God's Gift of Wholeness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Peace: (from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness). (HelpsBible.com) Peace between individuals, i. e. harmony

Love: what God prefers

Joy: grace recognized 

Peace: God's gift of wholeness

Peace. It's easy to have harmony and quietness when everyone agrees with ME! However, when others have a different viewpoint, how does one have peace? 

Peace is not about getting my way, or having all in agreement with me. Rather, peace is the quietness and comfort from God — first and foremost, being in harmony, in agreement with Him. That wholeness with God is only when I recognize who God is, and who I am. When I come humbly to the Holy God Almighty, I then can accept His gift of forgiveness and peace. 

Peace is a gift of God's wholeness. And when I am in harmony with God, then I can experience peace even in the midst of chaos. For when I humbly accept the gift of God's grace, I then can express that grace and forgiveness to others. And as I share grace, peace abounds. 

Does that mean I have to agree with everyone else in order to have and share peace? No. However, it does mean that I have to be wise in words, actions, and attitude and allow God's grace to rule my life. 

Peace a gift from God that brings harmony and calmness to my soul. And once my soul is at peace, I then can experience that peace and harmony with those around me— all because of God's grace. 

Thanks Living: Create a Habit!

Do all things without complaining and disputing. Philippians 2:14

Do: perform repeatedly or habitually 

Without: rendering something invalid or valid; through the idea of empty expanse

Complaining: secret displeasure, not openly avowed, a grumbling -- grudging, murmuring

Disputing: a deliberating, questioning, about what is true

This verse is a like a BIG RED stop sign!

 

Stop the complaining and bickering! Did you notice the definition of "complaining"? Secret displeasure. That mumbling under your breath, silent dissatisfaction—that UGG and sigh.  That  silent displeasure begins to gnaw away at our spirit and opens a featuring wound. And soon that silence can no longer be kept quiet—and soon that habit turns into a roaring lion. 

Do all things without complaining and disputing is NOT just a suggestion.... but NO, really.....STOP!

Stop the complaining and start creating a habit of appreciating, enjoying, praising and harmony—or simply put, create a habit of Thanks Living! 

STOP the complaining and START creating a habit of Thanks Living! 

The Message of My Music

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 47. Here is what I learned.

Make music to praise God. Play music for him! Make music to praise our king. Play music for him! Psalm 47:6 (GW)

Sing praises to God. Sing praises. Sing praises to our King. Sing praises. Psalm 47:6 (EXB)

Sing: to make music (in praise of God); to celebrate in song and music—give praise, sing forth praises, psalms; original meaning hum, murmur.

What is the message of my music? Am I praising God and telling of His great power and mighty works? Or am I murmuring about my troubles and pain? 

The message of my music

has an effect on those who hear it.

First, it has an effect on me. Yesterday, I found this to be true. I was doing some housecleaning, and that always increases my pain. Chores actually hurt. But, I put in my CD’s and found that the song “God is Good” by Don Moen, changed my attitude. I found myself singing along and smiling... in spite of the pain. The message of the music effected my attitude and perspective and sure made finishing the chores easier. 

Secondly, the message of my music has an effect on those around me. If all I do is murmur, complain and talk about how bad things are.... that creates a message of hopelessness and despair. That is not a very uplifting or positive message for others to hear. 

And lastly, but most importantly, the message of my music has an effect on God. On March 28, I wrote about “Praise Looks Good on You”. When we praise God, it’s looks good on us to God. I like to think of it as “making God smile”. When I’m praising God, giving Him the honor due Him, it’s pleasing to Him. 

The message of my music—praise or murmurs of complaints—both will have an effect on me, those around me, and God. The choice of the message of my music is up to me. I can choose which song to sing. I can pick one of “nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen” or I can pick one of “God is Good!” 

To create a positive day, the message of my music must be that of praise and honor to my Almighty and loving God, for then and only then, will my music effect me and those around me in a positive way.