PEACE is Peace of Mind (Repost)

This post is reposted especially for the Facebook group Pursuing Peace. Peace of mind is surely worth searching for.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, February 21, 2016

PEACE is Peace of Mind

Continuing the journey today. I am traveling around to various locations over the next weeks in my efforts to pursue PEACE.

My friend and colleague from the Des Plaines Ministerial Association, Elder and Pastor Chuck Reid, invited me to attend the church he pastors, Bethesda Worship Center in Des Plaines, Illinois. I was so glad I had the opportunity to attend there today, after the service at my own church, St. Luke’s Christian Community in Morton Grove.

When the service had ended, I had the opportunity to talk with a number of people in the congregation. We had some lively conversations, and their personal definitions of PEACE touched my heart. I’m going to be sharing them during the next few days.

I will begin with Ne’Cole Fort, whose personal definition of PEACE is Peace of mind.

This lovely woman was camera-shy, but I assured her that I would certainly post her definition of PEACE even if I did not take her photo. And, what a wonderful definition it is, too!

Peace of mind. Ne’Cole said, “If I don’t have peace of mind, everything else seems out of order. My mind is the battlefield.” She talked of the orderly mind, and about how PEACE helped everything internal—in her mind and heart—to be properly in place.

As I reflected on this excellent definition, I thought of the verse in Romans 12:2 that tells us believers to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Yes, the mind is the battlefield! But if God is with us, on our side, we will win the battle (as Martin Luther tells us in his hymn “A Mighty Fortress”).

Dear God, thank You for the opportunity to worship with a new group of believers today. I thank Pastor Chuck, his wife Barbara, and all of the good folks at BWC for their warm welcome. Gracious God, I pray that You might be amidst their worship, empower their prayers, energize their outreach, and anoint Pastor Chuck’s preaching. I thank You for Sister Ne’Cole’s definition of PEACE, and I pray that You might send peace of mind to all those who so sorely need it, tonight. I pray these things in the powerful and peaceful name of Jesus, 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.   @chaplaineliza  And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

PEACE: Quiet Assurance. God IS in Control.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Wednesday, March 9, 2016

PEACE: Quiet Assurance. God IS in Control.

Several days ago, I had the opportunity to go to a gathering at North Shore Assembly of God in Skokie. I spoke with several people at some length, discussing the division and animosity becoming so prevalent in the public discourse. I told the folks there about my listening tour to hear different people’s points of view on PEACE.

I took the opportunity to ask each one about their personal definition of PEACE. I got more fascinating definitions! Here is one from Shirlene Baker, whose definition is: “PEACE: Quiet assurance. God IS in control.”

When asked for further explanation, Shirlene said, “My definition of peace is that quiet assurance, unexplainable knowing that no matter what is happening in the natural, God is and always will be in control. When everything and everyone around you falls apart, you are standing firm and unmovable. With all of the chaos around us, I believe that if our minds are fixed, focused on God, we can remain steadfast.  He promised it and I believe it!  And I know that it works.  I thank Him for His peace, a peace the world cannot take away!”

Shirlene, thank you so much for such a full explanation! Isn’t it the truth? If we understand that God is in control, no matter how awful the present situation may be, we can remain steadfast! Even though we may be in middle of the darkest night, or the stormiest sea, or the worst nightmare, God is with us. God has promised.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” God is right by my side. And, that is quiet assurance. Thank You, God! Praise Your Name!

@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.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

PEACE is Resting in God (part 2)

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Monday, February 22, 2016

PEACE is Resting in God (part 2)

Before I talk about today’s definition of PEACE, I would like to sincerely apologize. I had a malfunction with my digital camera happen on Sunday, at Bethesda Worship Center. I am so sorry that I have no photos of any of the dear people who were so kind to pose with their personal definitions of PEACE. Again, I apologize. Plus, I thank Pastor Chuck for being willing to offer his smart phone as a last-minute replacement! (Sadly, my advanced-beginner expertise with social media is showing … in that I couldn’t get the dratted thing to send photos!)

