Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27 (NRSV)
PEACE This PEACE PAGE has: Unless otherwise noted, the author is unknown for the selections on this site.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:29 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 118:6 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 Fear not, for I am with you. Isaiah 43:5 Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Deuteronomy 10:20 Do not be afraid; just believe. Luke 8:50 In God I trust; I will not be afraid. Psalm 56:4 Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. Hebrews 13:16 Philippians 4:4-13 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.10Irejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
The Lord is my peace. I shall not live in anxiety. He puts me under his wing of comfort and calms my spirit within me. He takes all my anxieties on Himself and helps me to focus on Him. Yes, though I walk through a time of grave uncertainties and fierce anxieties, I will not fret – for You are my peace and Your Word and Your presence calm me now. You hold my uncertainties in the palm of your hand. You soothe my anxious mind – You soothe my wrinkled brow. Surely serenity and trust in You shall fill me all the days of my life. And I shall keep my mind stayed on you forever.
Do not fear what may happen to you tomorrow. The same father who cares for you today, will care for you tomorrow and every other day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you the unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings. St. Francis de Sales
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in changing forces of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsels of years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
GOD, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference. Living ONE DAY AT A TIME; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen By Reinhold Neibuhr
I can keep calm and unmoved in the vicissitudes of life. I can go back into the silence of communion with God to recover this calm when it is lost even for one moment. I can accomplish more by this calmness than by all the activities of a long day. At all cost I can keep calm. I can solve nothing when I am agitated. I can keep away from things that are upsetting emotionally. I can run on an even keel and not get tipped over by emotional upsets. I can seek for things that are calm and good and true and stick to those things. I pray that I may not argue nor contend, but merely state calmly what I believe to be true. I pray that I may keep myself in that state of calmness that comes from faith in God's purpose for the world.
May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be among you and with you always.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. –St. Francis of Assisi
May today there be peace within. May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and to bask in the sun. It is there for each and every one of you. {Fitzpatrick}
Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great many people have already been exposed to inner peace, and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it. Under the right circumstances, inner peace could reach epidemic proportions. This situation could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.
Some signs and symptoms of inner peace: A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears, which are based upon past experience. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each and every moment. A loss of interest in judging other people. A loss of interest in judging yourself. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others. A loss of interest in conflict. A loss of the need and even the ability to worry. (Please Note: This is a very serious symptom.) Frequent, almost overwhelming episodes of appreciation and gratitude. Frequent attacks of smiling. An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen. An increased susceptibility to feeling the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it back. An unmistakable feeling that everything is okay.
Warning: If you have some or all of the above symptoms, please be advised that your condition of inner peace may be so far advanced as to not be curable. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms, remain exposed to that individual only at your own risk. Inner peace is contagious.
Copyright © Saskia Davis
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God's idea of an abundant life is not the same as what the world considers to be "the good life." A consumer-oriented culture will tell you that ultimate satisfaction comes from making money and projecting the successful image that goes along with a high income. But God is calling you to a far richer life. Here are some ways to live a truly successful life: Rather than arranging your priorities to pursue appearance, affluence and achievement, strive instead to pursue wisdom, compassion and freedom. Remember that you are made in God's image, and that's infinitely more important than anyone else's image of you. Know that God loves you and will always make His grace available to you. Commit to living simply, making lifestyle choices that reflect good stewardship of the earth's environment. Commit to living frugally. Make a budget and stick to it. Don't purchase goods or services that would you would have to incur debt to buy. If you're in debt, make a plan to get out as soon as possible. Think of the world not so much as a global marketplace, but as a global community of creatures God has made. Consider how you can contribute to others. When performing a service, do so out of love for God rather than a desire for other people's acclaim. Realize that living as God calls you to in each present moment is ultimately more productive than simply keeping yourself busy. Pray for God's grace to be receptive to His voice when He speaks to you. Listen for Him to speak through everyday sacramental experiences such as the taste of food, the sight of trees and the touch of your child's hand. Be open to receiving fresh spiritual energy. Sacrifice personal agendas that obstruct your relationship with God. Trust in God's wisdom to know what's best for you and His goodness to give it to you. Listen compassionately to others, and act with compassion to help meet their needs. Face tragedy with courage and hope. Seek to live creatively at all times. Regularly make time for prayer. Regularly make time for rest and relaxation.
