Peace? In Israel?

When there is no peace JPost.com

The catchphrase that “peace is the best security” doesn’t sound very convincing to most Israelis, looking around the tumultuous Middle East.

 

Guest Post: “Peace Like A River” ~ By Hubby

PEACE LIKE A RIVER

By Hubby (Garrett Lloyd)

You know you serve a merciful God when he goes to such great lengths to show you how totally powerless you actually are.  You know He loves you when, in amazement you discover that you’re actually O.K with that powerlessness.  You know you’re on the right path when you have absolutely no idea where this path will lead but at complete peace with the uncertainty.

Three weeks ago, I was a stressed out worker bee,  worried about how I could perform in my job at a level to meet my family’s needs with fiscal cliffs looming and costs of living rising.  How could I protect my family from moral decline, social unrest, and the variety of threats families around the country and the world seem to be encountering on a weekly if not daily basis.  I was tired but determined to be everything my family needed me to be even if it killed me.  Then God, in His wisdom, did a funny thing.  He benched me! He pulled me out of the game, set me on the sidelines and said “O.K. now watch”.

I left work a couple of hours early on a Wednesday afternoon when a stomach ailment that had bothered me for a couple of weeks started acting up.  I thought I should knuckle under and go to the Dr.  so I could get a pill of some kind to “fix it” so I could get back in the game.   I haven’t been back to work since.

There’s a Tim McGraw song that begins…

I was in my middle forties with a lot of life before me when a moment came that stopped me in my tracks.  I spent most of the next days looking at the x-rays, talking ‘bout the options and thinking “bout sweet time.

Well, that about sums it up!  The tests revealed colon cancer, the Dr. said surgery was necessary and we’d know more once the mass was removed.  And do you want to know the weird part?  I wasn’t upset, I wasn’t scared or nervous.  My wife was just as at peace as I was and the only explanation I can come up with is that God filled us so full of his peace and love and mercy that there just wasn’t any room for fear or doubt.  We both marveled at the fact we could feel so positive and upbeat in light of what we were facing.

The image that comes to mind when I try to explain this peace is that I imagine I am in an inner tube floating down a river,  there is nothing I can do change to direction of the river,  I can’t influence the speed of the current, I can’t negotiate with the temperature of the water.  My only reasonable course of action is to relax and enjoy the ride.  The true revelation comes when I realize I’ve been in that inner tube all along, heading toward the destination God planned for me since I first accepted him as my savior.   I haven’t always felt the peace I have now.  Trust me, I’ve spent years, even decades, flailing and splashing and making all kinds of noise, wasting all kinds of energy trying to get that river to take me where I wanted to go.  But God in all his wisdom, patience and glory loved me enough to bring me into complete submission to him.  Not because of me but in spite of me.

My prayer for you who are fighting against the currents or kicking against the pricks is that The Sovereign God of Mercy brings you to that place of total submission where you too can find peace like a river.

Amen

 

Tim McGraw “Live Like You Were Dying”

 

He said, “I was in my early forties with a lot of life before me when a moment came that stopped me on a dime”
”I spent most of the next days, looking at the x-rays, talking ‘bout the options and talking ‘bout sweet times”
I asked him when it sank in  that this might really be the real end;”How’s it hit ‘cha when you get that kind of news? Man, what’d ya do?”

He said ”I went skydiving  I went rocky mountain climbing  I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu

And I loved deeper  And I spoke sweeter And I gave forgiveness I’d been denyin”
And he said, “Someday I hope you get the chance To live like you were dyin’”
He said, “I was finally the husband That most the time I wasn’t, and I became a friend, a friend would like to have”
”And all of a sudden goin’ fishin’ Wasn’t such an imposition and I went three times that year I lost my dad. Well I, I finally read the good book And I took a good long hard look At what I’d do if I could do it all again and then”
”I went sky-diving.   I went rocky mountain climbing  I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu And I loved deeper And I spoke sweeter And I gave forgiveness I’d been denyin’”
And he said, “Someday I hope you get the chance To live like you were dyin’”
Like tomorrow was a gift And ya got eternity to think about what to do with it What did you do with it? What did I do with it? What would I do with it?
Skydiving I went rocky mountain climbing I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu And I loved deeper  And I spoke sweeter  And I watched an eagle as it was flyin’
And he said, “Someday I hope you get the chance To live like you were dyin’”
To live like you were dyin’  To live like you were dyin  ‘To live like you were dyin’ To live like you were dyin’

Obama’s High Crimes, Impeachment Proceedings Initiated on 9/22/12

United States Sheriffs May Legally File Charges Against Barack Hussein Obama aka; Barry Soetoro! Political Vel Craft  (A must-read!)  This is an in-depth article about the very real crimes of our corrupt President.  And what some intend to do about it.

