is not the end (like we think of a benediction) of peace, but the end of struggles as peace comes to stay.  In this world there will never be true permanent and lasting peace, but we can cease struggling when God’s peace comes in.  To cease struggling is certainly an unending battle, isn’t it?!  It’s kind of like putting out one fire only to find another one starting.  I often find myself saying now what? Or what next?  Many times it seems in life that you no sooner get one problem resolved and another presents itself.  Even in the midst of problems, struggles, difficulties, and health issues, though, it’s not the end of peace.  Peace didn’t fly out the window or get buried underneath all the issues.  It’s still there.  We need to guard it with all diligence and look for it.  Don’t let the hard things of life push out the peace.  Don’t let peace slip away like a neglected friend.  Cultivate it by making space for it so the weeds of life don’t choke it out.  Hold onto peace because that is what will help get you through those hard times.

God be With You Till We Meet Again is known both as a doxology hymn and a benediction.  Listen to it and consider the words of the four verses with the chorus ending in “God be with you till we meet again.”  One church I attended sang it occasionally at the end of a service and another church sang it every Sunday at the end of the service as we joined hands across the aisles.  The song has a sad connotation for me because at one church we always sang it on the last Sunday our pastor was present with us before he and his family moved to another church.  We aren’t promised tomorrow or even the next breath, so to say God be with you till we meet again can be a short-term blessing or it could be a final ending.  But even if it is the final ending of death on this earth, eternity has so much more peace and blessings than we could ever experience here.

The benediction of peace isn’t just for the good times, but the bad as well.  The last verse above says “at all times and in every situation”.  God’s peace is available to us at all times—good, bad, sad, happy, hard, easy—and in every situation—health, finances, relationships, work, play.

Since we’re talking about benedictions and the end of life, can I encourage you (if you haven’t already done so) to sit down and plan out your funeral?  I had to wing it with end of life issues with my parents’ illnesses and deaths because they never wanted to sit down and talk about it.  I didn’t want my kids to have to go through that, so I’ve planned out everything and provided a copy to my pastor.  I want the benediction of my life to be a celebration because I’ll be promoted to eternity with Jesus…the very best benediction!

Living out in the country has its benefits.  I was looking out the window one day when a fluttering appeared in front of me and this yellow bird perched on the bush outside the window.  It sat there for a few minutes bestowing a peaceful song on me as it looked right at me as if to make sure I was listening.

“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, NLT

There are gifts we would like to give to people but might not be fitting or they might be beyond our means to purchase.  But there are gifts of ourselves that always fit and can freely be given. 

“So Jesus said to them again,
“Peace be to you;
just as the Father has sent Me,
I also send you.”
John 20:21

Bestowment of peace is that moment when you feel His peace descending in your spirit.  Bestowment is a word that we don’t use very much today.  It means the act of conferring an honor or presenting a gift.  As it is used in this sentence then, peace is conferred or presented as an honor or a gift.  It’s not something we earn. 

Picture yourself lying on a gurney awaiting surgery.  You just want to get it over with.  Then the anesthesiologist administers the chemicals that will put you into la-la land.  Ah!  The physical peace descends as your body rests.  You feel it coming and then you’re out of it and relaxed.  God’s peace is somewhat like that in that it descends upon us and we can feel the difference in our spirit, but it doesn’t knock us out like anesthesia does. It calms us and gives us a sense of security in Him, feeling His presence close to us.  It’s like a spiritual shot in the arm.  It gives us that boost of spirit that we need.

Bestowment comes in many forms.  The photo I used above was taken close to 20+ years ago and yet I remember the scene and feel its peacefulness as if it was a moment ago.  Pictures are so important to help us remember moments of life that might escape from our memories.  I love to sit down and look through the photos on my computer once in a while.  Over my lifetime, I had black-and-white photos, then color slides, Polaroid photos, and color photos, but they cost money to develop, took up space, and no one ever wanted to look at them.  So when digital cameras came along, I was happy to transfer most of my photos to the computer which saved money and space.  No one still ever asks to look at them with me, but at least I have the memories available for me to enjoy.

