Unshakeable Peace

"Jesus of Nazareth, the Prince of Peace, is the only One who can give us unshakable peace in a world of turmoil. As someone said, "There will never be peace in the individual heart or at the peace tables of the world until the Prince of Peace reigns supreme in the hearts of men." Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to 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). He also said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"(Matthew 11:28)." http://www.ccci.org series: Jesus & The Intellectual by Bill Bright




Today I'm continuing the theme of "Peace" here at Thrive Christians. The chaos must be addressed if anyone or anything is to thrive. Jesus Christ came to speak to our chaos so that we can thrive in peace: emotionally, physically, and spiritually. On October 22nd (post title: One Word Describing Jesus Christ) I discussed that one word could well describe Jesus: "Relaxed." When I think of strong Christians living utterly surrendered to the Lord in all things I see that they are calm and relaxed no matter what is breaking out around or in them.

Anxiety, worry, and frustration are nipping at our heels as an economy takes a major shift in our lives. When our money gets attacked our entire lives are affected: where we may live, drive, eat, and where our children will attend school, etc. Seeking God's peace is the hope that will not disappoint us: no matter what!!!


Blogging is giving me one wonderful delight: spotlighting my favorite Christian saints. The late Dr. Bill Bright is an author whose books and articles I choose to read often because his humility and insight into living In Christ strengthens my faith and helps me stay focused on the call of God on my life. So...let me close with his writings on the peace Jesus brings here on earth.


"Everyone experiences difficulties. The Christian is not exempt. Becoming a Christian does not mean that we will suddenly be ushered into a utopian situation, but rather that we have One with us who said, "Lo, I am with you all the days - perpetually, uniformly and on every occasion - to the (very) close and consummation of the age. I will never leave you, nor forsake you. My peace I give you"(Matthew 28:20, Amplified)."

"What kind of peace does He give those who trust in Him? It is a quiet confidence that, since our sovereign, loving, all-powerful God is in control, we have nothing to fear. Jesus gives us peace with God through the forgiveness of sin. He provides peace of mind through an unhindered relationship with Him. He shows us how to have peace with man by teaching us how to love others."


"When He is in control, no situation, heartache or sorrow can ever disturb that peace.
Tragedy, heartache and sorrow will come into your life, but Christ, the Prince of Peace, waits to sit upon the throne of your life to give you His pardon, His purpose and His peace."

Is the Prince of Peace sitting upon the throne of your life?

Courage & Peacemaking

Christianity isn't for wimps. Every time I make that statement in a group I see a frightening look flash on many people's faces. I don't back down from that statement because I have had to exercise more courage as a Christian than I have ever known previously.

Jesus said, "My peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you."

If you study the whole life of Christ, you might recall that for every moment of his days on earth, he had an intuition as to what his final moment on this earth would be: the Cross.

He knew that he would be going through an agony, a scourging, crowning and a crucifixion. Yet, with this thought hanging over his mind, he still found time to offer peace to the woman taken in adultery, to offer peace as shown in the story of the prodigal son, to offer peace to the good thief. Never did Christ lose his peace of mind despite the abuses he endured, the mistreatment he experienced or the desolate kind of death that was his.

Jesus Christ was the most courageous man I have ever read of or have known.

In conversation with the woman at the well, He violated protocol of Jews with Samaritans, much less a "woman of questionable reputation."

He has promised me HIS peace; so courage is a given. Peacemakers don’t sweep problems under the carpet – they confront them, even if the process is painful. Peacemakers actively seek to resolve conflict, not just keep it under control. Peacemakers are rare, because peacemaking takes courage backed up with hard work.

There is a big difference between peacekeepers and peacemakers. Peacekeepers can be intimidating. They say: "If you will not keep the peace, you will be punished". Peacekeepers carry weapons to back up their threats. In military conflicts, the weapons are:

• guns
• missiles
• sanctions.

In family conflicts, the weapons are:

• violence
• emotional withdrawal
• financial deprivation
• separation/divorce.

In contrast, peacemakers pose no threat. They don’t issue ultimatums. They don’t give commands. Peacemakers first and foremost listen. Peacemakers take the time to hear a person’s grievance and understand things from their perspective. Peacemakers are patient – they understand when someone needs time to work through an issue. Peacemakers are in it for the long haul.

What do you say? How are you with this post's headline: Courage & Peacemaking?

Give Me Some Peace... Help ....Fast,

Help! It's the holidays. Peace on earth? You've got to be kidding...with my family? No, that's not my story, but I hear it often.

I have shared with you that my home I was reared in was dysfunctional. You've heard the saying there is FUN in the middle of dysFUNctional. Well, humor is one way people process their pain in family get togethers. Counsellors work with their clients to shore them up to handle possible conflicts that could pop up when all the family shows up.

Here is one project Dr. Martha Beck recommends to her clients:

A way to weather stressful family events is by using a technique called Dysfunctional Family Bingo. Before the holidays, get together with friends and fill the squares of a bingo card with dysfunctional phrases or actions that are likely to surface when you see your family. If you dread hearing the "So, when are you having kids?" question, then that goes in one square of your card. The first person to fill out their card sneaks off to call the other players and wins lunch, coffee, or whatever prize you all have agreed on.

Dr. Leonard Felder, the author of When Difficult Relatives Happen to Good People, advises that you enlist a friend or loved one to be your support person at family events. "Rehearse ahead of time with this person what you will need if you get into a pickle with your family," Felder says. "Do you want your support person to remain silent or speak up to defend you? Would you like them to look you in the eye and communicate non verbally that you are a worthwhile person when things get tense?"Newman also suggests you plan in advance to limit your time at gatherings if possible. "Just be sure your host knows beforehand by telling them something like, 'I can only stay two hours because I have another event to get to.'"

So peace on earth for some families is possible almost any time of the year but the holidays. Innocently you can upset someone with the best of intentions. I recall hosting our daughter's kindergarten class for the Christmas party. I worked around a theme of snowmen. I made a papermache snowman. A few weeks ahead I papermached a regular balloon, but just as I had soggy paste filled paper strips over the balloon it popped and blew that mess to adhere to my entire kitchen. What a mess! But this was for my precious daughter. I finally finished the snowman pinata with heavy duty balloons. I placed the candies and treats inside, attached a strong cord and away we sped to the festive party. All went well and the kids were loving trying to break open the snowman to get to the goodies. But I realized my daughter was at her desk with her face down. When I asked what was wrong she held up a tear stained face with, "They're killing the little snowman....and I love him!!! What a lasting memory, eh?

On fun Friday I want to move you from chuckles to the profound business of peace within the family.

What do you see as the difference in these two words:

1. Peacemaker
2. Peacekeeper

This post is reader/comment driven. I truly look forward to your comments. Following a major family gathering holiday I just know you will be ripe with thoughts on this one.

Impulsive Actions and Peace of Mind

The Prince of Peace: Jesus Christ, came that we can live with peace of mind forever. For December, Thrive Christians Blog will seek understanding of peace.

Today let's explore the fruits of impulsivity, and the ways it can disrupt peace.

It seems those stupid things I say and do on impulse can cause me regret. God shows me over and over in the Bible to be careful not to panic into taking action or saying something, until I carefully think it over in my mind. The fruit I usually grow out of impulsively acting is regret. Sometimes I say something that didn't need to be said; I purchase something that is not needed at all; and the list goes on and on. Sometimes when I act impulsively, I make irreparable mistakes.

The first word of advice I received from other widows was not to make major life changes while I was tempted to be guided by emotions. I'm thankful I had such wise ones to speak into my life. If any of you are emotionally excited (either in the positive or negative), wait until you calm down before taking action. Pray for God's wisdom and understanding.

What are your thoughts on acting impulsively and disruption of your peace of mind?

Doubt the Love of God?

Today will end the series on Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions. Imagine this man weekly examined his life carefully to see if any one thing in him could cause any doubt of God's love for him. A few weeks ago I did a series on pain. The words of Elisabeth Elliot and Tim Hansel encouraged me to know no matter what, God's love is always for us, His children.

