Live In Peace

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." 2 Corinth 13:11

We pray for peace in the world; for the safety of those being persecuted for their faith; for the well being of those whom we love. We pray for a lot of good things. It seems all good on the surface. Yet, even within the church there is often division and divisiveness.

St. Peter encouraged the Corinthians to work together with one mind; with the mind of Christ. When egos come to play within a congregation or community, divisiveness comes with it. The only will that ought to be done is the will of God. His will is that brothers and sisters in Christ live in peace so that He might be glorified. His desire was that we should be reconciled, in peace, to Him and to one another through His Son, Jesus the Christ.

May the peace of the Lord be with you all.

God's Peace - Pr. J

God Is Bigger Than Any Giant

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

We face giants every day. The world would place obstacles before us to prevent us from doing God's will; to prevent us from following Jesus wherever He would lead us. But, those giants have no power over us because Christ lives and dwells within us. He has overcome those giants. On the cross, he overcame all that would come against his children.

Do not fear the giants in the world. God is bigger! He is greater! He has done great things for us and He will continue to be with you and in you as you face those giants.

May God grant you courage to do His will and the faith to trust that He is with you as you face whatever the world would throw at you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Beside Still Waters

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:2

He leads me beside still waters and not just figuratively. I have been blessed once again to live by still waters. The photo above was taken by my granddaughter in my new backyard. My last back yard was the mouth of a river. This one is a creek. I have been told that every now and then in the winter, I might see a manatee in this creek. I don't know how true that is; but, looking forward to seeing one, again. A few decades ago, I had the privilege of swimming with them. That, I understand is no longer allowed as they are awesome creatures and must be protected.

I have been most fortunate to live most of my life with a creek or river or even a Great Lake or ocean within at least walking distance of my home. I remember catching minnows for fishing in the creek near my grandmother's home when I was very young.

The waters reassure me of God's many promises to us. They are a reminder that through the waters of baptism our sins are washed away and we are born again. They are also a great reminder that there are some things that human beings cannot control as every now and then God will stir up even the stillest of waters. But, most of all the still waters remind of the peace that can be found only in Jesus Christ. No matter what storms might come; the water reminds me of God's peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Let Go And Let The Shepherd Lead!

The Lord is my shepherd;I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1

What don't we get about this? The Lord is our shepherd. The Lord watches over us. Why do we trust in men to watch over us and protect us when we have a God who has promised to do that and is so much more capable than humankind? Why do we put our faith in ourselves to watch our own backs when the Good Shepherd has our backs?

I can't watch my back. But, God can. And, He does. I can accomplish nothing without Him. The Lord who is my Shepherd watches over me and over you. He does all things for the good of those who love Him. (Rom 8:28)

Just give up the ego, already! Let go of the garbage you've been packing and let God carry your burden! Trust Him to lead you on right paths because He can and He will.

Rejoice! The Lord is our Shepherd!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Be Still

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

I prefer early mornings to mid-day. If I wake early enough, everything is mostly quiet around me. It is much easier to be still in the presence of God when there is not too much activity around.

In the wee hours of the morning, I can talk to God uninterrupted. It is also quiet enough to listen to the God who can bring the storms as well as still them. In the stillness of dawn, when everyone else is still sleeping, we can be assured that we are not alone. God is with us. He is our fortress.

Be still and know that the great "I Am" is with you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Use Those Gifts!

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:3-8 NIV

Evangelism seems to be a hot topic in the church on earth in this generation. It is a much talked about topic. (Emphasis on talked about!) Everyone wants to know how to do evangelism; what the best program might be. Here it is! The best program is not a program; rather, it is that every member of the Church, which is the Body of Christ, use the God given gifts for the good of the whole Body.

That being said, I admit that I do actually have an evangelism strategy. I call it the "3 P's," for Prayer, Praise and Proclamation. Pray for God's will to be done; for His Kingdom to come, on earth as it is in heaven. Praying involves listening, as well. Listen to God's direction on how best to use the gifts He has given you to do His will, to further His Kingdom.  Praise God often and not just in your head. Praise Him aloud so that others might know of how God has been blessing your life. Last of all and certainly not least: Proclaim His Word! Tell others what He has done for you and for them. Tell others of His promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our Lord. 

