Peace and Quiet

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master, it’s the only way you can get on your feet.

James 4: 7-10 (The Message)

Have you ever had one of those days where you just cannot focus, where everything seems overwhelming, and nothing can get done?

Yesterday was one of those days for me, for a variety of reasons. This election is wearing me out - I care too much and daily I am bombarded with e-mails from friends and family - some who share my beliefs (politically and spiritually), and some who do not (politically and/or spiritually.)

Believe it or not, I don’t like conflict, so when conflict occurs, I get emotional. Yesterday, in the midst of a major sobbing session, the Lord pointed me to the 3rd and 4th chapters of James.

In The Message, the chapters are titled. When I read Chapter 3’s title, “When You Open Your Mouth” I thought, “Oh, boy. I’ve gone and done it now.” Then, the title of Chapter 4 says, “Get Serious.”

God immediately had my attention. I had just fired off a response to an email that differed from my own beliefs, and I was feeling guilty. Not because I didn’t firmly believe everything I said, and not because I was mean or harsh, but just because I dared to disagree with someone I love dearly.

James 3 and 4 are very convicting. They caused me to examine my words closely, and I got down on my knees and cried my eyes out. God’s word has once again changed me. Hopefully for the better.

I hope you’ll take the time to read James 3 and 4 this week. Let us know if the verses speak to you as well.

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

Hebrews 11: 1-2 (The Message)

Faith is our handle on what we can’t see. I like that. God moves in many mysterious ways - our human brains cannot possibly comprehend all He sees, all He does, or even why He does what He does.

I seem to be living in Hebrews this week - so much wisdom and encouragement and direction. Three people this week - two known and one unknown - have pointed me back to the verse I shared on the 13th, Hebrews 10: 35-36. I’d like to share it here again because for some reason these two verses are speaking to me.

This time, I’ll take it from The Message, and quote Hebrews 10: 32-39:

Remember those early days after you saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse - some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.

Wow. Do these passages speak to you like they do me?

Consider our current circumstances - could God be telling us not to get distracted by the turmoil around us? To stay focused? To keep our eyes, our thoughts, on Him, staying with His plan so we’ll be there for the promised completion?

How can we do that? It’s answered in the first passage above - FAITH. Faith allows us to believe - to KNOW - God is still in control, even when the world seems to be falling apart. Faith in our Mighty God and His Son - our Savior - is our foundation - our firm foundation.

Hallelujah!

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God every step of the way.

Colossians 3: 15-17

As I’ve read over the comments left the last few days, my heart has been blessed beyond measure. Here I share my journey with you, and so many of us are experiencing the same things. I know that’s not by accident. God is moving mightily among His people, keeping us in tune with each other, in step with each other.

Does this amaze you, like it does me? We serve such an awesome, amazing, and beautiful God!

Then, as I was doing today’s Bible study, Beth Moore reminded us to keep God’s word alive and active in us - the more we take in, absorb, meditate, memorize the Word, the more able we are to pour it out when He wants us to use it to help someone. So today, let the Word of God have run of your home, of your heart, and of your mind.

And sing, sing your hearts out to God. What song is on your heart today?

You are such a blessing.

Last quarter, my Pix-N-Pens blog participated in the Bloggy Carnival and we had great fun, so I’ve decided to participate with all my blogs this quarter.

Here at Peace and Quiet, we’re giving away a beautiful collection, in its own case, of seven Beth Moore hardback books! All you have to do is look through all the other posts on this blog and leave a comment on one of those posts. The comment must be relevant, and not just a simple “great post.” You may enter up to 3 times, but each entry must be on a different post, and must apply to that particular post.

Deadline is Friday, October 31st, midnight (central time). I’ll announce the winner one day next week.

Be sure to leave your e-mail address in your post so I’ll have a way to contact you if you win!

For a chance to win other prizes, check out my two other blogs - Vacation Planning and Pix-N-Pens, and then check out Bloggy Carnivals - a huge list of contests happening this week only!

