If you could host a dinner and anyone you invite was sure to come, who would you invite?
I think if I could invite anyone to dinner. I would invite my nagymama. To sit down with her and have coffee and have her share some Hungarian recipes with me, like Kocsonya in American words it’s is jellied pig feet. which sounds gross, but it’s absolutely delicious. This along with Pogacsa pork crackling buiscuits.
And maybe a story or two about the old country -Budapest.
When we are younger, we don’t realize the things we can learn from our elders. There is so much time lost, so many memories lost, so much wisdom lost.
There was a time when we lived with eternity in mind. When life had meaning beyond the present, choices carried weight, and faith shaped how we lived. But there has been a shift and this life has become all there is.
Comfort, safety, and control seems to have replaced faith, and fear has become the guiding force to all of our decisions. The world has become obsessed with preserving what people have, rather than repairing for what’s ahead.
Just a few years ago Covid shattered our illusion of control. Fear took over, and people surrendered not just their freedoms, but their need for self-sufficiency. People obeyed, not because they trusted, but because they were afraid. Fear told them safety was the highest priority, that security was worth the cost. We were told it was for our good, but was it?
People convinced themselves that if they could predict, control, and minimize risk, then they could eliminate uncertainty. But were we really in control.
It’s really no surprise that our fears dictate our decisions, and then we become prisoners of a false sense of security. We lock ourselves in cages built by our own anxiety.
A lot has happened since then. The illusion is cracking. People are waking up. The systems that were built on fear are being exposed. We have begun to see how easily we were tricked, and how fear dictated our choices, and how we traded truth for security. When people thought they were protecting themselves, they were handing over control.
Do we continue chasing the illusion or do we reject all authority, grasping at things with no foundation? Or do we surrender-not to fear, because fear was a lie. The question remains whether we were ever really in control.
Fear is a potent tool used by the government and media outlets to influence behavior. This manipulation is often referred to as “fearmongering,” It involves exaggerating potential threats or negative outcomes to sway people’s decisions and actions, sometimes even overriding rational judgment. The illusion of control is another tactic that suggests a sense of order and predictability that was shattered by the covid “pandemic, leading to a reliance on narratives that shape our understanding of the world.
But we can combat this fear-based manipulation. We need to understand that loss is a natural part of life and is not something to be feared. If you had read the Bible you may know that we can make choices to whether or end up in heaven or hell.
We must quantify threats. By assessing the likelihood of a threat we can respond before reacting to fear. We can seek reliable information. Avoid relying solely on media-fed conclusions and seek diverse perspectives.
Another way to combat fear-based manipulation is to resist the herd. Recognize the bandwagon effect and be willing to question everything. What is your “gut” saying to you?
We all have critical thinking skills to evaluate information. Think for yourself. Don’t trust what someone is saying or telling you. Challenge everything -challenge manipulation.
Many times we prioritize human-led solutions to problems and potentially overlook how God’s willingness to play a role in our lives.
Even when life seems confusing or scary it’s important to remember that God is wiser and more capable than we are at navigating our complexities.
Trusting God is an active choice and it’s something that can be cultivated even when we face difficult times.
One thing that has gotten better with age is, I’m more at peace. Things don’t bother me like they used to.
our cognitive abilities and emotional intelligence improve. There are many things that get better with age. Just like fine wine, experience and wisdom enhances our understanding of the world and.
In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, finding peace can seem like an exclusive pursuit.
But what if I told you that there’s a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that is available regardless of circumstances?
When we think of peace, we often think about a place in life where there is no conflict or turmoil. But biblical peace goes beyond any external tranquility we can find got ourselves. It’s a deep sense of calm and contentment that can only be found in a relationship with God.
There are key understandings that guide us in our journey to finding true peace.
Trust God for Peace
Trusting God is essential for finding true peace. Isaiah 26:3 tells us the 1st key: keep your mind focused on God and trust in Him.
“You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord, is everlasting peace.”
When we trust in God, we can surrender our worries and fears to Him, knowing that He is in control. The act of surrender allows you to experience a deep sense of peace that surpasses human understanding. It’s a peace that brings comfort, reassurance, and a steadfast hope.
Trusting in God involves relying on His promises, His faithfulness, and His love. It means acknowledging that He knows what is best and His plans are good and purposeful.
When we are in the middle of difficult circumstances, when we choose to trust in God, He empowers our walk in resilience and serenity.
However, choosing to trust in God requires a shift in our perspective. It means shifting our focus from our problems and uncertainty to the One who holds all things together. As we anchor our trust in God, He invites His peace to rule in our hearts and minds, guiding our thoughts, decisions, and actions.
