Peace

Peace

There are many definitions for peace in the dictionary.   

Most deal with a picture of  freedom or a life without conflict or stress.

But I like this explanation:

Peace – The calm assurance that God is working regardless

 of the circumstances and no matter how it appears.

A  Picture of Peace

There once was a King who offered a prize

to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace.

Many artists tried. 

The King looked at all the pictures,

but there were only two he really liked

and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake.

The lake was a perfect mirror,

for peaceful towering mountains were all around it.

Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

 All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

 

The other picture had mountains, too.

But these were rugged and bare.

Above was an angry sky from which rain fell 

and in which lightening played.

Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall.

This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall

a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock.

In the bush a mother bird had built her nest.

There, in the midst of the rush of angry water,

sat the mother bird on her nest in perfect peace.

 Which picture do you think won the prize?

The King chose the second picture.

Do you know why?

'Because' explained the King, 'peace does not mean

to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work.

Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and

still be calm in your heart.

That is the real meaning of peace.'

Author Unknown

 

WONDERFUL PEACE

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.

Refrain

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!

I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!

And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:

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 this sweet peace so sublime!

 

In  August 1889. Cornell & Cooper wrote this song at a camp meeting near West Bend, Wisconsin:

One day while seated in the tent, Mr. Cornell, following a period of deep introspection, wrote down the thoughts with which his mind had been busied. They later proved to be parts of this hymn, “Wonderful Peace”. Sinking again into introspective rumination, he arose, unwittingly dropped the written verses on the tent floor and went out. When Mr. Cooper entered the tent an hour or two later he discovered the paper. He was fascinated by the theme and the accompanying verses. It so fitted his own thinking that he filled in and completed the poem. Then sitting down at the organ he composed the melody as it has since been sung.

Words: Warren D. Cornell

Music: William G. Cooper

The only true peace is the peace that comes from the Lord.

The only real peace that I have dear Lord is in you.
The only real peace that I have dear Lord is in you.
With all life’s frustrations I need you and I know I do
Cause the only real peace that I have dear Lord is in you.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,

 give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

Struggling

So sorry that because of events occurring in my life,

I have been unable to blog consistently lately.  

But as I was viewing the blogs of some of my friends,

I read the following.  

I asked for and was granted permission

to share this with my readers.  

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015

Struggling

I've been struggling lately.  There.  I said it.  It's out there.  My heart has been pricked and I feel I'm supposed to DO something....but I don't know what that is.  Let me start at the beginning....

A friend of mine recently started being the pastor of a local church.  He's a part time pastor and the congregation is small.  But they are certainly mighty.  Their church is involved in a couple very successful local ministries - one being a meal program where they provide a free meal once a week to the poor, lonely, and/or homeless and the other is a clothing "closet" (that is so much more than just clothing - they can get clothes, household items, etc).  They also take those plastic grocery bags that we all just throw away or use as trash can liners and weave mats for the homeless.  And they give mattresses.  He shared with me about a couple who were at one of the meals - a young, unmarried couple.  She was obviously pregnant.  And they had no vehicle.  They walked to the church.  And when they walked back "home" then went behind a store to a dumpster....a dumpster they called home.

That has chilled me to the bone.  I sit here and look at what I have - the stuff - and yet within 3 miles of me is a couple living in a dumpster.

I'm not wealthy by any means.  We don't own a home.  I drive a car that is rusting out from under me and will be 20 years old if it makes it to next year.  I don't wear designer clothes.  I don't carry a designer purse.  I have 3 pairs of shoes.  I don't own a smart phone or android but use a prepaid cell for emergencies only. We don't go on vacations because we just can't afford them.  But I do have a roof over my head.  And I do have food on the table.  Lord knows I get enough to eat - too much!  I sleep in a bed.  And 3 miles away from me is a couple living in a dumpster.

I have a craft room full of stamps and paper and markers and embellishments.  I have a couple drawers full of yarn.  I have a sewing machine.  And 3 miles away from me a couple is living in a dumpster.

How is it that we can overlook those who are in such need?  How is it that I can overlook those in such need?  How can I justify buying one more thing that I don't need when 3 miles away from me a couple is living in a dumpster.

I know I keep saying that....but it has touched a part of my soul that is aching.  It has made me realize not only how blessed I am, but how because of that blessing I should be doing something to help those around me.  But what can I do?  This is my struggle.  I don't know what to do.  I don't know where to start.  What can one person do?  But I know that God is calling me to something.  I can feel it in my soul.

