I know the title seems like its an oxymoron, but I believe this is the type of peace that God gives us. Its not the peace that many people are looking for - you know - that peace that makes everything feel like nirvana. That peace that makes everything fall by the wayside and they can live in harmony with everyone and everything. In the world we live, and the world that they lived in, this is not always possible. If you are like me, you might have thought that God dangled this hope of inner peace out there like a golden carrot and if we searched long enough and loved well enough, He would eventually relent and give us this peace.
On the contrary, I believe this peace - also known as Shalom - is an inner peace in the midst of the storm. It is not a promise that everything is going to be smooth sailing - which by the way, if you were ever told that if you were to follow God everything would be, I apologize for the lie. Its about now I think I should tell you that I do believe we serve a loving God - its just that He is more concerned with our character than our comfort.
Think of a tree. I have been told that if a tree is "babied" while in the early growth stages, it won't last very long. Trees need "tough love" in order to make the harsh winters. We need God's tough love to make it through those stormy times in our lives.
It is in these times our character is built. We begin to see God's hope being established in our lives, not a false hope of what the world tries to offer, but a fulfilling hope. See the world's counterfeit hope only leads to disappointment, depression, bitterness, emptiness, foolishness, etc. However; God's hope, gives us an eternal perspective on life.
The peace that God gives us is a peace that goes beyond all understanding. It is a peace that gives an internal resting point to know that it is He that wills and acts according to His purpose. I don't have to envy those that have more than I do, or have accomplished more than I have, because I am only accountable to God and what He has given me to live up to. This, my friends, gives life to my bones. This allows me to enjoy the journey - knowing that there is not a destination point in life.
Like I stated earlier, this peace gives us an eternal perspective. I don't have to worry about getting to Heaven, because if I do what the Lord has asked me to do today, that will take care of itself. When I have peace like this, I don't have to worry if God has enough to go around. I have peace knowing that He is faithful and just and that all of His promises are yes and amen.
I can't tell you how freeing this understanding has been to me over the past several weeks as it has been brewing inside of me! I know now, more then ever, that God loves me for me. I am a work in progress, and even though I have many crutches that I need to lay down, God loves me through them and just as much as Billy Graham.
See, the other thing that is really grasping at me is that its not what I do, but who I am. In the Bible, the recorded words of God are the same to His son, "This is my son, whom I love, and am well pleased with." God gives me an identity in Him first - you are my son. His love, and my love for my kids, comes from this identity. It is one of the hardest things I have had to learn (and in most cases, still am). I am God's son, I am God's friend.
When we begin to see God from this perspective, we see Him as He truly is...a loving father. Go in stormy peace...Mike
December 29, 2009
December 10, 2009
A Christmas Birth
Christmas is coming! Can you believe that Christmas will be here in less than two weeks?! I can't. I am not even ready for Christmas. We have only bought one present for our girls...and being that they can't read, I will let you know that its a Wii. I don't know what I am going to get my wife yet...I haven't even made a list. My wife asked me what I want for Christmas and I had to sit and think for several minutes before anything came to my mind.
Its not that I don't want or don't like presents - I do! I just can't believe that Christmas is already here. I don't know what it is, but time seems to fly...and pick up speed each year. I remember when I was a kid, time seemed to stand still. My parents would start talking about Christmas after Thanksgiving and it would seem like it was taking it years to arrive. Now, Thanksgiving is over and then I wake up and it seems like its Christmas already. Why?! Why does time seem to speed up as we grow?
Is it due to the fact that we have more experiences in which to compare it to? Is it because our lives are so packed with things to get done that since we don't have enough time to get them done life seems to be picking up speed?
Whatever the case maybe, many seemed to be in a rush to make Christmas "happen." What is it that makes Christmas happen? Is it family or religion, games or presents, a tree? Deeper yet, what is the purpose of Christmas?
I would hazard to guess that many of us would say that its either about religion, or presents, or family, or even magic. However, I believe its more then any of these. I think Christmas is about being born. What do I mean by this? Well, just like the first Christmas (for which its celebrated), it was about a birth.
What birth do you need? Is it a new dream? Is it to breathe life into an old dream? Is it a deeper communication level in a relationship? Is it to start a relationship?
Whatever it is, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!
Its not that I don't want or don't like presents - I do! I just can't believe that Christmas is already here. I don't know what it is, but time seems to fly...and pick up speed each year. I remember when I was a kid, time seemed to stand still. My parents would start talking about Christmas after Thanksgiving and it would seem like it was taking it years to arrive. Now, Thanksgiving is over and then I wake up and it seems like its Christmas already. Why?! Why does time seem to speed up as we grow?
Is it due to the fact that we have more experiences in which to compare it to? Is it because our lives are so packed with things to get done that since we don't have enough time to get them done life seems to be picking up speed?
Whatever the case maybe, many seemed to be in a rush to make Christmas "happen." What is it that makes Christmas happen? Is it family or religion, games or presents, a tree? Deeper yet, what is the purpose of Christmas?
