Sharon Sharing God: PEACE OF GOD

Monday, June 13, 2011

PEACE OF GOD

Peace of God.

What do you think when you hear this phrase?

I think it sounds pretty. Like a gift all wrapped up in pretty paper with a pretty bow attached. It sounds simple…

But, for me, peace is anything but simple.

You see, I'm a worrier, a fretter, a "stew on things" person. I wrestle with life, always trying to get the upper hand. Yes, I love the imagery of resting in green meadows, and being led beside peaceful streams…

But more often than not, I find myself smack dab in the middle of a weed patch, next to a dry gulch!

Are you anything like me? (Please tell me I'm not alone…!)

Why is that?

I'm a believer, an ardent follower of Jesus – I should be experiencing the Peace of God.

So, why is it so elusive?

***To read more, please join me at Open My Ears, Lord hosted by Janis...

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

11 comments:

DebbieJune 13, 2011 at 4:02 AM
Oh my dear friend, you are not alone. I doubt that's comforting, but misery loves company.
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lioneagleJune 13, 2011 at 4:13 AM
Hi Sharon -

May the peace of GOD rule in your heart.
Colossians 3:15 - KJV
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AnonymousJune 13, 2011 at 4:55 AM
You are not alone...that's why we love you!
Anita (-:
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Janettessage.blogspot.comJune 13, 2011 at 5:31 AM
Oh I seem to fight His peace...I know it is there and then I logic it away. To learn to just receive it and go on would be wonderful, to just take the gift He has given.

Oh flying kites seemed to be my spring thing
http://janettessage.blogspot.com/2011/03/lets-go-fly-kite.html

You got it....and reminded me again....now isn't there great peace in flying a kite. Letting the wind just take it and glide.
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WendyJune 13, 2011 at 6:06 AM
"The Peace of God" conjures up images of a field at the foot of a majestic mountain, towering above, and I am sitting peacefully in the middle with a gentle breeze blowing. It is quiet--oh, so quiet.

I've posted often enough on worry, and fear (these evil twins) to assure you that you are not alone! I'm grateful that in Christ I can have peace and rest. "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you."

I come to Him and lay my burden down.
Wendy
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PamelaJune 13, 2011 at 7:25 AM
I'm a writer and for some reason I always ask the "what if" questions for my own life. It's good in writing but in real life it congers up a lot of scenarios that will probably never happen. This was good for me to read!

Blessings,
Pamela
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bettyJune 13, 2011 at 8:20 AM
very well written, Sharon!! left a comment over there, but I definitely want one of your dictionaries :)

betty
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WandaJune 13, 2011 at 9:36 AM
Funny that should write about peace today as my devotional this morning dealt with the same topic. And no you are not alone my friend.
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PeggyJune 13, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Peace and blessings Sharon...

This goes along nicely with Fri.'s Grief Study and the wonderful answers you wrote in the comments as always...

Here's something I shared there on my blog:
"SOURCE OF PEACE
Jesus Christ is our source of Peace (John 14:27) it's not merely reading a Bible verse that will give it to you, it's knowing the real presence of the One who can give it. When that happens, at the very core of our being, we can operate from a center of calm and assurance, without fear."

and I love the God appointed timing of this and Wanda's and whoever else has been reflecting on the PEACE of GOD...

"The word "peace" in the Bible, from the Greek word (eireinei), refers to a mental attitude of tranquillity based on a relationship with God in the Christian Way of Life. It is a word which describes the result of a person's correct response to God's Grace.

The Bible uses "peace" in two ways. There is personal peace with God which comes when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour. Then, there is the peace of God which is available on a daily basis as the believer participates in the Christian way of life according to the Plan of God...In the Christian Way of life, peace comes through fellowship with God and daily growth, advancement in spiritual things which brings stability, a relaxed mental attitude, orientation to the plan of God, occupation with Christ, and the ability to employ faith-rest principles in all areas of life.
" Philippians 4:6-9

You asked about PEACE of GOD...but I see GOD as PEACE. He is Jehovah Shalom after all! Billy Graham calls steps to accepting Christ as "Steps to Peace with God" (all these prepositions seem to distinguish PEACE)!

I love your ACROSTIC for PEACE (I only peeked in over at Janis's)!

What I think of His elusive PEACE...
the calm, quiet breeze that whispers,
I am here, I am with you, nothing is too difficult that WE cannot face with gentle thoughts and actions,
tranquility is not so distant,
trust is ever present;
tempers lie silent to His strength and power,
testing takes me through the fire;
trials make me refined and more of a reflection of Him... if I let Him and surrender to PEACE.

Waves of emotions ebb the final tide without a fight any longer but courage to press on and sense the REST of being at PEACE, in the PEACE of God... a heavenly existence if just for a moment...