Use those gifts that God has given you for His glory!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Enter Into The Light

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Psalm 112:4 NIV

The light of Christ shines in the darkest of nights for those who follow in the path that he has set before them. It does not matter how dark or how ugly life may get around us; the faithful will always have the light that leads them through the darkest of nights. We will always have hope because we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We know that a new will dawn.

If you find yourself surrounded by darkness, with no glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, maybe it is time to: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Eph 5:14) Rise up and enter into the light of dawn; enter into a new and glorious day!

May God open the eyes of all who have found themselves surrounded by darkness so that they, by the light of Christ, might see the path that he has set before us all.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Renew Our Strength

"...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 NIV

Each day brings new challenges. New challenges can either invigorate us or wear us out. But, those who trust in the Lord keep moving forward, facing those challenges. We do so, not by our own power or might; but, because the Lord is with us and strengthens us.

Jesus calls us to follow him wherever he would lead. The road is not always easy. It is in fact impossible for mere human beings. But, with God, all things are possible. (Matt 19:26)

Lord, renew our strength that we might follow Jesus and do thy will.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Christ Bids You Come And Die

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Mark 8:34

What else is there to say; except to ask ourselves are we willing to take up our cross to follow Jesus and what does that mean for us. Does it mean giving up an hour each Sunday to thank God for the gift of His Son's life for us? And... then grumble if the service goes ten minutes longer than an hour. 

No, when Jesus calls you; he asks that you commit your life totally to following him; every minute of every day. He calls you to give up your desires so that the will of our Father in heaven is done. Even as Christ was willing to take up his cross for us; he bids us to take up our cross even in the face of death.

"Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;
if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us." 2 Timothy 2:11-12

May God grant us the courage to take up our cross and follow him wherever he would lead us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Prosperity Gospel, Oy!

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!" Galatians 1:3-8

Oy! Oy! Oy! Such blasphemy coming out of a preacher's mouth! I woke up early this morning to spend some time alone with God. My husband had fallen asleep with the television on. I woke up to a pastor proclaiming that faith did not build the church he was ministering to, money did! Of course, he was encouraging everyone to plant a seed with his ministry so that the giver would become rich in this world. Again, I say, "Oy!" Oh, yes... although, he claimed the validity of hell, he claimed that Jesus did not save us from it. Say... what!?

The proclamation we are called and sent to share with all the world has nothing to do with money. It has everything to do with the Kingdom of God for us, by faith in Jesus who shed his blood on the cross for us. We are to preach no other Gospel than the Christ crucified.

May God help us to see and receive the most priceless treasure we could ask for: reconciliation with God, in His Kingdom, through faith in Jesus Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

He Stirs Up The Breeze

"He sends his word and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow."

Psalm 147:18

No matter where we live; God manages us to bless us with His awesome creation. I am truly enjoying the awesome breeze that comes with being in Flagler Beach. The photo on the right is one that I took when visiting a very dear friend in Puerto Rico, a few years ago.

I love both the wind and the water. I have both here in Flagler Beach. They are reminders to me of the Holy Spirit blowing about where it will and that we are washed in the waters of baptism.

Thanks be to God for the breezes that He stirs up! God grant that the Spirit move mightily here in this place and throughout the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Old Tents, Young Spirits

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." 2 Corinth 4:16

As time passes in this world, life around us changes; life within us changes. As we grow older these old tents that we dwell within waste away. But, the spirit within continues to be renewed day be day.

I have reached the big 6 - 0. On most days it seems that the days are not long enough. I no longer can accomplish as much as I could a decade or so ago in the same amount of time. I am a bit slower than I once was. On some days my eyes are so weak that I cannot see who is at the back of the sanctuary. I wake each morning, with various parts of my body aching, just another reminder that the body is wearing out. Yet, as an elder once told me, "As long as I don't look in the mirror, I still feel young."

