In the name of pursuing peace!

In the pursuit of peace, one way I've realized I can simplify my life is to simply blog in one space personally.  You can find my writing at SweetieBerry.com personally and as a couple at BasicsMatter.com

Thanks so much!

Day 12

Day Twelve.  Pursuing peace in the smallest of ways is making the largest differences.  The pace and rhythm of my personal world is beginning to show the change in flow. The perspective of daily success has changed as have the goals for our big picture as Les and I continue to monitor and explore what truly bring peace in our hearts.  How many of us take time to be aware of the need for peace in our daily existence. Of truly facing the world from a perspective that no matter what happens God has my back...God knew it would happen, I can't mess it up, and as long as I am in relationship with Him I don't have to go it alone.

Pursuing peace means that there is no isolation ....God is there always.

We all take so much responsibility for our lives.  For those of us who are Christians, we have this entire book that teaches time and time again that we are not to spend our time and effort with so many of the things that we consistently spend our time and effort on....

• holding onto the past
• working to please man/humanity
• putting our faith in things or money not God
• holding onto worry when we're expressly told not to
• believing that we are enough without God
• believing that it's our plan, when God knew our life before we were conceived

Pursuing peace for me has focused on doing what I know to do....and letting go of so much of what I know doesn't work...forgiving me more, embracing what is more and letting go of so much of that which I now call the "mess"....those parts of my life that were sought due to Biblical truth, but worldly hype....values and things that simply aren't of God...recognizing the lies and calling them out in my daily existence....

• God says I am loved and loveable .....just as I am, warts and all
• God says I am redeemed
• God says we are saints that believe in Him, in a mode of forgiven as we seek His face
• God says we can give to him all of our burdens
• God says to take joy in every moment that he is God and has us covered
• God says I can come to him for forgiveness, guidance, and wisdom

There are some power mongers out there that want to twist and complicate God's love for us.....they somehow want to make it a invitation only experience....

part of pursuing peace for me is the reminder that where God is concerned...

he made it abundantly clear in the Bible

you are so wanted, welcome, and yearned for ...

in his heart.

Pursuing Peace Day 11

Day Eleven brings a different thought to mind in pursing peace.  Do you believe in promises unspoken?  Have you set your life to be patterned after beliefs that simply are not true by thinking them? Perhaps you imagined yourself in a certain role in life, a certain lifestyle, or financial position.  Have you so believed in your perception of that place that you have neglected to realize that it takes preparation to reach that place?  I believe sometimes we fool ourselves into believing in the existence of a future that we don't prepare for....and worse, we look to that future while ignoring the blessings that surround us today.
Today's pursing peace thought is that perhaps we need to examine the beliefs or promises we promised ourselves as our future, and to make sure they are worthy of our time wishing away today for a tomorrow that may never exist.  I think of my mother who thought her whole life that she would travel one day. She worked hard, she loved hard, and all tomorrows were put off to travel for reasons that mattered at the time...however one day her tomorrows were gone and she was too ill to do the things she wished to do....and then died far too young and far too early.
   If you see a life that you believe is yours in your mind and heart, take time to examine that belief.  Is it based on an idealistic life or one that you truly could enjoy? Are you ready to live the life you so look forward to? What prices of the life you own will you pay for a life that you fantasize about? What joy are you passing over to imagine a joy that might not exist? Likewise, if your heart is set on a certain way of life and you are willing to pay the prices to achieve it....why are you spending your life where you are?  Pursuing peace means finding contentment with your heart and within your mind....for me that means learning to be thankful and joyful where I am, yet aware that Les and I together can choose our paths together.