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?

Power of Prayer

I'm back, at least for today.  I haven't had much to say and I realized that nothing bugs me more than when people say things just to say things without really needing to say things. Does that make sense?

Well, I haven't had much to say but I have had a lot to think about, but I realized that it is very hard for me to write those thoughts down.

I have been trying to figure out what it is that God wants me doing right now in regards to the calling that He has put on my life.  I know that I am supposed to be focusing on my family and job and so forth but I also know that there is something I am supposed to be doing. 

It finally came to me last week - prayer.  My prayer life has always been a little lacking, I believe in it, I have experienced it's power.  Yet, it doesn't seem to be my go to "thing" and I hate doing it out loud.  God is subtly reminding me that I need to make it my go to "Thing" and that I need not be concerned with praying aloud.

There is so much in life that we can do nothing about on our own - so pray.  This is what I am finally understanding.  Also, I realize that I can't move any further into my calling until I get this one activity down.  It will be my lifeline, my safety net, my source of wisdom, peace and joy.  Why would I want to go any further without it?

I have been reading books on it and reading scriptures on it and it all makes sense to me.  He has always showed me what HE wants for me and He has always said that it has to be in HIS time and HIS way. AMEN!

Redmodeling home & spirit

I have come to realize that the reason the Lord put writing this blog on my heart, was not so that you could get glimpse of my day to day, week to week or even month to month happenings of my quirkey little family.  But so that when things happen that I want to share with my friends, I have a place that I can do it.  No stress, no feeling guilty that I am blogging every two - three months instead of every week, just a serene place where I can share my thoughts, feelings, or rare moments of craftiness (see previous post).

Having said that - How are you?  My three followers, who are so dear to me, I will text all of you to let you know that I have posted something - since I'm sure you got tired of checking and seeing that nothing new has been here for quite a awhile. :)

I do have something important to share - I have been growing so much lately, and not just my waistline (haha, although I have been growing there too) but spiritually mostly.  I feel like I am in a place right now where the Lord is saying - "I'm ready for you to be ready to do my bidding"  I feel as though I am finally coming into my own self. 

I have been working on a home remodeling project (redoing flooring) for the last several weeks and frankly - I'm tired and want it done.  However, I have to say that I have learned so much during these few weeks.  I have learned that I am a capable woman, I can measure, use a chop saw and overall figure stuff out!  I can move 123 boxes of flooring and not keel over.  I can rip out carpeting and baseboards and not wait for someone else to do it for me.  I realized that I can have a vision and that with patience and strength - the Lord will help that vision come into reality. Yes I have had days of frustration and soreness but the end is near and it will be well worth it.  I had my dad and good friend helping me along the way and of course the family has pitched in as well. 

But the most remarkable realization occurred this morning.  I was having my quiet time with the Lord and I had a thought - remodeling this house is exctly like remodeling ourselves.  You have to make up your mind to do, you have to get rid of the old dingy stuff and then - with help, you have to believe that you can do it and that even though there will be days of frustrations and hurting, and it may take awhile - it will be worth it in the end.

Crafty!

There was a time in my life in which I was really crafty!  I don't know where that little bit of me went.  But a couple of weeks ago, I agonizing over the fact that one of my favorite necklaces was tangled up with one of my favorite dangle earrings when I got this idea.  I remembered that I had an old picture frame carousel sort of thing - that I'm not real sure how it got into my house, and I have a lot of pieces of "screen", you know, for windows and screen doors and such.  So I made this:

I started with taking the frames off the carousel

Adding pieces of Screening to each - I used a hot glue gun, which wasn't perfect but was all I had

And Yeah!!! This is what I ended up with

Now all my earrings are neatly kept and arranged, so I don't have to scrounge around for the matching set anymore - I hung all my necklaces and bracelets from an old banana hanger doohickey thingy.  I love being organized!

If you want to see more of my crafty ideas - well don't hold your breath, I have no idea when craftiness will hit me again :(