OUR DAILY BREAD : THE SEARCH FOR PEACE

[cimi]

February 5
Thursday


THE SEARCH
FOR PEACE

READ:
Philipians 4:4-12
_________________________________________

The peace of God,
which surpasses all
understanding, will
guard your hears
and minds.
__Philippians 4:4-12
_________________________________________

At the height of their popularity, creativity, and wealth, the Beatles produced a controversial project called "The White Album." It signaled the breakup of the band featuring pieces that were primarily individual in nature instead of collaborative.

It also revealed a growing disenchantment with all that their fame had produced. In his song "I'm So Tired," John Lennon expressed the emptiness of his "successful" and wealthy life with these profound words: "I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind." All that he had, all that he had accomplished, and all that he had become could not meet this simple, yet deep, personal need.

The world we live in cannot offer peace. It offers only poor options. Pleasure, power, and possessions are no substitute for peace of heart and mind.

Paul reminded the believers at Philippi, "The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7). This is the peace God brings to thsoe who have been reconciled to God by faith in His Son Jesus (Eph. 2:14-16). It is a peace we are to share with a world that is desperate for it.

Peace--real peace--is found only in a relationship with Jesus. Have you received His peace? __Bill Crowder
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``````````````````````FINDING REAL PEACE`````````````````````

``````````Accept the reconciliation God offers by asking Him`````````
`````````to forgive you. Believe that His Son Jesus died on the```````
``````````cross for your sins and was raised from the dead.``````````
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Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you. __Jesus

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Philippians 4:4-12*********

4 Rejoice in the Lord
always, Again I will say,
rejoice! 5 Let your
gentleness be known to all
men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to
God; 7 and the peace of
God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything
praiseworthy__meditate on
these things. 9 The things
which you learned and
received and heard and saw
in me, these do, and the
God of peace will be with
you.

10 But I rejoiced in the
Lord greatly that now at last
your care for me has
flourished again; though
you surely did care, but you
lacked opportunity. 11 Not
that I speak in regard to
need, for I have learned in
whatever state I am, to be
content: 12 I know how to
be abased, and I know how
to abound. everywhere and
in all things I have learned
both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and
to suffer need.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In addition to the theme of peace, Paul's words here to the
Philippian church carry the theme of joy (4:4, 10)__though he
writes from prison. he describes his rejoicing as coming from two
significant roots: the presence of the Lord (v.5) and the care of the
family of faith (v.10). __Bill Crowder

[Timothy]

So much worry.
So much frustration.
So much anger.
So much anxiety.
So much emptieness.
So much loneliness.
So much bitterness.

Forgiveness.
Giving it to the Lord.
Using the talents God has given you to be a blessing to others.
Allowing God the time to work out the process.
Waiting for Him.
Refusing the negative thoughts that sneak in.
Replacing them with praise, worship and song.
Believing in Jesus.
Knowing that life is between you and God, not you and someone else.

Trusting that God will provide a way.
Look for it. Recognized it when it comes. Accept it.

Oh, What wonderus joy!
Watch the miracles unfold.
Rejoice in them.

His peace has gotten us through many moments of potential struggle.
How beautiful is his peace!

Timothy