Peace in the storm . . . make each summer day count

There are things in life that seem to move us far away from peace:

Arguments

Loss

Death

Financial difficulties

Health issues

Fear

And the list goes on . . .

The thing is . . . when we are in an active-ongoing-intentional-engaged-authentic relationship with Christ . . . we have received the presence of Peace.  The Apostle Paul signed his letter to the Thessalonians issuing a blessing of  peace:

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.  2 Thessalonians 3:16

Here is what we need to understand:

Peace is for all times in every way for those who are in a relationship with Christ.  Peace is as close as the living presence of Christ.  

 So. Why does stress and chaos invade and rule our lives rather than peace when we follow Christ? 

Isn’t it because we allow the power of our problems to rule us?

The book of Matthew describes how the disciples of Christ freaked out when they were in a powerful storm.  We know that as seasoned fishermen, they had experienced storms before.  It makes sense the storm was a-once-in-a-life-time powerful storm; the kind that destroys.  If . . .  we  believe that God has peace for all times . . .  in every way . . . then we understand that it includes the worst of the worst of storms of life:

The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
    He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

    The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matthew 8:25-27

The picture of Jesus standing up and telling the storm to stop depicts the authority Jesus has in our personal life as well as on earth (as it is in heaven).  Think about the storms that have come into your life.  How would it have felt to see Jesus stand and rebuke your storm until everything had calmed down?  It would be a miracle.   The thing is . . . the peace of Christ is a miracle that invades . . . until the storm ends.

Make each day of summer count and live in peace. 

 When you need peace . . . remember Jesus takes a stand and rebukes the storms in your life.

 Exchange the power of a problem for the authority of Christ. 

 Live in the peace of Christ each day.

Learning with you to KICK START the day in peace,

Pastor Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)

interactstudies/ ~ kpalmer@hillchurch.com ~Church on the Hill~700 N. Hill Rd.~McMinnville, OR 97128~503.472.8476 ~www.hillchurch.com~Archives & Daily Subscription: go to http://kickstarttoday.blogspot.com/