Peaceful Days

We all know about having one of those days, the one’s where there appears to be a Murphy’s law at work, the stressful ones, even the bad hair one. But we all could use peaceful days.

Last week, I spilled a drink on my keyboard, it started typing wrong even though I got it up quickly. For a while, I could not even sign in, the gh might be gfl or something else. The next day it was fine.

We all run out of laundry detergent, toilet paper or milk. Maybe, we forget a birthday or an appointment. I could really tell you some stories. Somedays would be a sitcom, if it were happening on television and not to me. This is when my mind drifts to Him, and I remember that He, Himself, is my peace.

And some days appear hopeless with ongoing ailments or problems. I have had a long recovery from surgery. Not feeling well and dealing with life can certainly be a challenge, feeling that you let others down or just knowing someone needs you and you can’t help or worse that they won’t let you. These are peaceful days still, if our mind is on Him, Isaiah 26:3

The Hebrew word for day is yom. The Bible is full of verse about days. God created the world in six days, which were twelve hours each, day and night and called them good. We are to number them, Psalm 90:12 so that we may realize how mortal we are and have a wise heart.

God set aside feast days, holy days. He has His calendar, a perfect will and yet a permissive one as we have a free will. Ephesians 5:16 tells us to redeem the time because the days are evil. And they are as we approach His return. Matthew 24 says they will be like the days of Noah. He also cuts days short during the Great Tribulation or else no flesh would be saved, now those are evil days. And I think it may mean even days before He comes as He sees fit.

2 Timothy 3:1 says that in the last days there will will be difficult times Revelation 9:6 speaks of people wanting to die and cannot. But we, as believers do not have to be here if He comes in the clouds, pre-tribulation, which is what I believe, and I won’t argue the point. We can still enjoy His peace, John 14:27.

We can add to our days by honoring our parents, obeying God and of course, there are people He will cut off when He has exhausted all means of saving them. And some believers as well may not walk in His fullness, listening to their own advice and that of the world.

Perhaps, you can do your own study of days, like forty days and night, that is how long it rained, how long Jesus was tempted, and He is our ark. You will see lots of correlations. Jonah in the whale, and yes, he was dead, three days and nights, Jesus in the tomb, what He called the sign of Jonah.

But the one peaceful day I look forward to, happens again and again. We get glimpses of heaven on earth but this day begins eternity, even though it may begin in us at the time of salvation or even before as He made plans for us.

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. Psalm 84:10 New Living

This photograph is from a free source. I will try to credit it.

His Peace

I have so many posts on peace on the blog. It is because the Lord has dealt so strongly with me about it. I have always had it as a believer, though I didn’t always realize it or recognize the Spirit whispering it to my soul.

I needed it everyday, and I needed in tough times, I especially needed it in the hospital and when other threats to my heart and soul came prowling. I knew the Lord emphasized it to me repeatedly, that is why I can’t emphasize it enough to my readers. It is that important!

I like this quote on the template. We get to His peace one step at a time. First, we face our problems, and it is a natural reaction to look to the natural. The doctor said it was this or that. ” What am I going to do? ” ” Should I get a second opinion? ” ” What if something happens? “

Even phone call at night, we tend to think something is wrong at late hours. ” Has someone died? Had a wreck? Or heart attack? ” ” What if I don’t get that promotion? Raise? Contract? ” It is easy to fall into the natural traps of fear, that is why we, as believers, have to rely on faith to overcome it in Him. His perfect love casts out fear, 1 John 4:8 and it gives us peace, His peace…

“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 New Living

His peace is a gift unlike any other, it is not the world’s definition of peace meaning an absence of war. We are at war with an enemy but He fights those battle if we can be still and in His peace, Psalm 46:10 and Exodus 14:14. It is also a divisive sword between the religious and even relatives, also unbelievers, Matthew 10:34.

His love offers us peace, but we have to step out in faith and open that gift so that when the doctor gives us news, we can believe the good report of Isaiah 53:1. When the phone rings at three in the morning we can confess that we don’t have a spirit of fear, but power, the Holy Spirit who speaks peace and gives us love and a sound mind, 2 Timothy 1:7. We can pray about our work, that God blesses it and rewards us as we seek Him, Hebrews 11:6.

It may be a baby step to replace natural, feelings and emotion with faith and to speak it out in peace back to God as Jesus has spoken it to us. But we grow in His grace the more we pursue peace, Psalm 34:14. He is the Prince of Peace and pursues us with His peace. The more we read it, speak it, grow in it and rely on it, we begin to take it all in stride.

