Peace in Chaos

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Andrew and I were the first of our friends to have a baby, and as all new parents know, that first little one goes with you everywhere. When Michael was first born we were going to a lot of weddings, and so Michael attended his first nuptials when he was just 2 months old. Afterwards at the reception we stuck him in his carrier and put him up on a table next to the dance floor so we could keep a close eye on him. Michael sucked on his pacy and slept while we twisted to “Pink Cadillac,” shagged to “Sweet Home Alabama” and slow danced to “Endless Love. ” He was conked out for hours.

Noise is Just Noise

How did he do that? Why didn’t all that noise wake him up? Why wasn’t he afraid?

He was fed. Warm. Safe. He already knew from past experience that if he cried–or even so much as stirred–there would be many hands to soothe and care for him.

The noise was just noise. He tuned it out.

God’s Peace

God gives us that kind of peace, a peace that comes from knowing that he is right there, protecting us and taking care of us. It is a peace that has nothing to do with the noise of life. It is an inner calm, a knowing, that He is with us—within us—and He loves us.

We don’t understand this. We can’t. We must just accept it. And know that when we become aware of the din, or of our need, he is right there. We are safe. We are loved. That is all we need to know.

God’s peace has nothing to do with our circumstances, and everything to do with His presence.

The Fruit of the Month for April is peace. Share with us your links, thoughts, experiences of God’s peace!

Those Things You Do

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I must always leave room in my heart, and my plans, for the unexpected – those “God things” He does. He sometimes shifts direction, or changes timing, or offers new possibilities, or paths. These things can seem like detours, or delays, and my response is frustration or impatience. But I can count on this:

God works ALL things to good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

I can relax. If there is a delay, or a detour, or a change in direction, there is a very good reason for it. The more I accept and anticipate that there will be these sorts of things in my life, the more at peace I can be in the present.

Who is so blind as the servant of the Lord?

I don’t need to know – and often don’t have the capacity to understand – why He does the things He does. But I can trust Him. Implicitly. Completely.

Thank you Father, for those things you do, that can seem like obstacles, or delays, or detours, but are really very much a part of Your plan. Thank you that I can be at peace, no matter what comes my way, knowing You work all things for my good.

Who is blind but My servant, Or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me, or so blind as the servant of the LORD? (Isaiah 42:19 NASB)

Has there been a time in your life when you were frustrated by the unexpected, but later saw God at work in it?

Please share with us. We would love to hear from you!

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Indescribable Joy

Waking Up to Beauty

Yesterday morning I woke up to this:

This morning I woke up to this:

Each view is

breathtaking, dazzling, unique, captivating, lovely.

Created and adored by our Heavenly Father.

Every day, I wake up to me, in my skin, with my unique blend of personality, temperament, gifts, talents, DNA, history. Whether I recognize it or not,

I am

breathtaking, dazzling, unique, captivating, lovely.

I am created and adored by my Heavenly Father.

I am beloved.

You and I

wake up to beauty every day…

and then we open our eyes.

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made and my soul knows it very well.”

Breathing In

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I have done mouth to mouth resuscitation many times in my medical career. I have performed it on apneic newborns, overdose victims, and heart attack sufferers. Like anything, mouth to mouth is pretty routine when you have done it enough, kind of like riding a bike, but it is important to know the process. To do it effectively, each of the following steps must be followed, and each done in sequence:

Check to see that nothing is obstructing airflow into the patient’s lungs.
Position the neck so the airway is straight, and pinch the patient’s nose.
Take a deep breath in.
Seal your mouth over the patient’s mouth, and blow.
Observe the patient’s chest, to be sure it rises and falls.

It is amazing how effective this simple little procedure is, and how often it has saved a person’s life.

God breathes life into us in a different way, a more enduring way, and helps us in turn to breathe life into those around us. Jesus said:

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 NASB)

I want to live life abundantly, and help others to do the same, but often my efforts have seemed futile or ineffective. Even worse, they seemed to drain me. This important truth is changing my life:

In order to give love to others, I must first receive love from God. I must take a deep breath in—soak in God’s presence, and His love for me personally. The more life-giving love I receive, the more I have, and the more I have to give.

