Month: December 2024

The Wait: Peace that Protects

/ Sharon / Leave a comment

What is peace like?
Perhaps peace…
…looks like green pastures and still waters.
…feels like breeze and sun that caresses just right.
…sounds like…

Alas, the Valley of the Shadow of Death is inevitable.  
When Chaos and Conflict arrive, where can Peace be found? 
Philippians 4:7 speaks of Peace that transcends all understanding, guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
This Peace of God is not merely serene. This Peace protects.
It doesn’t always protect us from circumstances and hard times.  Life still be lifing. 
Yet in my sanctified imagination, I see Peace on guard within my soul.  

Here are some thoughts on practicing the presence of Peace during Advent.

Your Call: How does Peace speak to you in this season?  How can you practice its presence?

The Wait: Wrestling with the Essence of Time

/ Sharon / Leave a comment

I can appear calm, yet I know that I can be impatient.   I’m the one that scouts out what looks like the shorter line in the store, only to be dismayed when another line moves faster.  That kind of wait can be a minor annoyance, but some waits are longer than others. Some waits erode hope.  Some waits shed tears.   

I haven’t worn a watch in a while.  Yet my mindset is often attached to a clock ticking in my head. Chronological time is a tool that helps us to function and organize our days.  Yet our eternal God reserves the right to transcend it. If you have experienced some frustration with waiting, I wonder what comes to mind for you when you watch this video. Sit with it for a few minutes.

If you would like to see more about how the above video relates to the Advent season, watch this Invitation to Hope.

Your Call: Reflect on two Greek words for time, which are 1) chronos, which speaks to chronological time, and 2)  kairos, which speaks to an appointed time or a due season.  How can this understanding prepare you for your wrestling match with time?