It is like a go to prayer in every situation. We can walk hand in hand with Jesus beside still waters, He will even carry us if need be but soon we will not be breaking stride with Him, following the footsteps of peace. His Peace, one step at a time we will get there without troubled of fearful hearts.

And sometimes, it is the Spirit who stirs our hearts, but Paul reminded a young Timothy to fan the flame of his gift, the Holy Spirit. He received that powerful and even peaceful gift by the laying on of hands. While we all receive a measure of the Spirit to walk in at salvation, there is a subsequent baptism of the the Spirit. You might want to study that further.

And if you ask, He will let your grow in grace and walk in His Spirit, His peace. While I can’t be there to lay hands on you. I do lay the words of Jesus out there to be sown into hearts. And sometimes, it is we who have to stir up our gifts, even a step at a time, to get to His peace.

Canva Template

A Breath Of Peace

I noticed many years ago that I would be getting so busy or involved with something that I was doing that I was not breathing right. I would actually have to draw a breath. I know I was breathing but it was almost like I was holding my breath for a tense or intense moment or two, three. I once kept a little boy whose sister was fine, but he would hold his breath in anger, just changing his clothes would set him off. I would breathe on Him so he would not turn blue, it drove his parents crazy and sometimes I would see the ambulance going down the street to treat him.

Fortunately, most of us are probably not on that extreme or that angry. We can grow out of childishness and tantrums by grace, in life and our spiritual one. We need Jesus to breathe His Spirit on us everyday, but isn’t it just possible that we are holding it in? Are waiting to exhale? Longing for a breath of peace or better still, Hi s peace, John 14:27?

When I was in the hospital, I hated needing oxygen, I was having nosebleeds. If you need it, fine, portable or otherwise, I just couldn’t tolerate it, even with Covid thrown into the mix. Fortunately, I had been doing prayer breathing, as a way to rest and keep calm, so I was back at it. The staff could not believe that I was not on oxygen at home, I even had lung to collapse during surgery but I was determined to focus on Jesus.

I have had many bouts of bronchitis, used an inhaler and even a nebulizer but I still do my best to just keep breathing. I can’t allow my focus to be so intense that I literally forget to breathe. And certainly not that angry. Even though I am outraged that the enemy has had an almost laser focus on me, he has failed. Let’s purpose to focus on Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith, Hebrews 12:2.

When we are doing that, we can breathe a sigh of relief, a breath of peace, a breath of His peace and rest, as He breathes on us.

Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. ( soul ) Genesis 2:7

Canva Template / Lufti Rahman

This Pinterest board links to other blog posts and one on prayer breathing. You can also look for Rachel Britton on YouTube.

Preparing For Peace

Many of us are not prepared for some of our spiritual experiences. Often, we don’t realize the struggles of a believer, the amount of warfare or the growing we have to do. We sow in a lot of pain and tears, read and study, and it may appear to be in vain at times, but it isn’t. For we are not prepared for the depth of His love, but He was.

When I decided to write about peace tis summer at the Spirit’s unction, I knew that I had to open that gift of His peace from John 14:27. But I have moments, lots of them that it is like I am not enjoying His peace, like Paul writes about.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

I believed John 3:16 and accepted Him along time ago? So what happened? Life did, people did, problems did. But I grew in grace and endured as I was supposed to but still I know there is a deeper peace that He would have us prepared for. Look at this, and then back to the verse.

He will be our peace. Micah 5:5

He, Himself, is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

The Lord of peace, Himself. Micah knew it was coming. Paul knew it was here. And even the prophet Isaiah in 6:9, declared Him the Prince of Peace. There really is no other peace. While obeying God and entering His rest brought peace in the Old Testament, how much more so should Jesus be our peace as we have believed on Him and His Spirit is in us?

But what about being prepared for peace? I thought of Psalm 23 and He prepares the table in the presence of our enemies. He surely does. John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord, He started a ministry, that Jesus expanded on as his role decreased. Many people think that we are sort of less than by coming to Christ but He makes us so much more, as we become more like Him, we are increasing our own selves in better ways, not just becoming a door mat for others.

Proverbs 24:27 says to prepare, for building a house. Joshua 1:11, he told the people to prepare provisions so they could take the land God gave them. Isaiah 62:10, says to clear the stones, make way for the people, prepare for them.