Indeed, we, who believe that Jesus died so that we might live in our Father's house, are very young no matter how many years we live in this world. The body may wear out and die; but, the children of God have eternal life. So what is a mere 60 years in all of eternity? Nothing! We are but babes wandering through the wilderness, day by day, with our faces directed toward the promised land.

Thanks be to God; for His mercy is great! He will lead us home. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live Life In The One Who Is Life!

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

The title of this blog is "Live Life." It is often my plea that those whom I care about learn to live life in Christ. Peace can only be found in him. Reconciliation with God and with those around us can only truly be found in Christ.

Why should we live in so much turmoil when there is another way? Jesus is that way. In him, you will find what your heart seeks. In him, no matter what goes on around you in the world, you will find peace. In him, you will be reconciled to our Father in heaven, in His Kingdom, even now.

Live life in the Kingdom and you will know real joy!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hallelujah! Our God Reigns!

 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,
    all you his servants,
you who fear him,
    both great and small!”

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!
    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready.

Revelation 19:5-7

I often (daily) pray for crabby Christians. It can be difficult to be around people who are always so negative so I pray that they might rejoice in the multitudes of gifts that God has given them. We have so much to be thankful for; so much to be positive about, that I fail to understand why there is not more rejoicing within the church on earth, except (maybe) on Sunday mornings. As Christians, we ought to be rejoicing for our King is above all kings. This King loves the world so much He was willing to give His utmost so that we might be reconciled to Him and to one another; reconciled in His peace. He has overcome sin, death, and the power of the devil for us. So what's there to be crabby about? The biggest obstacles ever have been overcome.

Let the whole multitude of God's people should "Hallelujah! Our God reigns!" 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Walk In The Light

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 5:7

I can maneuver quite well in the dark. Mostly, that may be because every place that I might go in the darkness are places I know well. But, it is also because it is a rare occasion, maybe never, that we actually ever get to experience what we might consider utter darkness. There seems to always be a light, however dim, shining in our world.

The light of God is always shining so that we might see the way in which we are to go. Sometimes we are so enshrouded in darkness that it might be hard to see the light that shines before us. But, it is there, all the same.

May God help us to see the light that He has given us so that we might follow in His way all the days of our lives.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Lord Is One God

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deut 6:4-5

I attended a Christian Service that was partly in the Hebrew language this Saturday. No, I do not understand Hebrew; but, since it was a Christian worship service, I got the gist.

The liturgy included the verse from Deuteronomy 6:4 The LORD, our God,  is one God! It is one of my favorite verses to preach on.

There are no other Gods; at least none that are worthy to be praised! I thank God that He is Who He Is. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is my God. And.. He is your God. Love Him with your whole heart and soul and with all your strength.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Transformed By The Renewing Of Our Minds

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." Romans 12:2-3

Whenever I hear someone say things that promote "doing your own thing" or "whatever, so long as it makes you happy" or "don't worry about what others think.. be true to yourself," I cringe a bit inside. No, we do not have to be like or go along with the ways of the world. But, in choosing to be "different" we ought to consider our motivation in desiring to stand out in the crowd. Is it for self-gratification or for the glory of God.

Indeed, St. Paul advises us to not be conformed to the world. But, he adds that we are to think we sober judgment and live according to our faith in Christ Jesus.

May God bless each of us with renewed minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.r. J

The Good News Is The Kingdom

"As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near." Matthew 10:7

The kingdom of heaven; that's it in a nutshell. That is the Good News that Jesus came to proclaim. That is the message that he sent those first disciples out to proclaim. That remains the Good News today. "The Message is the Kingdom" is the message that will shared tomorrow morning at Christ Lutheran Church in Bunnell, tomorrow morning.

Through the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus the Christ, the kingdom of God has indeed come for us, even today. We do not have 'till death parts us from this earth to live in that kingdom. We do not have to wait until death parts us to live in God's presence now. We are children of our heavenly Father; of His kingdom now.

I often wonder why if "going to heaven" after bodily death is so important to some, why living the kingdom life isn't so important today. Why would one want to live in God's presence later on and not today? Is it the love of God or the fear of death and hell that so many express the hope of eternal life; yet, do not live as though they truly believe that Jesus gave his life and opened the doors to the Kingdom for them?

