Perfect Peace???

Happy Tuesday, Blogland!  Yes, Tuesday, because I couldn’t get myself together enough on Monday to write.  So it is Christmas Week and try as I might to stay calm, I can feel the pressure mounting… And I’m taking a stress test in the morning, so I’m sure that will be an experience!

This year will present a lot of new things for me and the kids:  new place, new traditions (while keeping some of the old ones), new faces (and the absence of old ones) – just a spirit of newness!  I am looking forward to it, and I’m trying my best to assure the kids that everything will be fine, even with all of the change we’ve experienced this year.  Almost my whole family will be over for our annual Christmas Eve social, and I am looking forward to it.  Then afterwards, I have a busy Christmas weekend ahead of me, making new Christmas traditions, which I am also very much looking forward to.  But at the same time… it’s a lot of work to prepare for it all and I am (slightly) behind schedule in my quest for the “perfect” holiday.  Sound familiar to anyone or is it just me????  Now of course I know that there’s no such thing as a “perfect” holiday, but still I try.  There is something about this time of year that just tends to bring out the best in most people and I love to spread joy and cheer!

Speaking of spreading joy and cheer, I spent some time over the weekend volunteering at Victory’s Holiday Giveaway (I love being a part of the Outreach Ministry, feels like home to me), along with the teen and tween.  Look at this beautiful tree (one of several in the lobby area of our church). 

 

And look at me; don’t I look happy to be there??? This is one of my friends from the Outreach Ministry with me.

 

I was working at the check in desk for toys, the tween was a personal shopper and the teen was helping people carry their food baskets and other items to their cars.  It was a great lesson for them and they enjoyed volunteering.  See the joyful look on their faces???  

Nah, just kidding, their usual “unaffected stare” (thanks Missy) was in place!  But they SAID that they enjoyed it.  It really was awesome to see the looks on the family’s faces, especially those who received the personalized shopping done for their family (there were bikes, hockey tables, all manner of goodness)!  Victory really showed up and showed out for this outreach event!

Sunday we had an awesome service at church; Pastor Singleton finished his series on the Gifts of Jesus; this time he spoke about the Gift of PEACE.  There was but one scripture and I will quote it here:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  Luke 2:14

According to Pastor Singleton’s message, peace is tied directly into why Jesus was born (to make peace between God and the world), see Romans 5:1.  He went on to say that while peace is for everyone, it is not to everyone (see John 3:16-19); instead it is only to those on who His favor rests.  Only those at peace with God can know the peace of God!  That is because peace is relational with God (see John 14:27).  The peace of God is a state of mind; peace must overcome tests, trials and temptations in this life. So how does one have peace in this troubled world??? 

Pastor Singleton compared the two views of peace that most people have: 1) the belief that “peace” means quiet all around and that absolutely everything goes their way, and 2) when in the midst of everything falling apart, you keep your peace by keeping your mind “stayed” on Him.  Let’s dig a little deeper…

For those who believe that all must be well in order to have peace, they will never be “peacemakers” like Jesus because humility is required.  Those with the peace of God can humble themselves to go higher in God and to make peace.  The scriptures show how Jesus humbled himself by making himself nothing (man) and became obedient to death on a cross, all to make peace between God and Man (see Philippians 2:5-8).  Sometimes, in order to make peace, you have to be crucified (make peace with those who have wronged you to be like Jesus). 

Let me put a pin right here and be transparent for a moment:  I. STRUGGLE. WITH. THIS.  DAILY!  It’s very difficult, I won’t lie.  I haven’t quite yet gotten to the point where I can reach out to those folks yet, but, I have made peace with the situation.  Even the hurt and anger is diminishing, so I guess I’m on the right track, eh?  Pastor Singleton also posted the Prayer of St. Francis Assisi; I won’t post it here, but here’s a link for you.  I will be trying my best to live this going forward, I do some of it, but I could do better.  Ever a work in progress…

Back to the sermon; the bottom line is this:  peace with God is relational, while the peace of God is a state of mind.  I’ll just sit this right there for a moment.

So onto one of the other things I’ve been working on this month, my Scripture writing plan.  Yeah, that.  So, I was feeling good about being on task and then, just like that, I fell behind.  And I was so very BEHIND in my Scripture writing plan until I caught up this morning on the train!  Anyhoo, here are the verses for this week (and next week) so that you don’t get behind waiting on me...  It really has been a wonderful walk through the scriptures and I hope you’ve enjoyed sharing it.

December 21 – Luke 1:51-56                                December 22- Luke 2:4-7

December 23- Luke 2:8-12                                     December 24 – Luke  2:13-16

December 25- Luke :17-20                                     December 26- Galatians 4:4-7

December 27- Philippians 2:5-8                           December 28 – Philippians 2:9-11

December 29- James 1:16-18                                December 30- Titus 3:3-7

December 31 – Choose your own verse  

It’s the time of the year when most people reflect on the year past and prepare intentions for the coming year (well, at least I do; it’s one of my favorite processes at the end of every year).  As we prepare to say “sayonara” to 2015 and look with hope towards 2016, won’t you make it your aim to have both peace with God and the peace of God? I’m just saying…

So all that being said, anyone living in perfect peace?  How do you live it?  You know the drill – Holla @ Darvi and let’s talk about it!  Be Blessed – I will be back before Christmas!!!

As you have done unto the least of these...

Today I want to talk about something that is near and dear to my heart, giving back. Everyone who knows me knows that community service is very near and dear to my heart and is a huge part of who I am.  Over the years, I have donated countless man hours, money and time to community service projects through my church, my sorority and just in general.  Giving back is just in my blood!  