Ahmadinejad is here in America It turns my stomach just to think if him being “welcomed” here, and now Iran isn’t even planning to sit around and wait for Israel to act first, they are picking a fight with Israel.  It makes me wonder, in light of the Ezekiel 38 prophecy, what sort of promises Iran has been given by Russia.  Or even from Obama, for that matter.  Of course Hamas is right there in the thick of things.   So, we will have Obama, Ahmadinejad, and Netenyahu all at the UN General Assembly conference this week.  Should be really interesting!

Well, the UN had their day of peace last week.  On October 6th there will be an Global Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem! so mark your calander!

Learn more about the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, click HERE

 

The Real Obama Birth Certificate?

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ME do it !!!

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart and Lean Not on Your Own Understanding. In All Your Ways Acknowledge Him, and He Shall Direct Your Paths.

Christian are you staggering under a burden today?  Have you done everything you know to do, and feel that you have somehow missed something?  Are your fears and anxieties getting the best of you?  Maybe it’s your job, frustration over corporate politics.  Maybe it is a relationship with someone who is seemingly utterly unreasonable and inflexible.  Maybe it’s just that there is not enough of you to go around, or not enough income to cover the expenses.

I was always a worrier.  Very conscientious and “Type A”.  Perfectionists drive non-perfectionists, (and one other), nuts.  Because perfectionists don’t actually have a need to do things “exactly right” but rather a need to do things “exactly as they themselves feel it ought to be done”. And therein lies the problem.  There is often more than one means to an end, and one way may be just as good as the other, and there might actually be a better way than your way or my way.   In fact, I know that there usually is, and that’s God’s way.

If you are, or ever have been a worrier, did you ever find yourself getting mad at someone else for NOT worrying?  I mean, someone who was in the same boat with you.  Like a spouse?  Sometimes people are calm simply because they fail to grasp the gravity of a situation.  (That’s a nice way of saying they are obtuse.)  Some people prefer to remain clueless.  Like Scarlett O’Hara, they know they should be concerned but consciously choose denial as their coping mechanism.  And infuriatingly, the fact is that sometimes that actually works in their favor because sometimes things do actually “work themselves out” over time.  Our worst-case scenarios seldom come to pass.

But I’m not really talking about your run-of-the-mill doubts, today.  I’m talking about gut-wrenching anxiety over circumstances that, if we would be honest with ourselves, are not really as “within our ability to control” as we like to think they are. And I’m talking about fear that mushrooms to the point that you can’t sleep, you feel a gnawing in your gut all the time, and are restless and tormented.

That ought not to be so.  Not for a Christian.  Now, hear me out!  I am the very last person who would try to tell you how you ought to feel.  (See “Positivity“).   But this is not about feelings.  It is really about knowing your “place” and about obedience and choosing “that good part”.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

              Be still, and know that I am God

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:38-42)

Mary chose to set aside every other concern and just sit at Jesus’ feet and dwell on Him and hear what HE had to say. Don’t let the devil harass you.  When we entertain and nurse our fears, it is a little bit like self-flagellation.  Frankly it is a little masochistic.  It is twisted.  Like walking barefoot over hot coals, we take our armor off and practically dare Satan to hit us with his best shot.

If you just can’t seem to make any headway toward solving the problem, why not set the problem aside and spend some time and effort on your perspective instead, and in praying about everything, and meditating on the Word.  If you stain your eye staring at a speck on the wall long enough, it will disappear into a blind spot. (Try it and see).  If you focus exclusively upon your problems, the solution is guaranteed to elude you and all you will get for your trouble is more strain.  Focus on the Lord and His sufficiency for a while.  Peace will come.  God knows what you are up against.  He is glad to intervene, but He isn’t going to be your “fall-back” plan.  Either you trust Him or you don’t.  Either you want His solution, or you want to be the toddler saying “ME do it!!!”.  Which is it gonna be?