Jesus, John the Baptist, his early followers all proclaimed the good news, "The kingdom of heaven has come near." In fact, Jesus told those who asked that the kingdom of God was already in their midst. (Luke 17:20-21)

May God help us to proclaim the Good News as we live in His Kingdom; in His presence, even today.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Serve The Living Lord!

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Heb 9:14

So that we may serve the living God... Christ did not die that we might serve ourselves; but, to serve the living God. 

I remember finally getting to know Jesus. It was at the beginning of my understanding of what he actually did for me. I had known about him. But, I had not known him prior to this time. With great sorrow, I had asked God for forgiveness and acknowledged that I deserved nothing less than eternal hell. But, also asked that no matter what my eternal lot might be, that He allow me to serve him all the days of my life here on earth bringing the message of reconciliation through Jesus the Christ in His Kingdom to others.

The shedding of the blood of God's only begotten Son that we might live in his presence; serving God and one another, is no little matter. Just imagine how much love there is in the acts of being tortured and put to death for the sake of another. How much love there is in the act of humbling oneself and putting the eternal life of others before our own earthly desires and aspirations; even our very earthly lives!

May God cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to eternal death, so that we may serve the living God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

His Glory Around and Through Us

For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 108:4-5

It is such a beautiful morning; a perfectly splendid day to spend time with God in prayer out on the porch. His glory is all around us. May He grant that His glory be seen in and through us by all whom we encounter today.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Wisdom To Make Right Choices

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:7-8

We often make poor choices. We do it hastily, without considering the bigger picture. We often make these poor decisions based on what we want now without considering what is really good for us and others around us. When we make wrong decisions that are based mostly on our feelings and what we think will make us happy, we get to experience the results of those decisions, whether the short and long term consequences are good or bad. Some of those decisions affect our physical condition. Some of them affect our emotional, mental, or our spiritual health negatively. Some affect our whole beings.

The Lord knows what is good for us. He has, indeed, given us guidelines and a path to follow.

May God grant us the wisdom to see the path that He has set before us and empower us to make the right choices.

God's Peace - Pr. J

He Is Your Shepherd

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
     He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
     he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
    for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
    I 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 mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    my whole life long.

What a comfort this Psalm has been to me. It is not a prayer only for times when we lost a loved one. This prayer, I pray daily and not just for me; but, for all of you, as well. No matter what day it is we will meet challenges of some sort. Whether those challenges be enemies or temptations to stray from the path we can know that Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd, is with us always, leading us on right paths.

May God grant each of you comfort and peace in the knowledge of the Lord's presence with you today and always.

Pr. J

For the Glory of God

Pastor Judy and Chaplain Harry

"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." Rom 15:7

My family and I were welcomed quite warmly yesterday at Christ Lutheran Church in Bunnell, Florida. I was installed as their new pastor by Chaplain Harry even as he was saying good-by as their interim pastor. But, as pastors come and go, that does not mean that the relationship is ended. Even when we are not physically together, we remain united through the blood of Jesus.

I often think of how Jesus' first followers dropped everything and literally followed him around the countryside to share the Good News. Jesus' ministry prior to his crucifixion included a lot of traveling around. St. Paul's ministry also included more than a bit of travel - at least during the times he was not incarcerated. All of that moving; all of that separation; all of that coming together, for the glory of God.

May God grant that wherever he calls us; all that we say and think and do is for His glory. Amen

God's Peace - Pr. J

Decisions

Whom or what shall we follow? What do we want out of this life? Where are our priorities?

At the present time, my husband and I are considering whether we should purchase yet another home; this time in Florida. We have looked at one that would suit us. I will need to turn in the paperwork to get approval for it tomorrow.

This morning, as I prepare to be installed as the pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Bunnell, I am thinking that it would be more beneficial to just live in the RV. I am not sure if I want another commitment to more property in this world.

