Tag: peace

  • Countdown: 1 more day!

     I think I’m ready to ride. Or, first sleep tonight; then ride in the early hours. Steve says we’ll start at the crack of early. My take on that comment: beginning time is open to interpretation.

    Pray for safety & alertness (us and those around us), animal sightings (from a long distance if big animals such as bear or bison), good memory making times for us as a couple, refreshment & relaxation. Oh, and stories to write that complement our photographic moments!

     Hope to have Internet access part of the trip, so stayed tuned and watch for updates with photos on our website blog.  Feel free to post your comments, suggestions; what you’d like to see or read, what you don’t want to see or read, etc..,

     “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

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  • Joys of Grand-parenting

    What’s it like when the grandchildren are around?

    • Every breath is like inhaling fresh air into my lungs
    • Gives me reason to rise early in the morning
    • Bursts of energy from on high
    • Courage and determination to live and live holy and perfectly (little eyes watch and minds absorb every word and deed!)
    • Able to swing higher, walk and shop longer, swim/float, build sand castles, bake cakes and cookies, create towers, color with rainbow jumbo crayons, read stories (favorites over & over again)
    • Feel the need to nap when they nap. Rise when they rise
    • Always carry gum and mints and water bottles
    • Just can’t get enough lovin’ and kisses!

    There’s nothing quite as special as being in the presence of innocent, say-it-like-it-is little people. Life seems less complicated, pure. I feel younger, more full of energy and vitality. Exhaustion does sink in, but I sleep soundly. I am at peace and all is well with my soul.

    “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name…who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”  (Psalm 103:1, 4–5)

    Teresa Kay Lasher©2011

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  • Tell it to Jesus

    “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

    God really is the only one I can go to in times of turmoil, confusion, and misunderstanding. He’s the one who understands my pain and knows my heart’s longings. People around me (family and friends) can say and do hurtful things, but only God knows their motivation and individual pain.

    I long for peace and unity in an imperfect world. Deep down I know ‘tis impossible. One thing I know for certain: only Jesus is perfect and can satisfy my hungering soul.

    Tell it to Jesus (lyrics and composer: Edmund S. Lorenz, 1876)

    Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?
    Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
    Are you grieving over joys departed?
    Tell it to Jesus alone.

    Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
    He is a Friend that’s well known.
    You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
    Tell it to Jesus alone.

    Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?
    Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
    Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden?
    Tell it to Jesus alone.

    Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
    He is a Friend that’s well known.
    You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
    Tell it to Jesus alone.
    ***

  • Secure in my Abba-Father

    “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

    Oh, to have the few cares of a kitty-cat! But I know my source of peace and safety. It is in my Abba-Father-God.

    ***

  • Celtic Traditional

    Calm me, O Lord, as You stilled the storm.

    Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm.

    Let all the tumult within me cease.

    Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace. (Celtic Traditional)

  • “Hold on!”

     

    First thing this morning, I hear the words to Hold On, by Toby Mac. Listen to the meaning behind the words:

    “Wake up to the morning light – wipe away the lonely night – let a brand new day wash over you…

    So, baby, hold on – just another day or two – I can see the clouds are moving faster now – and the sun is breaking through

    If you can hold on to the one that’s holding you – there is nothing that can stop this crazy love from breaking through…

    And the stars are up, they’re shining for you – oh, how the Father does adore you – His love will never change

    And you and I, we were born to follow the hope that will lead us to tomorrow and no one can take it away.”

    Those words of comfort are just what I need today. How about you? I’m stressing out over silly things like grocery shopping, preparation of food, Christmas gift shopping. Then, when I get the gifts home, I need to organize and wrap them all! I just told a friend that I need at least two assistants to get me through these days. But do I? Maybe, I need to rely on the God who knows all. He knows the pinch I’m in and knows how I tend to over-plan and over-stress.

    God, you know my tendencies to over-book, try and please everyone, and generally make my family miserable with my demeanor. This isn’t what the season is about…dash here and there, quick prepare this and plan for that, dwell on who isn’t coming to a certain gathering, and who isn’t doing/saying what I feel he/she should be doing/saying. That’s just crazy!

    Help me to calm down and allow Your peace to permeate my entire being so I can focus on the true meaning of Christmas:  Your Son’s holy birth.

    Ask:  Is there something I can put aside and not do today? Is there something on my list that is really not that important and I can eliminate altogether? What can I do today to focus my mind and heart on what God desires for me?

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  • A teabag named “Calm”

     

    Storms, lightening, and thunder roared overhead part of the night and into the morning daylight hours.  It’s this type of morning that I care not to rise and shine (remember the song, “Rise and Shine and give God the glory, glory…”) I’d be content to lie there, thinking, dreaming, and then fall back asleep again.  And I did just that for a time, but now I rise (I’m not saying I feel the “shine” part of the song my mom used to sing to me.)

              Since today is Saturday, my hubby and I have no place to be in particular (which is a good thing!)  Our discussion revolved around, “What shall we do for breakfast?” Either one of us can cook, or we can both go out to eat and let someone else do the cooking and the cleaning.  Let me tell you a secret:  going out to eat for breakfast is my absolutely favorite meal to eat out!  Plus, I thoroughly enjoy someone else making a meal and cleaning it up.

               So go OUT for breakfast we did.  We ended up at Toast ‘N Jams, one of my favorite restaurants in Muskegon, Michigan. I didn’t feel like coffee, so I asked to see their selection of teas.  And what a treat I found in a Tazo® tea named “Calm.”  The description on the package reads, “herbal infusion—a comforting blend of chamomile, rose petals & soothing herbs.”  The taste was indeed delightful while the soothing hot liquid calms my weary-edged nerves from the night before.  Somehow the turmoil of the night disappears and peaceful, calm thoughts now invade my being.  My hubby and I are here together, alone.  We survived the night, and the world seems right now.

                Maybe that’s bit what David writes about in Psalms 131.  He reminds me not to be concerned with elements I cannot begin to control anyway.  Basically, that effort is wasted.   I cannot do anything about those matters.  The only person I can control is my own thoughts and actions.  Controlling my thoughts and actions is a full-time job.  God speaks calm and peace to me—I just need to take the time to be still and listen. Then I am blessed beyond measure!

    “I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.  But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psalms 131:1-2)

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