The good news is Jesus. He went to prepare a place for us in heaven, John 14 but He also has gone before us to prepare the way. We need to move the stones, get our provisions read to take what He wants us to have and our hearts need to prepare Him room as the song goes. Are we really prepared for heaven? I can hardly wait. And I want to be preparing for peace, His peace. I want to be prepared for there is nothing like it.

Sam Lion / Pexels / Canva

Peaceful Pursuits

A lot of people will be fluttering about this spring and summer in pursuit of fun. Often, we just tire ourselves out. Coming home from a vacation causes us to need another one and really, life in general and the pursuit of faith in Christ can cause us to become weary in our well doing, but while we pursue Christ, He is pursuing us, and with peaceful pursuits.

Take a leisurely walk.

You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life. Psalm 23:2,3 Contemporary English

Get some rest, take a nap.

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2

Watch the birds, bees and flowers, even the clouds.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26

He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey! Deuteronomy 26:9 New Living

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Luke 12:27

Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge? Job 37:16

And He even put rainbows there as a sign of His peace that we are to pursue with Him.

When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds. Genesis 9:14

God wants us to enjoy but not worship, His creation. Many cultures are rich in symbolism and religions. Birds, are mentioned as both good and evil in the Bible, but we are cared for like sparrows. Bees, represents being about His business, unless they are swarming like enemies, God even whistles for them, Isaiah 7:18, as for those He calls to Him. Some translations of the Bible uses the word hiss, but that is too snakey for me, it is kind of like a whispering whistle, perhaps, pssst!

I never cared for whistling, my birds could get loud, the tea kettle will drive you to distraction but if God whistles, I want to hear it. He is saying, ” Hey, look to me and listen. ” And I enjoy drifting into His peace looking at the clouds.

As for my picture, I chose it to represent how busy and fast we can be. They usually arrive in May here in Georgia. While the first one I saw only looked at my feeder, others have followed. While there are many meanings associated with hummingbirds, though they are not necessarily specified in the Bible by name, they are alluded to, and give us joy and hope, remind us that life is short and we should enjoy the nectar of His Word, persevere and soar toward His peace and pursue it, Psalm 34:14.

Pastor G. / Pixabay / Canva

Graceful Peace

As I felt led by the Spirit to declare a summer of peace, which I even feel the necessity to start early, I chose peaceful pictures and verses that are surely to be sown in the hearts of believers who will receive His peace, John 14:27.

Seeing this swan gliding along reminded me of a pond at an apartment complex, I used to watch the ducks. I don’t recall any swans, just that it was very peaceful. One of my fictional characters, actually has a swan pond. We hear about Swan Lake, the ballet, and the Queen’s swans were counted in England a while back, and then there is the mournful swan song, before it passes or upon missing a mate.

The swan is mentioned in the Old Testament and considered unclean as food, however, the Hebrew translation is doubtful and probably more likely, it was an ibis, which was more familiar to the people then. Since we are under grace and food laws are under the law, we can enjoy the beauty of the swan and its romanticizing in art and even in the Bible.

When Anna and Simeon beheld the child called Jesus, Simeon knew His God had kept the promise to let him behold the Messiah before his death. Isn’t that quite a promise? A poetic prayer in Luke 2:29-32, it is in effect, Simeon’s swan song before the Lord and a testament to His grace.

So let’s look at the grace of God that Jesus brought into the world, fulfilled and extends to us all. We can float along like graceful swans if we open our eyes to the gift of His peace.

From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. John 1:16 New Living

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. John 1:17

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

Romans 5:20, tells us that though the law saw sin abound, that Jesus’ death, resurrection and  brought about the ministry of the Spirit, and that causes grace to abound more and more.

Romans 6:1 says that grace abounds much more than sin. It is why believers can endure and overcome so much. God hates sin, but gives us grace. He does not go against free will and thankfully believers who have chose Him can walk in grace and peace.

I pray we can all study peace and even grace in order to see the beauty of Christ and how He has been between the wicked one and us, allowing his Spirit to flow mightily in the face of danger and gently, gracefully, like the swan.

I saw a piece of music titled ” What’s So Amazing About Grace? ” It is for one of those shows about what people have endured, that in itself answers the question. God gives us His amazing grace or truly how many of us would overcome?

Siim Lukka / Unsplash / Canva    I also have a Pinterest board, Swan Song.

Peaceful Wings

It is spring, and some days are still cool and then it gets as hot as summer. The storms have come and gone. Not only in life, but the spiritual also. As I decided to declare a summer of peace, at the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, I thought of ways to bring peace into it, ways to give us peaceful wings.

