A word in season Archives - Profoundly Simple

A simple way to find peace throughout the year

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:18 — 6.7MB)

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

Are you thirsty? Find refreshment in the Word

Are you thirsty and in need of refreshment? Is the hot sun or are the details of the day beating down on you? Have you been working hard or just been so busy you haven’t stopped to hydrate?

I can tell if I’ve gone too long without stopping for a sip of water. I don’t do it on purpose. When I move from one activity to the next, I don’t notice the need until my system cries out in protest craving something to refresh. Does that happen to you?

Does a simple glass satisfy or do you find yourself in search of something to stay with you to quench a deeper thirst?

When parched

If I’m really thirsty, a glass of water just won’t cut it. A piece of fruit satisfies and refreshes more fully when I’m parched. How about you?

Satisfy thirst more deeply

When I was a kid, I used to eat grapefruit a lot. I even have one of those spoons that thinks it’s a knife with the serrated edge to cut the citrusy goodness out of the confines of the shell. It’s a lot of work to eat a grapefruit that way, painstakingly cutting around each individual section to loosen the pulp and free it from the three walls that hold it in place. But each juicy bite that emerges tastes tart and fresh, satisfying thirst more deeply than a simple glass of water or fruit juice could.

Sometimes I enjoy grapefruit in a fruit salad someone else has prepared, whole segments accessed simply by spooning them into my bowl. But there’s something about extracting the sections of grapefruit yourself. And afterward, once each bite has been cut free, squeezing each half to release the remaining juice into a bowl to drink up the last of the nourishing offering.

When spiritually thirsty

As I enjoyed a grapefruit this morning, a much-needed dose of hydration after a walk in the sun, I reflected on the similarity to reading my Bible. When I open my Bible, I often look at one small section. The process to get something nourishing out of it can feel painfully slow, especially if I am spiritually thirsty. What do I mean by that? It’s those times when I know I’ve disconnected from any sort of quiet time with Jesus where I can gain a healthy perspective on my life or circumstances. When I can tell I’m caught up in and distracted by challenges or situations that drain my sense of peace.

Dig deep for thirst-quenching refreshment

When we’re parched, it might be easier to let someone else do the heavy lifting. We could listen to someone else teach on what’s in the Bible or could read a devotion and see what someone else has learned from reading the Bible. Those are both really good activities to engage in. But don’t let that be where we stop. The fulfilling reward comes from digging deep for the thirst-quenching refreshment ourselves. What we discover and internalize takes deeper root in our own lives.

What we discover and internalize takes deeper root in our own lives.

It’s one thing to hear about someone else’s experience. It’s another to encounter our own.

Here’s one benefit to digging deeper ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I’m lousy at memorizing Scripture. I discovered however that I internalize it. When I take the time to focus on a small passage of Scripture, something stays with me even if I don’t realize it in the moment. Has that ever happened to you?

Anchor ourselves in the Word

When we reflect on a few short phrases of Scripture, we anchor ourselves in the Word. That simple phrase may come back to us later in the day or sometime during the week. By pausing long enough to grab hold of a morsel of what’s in the Bible, we nourish our spiritual life one small step at a time.

We nourish our spiritual life one small step at a time.

Do you want to give it a try?

Even if we’re sporadic at best with our Bible reading, whenever we take a moment to focus on a section of Scripture, we grab hold of something to stay with us longer than if we relied on someone else’s study time. What do I mean by that? Devotions are the result of someone else’s personal time with Jesus. My goal here is to help us find a foothold into our own experience.

Don’t worry, we’ll start with a short segment of Scripture. Here’s a portion of Psalm 143.

Psalm 143

“I spread out my hands to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, Lord;
    my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:6-8 NIV

A word or phrase that caught your attention

Take a moment to read this passage and see if any words or phrases stand out to you, for whatever reason. Do the words you noticed speak to your situation? Describe how you’re feeling? Remind you of something good about God? Whatever the reason, focus on the phrase that caught your attention.

Invite Jesus to speak

Does it feel like a prayer or plea to God? A conviction to invite more of Jesus into your life? This is the cool part. Invite Jesus to show you what He wants you to know about the phrase you selected. Ask Him to speak into your life through the highlighted phrase.

Listen for a response

Then pause. Listen. Wait a moment for a response to come into your heart. You might even decide to write down what you hear. Not sure you heard anything? That’s okay too. Writing down the phrase you noticed or repeating it a few times to yourself may help create a space in your heart for God to show you something later. Sometimes the verse itself is the blessing that stays with us throughout the day.

Whatever your experience, let this be a first step toward satisfying a deeper thirst.

No time to open your Bible? Try this:

Don’t open your Bible, at least not yet

Which word or phrase caught your attention? Share in the comments.

How to find peace in our lives amidst the busy

Life doesn’t feel peaceful. The burden of every day crowds out the calm. How do we find the peace amidst the busy, the place of calm in the chaos?

Find peace in our lives

Stresses and responsibilities that we set aside in December, come back to the surface once the holidays are over. Jesus brought peace on earth. How do we find peace in our own lives, especially when any sort of holiday break is over and it’s back to the busy?

Maybe a misplaced ornament can offer some clues.

