PEACE: A Personal Relationship with God

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, August 14, 2016

 

PEACE: A Personal Relationship with God

A friend and I traveled to the Englewood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago again on Wednesday. We participated—again—in the nightly dinner outreach hosted by the Mothers Against Senseless Killing (MASK). This was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with the good people in the Englewood neighborhood and show them that friends outside of their community care, and are concerned. Friends want to help them strengthen relationships, and bring peace into their streets. Their neighborhood. Their community.

My friend Laura had her face-painting kit, again, and the children loved it. They lined up to have all different kinds of face art painted on their faces. I made myself useful helping out by the serving table, making sure the bottled water was ready to be served, taking care of trash and checking to see that the area around the street corner was neat and tidy.

Yet, I remembered back two weeks, when Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church stopped by that same corner after dinner was cleaned up. The church folks set up a traveling outdoor worship service, just as they do each Wednesday night during the summer. As I finished my good-byes to Mama Knight and several other friends, I had the opportunity to talk with the Senior Pastor of that church, Rev. Walter Matthews.

A personable, earnest man, he was more than ready to share his view of peace. Pastor Matthews’ personal definition: “PEACE is having a personal relationship with God.”  

Just as the Mothers Against Senseless Killing wishes to strengthen relationships between friends in their Englewood neighborhood—on a horizontal plane, so Pastor Matthews wishes to strengthen relationships on a vertical plane—the personal relationship with God, our Redeemer and Friend. As I asked him to elaborate on his personal definition, he said, “I want everyone to have peace with God, so that we are able to have the peace of God.”

Amen! Pastor Matthews, thank you for those good words. May you and your church community have a nurturing, continuing relationship with your neighborhood. Dear God, please help Pleasant Green M.B. Church to continue to be faithful, spreading the Good News of a personal relationship with You. Amen!

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

PEACE: God’s Love Within

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, August 16, 2016

PEACE: God’s Love Within

This post includes a second definition of PEACE from Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church. But, before we get to that, I need to tell a bit about the Englewood neighborhood, and Mothers Against Senseless Killing (MASK). This excellent group has a dinner outreach called Take Them a Meal. Several people from Morton Grove traveled to the south side of Chicago to provide for the dinner, two weeks ago.

The weather was quite warm—and so was the fellowship and community! Heartwarming, too.

As the dinner outreach packed up, Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church started to set up on the same street corner. They have an outdoor worship service every Wednesday night during the summer. That church has a regular outreach to the Englewood community.

I greeted several of the church members, including the associate pastor, Frederick Schells. A kindly man, he gave me his view of peace right away. Pastor Frederick’s personal definition: “PEACE is the love of God within you.”

As I asked for him to elaborate, he said, “Peace has to be recognized from within.” He talked about the importance of God in each individual’s life, and how the presence of God is a foundation for peace.

The presence of God can be a comfort and encouragement for many, especially when going through difficult or challenging times. The Gospel of John lets us know that Jesus promised peace—His peace. Not as the world gives. Not fleeting or temporary, but permanent. Everlasting peace.

Praise God. Thank You for Your peace.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

PEACE: No Chaos, No Confusion

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, August 14, 2016

PEACE: No Chaos, No Confusion

Presenting another in the series of definitions of PEACE.

I was in the Englewood neighborhood some days ago, serving dinner on the south side of Chicago. A mothers’ group called Mothers Against Senseless Killing (MASK) offers a free meal outreach called Give Them a Meal.

The dinner outreach was packing up, and a local church was getting ready to set up on the same corner. Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church has an outdoor worship service every Wednesday night during the summer. Complete with sound system and moveable pulpit, that church has a regular weekly outreach to their community.

I struck up a conversation with one of the congregation members. Even though she was among those preparing to transform the street corner into the setting for a worship service, she still has time to give me her view on peace.

Darlene’s personal definition: “PEACE is knowing that you can wake up on a daily basis and know that there is no chaos and no confusion.”

I was struck by Darlene’s definition. No chaos, and no confusion. What she was describing—in reverse—is not only the absence of peace, it is the opposite of peace, in a fundamental sense. When a situation is chaotic and confusing, or when a person’s life is in chaos and confusion, there is no peace. At all.

