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"And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves dashed into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the stern asleep on a pillow: and they awoke Him, and said to Him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And He arose up, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, and be still. So the wind ceased, and it was a great calm." Mark 4:37-39 Peace as found in verse thirty-nine is given as a command, an involuntary stillness, the storm had no power to rise up again ~ once He spoke. ~ And there was a great calm. ~ Stillness ~ after there arose a great storm of wind and things looked as if the boat would sink. (v38) And He was asleep and they awoke Him... What storms seem as if they would also cause our boat to sink? Are you crying out inside for someone to take the suicidal thoughts, or the depression from consuming your life, or is it bitterness, hurts, anxieties, questions? He awakes as you call out to Him and He calls all things back to order. There is life and peace~ Hope restored ~ only found in Him ~ our Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) Healing in the stillness ~ the stillness that He brings ~ this stillness is the healing ~ and you are free, the storm is calm and it is found in Him, our Rock and our Redeemer, our Savior, Jesus. As Women Finding Grace ~ Let us find healing in the stillness only He can bring.
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In the troubled times we live ~ as with those who also coexisted with such evil in the world, it would be effortless to make our acquiescence with dismay and become faint-hearted, fear and anxiety becoming our constant companions as we concede our faith to lesser allegiances. How little discipline this sort of life requires. As I found myself in this very place, for quite sometime I might add, my monthly reading of Proverbs found me at chapter thirty-one, a proverbs I have become all too familiar with. I have tried to make reading of Proverbs a daily practice, so to meet again with chapter thirty-one meant a very well-rehearsed read for me. Yet, there can never be a lack of freshness in God's Word and in this reading I found conviction, afresh, and a pivotal message for life. There, in verse seventeen, these words are found, "She girdeth her loins with strength." The action of doing is on her part, and what is she "doing?" She is girding, restraining, as with a belt, her loins with strength. This same act of girding is found in the first part of I Peter 1:13, "Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind" and also in Ephesians 6:14, "Stand therefore, and your loins girded about with verity (truth)." Each of these verses show the action of 'girding the loins of your mind,' and Ephesians 6:14 says to have 'your loins gird with truth.' The mind is not to be left to wander all on its own, but it is to be gird, restrained, with truth. God's Word is that truth. In difficult times let us find solace and security in God's Word. It is there our faith is renewed and restored. As I prayed for forgiveness for all my doubts and fears ~ I found His presence flooded my innermost heart and I was able once again to take hold of His hand for guidance, comfort, and peace. "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Hebrews 13:6 As Women Finding Grace ~ Let us be found, "Girding the loins of our minds with Truth."
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