Peace

[aka]

Well, least ways I am glad you all can see the pictures.

I can't see any picture for this topic thread. Other topic threads I can see the pictures so all is not at loss.

There is a glitch somewhere and I am keen to find out what is causing it.

[aka]

         

 

Peace is colored with colors of harmony to soothe and delight the soul.
 

I have such a state of living at present and yearn that others have the same for their well being.
 

Please forgive me for not being in a stressful life like the most of you are living in.

Circumstances and the will of God for me have presented at my senior time of life peace.

 

Yes, I have known much in past tension of evil feelings in my junior years.

My upbringing was in an alcoholic family of parents and 2 older siblings (all four addicted to alcohol) fighting, screaming and hitting one another. I was mostly in those episodes as a little kid under the table to protect myself from flying bier bottles smashing on walls. I spent most of the day time outside as weather permitted. School was a wonderful place of retreat for me. It offered some sort of routine and social comradery. There I could relax somewhat from the constant strain of tension ruling in my nervous system. I was constantly hyperactive in body movements and non-stop talker making jokes all the time.
 

It’s been years and years of struggling through my sick soul in order to live half-way sane without doing something of anti-social behaviour, and keeping jobs I so needed to remain independent.  

I give glory and praise to Him who called me to Himself and offered me true sin forgiveness, constant love and protection and purpose in life as I was a teen-ager and onwards. I still am teary-eyed  just thinking of the miracle of conversion of a new heart He did in me. His laws were written on my heart and I was led not to fornicate, not to steal, not to develop into some pathological liar, no alcohol or tobacco, especially no dabbling in drugs, and all the rest as you know the commandments. This leading by His law was the mainstay of my approaching adulthood. My behaviour was getting formed in being calmer and not being constantly flappy. That took years and years.
 

I can only speak for the western world (I lack experience with the eastern world other than through what I pick up in the media) but we are not only living in an age of technology but also in an age of being Overwhelmed.
 

Everyone seems to be chronically time challenged.

Just ask yourself how many times you told another last week “Oh, I have no time for that”.
 

Everyone seems to have a rather out of sync work-life because of so many responsibilities needed to be attended to.
 

Everyone is bend over at the neck, gaze cast down like in a worship mode, walking the streets fiddling with their electronic gadgets they believe they can’t live without.
 

Yes, we are in a stressful 24/7 gadget obsessed electronic society.
 

There is no peace when we are panicking. That panicky feeling comes in a state of being overwhelmed of having too much to do and not enough time to do it.

Does your cellphone hardly ever stops dinging, chaining you to the office, family member or friend?

Do you tighten up with your kids demands of driving them here and there to their medical appointments, school extra-curricular activities, clothes and food shopping with them?

Do you feel lack-lustre overcoming you when having to fulfil church duties that go on and on and never seems to end?

Add to that all comes sporting events, aging parents to tend to and a spouse making demands we never get praised for when accomplished?
 

The good news: Peace can be experienced within all the demands of life. How?

By setting aside time for personal worship of God our father in Heaven.

It’s what we genuine children of God refer to as Devotional time.

We turn off all distracting noises and the phone.

We go to a place where no one can interrupt us.

We begin with talking to God, then listening.

We read scripture and reflect what the portion tells us about God.

We directly give relax commands to our muscles.

We then set priorities by disciplining ourselves to daily set time in our busy schedule for an oasis of contemplation by going into our spiritual level. A level above our material conscious level.

We are not to be led by fleshly desires. We are baptised and risen up to newness of life.

The Spirit of Christ will lead us into truth.
 

The spirit of the Devil will drive us from behind with guilt feelings. He causes a wave of compelling to do something without asking yourself if the matter is really important, or what you really would rather choose for yourself. Ask yourself just how many shoes and pieces of clothing you bought because the others have them as the new trend?
 

We at not at peace because we are losing control. We all need to create a sense of space.

A space between our spiritual relationship to God and the worldliness of the environment we live in. Peace will overshadow us when we present our mind and body as a living sacrifice to Him.

