Peace Be With You

 I did yoga once.

(I had to stop typing to giggle at the absurdity of this memory.  I can't even touch my toes.)

To set the scene, I was staying as a guest at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel as a gift from two of my students (perks of working at a Private School!) and a morning yoga-pilates class offered on a lawn overlooking the ocean (pictured above) was included with my stay.  So, I seized the morning.  It was beautiful, and quiet, and some people were tooooootally into it.  I enjoyed it, too, but to be honest, I was really just there for the view and the complimentary yoga mat.

It has become somewhat trendy in the blogging world to choose a "word of the year"...something you want to experience or perfect or move towards in the year to come.  The challenge is presented to me every January, yet every year I scoff at the idea of narrowing down my goals to ONE word.  Well this year, several weeks late, I've been overwhelmed with one specific goal...and if I had to choose A word to define 2014, it's this:

PEACE.

I want it.  I want it ALL the time.  When I think of peace, the picture above comes to mind immediately, but that kind of peace is a lie...a guise.  I don't want an artificial peace in between bouts of drama.  I don't simply want peace on my calendar (because let's face it, THAT'S not going to happen).  I don't want the NAMASTE kind of peace the world promotes through silly meditative practices.  I want the peace of GOD, the deep contentment that ONLY can be attained through Him. 

I've been under conviction lately that I continue to sabotage my own quest for peace.  One such way I do this is by replaying my problems over and over...in my mind, out loud, with other people.  Over and over and over....ugh!  What a waste of time!  I am acutely aware that living a problem-free life is not possible, but we can control how many times we live through the same problem.  All that time stewing is LESS time devoted to ways God can infuse His peace into the situation. 

It's really thrilling that when you genuinely seek the Lord, you will find Him.  And better yet, He will find you!  Verses have been jumping off the page at me left and right- verses that assure me I'm moving in the right direction...toward the perfect peace he assures.

 This is a quote that has resonated with me recently:
"Peace is one of the most obvious earmarks of the authority of Christ. A sense of peace will virtually always accompany His will and direction, even when the direction might not have been our personal preference." - Beth Moore

And here's a bit of Biblical yoga..."stretching", if you will:

Psalm 34:14  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 So here's to 2014, and the pursuit of PERFECT peace!