Peace I Give You

    "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here."
(John 14:27-31 ESV)

Peace.  Jesus gave His friends and followers peace before He left.  As I sit here tonight (should be studying for my final exam), I ponder what true peace is.  As many of you, I am facing Graduation.  A new chapter of my life.  I am graduating college.  4 years at UW-Madison... all over on Saturday.  I am done.  Then what?  All my life I have been in school?  Many of you may be in the same position as I or may be facing other big transitions  in life.  A new baby, moving, getting out of the military, graduating high school, changing jobs, getting married, joining a new church...

Whatever life brings as a change or transition often comes much uncertainty.  Yes you may be ready.  Even excited but still then what?  Even if you have it all figured out (or think you do) there is bound to be surprise.  Some kink in your plan.  Life is that way.

So is peace?  Last week I panicked.  I had never had chest pains from anxiety or really, really panicked about the future, but I did.  Where was I going to live a few months? Who would I marry? would I get married? how would I buy food?  where would I work? should I really be going to graduate school? how can I afford a car? should I get a car? where will I be in a year???

SOOO man questions.

Christ makes it clear He is peace.  In John 14, Christ says that He gave His followers peace before leaving.  He left and they gained the Holy Spirit.  They had peace--- but what was that peace?  a feeling? certainty? a plan?  calm nerves?  

No, it was Christ.  It was Himself.  

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace .

 

It was His promise that was the Peace.  The promise that He would conquer the grave and that they would have eternal life in Him if they believed.  The Spirit sealed this promise.

So simply put.. do you have Christ?  Do you have peace?  If you have Christ than you have true peace.  By the Spirit you have true peace based on faith.  Faith that Christ is King, that He works all things to the good of those who love Him (Romans 8) and that He will be back someday.

But part of "feeling" or having that peace is trusting Him.  Trusting Him every second of everyday with every step.  It comes by abiding in Christ and walking in the Spirit (John 15).  That is true peace.  

Dear brothers, sisters and friends,

are you lacking peace as I have been?

then please let us re-examine our hearts.  If we have Christ then we have Peace.  Let us repent and turn to Him, embracing the Cross and His eternal Promise of Life.  There at the foot of the Cross we should find Peace.  Peace.  Overflowing peace. He has overcome!  In HIM we have eternal life!!! There should be nothing that brings us more peace about life or death or worries of trials than Christ's Resurrection from the grave!

Those of you who do not know Christ, I urge you. Look to Him.  Ask for His peace.  Seek Him.  In Him we have full forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  He is Peace!  At the foot of Cross sin and death were put to a final end.  It was finished.  He overcame what we cannot.  He truly is our life, our light, our way. our peace!

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

As Christ said to His disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you....Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." and come let us rise from here and GO!

Amen.

Today-- Deutoronomy 1 &2--- Do not fear & Trust

Third Day's Song:

You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
And I will sing again

You are so good to me
You heal my broken heart
You are my Father in Heaven (2x)

You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song

You ride upon the clouds
You lead me to the truth
You are the Spirit inside me

Today I read through Deuteronomy 1 & 2.  I have never had a desire to read Deut. before but today the Holy Spirit lead me there.  The is told by Moses & ultimately is about the Israelites unbelief and lack of trust in God.  Because of this unbelief, they did not obey the Lord's commandment to go

"But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. ²⁷ You grumbled in your tents and said, “The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. ²⁸ Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.’”
 ²⁹ Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. ³⁰ The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, ³¹ and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” 

 ³² In spite of this, you did not trust in the LORD your God, ³³ who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go."

They saw the Anakites were "stronger and taller" than they (v. 28) and disobeyed God's command.
There root of their sin was unbelief.  A lack of faith. Distrust.
When they then realized that they were wrong, (v. 41) and tired to go on their OWN strength, they failed miserably. 

^41" Then you replied, “We have sinned against the LORD. We will go up and fight, as the LORD our God commanded us.” So every one of you put on his weapons, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country.  ⁴² But the LORD said to me, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.’”
 ⁴³ So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the LORD’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. ⁴⁴ The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. ⁴⁵ You came back and wept before the LORD, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you. ⁴⁶ And so you stayed in Kadesh many days—all the time you spent there. "

They wept and complained & "whoa as me..." and they were beaten down from Seir.. chased like a swarm of bees!!  (v. 41 & 44).  God turned His ear then from them... much like a gentle parent would do when their child does not obey.. as if to say " I told you not to "____."  That's what happens when you "_________."  Like a good parent, God let them suffer the natural consequences of their disobedience, rebellion & lack of trust in Him.  And like ignorant children, the Israelites had to learn the lesson the "hard way."  They were then sent into the desert for 40 days.