I would hazard to guess that many of us would say that its either about religion, or presents, or family, or even magic. However, I believe its more then any of these. I think Christmas is about being born. What do I mean by this? Well, just like the first Christmas (for which its celebrated), it was about a birth.
What birth do you need? Is it a new dream? Is it to breathe life into an old dream? Is it a deeper communication level in a relationship? Is it to start a relationship?
Whatever it is, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!
December 6, 2009
Coming Together for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving; what did it mean? The first celebration was between two different sets of people, two different cultures, and two different pasts. All this considered, they were able to set their differences aside and work together. They were able to help one another and due to this new found friendship, they celebrated by having a feast - which is now called Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving; what does it mean now? Today, many people view it as a day that they get together with their family to have turkey. It seems that I have been getting more and more emails each year that states something like, "I hope you have a happy Turkey Day." Even I have faulted to this saying as well. I am not saying this is wrong, but is this day about the turkey or what we are thankful for?
Now, I know that our culture is much different these days. There is not a fear of famine (at least in America). We can grow so much food that we have storehouses called grocery stores. We can go at anytime and buy food - unless they are closed due to holidays. Even though we are reliant on others to produce this food, we are disconnected from these people.
These days, Thanksgiving is more about spending time with family then with those from a different culture. You might say that some families are made up of different cultures, pasts, and/or different sets of people. However, I would beg to differ. I have come to the conclusion through studies and reading that we never marry someone that is not equal to us. Whether it is our spiritual connection, our intelligence, and/or our beliefs. We marry those that are like us. Even though we may fret getting together with some of the members in our family due to some inner conflict, we are more alike then unlike.
Please, do not think that I am saying its wrong for this day to be about family. I like this aspect. Some of my best memories as a child, and even now as an adult, are holidays with my family and my wife's family. It just does not feel like Thanksgiving if there are not a lot of people around. However, what I am saying, is that it would be nice for this day to be about bring cultures together. It is like Sundays - the most segregated day in America.
If Thanksgiving was focused on bringing cultures together and celebrating their uniqueness - America would be much different. Why? Let me bring up some points to consider: we fear what we do not understand; it easier for us to take advantage of those that we feel are less of a person; we become territorial on what we have or feel we deserve. To prove this point, look at America since the first Thanksgiving. In a short time after the first Thanksgiving, the Indians were taken advantage and moved from their lands. In our national history, we have used other cultures as slaves because we looked at them as less of a person based upon the color of their skin or sex. Even today, some Americans are wanting everyone to be like them - not wanting to accept other cultures or even their language.
Next year, what could we do to come together for Thanksgiving? We can be thankful that we are all created equal and that no one person or culture is better or right. Over the next year, take some time to get to know others that are not like you. Most of all, be thankful that we live in a nation that gives you freedom to do and believe what you want.
Thanksgiving; what does it mean now? Today, many people view it as a day that they get together with their family to have turkey. It seems that I have been getting more and more emails each year that states something like, "I hope you have a happy Turkey Day." Even I have faulted to this saying as well. I am not saying this is wrong, but is this day about the turkey or what we are thankful for?
Now, I know that our culture is much different these days. There is not a fear of famine (at least in America). We can grow so much food that we have storehouses called grocery stores. We can go at anytime and buy food - unless they are closed due to holidays. Even though we are reliant on others to produce this food, we are disconnected from these people.
These days, Thanksgiving is more about spending time with family then with those from a different culture. You might say that some families are made up of different cultures, pasts, and/or different sets of people. However, I would beg to differ. I have come to the conclusion through studies and reading that we never marry someone that is not equal to us. Whether it is our spiritual connection, our intelligence, and/or our beliefs. We marry those that are like us. Even though we may fret getting together with some of the members in our family due to some inner conflict, we are more alike then unlike.
Please, do not think that I am saying its wrong for this day to be about family. I like this aspect. Some of my best memories as a child, and even now as an adult, are holidays with my family and my wife's family. It just does not feel like Thanksgiving if there are not a lot of people around. However, what I am saying, is that it would be nice for this day to be about bring cultures together. It is like Sundays - the most segregated day in America.
If Thanksgiving was focused on bringing cultures together and celebrating their uniqueness - America would be much different. Why? Let me bring up some points to consider: we fear what we do not understand; it easier for us to take advantage of those that we feel are less of a person; we become territorial on what we have or feel we deserve. To prove this point, look at America since the first Thanksgiving. In a short time after the first Thanksgiving, the Indians were taken advantage and moved from their lands. In our national history, we have used other cultures as slaves because we looked at them as less of a person based upon the color of their skin or sex. Even today, some Americans are wanting everyone to be like them - not wanting to accept other cultures or even their language.
Next year, what could we do to come together for Thanksgiving? We can be thankful that we are all created equal and that no one person or culture is better or right. Over the next year, take some time to get to know others that are not like you. Most of all, be thankful that we live in a nation that gives you freedom to do and believe what you want.
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