Trusting in God brings peace in times of uncertainty, strength in times of adversity, hope in the face of challenges, rest for our weary souls, and assurance of His faithfulness.
I’m not saying trusting in God is easy, especially when our circumstances seem overwhelming. But, I’ve learned as I’ve strengthened my trust in Him through prayer, meditation in His Word, and relying on His Holy Spirit I’ve experienced the depths of His peace.
When we let trust become our foundation, we can build a life filled with tranquility and hope.
2. Jesus: The Giver of Lasting Peace
When it comes to peace, Jesus is the ultimate source. Unlike the temporary peace that the world gives us, Jesus offers a lasting transformative peace that can calm our troubled hearts and dispel fear. John 14:27 tells us that Jesus assures us of His gift of peace.
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, I give give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.”
To truly experience the peace that Jesus offers, we must first acknowledge Him as the source and surrender our worries and anxieties to Him. When we do we can find peace and rest.
Then it becomes a deep sense of well-being that originates from a relationship with Him.
3. The Gift of Peace: Jesus
We can fully embrace the gift of peace that Jesus offers us by trusting in Him and believing that His peace is available to us.
Releasing our worries and anxiety to Jesus gives a deep knowing that He really does care for us.
Praying for peace, when we engage in prayer, and seek God’s peace and asking Him to fill our hearts with His calming presence.
I have a strategy that I use when I start getting overwhelmed. It’s a simple exercise I do that I learned from a friend. Breath in, think of that breath as God’s light or peace being breathed in. And then when I exhale that breath I think about exhaling the stress of what I am overwhelmed by.
Mediating on scripture. Spend some time reading and reflecting on God’s Word. Allow His promises of peace to enter your mind and soul.
Practice gratitude. Some might think this is a small thing, but an attitude of gratitude goes a long way. Focus on your blessings in life rather than dwelling on negativity.
4. Pursuing Peace Through Action
Peace is not something that we accidentally stumble upon, it must be an intentional pursuit. In order to truly experience peace in our lives, we must actively seek it.
Psalm 34:14 gives us a guide in our pursuit of peace. It instructs us to “depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.”
When we choose to depart from evil, we distance ourselves from actions and behaviors that disrupt peace. By embracing goodness, we foster an environment of harmony and tranquility.
“If it costs you your peace, it’s too expensive.”
But it doesn’t stop there. Peace requires an ongoing effort. We are encouraged to actively engage in actions that promote reconciliation, understanding, and unity.
Seeking peace through action involves fostering healthy relationships, resolving conflicts with love and forgiveness, and promoting justice and equality. It requires us to be peacemakers, to actively contribute to the well being of others and society as a whole.
Our actions have the power to seek peace and create a ripple effect that transcends borders and cultures.
I think one of the most effective ways to pursue peace is to lead by example. By embodying a few principles of peace on our own lives, we can become beacons of hope and inspiration of others.
By actively choosing peace and demonstrating it in our daily interactions, we can set the stage for dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation. Our actions and words have the power to heal wounds, bridge gaps, and cultivate a culture of peace.
5. The Fruit Of Peace
The peace in our lives as followers of Jesus is a result of the Holy Spirit’s presence within us. When we invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts, we open ourselves up to His transformative power, and one of the most beautiful fruits He produces in us is peace.
In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul writes about the fruits of the Holy Spirit including peace,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.”
The fruit of peace of the Holy Spirit means that as we yield to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, we experiment a deep sense of tranquility. This peace doesn’t come from our circumstances, but the presence of God Himself within us.
Jesus promised His disciples that He would give them His peace. A peace that is unlike anything the world can offer. This is the same peace that the Holy Spirit produces in us when we surrender our lives to Him.
The Holy Spirit’s work of cultivating peace in us involves transforming our hearts, minds, and attitudes. He helps us to let go of anxiety, fear, worry, and replaces them with His calming presence and the assurance of God’s faithfulness.
When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and produce the fruit of peace, we can experience a profound sense of well being, even in the middle of challenging circumstances. This peace enables us to face trials with confidence and to exhibit Christ like love and kindness to those around us.
The Holy Spirit works alongside God and Jesus as Jesus’s presence in the world. He is the Jesus said he would send to be our helper, comforter, our advocate to teach, guide, and remind us of Jesus’s teachings.
In John 14:16-17 Jesus says He would ask the Father to send us another advocate to help us and be with us forever.
