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Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. (John 14:27)

Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate his conception of rest. The first chose for his scene a still, lone lake among the far-off mountains.

The second threw on his canvas a thundering waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam; and at the fork of the branch, almost wet with the cataract's spray, sat a robin on its nest.

The first was only stagnation; the last was rest.

Christ's life outwardly was one of the most troubled lives that ever lived: tempest and tumult, tumult and tempest, the waves breaking over it all the time until the worn body was laid in the grave. But the inner life was a sea of glass. The great calm was always there.

At any moment you might have gone to Him and found rest. And even when the human bloodhounds were dogging Him in the streets of Jerusalem, He turned to His disciples and offered them, as a last legacy, "My peace."

Rest is not a hallowed feeling that comes over us in church; it is the repose of a heart set deep in God.

-Drummond

My peace I give in times of deepest grief,

Imparting calm and trust, and My relief.

My peace I give when prayer seems lost, unheard;

Know that My promises are ever in My Word.

My peace I give when thou art left alone-

The nightingale at night has the sweetest tone.

My peace I give in time of utter loss,

The way of glory leads right to the cross.

My peace I give when enemies will blame,

Thy fellowship is sweet through cruel shame.

My peace I give in agony and sweat,

For mine own brow with bloody drops was wet.

My peace I give when nearest friend betrays

Peace that is merged in love, and for them prays.

My peace I give when there's but death for thee

The gateway is the cross to get to Me.

-L. S. P.

So there is promised peace, but how do I get it? Do I get it just by asking? I think that knowing or getting truth is a huge part of attaining it. If you live in idealism, or fantasy, you will have your sky fall in or you will get taken advantage of.

Attaining truth and facts can be very painful and intimidating. If the "what ifs" become true, there can be denial at first because the pain is to great. This happens when you feel loss and have nothing else to hang on to. Truth will protect you.

You need to know where you are going, and how you are going to get there.

Loss and loneliness can really mess with objectivity. Knee-jerk relationships are usually not based in truth. It is like being parched in a dessert and then seeing water in the distance. You run in utter abandonment rushing to gulp the water you see, which may be poison. Emotion is not centered in objectivity, it is just a feeling. It, by itself, will steer you onto a place where you have no sense or control. PRAY for truth. Truth is a gift, truth is grace, truth is your protection!

James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Blessings, Julie

 

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