Cards and letters are also memorable bestowments—yes, the old-fashioned paper and ink handwritten kind!  While I haven’t saved any letters, I do save a few cards for a time.  If I kept every card I ever received, I could be accused of being a hoarder.  Pulling open my desk drawer and seeing some of the recent cards from family and friends bestows a smile and sense of peace on me as I enjoy the pictures and read the kind words in the cards.

Along with the bestowment of peace comes bestowment of God’s blessings on our lives.  When we follow Him, He blesses us with good things as well as His peace.  Take time today to take a chair outside or sit on a park bench and not only soak in the sun’s rays but also soak in the blessings God has given you.  Not sure what they are?  Think about what God has done for you lately and then thank Him for it.  We don’t think enough about what God does for us…at least I don’t.  So this year in my journal, at the end of each day’s entry, I include “Today God…” and then think about my day and what God has done in my life today.  It makes me stop and think but also makes me aware of the little things that God bestows on me every day.

A fresh soft snow feels peaceful to me.  It’s quiet and makes no noise falling to the ground.  It’s pure, white, and clean.  Snow brings different kinds of blessings to different people.  If it’s a big snow, to kids it may bring the blessing of a day off school and the opportunity to go sledding or build a snowman.  For me, the blessing reveals itself in the beauty it adds to the earth, and the refreshing cleanliness when it covers up the dirt, the grass, and whatever else it lands on.

As I’m writing this, snow is a long way behind as well as off in the future, and the weather is completely opposite of Winter snows.  This past Winter we did not have a lot of snow where I live.  But the memories of past snows are still a blessing.  I can remember back to when I was a child and we were all snowed in our homes after a blizzard, waiting for snow plows to clear the road. 

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26

God shines His face on us and pours down His blessings in spite of heat, snow, and other unfriendly weather conditions.  He blesses us with food, clothing, shelter, friends, church, and so much more.  He keeps us in the hollow of His hands.  I often think He must have the biggest hands possible to keep us in the palm of His hands, but I’d rather think of Him as so big rather than too small.  God is gracious to us as He pours out His loving care on us even when we blow it and turn our backs on Him.  He watches us carefully to keep us in line.  He looks into our face and sees the concerns, the emotions, the hurt, and whatever else is there, but He doesn’t walk away and desert us.  He is right there waiting for us to call on Him for help with those things that are present in our lives. 

The blessing of peace is when peace comes just when you need it and reminds you He is near.  At times when I’ve struggled with some issue or have been sick, it is such a blessing to get a text, a phone call, an email, or a card in the mail letting me know that someone is thinking about me and praying for me.  It’s then that I think to myself or tell that person I needed that today!  Through other people God shows me that He is near.  He prompts them to send me a message of love saying that I matter to them and to Him.

When you’re having a bad day and someone contacts you with a word of encouragement, that’s a blessing of peace.  Take a moment and thank them and God for it.  You never know when the next blessing will come, but I kind of think that if we remember to be thankful for them, they just might come a little more often.  Humanly speaking, the more appreciative a person is of an act of kindness, the more likely we are to do something for them again soon.

Think for a minute in reverse, if you will.  If not one person ever got in touch with you or did anything for you, wouldn’t it cause you to feel lonely?  So when someone does something nice for you, it can remind you that God is near and is acting through that person.  Obviously God is near whether we realize it or not, but we need that audible and visible reminder that He is near and He uses people to make us aware of His presence.

So today be a blessing of peace to someone who may need encouragement or assistance of some kind, and if you are the person in need, reach out and allow God’s people to come alongside you and be a blessing to you. 

Sorrow comes in various circumstances.  Its timing is never perfect.  It often brings more sorrow upon sorrow.  My father died of heart issues after escaping death multiple times.  This left my mother with a big piece of property full of junk to dispose of and days upon weeks of work to prepare her home for sale and move into an apartment.  It was enough sorrow for me that my father was gone, but add to that the sorrow of watching my mother not dealing well with the loss not to mention the mess he left behind for her to handle.  Then add to that sorrow, the sorrow all the memories for her and for me as things were tossed into a dumpster or sold.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble
with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
II Corinthians 1:3-4

People think they’re being comforting and encouraging when they repeat trite sayings at a time of sorrow due to death.  You know the ones:  He/she is in a better place.  Or God doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle.  Is that really comforting?!  Sure, we know that if the deceased person knew the Lord as their Savior that they are most definitely in a “better place” in Heaven than in hell.  But does that make the loss any less painful?  No.  Of course we know God is always there and gives us strength to handle life, but at such times rather than empty words, the comfort of a loving arm, listening ear, or practical help such as meals and an extra pair of hands is extremely meaningful and comforting.