Peace I leave with you, my friend,
not as the world gives...
Peggy
(sorry, another chapter of a book answer)can you imagine if I read the entire post
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Chatty CroneJune 14, 2011 at 1:11 PM
I go back and forth - sometimes I feel in the middle of a mess not knowing what to do - where to go - or what to think.

At other times I am in a peaceful place. I need to be there more.

Do you like it with your verification off - it is the only way to go! One less worry. lol
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SharonJune 15, 2011 at 6:04 PM
Debbie - You have no idea how very comforting that is...

Sandra - In order to let peace reign, I have to yield control of the throne! :)

Anita - I love you, too. It's been great to have all my buddies rally around me!

Janette - Actually, a kite is a great word picture for the idea of peace. We should be like a kite, letting the wind (Holy Spirit) takes us where it will, knowing we are always firmly attached by the string (Jesus) to the guiding hands of the string-holder (God).

Wendy - I love your image. I've spent some of those peaceful moments in the mountains. Yes, it is quiet when we lay our burdens down.

Pamela - Oh my goodness. I'm such a "what if" person, and you're so right - I can think up all sorts of dire outcomes. I'm learning to trust God with the scenarios of life.

Betty - You'll be one of the first to get that dictionary if it ever comes out! And thanks for your comment on Janis' blog.

Wanda - I love when God *co-ordinates* His message. Glad you were thinking about peace, too -

Peggy - A wonderful comment! Loved the devotion you shared, and I especially liked the poetic words you shared at the end. Truly lovely.

Sandie - Yup, I vacillate a lot, too. Spend way too much time in the messy places! (Yes, a bit naked without the word verification, but I think you guys like it - so I'm happy!)

GOD BLESS!
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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)

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MY WORD FOR 2016

GRATEFUL

Grateful: feeling or showing thanks to someone for some helpful act; appreciative of benefits received; warmly or deeply thankful; indebted; beholden.

Word origin: 1550's, "pleasing to the mind," also "full of gratitude," from obsolete adj. grate "agreeable, thankful," from Latin gratus "pleasing" – derived from the same word origin as the word "grace."

The trick to changing your behavior is to become more thankful.

The practice of gratitude involves a focus on the present moment, on appreciating your life as it is today and what has made it so.

Let us begin an eternal quest to express in new and creative ways our thanks to God.

So I'm breathing in Your grace,

And I'm breathing out Your praise.

Let our prayers be the overflow of a grateful heart to God.

Three steps in prayer:

PRAISE – praise, reverence, worship, adoration, and awe for who God is and what He does

ASK – honest, earnest, and intense requests

THANK YOU – always end with thanksgiving for everything

Pulpit commentary:

In everything give thanks.

In every circumstance – in joy and in sorrow; for everything – for prosperity and for adversity; in every place – in the house of God and on the bed of sickness.

Christians should not only be engaged in constant prayer, but in constant thanksgiving.

For this – this thankful spirit – is the will of God, His desire.

God by the gift of his Son has laid us under the obligation of perpetual thanksgiving. Our whole lives ought to be one continued thank-offering for all the blessings of redemption.

Gill's Exposition:

Thanks are to be given to him for all things…

For all temporal good things;

for our beings, the preservation of them;

for food and raiment, and all the mercies of life;

for the means of grace, the word and ordinances, and the ministers of the Gospel;

for spiritual blessings, for electing, redeeming, regenerating, adopting, pardoning, justifying, and persevering grace:

for a meetness for heaven, a right unto it, and a good hope of it;

and especially for Jesus Christ, for such a…Saviour, and advocate with the Father, as he is; and for life, peace, joy, comfort, righteousness, and salvation in him.

Thanks should be given to God in every circumstance of life; in adversity, as Job did; when not in so comfortable and agreeable a frame of soul as to be wished for…even under the temptations of Satan…since the grace of God is sufficient to bear up under them, and deliver out of them.

[Give thanks] in afflictions of every kind, since they are all for good – temporal, or spiritual, or eternal.

WHAT IS LOVE?

Love is when you are missing some of your teeth but you're not afraid to smile because you know your friends will still love you even though some of you is missing.

By Emma K. - Age 6

"Out of the mouth of babes..."

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

Anonymous

When you are uncertain, it helps to have someone remind you what is true – someone who knows you well, who sees you, and keeps track of you – not just your body but your soul.

Emily Freeman

Sharon Sharing God

Monday, June 13, 2011

PEACE OF GOD

11 comments:

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HOW GREAT THOU ART

ALL FOR HIS GLORY

I'D RATHER HAVE JESUS

THE GLORIFIED ONE

SERVING THE MOST HIGH

HE IS ALWAYS THERE, AND EVER NEAR