April 19, 2020 - Let Peace Rule

Keep going. Keep going. Keep going. Just tell me when it's on Alec. Actually, it's not. Okay. So what is I just love those? I thought you were on and I hope you're still with this man. I just I got to get to know you. I love that little your ear necklace that the reflective back is is awesome. It's awesome. And Just want to tell you guys I'm the one who's watching on Facebook and I get to see you interact with each other and you guys are doing a great job. You know, I like to think of the comments on Facebook and actually comments on YouTube in the comments on Periscope. I monitor all of those and I think of those times as our time in the foyer or the time after the service, you know the time when we talk to each other the time where we encourage each other we catch up on stories. We pray for each other and I keep on doing a guys you guys are absolutely great out of your welcoming people as they come in you're letting people know when you're like a song you are you're interacting with the with the message as it goes on and really kudos to you guys. Keep it up and It's going to be fun. So we had. The thought that came into my mind was I I wanted to talk about seek peace and pursue it. And I knew I needed to find out the context that the Bible has that in. And I knew that that was going to be an important message other version. I'm using the version of the Bible doesn't say Seek peace and pursue it actually says search for peace and work to maintain it. And I want to start by showing you one place in scripture. It's it's another place I'll end with the other place, but I want to see the context of that because when I read the context, it was extremely important for what we're going through today in this. Self-imposed exile for the good of the realm, you know, I like to call it that instead of isolation or social isolation. It's it's it's self-imposed exile for the good of the realm because it is more of an adventure that way, you know words are important. So she use your words. I want to start by reading from 1st Peter chapter 3. I didn't mark where I guess I did training for 7, so if you want to show that slide I will just read It says in the same way you husbands must honor give honor to your wives treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are but she is equally or equal partner in God's Gift of new life treat her issue should so your prayers will not be hindered. Finally. All of you should be of one mind sympathize with each other love each other as brothers and sisters be tender-hearted keep a humble attitude don't repay evil for evil don't retaliate with insults when people insult you instead pay them back with blessing. This is what God called you to do. He will grant you his Blessing for scripture says if you want to enjoy life and see many happy days keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies turn from Evil and do good search for peace and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right and his ears are open to their prayers, but the Lord turns his face against those who do evil heavenly father. I just want to thank you that you're with us wherever we're meeting wherever location if we're gathered with family or watching alone if we are watching on whatever platform if it's on YouTube for periscope for Facebook Lord. I just thank you. You're there with us in this moment. Even if we're watching later Lord God your presence is everywhere always so help us to be in tune with that and holy spirit. Give us a chess what you would have us learn and give us your ways of how to make it happen in this current situation. We're in in your holy name. Amen. So we're told to search for peace and seek to maintain it. What's a context there? If Peter isn't talking about the peace of God that passes all understanding. I don't believe he's talking about the peace that Jesus said when he said Peace I give you my peace I leave with you. I don't give as the world. Give I give you. Peace. the peace within the context of 1st Peter He is talking about our relationships. He's talking about how we treat each other. And I don't care if you are. Self-exiled for the good of the realm with your family or with your spouse or all by yourself. We still have to figure out a way to have those relationships. We still have to figure out a way. 2 to love each other And I know we've been in this for a while. It's starting to feel like spring in Edmonton, you know, we weed, you know, one neighbor needs to snow plow and the other one needs to mow his lawn kind of spring but still

we need to figure out how to make this work.

You know this week Karen and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. And one of the things I did was I I went through all of the photos I have of us over the years and I did a little video and you might have saw that on Facebook. Thank you for your comments. And for your you're just your blessing us. It was really special. But a couple of things came to my attention as I looked at the photos that I have number one as our kids grew up and we still didn't have smartphones. We don't have a lot of pictures of Karen and I together we have pictures family pictures when we're all together, but pictures of us together. They just didn't happen. You know, we got pictures of Karen in the kids and she's playing with the kids and helping the kids and training the kids and loving the kids and we got pictures of me sleeping with the kids because that's when Karen got the camera was able to take pictures of me. But that's just bygones. The other thing I noticed was.