 

The I can’t-cope-with-it-all syndrome may not go away if we don’t daily worship God in our secret place of space. He’s waiting, watching, and yearning to give us His peace. He wants us to be victorious in ways of dealing with the daily demands that pull us in so many directions.
 

Some of us are walking into each day with a low-grade feeling of anxiety verging on low-grade panic. We’re in a fast-paced, tech-driven daily routine. People are full of needs and they look to us to get
their needs fulfilled. There are low-priority demands from others that really are a waste of our time. These ought to get eliminated. Reach to tasks that offer a mental reward for having done something useful and fulfilling.
 

In the space where you have devotional time needs to have a couch, bed, or a good soft carpet. There are enough studies by scientists that tell of the brain needing oxygen and water to function well. So help it along by laying on your back with your feet/legs upright propped on the wall. If possible hang your head over the edge of the couch or bed. The oxygen is in the blood which goes to your head. The pints of water you are drinking go throughout your body and help carry away the toxic waste that may be influencing the anxiety feelings that plague you.

[aka]

                

 

                

 

                

[8thdaypriest]

How to "keep peace" with others of your faith family, while also asking questions, and growing in understanding. 

 

Is it more important to "keep peace", than it is to ask questions and seek to grow in understanding.

 

I live in a small town, with LOTS of churches.  Mostly Baptist, but also Catholic, Lutheran, Pentecostal,  Episcopal, Spanish speaking SDA, and several non-denominational.  There's also a "Cowboy Church".  Most folks are soooo afraid of loosing their social support group, that they remain afraid to question the tenants of their respective congregations. 

 

They believe that they have done what is necessary to "be saved".  They believe in God, and believe that Jesus was/is God's "only begotten Son", and they try to "love one another".  That is all they believe is necessary in order to be saved, so why risk the loss of ones support group?   And really, how can I tell them any different - concerning salvation?  

 

It is only the RARE person, who is seeking answers to questions concerning God - HIs nature, how He manifests, why He allowed evil, what He will do with human beings who never heard of Him, what He really wants from us, etc. etc. etc. 

 

I am very thankful for this forum.  Here I find people who WANT to explore the questions, who do not shrink from difficult questions.  Who do not shun those who disagree. 

There is the occasional person who turns a discussion/debate into a school-yard contest, demanding the other "Admit you are wrong."  

 

I think we are practicing "PEACE" here on this forum, while we discuss very controversial issues.  I always pray for those I "reply" to, and for those who "reply" to me. 

 

Shalom,

Rachel Cory

[Gail]

Thanks, Rachel!  I have so enjoyed this thread that I want to read it again!

[Stewart (SDA)]

I like the theme too.

 

Here is a little thought from Desire of Ages,

 

Peace "is harmony with God". (DA p.302).

 

To me this says a lot. It says that real peace is not dependant on circumstances. Real peace is dependant on one thing alone, and that is, "harmony with God" : to be "at one" with Him is to be at peace with Him... and with one another.

 

It is true isn't it? We may walk with God, just as Enoch "walked with God". But the prophet asks a question -- "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)

 

To be in "agreement" with God is [in a sense] the goal of the Christian walk. To live in harmony with God is everything. I suggest that to walk with God implies a meeting, a harmony, a conformity, of mind and spirit, and where-ever that kind of harmony exists, there will, I believe, be peace.

 

It will enable us to be at peace, even when people around us are panicking, frantic with fear.

We will not be rendered "useless" in a time of trouble.

[aka]

Hurricane Katrina 2005 was the 3rd strongest hurricane ever recorded to make landfall in the US. In New Orleans, the levees were designed for Category 3, but Katrina peaked at a Category 5 hurricane, with winds up to 175 mph. You saw on TV how New Orleans got flooded out, and over a thousand died by drowning. Mostly senior people. I hurt for the cows and horses shown drowned and bloated on pieces of ground.

