WHO’s PEACE? YOURS OR GOD’s?

One of my favorite apostle Paul verses. I love it so much that I have the verse reference tattooed on my right arm!

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
–Philippians 4:7

Here, Paul is exhorting to us an appeal to the Christian experience only found in God’s peace even amongst conflict in our own lives. That God is truly in control! We just have to embrace this truth all the time. Most of us know it, but we often choose to embrace it only when times are tough.

We often define “peace” as the absence of conflict, bills paid, perfect relationships, rose-colored glasses on or off–and all looks the same anyway. In our “fallen world,” we are constantly seeking “worldly” peace, or peace defined by our societal and social structures. I submit to you — good luck and let me know how it goes!

As such, the apostle Paul impressed upon us “God’s peace,” which transcends or is beyond any personal definition of “peace.” And that we can CHOOSE His peace despite the presence of “worldly” conflict. God may say “No” or He may even seem to be not answering your prayer at all…

“No” is explicit, and silence speaks for itself. Their is peace in these responses indeed, His peace! It’s a knowing that His will is always good, acceptable and PERFECT (ala Romans 12:2). In truly embracing the latter, will our tempted hearts and minds be guarded by God’s Love through our relationship with Jesus Christ!

“Let go, and let God!”

Thanks for reading!

DIVORCE: THE LIFECYCLE OF IMPOSSIBILITY


It’s truly amazing (and sometimes mysterious) how God’s plan unfolds. Proverbs 19:21 tells us, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Too often in my life, I substituted The Lord’s will with what I wanted the The Lord’s will to be. When this happens, frustration & disappointment sets in, hence impossibility is born. I once heard a saying that goes like this: “The conditions for a miracle is impossibility.”

A little over six years ago I got divorced. To date, it is the saddest day of my life. Many I know who experienced the tragedy of a divorce akin it to mourning a death. Why a death? Because when we mourn a death, we’re grieving the separation of a earthly relationship. God made us to be relational to Him first, and then each other. A divorce is no different, likewise, I grieved the separation of a relationship. Mark 10:9 tells us, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” A divorce is almost a double whammy! The earthly separation is obvious. But because I gave up on trying to save my marriage & succumbed to the Enemy’s will, the “feeling” of separation from God felt real! God never left me. But as I signed the divorce decree, initially self-justifying as His will, there quickly arrived a knowing that the anti-thesis to Mark 10:9 was just committed…

I can still remember like it was just yesterday…those post-divorce feelings of frustration, disappointment failure, inadequacy, guilt & depression. It was then, impossibility was born:

Impossibility to ever feel worthy again—Impossibility to ever dare to love again—Impossibility to ever trust again—Impossibility to ever face God again.

Divorce is divorce and God hates divorce, as clearly stated in Malachi 2:16. However, divorce is also a sin, and it too can be forgiven. And it was in my moments of repentance to the Lord–on my knees, tears steaming–is when I was most vulnerable & also at my weakest. But it’s also when 2 Corinthians 12:9 all of sudden jumped off the Bible pages and into my life:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

It was in the backdrop of my feelings of inadequacy & impossibility is when God’s Grace illuminated itself as a true miracle!

“…where sin increased, grace abounded all the more”
–Romans 5:20

Today, although I have a lot to learn about relationships yet, those things I once deemed impossible are “slowly” seeming possible again! But only because I know they are possible in my relationship with God first…

“…with God all things are possible.”
–Matthew 19:26

This song, by Third Day, really spoke to me when it first came out a few years ago. Although the song’s storyline & outcome is different than my experience, the timeframe referenced and the husband’s emotional pain resonated with me. In any case, to me, this song captures the death of impossibility as it is simultaneously replaced by God’s miracle, His gift of Grace! I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you for reading!

Philippians 4:13

VALUE IN YOUR OWNER’S EYES


Back in July, I visited my friend, Sonja in Memphis. As part of my visit, we visited a friend of hers. Getting to the house was pretty amazing as we drove through curvy roads of beautiful canopy, lined with million dollar homes. Her friend’s home, although I’m uncertain if it was in the million range, was equally as beautiful. A gorgeous euro-styled chateau on 4 wooded acres. Continue reading VALUE IN YOUR OWNER’S EYES