Receiving PEACE

I want to share more than I have time for but I will at least start. I wrote about peace rejected in a couple of areas. But even as those scenarios were taking place others were happening that were of a positive nature. When I wasn't looking for 'brother', I was helping a nearby lady friend. Actually she has been quite an encouragement to me these past weeks and months even though in theory I have been 'hired' to 'assist' her. (God often works that way - when we share we are blessed in return.) When I would become frustrated, she would give me her take, helping me to not lose a positive perspective. I thank the Lord for friends like that.

As I have been sharing my lessons concerning peace here on this blogsite, an old friend came back into contact with me. And then, delightful suprise, this friend has decided to come visit. Wow! I wish I could be more 'ready', (it seems that my 'place' has been neglected with so much else happening, ) but somehow I sense that she and her husband will accept me as I am. If not, they will at least see me for who I really am.

The above are just two ways the Lord has been blessing me. I have more I want to add to this list very soon but I have animals to care for and a house that is 'crying' for help at this very moment, before I go pick up my friend at the train station this afternoon.

The God of Peace give you of His peace even today.

Bringer of peace

PEACE offer not accepted?

The saga of my life moves on. The lessons continue. Am I keeping up? Good question. I haven't watched sitcoms much but from what little bit I have seen I have observed that several 'subplots' usually develop at any given time. That is much more true with my 'real life' at present. I hope to share some positive developing 'subplots' which are really exciting - perhaps I can in the next blog - but I am also dealing with, what appears at present to be, my offers of 'peace' being rejected.

I hope I'm wrong in my assumptions but at the same time I am sensing the need for me to face 'head on' this possibility - an offer from me to be at peace with someone 'rejected' .

In my old 'lie based' (peace at all cost) way of thinking, that possibility was something I tried to avoid 'at all costs'. I no longer believe that lie I therefore I don't intend to act or think that way anymore. So, in a sense, this is 'new' territory for me.

If you have read previous blogs you have a little idea of some relational issues that have recently been taking place. During the past few days one more intense issue involved attempting to help a brother of a lady who lives here on the farm. He has 'different' ways of looking at life (and his way of responding to life can change with every 'breath' he takes, or so it seems) but occasionally he has come close enough to me that I have felt affected strongly by his (changing) choices.

So, how have I been involved? We got a phone call that he had run out of gas. After getting him gas and lodging for the night, the next day he (and his parents) again called for help. The car he had been driving had been reported as 'stolen' and so was confiscated by the police which meant he no longer had it to use, but when I went looking to pick him up I couldn't find him. One reason was I didn't know the area. Another reason was he kept 'moving'. After several more attempts, a friend of ours was able to locate the brother's whereabouts, and pick him up. The car had been released from the police so our kind friend drove him back 'home'.

From my perspective I thought I was trying to help him. He, on the other hand, seemed to respond as though I was 'out to get him' in a negative way. So, how was I to respond? (I suppose an offer to 'help' and an offer of 'peace' may not always be exactly the same, but perhaps the lessons I'm learning can apply to both.) Should I have even responded at all? If so, need it be an 'outward' response? or an 'inward' decision? or both? or neither?

Now, add to the above that the sister's husband seems rather 'anti' about 'brother'. Actually I have also percieved 'peace offer rejection' from husband for some time (not only because I attempted to help 'brother' but for other reasons expressed by him as well).

As I mentioned before, understanding the 'law of contracts' has helped me in situations like this. If a person 'rejects' an offer, it is simply that. I don't have to 'fall apart', or 'get angry' of whatever. It was the other person's choice to 'not' accept peace from me. It is also the other person's responsibility, not mine (although I may hurt from their lack of peace).

In this context my mind went to a Bible illustration. Abraham had moved to Canaan from his home country near present day Iran/Araq vicinity. His brother had died earlier so Abraham had invited his nephew, Lot, to come with him. As time went on both Lot and Abraham had become very 'rich' in the wealth of that day - flocks and herds - so much so that it was difficult to find pasture for everyone close to 'camp' and as a result the herdsmen began to quarrel. Abraham could have settled the issue quite easily, for he was the 'elder' and in a family form of government his word was law. I suppose he could have legislated 'boundaries', rules and regulations. Instead he told Lot, who was an 'adult' by this time, "Let's not have strife between us. The best way to solve this is to separate. If you chose left, I'll go right. If you go right, I'll go left." True peace was important to Abraham.

