February 20, 2011
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That You Might Have Peace
...now and forever more...
Well, now. Because we are humans living on this earth, we only get bits and pieces of peace intermingled with the upheavals of life, depending sometimes on the choices you've made or are making. Also, depending on what the people around you are doing, you can have peace and upheavals, sometimes utter chaos and grief.
Recently, I felt like my life was at a (DARE I say it?) teeny bit of a boring place. I met with a friend after sensing that God told me to call her (she's exTREMEly busy) and ask to meet. She was available the very next hour. UN believable! (not, 'cuz God was in this)! We met at her sister's bakery and I just sort of unloaded the latest chapter of my heart. Her sister joined us in the little cozy seating area after closing shop. After I said, "I just feel STUCK", dear little bakery sister piped up and exclaimed "WELL, we'll just have to unstick you!" they both said they'd pray for me, and wow, things have been rolling right along since then. And God is truly in it all. There is an underlying peace, under and through all of it. In spite of a couple of unsettling events this past week, I saw God work His wonderful, mysterious magic.
I sat in a courtroom an hour away from home to wait for the questions that are asked to see if I qualified for jury duty. After the judge stated that the case was about child sex abuse, my heart nearly came out of my mouth. I will spare you the details. What I want you to know is that God raised my hand up and coaxed the necessary words out of my mouth. He held me together as I began to tremble with deep seated emotion that I had attempted to keep locked in the Stay Stoic room. My eyes blurred with tears as I spoke in a soft voice while the crowded room waited in a death silence: "This would be too difficult for me". The very kind lady judge excused me and I, number 8 in the first group of many potential jurors, quickly walked out and headed for the nearby restroom. I knew God was holding me. I knew He allowed this experience for several reasons, the main one being that right then and there, I needed to pray for my brother in his prison. I then went downstairs and felt like every person's eyeballs were staring through me, just as the defendant's scary black eyes had in that courtroom. I could not WAIT to get out of there! Thankfully, Hubby sat waiting for me, like a knight in shining armor. As soon as I told him what the case was about, he kicked into loving, caring gear and asked if I wanted to go to Sedona.
Actually, I wanted to just go home and have a good cry. But, I felt, again, that God was in this and I should go along with Hubby. I am SO glad we went. Even though the sky was grey, we had a great time. My camera is such a fabulous tool for working through emotions and I snapped away like a crazy girl!
Since then, life has continued to be very interesting and I am not bored. I have peace, I am busy, and I am being held. Just as you are loved, I am loved also. God is IN it!
Comments (14)
Beautiful, beautiful pictures.
That would be a very hard case to sit through for anyone! So gald you were able to not have to deal with it, that would have been hard. Such a good husband you have! He took good care of you!
Even though you're feeling a bit down, you have such a good attitude! I like how you said we only get bits and pieces of peace.
I think we have this idea in our human heads that life is supposed to be smooth sailing for us, but it will never be! Not here! Thankfully we serve a God that can give us peace even when life is not peaceful.
Enjoy your Sunday. =)
@Elizabethmarie_1 - Thank you, Sweet Girl! I hope you are enjoying a bit of peace today! I need to go to your site and see what you've been up to!
aww, man, sedona was the ticket it seemed you needed right then and there. i'm glad your life is no longer boring. and i'm also glad you went to sedona, mother nature holds you too, you know. it's all good.
Your pictures are fabulous as usual. I was blessed by story of the courtroom. Thanks so much for sharing. I think we too often forget that He is so willing to lift us up when we are down.
Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing that story. Praying that God will grant you peace as you trust and rest him Him.
Thinking of you! Those are lovely photos, tying together the colors of nature and of building in natural surroundings! I'm hoping to visit Sedona (and you, too) sometime this year or next.
Well my sweet friend I am so thankful for FatherGod as he held you in His loving arms. Peace that passeth all understanding Praise God. I loved it when I was a jurror. Mine was a domestic case lasted about a week. But, like you I truly don't think I could have handled a child abuse case. There was a child murder case at the same time as we were sitting on the domestic case that was bad enough.
Oh hun what beautiful photos so very good. I know that life can certainly get in out way of blogging, it was so very nice of you to stop by.
Hugs....Linda
Love you sweet friend, blessed to hear of the Lord's hand and grace, through others, in your life. I love that you put those photos wedded with the Lord's Peace.
We are on a bit of a coaster here, participating in our eldest couple suddenly going on the mission field, and knowing next up will be the grand baby.
When the ground beneath us trembles God's foundation never moves. I love how God knew and provided for your needs! What an assurance we have.
Court case - so difficult. I'm a Children's Pastor and a foster parent. The emotions swing out of control in search of balance. I'm glad you found peace.
i'm so glad that you didn't succumb to simply melting... and that the day turned out positively in the end. if you had melted, you'd probably STILL be melted...
i need to work on not being bored. i have little motivation to GET unbored. but once i begin, i find that i really like it.
I wish I could learn to fully use my camera the way you do. I have a good camera but my pictures just don't come out 'crisp'. I hope you are finding God's purpose for you each and every day.
Beautiful shots, very peaceful indeed. Years ago I asked to leave the jury because of a case that disturbed me so much.Maybe some day I will write of my experience. Yes, the peace that passes all understanding is readily available.Very nice post and aren't we blessed to have compassionate husbands!
I can understand that you did not want to jury...In my country we have no system of jury by citizens. Th child abuse is everywhere, sexual assault is a crime against humanity and should be judged by the highest courts, where judges must take their responsibility. We do too litle, whatever we can do, will do...
Are you fine again? Not too nervous now...it is the season of our lives, dear friend,....We should walk hand in hand with our hushband and thank him once more for being here for us.
Be well.
Lieve groeten
Godeliva van Ariadone
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