However, I persevere. And, I had the sheets of paper on which these dear people wrote their definitions! So, for the next few days—and definitions—I will be posting the sheets by themselves.

The next definition comes from a kind woman who was quite definite about her view of PEACE. It did not take her long to come up with the words, at all! Sister Jeanne Christian’s definition of PEACE: resting in God in the midst of the storms of life.

Sister Jeanne clarified her definition (in what I could tell was her precise manner). “Peace is not the absence of conflict. There is always conflict in the world, as well as in ourselves.” She wanted to stress how God carries her through her difficulties and storms.

Isn’t that the truth? Exactly what I am considering for the bible study I will lead tomorrow morning. Despite our suffering and even dismay, God is right there with us. Helping us to ride out the storm. You and I may be buffeted and knocked about. Yes. True. However—God does not forsake us. Amen, and amen!

Thank You, God.

@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.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

PEACE is Peace of Mind

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, February 21, 2016

PEACE is Peace of Mind

Continuing the journey today. I am traveling around to various locations over the next weeks in my efforts to pursue PEACE.

My friend and colleague from the Des Plaines Ministerial Association, Elder and Pastor Chuck Reid, invited me to attend the church he pastors, Bethesda Worship Center in Des Plaines, Illinois. I was so glad I had the opportunity to attend there today, after the service at my own church, St. Luke’s Christian Community in Morton Grove.

When the service had ended, I had the opportunity to talk with a number of people in the congregation. We had some lively conversations, and their personal definitions of PEACE touched my heart. I’m going to be sharing them during the next few days.

I will begin with Ne’Cole Fort, whose personal definition of PEACE is Peace of mind.

This lovely woman was camera-shy, but I assured her that I would certainly post her definition of PEACE even if I did not take her photo. And, what a wonderful definition it is, too!

Peace of mind. Ne’Cole said, “If I don’t have peace of mind, everything else seems out of order. My mind is the battlefield.” She talked of the orderly mind, and about how PEACE helped everything internal—in her mind and heart—to be properly oriented and in place.

As I reflected on this excellent definition, I thought of the verse in Romans 12:2 that tells us believers to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Yes, the mind is the battlefield! But if God is with us, on our side, we will win the battle (as Martin Luther tells us in his hymn “A Mighty Fortress”).

Dear God, thank You for the opportunity to worship with a new group of believers today. I thank Pastor Chuck, his wife Barbara, and all of the good folks at BWC for their warm welcome. Gracious God, I pray that You might be amidst their worship, empower their prayers, energize their outreach, and anoint Pastor Chuck’s preaching. I thank You for Sister Ne’Cole’s definition of PEACE, and I pray that You might send peace of mind to all those who so sorely need it, tonight. I pray these things in the powerful and peaceful name of Jesus, 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.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

Sound or Silence? God is with Us in Prayer

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – January 10, 2015

Sound or Silence? God is with Us in Prayer

Silence—and its polar opposite, noise. Rev. Howell says some penetrating things about both subjects. Like fearing silence, and being distracted by noise.

Do I fear silence, Lord? And, what about the opposite? I know I am so easily distracted by noise. (And pretty, shiny objects, too.)

I can vividly remember, in my teens and twenties, shying away from silence. I was often afraid of being alone. Yet, I also clung to God and was alone in the Heavenly presence. I started my relationship with God, my seeking to know God more intimately, in those decades. I can also remember some significant times of prayer and communion with God, in those decades.

Often, even now, I avoid silence, avoid self-reflection and self-discovery. I know—intellectually—that God knows me more intimately than I can possibly know myself, yet I can be afraid. As Howell says, we can be “afraid that God might just disturb us, afraid that God might really take us somewhere we prefer not to go.” [1] (40)

God willing, may God guide and guard us always, wherever we may travel in life.

Alleluia, amen!

@chaplaineliza

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

Why not visit my sister blog, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.

[1] James C. Howell, The Beautiful Work of Learning to Pray, Abingdon Press (Nashville, TN: 2003), 40.