 

As the roads dried out and the reporters swarmed in to interview people combing through the refuse of their damaged homes, there were mostly to hear from the ones interviewed just despair and blaming God for the mess. What amazed me as I watched the newscast of one of the interviews from Louisiana,
was the response of a woman scrounging around before her broken down house for anything salvable. The usual reporter questions were thrown at her on how she is now feeling, does she have somewhere to live, and what does she see for her future life. She heard them as she looked for stuff, then she stood up from bending over and turned directly into the camera level. Her testimony got me grinning from ear to ear as well as my eyes flooding over with tears of… well, you know, those type of tears that comes from identifying with a very holy special moment of truth.

 

She spoke, and was firm as she said that her Lord Jesus Christ will provide for her and her family.

He is it who will show her where to live and guide her to another job. The place of work was so completely ruined they would not open for buisness anymore. Then she said she will rent another house close to her new job.  She slowly but sincerely smiled a smile of trustingly relaxing in her God whom she was giving glory to for taking care of her.

 

And that’s what I saw on secular dirty sinful television…

I am impressed with her and how God gets good press despite all the bad guys saying malicious blasphemies against the holy of Holies.
 

She gave a glimpse of the Peace of God that passes understanding right there on the screen.

[aka]

[aka]

                             

 

How do we explain the feelings of peacefulness when we sit by still waters?

[Gail]

Hurricane Katrina 2005 was the 3rd strongest hurricane ever recorded to make landfall in the US. In New Orleans, the levees were designed for Category 3, but Katrina peaked at a Category 5 hurricane, with winds up to 175 mph. You saw on TV how New Orleans got flooded out, and over a thousand died by drowning. Mostly senior people. I hurt for the cows and horses shown drowned and bloated on pieces of ground.

 

As the roads dried out and the reporters swarmed in to interview people combing through the refuse of their damaged homes, there were mostly to hear from the ones interviewed just despair and blaming God for the mess. What amazed me as I watched the newscast of one of the interviews from Louisiana,

was the response of a woman scrounging around before her broken down house for anything salvable. The usual reporter questions were thrown at her on how she is now feeling, does she have somewhere to live, and what does she see for her future life. She heard them as she looked for stuff, then she stood up from bending over and turned directly into the camera level. Her testimony got me grinning from ear to ear as well as my eyes flooding over with tears of… well, you know, those type of tears that comes from identifying with a very holy special moment of truth.

 

She spoke, and was firm as she said that her Lord Jesus Christ will provide for her and her family.

He is it who will show her where to live and guide her to another job. The place of work was so completely ruined they would not open for buisness anymore. Then she said she will rent another house close to her new job.  She slowly but sincerely smiled a smile of trustingly relaxing in her God whom she was giving glory to for taking care of her.

 

And that’s what I saw on secular dirty sinful television…

I am impressed with her and how God gets good press despite all the bad guys saying malicious blasphemies against the holy of Holies.

 

She gave a glimpse of the Peace of God that passes understanding right there on the screen.

Being in the world but not of the world is the ability to glean these God moments. I imagine the angels do it all the time.

[Gail]

 

How do we explain the feelings of peacefulness when we sit by still waters?

At work some staff listen to music. This confuses my concentration (although if my head needs I will listen to hymns) but I do go to YouTube and play nature sounds for background ambience. Running water is one of my favorites. The other day I played the sounds of being on a sailing ship, a tall ship (the wooden kind) in the ocean. Sometimes it will be beside a babbling brook; others it will be on a tropical beach listening to the quiet waves lapping the shore with seabirds in the distance.

It reminds me of where I wish to be.

[aka]

Now that was remarkable for me when reading how water sounds gives you satisfaction.

 

I sincerely believe we ought to seek good mental health day for day. Each has their own emphasis.

Gail has sounds of water. I am very sensitive to anything audio so need soft sounds when possible. Peace grows in me when surrounded by order and beauty. Trees of great height and foilage gives me a sense of strength and peacefulness. Water sounds don't do it for me, viewing mountains give me no sense of peacfulness, but wonderful views of walking a forest path does for me a whole day's worth of peacefuness. I sense peace when I am not threatened.