Finding the Missing Peace of Christ

 

During this pandemic, my husband and I have spent hours hunched over jigsaw puzzles. One depicted Fallingwater, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to blend with nature. And the puzzle pieces surely did blend. We toured Fallingwater with our family to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary, so that national historic landmark holds a special place in our hearts.

Jigsaw puzzles force me to pay attention to detail. But even when I do, I get things wrong. For instance, I “knew” this one piece had two ends of orange with a strip of green through the middle. I worked my way around the scattered puzzle pieces at least six times looking for that particular piece.

Guess what? When I studied the puzzle more closely, I discovered that one whole end of the piece was green, not just the middle. I had looked for the wrong color.

Isn’t that how it is with life? We hunger for peace, but too often we think the feeling of satisfaction will bring us peace. For instance, television commercials convince us we to buy a new car. But then we buy a new car, and in a month it’s a used car. It didn’t bring us the peace we sought.

That’s all because only one thing will bring us true peace, and that’s Christ Himself.

Once we achieve peace with God, all other things fall into place. At least, so they say. But how does that actually work?

Well, it takes work. So I consider, what disturbs my peace? And how do I regain it?

Physical issues. Pain, sickness, discomfort. They usually strike in the middle of the night. So I do what I can to deal with them: Take a pill. Call a doctor. Call an ambulance. It all depends on the severity. I may read an inspirational book or Psalms. And I pray.

National issues. COVID, crises, crucial issues. I feel helpless. So I do what I can to deal with them: Write an opinion piece for a newspaper. Encourage others through online devotionals. Draw strength from historical events in scripture. Kings ruled in Israel for many years. David and Solomon, godly kings, each reigned 40 years. Manasseh, an evil tyrant, reigned 55 years. Good kings. Bad kings. Yet God remained faithful to His people. And He will surely remain faithful to us regardless of national unrest.

Spiritual issues. Doubt, unrest, questioning God. So I do what I can to deal with them: First of all, I am in Christ, which gives me peace with God. I don’t just know about Christ. I don’t just read about Christ. I’ve invited Him to be Lord of my life, and I try to live for Him and represent Him well. I’ve heard being “in Christ” described like being in a room. You are either present there or not. You don’t just know about the room or read about the room. You are either there or you’re not.

And if I am in Christ, He is with me, He is for me and He sends His Holy Spirit to guide me. He may invite me to pray, to be still and know that He is God. He may guide me to encouraging passages of scripture or to a pastor or mature Christian who might answer my questions. Christ truly is the Prince of Peace.

So today, as I deal with various challenges, I will find peace by trying to pray without ceasing and looking for Christ at work in the details of life. “If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV).

Too Soon Oldt And Too Late Schmart

 

            One of the dumbest things I ever did was to try to flush a disposable diaper down the toilet. Hey, it was the sixties, and disposable diapers had just come on the market.

            Of course the toilet overflowed. And of course I knew not how to stop the rising water in the toilet bowl, which ruined the paint on the kitchen ceiling below. Fortunately, Mrs. Heckert was an understanding landlady.

            Now you may wonder how I could have done something so stupid. Well, I simply did not know. And there’s a lot more I don’t know . . . about God and the world and life in general.

            For instance, I don’t know what happens when I ask my phone a question and a woman immediately answers. Where is this woman? How does she look up the answer so fast?

I don’t know how email messages fly around the world in seconds. I don’t know how hummingbirds fly thousands of miles flapping their little wings. Do they ever get tired? I don’t know how sheep know the voice of their shepherd. I don’t know how COVID began.

            But there are some things I do know, and with that knowledge, I live my life.

            --I know God gives me friends to support me on my journey, and I appreciate them.

--I know that God helps people survive all kinds of challenges. They suffer. But God is faithful to them. And He will be faithful to me.

            --I know Jesus heals our hurts, and we pass on His comfort to others.

--I know that when discouraged I can to look back to see where God has been faithful in the past. That helps me trust Him in the present.

            --I know God created the world and everything in it—including me. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 NLT). Look up at the stars on a clear night. Consider the way a human body works. How could things so complex happen without a Creator?

-- I know Christ came to live and die to fulfill the demands of a perfect God to sacrifice a perfect life. Only when we accept Christ’s holiness are we fit enough for heaven.

--I know God numbered our days. The death rate is 100 percent. So I want my life to be well lived—and ready for heaven.

So, like that Pennsylvania Dutch saying in the title (we get old too soon and smart too late), I do my best to live my life in tune with Jesus as my Savior, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit and knowing our Triune God is on His throne. And I trust Him. Even when I do dumb things.

How to Stop the Grrrumbles!

I checked in a doctor’s office at 11 a.m. only to be told by the receptionist that I was two hours early. I had two tests scheduled for that day, one with a nurse at 11 a.m. and one with a technician at 1:00 p.m. A few days earlier, a nurse had called to tell me one test was cancelled but the other was still on.

So I told the receptionist that “they” had called and rescheduled one test but I had come almost an hour’s drive and I “knew” the test for 11 a.m. was still on. She finally said “OK. You’re checked in. Have a seat.”

I wondered if I’d be waiting two hours, but a few minutes later a nurse called my name, and I was cared for. Of course, I grumbled to the nurse that I “knew” my test was scheduled for 11 a.m. but I appreciated that they took me in.

When I got home and checked my calendar, you know what I saw?! The 11 a.m. test was the one cancelled and rescheduled. When I returned to the office a few days later I profusely apologized for grumbling that their office had made a mistake.

So how do I stop the grumbles? Well, I might:

1.     Give up my right to be right. No matter how sure I’m right, there’s always the possibility that I’m wrong. I forget that.