As I pondered that story while looking back on not only the last few days but weeks and months as well, I see the Lord working on the same premise. The 'husband' has been not only unhappy about help for his wife's brother, he has seemed to be unhappy about lots of other things as well. When I participated in what I considered getting a 'sheep' out of the ditch on a 'Sabbath', that was to him the 'last straw'. He made up his mind that he could no longer live so close to such sinners. After actively pursuing an escape route (this is not a prison, however) for some months, they believe they have found one and even today are on their way to what they believe is 'freedom'.

Abraham could not endure the 'strife' and even went so far as to give Lot the first choice of where Lot would live. I didn't have that much latitude. But to be honest, I thank the Lord that they are moving.

We still like them as friends. And I personally hope this new experience will be good for them. Up until now they have had the burden of being dependent on others for 'housing'. Of course, that also gives them someone to blame if something does not meet their expectations, especially in relation to where they live. Now they plan to have their 'own home'. They will now have their 'say' about how much it will cost to 'fix' when their place is not to their liking. They will be able 'control' how much utilities will be. And as such, they are looking forward to 'peace' (on their terms). I wish they will find it

Coming back to my main topic here, 'peace not accepted', how am I to respond? When I read about Abraham this morning I somehow sensed a sigh of relief from Abraham when the strife ceased. Dare I feel that way, at least for a moment? Actually, I think I will save that one for when the piles of boxes and furniture are also gone from the front room.

I just got a call from my good friend who drove 'brother' home. They had a very good trip and it sounds like they also had some interesting discussions along the way to fill the hours. (breathing a sigh of relief). (I wish 'brother' could get someone on a regular basis with whom he could communicate on that level.) I will go meet my friend at 1:30 p.m this afternoon at a train station.

As I finished writing the above, I paused to consider that at least in these 2 instances what seemed so intense, and perhaps even momentarily stress producing, may in reality be setting things up for better and real 'peace', not just 'truce'. Might it be that some types of 'rejection' are actually a way of 'bringing' real peace. Can two walk together except they be agreed? No. So, even though a separation may seem painful at the moment, might God's will be done to 'give me peace'? Yes!

May the God of peace sanctify you wholly (make you complete, mature).

Bringer of peace

PEACE in Emergencies?

Is this an 'oxymoron' - two concepts that can't co-exist together? Can there be PEACE in emergencies? or is that simply a pipe dream? whatever that conjures up in your mind.

Let's see, where did this last round of intense experiences (emergencies or at least pretty close to that) seem to 'start'? One thing that popped into my mind when I asked that question was that I was attempting to help a person 'write' a letter in response to some very intense 'counter-offers' being ejected her way by a person who had formerly been seemingly very close but then suddenly became hostile. That little 'job' had taken a few hours of some rather intense 'editing' so as to 'say' just the right thing in the right way with the 'right' spirit.

We felt that we were almost done with my friend's letter when I got a cell phone call from another friend that her brother had run out of gas and needed help. May not sound like a 'big deal' but that brother had been here before and due to several factors has been denied the privilege to return here. But do you just leave someone out on the side of the road on a cold night? Son Carl and I eventually were able to locate him, take him some gas and get him some supper/breakfast and then put him up for the night at 'Red Roof Inn'.

O.K. we were tired getting home around 2 a.m. But the story wasn't over. Today we got another call. Could we help again. At first it was to assist him by driving him back home. (We later found out we had put ourselves at risk legally because the car he was driving had been reported as stolen and if we had been stopped we would have also been in trouble. Fortunately those scenarios didn't 'happen'.) Then he decided he didn't want that. But the police did come get the car and the 'brother' panicked and took a taxi to another town. (It took some time and money to get the car 'back' and ready to return to the owners.) Our son, who seems to still have a working relation with brother, asked if we could try to help a little bit more. I appreciated his spirit and so I talked to brother and tried to find (in my car) where he was. After a couple of hours driving around and getting lost I gave up the search and called 911 to see if maybe they could at least try to get him into a shelter of some kind for the night since it had been snowing and was getting much colder.

As is obvious, I did finally get back home - I'm writing on the computer. The day is over, I think.

So, can a person have peace even in trouble? YES!! God's Peace is not dependent on 'outward' situations but rather it comes from the heart, through the heart.