I always say that when I go through something, it is so that I can help someone in the same or similar situation down the line, and it never ceases to amaze me how true that is.  My mother went to be with the Lord less than two years after my father and I found myself once again going through the same earthly possessions that she kept from the house.  After that, I told my kids that they would never have to go through my stuff like that.  First of all, I don’t horde things like my parents did, and second, I tend to get rid of things I don’t use rather than keeping them. 

Peace in sorrow is when you’re at peace even when you’ve lost someone or something close to you.  After my mother died, I had a short turnaround time to empty her apartment to avoid having to pay another month’s rent.  I worked practically day and night to accomplish that along with help from family and friends.  In the midst of that, I was making arrangements for her funeral.  The night before the viewing/funeral was to take place, the funeral director asked me to sit down for a minute, and he told me how amazed he was at the peace and calmness I had.  This gave me an opportunity to share with him that it comes from Christ’s peace within me which of course being a non-believer he did not understand.  But that is exactly what peace in sorrow is—peace even while going through the sorrow of a loved one leaving us.  I knew I would see my parents again one day in Heaven, so it was more of a see you later than a good-bye. 

Sure I mourned their loss, cried a lot, and wished I’d had more time.  But the underlying peace is what made it bearable and what got me through.  So now when someone I know sorrows or needs comfort, I have my own experiences to draw on, and know what to say and what not to say, what to do, and how to comfort and encourage.  I can emulate God’s peace to others because of the peace I hold inside.

The bushes and trees were under stress because of the heavy wet snow, but they were at peace in the midst of their weight of stress.  It’s almost as if the branches knew that if they could just hang on long enough that the snow would melt and they’d be able to bend and wave freely in the breeze again.  It’s good to remember this example when stress threatens our peace.  If we just hold on a little longer, the stress will dissipate and we can move on once again.  I’m telling myself that right now as I deal with a particular relationship issue.

“Those who love Your Law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.”
Psalm 119:165, NASB

Does stress cause you to stumble?  It sure does me at times!  But I notice something about those times of stumbling.  That is when I take my eyes off Jesus and pay more attention to the stressful situation than I do to Him and the answers He has for me.  I stumble because I try to resolve it in my own strength.  Why?  Because I don’t want to have stress, strain, nor trouble, nor people thinking or feeling ill thoughts towards me.  I’m so busy trying to resolve the issue myself that I fail to learn the things God is trying to teach me in the midst of the stress and so I stumble.  That doesn’t mean the underlying peace isn’t there.  Peace is still present, but not as active and prominent as it is during the good times.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me,
all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28, NLT

Peace in stress seems like an oxymoron, but inward peace during an outward stressor is huge.  If there was no heavy burden to carry, there would be no need for relief from it, no need for rest, and no need for peace in stress.  Sometimes it takes a heavy burden—whether physical or emotional—to get us to realize that we need to reach out for Jesus to relieve us of the burdens and give us rest and peace.

Two days ago it was the most gorgeous, sunny, bright, breezy day that we’ve had in a long time.  I enjoyed being out in the fresh air, driving with all the windows and sunroof open, and walking with the sun and breeze in my face.  But as I write this, we are experiencing a couple days of horrendous air quality like I’ve never experienced and it has forced me to stay indoors.  Evidently we are experiencing the effects of wildfires in Canada, thousands of miles away through the weather pattern, and the air is thick, hazy, and smells like smoke.  It reminds me of the eerie sky when a storm is approaching.  It really makes me appreciate all the more the gorgeous day that I enjoyed two days ago.  The peace knowing that God is in control is what gets me through these days.

What are some things that could help you get through times of peace in stress? 