This giveaway/contest is being run by the independent writer of Peace and Quiet and has not been reviewed or endorsed by the webhost, Today.com SH

You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and stead in the bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message - just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message.

Colossians 1: 21-23

As my current study continues, the third point we must remember is that we are who God says we are. So I started searching the Bible, asking, “Okay, God, who do you say I am?” and I sort of “stumbled” over today’s passage. (I say stumbled because I was actually looking above this passage when I saw the words “case study” and I know it was no accident!)

We - as Christians - are on God’s side. Our lives are put together WHOLE and HOLY in His presence. We are grounded, and tuned in to the Message.

It is indeed a gift.

Think about it - we all have lives that seem more like a jumbled up plate of spaghetti than whole and holy, yet God sees us only as WHOLE and HOLY. 

I’ll continue to explore who I am in Christ, and share my journey with you. Feel free to share your own thoughts too!

And exciting news - we’ll be having a giveaway next week! Tune in Monday for all the details!

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the wins,
giving to the the needy in reckless abandon
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

2 Corinthians 9: 8-15 (The Message)

As I research and pray about Scripture to begin each of these posts, I’m amazed at what I read and can’t stop with just one verse. So today, you get to read the whole passage with me!

As I mentioned a few days ago, my current Bible study is about believing God. Not just believing IN Him, but believing Him - believing He is Who He says He is, believing He can do what He says He can do, and that His word is alive and active in me.

When I read verses like above, His word does become alive and active in me! I want to go shout His message from rooftops, I want to tell everyone I know that God loves them, Jesus died for them, and invite them all to live in Heaven with our Creator for eternity!

Do you ever feel that way? Does the Bible ever awaken you, excite you, enliven you?

I’d love to know your favorite verses - share them with us!

Trust God from the bottom of your heart,
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go,
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!

Proberbs 3: 5-8

Difficult times makes it difficult to trust, don’t you think? I was discussing this very subject with a friend yesterday. We were discussing my own issues with planning in advance - seems like no matter what plans I make, or goals I set, the course is never a straight, narrow path. The journey to most of my goals have been wild roller coaster rides - the kind that leave you screaming “I wanna get OFF!”

But my friend pointed out two things to me.

1) “Stuff” will always be happening around you - no one ever said life would be easy or smooth. Why do we tend to think it should be? Maybe we should change our thinking and build in time for all the twists and turns? But then, when it is calm and smooth, we catch ourselves waiting for the next sudden drop!

2) We do eventually reach the goals, as long as the goals are God-honoring. He wants us to succeed, He wants us to live in our own Promised Land, but He teaches us along the way.

So what can we learn from all of this? It’s totally okay to set long-term (and short-term) goals. Even when things look difficult or even when we’ve not met goals in the past. We just have to trust God from the bottoms of our hearts - He is still in control and He has our best interests in mind.

Jesus loves us, this I know,
For the Bible tells us so.
Little ones to Him belong
We are weak,
But He is STRONG.

Amen and Amen.

“For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name.”

Psalm 33:21 (NASB)

We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need.

What’s more, our hearts brim with joy

since we’ve taken for our own his holy name.

Love us, God, with all you’ve got -

that’s what we’re depending on.

Psalm 33:20-22 (The Message)

I love various translations of the Bible. As I mentioned yesterday, TRUST is a big issue for me. Not that I don’t trust God - I do. I just don’t always trust myself - too many mistakes for that! But God is drawing me nearer, wanting to teach me, mold me, love me so that I can trust Him - trust Him FULLY and let others know they can trust Him, too.

Part of the trust issue is becoming solely dependant on Him - for everything. Sometimes that’s so incredibly hard. I’ve depended on ME for so long - I learned early on not to depend too much on others, because they’ll always let us down. But God doesn’t.

