Newsletter Update

I am almost through with the series on the Fruits of the Spirit. Gentleness and Peace are also things you would find in God's vault. I hope you have enjoyed the articles but most of all, I hope they have helped you to grow in your faith in Christ.


Blessings,
Rachel

Finding Peace in a World of Conflict

     If someone asked you what peace is, how would you define it? Would you say it is a feeling of well being or tranquility? Would you agree with dictionary.com and say that it is the normal, non-warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world (dictionary.reference.com/browse/peace)? Would you base your definition on what the world thinks peace is or what God tells us peace is? The book of Romans, chapter 12 verse 2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” How do we transform our thoughts on peace so that they don’t conform to this world?

     According to the New International Bible Dictionary, peace is the presence of God, not the absence of conflict (p.761). Now this is a definition that I agree with! The presence of God provides peace. If we want to have peace in our lives, we must seek God daily. Not just at Sunday or Wednesday night services. God must be an ever present presence if we want to keep peace in our hearts and minds. God sent his son Jesus for that purpose. He did not come to bring peace to the world as Matthew chapter 10 verse 34 reminds us. He came to bring peace to those who believe in Him and what He did.

     Jesus came to bring peace to our hearts and minds, regardless of the state of our world. In the book of John, chapter 16, verse 33 Christ tells us, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” What “things” is Christ referring to? He is talking about how the world will try to lead us astray and how the world won’t believe in Him and his sacrifice. He is talking about how we can overcome the world through Him and also make our eternal homes with God.

     In that same book of John, in chapter 14, verse 27, Christ says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” If Christ does not give as the world gives, then we should not take as the world takes. Don’t take the worlds definition of peace into your hearts but instead be transformed by the peace that Jesus left us. Dictionary.com would have a better definition if they said peace is the normal, non-warring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world once those individuals have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ!

    

A Gentle Whisper

As women, we often see ourselves as the gentler sex. But is this always true? Are we always as gentle and loving as we could be? Most of us would say probably not. Gentleness is something that we have to work at. We are not given gentleness in abundance just because we are women. Thankfully we have been given plenty of advice on how to be gentle and plenty of examples to guide us. All we have to do is open the Bible.

     In the Old Testament in the book of first Kings in chapter nineteen we have the story of Elijah running away from Jezebel (a woman who definitely needed some gentleness coaching!). After a lengthy journey the word of the Lord appears to Elijah and he is told to go stand on a mountain for the presence of the Lord is about to pass by (see verse eleven). Elijah waits through a powerful wind, an earthquake, and a fire but that is not how the Lord came. The last part of verse twelve tells us that after the fire “came a gentle whisper.” The Lord doesn’t come to us in great shows of power; He comes to us gently, with a whisper. I have found the hardest part is listening for that gentle whisper. What about you? Do you make time each day to listen for God’s gentle whisper?

     God sent His son to us in the most gentle and humble way possible: a baby. He could have sent His Son in a blazing show of power the first time, but He chose to send Him as a little baby boy. If you have children, think back to the first moment you held your baby. Do you remember the incredible love and gentleness that flowed through your body at that time? I do! I will never forget it. That is the same love and gentleness that God has for us. Christ came and lived a gentle life, never abusing the power that was rightly His. The book of Zechariah, chapter nine verse nine foretold how Christ would come into Jerusalem “gentle and riding a donkey.” And He did! Everything He does is done gently, without outrageous displays of power. Are there times when you have chosen to do something gently, without displaying your power? What about times when you could have been gentler and instead you used a harsh word or punishment?

     I recently learned that there is only one passage in the Bible where Jesus describes Himself. It is found in the book of Matthew, chapter eleven. In verses twenty-eight through thirty Christ tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Of all the descriptive words Christ could have used for himself, He chose to remind us that He is gentle. I am very thankful for that reminder and I hope you will be too. Make this your verse(s) to remember for the month of February. You can go to the Lord whenever you are “weary and burdened” from this life and He will give you all you need.