Peace

Tried to go back to sleep this morning at 2:30 am after Lily finished throwing up but couldn't do it. Decided to just get up and work on my Bible study. Why is it that my most precious moments with the Lord are before 6 am? :-) and it just so happened that I'm studying Psalm 119 right now and this week we are looking at verses 145-176 (v147 "I rise before dawn and cry for help, I wait for your words"). Let's just say I put that verse into practice today! I was planning on waking up at 4 anyway to take Maw Maw to the hospital. She had surgery this morning to remove the spot in her throat. Everything went well and she should be home this afternoon! We will know the results of the biopsy in a few days.
So, as I am praying and studying this morning I was encouraged by Ps. 119:165 "Those who love Your Law have great peace and nothing causes them to stumble." The discussion questions 1)Do you experience peace in your life? 2)Do you perceive it in people around you? 3)When you experience peace, what characterizes your thinking? 4)Think about a time you lacked peace and describe your thinking then. Of course the times that I lack peace are times that I'm trying to control my situations and trusting in my own understanding of things. Not relying on God...my Creator and Savior. "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Phil. 2:13 If I would rely on Him He could accomplish His work and in the process I could experience His PEACE.
As I considered the question about others having peace, I immediately thought of Maw Maw and my friends April and Jennifer. And it was like a lightbulb turned on...the people that I see the greatest peace are those who are facing the greatest trials. April was diagnosed with a brain tumor 11 years ago and has gone through so many treatments and sufferings during this time. Yet she and her family has been a trophy of grace and peace through it all. Then our friend Jennifer had a baby (Owen) 6 months ago and was told that he has a heart defect. How do I see her responding? PEACE. Trusting the Lord. How could we truly experience God's peace or see it in others if it were not for trials, testings, sufferings? Today I find myself praising God for the hard times and being able to see my sisters in Christ being carried through their trials (on His wings like eagles). "Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." 1 Peter 4:19 This slideshow is dedicated to my hero, April Lawrence.

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