God is my refuge, my strength, my shelter. He is my rock, my provider, my sustainer. When all else is gone, God is all that’s left. He does not leave us, does not depart from us. Oh, we can leave Him - but NOTHING can make Him leave us.

Isn’t that the most comforting thought? We can depend on Him. For everything. All we have to do is ask.

Does your heart brim with joy when you depend on God? Mine does!

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”

1 Peter 4:12-13

The Lord has been drawing me nearer lately - even speaking to me. Last week, as I settled into bed much later than I should have, I clearly heard a voice that said, “I do not want you to suffer.” My mind was still on work, and I tried to figure out what suffering had to do with vacation planning, and couldn’t make it fit. A few moments later, I clearly heard, “I do not want you to suffer.”

It was not my husband’s voice, yet it was as clear and as audible as if it had been him. Would the Lord speak to me that clearly? In that way?

Later, I shared the story with two of my prayer partners and dear friends. I questioned whether it was God, and immediately was convicted for doubting that it was Him. My friends felt I had indeed been visited by God.

But what did He mean?

He didn’t say I WOULDN’T suffer, just that He didn’t WANT me to suffer.

This weekend, I started reading Beth Moore’s book Believing God. She makes a point to say that many of us believe IN God, but we have a harder time believing Him. One of the friends I mentioned earlier said basically the same thing to me in her response to me questioning whether it was God who spoke. She said “Fix your eyes on Him and believe Him (don’t just believe IN Him, but believe that His promises are for you), and then expect that as you move toward the throne of Grace, He will do great things.”

As I’ve begun the study of Believing Him, rather than just believing IN Him, I realize there is a major issue - that of TRUST. I’ll share more about trust issues all week long. I hope you’ll join me as we uncover and rediscover His truth.

P.S. This week, I’m giving away two copies of a book appropriately entitled Do You Trust Me? by Cheryl Cunnagin. See my Pix-N-Pens blog for all the details.

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

Romans 8: 26-27

Have you ever not known what to pray for, or even how to pray?  When we see someone in pain, or causing pain to us or to loved ones, or we struggle with a situation, or we can’t understand WHY the bad stuff happens - that’s when the Holy Spirit prays for us and with us.

It’s okay to admit we don’t know how to pray. We always want to pray God’s will be done, but we don’t always know what His will is for every circumstance.

Sometimes when I’ve been praying, a thought will just “pop into my head” that I had never thought before. Usually it’s the Holy Spirit directing my prayers.

Just this morning, I woke with someone in my thoughts. He is a business acquaintance - we’ve never actually met, although we’ve exchanged emails a time or two, and we’re members of the same organizations. But this morning when I woke with him on my brain, I knew I was to pray for him. He has remained in my thoughts throughout the day, so I continue to pray. I have NO IDEA what I’m supposed to pray for this man, so I let the Holy Spirit guide me. Protection has been a biggie, as has guidance, so I wonder if he’s possibly about to make some decision that perhaps the enemy may not like. So I continue to pray.

Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever had an old grade school friend just appear in your thoughts “for no reason?” Or perhaps a celebrity. I tend to get lots of celebrities. Once, the Lord put this young man in my prayers - he is a regular “side-kick” on many family shows, but never the main star. I wondered why in the world I was thinking about him, and the Lord said, “Pray.” So I prayed, and thought that was over with. But it wasn’t. Every day for a couple of months, I was instructed to pray for this young man. All sorts of different prayers, most of them pretty “ordinary” for an actor. I still don’t know the purpose, but I prayed.

I have learned that I may not ever see whether my prayers “accomplished” anything or not. I finally heard God say that was okay, too. It is my obedience to pray when I’m led that matters most. So if God tells you to pray for someone - whether you’ve met them or not - just pray!

Father God, we praise you and we worship you. Thank you for Jesus, our Salvation, and thank you for the Holy Spirit, our Helper. Use our prayer times, Lord, to allow us to intercede for others, and when we don’t know what to pray, please allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. Thank you for your Word and for your wisdom. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.