As I looked at all those pictures.

I didn't think. of the things that we said and we didn't say I didn't think about the things that we did and we didn't do.

You know as I looked at those pictures. I realize that.

We know Karen and I know the value.

Of the van as we love we keep no record of wrong.

Like when I thought about it, I can remember things that I did and things that I said and things I didn't do and things I didn't say any of the things that she said in the thing. She didn't say in the thing. She did doing the thing. She didn't do I can remember them. But I don't look on them with angst. I don't look on them with regret. I don't look on them with with.

You know, it doesn't stir up angry emotions in me. And it's really because we've decided to do a couple of things as a couple. First of all, we don't allow ourselves to say you never never or you always always because no one never never and no one always always.

You know, we are very intentional when we need to have an argument. We want to honor each other in that argument. And so we don't bring up past things and say you always a we don't bring up things left undone and say you never and when we have we we call each other on it.

Listen, I'm hearing stories. of couples who are on the verge of breakup and now they are in cell fix the holes for the good of the realm together. And they're working things out.

And I've heard other stories of people who thought their marriage was. Okay. But they've been self-exiled for the good of the realm together in the kids need to be homeschooled and I'm still working from home and hey, I got laid off and and the pressures Mount up and I mount up and down tops and their our marriage is falling apart.

It's not just marriages. It's relationships between kids and parents. Some kids are doing everything they can to connect with their parents. If it's FaceTime if it's what Sapp if it's Zoom, however, we want to connect with our parents.

And others are feeling guilty because they've got a parent who's in a home and no one can see them and they don't know technology and that's added stress and it's added stuff. Do this whole experience than that?

We need to know how to let peace rule.

We need to know.

how to get along with each other

Good news is it's all in the book here. Good news is we've got a path forward.

At the start of all this doctor Dolly Holly Daniels who has a lot of letters after her name's YouTube video that isn't title 8 tips for reducing anxiety and stress during the covid.

But she has eight tips. Then I want to give you and I couple that with scripture. And I've got questions to ask us that you can ask yourself if you're alone, or you can ask as a family if you're together or if you can ask, you know, you're you're the people you interact with. However you interact with them. Okay pay attention to these tips. Tip number one is to practice acceptance. Now by this point all of us have decided some how to practice acceptance But what it means to practice acceptance, we need to allow for your feelings and allow for the reality of the situation.

We can't be denying the current situation wherein we can't be saying that you know, where? You're going to kill yourself if you don't accept the reality of what's going on.

Scripture tells us in Hebrews 12:7 to endure hardship as discipline. That means it this isn't from God, but it means that God is going to use every situation he can to make you and me look more like Jesus. So as we're becoming more and more and more like Jesus all the stuff that is in Jesus is going to get kind of rubbed off and rubbing off is painful.

So expect that in this process were in. expect that there are going to be times where you're going to need to have real discussions with the people that yourself isolating with or that you're trying to have connections with outside of your you're

self exile for the good of the realm

the question I have for you is how are you doing with the new normal?

Something you can think about if you're by yourself at something you can discuss as a family. In what do you need to tweak? What do you need to change? Is there a rhythm you need to set up? You're still enjoying just not getting out of your pajamas. Come on.

It might mean that your shift rules someone else. Yeah, you know if someone's doing the suppers in someone's doing the laundry, maybe it works better to switch that around or do something different have those discussions have those times. How are you doing with the new normal? The second shift the doctor Holly has is to make a plan. Same sort of thing at this point in the junction is it if you don't have a plan you got to have a plan in place. Psalms 37:23 says the steps of of people are established by the Lord and He Delights in their ways.

