“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”- Buddha

Most of us have known moments of peace when all is right in our world. Most also know that this kind of peace never lasts simply because everything is not always right in our world. If our peace is tied to the circumstances around us, then our peace will come and go. According to Jesus lasting peace is the condition of our heart when it is reconciled to God's will. Peace is found within, but this is only a half truth. Even inner peace is temporary if it is not joined to that part of us which is eternal.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 1/22/2018

"Still waters run deep" Proverb

I find that the interactions of my heart either create peace or create chaos. If I dwell on some of life’s uncertainties, anxiety can churn the waters of my heart. If I direct my heart to believe and trust God’s promises, then peace quiets the waters within. Peace is simply a matter of focus; cultivating the right one.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts
are fixed on you!” Is.26 “Conversations Within” ts 1/21/2018

“Don’t let people pull you into their storm, pull them into your peace.” Kimberley Jones

I like the encouragement which tells us to “live life from within.” I want a peace that is not determined by what is going on around me, but what is going on in me. We may not be able to control our circumstances but grace enables us to choose our thoughts about them. When peace rules the heart; we experience a wholeness, a completeness, the knowledge that we lack nothing. Such wholeness enables our choices to positively affect all that is around us rather than be the negative effect of outside pressure.

“Blessed are the peacemakers.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 1/20/2016

“Kung Fu lives in everything we do! It lives in how we put on the jacket, how we take off the jacket. It lives in how we treat people. Everything is Kung Fu.” Jackie Chan (Kung Fu--excellence)

The peace I am discovering by my interactions with Christ could be described using the same words written above. One aspect of this peace is that it is an acquired skill--a manner of living. It is a wholeness that flows into everything. Peace with God helps me to be at peace with myself, peace with others and peace with all creation. The way of this precious peace caresses our thoughts, our words and our actions. At present I practice this peace intermittently. I want to practice it constantly.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,” Col.3.15 “Conversations Within” ts 1/19/2018

“Quality is not an act, it is a habit." Aristotle

Imagine putting yourself wholeheartedly into everything you do. Everything would be enriched by the quality of such a powerful and fruitful attitude. Embrace a spirit of excellence and let its energy flow out into even your smallest acts. There is no better approach to life than to live wholeheartedly expressing our faith in the actions of love. “Then Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.” Dan.6.3 “Conversations Within” ts 1/18/2018

“It's simple: You get a part. You play a part. You play it well.” Denzel Washington

What does my best look like? No doubt one aspect is putting my whole heart into whatever I am doing. What does my whole heart look like? Once we decide what is worth giving our best efforts to, we can adopt a good and proper attitude about doing it. This puts us in a position to follow it all with resolved action. I want to be the kind of person that not only knows what is worth doing, but adds worth while doing it. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed…” 2Tim.2.15  “Conversations Within” ts 1/17/2018

Make it your ambition to assist. Be proactively and aggressively useful to others.

An effective love would have us position ourselves in people’s lives to be of service to them. And, humility will always put us in the best position to be useful. Take a sincere interest in what people are doing. Be a sounding board or a diving board and jump in to help them. Be useful to others. Embrace the freedom that is found in a simple life of loving service.

“...serve one another humbly.” Gal.5  “Conversations Within” ts 1/16/2018

"A heap is made from grains." Latin Proverb

It is commonly accepted that where goodness is concerned that “Every little bit helps.” A fruitful life is often the result of the little contributions we make every day to the the people around us. A little gathered over time can add up to a lot. Go ahead and keep putting in your “two cents.” Hold a door open for someone. Yield a parking spot or your place in line to a mother with young children. Heap upon the world a measure of goodness one kind act at a time.

“Whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” Prov.13.11

“Life is not accumulation, it is about contribution.” Stephen Covey

What do I contribute? Are my contributions pain or gain to those around me? Does goodness follow wherever I go? Am I a giver or a taker? How precious the privilege of giving goodness and being able to make a positive contribution to my family, my friends and to the world. We have all been given this privilege every single day.  

“but set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1Tim.4.12

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enrich the world.” Woodrow Wilson.

I am so grateful for those who have enriched my life with music. It is a daily feast and there would be an empty hole in my life without it. Each of us can be a song writer of a sort. Each of us can bring sweet music to the lives of others by our own unique contributions. The point is to contribute. Contribute goodness, and do so every day. Join in and create a new song in the world.

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.” Ps.96.1

“Conversations Within” ts 1/13/2018

Confidence is knowing that you are loved by someone who really knows how to love.

It is good to remind myself that despite all my personal failings, it is God who will see me through to the other side. My lifeguard will never abandon me, even to my own foolishness. We are loved with a love that does not know how to fail. He will finish what He has started. I pray that this confidence grows in us all.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil.1.6 “Conversations Within” ts 1/12/2018

The warm fire of respectfully fearing God will melt the chilling ice of all other fears.

Remember the childhood boast, “My dad is bigger than your dad.” This confident boast was just a way of saying, “I am not scared, my dad is in my corner and he’s the strongest guy on the block.” Do we really need to fear anything, anything at all? Our Father in Heaven has no equal. He is certainly in our corner of those who trust His unfailing love. Whatever is threatening us is no match against His love.

“In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence...” Prov.14
 “Conversations Within” ts 1/11/2018

Our confidence in God isn’t that He will give us what we want, but the absolute belief that He will always give us His very best.

One dilema I face is that I sometimes want what I want, instead what God may think is best for me. For instance, I may want a hassle free day; He may want to teach me some patience. I may want my wife to agree with me; He may want me to learn how to appreciate a different point of view.  

