Secrets

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

Secret.

There isn’t a more lonely word. When you have one, you feel isolated. Judged. Dirty.

Maybe you’ve kept something hidden for so long that it now seems a part of your DNA. It feels like you’ll never not carry it.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can take step one to loosen its chains, weakening its power over you. It requires courage – and honesty.

It means that you must be real with yourself- and with someone else. It means taking the mask off and showing that one part of you that you really wish didn’t exist – to one other person.

This is often the first move toward healing. It means taking an honest look in the mirror – and then choosing to tell the truth. It means naming that hurt, addiction, illness, sin. It’s the only way to release its control.

With whom can you share your secret? Do you have a friend or family member you trust? Or is there someone at your church in whom you can confide? Ask God for help in identifying this person and then determine a time when you can talk with them. Give them permission to offer you Biblical advice and direction. Then listen and take the next step.

Being candid and vulnerable is often the hardest part - but it’s vital if we are to walk toward freedom and healing.

Lord, help me be honest with myself and someone I trust. Please give me the courage to take this first step.

Whitney

The Cavern

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; 
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

One summer our family toured Luray Cavern. Our guided tour took us deeper and deeper into the earth. As we walked the well-lit path, our leader pointed out the natural wonders on all sides. 

When we reached a level spot, he stopped beside a power switch and said, “Now I’m going to turn off the lights so you can experience absolute darkness.” As he hit the switch, the deepest black I’d ever known settled around me. Sheer terror began to suffocate me.

Just when I felt I couldn’t endure another second there, I recalled a scripture I’d memorized. A still, small voice seemed to remind me, God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). 

I realized then that the overwhelming fear that gripped me wasn’t from God, and He didn’t want it to control me. In fact, he had something to give me in its place.

 As I asked Him to take away the spirit of fear, it immediately vanished. A feeling of peace swept over me, and my panic was gone. In short, I was fine.

Ever since then when fear attacks, I focus on 2 Timothy 1:7. Fear may nip at my heels, but I don’t have to let it overwhelm me.

God is so good. He doesn’t want us crippled by a spirit of fear. He wants us to overcome that feeling through His gift of power, love, and a sound mind.

Father, thank you for being with me when I am afraid.

Carol

A Prescription for Insomnia

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.  

Psalm 4:8

I punched my pillow and turned over in bed for what seemed the fiftieth time. I just couldn’t get to sleep!

With a sigh of envy, I recalled how easily my daughter’s baby had fallen asleep earlier this evening. The minute his mother sat down in the rocker with him, he’d settled his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. Safe and secure in her arms, he’d quickly drifted off.

I wish I could fall asleep like that, I thought, staring at the ceiling. Maybe I should call the doctor tomorrow and ask for something to help me sleep.

In the dark room the numbers on the bedside clock glowed brightly. It was 1 a.m. In disgust I decided to get up. Maybe reading for a while would help.

I switched on the living-room light and reached for my Bible. Turning to Psalms, I began to scan the opening chapters. I had just begun the fourth when a verse caught my attention.

The verse was about sleep. It said, In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8).

Apparently, the Psalmist could fall asleep as fast as my grandson---unlike me. I re-read the verse slowly. Suddenly, I understood why these two could close their eyes and fall asleep so effortlessly.

Both of them felt secure. They knew they were safe and protected while they slept. My grandson trusted his mother to watch over him. The Psalmist trusted his Father to do the same.

I closed my Bible and returned to bed. Instead of letting my mind race wildly, I repeated Psalm 4:8 to myself and meditated on its truth. I could sleep in peace, knowing God kept me safe. My eyes began to feel heavy.

The next thing I knew, it was morning, and I’d slept like a baby. I knew I wouldn’t call the doctor today. I wasn’t going to need any sleeping pills. In Psalm 4:8 I’d found a prescription for insomnia.

Father, thank You for Your constant watch-care and protection.

  

Carol

Peace

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

Isaiah 9:7

“Ah gots peas like a riber in my sooooooooooooo”. My toddler-daughter sang it loud and long throughout the Christmas season. I’d never really thought of “I’ve Got Peace Like A River” as a Christmas carol, but that didn’t matter to my girl. I asked her what peace felt like. She said, “sssshhhhhh quiet, f’ever”.

We celebrate Christ as the Prince of Peace each Christmas season. We send cards that say “Peace on earth, good will to men”. We sing “Let there be Peace on Earth…and let it begin with me”. What is it that we want? What does this peace feel like? How can we get it?

In Judges 6, Gideon had an encounter with God, who proclaimed to him “Peace!” In response, Gideon built an altar and called it “The Lord is Peace”. From this we learn that God is peace. Apart from him, peace does not exist. Not only is he peace, but he blesses his people with peace (Psalm 29:11). Isaiah explains that we can have perfect peace when we set our minds on him and trust him (Isaiah 26:3). It is God who establishes peace (Isaiah 26:3) and the fruit, or result, of righteousness is peace (Isaiah 32:17).

As a woman, I find my peace most often rattled by my own fears. Perhaps that is why again and again Scripture, the call to peace is followed by the command, “Do not fear”. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubles and do not be afraid.” Knowing that God is Peace, that Christ is the Prince of Peace is one thing, but walking in that trust is another. It requires intentionality, focus and purpose.

One of my favorite ‘do it!’ verses is Romans 8:6: The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. This is where I want to live...in the “ssssshhhhhh quiet, f’ever”.

Jill Hardin

Lost Fawn

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O, God. 

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

Psalm 42:1-2

In the little one stop-light town where we vacation during the summer there is a herd of deer that roam the yards, streets, even Main Street, and the parks much to the delight of everyone except some avid gardeners. As my little nephews excitedly exclaim, “Look there are mommy deer, daddy deer, and baby deer!” What a pleasure to watch them quietly move gracefully by you.

One day I watched as a fawn was so distracted in its own grazing that it became separated from the safety of the doe and the fawn’s twin. When the fawn realized how far away from the mother he had wandered, he became frantic----running back and forth, here and there.

Observing this unfold before me, I thought how often I have been like that straying fawn in my relationship with Jesus. I was so intent and focused on my desires that I was slipping farther away from that close, nurturing, connection. I allowed distractions such as pleasure, leisure, and busyness to take precedence over spending time with my Lord.  Before realizing how far I have wandered from that spiritually nourishing closeness, fears and insecurities invade my thoughts. Whoa! What have I done?

The solution is simple----move back in the direction of my True Safety---Jesus Christ. Time with Him everyday is KEY.

Lord, You are my God, my True Safety. Please keep me stayed always close to You.

Claudia Jackson

Preaching in the Wee Hours

…but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

I Samuel 30:6 (KJV)

I awoke at 3:52 a.m. to discouraging thoughts, dire predictions, and sure failure. These nightly journeys were wearing me out and crippling my daylight hours of joy and fulfillment. Why is it that in the dead of night I have no power to recognize and refute the lies of the enemy? I mull and steep and marinate in fears and anxieties over things that aren’t even reality. They are the “what ifs” of my life.

In my quiet time, I read how David, when distressed and distraught, encouraged himself in the LORD. He preached a sermon to his own soul! That night, I went to bed fully armed with an arsenal of preaching material!

As was becoming a habit, I awoke around 4:15 a.m. sensing the doom of the enemy’s oppression. So I started preaching to my soul: The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1).

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 4:27).

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3).

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul; and all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Psalm 103:1).

And then….as I began reciting his blessings to me, the Prince of Peace brought precious sleep to me.

We all need to develop David’s skill of encouraging ourselves, strengthening ourselves, in the Lord. I am so grateful for his Word that gives life and rest. I praise him for being my peace. I recount his goodness to me….even when I have to preach to myself in the wee hours.

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

Jill Hardin

Grace and Peace

Grace and peace to you from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:2

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are a couple known throughout the world. Have you noticed that when they walk together, Prince Philip remains a few steps behind Queen Elizabeth? In fact, he is required to walk three steps behind her. Why? The Queen as a Monarch outranks everyone, including her husband. So he must walk behind to acknowledge that in rank, she comes first.

In scripture there is another famous couple, Grace and Peace. Authors of the New Testament acknowledge this couple often in the opening or closing of their books. It’s interesting that when these two nouns are mentioned together in a sentence, most often grace is mentioned first. That’s because without grace there would be no peace. Spiritually speaking, grace comes first and then peace.

All people desire peace. Organizations have been formed to establish peace. Negotiations are continually taking place to establish peace. Perhaps even you have taken steps to restore peace in a relationship. But peace among people in this life is temporary at best.

However, there is a spiritual peace that is permanent. Believer, did you know that before God’s grace was lavished upon you, you were God’s enemy? Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior (Colossians 1:21). You were living in rebellion against God with no hope of reconciliation.

Then came grace. Jesus died on the cross, opening a way for man to have peace with God. Jesus paid the price of sin and brought reconciliation between God and man. (Colossians 1:20, 22) And so, those who believe in Jesus have peace with God. We believers are also given the peace of God—that peace that transcends understanding and guards ours hearts and minds. (Philippians 4:7)

Are you at peace with God because by grace you believe in Jesus Christ? Are you experiencing the peace of God in your present circumstance?

Lord, thank You for Your grace through Jesus that brings lasting peace.

