Blessed are the Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

A few years back I realized that I was a Peacemaker, in fact I had always been one.  Even as a little child I was always trying to "smooth things over" between friends and family.  In a way I think that we as Christians are all called to make peace with others or to help others to do this.  But I also feel that God selects some of us to be actual Peacemakers.  Those who feel in their hearts that they can help others to understand miscommunication, or to smooth out offenses.  There are those of us who He gives insight to on how to handle situations or speak to people.

To be a Peacemaker (whether as a gifting or just because the Bible says so) you need to understand how to resolve conflict Biblically.  Resolving conflict through the Word of God is the key element in this calling.  When I felt the Lord telling me that I was a Peacemaker, I researched the verse and came across a ministry called Peacemaker Ministries ( www.peacemaker.net) and a wonderful book called The Peacemaker by Ken Sande, this book really changed my life and reaffirmed what the Lord was telling me.

I have started teaching our Children's Church group the practice of Biblical conflict resolution. We are in the third lesson now and I am really excited to see the light go off in their heads as they talk about how the Lord wants us to deal with conflict - something these kids are faced with on a regular basis whether it is in school, family or even just in the park.  I had a wide awakening to what these kids who range in age from 6 - 12 have already seen and/or encountered.

I had to smile this past Sunday when one of them spoke up and said - "I think adults should learn this stuff" I then told him that maybe God will use him to teach the adults in his life.  He smiled and I know that something has touched his heart.

Think about it - if more people had an understanding on how to resolve conflict in a healthy and Biblical way, how many conflicts, lawsuits or even tragedies we would avoid, there could actually be PEACE - what a concept.

Keeping the Sabbath

One of the areas that I am really working on is my relationship with the Lord.  When someone suffers from anxiety, like I do/have, it is really hard to Be Still and Know that I am God. 

I am always doing something, mostly because I am a "doer" but also because when I am not doing something, I am thinking about all the things that I should be doing or I am thinking about all the worries I have that I can't do anything about.

I decided that I am going to try and keep the Sabbath, now to me that doesn't mean not working.  To me that means to make this a day for resting.  I know, this may not make sense - but it will.

For me there is always something that needs to be done but my way of resting on the Sabbath is to not worry about things, this is my day off from thinking about the coming work week, school week etc.  If I spend the afternoon watching movies or my favorite tv shows (which rarely happens with other avid tv watchers in my home) or reading or even cleaning out a closet or my recipes or something like that - that is ok.  My goal is to give my mind a break from worry.  And that is how I can honor the Sabbath.  For some people it is physical working that they need to take a break from, but for me physical work makes me happy - it is the mental work that I need to be free of.

I believe that Keeping the Sabbath can be different for different people, but that God intended it to be a break from our everyday stresses, a time to refresh ourselves and replenish our spirit with time with Him, focusing on Him and resting whatever in our lives needs to be rested.  Many have different thoughts on this and I think that a long time ago, like in the olden days when it was very strict that you couldn't work on Sundays/Sabbath that made it a negative thing and greatly misunderstood.  Now I am not saying that my thoughts on this are necessarily right - but through a lot of prayer, this is what I feel the Lord is telling me.

Happy Sabbath!

Commitments Update

I'm here! See, so that is one commitment that has made it past the first week.  I think I did pretty well last week, I actually had 3 days of being home and so I made the best of it.  I organized all my recipes and put them into a binder under different categories.  I also pulled out my cookbooks and put them on a shelf in my island.  This way I am more likely to look at them and actually use them for menu planning.  I also got some books for my Nook on freezer meals and breakfasts recipes.  Today at some point after school work, I am going to sit down and figure out a meal plan for my grocery shopping on Thursday.

I was very good at church yesterday, despite the fact that I run around the whole time and half of my Sunday School class didn't make it and the person who signed up for nursery cancelled that morning, the water in the kitchen area was frozen due to the 17 degree weather in Southern Arizona - I had love in my heart for everyone, and tried really hard not to get stressed.

So, I think I am off to a good start, hopefully at some point today I will do my Bible study and sit on the exercise bike and actually pedal (I have come to realize that just sitting there is not going to make my tummy smaller - boohoo).

I really feel like I am on the right track for this year and that now I have decided this is what I want to do and acknowledge that I can't do it alone, God and I will make a good team.  I also realize that it isn't about accomplishing these things it is about the attitude behind them- Why do I want to make these changes and knowing the whys will help me succeed in them. 

Have a good week!

New Commitments

With this new year I am making some new commitments.  Mostly to myself, well actually all of them are to myself. 

Commitment #1 - Tomorrow is the 9th anniversary of my 30th birthday.  I have decided to commit to myself that by the time I reach my birthday next year (the big 40) I want to be healthier.  I would like to loose about 20lbs. I need to start weight training and I really want to get into the habit of spending time with the Lord on a daily basis.  These are all things that will help me become healthier.

I have yet to figure out how I will accomplish these items - I'll let you know!

Commitment #2 - I would like to write new posts weekly - SHOCKER, I know, now you can pick yourself off the floor either from laughing or fainting.  I have been through a lot this year that I haven't written about.  Several times I would sit down to write but then I wouldn't know how to get the thoughts into a written document.  Sometimes I would just have these crazy yet realistic one liners and would think "Is it worth putting on the blog?" Finally I realized that the whole point of doing this was to share what God has been doing in my life.  Even if it is a one liner, who knows who that can help or effect.  So my commitment #2 is that you will see something new here each week - even if it is just a Hello!

Commitment #3 - Love - I need to have an attitude of Love. Enough said about that.

Commitment #4 - Proverbs 31:10 - 31, that is the kind of wife and mother I want to be for my family.  After God, they are my priority and I need to keep it that way. "A wise woman builds her home...." Proverbs 14:1

Commitment #5 - Proverbs 31:8-9, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice." That is the kind of person I want to be, there are issues that I feel strongly about and I feel that God is saying "Now is the time to stand up and speak, speak with love and respect, that way I will be heard." I am passionate about children having the opportunity to flourish and learn no matter what their circumstances are."

What Commitments can you make this year?