Peace.....

_ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

So this blog is about two weeks late in connecting with the season, but I have been enjoying a much needed little rest. I was sitting in church at my precious home church of Wallace Baptist Church Christmas morning and listening to the service when I had a very simple thought and made a note to blog about it. Then, I was caught up in the day and the week that followed and did not write. This morning in church at Healing Place, Pastor Dino asked what we were praying for in 2012 and Joey, my husband, said, "Peace on earth." I suddenly remembered my little note.

Isaiah 9:6 refers to Christ as the Prince of Peace. The angels declared peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests...The Greek word is "eirene" which is defined as "Prosperity, peace, quietness, rest, set at one again". The word can be found throughout the New Testament often spoken by Christ as a gift, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives, I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14: 27. My little thought was "There is already peace on earth!"

So here is my prayer for peace....I am thankful for the peace on earth in the hearts of those following their callings, resting in the promises of God, relying not on the world, but on faith. In 2012 I pray for more peace on earth, for less seeking of things and more seeking of kindness and love for others. I pray my own heart can return to the simple desires I once knew as I sought only God's purpose for my life rather than others' ideas of what I should do. I pray for our children to find their purpose and not hear the world's desires to destroy their future. I pray Joey and I both remember we are public servants and are blessed to be allowed to live our lives in such a manner. I pray we seek health not for appearances but for spiritual discipline. Finally, I pray I continue to be just a teacher who passes through lives in order to offer a nugget of wisdom to someone so they can become seekers of their own knowledge, make their own discoveries, and therefore teach a nugget to someone else. What a blessing to live a life of peace!

Peace to you and yours,
Amanda