Step #3: Take a deep breath in.

How does one take a deep breath in of God’s presence and love?

This is what has worked for me so far:

Make space in my life to be still and quiet, usually in the early morning.
Remember that everything in life, including life, is a gift from the father above.
Focus on the fact that God is with me, and within me, and loves me, and is taking care of me.
Thank God for who He is, what He is doing, what He has done, and what He will do.
Listen for His still small voice in the morning.
Be aware of the many ways He chooses to communicate with me throughout the day.
Make it your number one priority. This is probably the most important suggestion I can give. On your “to do” list, put this item at the top every day:

Be loved.

Be loved.

Breathe in God’s life-giving love every day.

It is the most important thing you can do.

His love will give you the joy-filled life you so desire. In turn He will empower you to breathe life into those around you.

We love, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NASB)

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4 NASB)

And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16 NASB)

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3b NASB)

Share with us: How have you learned to breathe in God’s presence and love every day? What works for you?

No Condemnation

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There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 NIV)

Really? Because I feel condemnation all the time. I am not good enough. I fail. I screw up. I am selfish, willful, petty, uncontrolled, petulant, uncaring, grumpy, reclusive, controlling, critical, judgmental, prideful, gluttonous. And then I am paralyzed by guilt, remorse, shame, embarrassment.

And Satan claps his hands: he “gets” me with my sins, he “keeps me” with the guilt.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Really. I must face the reality of my imperfections and accept them, but at the same time know that no matter what I have done, and what I will do, I am not condemned. I am not held hostage to ongoing guilt, pervading doom, defeat, anger, resentment, worry. I do not have to–I am not supposed to–live in such an environment.

Being in Christ Jesus is having the power and the courage to face my sins every day, and receive forgiveness for them. Every day. It is the easiest and the hardest thing.

“I can do it myself” The biggest most difficult sin I have to face—every day—is that I think I can do a better job of directing my life than God can. There is a two year old in my head stomping her foot declaring “I can do it myself.” I am convinced that my way will make me happy, bring me joy.

How many times do I have to fall down and scrape my knee before I willingly reach up and grab his big comforting hand–always extended–and choose to hang on?

As many times as it takes.

How much longer will he extend His hand to me? How long before he grows tired of my petulance and rebelliousness? My disrespect? My not believing that he truly does love me, and will lead me and take care of me if I let him?

Until I die. That is how long his hand remains extended. That’s how much time I have.

Am I really going to waste whatever time I have been given by insisting on my own flawed way? Am I really going to miss out on joy in this life, and in even having a life after death, because of my willfulness?

I hope not.

Once I start to get this, I stop. Turn around. And run into his arms. There is no condemnation there. Only love, and His delight that I am there with Him.

In Christ Jesus, I can relax and truly begin to live.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2 NIV)

Fruit of the Month

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The gift of fruit

When I was first in private practice, my partner and I would receive many gifts at the holidays, both from patients and from other physicians. One of the most memorable presents I got, my first year out, was a gift that kept on giving: a membership in a Fruit-of-the-Month club. Each month a box would appear at my doorstep carefully packed with a luscious seasonal fruit: oranges one month, apples the next, then pears, plums, grapefruit, kiwi, etc. Delightful. There was always more than I could possibly eat, and I would share with the staff and friends.

God has given us beautiful fruit to enjoy.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. –(Galatians 5:22-23 NASB)

What if I decided to BE the fruit of the month this year? What if each month, I focus on just one of the fruits of the spirit—learn to better understand, absorb, embrace it–and then share it with those around me?

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-control

What a great thing to deposit on someone’s doorstep every month!

Care to join me?

February’s fruit is fitting: LOVE

How can we better understand, absorb, embrace, and share God’s love? How do you box it up? How does it get delivered?

I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas and experiences.

the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace

Joy = Love + Laughter

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Everyone loves to laugh. Why is that?