• When I was working and stressful situations came up or people annoyed me, my peace in stress was a combination of knowing I would soon be able to go home and away from it, and knowing that it was only temporary. 
• Deep breaths (not sighs that actually fuel stress) can help stabilize our focus and calm our spirit and body. 
• A leisurely walk, especially by a stream or body of water, refreshes me. 
• Prayer is a necessity particularly in time of stress.  It keeps us focused on God and what He wants to accomplish through the stressful situation.  I’m sure there hasn’t been one stressful situation that God hasn’t wanted to use to teach me something, and I also know that I haven’t always learned the first time so He allows stress to return in one way or another.
• Talking with a friend for another viewpoint helps to see if there was something I did or said that contributed to the stress, and if there was something that could have been handled differently.
• Reading and memorizing God’s Word so that it is available for ready recall in the heat of the moment when it is most needed.  It may not be a verse ready to spout off to someone, but more of a verse echoing in your thoughts to keep you from spouting off.  Psalm 141:3 (KJV) is often a prayer of mine, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” 

Whatever works for you to de-stress and maintain peace in your life is what you need to keep in mind when stress rears its ugly head.  Maybe picturing yourself in a peaceful setting could help, too, like floating on a raft in a pool, relaxing on a hammock in the breeze of tall shade trees, or sitting by a waterfalls.  They say that certain things can ground you such as petting your cat (works for me!), a favorite hobby, or a friend.  Whatever it takes for you, do it!  God can use it all to maintain peace in stress in your life.

Storms of any kind are destructive in one form or another.  A storm had come through and downed some big old trees at my parents’ house and they almost lost their satellite dish in the process.  But they were thankful that no trees or damage touched the house.

“He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.”
Psalm 107:29-30, NIV

When you feel God’s peace even while going through disturbances and trials…  That’s peace in storms!  At one point in my life I lived in a mobile home, and as anyone who has or does live in one knows, it’s not a safe place to be in the midst of hurricanes, tornadoes and other such storms.  A hurricane was pounding my area with wind and rain beating against my windows.  With no place to go, I gathered a few things and my cat, and hunkered down in a decent sized walk-in closet since my bathroom was on outside end wall.  I curled up with a book and prayed for safety through the storm, and God gave His peace in the storm.

Storms come in a lot of different ways than just weather-related.  Sometimes I think I prefer the weather-related ones because there’s usually a quicker end to a rain or snow storm.  Though there’s clean-up after a storm such as a tornado, hurricane, and such, at least you know it’s over and once the clean-up is done, you can get back to normal.  

What is your storm right now?  Is it a financial storm that’s eaten into your resources and you don’t know where the money is coming from to pay the mortgage or rent or even to be able to buy groceries?  That kind of storm is difficult because in a human sense you’re dependent on a specific source of income that may have been lost, reduced, or taken away.  But God knows all about it and can give you peace in the midst of your financial storm.  It may be through a neighbor sharing food from their garden, a friend inviting you over, an anonymous gift showing up in your mailbox, an unexpected check, or a job offer.  God can work in any way He chooses to meet your financial needs.  I know—He’s done it for me over and over again.

Are you in a relationship storm?  I’ve been there.  They can be more painful than some other storms of life and harder to resolve or renew.  It could be a child, a spouse, a friend, a parent, or a coworker.  They’re all hard and have their own quirks that make it even more difficult to fix.  If you do your best, remain calm, and keep the lines of communication open, God will give you peace in the midst of that relational storm.

Emotional storms are the worst, in my opinion.  Life happens and emotions are caught up in a whirlwind of activity, thoughts, and feelings.  You get confused when things don’t seem right, frustrated when it’s not what you thought it would be or what you want, angry when things are taken away from you, unsettled when you can’t decide what you really want in a particular situation.  I have to stop, write things down, review them, pray over them, and think through my emotions.  But to be completely honest, many times I’m still a ball of tangled emotions like yarn after my cat gets her claws in it.  At those times, I must get to the point where I’m willing to share them all with a trusted friend.

Some storms come at us over time.  You see them coming but are unable to abate the storm, hold it back, nor blow it away to sea.  Think of the Disciples out on the Sea of Galilee.  They thought it was a beautiful night for crossing the sea, but as was common for that area, a storm blew in faster than they could react.  There was initially no peace in the middle of that storm until Jesus walked on the water to them and calmed the sea.  Now THAT is Peace in a storm with a Capital P!  Only Jesus could appear out of nowhere, walking on the water, and calming a storm on the sea.

