Author: Susan

A simple way to find peace throughout the year

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Long after the holidays have passed, an unexpected gift shows us a simple way to find peace throughout the year.

Promise of peace

In the busyness of life, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the details of a too long to-do list or the myriad of thoughts cluttering our minds. The promise of peace on earth can feel like a distant memory from a long-forgotten holiday. That is, until we discover a misplaced, overlooked decoration that didn’t find its way back into the box from whence it came.

What if that seemingly out of place ornament is really a reminder of what shouldn’t get packed away?

Wayward ornament

Every year one ornament hides from the boxes and doesn’t get put away after the Christmas season is over. Sometime in the first few weeks of the new year I discover the wayward ornament. I’ve come to expect it and just wonder who the seasonal stowaway will be. This January was no different, at least as far as forgetting one. But this year’s blunder was colossal, not even close.

I look now and think how could I have possibly missed it – or them as it were? Sometimes I forget I’ve set up decorations in a less traveled room and simply don’t get back to the space before all the box lids are closed. But this year’s hold outs were in the same room as the Christmas tree albeit at the opposite end of the room.

Reminders of the celebration

But seriously, how could I have missed something – or things – so big? What you ask? Two holiday banners. One long and skinny, the other a square. The first adorned with a star, a candle, bells, and other instruments. Festive symbols of sacred song and worship. Reminders of the celebration of our Savior’s birth, Jesus who brings light and life into our midst.

The other banner shows an ornament adorned with a dove accompanied by the words “Peace on Earth.”

When I consider these two banners adorned with symbols of the season, I see signs of worship and peace. A reminder of the angelic praises of heaven witnessed by the shepherds on that holy night.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 NIV

Might we remember this message of hope in the new year?

In a season when so much can distract or discourage us, we can remember that worship is the way to peace. When weighed down by the worries of the world, we can worship our way to peace in our hearts.

Pause

I never feel like I have enough time to get everything done. Then when I sit with Jesus, really sit, not a drive by coffee chat, but settle in, questions get answered, priorities realized, insight comes, my heart fills with a sense of calm and what’s really important.

So if you’re not sure how to get started, simply pause, rest for a moment without an agenda, but rather a heart ready to seek Jesus’ presence.

We could call this a precursor to prayer. This pause doesn’t require preparation, only expectation of a moment left open for the Savior to spend a moment with us.

Sometimes that happens by simply looking out a window at nature. A chance to step outside, then taking the time to notice a branch of a tree, a bird, or even a rock can anchor us to the beauty of God’s creation, clearing the mind of chaos.

Pray and listen

If we choose to pray, then let our prayer be the beginning of a dialogue, not a monologue. If we resist the urge to do all the speaking, and instead listen, we leave room for the Holy Spirit to speak into our heart.

Passage

Reading scripture offers another entry point into peace.

New to reading scripture? Here’s an overview of the whole Bible:

Bible quick view

Sometimes you don’t even have to open your Bible to benefit. Simply holding a Bible can provide a tangible reminder of our connection to Jesus.

I wrote a blog post about that here:

Don’t open your Bible, at least not yet

In some ways it’s like having coffee with a friend. Even before the conversation starts, the connection and the benefit of being in their company begins.

If we allow our Bible to be a reminder of God’s Presence in our lives, then simply reaching for it can posture us toward a sense of peace.

But if you do open your Bible to read, pray and ask God to show you something in the scripture passage. Just that much is an invitation for God to speak.

Verse 11 from Psalm 29 provides two phrases we can rest in:

“The Lord gives strength to his people;
   the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11 NIV

Let the words of the psalm settle into your heart and mind.

“The Lord gives strength to his people;
   the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11 NIV

Do you need strength today? Hold onto that portion of the verse.

Do you need peace? Receive the blessing in the words of this psalm.

When I pause to reflect on this verse, these two phrases, I see a gift and a blessing from God.

The gift of strength and the blessing of peace.

We can also breathe the words of this passage. As we breathe in, we can read the first phrase:

“The Lord gives strength to his people;”

As we breathe out, we focus on the second half:

“The Lord blesses his people with peace.”

Just doing that requires me to slow down my breathing, a benefit of resting in the Word of God.

Praise

We can also take a cue from the angel in the Christmas story and praise God. Here’s a little context from the Gospel of Luke chapter 2, verses 13 and 14. This is right after the angel of the Lord tells the shepherds about the Messiah:

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:13-14 NIV

If it works for the angel, we can praise God with the same words.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 NIV

Settle into the song of the angel. Worship with the heavenly host. Praise a path of peace.

Peace on earth

This morning I pondered the words of this passage, specifically the phrase “peace on earth.” Outside was a bit stormy. At the time the wind blew in temperatures below freezing, while I sat in warmth and comfort. This had me thinking, what if “peace on earth” isn’t so much about peace covering the earth, but about us experiencing peace while on the earth? For those who choose to live a life that includes Jesus, we can receive such peace.

