"Peacemaker"
11/29/2014
First From Julie's Keyboard:
After the Thanksgiving Holiday, Then What?
Another November has come and is on its way to the books. My prayer is that you had an enjoyable time of thanksgiving and fellowship with loved ones. Maybe you got to visit with folks you haven't seen in a while. Maybe you enjoyed a feast which is uncommon to your rote and routine of living (This is not as likely for most folks as it once was, right? Seems most of us eat well anymore). Maybe you sincerely reflected from deep within your heart with special gratitude to the Heavenly Father for His manifold blessings unto you.
Or, maybe things were not so bright with the season. Maybe you endured far too many stressful components with rude family, over preparation, or even absence of loved ones from your family table. Regardless of circumstance in our given scenarios, we have some simple truths as guidelines to keep us thankful and in focus for our given purpose which we live out each day.
The truth is that our cornucopias are more often filled with the good fruits than with the lemons of this life. Though you may have felt a pinch of the bitter goods among such a time of bliss and plenty, we have to trust the hand of the Father Who is always working for our good. After a refreshing walk this afternoon, a familiar passage kept coming to mind that I wish to post for meditation this week:
"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with they God?" Micah 6:8
When I'm tempted to think my goody basket is being upset, this passage always seems to be a sufficient check to the soul reminding me to love and walk with Him in humility. We simply must trust Him with whatever we encounter in this life enough to obey His truth and glorify Him.
May we give thanks always,
Julie
_______________________________
"Peacemaker"
After the Thanksgiving Holiday, Then What?
Another November has come and is on its way to the books. My prayer is that you had an enjoyable time of thanksgiving and fellowship with loved ones. Maybe you got to visit with folks you haven't seen in a while. Maybe you enjoyed a feast which is uncommon to your rote and routine of living (This is not as likely for most folks as it once was, right? Seems most of us eat well anymore). Maybe you sincerely reflected from deep within your heart with special gratitude to the Heavenly Father for His manifold blessings unto you.
Or, maybe things were not so bright with the season. Maybe you endured far too many stressful components with rude family, over preparation, or even absence of loved ones from your family table. Regardless of circumstance in our given scenarios, we have some simple truths as guidelines to keep us thankful and in focus for our given purpose which we live out each day.
The truth is that our cornucopias are more often filled with the good fruits than with the lemons of this life. Though you may have felt a pinch of the bitter goods among such a time of bliss and plenty, we have to trust the hand of the Father Who is always working for our good. After a refreshing walk this afternoon, a familiar passage kept coming to mind that I wish to post for meditation this week:
"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with they God?" Micah 6:8
When I'm tempted to think my goody basket is being upset, this passage always seems to be a sufficient check to the soul reminding me to love and walk with Him in humility. We simply must trust Him with whatever we encounter in this life enough to obey His truth and glorify Him.
May we give thanks always,
Julie
_______________________________
"Peacemaker"
Julie
and I watched the 1956 movie "Peacemaker" over the weekend staring
James Mitchell, Rosemarie Bowe. Wonderful story told as how we want
things to be. A Gunfighter goes to prison, in prison he is given a
Bible and through the reading of the Bible the Grace of God opens his
eyes to the truth of the Gospel and he is saved and called to the
ministry.
His first church is a town community where the people are divided by deception and blindness to truth, all which played on their selfishness and pride. Much like what we have recently seen in our own country, the people were being brought to the point of hatred which was being incited by those who had something to gain.
His first church is a town community where the people are divided by deception and blindness to truth, all which played on their selfishness and pride. Much like what we have recently seen in our own country, the people were being brought to the point of hatred which was being incited by those who had something to gain.
The
preacher first delivers to them the Word of God in a number of sermons
which brings them to the reality of their responsibility's even though
the truth about their situation is still withheld. As deception and
anger always does, it bought more violence and people were hurt. At one
point, an old man was needlessly killed that the preacher had become
very fond of. At that point the preacher was driven to a test of his
own soul, beside the old man's body lay the preachers Bible and a six
gun on the floor. As the picture at the top suggests, he picked up the
Bible in one hand, the gun in the other, the gun he was well acquainted
with and new how to use, the Bible he was also well acquainted with and
new how to use. He held both for a moment then laid the Bible down and
walks to the door with the gun. It is seen the struggle we all have
with the flesh, to subdue it and kill it that the life of God may rule
in our lives. The story plays itself out, the truth is revealed, eyes
are opened, people are changed, and peace is restored but not without
cost.
In this world of fallen humanity, the struggle for peace is a forever battle, in our own lives and in the world around us. Peace can be discovered, but not without cost, and not without God. Even peace in our churches are often times a battle to be fought, only by Grace and obedience can it be sought and kept.
The violence and rage in our country that is making its way to our homes via the media today is shocking to some of us. This nation has been blessed with a peace unknown to most of the world and we have become accustomed to it. As we are letting it slip away from us, it seems we are at a loss as to how this could be. We must know we are not a special people in that we are not capable of violence and riot, we have been constrained in ourselves by the Gospel that we have been favored to possess from our inception as a nation. But as we increasingly reject it's influence in our lives we reject the very peace we cherished.
In this world of fallen humanity, the struggle for peace is a forever battle, in our own lives and in the world around us. Peace can be discovered, but not without cost, and not without God. Even peace in our churches are often times a battle to be fought, only by Grace and obedience can it be sought and kept.
The violence and rage in our country that is making its way to our homes via the media today is shocking to some of us. This nation has been blessed with a peace unknown to most of the world and we have become accustomed to it. As we are letting it slip away from us, it seems we are at a loss as to how this could be. We must know we are not a special people in that we are not capable of violence and riot, we have been constrained in ourselves by the Gospel that we have been favored to possess from our inception as a nation. But as we increasingly reject it's influence in our lives we reject the very peace we cherished.
John Jay (1745-1829) First Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
"By conveying the Bible to people thus circumstanced, we certainly do them a most interesting kindness. We thereby enable them to learn that man was originally created and placed in a state of happiness, but, becoming disobedient, was subjected to the degradation and evils which he and his posterity have since experienced.
The Bible will also inform them that our gracious Creator has provided for us a Redeemer, in whom all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; that this Redeemer has made atonement "for the sins of the whole world," and thereby reconciling the Divine justice with the Divine mercy has opened a way for our redemption and salvation; and that these inestimable benefits are of the free gift and grace of God, not our deserving, nor in our power to deserve." ~ John Jay, May 13th, 1824.
"By conveying the Bible to people thus circumstanced, we certainly do them a most interesting kindness. We thereby enable them to learn that man was originally created and placed in a state of happiness, but, becoming disobedient, was subjected to the degradation and evils which he and his posterity have since experienced.
The Bible will also inform them that our gracious Creator has provided for us a Redeemer, in whom all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; that this Redeemer has made atonement "for the sins of the whole world," and thereby reconciling the Divine justice with the Divine mercy has opened a way for our redemption and salvation; and that these inestimable benefits are of the free gift and grace of God, not our deserving, nor in our power to deserve." ~ John Jay, May 13th, 1824.
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 - 1896) Author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin"."A day of grace is yet held out to us, Both North and South have been guilty before God; and the Christian Church has a heavy account to answer. Not by combining together, to protect injustice and cruelty, and making a common capital of sin, is this Union to be saved, but by repentance, justice and mercy." ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Is this nation in the 21st century to be saved and peace restored, but by repentance, justice and mercy?
May the Grace of God be to each of you,
David
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