It also made me think of the concept of waking up in a peaceful, serene place. A placid, safe setting. How many times does Darlene—and others in her community—wake up to the sounds of strife, or arguments, or gunfire in the streets? Truly, something to yearn for, to pray for.

Dear Lord, thank You for Darlene’s definition. I pray for her and for the congregation at Pleasant Green M.B. Church. Help that group of believers in God be a witness for Your peace, Your reconciliation and love, in the Englewood community. In Your mercy, hear all of our prayers.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

PEACE: Balance between Justice and Fairness

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Monday, August 8, 2016

PEACE: Balance between Justice and Fairness

Today, we take a serious look at peace. A serious personal definition.

Before we turn to that, let’s set the stage. Here we are in the Englewood neighborhood of the south side of Chicago. A mothers’ group called Mothers Against Senseless Killing (MASK) offers a free meal outreach called Give Them a Meal. Several people—including me—ride down to help out last week.

While there, I asked a number of people on that street corner for their personal definition of PEACE. This definition by one of the Mothers Against Senseless Killing struck me in a heartfelt way. Maria’s personal definition: “PEACE to me is a balance between justice and fairness for all groups in society.”

When I asked her to elaborate on this well-thought-out definition, at first she was hesitant. I encouraged her, and then the words started to flow. “There is a reason why we don’t have peace—especially in these [inner city] areas. Residents of these areas do not have access to opportunities in some ways. That is, in an even level as other groups.”

Maria strongly presented her excellent point. She talked about the limited access to education, decent jobs and housing, and low crime areas. That is, the limited access to opportunity, of all kinds. Little wonder why the cycle of violence perpetuates itself, over large parts of the city of Chicago. A cautionary definition of PEACE, certainly. Thank you so much, Maria.

Let us pray. Dear God who loves the cities, God who loves the residents of those same areas so torn by violence, and unsavory words and deeds. We thank You for Your everlasting love for humanity. We pray for the city of Chicago, and especially the Englewood neighborhood. Bring Your peace that passes understanding into unpeaceful hearts. We pray support and encouragement fill hearts that need Your serenity. In the powerful name of the Prince of Peace we pray, amen.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

PEACE: Loving Everyone

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Thursday, August 4, 2016

 

PEACE: Loving Everyone

Yesterday afternoon, I accompanied several people to the south side of Chicago. My friend, Laura, had been in touch with a mothers’ group called Mothers Against Senseless Killing (MASK). This group has a free meal outreach called Give Them a Meal. (Wonderful idea! It’s been done many times before, in different places. Yet, it still is quite effective!)

Anyway, the four of us went to the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago from the northwest suburb of Morton Grove. Yes, it was hot. And sunny. Hovering around 90 degrees. Good thing there were some trees shading most of the street corner. (Not completely, however.) It did not seem to matter to these faithful people. What a wonderful opportunity for people to come together, to share, to have fellowship and make community.

Mama Knight is a firecracker of a senior. Petite, walking with assistance, still she keeps a sharp eye on that corner and does what she can to help this free meal outreach to continue. We went to her house at first, and unloaded all the supplies we had brought. We didn’t waste any time, but set up everything so that the free meal could be offered to anyone who came up to the corner.

Remembering my Pursuing Peace Project, I asked Mama Knight what her personal definition of PEACE was. Mama Knight’s personal definition: “Peace is loving everyone.”

That was only the start of it! She went on to say, “Peace is where everyone is loving and gets together. Peace is what makes you feel happy. I do not forget to thank God. Without Him, I could not make it. At 91, I thank God for my health and my right mind.”

God bless dear Mama Knight! What a marvelous definition. She is respected and loved by so many in that neighborhood. She has such sincerity and love in her own heart, she radiates it forth. Anyone who knows her and talks with her can witness to her generosity of spirit.

Dear God, bless this meal outreach. Bless the faithful volunteers who continue to come out, day after day, week after week. And, we pray PEACE may come into the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. Stop the senseless killing, we earnestly pray. Lord, in Your mercy, hear all of our prayers.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er