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 (-: