Are You Ever Troubled?

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you . . . — John 14:27

There are times in our lives when our peace is based simply on our own ignorance. But when we are awakened to the realities of life, true inner peace is impossible unless it is received from Jesus. When our Lord speaks peace, He creates peace, because the words that He speaks are always "spirit, and they are life" ( John 6:63 ). Have I ever received what Jesus speaks? ". . . My peace I give to you. . ."— a peace that comes from looking into His face and fully understanding and receiving His quiet contentment.

Are you severely troubled right now? Are you afraid and confused by the waves and the turbulence God sovereignly allows to enter your life? Have you left no stone of your faith unturned, yet still not found any well of peace, joy, or comfort? Does your life seem completely barren to you? Then look up and receive the quiet contentment of the Lord Jesus. Reflecting His peace is proof that you are right with God, because you are exhibiting the freedom to turn your mind to Him. If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself. Allowing anything to hide the face of Jesus Christ from you either causes you to become troubled or gives you a false sense of security.

With regard to the problem that is pressing in on you right now, are you "looking unto Jesus" ( Hebrews 12:2 ) and receiving peace from Him? If so, He will be a gracious blessing of peace exhibited in and through you. But if you only try to worry your way out of the problem, you destroy His effectiveness in you, and you deserve whatever you get. We become troubled because we have not been taking Him into account. When a person confers with Jesus Christ, the confusion stops, because there is no confusion in Him. Lay everything out before Him, and when you are faced with difficulty, bereavement, and sorrow, listen to Him say, "Let not your heart be troubled . . ." ( John 14:27 ).


From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest

Wait Till You See Me When I’m Done (Youth Devotionals)

Philippians 1:6
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God Finishes the Job

God chose you, called you, declared you not guilty, and is now glorifying you. Sometimes we think that God can’t possibly make us to be like Jesus. But, He can because he is God. He can and he will—It’s a promise.

It’s very interesting to watch a master potter work, especially if you can track the whole process of making a single bowl. First, he prepares the clay, which involves wetting it, beating it, cutting it, and kneading it over and over again. It often takes a total of several hours over two or three days to make the clay just right.

When the clay is ready the potter places it on a wheel that spins it while he presses on it to make the shape emerge. He pushes and pulls and cuts and carves until the shape he has in mind emerges. Then, he sets it on a shelf for a few days to dry before firing it.

The firing process is usually done in two stages. The first stage hardens the clay so it isn’t so fragile while the artist applies the glaze. After the first firing, the potter applies glaze to the bowl. The glaze is very thin clay with chemicals that will change into beautiful colors as they melt. At this point, the piece still looks like some carefully shaped and hardened dirt. The final firing heats the bowl to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the bowl very hard and durable. It also reveals the colors and designs the potter applied to the surface. Only after the clay has been beaten, shaped, stretched, and fired can we see the beauty that was in the mind of the potter from the very beginning.

Remember that God is the master potter of your life. He planned, prepared, and organized every part of who you are and what you will experience so that he can reveal the beauty he has in mind. He will keep on working, forgiving, and training you throughout your whole life. He will keep the heat on when it’s needed. But, he’ll also give you times of rest and peace.

The most important facts in all of life are these: God loves you and there is nothing that can keep him from making you perfect and complete. When you stand before him in heaven one day, all the beauty he built into your character will be clearly seen. Don’t be surprised when you realize that you look very much like Jesus, the glorious Son of God.

Today’s Prayer:

Lord God, I praise you that you do have a plan to make me perfect and complete, just like Jesus. I also praise you for being so loving and powerful because that makes me confident that you will complete the job you’re doing on me. Please help me.

From: New Wine Skin - Martha E Menne

Strong Roots

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. - Ephesians 6:4 (NIV)

MY wife and I purchased a ginkgo tree to plant on the grounds of our church. It was young and fragile so we waited for the proper season to plant it. In the early spring we added some root stimulant and water. That spring and summer, the weather was unusually harsh and dry, and the small plant struggled to survive. We watered it often and took care to keep the surrounding ground free of weeds. The next spring, we were delighted to see the leaves sprout. The roots had grown deeper, and the tree was becoming taller and stronger.

This experience with the young tree gave us an insight into rearing children. The Bible's message is to care for and nourish the children in our lives and to show them the way of the Lord. We pull the "weed" called self-centeredness when we demonstrate kindness and generosity to children and in their presence. We pull the "weed" called bigotry when we teach them tolerance and understanding. We strengthen the roots of their faith when we read the Bible to them and attend church with them. In the strong bond of God's family, children connect us to the future community of Christ.

Prayer
Dear Lord, give us the strength and wisdom to guide the children in our lives with loving care and to point them to Jesus Christ. Amen.


From: UpperRoom - Dale Biggs

Living as an Alien (Parenting By Design)

1 Peter 2:11-12: “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (NIV).

Sometimes, we go to great lengths to avoid receiving the “tourist” label when we travel, but it usually doesn’t take long before someone asks us where we’re from. The way we talk, dress and act are clues that identify us with our home.

This passage reminds us that, as Christians, our citizenship is not of this world. Christ calls us to act in a way that reflects our heavenly citizenship, but sometimes we blend in with the culture so well no one would dream of calling us “tourists”.

As Christians, our customs and values should be remarkably different from the world. They should be reflected in our words and actions and displayed in our parenting. Sometimes we’ll feel like aliens. Eyebrows may be raised when we say “no” to inappropriate movies or provocative clothes. Maybe someone will be intrigued by your family’s “unusual” customs and values.

Shouldn’t your family’s lifestyle reflect your citizenship?

From: Crosswalk - Parenting By Design