I once had a butterfly bush in the yard. I don’t know what happened to it. So, I ordered a set from a gardening show. My mother and I just planted them into pots, they might get big enough soon to go to the yard. It is still a little chilly for these babies to be out at night. They got their drink of water, and a marker to differentiate the colors. And I talked to them, I told them they would grow up and be very pretty and butterflies would come and see them.

Actually, these plants are called Asclepias. The caterpillars eat the leaves, lay eggs and monarchs are attracted to them. I can hardly wait! Whether it is the white, the yellow or more colorful of butterflies, I love them all. And they have a special and peaceful place in my heart and I can see them as delicate and drifting reminders of God’s love, and wings of peace.

I was coming home from the store and noticed a beautiful white cloud in the sky, it look to be in the shaped a kneeling angel with feathery wings that were wispy behind it. There were a lot of clouds that looked feathery but that one stood out. If you like cloud watching, and are blessed with that rest beside still waters, you can see lots of shapes. Another way that God gives you peaceful wings.

The first cardinal of the season popped into the backyard, and then into the roses. It was a female, I haven’t seen any nest building yet. The a robin, blue jays and swalIows followed. I was surprised to see the cardinals build a nest in the thorns a while back. I enjoyed the parents feeding three babies that year. I had even seen the eggs and them hatch one by one. At only eight days old they were ready to fly away. Like tiny little angels with wings folded behind them, they waited and were fed, and now with wings of peace the little ones, mere balls of brownish fluff could fly, they were not red or burnt orangey in color, but they flew in faith.

And so must we be, kept safe in a cocoon of His love, covered by angel wings, nested and resting in His favor, His grace and peace. We are fed until we are ready to fly. whatever the season. Our wings have to grow and have beat upon the rhythm of the Spirit. Perhaps, we sing or hum a tune, not as fast as the hummingbird but in the heartbeat of God, the Father, who makes it all beautiful in His time, and gives us wings of peace. Figuratively and spiritually, as we remain under His.

Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! Psalm 55:6

He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4

But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Malachi 4:2

All these verse are from New Living.

Akiroq / Pixabay / Canva Check back as I add to my Pinterest board. And there is also one called Wings Of Peace.

Peaceful Angels

Last week, I wrote about Mary’s peace. Although it is in the Aramaic translation of Luke 2, we see that the angels greets her with God’s peace. The shalom or peace greeting was and still is common though many Jews are a lot more secular.

Shalom is a lot more than hello or goodbye. It is even deeper. We often ask people how they are casually. Truthfully, there are some things we would rather not hear. But we are not asking like God, ” How is your peace? “

Angels sing of peace in Luke 2:14, and it is evident that this is not peace depicting the absence of war, but a declaration of God to man in sending His Son, the Prince of Peace, to redeem all who would believe. Indeed, God’s peace was on earth, no matter what was going on.

We see that Gideon in Judges 6:23, encounters the angel of the Lord. When he is afraid that he will die, the angel speaks peace to him. Daniel is strengthened in 10:19 by the peace spoken to him by and angel. The angel even calls him ” precious ” and so are believers to God. In Revelation 14:6, we see an angel flying with the gospel in many languages, though this appears to be after the church has been taken out and during the Great Tribulation, God has ways of getting His Word out.

We see the ” Angel of the Lord ” many times in the Bible and while I can tell you that some are likely just that, angels with a message from the Lord, there are times that the Angel is Jesus, visiting before coming as a baby and becoming the Messiah. I believe He visited, not only in the Garden of Eden, but Sarah, Hagar, Manoah and his wife, Hazeleponi. Even Elijah. It would be an in depth study for me to be certain of them all. I’m not sure anyone knows for sure.

What we do know is that Jesus taught, gave wisdom and instruction. He was called the Prince of Peace by Isaiah ( 6:9 ). He taught and spoke peace and told His disciples to speak peace. Why wouldn’t a God of peace, with a Son who is the Prince of Peace, having angels speaking His peace?

I pray He charges angels of peace over us, over believers the world over as the end times are approaching and we near eternity. And were we to be visited by the Angel of the Lord would we be afraid or even recognize Him? Angels are often the messengers of the proverbial ” fear not “. Though they are to do the will of God, they do not just interfere and must obey Him. They will not go against His gospel or teach other beliefs mixed into. The Prince of Peace is the message, His law is His love and the good news of the gospel are the annunciations of His peace.

