Peace

Peace. What is it? We all long for "World" peace, for wars to cease, for troubles to end. But what about peace within?  What can you do to bring your soul peace when all around you is in turmoil and strife?
It seems there is always some crisis with one of my family members.  One needs a hot water heater, one needs car repairs, another needs bills paid and it goes on and on it seems!!!  I'm sure many of you have experienced that and much worse.  I can't imagine what it would be like to have a real calamity touch my life such as losing my home to a storm like some have experienced recently in Alabama. 
The Bible tells us a story of a time when Jesus was out on the Sea of Gallilee with his disciples. Jesus was quite tired from ministering to so many that he fell asleep as the boat went its way. Even when a violent storm came up and threatened to sink the fishing boat, Jesus still slept soundly.  How exhausted he must have been!  Just the sound of thunder wakes me up!!!  His disciples were concerned.  No!  More than concerned.  Even though they were experienced fishermen (some at least) and had experienced storms, this one really frightened them.  They woke up their teacher (Jesus) and begged him to save them as they felt as if they were going to drown.  Calm as a cucumber Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and all was calm, all was at peace. (Matthew 8:23-27)  I think this action must have frightened the disciples almost as much as the storm they had experienced.  By doing this, Jesus showed that He is Lord over their cimcumstances (whatever they may be.)
Today some of you feel as if you are going to drown because of the circumstances you face. You may feel as if no one cares and perhaps as if there is no way out.  I want to remind you that Jesus does care.  He knows exactly what you are experiencing and is ready to see you through it even if you are not delivered from it fully. 
Isaiah, the great prophet wrote (ch 26:3) "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
Perhaps God is allowing you to experience the storm so that you will find perfect peace in the midst of it by gazing on Him. 
There is an old hymn I dearly love to sing called "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus".
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in his wonderful face,
and the things of this world
will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace."

My friend if you are in a storm of strife, calamity, or unrest in your soul I hope you will look to the ony one who can provide you with perfect peace.

New Life in Christ, Butterfly Illustration

I love to photograph butterflies.  They are challenging to photograph as they don't stay in one place very long, flitting from flower to flower.  My favorite butterfly is the Monarch.  It's so colorful!
Did you know that the butterfly is a great illustration of being born again in Christ?  The caterpillar lives for a season and then forms a coccoon where in time its whole molecular structure changes.  Eventually what comes out of the coccoon is not another caterpillar but a beautiful butterfly!!!  That's the way it is with us.
In John 3 Jesus tells Nicodemas that "you must be born again."  We have to die to living for ourselves and be born again to live for God.  The coccoon represents the grave or a tomb.  Every farmer knows that a seed must die before it can grow to bear its fruit.  Therefore, we must die beforefore we can truly live and become what God intended us to be, a beautiful butterly, a new creation.  No longer are we what we used to be, but God makes us to be a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5 tells us that we are a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.  Now you might not see such a drastic change at first. With us as Christians this takes a lifetime.  Sometimes it seems we take one step forward and two steps back.  It may be difficult to see progress toward becoming that new creation.  Let me encourage you not to lose faith and hope.  God is working in you constantly, even when it doesn't seem like it. 
If you don't know Jesus as your Savior and Lord let me encourage you to make that decision today.
Our life is but a breath and you need to make the most of it.  Let me assure you that you will never regret being a child of God.

To see more photos go to  Steven Faucette Photography