Sunday, July 23, 2006

Struggles Within and Peace

It's been a pretty hard week for me friends. My wonderful Peanut has shredded my last nerve and I'm on the brink of an emotional break down. Doesn't that sound like SO much fun?

To top that off a couple of my friends have had a disagreement and though neither one of them has pulled me in the middle I still feel like I'm there and all I can do is pray for both of them. One seems sincere in apology and the other, well, I don't know what's going in that great mind. They both need to respect each other's personal points of view and not let their differences get in the way of the big picture, but they're going to have to discover that for themselves. I am quite (except for this one time little blerb on my blog) and I continue to pray.

Then today, like a much needed respite, we recieved the word of PEACE. I'd link to the sermon but he hasn't got it posted yet, ahem. The gospel reading today was found in Mark 6:30-34, 53-56.

..."Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." For there was constant coming and going...

And the Epistle was Ephesians 2: 11-22

...Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals...

THEN I got home and was reading in this book I recently bought called Words to Live by for Women and seeing how I just came home from hearing a message on peace and rest I turned to peace. And here is a snippet of what I read:

Peace in the New Testament describes eirene- a demeanor and lifestyle of quietness, rest and contentment. Eirene includes the ability to trust God to help you cope with daily hassles and challenges...The confusion of life jangles your nerves and messes with your mind. Yet you need tests to prove your mettle, to learn how to face disorder unruffled. You'll develop spiritual spunk when you seek inner stillness in the center of chaos...you must spend time with him. Jesus faced plenty of enemies, yet epitomized peace. He got away from the crowds and communded alone with the Father...

God, you are my peace. Help me today to relaese each problem every duty, the cruch of so many to do and so little time to your capable care. Keep me focused on you. Amen.

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.


All Bible verses mentioned in this post are from The Message.

5 comments:

Leslee said...

I'm in agreement with you Susie. For the last 5 weekends I've worked three weddings and been out of town the other two. This weekend I made the commentment to stay home. Yesterday I went to a store at 6:30 for, um, supplies and stayed happily in my home all day. Today I went to church and stopped at the store on my way home for lunch and I'll spend the rest of the day in my happy little house (unless I decided to go for a walk later this evening). I needed the rest. I wouldn't mind having another day of rest, but I must go back to work tomorrow.

It's getting to be the time where I'm going to enroll Peanut back into dance. Her teacher and I were talking the other day and she mentioned a tap class that I know Peanut would like, but since she'll probably do soccer this fall again I think that the extra dance class would be too much and the teacher agreed. One of the reasons I like her, she's not all about the money but rather about the kids.

Thank you for your mini sermon!

HeyJules said...

Leslee, I'm so sorry to hear you've got "Peanut" problems! Children can be so exasperating (Uh, not that I'd really know that from hands on experience but I've cared for other people's kids enough to have a pretty good idea...)

So, that said, I offer no advice because, really, what's the point of me (single and childless) giving you (married and motherly) advice? I will offer you a cold rag and a bottle of aspirin and remind you that someday you'll be listening to HER tell YOU what a holy terror HER kid is and won't that be sweet, sweet revenge?

So hang in there, sister! The hard days last forever but their whole childhood goes by in an instant. Praying that you get that peace you need...

J.

James said...

Leslee...thanks for stopping by my blog. Peace like a river, sista...

Madcap said...

Oh, Leslee, I nearly left my kid in the ditch today! There are times when I'm counting the days til that magical 18th birthday.

I hope tomorrow's a better day. For both of us.

Cindy said...

Unfortunately, Madcapmum, the 18th birthday means SQUAT at my house. My kids are 20 & 21 and are at home again. I moved back in with my folks when I got divorced so I guess turn about is fair play.

Chin up and hold tight, Leslee.