Dieterich01 / Pixabay / Canva

Mary’s Peace

The Angel entered her presence, and he said to her, “Peace to you, full of grace, our Lord is with you; you are blessed among women.” Luke 1:28 Aramaic Bible in English

You might be interested to know that I felt the Lord declaring a a summer of peace. All believers are in need of His peace, including and perhaps, especially me after the past couple of years. Even before that though, I knew He was speaking peace to me.

I wrote about it, prayed about it, thought about it and did my best to rest in it. His peace from John 14:27 is truly a gift but I had to open it and step away, and let Him take hold of both the problems and this child, I was determined to pursue His peace, but it was pursuing me.

When taking on the challenge of writing more peaceful posts, I asked my mother for a suggestion, she said ” What about Mary? ” I really didn’t think that I would get a post out of that but I did, and why not? This young woman was chosen for a miracle that would change the world forever, certainly, the mother of the Prince of Peace would be given His peace as she faced so much adversity.

When I looked up the story, I came across the familiar annunciation of Gabriel in Luke 2, but then as I read translations, I read the above translation. Now, the New Testament was written in Greek, but Jesus spoke Hebrew and Aramaic, so this is a wonderful greeting, first peace, grace, and blessing. First, He spoke God’s peace to her, the shalom greeting, he called her full of grace and then blessed among women.

This is a perfect example of Isaiah 26:3, keeping a mind in perfect peace that is fixed on Him. Mary was greeted, met with the peace of God, she had found favor, that is what full of grace is, and then blessed. If our minds are set on Him, His peace keeps us perfectly.

Mary agreed to the angel’s prophetic word, knowing she had no husband but believing God could merely touch her womb with peace and there would be a child. As I have studied Mary over the years, I realized what an incredible mother she was. No other mother has faced such agony.

She would be scorned and shunned but vindicated, marry Joseph, have Jesus in a stable, have to flee in the night, lose Him on a journey only yo find Him teaching the sages and see Him minister, perform miracles, the first for her, be accused, denied and betrayed, finally, crucified.

How her heart must have broken, what grief and sorrow overtook her. I don’t think she realized all that was before her, but pondered the promises of God in her heart, maybe she never spoke of them but listened to the whispers of His peace.

She would also see the child she gave birth to live again and ascend to heaven, and knew He would be with His Father, and that He had and would save many including herself, no other god was God in the flesh. Jesus was and is the Prince of Peace who spoke and declared peace among the peace but also brought a sword of division among the religious. It is still that we way. We are not at peace as we should be, the shalom that He spoke upon entering houses.

Houses are not homes without Him are they? I want to be at home with Him and He with me, I want Him to speak peace and I want to speak it, and receive it, to open the perfect peace that is His and that He gives me.

Whatever we have been through or are facing, may be be greeted with peace like Mary, find ourselves full of grace and favor as we seek His will be done, and be blessed this Mother’s Day. I am very bless to have had a mother who instilled His love in me, even if we had to realize that He also gifted us with His peace.

This a painting, I haven’t found out the artist but I’m including my new Pinterest board with several depictions of Mary.

Pearls Of His Peace

I have to confess that John 14:27 is my favorite peace verse but there are a couple of others that I am especially fond of and they are as follows…

He will be our peace. Micah 5:5 and

He, Himself, is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

Aren’t they great? Pearls of wisdom and pearls of His peace. The verse from Micah is prophetic, it was prophesied by Isaiah in verse 6:9, that the Prince of Peace was coming, however, in Ephesians, He has come and been rejected, crucified and risen before ascending to heaven. He then poured out His Spirit on those who would believe, Jew or Gentile.

And now, it was and is possible that Jesus, Himself, is our peace. Let’s look at some more verses on peace, shalom peace, inner peace that is of the Holy Spirit. It is a good idea to read, write and memorize them, put them in a card, an e-mail, in a box of candy or bouquet of flowers. Or how about with real pearls? Let’s begin walk in and share, to open the gift that is His peace.

The Lord gives strength to his people, and the Lord blesses His people with peace. Psalm 29:11

Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:165

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished, you have done for us.. Isaiah 26:12

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

The God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:20

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in the congregations of the Lord’s people. Corinthians 14:33

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22,23

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2Thessalonians 3:16

They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.1 Peter 3:11

And there are many more, a lot of which are greetings and asking God to bless or multiply peace, and that is great. We want all the peace He wants us to have and we have not even begun to understand His peace or the pearls of it.

Karan Sarnailk / CaptureNow / Canva