“Not my will, but yours.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 1/10/2018

“Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.” Wayne W. Dyer

I live daily with two very different and competing perspectives. One is the advantage point of faith and the other is the disadvantage point of my worries. One offers peace, and the other anxiety. One leads me in the joys of love, and the other, the miseries of self-absorption. What is particularly frustrating is that I can switch my point of view in a matter of seconds and lose my peace. But, we can be grateful that it is just as easy to change it back. Often the point isn’t just to have the proper perspective, but to keep it.  

“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” Ps.61.2 “Conversations Within” ts 1/9/2018

“Faith is trusting God even when you don’t understand His plan.” Unknown

It is enough to understand that God is good. That being the case, we can say with confidence that the only things that He has planned for us are good. His goodness is where our confidence finds footing. Because we walk by faith and not by sight, He will often ask us to rest in His goodness rather than worry about our circumstances.

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. Jer.17.7

“Conversations Within” ts 1/8/2018

Smile!

A smile can be an outward expression of inner peace--the peace that exists in the contented heart. We nurture this precious contentment when we gratefully accept what God has put on the table for us for the present moment. To smile and give thanks not only expresses this contentment, these outward actions may themselves help create it in us. Go ahead and smile and watch its power spread to your soul then out to others.

A glad heart makes a cheerful face...” Pro.15 ESV  “Conversations Within” ts 1/7/2018

“Learning to love yourself will be one of the hardest things you do in life.” Unknown

I have encouraged the people in my life to learn the difference in loving and liking. Liking is an emotion, loving is an action. I think it is important to express the actions of love even when you don’t feel the emotions of like. For instance, there are times when I do not like myself, but it is in my best interest to always love myself by making the right choices. I would venture to say that when I learn to love myself this way I will start liking myself more.

“Love never fails.” 1Cor.13  “Conversations Within” ts 1/6/2018

“Self talk is the most powerful form of communication because it either empowers you or it defeats you.” Unknown

We usually wind up believing what we repeatedly tell ourselves. It is easy to see how we can tear ourselves down with negative self-talk. The good news is that this works both ways. Positive words can powerfully build us up. This is especially true when we borrow words from God and make them our own. Repeat after me: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Own it!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  
Phil.4.13 “Conversations Within” ts 1/5/2018

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” Unknown

Most of us talk to ourselves. We should at least speak truthfully when we do. After all, if we want to believe what we are telling ourselves, it should at least be good for us and nothing is quite as good as the truth. My experience has taught me that God always tells me the truth. I suppose this is one of the reasons why “confession is good for the soul.” The reason? Because confession is agreeing with what God is telling us.

“If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we've done wrong.” 1Jo.1.9 “Conversations Within” ts 1/4/2018

“The eyes are useless when the heart is blind.” Unknown

We each possess two sets of eyes. The older I get, hopefully the eyes of my soul see better than the eyes of my body. I suppose this is as it should be. As my physical life wanes my spiritual life grows. My prayer is that the eyes of our soul give each of us a clear vision of life as it should be.

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 1/3/2018

“If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies how very different our ideals of beauty would be.” Unknown.

Teach me to see with your eyes my Lord. I want to see people as you see them. Grace me to look beyond the surface and see the depths of the heart. Give me tender eyes that look only with love. Give me patient eyes to see your work in the soul of others. Help me invision the final product which you are creating, not the crude flesh before me, but the beautiful soul within.

“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1Sam.16.7 “Conversations Within” ts 1/2/2018

“You do not have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” Unknown

The glove is nothing without the hand it encloses; nor is the body without the soul. That I am essentially a spiritual being encourages me to live an essentially spiritual life. I am more than my physical wants and desires. I am the soul that inhabits my body--a body that is slowly giving out on me. I want to cling to the spiritual not the physical life--to the eternal not the temporal. Honorably take care of the body, but never at the expense of the soul.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.“ Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 1/1/2018

“The goal of fasting is inner unity.” Thomas Merton

I think it sad that in our present state our desires do not always match up to our understanding of what is good. How beautiful and powerful when they do. Until that happens, we must often drag carnal desires kicking and screaming behind us in order to do what we know is proper. Fasting, I suppose, can train us to control our desires . After all, Jesus did say “when you fast” not “if you fast.”  Conversations Within” ts 12/30/2017

“I think therefore I am.” René Descartes

It all starts with the mind, or at least it should if we are wise. It all ends with our actions. In between lies a host of desires and emotions. Who wants to be ruled by fickle desires and ever changing emotions? If we control our thoughts we control everything that follows. This is why all transformation must begin with the mind and finish with our actions. Desires and emotions make great followers but very poor leaders.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Rom.12.1 Conversations Within” ts 12/29/2017

“Wag more, bark less.” Bumper Sticker

I want to talk less and at the same time say more. I do not want my speech to be verbose but vital. I want my life to stimulate good thoughts in others. When I do speak, I want my words to have a pleasant aroma and create a gentle ambiance. May God help us understand the sacred privilege of using words.

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Prov.16. 24 Conversations Within” ts 12/28/2017

“Regret is what you should fear the most.” Chris Guillebeau.

I regret that I have regrets. And, it does not help to ask, “Who doesn't.” What does help is to take steps to eliminate further regret. A good question might be to ask if we will regret doing something before we do it not after. It will also help to give my time to attitudes and activities that I know foster delight, satisfaction, and joy.

“Against such things there is no law.” Gal.5  Conversations Within” ts 12/27/2017

”A kind heart is a fountain of gladness.” Washington Irving

Oh to live delightfully pleased and to experience every day as an adventure in gladness. One promised way we can accomplish this is to be a delight to others by showing simple acts of kindness. Bathe your world with it. Be an overflowing spring of refreshment to the people in your life. We are always in a position to be kind and gracious. Be glad and bring gladness.

“Serve the Lord with gladness.” Ps.100 Conversations Within” ts 12/26/2017