Reflecting His Peace

This has been a great start to a great week to a great school year.  Our visiting professors have been fabulous (Bill and Leroy), our translators have been solid (Wadner and Abraham), the students have been hard at work, the campus is looking better and better, the Heckman's are celebrating one week since arrival, and all the staff have been very busy but very productive!

And it's been incredibly hot...but sounds like it's been awfully hot up in the States, as well!  Junior is on his way, and we'll be prepping for a trip to Baron with Ezechiel on Sunday.

We've had a bunch of blessed moments the last few days of the Lord reminding us that He is faithful to provide--even for the things I didn't really realize He knew I needed :)

Have I received what Jesus speaks? O. Chambers asked me the other day, and once again, I find his thoughts too good not to share.

There is a peace that comes from looking into His face, and fully understanding and receiving His quiet contentment.  

Are you severely troubled right now?  Are you afraid and confused by the waves and turbulence God sovereignly allows to enter your life?  Have you left no stone of your faith unturned, yet still not found any well of peace, joy or comfort?  Does your life seem completely barren to you?

Then look up and receive the quite contentment of the Lord Jesus.  

Reflecting His peace is proof you are right with God, because you are exhibiting the freedom to turn your mind to Him.

With regard to the problem that is pressing in on you right now, are you looking to Jesus and receiving peace from Him?  When a person confers with Jesus, the confusion stops, because there is no confusion in Him.

I think about the peace I always see in Ezechiel, the serenity always displayed in Micheline, the quiet smile on Aunt Marilyn, the trust I see in my dad.

Doesn't matter what's on my plate (planned or unplanned) today...I want to reflect His PEACE!

I was sharing with a friend a few days ago about some of our experiences with pregnancy and infancy in Haiti.  As I wrote to her about all of the possibilities for fear and crisis that we experienced with both girls (you know, those things you DON'T share on the blog because readers DON'T need help worrying about us :), I was surprised to find myself sharing with her that DESPITE all those possibilities for fear...we never fell into that temptation.

I can honestly say through all of that with our girls, through our six years in Haiti, I have only been afraid ONE time.  Once.  (That was a really awful day in which I entirely neglected to dwell at His feet in the midst of terrifying circumstances.)

He has held us close, He has kept our eyes on Him, and there is no fear there.

As I thought back on that time when I was pregnant, I realized yesterday that as I worked during those times NOT to think about and worry about all the medical care and help we did NOT have access to, but instead to keep my eyes on HIM, His PEACE was reflected in my life.

We can't choose to reflect peace.  It is an effect of being right with Him.

It is not an effect of NOT having too much to do, an effect of NOT having things be hard, or an effect of having everything go your way.

It is a natural state of being right with him, despite our circumstances.  Embracing the freedom to turn our minds on HIM.

I want to receive what Jesus speaks.  Praise the LORD He DOES.

How's that for a random post :) ?