Peace on earth

I found this year’s wayward ornament. The seasonal stowaway which long after we’d sung “Joy to the World” was still proclaiming “peace on earth” while the rest of the yuletide cheer had been packed away for another year.

The timing wasn’t even close to Christmas. I came across this seasonal symbol a few weeks after the New Year rang in. A small wall-hanging that reads, “Peace on earth.” I found it on the back of a door that I hadn’t closed from the inside since I’d hung the decoration there. Most likely because I didn’t have time to hang out in that room amidst all of the holiday hustle and bustle.

God’s gentle reminder

God’s gifts are always timely. I took this ornament discovery as a sign. In a year of upsets, upside down, we’ve-never-been-through-this-before moments, I was given a gentle reminder on a soft-sewn pillowed banner. “Peace on earth” hanging behind a door, hidden away from view until I ventured into the space that activity had prevented me from entering into until now.

Where we find peace

Is this where we find peace? In a closed room we haven’t entered? In a space we’ve ignored where we don’t often spend time? Does the hurried and the harried hinder us from entering into a posture of peace?

Pressure of deadlines, expectations, and obligations

If you’re anything like me, January’s juggle of responsibilities is in full swing. For me that includes the pressure of deadlines, expectations, and obligations – many self-imposed.

Can you relate?

Jesus meets us in our chaos

We don’t have to wait until we have a moment’s peace to get some quiet. Jesus meets us in our chaos and brings His peace. It’s like we showed up to a potluck empty handed. There’s plenty of food to eat. At the peace banquet, Jesus brings the peace. We don’t have time for a sit-down meal? No problem. Jesus offers peace to go.

“My peace I give you”

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 NIV

How to access Jesus’ peace

How do we access this peace from Jesus?

I found some insight from this unearthed ornament.

This wall hanging proclaiming peace on earth had been silently displayed the whole time. I just hadn’t seen it because I hadn’t remembered it was there or had a reason to enter into the space.

I believe this is like the peace Jesus offers us. It’s always there visible, available, if only we remember to look for it. To remember Jesus already gave it to us, we just need to acknowledge that His peace is there for us.

Connect with Jesus

The easiest way I know to connect with Jesus’ peace is to connect with Jesus Himself.

We can pray to Jesus, “Jesus, please give me your peace in this situation.”

We can linger on the words of Jesus, “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you.” John 14:27a NIV

We can remember the teaching of Jesus, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV

May you hold fast to the promise of Jesus’ peace.

Here’s last year’s stowaway story:

The wayward ornament, a reminder of the gift

How you can make a difference – your most important role

Ever wonder how you can make a difference in the world around you?

Have you pondered what you have to contribute?

Your most important role

What if your most important role is to find your light, the light of Jesus shining in your own heart, and shine it for those around you? What if Jesus is calling you to draw closer to Him, to more deeply experience His light, so you can share His light in the darkness?

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 NIV

Return to the source of light

When we return to the source of light in our own lives, we can share the light with others.

Light candles

On Christmas Eve we often light candles and sing Silent Night at the close of the worship service.

First the Christ candle is lit, then each person’s candle from it. Sometimes we all go up to the Christ candle to light our candle directly from the source of light. Other times we light our candles from the candle of the person standing near us.

Receive the light

I think that’s true in life too. Sometimes we receive our light directly from the source, from Jesus. Other times we receive the light of Jesus from another who has been in the presence of His light.

And other times we are someone else’s access to the light of Christ.

Do you know someone who is stumbling in darkness? Can you offer them the light of Jesus?

“You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14 NIV

Carry the light

One way is to be the light in a situation, simply remembering you carry the light of Jesus in your heart. That place where all is calm and all is bright. Bright with the love and light of the Savior.

All it takes is one light to shine into the darkness.

Shine your light.

A song I wrote to inspire you to find yours:

Let the Praises Ring – shine your light

What’s working – and when it’s enough

During this time of altered schedules and life changes, how to know what’s working – and when it’s enough.

Adapt

In the beginning we had to adapt. Nothing was working. Nothing about the way we had been doing things was going to work going forward. We had to make a lot of adjustments. We experienced losses, both trivial and significant.

Settled

Now I’ve settled. Settled into a pattern, a sense of realistic expectations that keeps me moving forward despite the drastic changes from a few months ago and the reality that for the moment, much is the same.

So where are you in this journey? Are you settled or still struggling to find sure and secure footing?

Solid ground.

I pray that you will find a firm foundation on which to stand.

Self-discovery

This has been a season of self-discovery. Of learning when I write best and when I don’t. Recognizing when I need to take a break and when I can keep pressing forward. I have found I have more perseverance than I realized. That eventually if I keep pressing onward I can push through the place where I’ve stalled or stalled out. I can break through to a breakthrough.

Enough

I’ve also learned to recognize when I need to call it quits for the day. When it’s okay to say I’ve had enough and to peacefully and consciously know it is enough. That I don’t have to keep pushing through to prove that I am enough, because God already sees my worth. Not in my doing, but in my being. As one of His precious children.

What’s working

So in this time of so much disruption and dysfunction may you look around and see what’s working.

In your heart and in your life.

And know that God is still at work in both.

“It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night.” Psalm 92:1-2 NIV