Let There Be Peace

Several months ago I posted "A Norvell Note". Mr. Norvell gave me permission to use his notes from time to time. I wanted to share this one with you today. Enjoy!

A Norvell Note

Vol. 12 No. 50 December 14, 2009

Let There Be Peace

As recorded in Luke 2, the shepherds received word of the birth of Jesus with these words:

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (13,14, NIV)

Peace on earth. How's that working at your house?

Christmas is just over a week away. Is it there peace in your world? You've been working for days trying to get all the decorations up. You're almost finished. Then, you remember that you're supposed to bake cookies for your children's class parties. So, the decorations will wait a little longer while you run to the store, buy the ingredients, come home, bake the cookies and somehow manage get the laundry done before you and your husband leave for his office party. You come home exhausted from the day but before you go to bed you have to make sure the children have their Sunday best clean and pressed and ready for church tomorrow morning.

The alarm goes off much sooner than you prefer, but out of bed you jump and within in minutes you have the kitchen in full gear as you prepare lunch for your church holiday potluck luncheon. As soon as the luncheon is over you stop by a couple of stores to grab a gift for Uncle Fred and another for Aunt Lucille. Then, you rush home so you can prepare snack foods for the small group meeting in your home. The group finally leaves and after the kids are tucked into their beds you head back downstairs to spend a few minutes with your husband who is frantically trying put the finishing touches on a presentation he has to be ready for by 9:00 in the morning. "I'll be up for a while," he says, as you head toward the kitchen to clean up the dishes that were left from breakfast. That's when you see the box of decorations waiting to be unwrapped, dusted and put on display. You do about half the box and get a call from the mother of one of your child's classmates saying they have a family emergency and ask if you can fill in as a chaperon for the party. "Sure. I'd be glad to," you say as you finish loading the dishwasher.

Peace on earth.

Your boss just walked in your office, closed the door, and sat down across from you. They plant's cutting back. We have to let thirty employees go. Your job is safe, but he tells you that you are the best person to inform those thirty faithful employees, that this week's paycheck will be their last. It's the week before Christmas.

Peace on earth.

You had gone to the doctor for a regular check up last week and everything seemed to go fine. At least that's what you thought. Then, you get a call from the doctor saying he needs to see you in his office as soon as possible to "talk about something he saw on one of the scans."

Peace on earth.

Is there a chance the angels were misinformed? Surely they meant to say, "Chaos on earth and good luck to all men."

No, they had it right. It was God's desire when His son came to be "with us" that peace would reign on earth and in our hearts. It wasn't a miscommunication or wishful thinking. It was an announcement of what can happen when we receive the Messiah. Peace on earth.

It doesn't mean there won't be chaos in your world. Sure, you can probably slow your pace, cut out a few things, stay at home more, miss a party, bake a few less cookies, make some adjustments in how your job manages you, and find a way to reduce your level of stress. But, face it: life is a full-time job. It's hard to say, "No." Not impossible, but hard.

However, even though your life during these last few hectic days before Christmas if full and overflowing with activity, peace on earth is possible.

It starts with taking a few minutes to listen to the earlier part of the announcement: "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10,11). That's the key.

Peace on earth. A Savior is born.

A savior is born. Peace on earth.

The Savior is with us. Let there be peace.

Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2009. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.
 
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Which One Are You?

There are three types of people in the world when it comes to peace. There are PEACE BREAKERS, PEACE FAKERS, and PEACE MAKERS. Which one are you? Let me explain each of them.

Peace Breakers: These are the types of people who cause conflict and may actually even enjoy it. I've heard of a book that gives people a name of an animal, based on their personality. The Peace Breaker would be like a lion. Satan is described as such in 1 Peter 5:8, "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." The Peace Breaker isn't content with calmness, but delights in turmoil.

Peace Fakers: Peace Fakers are the type of people that pretend everything is fine, even though it's not. There may be conflict around, but these people don't see the conflict. Maybe they don't see it because they don't want to see it or maybe they aren't involved enough to even know there is a conflict or a problem. But, pretending everything is okay when it's not is just as big of a problem as causing conflict as a Peace Breaker would do! Some Peace Fakers realize there is a problem, but they don't believe it is their business or responsibility to help resolve the conflict. But by denying conflict or trying to delay confrontation, it's really just adding to the problem. A Peace Faker is really not being truthful, but living a lie. "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body." Ephesians 4:25

Peace Makers: A Peace Maker is what God wants each of us to be. If we are a child of God, that's what He expects us to be. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9 Being a Peace Maker may not always be the easy thing to do. In fact, it may be really, really hard! How can you become a Peace Maker and not be a Peace Breaker or a Peace Faker?

1. Acknowledge that God is in control, not you.
"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." 1 Chronicles 29:11

2. Get rid of all selfishness and pride.
Your way (and my way) may not always be the right way. Maybe it is, but just maybe it isn't.
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18

3. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. It may keep you from sinning!
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20
"In your anger do not sin." Ephesians 4:26

4. Acknowledge conflict when it is really present.
Don't pretend things are okay when they are not. Jesus was a peace maker and as Christians, we should be striving to follow His example.
"Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." James 3:18

5. Make a concentrated effort to resolve any conflict.
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over." Matthew 18:15(Verses 16 & 17 go into further details about resolving the conflict).

6. Pray for peace in your life (home/family/work/church), in your relationships, and in the world.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

7. Acknowledge, again, that God is in control.
Some conflict is present and you and I will never be able to do anything about it. We can live at peace knowing that God is in control, even during troubling times.
"You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end." Matthew 24:6

Question: So, which one are you?

I am grateful for those who are PEACE MAKERS. Visit HeavenlyHomemakers to see what others are grateful for on this GRATITUESDAY!