Comfort is you got to do what you need to do to cope. So whatever that looks like to you. You got to be able to have that discussion with your who's ever. We need a term who it was ever in your household Waco's week. Anyway, I don't do Greek. But anyway you you You going to have that discussion? How is the Rhythm? How is your plan working out for you? How is your Rhythm working out for you? Do you need to change something? You need to tweak something do you need to do something different? Are you going to do something different now that is warming up like okay, you got to get those things out there you guys talk about those. Tiptree is to stay in the present moment. When we we bring our minds into the presence and stop ruminating about the future or the past or what's gone wrong or what could go wrong. We realize it will K. You need to make sure your mind is where your body is. Well, Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that he will keep those in perfect. Peace whose who are steadfast because they trust in him Are you trusting God with whatever is coming down next? Are you trusting God with what however long you need to endure? Are you trusting God with that?

I'm going to talk about this more later, but gratitude and appreciation is huge in this.

That's all I'm going to say now. We'll get to that later.

The question you can ask yourself the question you can ask those at yourself isolating with is is how is your peace? How's your peace? How are you doing? Have you left your peace somewhere? Have you paid a price and lost your keys? Have you done something you shouldn't be doing? And you don't have that piece that Jesus has promised you don't have that piece that comes from bring about everything worry about nothing and doing what God tells you to do. tip number for it's only over expose yourself to the news. I hope I hope I hope.

what my what I do is

I'm up when I get up, but I don't go on social media. I don't go on any news site until after 10. Generally, I got I was counting them up. I think I have five apps. I've got two local. I got to National. I've got one internet. No, I got to International. I've got six apps for news. I don't look at them and I don't allow them to send push notifications when I look at them. It's usually when we're doing up supper and Something's Cooking. So I got 20 minutes and so I'm flipping through the stories and the stories I want to see is I want to see the stories of how science is helping with this. I want to see the local stories of what's going on here. What changes have been made? What do I need to know about locally? And nationally there is anything happening that I need to be aware of internationally. How's the rest of the world dealing with this guy got friends all over the place? How are they doing?

The question you can ask yourself and your family grouping. Is this like are you giving up giving too much time away to Media?

It really is okay to not be notified everytime someone posts on Facebook and it really is okay to check your email once a day or twice a day if you're working from home three times today, but you don't need to have it announced every time it comes in. You don't you eat it's okay. Beside my phone does not ring Pastor should never mention anything about his phone because all of his friends will start ringing his phone and I forgot to turn mine off. Anyway, the I don't know who's watching. But if they're friends of mine, they might just there it's off.

Don't be notified.

What was the talk about let it be let it be pull let your phone pull information meaning you checked. You don't have notifications pop up for your email. You get it when you get there. You don't I'd there is like I eat if you have my text, you can get me if you got my phone. You can call me, but it doesn't ring till after 10.

Find out. a rhythm so that you don't overexpose yourself. The 24-hour news cycle is killing people. You can't watch this stuff all the time and have any kind of Peace yourself. Pick and choose what you're watching. Tip number 5 from Doctor. Holy is to pay attention to your body.

Hey guys, I'm seeing far too many memes on Facebook that are poking fun at your body before the lockdown and your body after the lockdown. And I get it stress-eating is a great way to cope and you know, it's better than binge drinking by the way in our Province the new study out people under 45 are reporting a higher level of binge drinking than normal. I don't know what that means. But liquor stores are considered essential services and hair salons are not. anyway

Pay attention to your body John 3rd. John 1 verse 2 says beloved. I pray that in all respects. You may prosper and being good and it began in good health even as your soul prospers.

Are you getting enough exercise? I got a Fitbit that tells me I need 10,000 steps every day. And so if I don't have them I'm out walking somewhere. If it's too cold to walk, I got a treadmill so I'm on there I missed a day last week. But actually that was a the we celebrated our anniversary and we play the game with our kids.

It's kind of cool set of Settlers of Catan on Steam. It's free. You can play it now. It's awesome.

Question you can ask yourself or your family is are you getting enough exercise and rest and are you eating well?

Skip number 6 from Doctor Holly is to practice low deep breathing. Okay. This is when You're getting overwhelmed with information. All of us are going to have times when things get overwhelming. So, how did how are you going to Center yourself back to the present? slow deep breathing Lowers the feelings of anxiety. Okay, when I like to do when I'm when I'm doing this is to remember. Psalm 56:3 when I'm afraid I put my trust in you. We will have times when we just feel exhausted. We will have times when we we just want things to get back to normal. We will have those times. Get centered back on God. One good way to do this.