If you're trying to do it all, you know just how much of a challenge it can be to accomplish everything there is to do in your life. The solution: Stop trying to juggle, and strive for a balanced life instead. Here are some ways you can pursue a balanced life: Realize that a sense of balance begins with your inner thoughts, feelings, desires and choices. Your words and actions will flow out of what is in your heart. If your life is unbalanced, consider whether you might have too many goals, goals that conflict with one another or no goals (allowing you to be swept along by life's pace without regard to your direction). Ask yourself what's truly important in your life. Pray about it, seeking God's guidance about what your purpose is on earth. Then create a purpose statement to clarify that mission. List the activities that regularly consume your time and energy. Consider how they align with your purpose. Imagine that you will have to live without one of those activities. Which one would you drop, and why? Remember that Jesus led a truly balanced life. He didn't try to do it all; instead, He was focused on exactly what God the Father wanted Him to accomplish. While living on earth, Jesus often accepted the limitations that come with human existence (allowing time to eat and sleep, for example). Realize that your value comes from God rather than your personal achievements. Set aside regular times to commune with God through prayer and Bible study to establish a spiritual balance. Rebuild relationships that have been weakened by your busyness in the past. Make time to get together with friends and family members, investing in those relationships again. Commit not to be swayed by the frenzy of a particular moment, but to react calmly and to try to live proactively as much as possible. Sometimes you can wear yourself out by trying to do things for yourself that God can much more effectively do for you. When you don't trust that God is willing and able to meet your needs, you can become anxious, angry or depressed, which can lead to frenzied activity. Decide to trust God's goodness (His willingness to provide for you), power (His ability to provide for you) and wisdom (His understanding of what you need). In prayer, confess the ways it's hard for you to trust God, and ask Him to send you grace to grow. Make time to pursue recreation, rest and exercise regularly. Don't try to do everything yourself; you could get some tasks accomplished more efficiently if you delegate them to others. Cultivate interdependent relationships with other people that will give you the help you need for various tasks as you need help. Remember that God has designed people to need each other. Make your time alone with God enjoyable. Praise Him and thank Him rather than just presenting a list of requests to Him. Ask God to reveal a new truth about Himself to you each week, or deepen your understanding of a truth you already know.
The secret of waiting is the faith that the seed has been planted, that something has begun. Active waiting means to be present fully to the moment, in the conviction that something is happening where you are and that you want to be present to it. A waiting person is someone who is present to the moment, who believes that this moment is THE moment. -- Henri J. M. Nouwen
1~ Slow down; God is still in heaven. You are not responsible for doing it all yourself, right now. 2~ Remember a happy, peaceful time in your past. Rest there. Each moment has richness that takes a lifetime to savor. 3~ Set your own pace. When someone is pushing you, it's OK to tell them they're pushing. 4~ Take nothing for granted: watch water flow, the corn grow, the leaves blow, your neighbor mow. 5~ Taste your food. God gives it to delight as well as to nourish. 6~ Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set. They are remarkable for their steady pattern of movement, not their speed. 7~ Quit planning how you're going to use what you know, learn, or possess. God's gifts just are; be grateful and their purpose will be clear. 8~ When you talk with someone, don't think about what you'll say next. Thoughts will spring up naturally if you let them. 9~ Talk and play with children. It will bring out the unhurried little person inside you. 10~ Create a place in your home...at your work...in your heart...where you can go for quiet and recollection. You deserve it. 11~ Allow yourself time to be lazy and unproductive. Rest isn't luxury; it's a necessity. 12~ Listen to the wind blow. It carries a message of yesterday and tomorrow - and now - NOW counts. 13~ Rest on your laurels. They bring comfort whatever their size, age, or condition. 14~ Talk slower. Talk less. Don't talk. Communication isn't measured by words. 15~ Give yourself permission to be late sometimes. Life is for living, not scheduling. 