Jan Burkhart

Today Peas

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

Grab your hoe, rake, shovel, and trowel! It is Spring and time to plant our gardens.

I know those seed packets and little bedding plants have been calling your name and beckoning you outdoors. Let’s get out there!

This week we are planting a Daily Life Garden.

The Bible mentions planting, growing, and harvesting numerous times.

Today we will plant 3 rows of peas.

1st row is Peace of mind.

2nd row is Peace of heart. They share the same scripture promise. 

Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

3rd row is Peace of soul.

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness (James 3:18).

I just love peace. It permeates everything I mix it with and leaves a longing for more in my life. Try it as a main course in your life, too. Once you sample peace you will begin to desire it more and more.

A man reaps what he sows. Let us do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:7,9).

Lord, grow us to greater spiritual maturity.

Claudia Jackson

Bad Man on Campus

…my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

Teaching at a fairly new private school made for a few challenges. One such challenge arose when trying to establish new drills such as tornado, fire, and other emergencies.

Calling a drill “Bad Man on Campus” may not have been the best idea for young students. Imagine what horrors an image of “Bad Man on Campus” might conjure up in a second grader’s mind.

The poor kid fretted and fretted over who this bad man might be, what he might do, and what we could do in the situation. The other students quickly began to tire of his constant worries and woes on the subject.

His parents must have felt the same way and decided to come up with a solution for his worry because he came to school, with a more positive attitude,

“Did you know that bad men cannot come on our campus?”

“Really, why not?” I could not help but ask.

“Because our school is a private Christian school and bad men aren’t allowed!”

Wow! If it was only that simple. What if, because of our Christianity, bad things were not allowed to happen? Although I love the faith of that second grader, sometimes bad things do happen even to Christians.

How can we cope with the negative events we have to experience? Because of our faith, we have hope. God promises He will be right here with us whatever we have to go through. We are never hopeless.

My second grade student found peace when his parents reassured him. We too can find rest in the reassurance of our Father when the campus of our world gets invaded. He promises to be with us through whatever comes our way. We can believe in that.

Thank you, God, for the promise of your sustaining peace in every situation.

Susan P.

Lost Fawn

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O, God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  Psalm 42:1-2

In the little one stop-light town where we vacation during the summer there is a herd of deer that roam the yards, streets, even Main Street, and the parks much to the delight of everyone except some avid gardeners. As my little nephews excitedly exclaim, “Look there are mommy deer, daddy deer, and baby deer!” What a pleasure to watch them quietly move gracefully by you.

One day I watched as a fawn was so distracted in its own grazing that it became separated from the safety of the doe and the fawn’s twin. When the fawn realized how far away from the mother he had wandered, he became frantic----running back and forth, here and there.

Observing this unfold before me, I thought how often I have been like that straying fawn in my relationship with Jesus. I was so intent and focused on my desires that I was slipping farther away from that close, nurturing, connection. I allowed distractions such as pleasure, leisure, and busyness to take precedence over spending time with my Lord.  Before realizing how far I have wandered from that spiritually nourishing closeness, fears and insecurities invade my thoughts. Whoa! What have I done?

The solution is simple----move back in the direction of my True Safety---Jesus Christ. Time with Him everyday is KEY.

Lord, You are my God, my True Safety. Please keep me stayed always close to You.

Claudia Jackson

Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 John 14:27

You’ve probably noticed over the last few years that the peace sign has made a re-appearance. My daughter has numerous shirts, bags, etc. that boldly show off the peace sign.

Peace is a pretty powerful word. Whether it’s world peace or maybe just some peace and quiet, either one means a lot at any given time. We all long for some kind of peace in our lives. One dictionary definition says that peace is the normal, non-warring condition of a nation. Another definition refers to mutual harmony between people or groups. Still another definition calls peace the cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissention.

What does peace mean to you? My pastor, David Dykes, defined peace in this way: “Peace is not the absence of problems; peace is God’s gift of serenity in the midst of your problems.” Being a Christian means my life should be easy, right? What did Jesus say about life in this world? He says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

There you have it. In this world you WILL have trouble. But Jesus also tells us that you can have peace. How? In Him. Only Him. Have you ever watched a Spirit-filled friend or a loved one go through a trying situation and wondered how they could possibly be peaceful? God grants you the peace when you need it, but you have to be plugged in and connected to Him to receive it.

Look back at John 16:33. Jesus says in me you may have peace. In Him. In Him is not a casual relationship. In Him is surrounded by Him, embraced by Him, indwelt by Him, which is only possible with a constant connection. This Christmas let's allow our hearts to be full of the peace that can only come from Jesus.

Lord, help me stay intimately connected to you. 

Julie