Are you building something? Are you working on something?

In the Book of Genesis. There was a a famine that took place in the land. I can't Tell you the address but Isaac was in the land and it the first line in the chapter says that there was a famine in the land. And then the chapter goes I the story goes on and it says that Isaac took his seed and he planted during the famine. Then it says in the Hebrew God blessed. He really blessed. He really really blessed. And Isaac received a hundred fold return on that seed during the famine. The challenge for you and 4i for us together is what seed are you planting during this time of self-imposed isolation for the good of the realm?

Are you learning a skill? Are you holding a skill? Are you working on your business? Are you taking a class online or what are you doing to plant the seed for the things you want to see grow out of this? What are you investing in? are you investing in your business when it doesn't make sense to expand it right now invest in that invest in becoming more of who God wants you to be invest in becoming more of the person God created you to be I was talking with Dave the other day and he said he's got more time to tickle the ivories now. So that's what he's doing. Awesome. What are you doing?

What are you doing? The plant the seed that God has given you that seed is useless until it's in the ground. Don't keep that seed in your hand and say oh when this is all over I can do that sir, when this is all over I can do that. You got to take that seed and plant it where God tells you to plant it. And maybe he'll bless you and really bless you and really really bless you. There's a proverb or Ecclesiastes. The teacher says that you don't know if you plant the seed in the morning or if you harvest in the evening, which is going to bring the greater reward, but you do both do both.

Are you planting the seed? Are you planting a seed are you developing? Are you growing through this?

Skip 7 from Doctor. Holly is stay connected. You got to stay connected. You can't just be self isolating. What does that look like that is up to you? How do you do it? I've got far too many ways to talk with people. Video talk with Mi. I just found out you can do that with Instagram. I don't know nothing about Instagram but Instagram you can do group chats. Apparently Facebook. You can put all kind of my our kids like to do it on feet on messenger because then they can put different. Face is over you and laugh. I don't know it is kind of fun.

Stay connected Keepers 1025. We know this don't give up meeting together some of you were in the habit of doing but encourage one another. How are you meeting with people?

There's another story in the Bible is in the book of Nehemiah when another family was in the land. And in that famine the people whose inheritance was the land was selling the land. The people whose inheritance were their children inheritance was for their children were selling their children into slavery. And Nehemiah confronted the Nobles and he said this is wrong. You can't do this. You've got to relate you got to turn give the kids back to their parents. You got to give the land back to the family.

And they did.

And there was no more talk of the famine.

This time we have now of self-imposed isolation for the good of the realm is time for greater connections with our families. And I know some of us it's hard. because our parents and grandparents don't know how to click the join us in Zoom or don't know how to do this. And why is this meeting not working? What about this and I don't have my phone on all the time. You know it we have this to deal with. Make the effort to stay connected. The challenge for us is to increase the family togetherness. even if the family is the only thing you see the only ones you see and and I am amazed at the creative Types on Facebook or doing creative things with your family. You might not be that feel your that creative, but still do I still do stuff do something play have a family game night to do something. If you're separated you can have games online. Our daughter is an artist and she insisted that we do this Pictionary online and it was everyone laughed at my drawings. I can't draw on my with a finger in it with a mouse. Forget it. Well, I can't draw any way, but that's that probably prove whatever actually when we meet together by your daughter last in my drawings, but that's okay. I know she loves me.

Where are we at that it was 7? Okay, so stay connected is Holy Spirit? Prompting you to check in on somebody. Give a call send a text to a WhatsApp to a message somehow someway is Holy Spirit prompting you to do that do it do it do it do it. Don't let those thoughts that say I wonder how so-and-so is doing do it do it do it. Do it follow those thoughts thoughts because there's always blessing just on the other side of those those flight nudges. He gives us Do it. The eight-step the doctor Holly has for us. is to keep a balanced perspective

She says if you realize you haven't laughed or smiled for a while watch a funny television show or call a friend who makes you laugh. And remember that the world isn't all bad. Well, that's awesome Proverbs 17:22 a cheerful heart is good medicine, right? We know it.

