Thursday December 4, 2008 HIS PRESENCE
"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, because now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that you will believe when they do happen. I don't have much more time to talk to you, because the prince of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let's be going." John 14:27-31 To 99.9% of the people, at least in America, Christmas is all about presents. Yet, it seems the theme I keep running across this Season is about His Presence. When we have the gift of His Presence we will have peace of mind and heart. Jesus promised us that He would give us peace, but it wouldn't be like the peace the world gives. When I think of peace in the world's terms, I think of quiet and order. Now, although Jesus' peace definitely embraces quiet and order, His peace far surpasses things we have control of and some of us (who don't have children living at home) are able to control quiet and order in our homes. His peace goes beyond anything we can control. His gift - peace of mind and heart - can be experienced in the midst of noise and disorder because; as one of our original board members, Tina, said over and over about salvation "it's a heart thing." Yes, the peace Jesus gives is a heart thing! It's a peace in the midst of conflict. As many of you know, I have a daughter whose presence invokes anything but quiet and order, and her children magnify the problem. Well, not too long ago the Lord showed me that when I am walking with Him, acknowledging His Presence, keeping my eyes on Him, her disorder doesn't invade my peace of mind. Yet, when I am tired and stressed.okay, you understand. So, I made a determination (since she doesn't come around anymore) that no matter what Cody, Callie, or anyone else does for the remainder of this Holiday Season, I will not look at them, my focus will be on Jesus (oh I pray I can make it). Maybe, just maybe, there will be such an awesome Presence pervading me that these children will "catch the true Spirit of Christmas" and His peace and presence will reign in this house! Father, I know that when I am doing the things that You would have me to the Prince of Darkness has no power over me just like he had no power over Jesus. Oh, he may interfere in my life through other people, but he will not have power over me. I pray Lord, that You will pervade my home, my mind, and my spirit with Your Presence in such a profound way that others will see a difference and know that it is You. Lord, I know there are other people out there with children much like my daughter. We want to love them and show them You, but they have a tendency to wear us out. We stand on the promise that You will never leave us nor forsake us. We are believing that Your gift of peace of mind will stay with us throughout this entire Christmas Season. Let us be overflowing with the gift that just keeps on giving - peace of mind and heart. ******************************************* O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] window live messenger: [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
