Peace

I have a Jehovah's Witness friend who has come to my door periodically for the past 5 years and given me all sorts of pamphlets and invitations. She's a very sweet lady-I'll tell the whole story some time. Several years ago I remember her telling me that when Jesus comes to set up his earthly kingdom, we'll finally have PEACE and won't that be wonderful? I can't remember if I actually asked her this or if I just thought about asking her, but I wondered, "Isn't that peace actually available NOW?"

Yesterday she visited and left me an invitation to a talk on the "anniversary" of Christ's death... which they say falls on Tuesday, March 30 this year. (Not sure how they calculate that, but I know Christ didn't die on a Tuesday). Anyway... there will be an additional talk entitled "Real Peace and Security- When?" and it brought back to my mind that question I had before.

I definitely think we have something to look forward to in the future with God that will be alot better than what we have on earth. I don't believe it will be an earthly kingdom (Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place" John 18:36). I am looking forward to a spiritual, heavenly home with God. And yes, there will be peace and security there.... but what about now...

I don't think you can see it with a general glance around the world we live in... I actually just saw a headline on the internet saying that 10 people (men, women and children) had been killed on I-65 in Kentucky today in a fiery crash between a tractor-trailer and a van (Oh, did I mention my father-in-law was traveling that same route this morning in a van?!!!! Praise God it wasn't HIS van- but he did experience an hour and a half delay). My point is... the world we are living in is not a place of peace. Bad things happen... natural disasters, wars, accidents, relational disasters, shootings at schools, etc. etc. Right now Yahoo is having technical difficulties I can't get my e-mail to load and I'm frustrated!!!

I saw this verse while I was reading this morning.... "For Christ himself has brought peace to us.... now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us". (Eph 2:14 & 17, NLT). Other (more reliable) versions say that Christ himself IS OUR PEACE. If I tried to do a study on peace, it would take longer than I have today. But...I still wanted to share this good news. REAL peace and security is available now- we don't have to wait for it. But it's not in the form of a Jesus-Government-Enforced Security. (As nice as that sounds). It's in the form of a Jesus-Offered-Gift... it's peace inside each individual, no matter what is going on in the world. It's not an elusive thing, although many of (us) followers don't ever really experience it. That includes me too often than I want to admit. And that is a tragedy. Here is what I think:

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5-7

I'm starting to understand more and more that THANKSGIVING is the thing that ushers peace into our hearts. The more I am thanking and praising God, the more peace I feel. The more I am focused on Brenda and all my problems and what I lack... the less peace I feel.

If you're not feeling peace.... try counting your blessings and thanking God for what he has done. If you can't think of anything, try reading my list of "God's Gracious Goodness" to the right. I am working my way to a list of 1,000 gifts that God has given me. But this list-making has been such a blessing to me, I may never stop.

That's all I have to say. :-) I know it may be hard to take this message seriously from someone as cynical and jaded as ME... but just try it yourself and see.