How often do we do this?  We don't trust the Lord enough.  I am so guilty of trying to control things on my own, only to look back and see.. oh yeah if I would have just...
The good news is there is Grace.  The Lord did not forsake His children the Israelites, instead He provided all their needs for the 40 days in the desert.  He was with them anyways and blessed them. (Deut 2, v. 7)

The lesson here to be learned is to trust in Him.  To pray for increased faith and He will provide.
 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight.^[a]
Proverbs 3:5-6

We can't do things on our strength, nor can we obsess about what the future holds of try on our own to KNOW His will.  He may not want us to know His will.  Our commandments are  to Trust in Him, to Love Him with all our hearts & souls & minds, and to love & serve are neighboors (enemies, roommates, friends, etc) as ourselves.  All we can do today is seek righteousness (Matt. 6:33)and to walk worthy today and obey Him today.  For tomorrow will bring it's own glory & trials.
For Christ said, according to the Gospel of Matthew
  

 " ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?
   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. "

Love your sister,
Katherine

Isaiah 43-- Oh How He Loves Us for His Name's Sake

God has been teaching me sooo so so much lately that I feel that I can't even process it; let alone blog it, but hopefully this will help me do so; encourage you; and most of all Glorify His Name.

Where to start? It's the most wonderful time of the year.. (YES it should be!) but for mothers-- this season brings stress.. to prepare for the holidays.  For the employed , there are end of the year deadlines to meet; for many Pastors the desire to have fruitful ministry and share the Gospel with  as people's hearts as possible so that they may be warmed by Jesus' Birth; and for students... final papers, deadlines, finals, stress..  and for me the reality of graduating in 5 months.

Yesterday this reality caused me great anxiety.  I am often paralyzed with dreading to do this or that or overwhelmed by the endless checklist.  We all want God's help, we all want His wisdom.. His will to be done.. but often, if you are like me, it is very much out of selfish ambition.  We want all these things so that we can "feel" happy and to be comfortable.. many times for things to "turn-out" of our own glory & not His.  We essentially-- in the American culture--  want and expect Heaven here on earth.  

Yesterday the Lord opened my eyes to this harsh reality.  I woke-up so depressed, so overwhelmed.  I had a 8 page research paper to write-- and my laptop would NOT work; a ton of other homework.. yada yada yada... it was raining out... I didn't want to shower,  I didn't want to eat; I didn't want to move,  to get up to listen to God.  I wanted to dwell in my emotions; my self-pity... YUCK

After much battle, I got-up and went to help make church bags and write my paper--

long story short the Lord pulled me through.  He once again showed me that I am not of this world and that His will and plan are not for always for me to know .  That being a Christian does not mean not struggling with anxiety, or stress or depression, but combating those thoughts with the TRUTH.  The truth of His Love and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. 

     Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
(Philippians 4:4-9 ESV)

That He loves me for HIS sake and His Mercy is for Him and His Glory and that He does love me, but because of who He is not because of anything that I do or don't do.

All will pass and the Lord will remain.  Paper deadlines will pass and so will the grades.  God is good all the time. (Ecclesiastes)
  This world in not our home for those that have accepted the gift of eternal life by the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.  That He lives and moves and will always remain and that those who have put their whole life and trust and faith in Him will never be put to shame.  That Christ's blood and body that was shred for us covers all our sins yesterday, today and tomorrow and that we are completely Justified and made right in His Eyes.  For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) and There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) that whoever believes in Him and puts their trust in Him has Eternal Life (John 3:16).  For it was written, like a therapeutic song to our souls by the prophet Isaiah who wrote over 700 years before the Birth of Jesus Christ:

Israel’s Only Savior

43 But now thus says the Lord,

mhe who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

n“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

oI have called you by name, you are mine.

2  pWhen you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

pwhen you walk through fire qyou shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

3  For rI am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

sI give Egypt as your ransom,

Cush and tSeba in exchange for you.

4  Because you are precious in my eyes,

and honored, and I love you,

I give men in return for you,

peoples in exchange for your life.

5  uFear not, for I am with you;

vI will bring your offspring from the east,

and from the west I will gather you.

6  I will say to the north, Give up,

and to the south, Do not withhold;

bring wmy sons from afar

and wmy daughters from the end of the earth,

7  everyone who is called by my name,

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed and made.”

8  Bring out xthe people who are blind, yet have eyes,

who are deaf, yet have ears!

yAll the nations gather together,

and the peoples assemble.

Who among them can declare this,

and show us the former things?

Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right,

and let them hear and say, It is true.