Fear is the biggest factor in the loss of peace in the midst of a storm.  It’s a natural reaction to the unknown, but it doesn’t have to be the place we get stuck.  Reach out to Jesus for peace in the storm and the fear will diminish in His presence.  I’m preaching to myself here because fear of things, people, and situations get in my way far too often, though I like to say it’s just me being cautious and careful to stay out of harm’s way. 

So whatever storm you’re surrounded by today, give it to Him and let Him calm the storm, work through it for your good, and give you peace in the midst of the storm.

Fences are meant to provide a sense of security either to the people or things on the inside or on the outside.  I’ll never forget the one time I was walking my Black Lab on a leash along a road such as this and he wanted to investigate the cattle on the other side of the fence.  But when he got too close we discovered it was an electric fence and we both got a slight shock!  That fence was security for the farmer that his animals wouldn’t escape and also to keep people and other animals like my dog and I from crossing the fence and disturbing the peace of the animals.

“Everyone will live in peace and prosperity,
enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees,
for there will be nothing to fear.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies
has made this promise!”
Micah 4:4, NLT

The security of peace is the feeling of being safe and never feeling fearful.  The prophet Micah talked about peace and prosperity, and said there would be nothing to fear because God promises it.  He sure wasn’t talking about our world today, was he?!  No, he was talking about Heaven.  We can have a certain amount of security now, but it seems like someone is always finding a way to destroy that security and peace whether it’s with weapons, words, or worldly actions.  But one day we will have security of peace that can never be destroyed, interrupted, or cut off.  What a wonderful day that will be when we can walk down the streets where we live and not fear that we’ll get hit by a car, mugged, or shot by some person who’s not thinking clearly! 

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”
Psalm 4:8

In Heaven there will be nothing to disturb our security of peace.  There will not be any evil people or things that can harm us.  We will truly be able to go to sleep peacefully without locks, alarms, and other safety features because there will be nothing to fear.  God Himself will be our watchman, protector, comforter, and so much more.  Until then the ultimate security of peace in the broader sense will never happen this side of eternity.  However, security of peace can reign within our hearts and minds which is where our focus needs to be.  If I observe something and am not privy to the details, my mind can take off in a variety of directions.  The other day was a good example.  I saw something strangely out of place and my thoughts said that what I saw was someone up to no good.  I may or may not be correct, but I will keep trusting God’s protection will override any fearful thoughts of harm or destruction. 

Peace is an objective that people hope to achieve, but we should not confuse “peace” with “security.”  If you do a Google search for Security of Peace, you’ll find very little if anything about God’s peace.  It is all about how nations think they can make, attain, or keep peace with other nations who are at war or asserting wrongful power over someone.  War and fighting is the total opposite of peace.  I remember an old saying that was popular when I was young:  I’m a lover not a fighter.  In a way that’s an oxymoron because we love peace but sometimes we have to fight for it.  Peace doesn’t always equate to security in this world.  You can have what appears to be a peaceful place in the country, maybe an isolated cabin in the mountains, but that won’t provide security if a tornado whips through or a bomb drops near you and destroys everything in a matter of minutes. 

Security of peace in the heart outlasts any peace the world has to offer.  It cannot be destroyed or taken away from you unless you allow it.  Someone can take your money, your possessions, your family…but they cannot take your peace of heart because it’s inside where they can’t reach it.  Oh someone can try to destroy their peace but it’s an intangible thing to others that they can’t see, hear, or touch.  That’s why God’s Word tells us to guard our heart, and if we lose our ability to do that for whatever reason, God will guard it for us. 

Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”  The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.  Our heart and the capacity to choose is at the center of who we are.  When Jesus is at the center, He controls us.  So when we guard our heart, we are choosing to let Jesus have the last say.  He secures our peace of mind and heart.

“The definition of serenity is a state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled. Achieving this positive state of mind means you won’t feel as troubled by life’s ups and downs.” (states 7 Summit Pathways about addiction recovery on their website)  When I slow down and observe nature and its beauty, I experience that state of serenity—being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.  It at least momentarily overrides the troubles of life that tend to overwhelm and take precedence in our day-to-day activities.  I took the picture above on one of those days when I was out running errands and feeling a little stressed.  Fall is my favorite time of year so I took a few minutes to pull over and stop the car and just enjoy the scenery.  A couple deep breaths later, feasting my eyes on the various colored leaves on the trees, and watching the clouds float by refreshed my spirit and helped me to refocus my thoughts on my Creator God and all He’s done for me.  How much closer can one get to serenity?

