Jesus, in John 14:27 said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

            All true comfort and peace comes to us through Christ alone.  

            Is it possible to live in troubled times and still have peace?  Yes, it is.  Where the heart is fixed and trusting in God, it is kept by the peace of God.

            Where there's unity in home or church, there is peace.

            There was a city slicker who drove into the country and ended up in a ditch.  A farmer came along with his mule.  The mule’s name was Buddy.  He hitched Buddy to the car and yelled, “Pull, Sally, Pull!” Nothing happened.  “Pull, Johnny, pull!” Still nothing.  One more time he called a command.  Nothing.  Finally, he yelled, “Pull, Buddy, pull!”  The city man asked the farmer why he’d done that.  “Well,” said the farmer,” Buddy is blind; if he'd thought he was the only pulling, he wouldn't have pulled.”  Sometimes we need to put blinders on and do whatever God calls us to do.

            Real leaders in the church promote unity in the Spirit and peace.  What does it say about the church if, during a time of unrest, people see the church unsettled?

            At the beginning of this pandemic, Bible sales rose rapidly.  People were listening to church online. They were hungry to know more of God, but now it seems like "business as usual."

 Make it a point to be around peacemakers - - and be a peacemaker.  Don't add to the rant or fuel to the fire. 

            If you shake a glass up, what is in it will spill out.  When we as Christians are shaken by the world, let us spill out the Love of Jesus Christ

            Unity brings peace. Where there is no peace, there is confusion.

            Peace is not the absence of trouble.  Peace is the PRESENCE Of GOD.

The older you become, you find that you have no desire for drama, conflict, or stress.  You just want a cozy home, food on the table, and to be surrounded with kind people who make you happy.

            A.W. Tozer - "True peace is a gift of God and today it is found only in the minds of children and the hearts of trustful Christian believers.  ONLY Jesus could say, "Peace I leave with you.”

            The more peaceful I am, the less I take offense.

Psalm 119:165 – “Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.”

            Sister Kay says, “Stop being offended and get mended.” Refuse to allow anxious thoughts to take your peace hostage.  

            How many would like to have quietness of mind for 24 hours?  God alone gives that through Christ Jesus.

           We’ve all heard this one: “No God? No peace.  Know God? Know peace.”

            What the world offers will not last and will not give you true peace of mind or heart.  If you search the Internet, you'll find the stories of those who seemed to "have it all."  Just a quick look at the lives of, for example, Janis Joplin, Robin Williams, and Ernest Hemingway would suggest they had everything or at least fame and fortune.  However, they reached the point where they decided life wasn't worth living.  God alone can provide reasons for living.

            Those with real peace in their lives are thankful.  So many in the world are looking for others to give, give, give to them.

Psalm 34:14  “Seek peace and pursue it.”      Do this everywhere: home, church, Wal-Mart, the restaurant.  Everywhere.

Matthew 5:9  “Bless-ed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of “God.  

Isaiah 26:3 – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on thee because he trusted in thee.”

            You will have perfect peace if you keep your mind on Jesus Christ and trust on Him. Remember WWJD?  What would Jesus do?  That would be good for us in 2020.  Someone steals your parking space?  Your place in line?  KEEP your peace.  Keep your mind "stayed" on Jesus.

 

Wonderful Peace – Don Moen

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight

Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm

In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls

O'er my soul like an infinite calm Peace, peace, wonderful peace

Coming down from the Father above

Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray

In fathomless billows of love

Ah, soul are you here without comfort and rest

Marching down the rough pathway of time?

Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark

O accept of this sweet peace so sublime