Psalm 46:10, Philippians 4:6, Proverbs 3:5

Peace and Security or Violence and Instability?

Matthew Brown, AP:  A West Virginia man who told authorities he was hitchhiking across the country and writing a memoir about kindness was injured in a seemingly random drive-by shooting near Montana’s booming Bakken oil patch.  You can read more here, but really?  I think the one sentence says it all.  Montana! The ideal “bug out” state.

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US, EU fake Iran’s consent to discussing enrichment to fend off Israeli action

The spokesman for the EU’s Catherine Ashton reported Monday night, June 11 that Tehran had agreed to discuss high-grade uranium enrichment in Moscow on June 18-19. debkafile: That claim is false; Iran refuses to put enrichment on the table. But the US-EU sham puts diplomacy on artificial life support, away from the only remaining option of a military strike – either by the US, to which President Barack Obama is committed if all other options fail, or Israel, with US backing.  Read more

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The Economic Collapse Is Not A Single Event

Many people hype “the coming economic collapse” as if it is some kind of big summer Hollywood blockbuster.  Many people out there write about it as if it is something that will happen in a single day or over a few weeks and that it will suddenly change how the entire world functions.  But that is not how the financial world works.  The financial world is like a game of chess – very slow and methodical.  Yes, there are times when things happen very quickly (like back in 2008), but even that crisis played out over a number of months.  Sadly, most Americans are not used to thinking in terms of months or years.  These days, most Americans have the attention span of a goldfish and most Americans have been trained to expect instant gratification.  They are simply not accustomed to being patient and to wait for things.  Well, despite what you may have read, the economic collapse is not going to be a single event.  It is going to play out over quite a few years.  In some ways we are experiencing an economic collapse right now.  When the next major financial crisis occurs, many will be calling that “an economic collapse”.  But if you really want to grasp what is happening to us, you need to think long-term.  We are heading for a complete and total nightmare, but it is going to take some time to get to the end of the story.

Yes, there will certainly be times of great chaos.  The financial crisis of 2008 was one of those moments.

But the financial crisis of 2008 did not completely destroy us.

Neither will the next crisis.

I think it is helpful to think of what is happening to us as a series of waves.

When you build a beautiful sand castle on the beach, the first wave that comes in does not totally destroy it.

Rather, the first wave weakens the castle and it is destroyed by subsequent waves.

Well, that is what is happening to us.

The financial crisis of 2008 was a wave.

The epicenter of the next great financial crisis will be in Europe and that will be another wave.

For many, the next financial crisis will feel like “the end of the world” but it won’t be.

There will be waves after that one that will be even worse.

Yes, the waves are going to start coming more rapidly and will start becoming more intense.

In that way, they will kind of be like birth pains. (emphasis mine) Source

See I Thes. 5:3

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“Peace and Security/Safety/Stability” in the news past 7 days (The phrase occurs numerous more times in current headlies than even just 2 weeks ago when I last covered the topic!)

Nigeria: Abia PDP lauds Orji on peace, security in the state

Asia-Pacific: U.S., Philippine Leaders Pledge Asia Peace, Security         

Syria: UN Security Council fully supports Annan’s peace plan

Afghanistan: Iran, Australia Stress Establishment of Peace, Security in Afghansitan

East Africa: Security Experts Review Regional Strategy to Address Emerging Challenges. The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation Dr Julius Rotich has said the region needs a solid and practical peace and security strategy to counter various emerging security challenges

South Caucasus: Clinton Talks Peace, Democracy, Security And Oil In South Caucasus Tour

Worldwide: 2012 Global Peace Index: World Becomes Slightly More Peaceful

Russia/Poland: Security top priority at Poland-Russia face-off: Poland’s capital Warsaw was bracing Tuesday for what authorities have dubbed its “greatest ever” security challenge, as the national side plays old foe Russia in a must-win Euro 2012 match on home turf.

Africa: Malawi Opposition Leader Supports Decision to Cancel AU Summit: The African Union has criticized the International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments against Bashir saying they were “undermining African solidarity and African peace and security.”

