Cloaked with Peace

 

You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (WEB)

 

Rumbles of thunder broke the morning’s silence. Clouds darkened the sky and blocked the sun. Hidden crows screeched. Songbirds remained silent. Bees visited flowers but no other wildlife appeared. 

            

            Thunder grew louder and more frequent. Wind rustled trees on the far shore and then swept closer. Sheets of rain followed close behind. First it raced over the lake and then hit the shore and my yard. 

 

            Tall cypress trees shook heavy limbs as though trying to remove the blasts of water.  The smaller oak tree quivered when washed by the rain. Flower leaves jiggled with each drop. 

 

            Droplets coated my screen. Mist and cooler air caressed my arms. 

 

            Wind ceased and a soft rain replaced the torrents. Gentle, long waves traveled from shore to shore. 

 

            Like a giant watering can, rain refreshed grass, flowers and trees. The lake level rose. Much needed moisture brought renewal. 

 

            God knows His creation requires sunshine and rain to flourish. In wonder, I watched the shower and marveled at His provision. 

 

            A barrage of news reports begs us to become embroiled in one catastrophe after another which causes fear, anxiety and depression. 

 

            When I spend time with God each morning on my patio, I can forget the pandemic, protests, unrest, bombings and natural disasters for a while. Watching nature intently reminds me that God provides for His creation from tiny bees to me. 

 

            Just as the rain showers and refreshes creation, God’s love and comfort cloaks us with His peace. 

 

Jehovah-Shalom, the provision you give to Your creation includes us. Thank you for the comfort, love and peace we are given. Amen

            

A Stubborn Attitude

 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (WEB)

 

The two-year-old toddler asked for a banana. After a couple of bites, she noticed fresh from the oven cookies. Suddenly, her fruit lost appeal and she asked for a cookie. 

 

            My granddaughter, Ashlyn, who was babysitting for the tyke said, “You can have a cookie when you finish your banana.”

 

            With a quick trip across the kitchen, she threw her banana into the trash can. 

 

            She looked at Ashlyn and said, “Cookie?”

 

            In her mind, the unacceptable situation had been taken care of. Get rid of the banana and get the cookie. 

 

            “She can’t get away with that,” I said. “You have to be firm.” 

 

            Ashlyn agreed as she pulled the fruit from the garbage. It had not touched anything unpleasant because of the peel so we decided it would be safe to eat. 

 

            Even with the banana nearby, the determined tyke continued asking for a cookie. 

 

            Ashlyn repeated, “You can have a cookie when you finish your banana.” 

 

            Back and forth went the same conversation. Finally, we decided on a compromise. If she ate two bites of the remaining banana, she would get her cookie. She did and enjoyed the homemade cookie. 

 

            As we laughed about her stubbornness, I thought about how I have done the same thing when God leads me on a certain path. I want to ignore His instructions and get my own way. I tell Him what I want. He tells me what I must do first. Back and forth we go. Sometimes I continue to plead my case and decide I know best which often brings painful consequences. Other times, I listen and follow His plan with better results. 

 

            Hopefully, I am learning to listen when God leads me and not argue. 

 

            Have you ever had a similar experience?

 

Jehovah Nissi, You can see what lies ahead and where the victory will be. Help me learn to listen and follow your plan and not mine. Amen 

A Still Voice in the Tumult

For God alone, O my soul wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:5-8 (ESV)

With eyes closed tightly, I prayed for our country as we ended a year of turmoil and faced a new year with more unknown situations. But a constant roar of traffic on the interstate broke into my prayer. Humming from small planes joined the din of traffic. The racket distracted me. 

            Then my focus changed when I noticed more pleasing sounds near me. A chorus of songbirds formed a symphony of charming tunes. Their entertaining melodies pushed the clamor into the background. My mood instantly improved and thankfulness removed distress.            

            At first I only heard the loudest, annoying noises. But when I concentrated, the softer, more pleasant ones soothed me. 

            Month after month, the pandemic brought frightful news. Groups protested. Riots overtook cities. They all wanted to be heard and blared their agendas around the United States and the world. Turmoil overtook normal conversations and the media. 

             One catastrophe hit after another. Outbursts overshadowed reason. Confusion and mayhem became common. 

            Nevertheless, in the midst of chaos, there were acts of kindness. Families discovered more ways to connect. Loved ones grew more precious. 

            We can choose to listen to the destructive voices or search for God’s peace and tranquility in the midst of pandemonium. 

            When I listen, the still, small voice of God rises above the tumult. He offers hope and encouragement in the pandemic and whatever lies ahead. 

Loving Father, speak to us in our distress and confusion. Amen

I wrote this a few months ago but just posted it. 

       

 Shattered Pieces

Rebecca Carpenter

August 11, 2021

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

 

Crash! From my office, I hurried to the kitchen to see what caused the sound of breaking glass. Nothing was out of place. 

 

       Then I walked into the living room. A large African basket had fallen from its spot at the top of the entertainment center. It certainly couldn’t make the loud racket. 

 

       As I moved closer to the basket, my foot discovered small, sharp slivers. I noticed white fragments strewn across the wood floor and rug.

