Well, another
harbinger of Spring, albeit a scary one, two robins using out feeders this
morning – ROBINS! We need more winter to
give us the water we have to have in the summer; which means SNOW NOW; Robins
love ya, but go south for a bit longer!
The white
stuff is disappearing, however, with no snow being forecast for the next
week. What is even worse though is the
lack of snow on our mountains – where our water source is most important.
I find it
interesting that I heard over and over again, and felt it myself, that we would
have a year similar to last year’s – not so far, anyway.
Carla is a
farm girl who knows how to make things last and can adapt. She has been using a broken shovel handle as
her walking stick on these icy parking areas – I thought I would be nice and
give her one from the store – nope, “my shovel handle works just find for me.”
And those
that know her, particularly our kids will say, “yep, that is her.”
I guess I
will use it, if we get any more of this stuff.
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John
16:33 KJV “These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.”
Peace, what
is peace? We certainly haven’t
experienced much of it this past year. According to the on-line Encarta dictionary it
is freedom from war, or tranquility, or mental calm, or harmony, or a peace
treaty, or law and order.
I understand
it means all of that, so what do we have to do to have peace, personal
peace?
There are
many answers to that question, but the bottom line is how we react to those
things going on around us.
That is why some people can
remain calm even when their world seems to be in complete destruction. It isn’t that they don’t understand, it is
just they don’t let it affect them; at least from what we see.
My concern,
personally, is how I can achieve peace within myself, in doing so I might be
able to help others.
I am not a
patient person, doesn’t take long to be around me to find that out.
I was
thinking the other day of a test I took in a management class. Can’t remember most of it, but I do remember
how our decisions showed whether we were more inclined to be people oriented or
task oriented.
I found it
pretty accurate except for one part.
Can’t remember the questions but it showed that I would work with
employees for a couple of times, and after that I would say, this is the policy,
law or procedure and you are expected to follow it.
Period.
What bothered
me about it was I knew that I had worked more with employees than just a couple
of times (limitations of testing;) I got home and mentioned it to Carla and
said, that is not like me.
Her
reply? That is exactly like you.
That is where
my peace gets lost, I tend to be impatient and want things to happen right away,
and when it doesn’t happen I get frustrated.
Instead of
laying my concerns on God, knowing He will do what is right in due time, I try
and hurry things along.
I hope that
if I had to go through the challenges many of my brethren have had to go through
the past 2000 years where millions have been tortured, prosecuted, incarcerated,
and killed, I could find that peace that God promises.
I would
rather not be tested that way, of course, not only because those men, women and
children had tremendous trauma and of course because I have failed in many minor
crises.
But I do
know, that when I have and while I might have go through more suffering by the
torments of man, God is with me. His
Holy Spirit abides within me and will continue to surround me in His love.
In the end, I
will abide with Him, free of my impatience and free of anything the powers of
darkness can hit me with.
But I also
have an assurance for HIS peace now, if I but trust in HIM.
Philippians
4:7 KJV “And
the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.”
Thanks be to
God, for His love and faithfulness.
Later, Art
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