Pastoring a congregation is a huge commitment and worldly attachments tend to distract us from what God calls us to do. Even the simple (or not so simple) act of looking for a new home takes away time that good be better used in service to God.  I am also not sure where God will call me in a year or two or three. I cannot help but wonder this morning if owning a home here in Florida would become a hindrance in my willingness to go wherever and whenever He would call?

When Jesus called those first disciples to follow him, they dropped everything. They left their homes, their families, their vocations to follow. It seems like it was such an easy thing for them. Yet, today, it is not easy. The law will bind us to many of the commitments we might make. It is not so easy to get out of some of them. Too many worldly commitments makes it much more of a challenge to seek first the kingdom of God and follow Jesus in the Kingdom of God.

May God help us to always be ready to follow wherever and whenever He would call.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Pray Without Ceasing

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit." 1 Thess 5:16-19 NRSV 

When we fail to spend time in prayer; when we fail to spend intentional time in the presence of God, the Spirit can become quenched.

I have found that my life and the lives of the people around me go a lot smoother when I begin my days in communication with God. I take it very personal when things interrupt my the times I set aside for prayer each day. Travel and vacation over the last couple of weeks have definitely interrupted my routines. The change of routine has thrown my clock out of whack and I have found it more difficult to find the time to sit quietly in His presence and to be refreshed and empowered to do God's will throughout the day.

The good news is that I am very aware of this and have found myself intentionally praying randomly more often throughout the day and more often for people whom I do not know: for bikers riding in heavy traffic or rain; for the mother pushing a stroller; for the man in the electric cart in the department store; for the beautiful gray haired lady who worships God with such enthusiasm.

Pray without ceasing! Rejoice that you don't need a cell phone to talk to God! The line is always open and He never fails to respond to your call.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Water and Word

"And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." Mark 1:5

Scripture is full of stories of the water. The Israelites passing through the Red Sea; Jesus promising to give us living water; baptizing us with water and the Word; John baptizing multitudes in the River Jordan are just a few examples.

It is no secret that I love the water and I highly enjoy living near it. My last home was in an awesome cedar swamp on the edge of a bay of Lake Superior. These days, at least temporarily, I am, once again, living just a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean on a beautiful little river. The waters remind me of what God has done for us; for me. He has washed us. He has made us clean and not just with water; but, with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Word.

May God bless us with constant reminders that through Him our sins have been forgiven; we have been washed and made clean.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Listen To God In Silence

God Speaks To Elijah In The Sheer Silence; 1 Kings 19:11-18

Elijah had gone up on the mountain in anticipation of being in the presence of God. There was a strong wind; but, Elijah heard nothing from God. There was an earthquake; but, God was not there. And... then in the sheer silence, Elijah heard the voice of God. Elijah talked to God and God spoke to him, giving him instruction. Think about it for a minute... When we are in a crowded room, with lots of people talking or sitting at home with the television blaring, how hard is it to hear someone speaking to us? Turn off the TV, the music, all of the noise and just listen. Unless, that is, of course, maybe you don't really want to hear what God has to say to you.

My new home (an RV) is not real quiet as there are three of us living in it. So, I came a little early to the church building to spend some quiet time praying. I did not come early enough as I was not quite finished talking with God before everyone started showing up for various reasons. That actually is a good thing. I would love to see the church filled with people every day! I will just have to come a little earlier from now on so that I can kneel in sheer silence and listen for the whisper of God.

May God give each of us many moments of quiet throughout the day so that we might find rest in the presence of God and just maybe hear His voice comforting and guiding us all.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live Life In The Kingdom

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”  Luke 17:20-21

I begin a new blog today. My previous blog "In The Wilderness" was written while I was at Zion Lutheran, Skanee, MI. I am now serving at Christ Lutheran Church, Bunnell, FL so will begin a new blog.

I have titled this blog "Live Life" because I am so terribly aware that so many people do not know how to really live and enjoy life. Life in the kingdom of God is most awesome! And... it is not something you have to wait for in an after life. Life happens now. The kingdom of God is, as Jesus told us, in our midst. Live life in that kingdom now and you will know the peace that surpasses all understanding; you will know the joy that comes with living in the presence of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J