As I drove up with our son to find brother the first time God kept whispering to me"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." "I was hungry and ye gave me meat. . . " I am not trying to toot my own horn. But I had a peace. I am not sure I would have gone last night if I had known all I learned today, but I don't regret it.

Do I feel bad about helping a lady word a letter to attempt to resolve some very intense issues between her and another person? I experienced Peace particularly when I sensed her also experiencing peace about what she had written and how it was worded also.

I somehow sense that a 'deep, abiding, quiet confidence' - PEACE - can happen between two human minds even as it can between God and a human mind, for true PEACE comes from God and one of Jesus' titles is "Prince of Peace".

Peace to you,

Bringer of Peace

Responding with PEACE

If the 'speed' at which 'lessons' come in one day are any indication, things are happening 'fast'. It seems that for the last two days or so we have been in 'emergency' mode, at least a good share of the time - when I am not sleeping.

This concept of 'contracts' seem to be developing in my mind through many of the 'lessons'. Here is a quick review. When one mind offers to have a relationship with another mind, one of three responses take place: 1. Accept the offer; 2. Reject the offer; 3. Counter with another offer.

O.K. sounds well and good.

I have also been learning that when another mind counter offers, how you respond to that counter offer affects YOU intensely. I learned this the hard way. I thought I was offering to come into a 'peace' agreement with someone. They counter offered with what I considered a spirit of 'force' perhaps combined with some 'fear' as well. Without really thinking about it as such I responded 'in kind' to them. What I didn't realize until later was that when I 'respond in kind', the same spirit - of force and fear in this instance - came into my heart. It was like I was opening the door of my heart and inviting those spirits, that I thought previously I didn't want, to come in and take residence. Ouch!!

So, what is an appropriate response when someone counter offers my offer with a spirit that I certainly do not want in my heart? (One thing I have learned, when I do respond in kind to a 'wrong' spirit and that 'other' spirit comes in to me, war ensues.) I may not know all about contracts but this is where the counter offer concept really began to make more sense to me. When I am 'in Christ' I cannot be 'forced' to accept their counter offer any more than they are to accept my offer to them. Offers and counter offers can go on and on until one or the other mind either completely accepts or totally rejects.

So should I reject immediately when I perceive that someone is making an 'offer' with another spirit? That could possibly become very hard on 'relationships', to say the least. I'm not saying we should never reject an offer: I believed that lie far too long - 'peace' at all costs. But on the other hand, learning how to 'counter offer' properly may 'win' some folks into accepting the PEACE/ JOY and LOVE the Lord is offering to them through us.

'Responding in kind' was first presented to me as a 'wrong' way to respond when someone 'offers' me a spirit I do not want in my heart. I have been observing that when I recognize there is a 'spirit' in the offer that I don't care to have operating in me it seems that it becomes easier 'not to respond in kind'. And of course that can only happen because I have previously invited the "HOLY SPIRIT" to be in control of my heart.

Example: I was called over to 'view' damage done when a plant had fallen from a window sill. It had happened before and I decided the planter needed to be moved. The owner of the planter put up a big fuss. I simply said, "No, I will not put it back in the same location". I think I did it kindly as I began to figure where else the planter could be placed (This is one person that has been teaching me a whole lot about this subject through 'experience'.) After some more 'fuss' she very strongly declared "If you ever agree with me I will have a heart attack and die". I have agreed with her several times since then but she is still alive and as well as when we don't agree. I share this because during that experience I began to 'see' how that when I did not 'respond in kind' I did not loose my PEACE no matter what she was 'feeling' and 'offering to me'. After she calmed down we have had several nice talks. But that time I didn't experience the feeling of 'war' in my heart which had so often boiled up before when I have 'responded in kind'.

Does that mean I will never get 'angry'? No. Does that mean I will never have other emotions? NO! When those emotions are legitimate they can be very appropriate. But there are 'spirits' that are not appropriate to have or 'give others'. The Bible reminded me that God has not given me the spirit of 'terror', but of power and of love and of a sound mind. And Jesus says "PEACE I leave with you, My PEACE I give unto you" .

I pray that God's peace will be with you who read this through my sharing with you.