2.     Remind myself God is watching and expecting me to respond in a godly manner. “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:5 NIV).

3.     Ponder a solution instead of grumble about the problem. “Since I’ve come a distance, do you suppose they might see me earlier than scheduled?”

4.     Check my phone. If I had, I would have seen that I was indeed two hours early.

5.     See things from another’s perspective. Just yesterday, I grumbled to a luncheon friend that the waitress seemed abrupt. She plopped our plates in front of us, and I had to ask three times—three times, mind you—for cocktail sauce. My friend informed me there were only two waitresses working the entire restaurant because the owner couldn’t find enough help.

It’s easy to grumble, to pop out the first thoughts that pop into our heads. But keep in mind we may have to eat our words—so keep them sweet.

 

Finding That Purrrfect Life!

 

“My name is Shirley, and I’m a perfectionist.” There, I’ve said it. I want life to be perfect—but it rarely is. Especially in these later years. As soon as I get over one illness, another pops up. Something thumps, lumps or bumps. Life’s imperfections are enough to get a gal down.

But you know what? Just like the word, there’s “perfection” within “imperfection.” The psalmist said “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16 NIV). I always thought that verse referred to the length of our lives. But might it refer to the content of our days as well?

If that is true, then nothing touches me that has not been permitted by God to be part of the perfect life for me. So how do I fight always wanting things to be “perfect”? I’m writing this for myself, so let’s see where the Lord takes me.

My perfection lies in recognizing Christ is with me. Whether in ER or sitting in my chair watching “Jeopardy,” Jesus walks with me. And therein lies the problem. I forget about Him. If I sat beside someone and they never spoke to me, I would feel ignored. Yet how often do I ignore Christ because I’m too caught up in myself and my “imperfections.”

My perfection lies in trusting God’s timing. We’ve all heard “All of our receptionists are assisting other callers. Please remain on the line and . . . .” But we want attention NOW. So we give up and hang up. During a recent ER visit, a woman complained about having to wait. She left. Two minutes later, they called her name. She missed the very opportunity she sought.

My perfection lies in trusting God Himself. It’s easy to trust God when I feel well, enjoy a slice of pizza or type up a good devotion. It’s a bit harder when relationships or health or circumstances fly south for the winter. But that is exactly the time I need to “trust and not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2). After all “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him . . .” (Romans 8:28). God’s grace will suffice.

My perfection lies in expressing praise to God and gratitude to those around me. Each morning I praise God the Father for His creation, Jesus the Son for His salvation and the Holy Spirit for His inspiration. I also sprinkle “thank you’s” along life’s pathway. Most recently to a young man who showed me how to zip around Costco’s on a cart.

Remember. The apostle Paul’s life was not perfect. He had many challenges from shipwreck to beatings to imprisonment. Yet he said: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11-13). I too can learn to be content—even though life is not perfect.

Actually, life on this earth will never be perfect. Ever since Eve (and Adam) ate the apples, the earth has been cursed, and we live with the consequences. I hurt for people in pain, people with injuries, people in difficult situations. But I believe God has a purpose for each of us each moment of our lives. And our perfection lies in finding and fulfilling that purpose.

Pushing and Pulling God

 

Last evening I laughed as I watched a neighbor chase a deer from his garden. Clapping his hands, he ran into the woods after the doe. And I wondered if I ever chase God away from my garden.

 You see, deer, to me, represent God. Although I only see them periodically, I know they live in the woods surrounding my home. That’s how it is with God. I may not always SEE God’s Hand, but I know He’s there, surrounding me.

 So what about the deer that eats the leaves of my and my neighbor’s tomato plants? How does IT represent God? A good God would not allow something I hold dear to be taken from me. Or would He?

 When these hungry animals eat the tops of my plants (they don’t seem to bother the fruit), I will consider it a type of pruning. And pruning is good. It’s usually done in the springtime. And most plants flourish after being trimmed (not yet sure about my tomatoes).

 So I will consider that God may allow some of my favorite things to be taken—to help me grow.

 I recently was upset over a hair salon visit gone wrong. I cried. I worried my hair would never recover. I called my friend Kim and asked her to pray with me. She read to me a poem by Ruth Bell Graham that reminded me to trust God. And that’s what I plan to do. I’m growing.

 Even though my growth may at times be stunted, I PLAN to trust God on the good hair days and the bad hair days. The healthy days and the sick days. I’ll trust Him to use every downturn in life to draw me closer.

 As I look back over the years, I can see how God HAS drawn me closer even during times I felt He was far away and didn’t care. Every painful experience is but a tool in God’s Hand that He uses to build a sturdy foundation of faith.

 So do I ever chase God away? Well, I chase Him if I accuse Him of deserting me. I clap my hands and He runs if I give up on faith—stop going to church, stop reading my Bible, stop praying.

 But I invite God to draw close to me if I read an inspirational book, talk to another Christian (as I did on my bad hair day) or kneel at His feet. I invite God to stay if I just sit before Him and let Him wipe my tears. After all, God is compassionate. He walks with me whether or not I realize He is near.

 And like the deer will return to my neighbor’s yard, so God will draw closer to me. Or, I should say, I will draw closer to God. He’s never left my side.

 So I plant those tomatoes. I go about the business of living that will include good times and bad times. I trust God that those plants will grow and blossom and produce fruit. But if not . . . like Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations . . . I will trust God “even if the fig tree does not blossom” and the deer dine on my tomato plants. I know He holds my best interest close to His heart.

 
Please comment about a time you felt far from God but He actually drew you closer to His side.