5/15            Matthew 10:34-36

34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ 

IMAGINE

Imagine what it would be like for everyone to follow Jesus.  Then think of what it is like if only you follow Jesus.  Those you know who don’t follow Jesus will hound you to end.  The Lost hate Christ.  Love the Lord. 

5/14            Psalm 34:14-15

14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 15 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.

TURN

Turn is our response.  We are to turn away from evil.  We call out to the Father to give us His strength then we plant our feet and turn away from evil.  It’s a 180 degree turn.  We walking one-way and now we are walking in the paths of righteousness.  Turn from evil and turn to doing good.   

5/13            Romans 14:19

19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. 

CARE

We are to care for each other.  We are to be encouragers.  Our ministry is to people.  We learn to care for people, truly care for others.  This involves a high level of forgiveness and forgetfulness.  Too many want to say they will forgive but they will never forget.  Harmony is built by a loving, caring community of people who are sold out to Jesus Christ and striving to be obedient to Him.  Love one another. 

5/12            Romans 12:17-21

17Never pay back evil with more-evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” 21 Don’t let evil conquer you but conquer evil by doing good.

GOOD

We receive good from the Lord when we come into His family.  He calls us to give good to everyone we meet.  Humility calls us to care for others.  Be kind do as the Lord instructs-love one another.  That is a command.

5/11            Psalm 29:11

11 The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.

GIFT

The Lord gifts us with His strength.  It is so that we can live lives of peace, filled with peace and exhibiting peace by the way we live.  Jesus loves you.  He calls you to love others.  Use His strength to carve out a life of peace that blesses everyone with whom you come into contact. 

5/10            Proverbs 16:7

7 When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them. 

WORK

We live our life as unto the Lord and we work as unto the Lord.  We work at caring for others like we would like to be cared for by others.  Jesus is Lord and we are called to live like He is Lord and care for others as He would. Be about our Master’s business-people. Jesus cares for people. 

5/9              Proverbs 12:20

20 Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace! 

WHAT

What are you reaping by the way you live?  Are you plotting evil?  Deceit fills your heart.  Are you plotting peace-spending time with Jesus in prayer and connecting with others by transparency and concern?  Joy fills your heart and mind as you seek peace.  Jesus is Lord and He is in charge.  Praise the Lord for His love for us. 

5/8              Philippians 4:6-7

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

PEACE

We need peace to succeed in life.  We get peace from the Lord.  When Jesus comes into our heart and mind He brings peace.  When we experience anxiety and pain in our heart we need to check where we are, get on our knees and reclaim His control of our heart and mind. Jesus is with us.  He will not let us be destroyed or overrun.  He is Lord. 

5/7              James 3:18

18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

TOUGH

This is a tough call for most of us.  It’s hard to be a peacemaker because we become so invested in personal and societal bias the habit of consulting everyone but the Lord.  Peacemaking always costs us.  It puts us in a precarious position but the rewards of this lifestyle of openness and clarity, genuineness, is huge because we begin the process of forgiveness and peace resulting in joy for the participants.  Become vulnerable, love those around you genuinely and simply help. Seeds of peace result in a society of righteousness and that is a community that has a life like Jesus.  Jesus is Lord.  Transparency is the call.

5/6              1 Peter 5:7

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

BE

Be busy working for the Lord and being guided by Him.  When you worry change the worry to prayers.  Tell Him what you are struggling with and why you are worrying then listen to Him as He gives you wisdom, mercy, grace and understanding to come to grips with your life.  Jesus is Lord and He is Lord of your worries because He cares for you.