The world cannot accept Him, because they neither see Him nor know Him. But, as followers saved by God, we know He is in our lives as a guide and empowers and transforms us. He resides within us as the seal of salvation. He leads us to the truth and provides wisdom for our decisions.
He can equip us with spiritual gifts such as teaching, and prophecy. He transforms us by producing spiritual fruit in us. He intercedes for us when we have no words for our prayer.
I know the Holy Spirit is guiding my decisions when my stomach gets tied up in knots. It is the way He communicates with me when He is guiding me in truth and direction. It’s a feeling of peace or unrest. It can be the Holy Spirit’s way of confirming a decision, warning against a path, or nudging toward action.
He can use discernment. I’ve learned to distinguish their prompting through prayer, scripture, and experience. For example: a feeling of peace affirms my choice, while an uneasy feeling can signal caution.
However, discernment is key to enduring the gut feeling that aligns with scripture and just isn’t emotion or circumstance.
They tells us sleep is essential for good health, that inadequate sleep can lead to various issues, and chronic disease.
I don’t think my body got that memo. I have been sleeping between 3-5 hours of sleep with a Power Nap sometimes in the afternoon. I hit the bed about 11 PM and wake up between 3 and 4 AM.
I have tried to sleep longer but I either wake up with a headache or backache. I’ve been checking by a dr and a sleep study and everything is fine. The doctors want to prescribe sleeping pills but I feel drugged for a day afterwards. It’s not worth it to me.
I figure that’s how God made me, and he has by back so, I’m good.
What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?
When life gets rough, we all want things to make us better. I rely on Jesus‘s words. “ peace I live with you, my peace I give you. Not as the world gives to I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
When life gets rough, I go to the Bible. along with coffee, hot baths. long walks, and a glass of wine from time to time.
We are all moved by what we see. Our emotions, thoughts, and actions are processed through by what our eyes tell us. However, our best decisions we will ever make are the ones we make when we live by faith and not sight.
I am an analytical person, I approach problems by breaking them down into small parts and using logic to understand them. But I have not always been this way. For years I made decisions based on my emotions, and feelings. But, I’ve learned a few things since then.
There are times I find myself falling back into my old ways. Especially when it comes to my children. I definitely still have that “momma protective instinct” going on.
But it is only through faith that the impossible becomes possible. And sometimes it seems completely ridiculous the things that God asks us to do. But, I can tell you I’ve never regretted anything that God asks me to do. If I had chosen to make decisions based on what I saw or my emotions I wouldn’t be where I am today. If I chose to not walk by faith, I would never have seen God’s mighty hand move in my life.
God had brought miracles to my life. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.” When we choose to see through our eyes, we limit God’s ability to do wonders. God is able to do more than what we can ever imagine.
God asks us to step out in faith because it’s only through faith that God can be glorified. If life always happened the way we expected it to happen, there wouldn’t be a need for God to do miracles. When we live by faith, our, lives become a testimony to God’s Almighty power.
God wants to do miracles in our lives, but we just step out on faith to see God move, if we continue to do things our way, how can we expect to see God’s hand?
Rewards in heaven glorify God and provide us with joy, comma peace, and wonder as we pursue godly, living and surrendering to God‘s work in us and through us. Rewards in heaven are the completion of our earthly salvation experience and those rewards will be eternally satisfying.
There are 5 heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers. The translation of the word “Stephanos for crown means “a badge of royalty. It is referred to a wreath or garland of leaves placed on a victors head as a reward for winning an athletic contest. This word is used figuratively in the New Testament of the rewards in heaven God promises to those who are faithful.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 defines how these crowns are awarded.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competed for the prize is disciplined in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”
The Crown Of Rejoicing
The purpose: the apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4 to “rejoice always in the Lord, Again I will say rejoice. For all the bountiful blessings God has showered on us. As followers of God, we have more in this life to rejoice about than anyone else.
God’s unchanging Love and Presence. We can rejoice in the assurance that God love is steadfast and eternal. His presence is always with us, offering comfort and guidance -Matthew 28:20.
Salvation and Forgiveness. We can celebrate the gift of salvation which brings forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation with God -Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:1.
Hope in Eternal Life. We can rejoice in the promise of eternal life, and the hope of a future with God, freedom from pain and suffering -John 3:16, Revelation 21:4.
The Holy Spirit’s Guidance. We can be glad for the Holy Spirit, who empowers,guides, and strengthens us to live out our faith -John 14:26, Galatians 5:22-23.