“You will keep in perfect and constant peace
the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused
on You—in both inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You
[with hope and confident expectation].
Isaiah 26:3, AMP

I don’t often refer to the Amplified version of the Bible, but at times it can be very helpful in explaining exactly what the verse means by using additional words.  The first thing I noted and like in the above verse is the word perfect because that’s what this whole blog is mostly about—God’s perfect peace.  The second word that stands out to me is constant.  God’s peace is not momentary or fleeting; it is constant.  It is there all the time when given by God.

There are some conditions to the receiving of that perfect and constant peace.  First, our minds need to be steadfast.  We can’t be wishy-washy about our relationship with Jesus or allow ourselves to get distracted by other people and things.  We must be committed to Him and focus on our relationship with Him as being the most important part of our lives.  I know at times it’s easy to get distracted even during a worship service, but our focus needs to be on God as we worship and then on maintaining that relationship in our daily lives as we leave the church building and go out into the world.  No, it won’t be as serene out there, but when our relationship is anchored in Jesus, the calmness and peace of Christ will help us remain untroubled.

“Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one
who walks daily with Him] be
the controlling factor in your hearts
[deciding and settling questions that arise].
To this peace indeed you were called as
members in one body [of believers].
And be thankful [to God always].”
Colossians 3:15, AMP

Serenity of peace is when peace makes you feel like it’s the best place to be.  The first time after I purchased a new mattress with a pillow top and laid down on it, it felt so good to just lay in that soft spot.  After a hard mattress that made my hip hurt and gave no relief to my aching body, this new mattress felt like it was the best there was.

The above verse defines the peace of Christ as the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him (Jesus).  After a day of being with people, for me the inner calm that Christ brings comes as I settle myself in my rocker or recliner, turn on the massage and heat, and let Him take care of the inside.  When decisions need to be made or questions arise that require my attention, the peace of Christ needs to be the controlling factor in my heart—not the heat of the moment, the stress of the factors, the pull of others’ opinions, nor any of those things.  God calls us to peace because we are His children.  God gives perfect peace.  Are you thankful for it today?

The Oxford dictionary states that a salutation is “a gesture or utterance made as a greeting or acknowledgment of another’s arrival or departure.”  My cat engages me with all kinds of salutations.  When she wants to show her love, she greets me with a nudge.  When I come home, she runs to me and rubs against my legs.  When she wants attention, the paws come up on my leg.  When she wants food, water, or a treat, she meows.  Oh, and her all too famous, but not endearing to me, is when in the middle of the night she jumps up on the bed, walks across me, lays down on the other pillow and purrs while nudging me in the face.  All these are her ways of greeting me and communicating what she wants or needs. 

A salutation of peace is when peace sidles up to you and permeates your being.  For me that is like when my cat rubs against me and settles down to snuggle on my lap or next to me.  My senses are filled with her presence.  I feel the warmth of her body; I hear her “motor” purring; I smell her—the smell of the litterbox she was just in, the food she ate; I see her big eyes looking up at me as she gives me a nudge which I believe is her way of saying she loves me.  For a dog it would probably be when they bark or lay down next to their master with a contented sigh.  A baby might babble or smile when they’re content.  A toddler might squeal or reach up for you to pick them up.  All of these are because they want to have that closeness of another’s touch and attention.

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:2

A salutation or greeting most of us use today is either hello or hi for short.  Sometimes on Easter at church we use the greeting He is risen! and respond with He is risen indeed! Paul began his letter to the believers in Philippi with a salutation of grace and peace.  It was a special grace and peace, not from Paul but from God Himself and His Son Jesus.  It’s the only peace that is true and lasting because of the giver.  Anyone can try to impart peace to someone, but it reflects back on the giver and none of us are able to give the peace of God.  It comes only from God and can only be given by God.