I have a friend going through a severe debilitating crippling disease. She's a young wife and mother. Her entire life is drastically changing. She's reading these posts and God is blessing her here and with others who know God's love is forever, always, in all situations. When the doubts of His love emerge we know who the real culprit is. . May we all have Edwards' commitment to never let the enemy's whispers erode our faith. In order to thrive, doubt of God's love has to be dealt with quickly or the cost is great.

May we come to such nearness to God that we like Edwards can resolve...

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

Rejection and betrayal were major problems for me in years past. When people disappointed or hurt me I would begin to doubt God as well as the individuals. R.T. Kendall has written books that were the most helpful for me on these issues.

I recommend every believer read his 2 books: Total Forgiveness and God Meant it for Good .

You can find these books in any major bookstore but his website is http://www.rtkendallministries.com/

. He has many sermons and free offerings on his website.

Jonathan Edwards' sermons would move the most incorrigible sinner and the coldest religious pharisee to fall on their faces in conviction of the Holy Spirit; and desperately they would come humbly seeking the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. What gives? Maybe his commitment to affirm and seek weekly to fulfill his 70 resolutions. I decided to only share a few of them, because I'm guessing that the attention appetite of most readers wouldn't care for all 70 written in a dated English wording. But to any of you who have a desire to read the "rest of the story," go to this website to read all 70:

http://www.reformed.org/documents/Edwards/index.html?mainframe=/documents/Edwards/j_edwards_resolutions.html

What tempts you to doubt God?

Trace Problems Back To the Original Cause

Want to be rid of trouble in your life? Jonathan Edwards yearned to be free from repeating the same mistakes over and over, just like you and me today. His daily resolutions show this when we study Resolution 24.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

One of the greatest hindrances to my thriving in my life has been my deception to what my real battles are. It seems those of us who were born in "challenging" homes have to face this dilemma or suffer greatly (as well as possibly inflicting suffering) all our lives. I thank God for wise mentors and counsellors who helped me see when I could be greatly offended that I was subconsciously setting up situations to try to "replay" my home setting to try to finally play out the scenes I couldn't make sense of from my childhood. In fact, I treasure Ps. 27:10 for this reason ... Kay's paraphrase: If my Momma and Daddy abandon me; yet will God always be there for me and He's proven it all of my life.

God showed me to honor my mother and father means to acknowledge that they are my parents. Whatever was hurtful or even harmful to me, I must acknowledge and work through the anger and welcome God's love for all, to bring total forgiveness to them. Only when this is sure will I be free to having loving relationships with men and women in my life. Oh, that I had words to communicate the good life God has for all of us when we grasp what He means in honoring our mother and father.

Once I had the original cause of my authority issues clear, I was liberated to have strong supportive relationships with superiors in work, church and other situations. Knowing God is my ultimate authority has been the most liberating truth besides salvation in my life.

I'm convinced no one reaches adult life without pain, betrayal, or some hardship. Can it be that all of us need to do the work to get to the original cause of any craving in us that increases our temptation ot sin?

Never Lose One Moment of Time

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can. Jonathan Edwards hit me where it hurts with this resolution. Time is precious and I've wasted far too much of it. One of my wasters is "later." I've lost many moments due to procrastination. In fact, I have a plan and web address for a blog on procrastination. You guessed it; I've put it off for several months trying to get the setup just right.

Continuing on with Jonathan Edwards' resolutions his no. 6 is right on target for Thrive Christians: 6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
My hope here is to encourage myself and you readers to live with all God has provided for us to have an abundant thriving life as promised in the Bible. I have seen so many people give up on life and they're the walking nearly dead. Life is a gift and I agree with Edwards, I choose and resolve to live "with all my might....while I do live!!!"

Finally Edwards revs up the motivation to live fully. He states:
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

As many of you know if you drop by here often my husband of many years suddenly became ill this spring, and died within a month after his diagnosis. I remember him making life-choices when we thought we might have several years of life left. His eye to heaven and pleasing God was much more profound than at any other time in his life. Edwards is right; we will all make different decisions if we see this could be our last hour.

Do you treat time as a precious commodity?

Are you fully alive; appreciating life itself?

Would you make different choices if you saw this moment as one of your last?