Maiden, Bringer of PEACE

Offering PEACE

I have shared a bit in recent blogs a little of what has been happening here but it seems that my learning curve hasn't quite caught up with current events. One area of life I seem to be learning a lot in is relationships. As you read the following please keep in mind that a person cannot experience 'true peace' until two minds are in harmony - synchronized. In response to this understanding of peace this question has been bobbing around in my mind, "What happens if another mind does not accept my offer to come into unity?" I thought I was offering Peace to another person but it seemed to me that they would respond with a totally different 'response' or perhaps I might be more accurate to say a different 'offer'. Then at times it seemed also others would out and out 'reject' my offer. I was sharing with my sister about this and she said "that is the law of contracts." The more I have thought about it the more sense it makes. Let me see if I can make what I have been learning 'simple'.



I offer to come into harmony with another mind with the intent of sharing in a JOY/PEACE experience. According to what I currently understand they can have one of three responses.



1. The other mind can accept my 'peace offer'. That will lead to a JOY/PEACE experience.

2. The other mind can reject my 'peace offer'. That will terminate the present JOY/PEACE experience potential.


3. The other mind can 'counter offer'. They may not want 'my offer' as is but will offer something else in its place. 'Counter offers' will continue until one of the minds either accepts or rejects.

One way a person can accept a 'counter offer' is to 'respond in kind'. Example: I offer peace to another mind. They respond with an angry 'offer'. I respond in anger. Not only have I accepted their offer but the spirit of anger has come from them in to me and takes control of my mind. A person can be angry and sin not but to accept 'anger' as a counter offer allows the spirit of anger to be in control instead of the spirit of peace.
If instead of responding in anger I 'counter offer' with another 'peace offer' I do not imbibe in the spirit of anger even if it was offered to me. THIS IS KEY in relationships.

Understanding the above has been helping me considerably. I had previously taken it very seriously when someone would reject or even 'counter' offer. I even believe some of my problems here have been made 'bigger' because I did not understand the 'law of contracts' type of dealing.



Just today my friend, the cat lady and I had a real nice talk together. I really think one of my challenges in my relations with her previously have been because I didn't always understand or apply the above. Realizing that she may 'counter offer' - and has often done so - but I can 'counter offer' in return as many times as necessary and not have to get up tight is, I believe very important for me to remember.

Now, I need to learn how many ways I can offer 'Peace' and 'Joy' so I don't run out of counter offers.

Offering you God's PEACE

Maiden, Bringer of Peace

Family "Peace"

These last 24 hours have been ‘breathtaking’. Yesterday afternoon a friend whom I have been assisting in various ways called me. She had had some encounters earlier in the day that may have possible legal ramifications. We prayed over the phone asking God to give her His protection and His heart peace – which I believe He did.

Later in the day she called again. She knows I don’t ‘work’ on Sabbath but I sensed that what she really wanted was not so much my ‘work’ but more peace – which is what the Sabbath is all about - so I offered to come over with my music keyboard. Last evening my husband, his brother and I went to her place where we sang, ate and prayed, as God’s Spirit brought peace and joy in His fellowship. In short we experienced a ‘love feast’ together.

Sabbath morning a co-teacher called and we prayed together for our students and our church family and the Lord did bless in Sabbath School. Following their classes the children got together to practice a song they were going to sing for special music and asked me to play the piano for them, which to me was another real blessing.

In the worship service the speaker for today was our new Potomac Conference president, William Miller. One could almost ‘feel’ a variety of ‘expectations’ or maybe I should say, ‘questions’ waiting to be answered as to what he is like. To put it simply, my husband said it well. “That is the best sermon I have heard here”. Jesus centered? YES! Now, if that sounds good, add to it the fact that the main theme of the ‘sermon’ was “The fifth gospel”. After sharing his background – on his mother’s side Sabbath keepers back for quite a few generations - he began to share about ‘relationships’. In closing he reviewed each ‘gospel’ and its purpose and then shared God’s search for the gospel according to ‘me’. I can’t express in words adequately the ‘joy’ I experienced as I listened and agreed with the message.

Some months ago a very unfortunate experience had taken place between 3 teachers (myself included) and another family in the church. I had prayed about going to talk with the family but it had not seemed the right time. Today I felt impressed to ‘try’. To make a long story short, they had come to the same ‘attitude’ and in our time talking together God ‘brought down walls’ between myself and them this afternoon.