When was the last time you laughed out loud?

I did it like I talk with my wife I won't tell you why I'm laughing but it's hilarious. I was so. Okay, I'll tell you this one. She was trying to get me to go upstairs to put the spreads bedspread on which is like I could do that but she has a specific way to do it. So she was showing me this specific way and I was like wait. Can I record this and do this live on Facebook? Cuz I knew how it was going to end and she was trying to explain it has to go this way. This way even though it makes more sense this way down that way and it's so if we do it this way and she gets to that point when I say can I videotape it says I'm just going to go do it myself and it shows you where

What was my point in that? Oh, yeah, I was I was laughing. It was hilarious anyway.

There was another drought mentioned in the Bible. There's lots of drugs mentioned in the bible. But here's the third one. We're going to talk about today. The book of Acts there a Prophet called agabus stood up in the church and Antioch in in prophesied that a throat was coming to the entire world. And the church's response to that prophetic call was to take up an offering to send to Jerusalem.

Listen generosity needs to expand during this time.

Generosity needs to 2. We need to be known as generous people. Thank you for your continued giving at the church, but that's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about. How do you tip those? Skip the dishes drivers? How do you tip, you know those people that are bringing you food? What are you are you are you generous with Compliments? Are you generous with smiles? Are you generous with showing appreciation to people? Generosity is more than just giving an offering plate that can't be passed around anymore. Generosity is about an attitude where we're generous with other people. Be generous during this time. Be creative. Be forgiving. And be generous.

The creativity comes from planting the seed the Forgiveness comes from growing your family relationship. She got to forgive in order for that to happen and the generosity you got to be generous because Hey, you enjoying your life be generous. You want to laugh out loud, when all the world is doing craziness.

Generosity is a key to that.

But what I wanted to get to today was this point.

Dr. Holly did a great job to prepare us when this happened. These were all of her tips. Is the last tip is mine because I want us to know how to endure. We don't know how long this is going to be. We don't know what happens when we can go out afterwards. We don't know that the businesses that may not be open. We don't know how kids are going to get education. We don't know any of that at this point. So it's going to take some time before we have those answers. But as we wait for those answers as we wait for science to catch up with this virus as we wait for 4 for the the doctors and nurses to figure out new ways of treatment as we wait for that to all happen. You and I need to endure.

So how do you endure through all of this? I tell you I in this book is all the answers. Let's flip the Colossians chapter 3.

And I want I want to read the context of Colossians chapter 3 to so we're going to read for a while. Starting a verse 14. It says above all clothe yourself with love with which binds us all together in Perfect Harmony and let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts for his members of one body. You were called to live in peace and I'll always be thankful. Let the message of Christ and all its riches fill your lives teaching Council each other with all the wisdom. He gives sing Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do. Or say do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus giving thanks through him to God the Father. Wives submit to your husbands as is fitting to the Lord as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord husbands love your wives and never treat them harshly children always obey your parents for this pleases the Lord father's don't aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged slaves. Obey your Earthly Masters in everything you do try to please them at all times. Not just when they're watching you serve them with sincerity because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do know you were working for though as though you were working for the Lord rather than four people remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you'll be paid back in the wrong that you have for the wrong that you've done for. God has no favorites Masters. Just be fair to your slaves. And remember you also have a master in heaven.

You need a prescription to seek peace and pursue it during this time when we're just of self-imposed exile for the good of the realm. It's right there. How do you treat your spouse with love and honor? How do you treat your parents with obedience? How do you treat your children? Don't aggravate them. How do you work from home? Remember you're working for God not your boss. Not your paycheck work with excellence.

Did you catch the tip for enduring? I tried to emphasize it every time it came up. Always be thankful. With a thankful Hearts giving thanks to him through him to God.

To endure. We need to be creative do endure. We need to be forgiving to injure. We need to be generous and to ensure we need to always choose gratitude.

