Tag Archives: peace

Pay It Forward

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Have you ever wondered what we can do to make the world a better place? With all the shenanigans going on all over the planet, we feel so helpless and inadequate in whatever we try to do to make a small difference.

It’s been said over and over again that the way to eradicate violence and hatred of any kind is to start in our own country, city, state, province, neighborhood, community, family, inner circle, church…wherever…and do whatever it takes to sow peace in place of dissension.

It’s not always an easy thing to do but the smallest step in the right direction may be what it takes to change the direction our world seems to be headed in.

As a concerned citizen of Planet Earth, I urge one and all to take every blessing we have received in a lifetime…every kindness, forgiveness, helping hand, gift of love…every good thing, (nothing bad), and offer it up as our contribution to a better world…in other words, pay it forward.

Peace.

Truth and Beauty in a Song

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Sometimes we have to truly seek out the truth of something in order to learn a lesson of great value. This holds true for the following song. There (in my opinion) is truth in every word and the words and truth paint a beautiful picture of life. This song was posted on Facebook this morning, followed by other fine words found in Ecclesiastes. Enjoy and learn.

Thoughts for a Sunday

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Psalm 37 was brought to my attention on an evening TV program last week but I just got around to reading it yesterday and a few things stood out for me. It seems God’s advice for today’s world and the last two weeks in particular is not unlike that of David’s time. See for yourself:

David writes, Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. (v.1,2)

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (v.7)

But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. (v.11)

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; (v.16)

The wicked borrow and do not repay…(v.21)

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him he could not be found. (v.35,36)

These verses are written in the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. They are not only thoughts for a Sunday but for any day.

There are some people who think they are ruling the roost but look what Revelation 12:7-9 tells us:

And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

More food for thought on a Sunday or any day.

 

 

 

Why Don’t We Get It?

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In his inaugural speech today, President Trump quoted from Psalm 133: How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in harmony! He went on to say,”We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.” Read that sentence again…”We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.”

And yet, out on the streets, some of these same people he was talking to and about were pursuing violent protests, having no interest whatsoever in solidarity. They were smashing shop windows, causing havoc in whatever way they could. What gives them the right to do that? What are they thinking?

And yet, who are we to talk? Does not this same thing go on within our own borders and indeed, our own walls? Do we speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly or even think of pursuing solidarity, togetherness, peace, harmony, unity; whatever it takes to make our world a better place? Unfortunately, all too often the answer is…not really.

It came to me today that whoever would not watch and listen to the upcoming inauguration with an open mind would be missing something. And then it came to me that whoever does not live life with an open mind would be missing even more.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in harmony! Why don’t we get it?

Peace Be With You

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After spending a wonderful week with loving family in beautiful Whistler, B.C. I am ready to take up my blog again.

No matter who I have talked to about 2017, the wish is the same…world peace. But you know, that is only possible if we all work at peace within our own little corners of the world. It’s like the song says…let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Peace be with you as you become instrumental in contributing to everyone’s dearest wish…world peace.

 

Gobsmacked (What a Word!)

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Gobsmacked means (among other things) utterly astonished or astounded. It is apparently British slang and I heard it for the first time about a year ago and was astounded that I had never heard it before that; after all I have lived a long life and it doesn’t take too much to astonish me any more.

Having said that, I was gobsmacked by the harsh criticism that our Prime Minister took, mostly from our government’s opposition, for saying something positive about Fidel Castro after his death last Friday.

Sure, he, Castro, didn’t live up to the standards of most parts of our world but as always, there are two sides to every coin, argument, and people.

We are striving for a world of peace, but we are not going to achieve that when the battering rams of criticism are directed at the peace lovers of the world for choosing to articulate the good points of people that others love to hate. That does not lead to peace.

The Prime Minister took to defending his remarks, which, in my opinion, he should never have had to do. Why should you have to defend being a decent and upright human being?

Even though I like the word, I didn’t like being gobsmacked in that way.

Fidel Castro once said, “I don’t know what day I will die but I am not worried about it. I enjoy celestial tranquility.”

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 NIV

 

 

 

Consider the Birds

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I wish you a day of rest, peace, and the joy of spotting a cardinal or your own favorite bird. Matthew 6:26 says “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns…” Happy Sunday.