Keeping The Peace

Blessed are the peacemakers, 
for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

We will never be fruitful in our walk with God if we are not filled with grace and purity of heart. In a fallen world conflict is inevitable. God intends for us to work through our conflicts to peaceful solutions.

It is because of us that there is no peace with God or with each other. We live in a sin filled world with spiritual warfare and unseen forces of darkness. Evil intent and satanic strongholds are all around us.

 You can count on the Lord’s help in the process of working toward peace.  He came that there  might be peace between us and God.

Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life, Chapter 20:
Seven steps to restoration:
1. Talk to God before talking to the person.
2. Always take the initiative.
3. Sympathize with their feelings.
4. Confess your part in the conflict.
5. Attack the problem not the person.
6. Cooperate as much as possible.
7. Emphasize reconciliation not resolution.

 This picture was taken on a boat ride with my grandkids, December 2013. 

Any Bad Habits?

Need Some Joy?

Job 8:21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.  
 
We all need joy in our life in order for life to make sense, right? Otherwise, how miserable it would be to just exist and feel no joy at all. We have all met people from time to time that have been robbed of their joy due to life's circumstances. I think it is disheartening  when I meet people who rob themselves of their own joy. No matter how much you try to help them see the good in life they see the negative, always complaining and in a state of major self pity. Let's be honest, we are all guilty!
 
There are people who should not have any joy because of life's circumstances and yet they do have real joy.  That is amazing to me because they manage to enjoy God's blessings in the midst of it all. 
 
Joy comes from God and He gives it to anyone who wants to receive it and even when life happens and bangs us up, it will be where we least expect it. 
 
Joy has come to me in many forms....some times from a scripture, a child, a friend, a flower, a butterfly, the ocean, artwork, etc....and when I least expect it! 
 
In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag. - W.H. Auden

 This picture was taken on one of my walks on March 31, 2008.