Gratitude is what makes it all possible to live this way that it in Colossians chapter 4. To love and honor your spouse to do not exasperate Your Kids To Work is under the Lord and whatever it work you're doing. Whether it's planting the seed because you've been laid off or whether you're you're working from home and all of a sudden it's busier than you ever thought because your kids they need to be educated and you're you got it all the duties of Life still happening.

I don't know about you, but

I find there's more on my plate now that I'm working from home. I didn't expect that. You see the hours. Should have made sense.

but I feel I got to get that Rhythm keeping that step with him. Otherwise, I can easily get overwhelmed. The seed I'm planting. Oh my goodness. It just gets it since I'm doing coaching. I'm doing personal coaching in group coaching and I'm doing classes and I just I am going to do audio classes to video glasses an audio glasses and then I'm going to do books and I want to do ebooks and I'm going to do is really cool swag stuff. We're going to have hats and coats and all kinds of stuff. It's it'll be fun.

But it's overwhelming. If I don't keep in step with what God tells me to do everyday. How do you grow in gratitude keep a gratitude Journal if you keep a journal choose three things that you feel grateful for it's important feel grateful for them write them down and then do something about it show appreciation if you appreciate someone, what does that look like? It could be a taxi could be a comment. It could be something if you appreciate someone let that appreciation. I appreciate you for this because you did that. show appreciation show appreciation when you go to the checkout and they're behind glass and make their day better cuz they got stress in their life. And we got a DD stressors in this situation.

I want you to have peace. And I want to leave you with the place where that first thought came from that seek peace and pursue it work. Work what it would have above us seek peace and work to maintain it this translation. It's Psalm 34. And I want to read the whole song to you because it's important to get the word into you and understand what we have in Christ. After that, we'll pray again and I got another video for for you that talks it if you're dealing with anger. There's an answer for that too. And the next video will encourage you in the next steps you need to take for that. But right now let's clothes with Psalm 34

says I'll praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly seek speak his Praises. I will boast only in the Lord. Let all that helpless. Take heart. Come let us tell of the Lord's greatness. Let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Who's to look to him for help will be gradient with joy? No shadow of Shame will darken their face in my desperation. I prayed and the Lord listen, he saved me from all of my troubles for the angel of the Lord is the guard. He's around and defends all who fear Him. Taste and see that the Lord is good all the joys of those who take refuge in him. Fear the lord you his godly people for those who fear Him will have all they need even strong. Lion Goat sometimes go hungry. But those who trust in the Lord will lack. No good thing come my children and listen to me and I will teach you to fear the lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous and keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies turn from Evil and do good search for peace and work to maintain it the eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right. There is ears are open to their cries, but the Lord turns his face against those who do evil. He will erase the memory from the Earth. The Lord hears his people when they called him for help you rescues them from all of their troubles. The Lord is close to the Brokenhearted. He rescues those who has Spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue every time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous not one of them is broken Calamity will surely destroy the wicked those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the Lord will redeem those who serve him no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Can I pray for us? Heavenly father. I thank you that you are God and we can trust you. I thank you Father that you see the end of this and we don't need to worry that you won't bring us through. I pray for all of those who are dealing with fear. Speak peace to them Lord. God speak peace to those who have fear in their hearts. I pray for every relationship that isn't growing stronger at this time. I speak peace to those relationships and I speak hope and I speak truth and I speak a little life Lord God. I prayed that marriage is would be saved because Lord God people decide. They're not going to let their marriage self-destruct. I pray Lord God they would seek help and find help in that. I pray for those dealing with anger that they would figure out and know how to have your peace and I pray Lord God that willing Hearts would respond to your call on our lives today. Lord help us to always seek peace and work to maintain it. Not only in our immediate family, but in our extended family that are friends and in any place we have influence during this time that we're isolating from each other. We thank you for that in your holy name. Amen. As I said, we do have a video if you're dealing with anger. It's an invitation that you can follow up with and I'm going to be in the prayer room by the time that video is over and if you want to pray with anyone come and will pray together. God bless you. Have a great week.