Israel-Palestine-Jordan: Israel-Palestine-Jordan confederation solution: Today, each of the Israeli leaders proclaims a “peace and security” motto, however, nobody explicitly suggests how to implement this.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. I Thes. 5:3

Azerbaijan:‘Clinton’s visit is of great importance to ensure peace and stability in  region’  ”Clinton’s visit to South Caucasus and the negotiations conducted by her is of great importance to ensure peace and stability in the region” Gurbanli said.

India: Peace and stability in Maldives important to India: Manmohan

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My Latest Alternative News Blog find-check it out: News That Matters

For When they shall say “Peace and Security/Peace and Safety”, sudden destruction shall come upon them like travail upon a woman, and they shall not escape

Last week over at “The End Time” on Blogspot, Elizabeth Prata did an interesting piece on I Thes. 5:3 (Read it HERE)

And Jack Kelly wrote about it on Gracethrufaith.com

And then in church today in the adult Sunday School class our pastor also, coincidentally chose to speak on this passage.  I was curious to come home and do an internet search of the phrase and see what came up.  Here is what I found:

The UN website on “Peace and Security”.  Check it out HERE

Here are just a few of this past week’s headlines that included the phrase ”Peace and Safety/Security/stability”

“Bashir Says Wants Peace with S.Sudan but Security Comes First“

“Liberia: Envoy Wants Sustained Peace & Security in MRU Basin“

“Statement by the Press Secretary on Today’s Executive Order on Yemen’s Peace, Security, and Stability“

“Peace and security are my major priorities”-Victor Smith

Did you know that there is an  International Parlaiment of Safety and Peace  (wiki) which is dedicated to the promotion of Security and Peace?

From the LA Times today:  (Obama on Afghanistan) “As he prepared to open the NATO summit Sunday in Chicago, President Obama said Afghanistan is on track to achieving a “transformational decade” of peace and stability as U.S. and other combat forces begin to withdraw and as Afghan security forces take responsibility for keeping the Taliban insurgency at bay”.

And check this out on the: “United States Mission on the United Nations“  website

There is even a UN initiative on women, peace and security!

NATO has a grant program called Science for Peace and Security

And the EU European Commission has EuropeAid, an intervention area of which is, you guessed it, Peace and Security!

I think it will be interesting to continue to watch and listen for the use of this phrase in the coming days and weeks.  Don’t you?

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¹Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

²From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

⁴I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

⁵For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

⁶Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.

⁷He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

⁸So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Be Still My Soul (Performed by Naturally 7)

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake To guide the future as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart And all is darkened in the vale of tears; Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart, Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears. Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay From His own fulness all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord, When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

 

The Path Before You

We are all walking on an unknown path through life.  For the first part of the journey we walk with parents and siblings.  Then the way converges and we strike out on our own.    Later we are accompanied by friends and by family,  but there are no gaurantees as to how long our companions will walk along with us.  Sometimes the way will seem barren and lonely, and other times lush and rich.    We fool ourselves in thinking we are determining our own path.  For there are so many things we do not control.  But there is One who oversees.

As a Christian He has been my companion on life’s path, and has often held me up when the way seemed long and my spirit grew weary.

 

As you walk the path before you

I pray that you walk in the company of  the Friend who sticketh closer than a brother

May He keep your foot from veering to the left or to the right

From the way He has ordained for you

May you revel in His companionship

And draw from His strength

 

As you walk the path before you

May you always know

His presence

His provision

His protection

His power,

and most of all,

May you always know His peace.

Rejoice for the steps of a righteous man are ordered of God!

Good News and Bad News

It is the second day since the start of prednisone.  My doctor explained that a marked improvement in my symptoms while taking prednisone, would be a likely indication that we are indeed dealing with a connective tissue disorder of some kind.  The good news is, I felt about a 50% improvement yesterday after having taken the prednisone before bed the previous night.  After only 4 doses, my improvement level is sitting at about 75% today.  After 14 months of gradual deterioration, and more than 100 straight days of alarmingy rapid further decline, this is a blessed reprieve.  We are very thankful for it.  The bad news is that it is a confirmation of sorts, that indeed this prolonged exacerbation along with new symptoms, is indicative of yet another developing condition.  But I have always been the sort of person who, once I am armed with the “worst case scenario”, comes out swinging.  Trying to fight an unseen enemy is the most hopeless feeling of all, so, strange as it may seem, this is somewhat of a relief.  We will adjust our stride and keep on keeping on!

God is so good!