Which Way Next?

“For He Himself is our peace.”

– Ephesians 2:14

It’s hard to believe that our Peace Journey (and this blog) have been going strong for a little over six months now. God has been leading me on this expedition ... I've seen His footprints all over the path. He has given me the words to write when my mind just couldn’t come up with a topic, and stopped me in my tracks during the times when it became more about me and less about Him. God is so good!

I feel like I am standing at a crossroad and need to look back to see where I’ve been, before I can determine what direction I need to head next. Come join me and take your own personal assessment. When we are finished looking at where we’ve been, I’d love to hear your feedback. Feel free to post comments about your favorite topics, suggestions for topics you would like more information on, feedback on what was most helpful, and also any constructive criticism. We are all on this journey together…. you, me and God!

Some of our the stepping stones ...
• Taking care of the Big 3 - clutter, commitments and chaos
• Choosing our words (and the impact they have on others)
• Being a Woman of a Generous Spirit
• Holy Boldness (our ability to stand firm in our beliefs)
• Taking an inventory of our Fruits of the Spirit
• Cleaning our Spiritual House
• God carrying us through our storms (worry, fear, despair, change)
• Being Stewards of God’s Green Earth
• Reflection and time of Restoration
• Looking forward… we have Choices!
• Blessings of friendship and tips for being a friend
• Developmental and Spiritual Milestones
• It only takes a stamp (writing letters/cards of encouragement)
• Do not live in fear (wake up each morning to the “good stuff”)
• Random Acts of Kindness
• Passing on the foundations of faith to the next generation
• Throwing “spiritual confetti” (encouraging others)
• Being Keepers of Peace (bringing peace and God’s love to the lives of others)
• Ways to share God’s word
• Becoming a “dandelion” kind of Christian (spreading His word)
• Shared Blessings

Some of the questions we've asked ourselves ...
• Am I out “living” my life, or is it my goal to “outlive” my life?
• Do my acts of service reflect my gratitude and joy for Jesus’ gift of salvation?
• Is there someone I need to make peace with? (forgiveness)
• Does my “to do” list need a Mary-Martha adjustment?
• Who is God to me? (Names of God)
• What is my legacy?

Some of the “sparkle” ideas we’ve shared...
• How bright is my light (sparkle)?
• Confessions of a “post it” junkie (writing random notes)
• Being anonymous (reaching out to strangers)
• I love to tell the story (sharing Bible stories with kids)
• Let’s play hug-of-war (encouraging others)

Some people we’ve met along the way...
• Kim: Clown/ Encourager   
• Scott: Singer-songwriter/ Pastor   
• Peggy: Recycle Artisian/ Friend

When this journey began, I challenged myself to focus on four areas of my life that needed more peace. I’ve listed those areas below and made some personal observations as to where I see myself at this stage of the journey...

1. Peace in my Heart (seeking peace by praying, being still and staying in God’s word)

Observation: I have been doing better at finding more time to “be still.” Also, keeping a small journal handy to write down names of those I need to pray for. I still need to be more disciplined in reading my Bible and my study time... always a challenge!

2. Peaceful Environment (simplify = less stuff, more God)

Observation: My clutter is disappearing (somewhat), but it still seems like it’s always a work-in- progress. I think I’m going to need to set aside a certain amount of time each week to whittle away at the remaining piles.

3. Spirit of Peace (joy not busyness/ chaos)

Observation: This area still needs a lot of work. I’ve realized that my busy-ness definitely controls my joy. When I become overwhelmed or weary I have a tendency to hibernate at home and seclude myself from others that could encourage me and bring joy to my life. Changes needed here!

4. Sharing the Peace (sparkle – be a light to others)

Observation: This is one of my favorite areas. I love finding creative ways to share my faith and God’s love with others. I’ve been trying to challenge myself to look for new and exciting ways to “sparkle.”

WOW.... we sure have traveled a distance, but the journey is not over. I don’t know about you, but I still have a long way to go – and God has promised He will be with me every step of the way. Time to put on my hiking boots, tennis shoes, flip-flops and take the next step. Are you ready?

At the beginning of this blog I said that I needed to figure out, “What direction I need to head next.” Well, I’m just going to start walking the path and continue to let God lead the way. After all there is only “one way” to go and that is “God’s way!” Come along, and we can share our stories, tears and joy on our journey to seek more PEACE.

A Reminder to Me ... Strive for a Peace-filled Year while taking others along on the journey.  Have a blessed week and please don’t forget to share your thoughts and feelings. All comments welcomed!

Love ya lots....
Peace be with you all, Donna Weaver

“Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.

So... get on your way.”

- Dr. Seuss

Stepping Stones

"When you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart."  – St. Francis of Assisi

I have spent this week walking down a path that contains stepping stones inscribed with the following words of encouragement... calm, stillness, harmony, understanding, silence, knowledge and serenity.  These small, intentional steps have lead me on the first part of my journey which is to seek more peace in my heart.  There are several truths I've learned along the way...

• Peace in my heart is directly affected by my relationship with God and others
• God is calling each of us to a passionate, love relationship with Himself
• Two-way conversation is a necessary part of communicating

Based on these truths, I have been making some simple changes....

Prayer Life:  Many times my prayers become routine, or sound like an “I want” list.  Other times, I’m in a hurry, or too tired and feel like I am wasting God’s precious time. This week I read the words of Colossians 4:2,“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart” and realized exactly what I needed to do... I have been striving for a more purposeful prayer life by setting aside uninterrupted time and being more focused and intentional as I pray to God. 

Being Still:  Listening to Christian music, especially a song like “Breathe” by Michael W. Smith, makes me feel like I am in the presence of God.  So, this week I began to wonder why I don’t take a few minutes longer to enjoy the quiet, to be still and spend time listening to God.  Why not indeed?  The reason is because of the “busy-ness” of everyday life. Well, I've been trying to conquer the “busy-ness,” even if it is for only 15 minutes a day.  Who knows, maybe it will gradually increase to 30 minutes, an hour, or even more!  There are many ways to follow the words of Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God!" What are some of the ways you find quiet time with God?

God’s Word:  For me, just reading through the Bible is not enough.  How can I battle against the things that try to steal my “peace,” if I can’t apply scripture to my everyday life?  How can I “sparkle” and share the gospel with others if I don’t have a deeper understanding of His Word?  The Bible tells us “... Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong” (Ephesians 3:17).  So, this past week I’ve added 2 new learning tools to my Bible study time.  1.  listening to a daily devotion based on the Sunday sermon  2. following a Christian blog - 21 days of Made to Crave.  Check my Resource Page for links.

God reveals so much to us.  His Word leads us down the right path if we just choose to pray, listen and learn.  May God put some extra peace in your heart this week... “Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” - Proverbs 16:3.  Be sure to check back on Friday, when we’ll be discovering ways to give away “pieces” of our heart!

God’s Peace... Donna Weaver

"Peace of mind is not a goal I need achieve.  It’s a place inside I never want to leave.  Close my eyes, I still my thoughts and then I say, I will choose to live in peace today."  – Robert Alan

2011 Journey

Come walk with me... live a life full of God's Peace.
Journey begins Monday, January 3, 2011.

"For He himself is our peace." - Ephesians 2:14