16~ Listen to the song of a bird; the complete song. Music and nature are gifts, but only if you are willing to receive them. 17~ Take time just to think. Action is good and necessary, but it's fruitful only if we muse, ponder, and mull. 18~ Make time for play - the things you like to do. Whatever your age, your inner child needs re-creation. 19~ Watch and listen to the night sky. It speaks. 20~ Listen to the words you speak, especially in prayer. 21~ Learn to stand back and let others take their turn as leaders. There will always be new opportunities for you to step out in front again. 22~ Divide big jobs into little jobs. If God took six days to create the universe, can you hope to do any better? 23~ When you find yourself rushing and anxious, stop. Ask yourself "WHY?" you are rushing and anxious. The reasons may improve your self. understanding. 24~ Take time to read the Bible. Thoughtful reading is enriching reading. 25~ Direct your life with purposeful choices, not with speed and efficiency. The best musician is one who plays with expression and meaning, not the one who finishes first. 26~ Take a day off alone; make a retreat. You can learn from monks and hermits without becoming one. 27~ Pet a furry friend. You will give and get the gift of now. 28~ Work with your hands. It frees the mind. 29~ Take time to wonder. Without wonder, life is merely existence. 30~ Sit in the dark. It will teach you to see and hear, taste and smell. 31~ Once in a while, turn down the lights, the volume, the throttle, the invitations. Less really can be more. 32~ Let go. Nothing is usually the hardest thing to do - but often it is the best. 33~ Take a walk - but don't go anywhere. If you walk just to get somewhere, you sacrifice the walking. 34~ Count your friends. If you have one, you are lucky. If you have more, you are blessed. Bless them in return. 35~ Count your blessings - one at a time and slowly. - author unknown
I refuse to be discouraged, to be sad or to cry.
I refuse to be downhearted and here's the reason why:
I have a God who is almighty; who is sovereign and supreme;
I have a God who loves me, and I am on his team.
He is all wise and powerful; Jesus is His Name; though everything else
is changeable, My God remains the same.
I refuse to be defeated.
My eyes are on my GOD.
He has promised to be with me, as through this life I trod.
I am looking past my circumstances, to heaven's throne above.
My prayers have reached the heart of God.
I am resting in His love.
I give thanks to Him in everything.
My eyes are on His face.
The battle is His; the victory is mine; He will help me win the race.
I repeat, I'M TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!" You have just taken a dose of
encouragement. God's love to you. -- Author Unknown
Giving up implies a struggle--- Letting go implies a partnership Giving up dreads the future--- Letting go looks forward to the future Giving up lives out of fear--- Letting go lives out of grace and trust Giving up is a defeat--- Letting go is a victory Giving up is unwillingly yielding control to forces beyond myself--- Letting go is choosing to yield to forces beyond myself Giving up believes that God is to be feared--- Letting go trusts in God to care for me.
To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else... To let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization I can't control another... To let go is not to enable but to allow learning from natural consequences... To let go is to admit powerlessness which means the outcome is not in my hands... To let go is not to try to change or blame another, it is to make the most of myself... To let go is not to judge but to allow another to be human... To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to effect their destinies... To let go is not to be protective, it is to permit another to face reality... To let go is not to deny but to accept... To let go is not to nag, scold or argue, but to search out my own shortcomings and correct them... To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it... To let go is not to criticize and regulate anybody but to try and become what I dream to be... To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future... To let go is to fear less, and to love more...
People are often unreasonable, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.
- Mother Teresa –
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!
This is the day which the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the night that the Lord has made. We will relax and rest in it’s shade. This is the cross on which Christ was laid. We will repent and be saved through it. This is the debt which Christ has paid. We will accept and be not afraid. This is the hope that will never fade. We will praise God and have peace in it. This is the life that God has made. We will look to him and not be swayed.
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