Peace?

I started to write this posting before the U.S. and other nations bombed Syria and Iraq in an effort to slow down ISIS and Khorasan. While I don't want to see war, I was very glad to see our military launch an attack to slow down the efforts of a group bent on bringing down Western countries.

I have to admit, many times I hesitate to even turn on the news. . .there's so much evil and ugliness nowadays that I'm not sure I want to hear any more. But, last week I was glad to hear of action being taken, that the military did what they are trained to do in taking down a new enemy before the rest of us know there is another enemy. We don't always get to hear about these military victories.

Does this action stop the evil from happening? No. Did it make the groups hit by the bombs mad? Sure it did. The surprise attack is no longer a surprise. Are we still targets? Yes. So is there a chance to have peace? That's the million dollar question.

While peace evades the countries of the Middle East, I must confess that hearing this news in the confines of my home, far from the countries under attack, makes everything seem detached from me. But, in many ways it's not. Those fellow citizens are fighting half a world away to keep me safe in my home and at peace. Then I realize that on any given day we could have a repeat of 9/11, not just in the U.S. but in other western countries. Now where's my peace?

And what exactly is the peace I'm looking for? According to Merriam-Webster, peace by definition is a state of quiet or tranquility. Dictionary.com adds it is a freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, obsession...a tranquility, serenity.

How do I get that?

Here's where God comes in. How many times in the Bible have you read, "Do not be afraid," or "Fear not...," or "Peace to you..."? While some of those people were told these words because an angel of the Lord stood before them, others were in the midst of trouble. Either way, nerves were on fire inside the person and they're told to be at peace. This is how God works. If there is nothing happening to scare you, if there's no reason to cry out to God, then there's no need for additional peace.

So while it only takes turning on the TV to be scared and fearful of harm, I need to cling to what I know in the scriptures. God is in control of the bigger picture. And nothing that happens is a surprise to Him. I just have to remember that my peace comes from Him and not the status of peace in the world.

Now is a great time to read, really pray, the Psalm being recited by the Jewish people at this time of year... Psalm 27. Read it. Pray it. Cling to it.

It's Here

What's here? The time to wake up and smell the weeds. I say weeds because to say roses would imply that things are sweet. And, they are not sweet. We need to look around and stop pretending that the awful things written in the Biblical book Revelation will never happen.

I know that sounds fatalistic but have you been listening to the news? There are so many people being killed because of their faith and refusal to follow ISIS or Hamas. Some networks tell it all, while others play it down. If you only listen to the local news that's all you're going to hear... local news. I follow Joel Rosenberg's blog and my eyes have been opened to so much more as a result.

If you follow the link above you'll read about believers in Iraq being killed by ISIS. Not just killed but beheaded and crucified. Hello. Did you know those actions were still in practice today? Most of us probably didn't, but now there's a video floating around the internet showing the recent beheading of an American reporter.

Years ago when I read the book of Revelation for the first time I scoffed at the word 'beheaded' (20:4). My thinking was, "no one does that anymore; John was wrong when he saw that." I admit that was very naive of me. But I truly thought modern man was beyond beheading, hanging or crucifying people to death. Now, years later I find out I'm wrong.

Hearing of the recent beheadings alone tells you that we are in the midst of the beginning stages of what's to come. I don't want anyone to be scared in any way. On the one hand it is an atrocity to hear of these things happening. On the other hand, the Bible tells us how bad things will get as we head into the years before and during the Tribulation.

We have options to take now. We could run into the streets yelling, "The sky is falling and the world is coming to an end. Save yourselves. Run away from the city and hide." We could sock away stock piles of food and supplies to last another lifetime. Or, we can go before God Most High and ask Him for directions, as well as for peace.

As bad as things seem to be getting I have to realize that God is in control. Read Revelation 6:9-11. Those who died because of their faith ask when will their blood be avenged. God's reply is the clincher. There is a certain number of fellow servants and believers that God is waiting to be completed. Until then He waits.

What should we do as we hear about these deaths? I don't know about you but I will continue to pray for believers in Iraq and Syria. For that matter, throughout all the Arab nations. As I posted earlier there are Jesus followers even in Muslim countries. Let's not let our fellow believers down by ignoring the fact that their lives are threatened with death.

Out With the Old and in With the New

Every autumn marks the beginning of a new school year. Depending on where you live, school starts either right before or just after Labor Day. It brings a sense of excitement to the season as something new is about to happen. It's the one thing that breaks up the warm fun-in-the-water days of summer.

When you think about it, autumn is a great time to start a school year. It reflects how everything is changing as the temperatures begin dropping to signal the impending winter months. Personally, I love the fall with the start of college football and the foliage colors transforming all around us. Of course for those of us in Texas, if we want color we have to find locations with deciduous trees whose leaves will help us see the beauty of the season. Fortunately, here in the Hill Country all we have to do is take a Sunday ride through the back roads or visit Lost Maples State Park (come early if you want to get in).

I digressed... Let's get back to where we were...

For many people each school year brings new schools and new friends. And while new is good and fun, change can be hard at times. Gone are the routines of the past.

Good or bad, routines are something we can count on... a stability of sorts with no unwanted surprises, almost to the point of boredom. In my case, I love some routine and cling to it when I can. There's nothing like following a repeated pattern and seeing it through to the end each time you start it, or always seeing the same object in the same place wherever that may be. But, to experience change now and then does keep me feeling fresh and alert.

So while I love routine, I have found God doesn't call us to a routine which can lead to indifference or being stagnant. He calls us to change. He wants us to always be moving forward whether it's in our personal life or walk with him.

It's my love of routine that has kept the same furniture and household items in my life for decades. But as we move our things back into place after renovating the house, I've found that it's time to change. This is a big step for me, but as I look back over my life I can see where change has made a difference. For example, if I had never left Texas to follow my husband in his military moves, I would never have learned the Biblical truths I now know.

So, I'm taking a lesson from the season and embracing the change happening in my home. Whether it's just at school or in some other avenue, may you also enjoy the changes this autumn brings to your life.