Way to peace

God is more powerful than our problems. What if the way to peace comes through praise and worship? Not focused on our problems but on the power of God.

When I think on those two banners left out after the holidays were over, I now see them as gifts from the Holy Spirit. Maybe I was meant to find these gentle reminders, that spoke so surprisingly because they felt out of season. But maybe peace and calm should feel like year-round gifts from God, and maybe He needs to reclaim our attention because as the new year busy takes over we can easily forget the gift of a child bringing a message of “peace on earth.”

Maybe what felt out of place was really what was needed in the first place.

Whether through a pause, a prayer, or the Word of God, may your worship and praise draw you into a place of peace.

New to reading the Bible? Here’s a handy guide to what’s in it:

Bible quick view

Still looking for a Bible? Here are some hints on how to choose one:

What to look for when choosing a Bible

Not sure where the Psalms are in your Bible, here’s a way to locate them:

Finding My Place

Simple strategies for navigating scripture

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:36 — 5.2MB)

Christmas might be all packed away, but the search for ornaments on the tree may offer some strategies for navigating scripture.

Have you ever wondered how the Bible all fits together or how to find anything in it? Like locating each ornament on the tree, I’m all about understanding where to find content in the Bible. I think one of the biggest obstacles I faced when first trying to read it was how much time it took to find anything. Then when I did open it, many times the information felt a bit random. I didn’t know how it connected to the rest of the Bible.

As I was putting away Christmas ornaments, I saw similarities to scripture navigation which could prove useful.

All you have to do is find it

Most of the ornaments on our tree don’t have specific boxes they go in. Much of packing up Christmas is about making a space to store all of the holiday decorations. But some do have a specific box they go in, and a handful of those boxes have a picture of the ornament on the front so you know what’s supposed to go inside. Truth be told, those are the easiest ornaments to put away, because a particular ornament goes into a specific box – all you have to do is find the ornament on the tree.

Search becomes a treasure hunt

With the picture on the front of the box, you know what you’re looking for. Now the fun begins as the search becomes a treasure hunt.

I’ve seen that before

Next comes, “I know I’ve seen that somewhere before,” and you try to remember where on the tree you recall having seen the ornament nestled in among the fir branches, lights, and garland.

Sometimes I’ll remember I saw it when I was sitting on the couch looking at the tree, which helps narrow the search area.

How I find it

During the search one of several things generally happens:

I find the ornament right away.

I realize when and approximately where on the tree I remembered catching a glimpse of it.

I do a grand sweep of the whole tree (which rarely unearths the sought-after object).

My husband finds it, but that’s only if I let him know what I’m searching for.

I momentarily stop looking and find a box for another ornament. Eventually the one I was looking for appears.

The process

This year while engrossed in this process, which in some ways is like a game, I noted the similarities to navigating scripture, whether looking for Jesus or another connecting point in the Bible.

Sometimes Jesus’ presence in scripture is obvious, like in the Gospels when He’s with His disciples, and all those red letters highlighting what Jesus said if your Bible references Jesus’ words in red.

Other times His appearance or what I’m looking for isn’t obvious, but I’ll remember that it’s somewhere in the vicinity of or related to another story or passage I’m familiar with.

In other instances, I think about where and when I saw a particular scripture reference last.

What else was I reading at the time?

What other aspect of a passage of scripture do I remember?

Storyline

For example, the book of 1 Samuel begins with Samuel’s mother Hannah, hoping desperately for a child. Her fervent prayers are answered in her son Samuel who grows up to be a servant of God. He anoints the people’s king, Saul and eventually God’s choice for king, David. If we remember Samuel’s role in God appointing a ruler, we have clues to place people like Saul and David in the line up to help us find their stories in the Bible.

Other times I’ll release the search, keeping the concept I’m looking for in the back of my mind, knowing the Holy Spirit will catch my attention at the right time.

Name recognition

Genesis is another great place to establish some name recognition. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are a multigenerational trio that shows up throughout the Bible. Their storylines start in Genesis, but they continue to be mentioned from Exodus into the New Testament. Remembering these three goes a long way to keep us in the know as we read and see them reappear in various places in scripture.

Also, when we see something like “city of David” we can remember that’s connected to the David mentioned in the book of Samuel.

Connecting concepts

Leviticus holds some of the biggest treasure in the Bible, but for now, we’ll just focus on the offerings. In this third book of the Bible, we read about several different types of offerings. Just remembering the reference to these offerings in Leviticus goes a long way toward connecting other concepts in scripture.

Grand sweep

The grand sweep. This works well if you have a Bible with subheadings. It’s also helpful if you’re getting your bearings. You can skim the contents of a few books of the Bible, like all four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, located at the front of the New Testament. A skim of the beginning of these four books of the Bible helped me find the missing manger. I also began to notice the similarities and differences between the Gospels, noting which stories and aspects of Jesus’ life and ministry are covered in each.

A quick view of the Bible

Another way to get your bearings is with a quick overview of the entire Bible. If you’re not sure how to go about approaching the Bible, I have a handy quick view of the Bible. It’s a tri-fold brochure that doubles as a bookmark, offering a quick overview of the whole Bible.

Bible quick view

What’s important is to simply start the process of looking. You’d be amazed at what you’ll find.

So next time you open your Bible, begin your search.

The trouble of reading the Bible and one possible reason we don’t

Piano books and Bible books – an easy way to learn

Two things that kept me from reading the Bible – and what changed my tune

The search for the Christmas story and the missing manger

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:30 — 5.1MB)

Join me as we search for the Christmas story and the missing manger in the Bible and learn a simple way to remember what you find.

This podcast episode was inspired by a two-part blog series, “The Christmas story and the missing manger.” You can read the original posts here:

The Christmas story and the missing manger part 1

The Christmas story and the missing manger part 2

Another podcast episode with a Christmas connection:

Christmas carols in the Scriptures – Angels We Have Heard on High

Christmas carols in the Scriptures – Angels We Have Heard on High

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:44 — 5.3MB)

If we listen to the angels’ song in the sweet carol “Angels We Have Heard on High,” we just might hear echoes of the Christmas story throughout its verses and refrain.

Did you know this Christmas carol takes its cues directly from the nativity story found in the Gospel of Luke? Let’s take a closer look at the source of this song’s inspiration.

Angels We Have Heard on High

In a previous series of Christmas carols in the scriptures, I mentioned how sometimes my Bible study group would read a passage of scripture and try to remember which song had included those verses. With “Angels We Have Heard on High,” I went about it the other way around. I had been looking at the verses and refrain of the song when it dawned on me that this was a summary of part of the Christmas story.

Let’s connect the verses of the song to key verses in scripture.

You may find the angels’ song has more praises to sing than just the glorious refrain.

Christmas story in the carol

“Angels We Have Heard on High” is one of my new favorite carols. I’ve always loved this traditional Christmas carol, but this year I’ve grown even more fond of it.

While reading the story of the birth of Jesus found in the Gospel of Luke and practicing this carol for worship, I discovered something I hadn’t seen before. This traditional hymn is the account of a key aspect of the Christmas story – but maybe not what you thought.

I’ve always thought of it as the angels’ song with the “Gloria” chorus. When I looked at the words of the song in light of the scripture passage, I realized how truly connected they are. I also discovered this song is really the shepherds’ song, or at least covers the experience of the shepherds.

Want to see?

Gloria in excelsis Deo

Verse one introduces the “Angels We Have Heard on High,” sweetly singing, “Gloria in excelsis Deo.”

First of all, who heard the angels? Is that a general “we?” Could mean us, right? That we heard the angels singing “Gloria.” That’s how I understood the song whenever I sang it. More on that in a minute.

What about that Latin phrase in the refrain, “Gloria in excelsis Deo?”

We sang this song recently in church and somebody remarked, “I don’t even know what that means.”

First, how to pronounce it. Did anyone else learn to say the first part of “excelsis” as “eggshells”?

Glory to God in the highest

This phrase means “Glory to God in the highest” and leads us to our first scripture connection.

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:13-14 NIV

Shepherds praising God

Verse two inquires of the shepherds, why so joyous? What’s this “gladsome tidings” or good news?

Luke 2:20 echoes back this verse.

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:20 NIV

The “Gloria” refrain of the song, “Glory to God in the highest,” also returns as the shepherds add their praises to the celebration of heaven.

These verses, from the Bible, and the song, capture the shepherds’ joy of all they experienced on that holy night. Let’s gather a few more details of their divine encounter.

Good news of a Savior

Prior to a whole host of heaven’s worshipers praising “Glory to God in the highest,” one angel of the Lord startled the shepherds out of their routine reverie of watching their flocks by night to tell them the good news of the Savior’s birth in Bethlehem.

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11 NIV

Shepherds go to Bethlehem

The shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem to see for themselves what the angel proclaimed. There they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus, the Messiah, who was lying in a manger.

After witnessing for themselves what the angel had told them, the shepherds told everyone along the way what they had seen first-hand.

Following their encounter with Jesus, the shepherds sang heaven’s song. The next two verses of the carol clarify what the shepherds experienced.

Come to Bethlehem and see

Verse three of the Christmas carol brings with it the invitation to “Come to Bethlehem and see” the birth of Jesus, who is Christ the Lord.