Grace and peace sounds so … peaceful!  I’d love to be greeted that way.  Traditional greetings are just that—a greeting to which most of us don’t even wait for a response but keep going on our merry way.  But grace and peace is more identifiable.  It tells what we wish for the person we are greeting.  If I was greeted with Grace and peace to you, I would definitely slow down, smile, and thank the person for that truly warm and gracious salutation.  Saying those words of salutation doesn’t mean that you can impart grace and peace to another person, but it is similar to a prayer, meaning that you desire grace and peace for the person you are greeting, and are asking God to give it to you in good measure.

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance
through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
II Peter 1:2, NIV

In the above verse, Peter tells us how we can receive that peace.  He says it’s through the knowledge of God and Jesus.  Therefore, anyone who does not know God and has never had a one-on-one relationship with Jesus cannot know or experience the grace and peace of God.  But when you do know Jesus, then His grace and peace will be yours not only a little bit but in abundance!  I love how God gives everything in abundant measure, overflowing with His goodness, grace, and mercy.  Peace is no exception.  The grace that goes with peace is undeserved favor.  We don’t deserve any of the grace, peace, mercy, or love of God but He gives it to us anyway—free of charge, so to speak.  Think of it as a bonus.  Who doesn’t like it when you go to a store and there’s a bonus to the sale or an extra perk when you use your credit card?!  It’s an extra benefit given freely.

Try a different salutation or greeting today or this week.  If you don’t want to use grace and peace with your boss, think of another way of greeting them that begs a more specific answer than fine.  In reading Amish novels, their standard German/Pennsylvania Dutch greeting is wie geht’s which means “how’s it going?” or “how goes it?”.  That is more direct and begging an answer than just hello.  Let a comment below and let me know what kind of response you receive.  God bless!

As I was taking a walk one evening, I noticed these clouds.  I like to look for shapes in the clouds, and these looked like they formed an angel spreading its protective wings over a church building.  That brought to my mind the verse:

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee,
to keep thee in all thy ways.”
Psalm 91:11, KJV

The entire Psalm 91 talks about the safety of abiding in the presence of God which is where the peace in God is.  No matter what is going on around us, in the presence of God, there is peace.  God doesn’t promise a world free from danger, but He does promise His help whenever we face danger.  That is comforting to know that I’m never alone even in the midst of stress or possible danger, and that He will help me.  Human nature, though, would rather skip the danger part and just get on with a peaceful life.  We will one day in Heaven, but for now, we need to remind ourselves that God is only a prayer away at any time of day or night.

“These things I have spoken to you,
so that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you have tribulation, but take courage;
I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

Peace in God is trusting that His presence and peace will never leave you.  I read a lot and my favorite books are Amish romance novels.  I know everyone has their own opinion about various books on the market, but I like them for several reasons, so please don’t judge me if you disagree.  I’ve read many different authors of these books and some are better than others.  What I like about them is that they are clean, romantic without being steamy and trashy, and they bring God into their lives.  I don’t always agree with their view of God nor all their practices, but the books often give me some Biblical principle to think about—which of course I verify in the Bible. 

The one thing that I find disconcerting, though, is that so many of the characters in the stories who have fallen into sin or left the Amish faith think that God has forsaken them and they can never be forgiven.  That is farthest from the truth.  Even though we sin or bad things happen to us or our loved ones, He never leaves us and will always forgive us when we come back to Him.  I’m glad to see that in the end of each book’s story the character comes back to God and experiences the love and forgiveness of God and fellow believers.  While that may not always happen in real life, it is the way it should be.

Peace in God is dependent on our relationship with Him.  Liken it to your refrigerator.  If you keep it plugged into the power source, it will keep your food cold.  But if the electric goes out or the plug is pulled out, there will be no power source to keep it cold.  If we stay plugged into our relationship with God through prayer, Bible reading, worship, and praise, the peace will be there in our hearts.  But if we remove ourselves from God’s presence, don’t pray, don’t fellowship with other Christians, and don’t read God’s instruction Book, then the peace will dissipate slowly at first, but completely at last unless we come back to Him.

Can there ever be peace in any other person or thing???  Maybe for a time you might have a sense of peace, but it will not be a strong lasting peace like the peace in God.  Just as Matthew 6:21, NIV says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”, so it goes that your peace in God will be present when your heart is in the right place and trusting in the right person—God! Do you have real and lasting peace in God today or is it a false and temporary peace that will fade away over time?  Which would you rather have?