 

       The basket hit a decoration that stood on a lower shelf before it plummeted to the floor. A corner of it broke off into pieces too small to repair. While I gathered the ceramic like shards, I realized what had caused the mishap. 

 

       The lady who cleaned my home earlier that day had evidently moved it when she dusted. The circular basket stood upright at the back of the top shelf but must have slowly slipped and then dropped which hit the decoration. 

 

       The broken piece wasn’t as expensive as other favorite items on my shelves. However, it was meaningful to me because of the Scripture on it. 

 

       For a second, I thought of throwing it away as rubbish. Then I realized God gave me a story.

 

       The verse from Philippians 4 gave me comfort when I was stressed. “Be anxious for nothing… 

 

       We can easily slide into situations, relationships, or habits that cause us to fall. Lives can be broken but not beyond repair. Prayer changes things.

 

       Jesus can take pieces of our shattered lives and make something beautiful. 

 

Father, thank you for taking shattered lives and turning them into something magnificent. Amen

Another Day of Gloom?

“Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

Day after day gloominess overtook the sun. Rain and clouds dominated. The Sunshine State didn’t live up to its appealing name.

            I longed for sunshine sparkling on the lake. Cheerful flowers. Blue sky with fluffy, white clouds dancing across it. But heavy clouds remained. 

            To make matters worse, weather forecasters predicted an approaching hurricane. More rain, wind and storms would hit the state. 

            Thankfully, the hurricane missed us and caused minimal damage in our state.  In spite of the dark days, God prodded me to be thankful. 

            I needed to look for glimmers of light. Weeks earlier drought lowered lakes and wildfires were predicted. Then rain raised bodies of water past normal levels and refreshed the parched earth. Flowers revived. Grass greened up. Ducks splashed in the rain. 

            Bees continued to visit droopy flowers. A mama cardinal plucked worms from soggy ground. Papa stood watch from a low branch. 

            Cypress limbs, heavy with water, swayed in the breezes. A songbird’s tune drifted through the rain. A doe and her two fawns romped on the shore across the lake. 

            When I looked for God in the midst of the dismal weather, a sense of tranquility wrapped me like a warm shawl, providing rest and peace. 

            God often slows us down to relax, learn and prepare us for what lies ahead. Be thankful. Listen for His still, small voice and look for blessings in the trials.  

Heavenly Father, it is easy to complain about life’s difficult circumstances. Help me be thankful and look for You in each situation. Amen

Turbulent Times

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling…“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11 (WEB)

A never-ending barrage of angry waves crashed on the shore. Dark clouds blocked the sun. Only a few brave souls ventured into the intense winds as the high tide pushed water farther and farther up the beach. 

            Winds died down that evening. Waves calmed. Water receded and exposed more of the beach. Clumps of brown seaweed littered the white sand. I shook my head at the blight on the normally pristine beach. During my evening walk I zigzagged through the slimy mess. 

            At the beginning of my vacation, I loved the beauty of the endless beach. But then turbulent winds churned the water, pulled up unsightly seaweed, and spit it out as refuse.  After the storm, I wanted the tides to retrieve the rubbish and return it to the ocean. 

            Down the beach hundreds of sand pipers scampered to the seaweed and stuck their long beaks into the ugly masses for morsels of food. The birds weren’t afraid of what looked horrible. What appeared to me as an unwelcome blight was beneficial for them. 

            As the pandemic spit out one mess after another on the world, everything seemed terrible and devastating. However, we can lament the shambles left behind or trust God and look for blessings within them. 

Loving Father, we don’t understand all of the chaos and upheaval, but You are not surprised. Help us trust You and show us the blessings in the midst of the messes. Amen 

Surprise from Mutilated Plants

 

But we *do* know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to purpose. Romans 8:28 (Darby)

 

 

Several weeks ago, landscapers trimmed my hedges but also scalped flowers along my patio. I fumed about the damage they did to flowers I had enjoyed each morning when I sat on my patio. I cringed each time I saw the mutilated plants. 

 

            Little by little green leaves covered stubby stems. Buds opened with white, yellow and orange blooms. Bees returned to sample nectar. 

 

            When I ventured outside to pull weeds and carefully prune plants, surprises awaited. Mutilated greenery grew back fuller. Seeds dropped and produced an abundance of new ones. In fact, they overpowered many of those I had planted. 

 

            For an hour, I pulled out excess plants and trimmed back overgrown stems so that smaller plants could thrive. Reluctantly, I admitted that the distressing pruning didn’t cause lasting harm. My annoyed reaction gave way to an appreciation of a more lovely garden. 

 

            Unwelcome pruning comes into lives too. Loved ones pass away. Relationships are severed. Jobs disappear. Comfortable lives fill with uncertainty and pain. Anguish, loneliness and loss follow intense pruning. 

 

            Like my flower garden, the altered life often contains surprises of beauty, joy and growth. What we initially see as complete destruction can be used by God to create an improved masterpiece.  

 

Loving Father, when we feel life is falling apart, you can take the pieces and weave them into something beautiful. Amen