It's even got me to thinking about this blog.  What is it supposed to be?  I started off thinking it was a creative outlet for cards.  But can it be more?  And if so - what is that?  I'm not sure where this is going.  I guess I just wanted to share my heart and let you know why I have been MIA lately.  I'm praying about where to go from here.  I'm asking God to show me what He wants me to do.  I'm asking Him about this blog too.  I'm praying for an answer.  Stay tuned.

http://zturley.blogspot.com/2015/07/struggling.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FoNdtUE+%28Joyful+Expressions%29

Thanks Zella for sharing your heart with us.
May it be an inspiration to all of us and 

remind us how blessed we are and 

that God does not give us these blessings

to keep to ourselves, 

but to share with others

as a way of sharing His love.

THE POTTER'S HANDS

Then I went down to the potter's house, 

and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: 

so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 

  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 

  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. 

Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, 

so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel

Jeremiah 18:3-6  

Isn't it wonderful that when the Lord sees flaws in our life,

He does what He needs to do to remold us 

into a vessel that is useful for Him.

I'LL TRUST THE POTTER'S HANDS

Here on the potter's wheel, I find myself once more,

My faults and frailties bring me here just like before,

With strong and loving hands the pressure is applied,

Oft times I tremble as He puts me thru the fire

Chorus:

I'll trust the potter's hands, He knows what's best for me,

He has a perfect plan these human eyes can't see,

He's the potter I'm the clay,

He knows just how much I can take,

When I face the fire again I'll trust the potter's hands

His hands work deep inside and He makes no mistakes,

Though it seems I'll crumble down and I can hardly stand the pain,

But into His own design, He is molding me I know,

Though my world spins all around, the potter's in control

He's the potter I'm the clay, He knows just how much I can take,

When I face the fire again I'll trust the potter's hands,

When I face the fire again I'll trust the potter's hands

Sandy Blythe / Jeff Whisnant Music / BMI

 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; 

we are the clay, and thou our potter; 

and we all are the work of thy hand. 

Isaiah 64:8 

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay:

 for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? 

or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, 

He had no understanding? 

Isaiah 29:16  

We can truly trust the  Potter's hands to do what is best for us every day.

May the Lord bless each of you as you trust Him to mold you according to His pattern.

On July 19, 1910, 

the governor of the U.S. state 

of Washington proclaimed 

the nation’s first “Father’s Day.”

It is not flesh and blood,

but the heart 

which makes fathers 

and sons.

It's only when you grow up 

and step back from him,

or leave him to go on your own,

that you can measure his greatness

and fully appreciate your Father.

                                                                                 

Children's children are the crown of old men;

and the glory of children are their fathers.

Proverbs 17:6

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dad's out there!

1. STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS

Reverend Dudley A. Tyng (1825-1858) was a dynamic preacher

known for taking strong stands against evil, no matter what the cost.

On Tuesday, March 30, 1858, Tyng preached a sermon on

Exodus 10:11, “Go now ye that are men and serve the Lord”.

Tyng delivered his message to 5,000 men that day.

More than 1,000 of those men responded to the altar call,

to receive Jesus as their Savior. 

Just over a week later,

Tyng lay dying as a result of a tragic accident.

His final statement, whispered to friends and family, was

“Let us all stand up for Jesus.”

The Sunday following Tyng's death,

Pastor George Duffield (1818-1888) preached a sermon

on Ephesians 6:14, 

as a tribute to the final words of his friend Tyng.

He concluded his sermon with a six-stanza poem.

The Sunday School superintendent printed copies of the poem

and distributed them to all the congregation.

The poem "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus", has since become

one of the most recognized hymns in all English-speaking Christendom.

The melody used in most hymnals today was written by

George J. Webb (1803-1907), founder of the Boston Academy of Music.

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;

Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.

From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,

Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear;

If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear;

Where'er ye meet with evil, within you or without,

Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey;

Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day.

Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes;

Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;

The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;

Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post,

Close up the broken column, and shout through all the host:

Make good the loss so heavy, in those that still remain,

And prove to all around you that death itself is gain.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;

This day the noise of battle, the next the victor's song.

To him who overcometh a crown of life shall be;

They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.

 

The message in the words of this song are very relevant today.

There is coming a time before long when we may have

 to make choices that require sacrifice.  

The only option for those who are true Christians is to 

"Stand Up For Jesus". 

My favorite verse is verse four.  

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;

The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.

Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;

Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.

We cannot stand in our own strength and 

we cannot rely on others to help us. 

We must be fully prepared for battle by 

prayerfully putting

on the Armor of God.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, 

that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on 

the breastplate of righteousness; 

  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench 

all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

And take the helmet of salvation, 

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

Ephesians 6:13-18  

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