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” Luke 2:15-16 NIV

The scripture passage reflects their decision to go to Bethlehem and see what the angels sang about, what the first angel told them.

Our invitation

Since the shepherds’ joy is already expressed in verse two of the Christmas carol, “Angels We Have Heard on High,” perhaps the next verse of the song, “Come to Bethlehem and see Him,” is our invitation to meet Jesus at the manger. Have you been? Have you met Jesus in this season and joined in the heavenly praise,

“Glory to God in the highest.”

The song, the shepherds, and our Savior, invite us into the story of Christmas, of Christ’s birth which brings the good news of Jesus to us as well. Come, see what the shepherds saw and add your praise to the celebration.

Glory to God in the highest.

Looking for other Christmas carols in the scriptures?

Christmas Carols in the Scriptures – O Holy Night

Christmas Carols in the Scriptures – Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Christmas Carols in the Scriptures – The First Noel

Christmas Carols in the Scriptures – O Come O Come Emmanuel

Two simple strategies to lighten your load

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Need to lighten your load? Consider these two simple strategies.

Too much on your plate

Have you started a week with too much on your plate, worry filling your head with all you needed to accomplish, and no idea how to get it all done?

Ever consider offloading some or all of it to Jesus?

Yeah, me neither. At least not very often, but this week I had another opportunity to do so with encouraging results.

Today I’ll share a few strategies you can implement immediately. That’s what I did.

Two strategies to lighten your load

I came into this week with a lot on my plate. On another occasion, I might have become a bit anxious or worried. This week I took a different approach. I focused on Jesus instead of my full plate.

I want to give you a couple of strategies to help bring your own days into perspective if needed.

Seek His face always and pray continually

Seek Jesus’ face always and pray continually.

Seek His face always.

Pray continually.

The first part comes from the book of 1 Chronicles chapter 16 verse 11 (NIV) in the Old Testament of the Bible. The second passage is from 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 17 (NIV) in the New Testament.

Want an even simpler way to remember this?

Focus on Jesus and pray.

Prayer is connection with God

Now if perpetual prayer isn’t your thing, I want to share something else to consider. I like to think of prayer as an active connection with God. When I’m praying or even just about to pray, I am postured toward God. I’m thinking about Jesus, and am either about to speak – or about to listen.

Speaking to God

For today’s example, I’ll focus on the speaking part. Some of the previous episodes give some insight into the listening side. In this case, I have a problem, or a potential problem, and I’m looking for some assistance. I’m sharing my struggle with Jesus in hopes of receiving a solution.

Simply share your thoughts

New to prayer? Just think of it as communicating with God, sharing your thoughts out loud, on paper, or in the quiet of your heart.

Continuously

So here’s the key to this kind of prayer. It’s continuous. This isn’t the one and done prayer, like running an errand, or checking an item off your list. This is an “at any moment you are sharing your thoughts with God” kind of prayer, letting Him know what’s on your mind whenever you want.

Isn’t that comforting? I don’t know about you, but often if I have something weighing me down it’s a constant barrage of unsettled noise and worry. What I’m worried about stays on my mind most of the day.

Tell God how we’re feeling

Praying constantly means we can keep God up to date with how we are feeling about something. Isn’t it nice to have someone to talk to?

Comforting presence

Like a child on the playground whose parent sits nearby. An occasional glance up and the child makes eye contact, remembers the parent who loves this child deeply and is nearby at all times. A comforting presence.

Call out to Jesus

So if something crops up, we can call out to Jesus. Which leads us right into the first phrase, to seek His face.

When we seek His face, we focus on Jesus.

Focus on Jesus

When we focus on Jesus, we aren’t focused on our problem or struggle.

Recently I found myself momentarily dwelling on an extensive to do list.

I consciously shifted my thoughts to something like, “Hey Jesus, this is too much. Can you hold these for me?”

Share what you feel

Admittedly, I didn’t say those words out loud. What I want you to see is that I said it how I was feeling it. When you’re bearing your heart to Jesus, just share it as you feel it. That’s what the Psalmists did in the Bible, raw emotions and all.

Psalm 25

Take this example from Psalm 25, a Psalm of David addressed to the Lord. From verses 16 and 17 of the New International Version:

“Turn to me and be gracious to me,
  for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart
  and free me from my anguish.” Psalm 25:16-17 NIV

So in that moment when I was overwhelmed, I shared how I felt.

Peace

And there it was. A pause. A moment of silence from the onslaught of tasks, responsibilities, and self-imposed expectations.

Instead of stress, I had a moment of peace.

There’s a verse in the Bible about that too, Psalm 46 verse 10.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Be still.

Pause.

Feel the peace that comes with releasing the burden of whatever was weighing you down.

May you always remember Jesus is ready and able to lighten your load.

Recent episode of the Encouraging Voice Podcast:

A simple way to listen for and recognize God speaking