Peace

Tim Howard, goalie

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.

 And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. 

So don’t be troubled or afraid. 

John 14:27 (NLT) 

Jesus has left us the gift of peace.  So many times we forget to open it.

If anyone should be feeling stress and anxiety it should be Tim Howard, goalie of the U.S. National Soccer Team. The U.S. Soccer team is moving on in the 2014 World Cup due in large part to the tremendous goalie skills exhibited by Tim Howard.  Even with all those hard shots coming right at him, he seems to maintain a sense of peace and command.

As he states here, Tim has found his sense of peace from a source other than success in sports:

The most important thing in my life is Christ.  He's more important to me than winning or losing or whether I'm playing or not. Everything else is just a bonus.

Today, I am blessed to be living a dream. And yet, if it all went away tomorrow, I know I would still have peace. That probably sounds crazy to most people, but that's the kind of peace Christ gives. It is rooted in His love, and it surpasses all understanding. 

You can experience this same sense of love and peace, too. All you have to do is ask for it.

That is such a great reminder to all of us.  No matter how stressful our situation may seem, we can open that gift that Jesus has given us.  We cannot find it any where else in the world, but we can experience it by tapping into Jesus, our only source of Peace.

Tim Howard Talks About Faith

Tim Howard: The Goal Keeper

Lead Me On

Roman Road and Arch, Donnas, France

When I walk through the darkest valley

 I will not be afraid because you are close beside me.

Ps. 23:4 (NLT)

There are times when things seem so dark we can't see our way.  We are weighed down with confusion and fear.  In times like these we need even more to trust the Great Shepherd who is always there and will never fail to lead us on. 

I am so thankful for the rich tradition of scripture and song that I have been surrounded with these last 47 years since I came to know Christ.  In times of trouble, a scripture or a song comes to mind to encourage me. This morning I woke singing Precious Lord, Take My Hand, written by Thomas A. Dorsey, the father of Black Gospel music.  

He wrote this song a week after the tragic loss of his wife and son in childbirth. As he tells the story:

I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody. Once in my head they just seemed to fall into place: 

'Precious Lord, take my hand lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.' 

The Lord gave me these words and melody. He also healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power. 

And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comeswhen He will take me and gently lead me home.

How much encouragement we gain from listening to the stories of those who have experienced the dark times and have found God faithful to carry them through. 

Oh Lord, let us always cling to you, trusting you to lead us on toward the light no matter how dark it seems.  We know you will bring us through because your grace is unchanging, your love unfailing.  Give us eyes to see, give us faith to believe that you are always there close beside holding our hand.

Click here:  Elvis singing Precious Lord. (In honor of my mom who was an Elvis fan.)

Sacrifice

American Cemetery and Memorial, Normandy, France

On our recent trip to France we visited the beaches of Normandy where the allied troops landed to begin their assault to free Europe from the Nazis on June 6, 1944.  This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of that invasion. There we visited the Memorial where thousands of crosses mark the graves of those who gave their lives.  Their sacrifice allowed the people of Europe to be set free from a vicious enemy. 

As I meditate upon the sacrifice of those brave men, I am reminded of the sacrifice of Christ.  It is because of his willing and courageous sacrifice that I have life today.  As those thousands of crosses represent new life and freedom for the continent of Europe, so that one cross represents new life and freedom for all who identify themselves with it.

Omaha Beach, Normandy, France