10  z“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,

“and amy servant whom I have chosen,

that you may know and believe me

and understand that I am he.

bBefore me no god was formed,

nor shall there be any after me.

11  cI, I am the Lord,

and besides me there is no savior.

12  I declared and saved and proclaimed,

when there was no strange god among you;

and zyou are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.

13  Also dhenceforth I am he;

there is none who can deliver from my hand;

I work, and who can turn it back?”

14  Thus says the Lord,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

e“For your sake I send to Babylon

and fbring them all down as fugitives,

geven the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.

15  I am the Lord, your Holy One,

the Creator of Israel, your King.”

16  Thus says the Lord,

hwho makes a way in the sea,

a path in the mighty waters,

17  who ibrings forth chariot and horse,

army and warrior;

they lie down, they cannot rise,

jthey are extinguished, kquenched like a wick:

18  l“Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

19  mBehold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

nI will make a way in the wilderness

oand rivers in the desert.

20  The wild beasts will honor me,

pthe jackals and the ostriches,

qfor I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

21 the people whom I formed for myself

rthat they might declare my praise.

22  “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob;

but syou have been weary of me, O Israel!

23  tYou have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings,

or honored me with your sacrifices.

I have not burdened you with offerings,

sor wearied you with frankincense.

24  You have not bought me sweet cane with money,

or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.

But you have burdened me with your sins;

you have wearied me with your iniquities.

25  “I, I am he

uwho blots out vyour transgressions for my own sake,

and I will not remember your sins.

26  Put me in remembrance; wlet us argue together;

set forth your case, that you may be proved right.

27  xYour first father sinned,

and yyour mediators transgressed against me.

28  Therefore zI will profane the princes of the sanctuary,

and adeliver Jacob to utter destruction

and Israel to reviling. 

He has blotted out our transgressions for HIS name's sake and He has Mercy on us for His Joy and He Loves us for HIS Glory.  Oh How He loves us!!! God is so good! 
We can and should find so much peace & joy in these despite what the day might bring.  We press on toward the Cross :) & His Future Glory (Romans 8)

With Love your Sister in Him,

Katherine :) 

To Be Beautiful: From the Inside Out

I desire so desperately sometimes to be beautiful-- the Lord delights in our beauty not in us but that which radiate through HIM in Him and by Him ultimately for Him.
Take today for example,
I woke-up rolled out of bed and went to meet my mom at her work to get her car keys.  My hair was a mess, I was dressed in sweats, my face is all broken-out in acne, I havent showered in a day, and I have on absoltutely no make-up to hide my tiredness behind.  ugh yuck I prayed to God to remind me of my beauty in Him and to convict me of my selfish and vain thoughts/feelings.  As the day progressed I felt worse, I did laundry, cleaned the house-- got all sweaty-- how imperfect we human beings are-- yet we are made in His image and made for His glory.  Just now in my alone time with Him He has spoken gently to my frail, pitiful,  and depraved human heart. 


He is whispering to me that I am beautiful.. that He delights in the Glory I bring Him.  Oh how He loves me.  Psalm 45 is beautiful:

International Version (NIV)

Psalm 45

Psalm 45^[a]

    For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.^[b] A wedding song.  ¹ My heart is stirred by a noble theme
   as I recite my verses for the king;
   my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
 ² You are the most excellent of men
   and your lips have been anointed with grace,
   since God has blessed you forever.
 ³ Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;
   clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
⁴ In your majesty ride forth victoriously
   in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
   let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.
⁵ Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;
   let the nations fall beneath your feet.
⁶ Your throne, O God,^[c] will last for ever and ever;
   a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
⁷ You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
   therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
   by anointing you with the oil of joy.
⁸ All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
   from palaces adorned with ivory
   the music of the strings makes you glad.
⁹ Daughters of kings are among your honored women;
   at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
 ¹⁰ Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention:
   Forget your people and your father’s house.
¹¹ Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
   honor him, for he is your lord.
¹² The city of Tyre will come with a gift,^[d]
   people of wealth will seek your favor.
¹³ All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
   her gown is interwoven with gold.
¹⁴ In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
   her virgin companions follow her—
   those brought to be with her.
¹⁵ Led in with joy and gladness,
   they enter the palace of the king.
 ¹⁶ Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
   you will make them princes throughout the land.
 ¹⁷ I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;
   therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

"  

My soul delights in verse 10 & 11.  "He is ENTHRALLED BY OUR BEAUTY" in HIM, IN HIS IMAGE which brings Him Glory.  :) :)

My soul radiates!!
God is our Father who finds us gorgeous as His daughter


Rest well tonight my friends and delight in the Beauty of GLORIFYING Him in word, deed, action & truth.  From the inside-- out.
Love,
Katherine