Happy Friday from the ATL!
Bundled up, we step into a brisk winter’s day while pregnant clouds promise a fluffy layer of snow and weather forecasters prepare us for the looming famine of bread and milk in our local grocery store.
Now before you judge our southern hastiness, may I remind you of Snowmageddon 2011 and Snowpocalypse 2014 when drivers were stranded for hours and yes, milk freezers did dry up. Black ice is no joke here in the south. .
Could this possibly be the eve of #snownami2017?
My picture from 2014 represents the great love I have for quiet snow layering the earth, a moment when even wildlife know that it’s time to rest and reset. Perfection in it's quiet beauty.
Do you ever wonder if sometimes we just need a reset button?
Yep, me too, I haven’t quite learned how to dwell in the perfect “peace on earth” that Jesus came to bring. Sometimes I wonder if little resets in our life are intended to help us reset our soul? This seems to be a season for reset, a new year, a new president, perhaps even this weekend will provide a reset for us?
I realize this is a perfect Segway into my word for 2017 - “Peace”
Peace is described as a state of tranquility, serenity, being content. We all yearn to find peace in our life, but contend that it can be difficult to hold on to. Chasing clouds seems an easier task than seeking peace. So we tend to “deal” with our circumstance, fight our challenge and get frustrated on the empty bread aisle.
But what if we are missing out on one of our greatest gifts?
Life is so crazy for me right now, I tend to be fighting my challenges more and more and “dealing” with my circumstances rather than seeking wisdom and rest. I hear the words, “Oh you must be so busy,” way too often (BTW- when you’re too busy becomes a punchline for I think you don’t have time for me, it’s time for a reset.) Honestly, I feel as if I am on auto-pilot way more than I should be with no real sense of accomplishing the things I have set out to do.
It is true, peace has become hard to come by in our busy world... but wait a second didn’t Jesus come to give us peace?
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
(Luke 2:14)
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Christ), and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)”
Yes, I too miss one of the greatest gifts that Jesus came to give, but I don’t have to stay in this place of unrest, do I?
NOPE, NADDA, NOT THIS GIRL!
So this year I am on a journey to find peace, and already God has given more than I could ever imagine. A dear friend blogged on social media today, “Jesus. Is. Faithful. If you ask Him for what you need specifically, He WILL answer specifically... and abundantly.” (Thank you Taylor for the reminder!) She is so right, we get lost in the weeds of our circumstance so much that we often forget to look up and see the abundance of His grace, we often forget that we need only to ASK and he will provide.
So guess what I am asking for “specifically” and “abundantly?” Yep, you’ve guessed it, PEACE! And WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT, 5 days into the new-year, he has already provided me (7) verses to help me on my quest. I’ll call it my #questforpeace or my #peacefulscavengerhunt.
Would you like to share in my quest?
2 Corinthians 6:2 – Behold now is the accepted time,
behold now is the day of salvation.
(Don’t allow the 2 thieves “yesterday” and “tomorrow”
to rob you of your today’s joy and peace.)
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you,
not as the world gives,
let not your heart be troubled
neither let it be afraid.
(Guard your heart and God will guard the rest.)
Proverbs 3:17 – Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
(If I am pleasant I will find peace.)
Exodus 14:14 – The Lord will fight for you,
you need only to be still.
(Be still and let him fight for me!)
Genesis 6:8 – Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord
(Noah means “rest”,
translated this verse means
Rest found grace – or if I rest I will find grace.)
1 Peter 5:7 – Give all your worries and cares to God,
for He cares for you.
(Let go, Let God.)
Proverbs 14:30 – A sound heart is life to the body.
(A relaxed attitude lengthens my life.
God wants me to have a heart that is at peace.)
Now as in any scavenger hunt, it would be a waste if I didn’t learn how to make use of my newfound knowledge, so I am placing these treasures in my tool belt (writing them on sticky notes for easy access) and praying them daily. And each day, as God adds to my treasure chest of tools, I will continue to pray and seek for that which He has for me.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Life is a journey and if we forget to look up we will miss all of the goodness the Lord gives us. Allow the unscheduled “resets” to quiet your heart and fill your soul. Join me on my quest for peace in 2017 and possibly a weekend reset (with perhaps a snowball or two.) I will be sharing pictures in my #365daysofpeace on Instagram.
You never know when an unscheduled reset is right around the corner. Here's to 2017!
Father, thank You for the gentle reminders You give us of Your great love. Thank You that we need only to turn to You and we are provided everything we ever need: Love, Grace, Hope, Wisdom and yes Peace. Father, I pray specifically and abundantly for a life of peace in the new-year, I pray that You will go before me and help me in my circumstance and that I will rest in You.
Love,
Your Daughter
AMEN