God’s Provision and Care. We can thank God for his daily provision, physical and emotional and spiritual. And trusting He will meets our needs - Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:33.
Peace in the Midst of Chaos. In a world of uncertainty, we can rejoice in the peace that God surpasses all understanding -Philippians 4:6-7
2. The Crown Of Righteousness
The purpose: we inherit this crown through righteousness of Jesus which is what gives us the right to it, and without it, it cannot be obtained. It is an everlasting crown that is promised to all who love the Lord Jesus and eagerly wait for His return. Through our enduring discouragement, persecutions, sufferings, and even death, we know surely our reward is with Jesus in eternity.
In 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul tells us,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
As followers of Jesus, we become citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we can eagerly wait for him to return as our savior. Then He will take our weak mortal body and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control - Philippians 3:21-21 (paraphrased).
When we finish the race, we will get the reward.
3. The Crown Of Life
The purpose: This crown is for all followers of Jesus we know that our earthly lives will end. But we have the amazing promise that comes to those who come to God through Jesus.  This is a promise that He has promised us in eternal life -1 John 2:25.
This crown will also be given to those who successfully under temptation and suffering, who bravely confront persecution for Jesus, even to the point of death.
James 1:12 tells us,
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he had been approve He will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Revelation 2: 10-11 says,
“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.”
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” -Revelation 3:11
4. The Crown Of InCorruption Or Imperishable Crown
The purpose: this crown is for exercising liberty by living a life of disciplined endurance. Jesus provided us an example of such a life.
In 1 Corinthians 9:26-27, Paul tells us,
“I do not run like someone running aimlessly. I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” – NIV
To reward the winner of an Olympic type race. Such as reward points to a permanent honor that Jesus will bestow upon those who live life by the Holy Spirit restraint, which keeps them qualified for ministry.
We should deny ourselves for God, glory that we might be honored at the judgment seed of Christ.
5. The Crown Of Glory
The purpose: This crown is a permanent honor that Jesus will bestow on leaders in the church who diligently disciple God’s people for our growth and maturity.
This is for teachers, preachers etc… who live a steadfast life to live out their calling in service to others.
Rewards in heaven glorify God, and provide us with joy, peace, and wonder as we pursue godly, living and surrendering to God’s work in us and through us. Rewards in heaven are the completion of our earthly salvation, and both awards will be eternally satisfying (Psalm 16.11).
In times of rapid tech advancements, global crisis and social upheavals along with negative news and a sense of collective anxiety among people around us all. It might be difficult to be excited about anything these days.
Finding faith in the middle of the chaos can be difficult. But, excites me. Knowing Jesus will return soon excites me.
What could you let go of, for the sake of harmony?
Over the years, I have learned that to have a peaceful life I need to let go of grudges, expectations, or resentment. It’s about prioritizing balance over being right or holding onto pain.
Forgiving someone who hurts or wrongs us never means that we condom their actions it’s about choosing to be free from the resentment.
Holding on to grudges, and not forgiving others can cause sickness. It hurts us, not the other person.
Think of soul care as the spiritual version of self-care. The world sees self-care as one of the most effective ways to fight anxiety and depression as well as minimize the symptoms of stress. If you’re a believer, you know that no amount of self-care will remedy whatever strife you’re feeling if your soul isn’t at peace. Self-care without soul care is just a bandage on a gaping wound.
Last night I had an awful dream. I was in a doctor’s office and he was telling me I was going to die, there was nothing anyone could do for me. To set my affairs in order. I kept waking myself up but would just go back to the same dream. Then I woke up to the Spirit of God asking me, “What would you do in exchange for your soul?
Our soul must always first. Throughout our lives, we go through many things. The world tends to take our minds off the important things. Our life often seems depleted by people, circumstances, and the demands of our life. There are things we know we should do, and things we must do. How many times have we put things aside, thinking we can get to that later? But, later never seems to come.
Sometimes we risk our soul for our flesh -the flesh decays but our soul will live on forever. Taking care of our souls is precious. It’s more valuable than silver or gold that is in the earth, more precious than all the jewels in the world. It is the essence of a person, our consciousness, character, or spiritual core. It holds greater worth than any earthly treasure. Yet, how many times do we put it on the back burner?
“For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and lose his own soul?” -Mark 8:36
Worldly possessions and achievements are ultimately meaningless if our spiritual well-being is compromised.
Our soul is of infinite worth that far surpasses any material gain.
My dream and the words of the Holy Spirit made me consider how our choices impact our relationship with God and our eternal destiny.
From Pity to Praise 