What is your picture of Peace? It may be getting away to a quiet weekend at a bed and breakfast. It could be settling down into a comfortable chair to read a book. Perhaps it's that moment when all the family members but you have gone to bed and the only noise you hear is the crackling of a fireplace while you sip coffee or tea.

Notice anything similar about these pictures? Most of them are experienced alone. The picture of Peace many people come up with is often a variation on the Peace-and-quiet ideal. Peace is easy when there's no one else involved.

When two or more people are together, however, Peace can be a real challenge. This is perhaps most evident in the wars that rage across the globe. But it's also evident closer to home. It's a given in life that you won't always get along with everyone you encounter (that includes family members as well as friends). Sometimes people will just get on your nerves. Other times, they will confront you with a challenge. A few will even single you out for an argument.

Learning to be at Peace when you are with others begins with patience. Not everyone moves at the same pace. Many confrontations can be sidestepped simply by allowing time for more discussion, time for the rest of the story to play out.

Being at Peace with others is also made easier when you have both self-confidence and an open mind. Self-confidence can help you maintain control while you listen to the potentially challenging word of others. Bringing an open mind into conversations helps to break down stubborn walls that inhibit Peaceful exchange. Make the goal of your dialogue to understand your coworker, family member, or friend, and you'll be able to live in Peace with that person.

Paul's command to live at Peace with everyone comes with a carefully worded qualification: "If it is possible, as much as depends on you." All you can do is control your own words and actions. You can seek to understand the other person first instead of immediately responding with your opinion or idea, but you can't control that person's response.

Finally, know that you can always find Peace in your relationship with Christ. Just as Jesus calmed the raging seas so the disciples would not be afraid, He can calm your troubled relational waters. Draw comfort and serenity from this.

God's Peace:
1. Learn from Jesus' example how to be a Peacemaker in difficult situations.
2. Know and pray that God can teach me how to be at Peace with others.
3. Evaluate how well I seek Peace in relationships.
4. Define what is means to be a Peacemaker in everyday situations.
5. Look for ways to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
6. Know that I can't force others to be at Peace with me.
7. Remember Bible verses when pray for Peace:
+ Matthew 26:41 - "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
+ John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing."
+ Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

-- Checklist-4-life

-- Luke 2:13-14
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth Peace, goodwill toward men!"

-- Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

-- John 14:26-27
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. + 27 Peace I leave with you; My Peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

-- John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have Peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

-- Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, Peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

-- Matthew 5:3-9
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. + 9 Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

-- Hebrews 12:14-15
14 Make every effort to live in Peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

-- Romans 14:17-19
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, Peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to Peace and to mutual edification.

-- Ephesians 4:1-7
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of Peace. 4 There is One body and One Spirit -- just as you were called to One hope when you were called -- 5 One Lord, One faith, One baptism; 6 One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

-- Romans 12:9-21
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. + 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at Peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. (Deut. 32:35) 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." (Prov. 25:21-22) 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

-- Colossians 3:12-17
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to Peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

-- 1 Thessalonians 5:9-24
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in Peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16 Be joyful always; 17 Pray continually; 18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 23 May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.

-- 2 Timothy 2:22-26
22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and Peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

-- James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then Peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in Peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

-- 1 Peter 3:8-18
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek Peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (Psalm 34:12-16) 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." (Isaiah 8:12) 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

---

-- Psalms 29:11
The LORD gives strength to His people;
The LORD blesses His people with Peace.

-- Psalms 34:11-18
11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek Peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.

-- Proverbs 12:20
There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil,
But joy for those who promote Peace.

-- Isaiah 9:6
For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.



Peace is the presence of God's power not the absence of trouble.

Being at Peace with yourself is a direct result of finding Peace with God.

The Peace of God is that eternal calm which lies far too deep in the praying, trusting soul to be reached by any external disturbances. -- A.T.Pierson

When Christ came into the world, Peace was sung; and when He went out of the world, Peace was bequeathed. -- Francis Bacon

Even if you are unsuccessful in all of your worldly endeavors... as long as you have the Lord living in your life, you will receive an eternity of Peace and happiness in the end...

No one can live a perfect life... until they have a heart like Jesus... a mind like God... and a soul full of the Holy Spirit, which brings the mind and heart to the only destiny that will give you Peace everlasting: Heaven.



    +++ Happy New Year - 2008 - Year of the Rat +++