Last year I had agreed to head up VBS 2007 but due in part to the above mentioned incident and some other circumstances I had ‘resigned’. I was asked to reconsider and I said I would pray about it. A few weeks ago I had talked to another Sabbath School teacher friend and she expressed desires similar to what I had ‘dreamed’ of in relation to the VBS experience. After prayerfully considering a request on my part to ‘VBS team lead’, she agreed to join a ‘team’ for VBS leadership. I agreed to re-accept VBS responsibilities as a ‘team leader’ when a third lady agreed to join the team.

To me these events are opening doors in spiritual family relationships, Praise the Lord.

So what does all of the above have to do with peace as I have been learning about it?

God's plan for family was also His plan for where a person was to 'grow up' and to experience the 'joy/peace' cycle that 'grows' a person's capacity to cope with stress of all kinds.

"I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God. Almost everything I shared above, as far as I could ascertain, had to do with relationships in God's family.

I know there may be more 'rough' bumps along the way but I also believe that God is working in me.

May you experience more peace today too.

Bringer of Peace

PEACE in the storm

I got a call while at Lowe's yesterday. A friend of mine was in deep distress. (If I think I have difficulties all I need to do is to see a bit bigger picture and I soon realize that with God's peace in my heart and His JOY as my strengh I have much more than those who lack that ) .

I guess in my recent 'ramblings' I started focusing on smaller issues. My special friend Linda really helped me in her response. Look, isn't that one thing that friends who truly love are for? I believe so. And I am finding more and more that true peace comes when someone loves you so much that they are willing to share with you from their heart and as you respond (Both human hearts and the divine heart as well).

By the way, Linda, what you said sounded so sweet to my ears. That was what we thought we were getting (or aiming at before) but it didn't quite turn out that way, as was written. But, the removing from the premises, as it seems now, is being done by those who 'can't stand' to be here anymore because of . . . . And even though they conjure up plausible (to them) reasons why it is not their fault, they are still the ones staging their exit. (They called yesterday from Tennessee and told their friend here that the loan still hasn't gone through but they are still looking and 'waiting' to move as soon as possible.)

As that is going on I am praying that my attitude will become so much like Jesus that whether or not others admit it on the outside, in the bigger picture it will be seen whose side I am on - Jesus' - and that the PEACE I am experiencing is coming from Him.

I am also becoming more and more convinced that the peace I am learning about has little to do with 'outward' circumstances. Yes, we hope to be more careful - if that is possible - about who lives here. Yes, we hope to get the place more fixed up - as that also becomes possible. But are those things what will bring peace, real peace?

After I wrote the above the question came to my mind - is it possible that these experiences are the very 'things' which are bringing a much better understanding (and experiencing) of what true peace is, to me? Could it be that because of wrong conceptions of 'peacemaking' - lack of contention at all costs - I needed to be set free from those lies through these experiences the Lord has allowed? I'm beginning to think so anyway.

As I have been sharing here and more often with my brother I believe the Lord has been 'growing me up' in these and other areas. Thanks to all who have been 'helping me' in love.

My mind goes back to the "Great Peace have they which love Thy law and nothing shall offend them" concept. The more I think about it the more I realize the indication in this promise that there are offences already 'present'. But things that previously caused 'offence', by true peace in my heart, are not causing the same reactions. God's kind of peace is enabling me to 'see' differently, have a new attitude. Oh, it would be so nice not to be where offences are. But until then the above text is giving me comfort.

And as I mentioned at the beginning, the concepts I believe I am learning the Lord is having me share even as I learn. My friend who called when I was at Lowes needed 'peace' far more than a solution. There was nothing I could do about her situation, but I could go 'be with her' (sometimes in person and sometimes by phone). We spent time focusing on Love's bigger picture. We talked about the Lord. I mentioned to her that Jesus didn't promise freedom 'from' problems' but He does go through the problem with those who belong to Him. One Bible example was the three men in the fiery furnace. Jesus didn't keep them out of the fire, but He instead went through it with them. Jesus didn't keep Daniel out of the lion's den but His angel's shut the lion's mouth so the lions couldn't eat supper.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you" Jesus said. "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, agitated, stirred up, roiled neither let it be afraid timid, full of dread, ". (John 14:27)

So is this indicating that the world's peace is mainly 'external' - lack of contention, warfare? and by contrast God's Peace based on the internal - being able to 'relax' in the presence of the One who loves for you to be in His Presence? as well as humans who love you as well? Praise God.


Well, other duties are calling so will close for now.

Thanks again for all who care!