Laughter is infectious. If you are around someone who is bent over laughing (and also maybe about to pee their pants if they are a certain age), you immediately smile. And if they keep on laughing, even if they don’t say a word, you start to laugh with them, and try to get their attention to find out what is so funny, so you can share the joke.

Laughter, like a good cry, is soul cleansing – but unlike tears, laughter doesn’t usually leave you exhausted or melancholy. On the contrary, it is invigorating.

Laughter is bright. Not in an ethereal-lumninous-sort of way, but in a blinding-flash-of-light kind of way. In fact, you could say

Laughter is audible sunshine.

Laughter is refreshing, especially when someone is laughing at themselves. It reminds you not to take yourself too seriously.

Laughter is a game changer. When your sense of humor is tickled, and you start to laugh, whatever foul mood, or pity party, you might be experiencing tends to evaporate.

Laughter is a gift from God. Think about it: God invented laughter, just as He did everything else we know and experience. He programmed us each with our funny-o-meter. And here’s an interesting concept: God laughs.

God laughs? Of course He does. In fact, I bet He laughs a lot. No one could create some of the amazing quirky creatures in our world without a lively sense of humor. He surely chuckles, as any loving parent would, at the many funny things we say and do. And He must certainly laugh – in that deep satisfied way – when his children step into joy.

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 16:11 NASB

Joy is the hallmark of a person who lives in God’s presence. Such a person loves. And smiles. And laughs.

You might say

Joy = Love + Laughter.

Laugh Out Loud

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I have noticed recently that my husband Andrew is fast becoming a Facebook Junkie. This puzzled me for awhile. He has always been a weather watcher (9 inches of snow here yesterday!) And sports enthusiast (did you know that Drew Brees throws more accurately than an Olympic archer?) But Facebook? Andrew?

Then the other day I was in the next room and heard him laugh out loud. Please understand: Andrew has a keen and very dry sense of humor (in my opinion one of his most endearing traits). He finds many things amusing, but doesn’t often laugh out loud. So when I heard him cackling, I wandered into the living room to find out what was so funny. He was sitting in front of his computer reading this post from our friend Shannon in South Carolina. My lightbulb went on. Mystery solved. Andrew enjoys Facebook because it makes him laugh.

Laughter is one of the most enjoyable things in life, isn’t it? Sunsets On the Beach are spectacular, of course, and a Shared Moment with a Friend is priceless, but a good belly laugh? That has to be right up there on the List of Life’s Best Experiences.

What makes us laugh? The ludicrous, I suppose. The unexpected. The Quirky. I don’t know. I’m no humor expert. (Is there such a thing?) But I am an expert at “funny.” As are you. We all know “funny” when we see it, because we each own a built-in funny-o-meter. When it goes off we laugh out loud.

Laugh Out Loud

Share your laughs with us. Please send us clips/pictures/etc that trigger your funny-o-meter. We will do our best to pass them along.

Send us your funnies via:
Replies to this post
Email
Facebook
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Here is another “funny” we ran across recently:

A Prayer for the New Year, by Lydia Floren

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A Prayer for the New Year

by Lydia Floren

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Lord, thank you for loving me through the words and actions of those around me. Thank you for loving me when you have sent someone to:

Lend a hand with a car stuck in snow.
Listen to a triumph or heartache.
Bring a meal.
Give an unexpected gift.
Write a message of hope.
Speak encouragement.
Give a hug.
Share a smile.

Thank you that we each have something to give, something that has been given to us, and that we each give to others in our own unique way.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Tune and polish me, and then play me with your Maestro’s touch. Lift a melody of your love through me, for those who cross my path.

Belovedlove

Peace in Chaos

Those Things You Do

Indescribable Joy

Waking Up to Beauty

Yesterday morning I woke up to this:

This morning I woke up to this:

Breathing In

No Condemnation

Fruit of the Month

Joy = Love + Laughter

Laugh Out Loud

A Prayer for the New Year, by Lydia Floren

A Prayer for the New Year

by Lydia Floren

Sarah McLachlan – “Prayer of St. Francis”