At this time of the year, we are are confronted everywhere we go with giving:  the salvation army angels are standing outside in the cold ringing their bells, there are food and toy drop boxes in almost every store, churches and other social service organizations are hosting food, toy and coat drives, and food and toy giveaways are being planned up until Christmas to make sure that everyone has a good holiday.  There are Santa letters at the post office and visits to nursing homes and hospitals.  Yep, the winter holidays are truly the season of giving!

There are other types of giving as well.  There's anonymous giving and in-your-face giving. There are the gifts of time and talent, as well as the gift of just putting a smile on someone's face who is having a bad day...

I've had the recent opportunity to do some giving back this season; all small things to me, but I've learned that they mean much to others.    First, I sent a care package of craft supplies to a young lady in Sweden (yes, Sweden) who wanted to participate in December Daily but because she's unemployed there isn't a lot of money in her household for craft supplies.  I was going to gift her things from my stash, but then I decided to just go and buy her new things; we have chatted a few times and I found out what colors she was using and went shopping!  I didn't get a whole lot (I swear the postage was more than the items), but there was no better feeling for me in the world than to be able to mail that package off!  And when she received it, she sent me the best message ever and my heart was so full and my smile was off the charts that day!  There is no better medicine for a bad day than doing something nice for someone else!  Here is a photo of what I sent to her:

Cute, right???  Making her day made my day, and I was happy and blessed that I was able to do it.  She asked me what could she do for me, and I told her to just pay it forward; my friends have been there for me during my rough times and I knew exactly how she was feeling and I just wanted to put some sunshine in her day.  Mission accomplished!

For the Thanksgiving holiday, my church (Victory, of course), through its outreach ministry, gave away food baskets (a full dinner, complete with turkeys) and winter warmth items: coats, hats, gloves, scarves.  I wanted to participate, so I signed up to volunteer to help pack the baskets (I ended up taking the tween with me).  I snapped a couple of pictures:

It was a great thing to see people (especially the children) working together on a Friday night to get the bags packed (a second set of volunteers were there on Saturday to distribute the items).  We gave out 135 bags; families were signed up by church members to receive them.  I was very happy to not only participate, but to have the tween with me participating as well.

I also purchased items for the winter warmth drive; I purchased 3 sets of hat, gloves and scarves.  It may seem like a small thing (and in fact, it is), but again, I was happy that I was able to go to the store and do it because there was a time not too long ago when I could not. I dropped the items off before I went to the bag packing area; here's what I donated:

Someone will be stylish and warm this winter!  Again, not a big thing, but it felt good to be able to give back.

That experience so touched me that I signed up to join my church's outreach ministry that night:  V.O.I.C.E. - Victory Outreach in Community Efforts of Victory Apostolic Church!  I attended my first meeting last week and worked the registration table for our upcoming holiday giveaway, registering families that are in need of food baskets and toys for their children.  Which brings me to this:  if you are looking to make any donations this year, I hope that you would consider donating toys, coats, winter items and gifts for older children (which are always in short supply) to our Annual Christmas Toy Drive.  You don't have to be a member of Victory to donate; we will be accepting donations beginning this week through next Tuesday (December 15th).  We will be serving members of our church, families of the local school district and working with a social service organization for referrals, so donations are both needed and appreciated.  Here is a flyer about the event:

Victory Apostolic Church is located at 20801 Matteson Drive in Matteson, Illinois.  If God so touches your heart to donate to this effort, I would appreciate you.  

Last, but not least, I purchased ornaments and decorations to make a special friend's home more festive for the holidays.  I enjoyed shopping for the items and my efforts were appreciated!  It wasn't a huge thing to me, but I was happy to make someone else happy and to spread some holiday cheer!  Here's what I bought:

Pretty neat, huh???

Even if you don't donate to my church, I pray that you will support your local ministry's outreach efforts as well as maybe a letter to Santa (my ex-husband and I used to do that before we had children and it was the bestest ever!) or an anonymous drop into a toys for tots box while you're out shopping for your family. Why? Good question!  Here are some answers:  1) because it just feels good!; 2) to show gratitude for your blessings; 3) to help someone else; and 4) it aids in character development.

Last, but not least: 5) it is what the Bible commands you to do - See Matthew 25:31-46 (Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me... Matthew 25:40).  What does that mean?  It means that every time you give back, you are serving Christ.  The Bible tells us that Christ was concerned about the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten.  In this passage of scripture, He was speaking about the judgment, when those who gave back will be separated from those who did not.  He also took on the persona of those less fortunate:  those in prison, those hungry, those in need of clothes - and said that if you helped those people, then you helped Me.  (You should go read that passage for yourselves...).  Basically, we will be held accountable for giving (or not giving) back to those in need.  It puts a new perspective on this notion of giving back, doesn't it?  

Giving back need not always be monetary; everyone isn't able to give financially.  Nor should you measure your giving by anyone else's; the point is to make the sacrifice of giving, whether it be monetary, physical or just your time.  All are worthy sacrifices and you kill two birds with one stone:  1) you get to show your light in the world and 2) you get to serve Christ all at the same time!

That leads me to today's question:  how are YOU giving back this holiday season????  I sincerely hope that you are... Holla @ Darvi and let's talk about it.  If you want/need ideas on how you can give back, I can help with that too; I have been coordinating outreach programming on and off for the better part of 25 years...

The scripture reading for this week is as follows:

December 7th - Jeremiah 33:14-16
December 8th - Psalm 72:1-7
December 9th - Psalm 72:8-14
December 10th- Psalm 72:15-20
December 11th - Psalm 95:1-7
December 12th - Malachi 3:1-3
December 13th - Matthew 1:18-20

Be blessed and have a great week!  And do some giving back this year - you won't feel bad about it, I promise! xoxoxo