If you have ever been to Catholic Mass, you know during the meet and greet you are supposed to say "peace be with you" and then they respond "and also with you." Not being Catholic, I found this ritual very interesting the first time I saw it. It was definitely not the Southern Baptist way I was used to where you go up to just about everyone around you and give a big "hi-dee" with a smile on your face and arms out for a hug. I never asked way they do this (if you know please fill me in) and thought it to be a strange way to greet one another...until now. What an amazing thing for someone to wish you peace!
This week I'm not going to touch much on the what was said in the book, but what Beth discussed on her video. For some reason this keeps playing in my head and I thought I would share my thoughts and see what you think.
In her video, one of the things Beth talked about was having conflict with one another. I thought this to be odd to talk about but then it was the perfect way to express peace. She talked about the difference between a peacekeeper and a peacemaker. A peacekeeper is one who will keep peace no matter the cost; will not confront the problem that lie ahead, just ignore it. The peacemaker is one who does something about it; takes action towards whom or whatever to get peace in their life.
Obviously when talking about this, it didn't take me long to figure out which one I was. I am a definite peacemaker. I hate conflict, but if there is a big pink elephant in the room I'm going to deal with it. I wasn't always this way, but there have been episodes in my life where I never confronted someone with my feelings and our relationship ended up fading. There are still some relationships that I have had that I still don't have peace with because I have no idea what drove us apart. One of the best relationships I have is with someone who will shoot it to me straight. If I have wronged her, she tells me right then and vice versa. I never have to worry about that relationship because we are both peacemakers and we want the dirty laundry aired before we move on. We simply want peace with one another.
The peacekeeper is one that I found most interesting. Beth said that being a peacekeeper is actually like having false peace. You are just bypassing what is wrong and never getting your feelings out. And if you have all this false peace in you, how is God ever going to be able to fill you completely with His peace?
I find it funny that you will hear a lot of married woman say that as a wife you are supposed to "keep the peace" with your spouse. Don't go getting all riled up over everything, keep the peace with him. As many of you know this little saying just doesn't fly in my house. I don't live in 1950 and if something is bothering me you better believe Brent Miller is going to hear about it. Now, I usually try to say whatever I'm feeling in a nice calm way and be peaceful about it. I don't go flying off the hinges, but I do let him know what is on my mind. I want peace between us. I have seen too many relationships fail because the woman was simply trying to keep the peace and it ended up driving her crazy. A good friend on mine does this a lot. Her husband will do things that just drives her nuts and instead of confronting him about it, she just simply lets it slide. She has all these ill emotions towards him that it is hard for her to have any good feelings towards him. I hate it for her, and I tell her just to say something but she won't. She just keeps the peace.
Beth noted that this type of peace is a deceiving peace. You think that everything is okay and that you have found peace with the situation but in reality you haven't. You have no peace. You haven't dealt with the problem. The same goes for having peace with yourself. As I have said before, I have dealt being a worrier. I worry about every big and small detail, things that have happened in the past, things that might happen in the future, and I worry about people I don't even know. I have made myself sick over worrying. I had no peace with all these things in my head. I finally had a talk with God and told Him everything that was going on in this little brain of mine. Once I had emptied everything out, I let out a big sigh and felt the peace I had been missing. And even now, things will creep up in my head and I immediately just tell God He is going to have to take it. I want peace in the situation.
It seems like doing this bible study has made it easier for me to talk to God. They say your prayers are supposed to be never ending and that you are always supposed to tell Him everything, and bless His heart! lately I haven't been able to shut up! I usually start my day off talking to Him in the shower and throughout the day say quick little prayers when something pops up. I find that I don't have as much turmoil going on inside. I'm empty myself out all day so I can be filled with Him. It just doesn't seem worth it to me to have gunk inside me when I just simply just have to say "God you take this one."
My question to you is, are you a peacekeeper or a peacemaker? Are you finding peace within yourself and with situations in your life? I hope that you have/had. Our lives are way too short to not have peace!
Peace be with you!
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And also with you.
ReplyDeleteWe say "Peace be with you" in the Methodist church also, but I must admit I usually just take it for granted. It really is an amazing blessing to have peace and for someone to wish peace upon you. I'm glad you said this b/c it makes me take a second to really appreciate it.
I find myself always coming back to the simple idea of emptying my worries onto God and letting Him take care of me. It seems so easy to forget that we aren't alone in this world and we don't have to tackle each situation on our own. God is with us and He wants us to carry our burdens to Him.
Kacie, I just want to thank you again for doing this Bible study. It takes a lot of courage and dedication to lead a study and to express your thoughts like this. I'm very proud of you!
So...confession is good for the soul or so they say. I admit/confess that for the most part I am a peacekeeper. I hate confrontation and will do whatever possible to avoid it, until I've had enough. After being reminded of the difference in a peacekeeper and peacemaker, that must be when it wreaks havoc with my peace and I let loose. After going through this Bible Study twice and working on the third time one would think I would have changed my ways by now, I'm obviously a slow learner.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do know is that while studying the fruit of peace this week, Satan did everything he could to keep me from entertaining any thought or semblance of such peace!
As I closed out the week though I was again reminded that:
"The key to being filled with the Holy Spirit so that God's PEACE may be released within is a MIND FOCUSED ON HIM." (emphasis mine) And the most aggravating thing is I KNOW THIS---but what I also know is that Satan will do whatever he can to keep us from experiencing the peace of God which transcends all understanding.
After some time spent soul searching and desperately desiring to regain my focus, my prayer is that I will allow the filling of the Holy Spirit to release the Glorious Power of HIS peace.
Shalom!
Kacie,I thank you for being obedient and listening to God! I'm thankful that your mom shared this blogspot with me. (I hope you don't mind.)God used you to speak to me!I sooooo much needed this lesson on peace. I am a peace keeper, not a peace maker. I know God wants to grow me into a peacemaker. I am trying to keep my mind focused on Him- sometimes that is easy -sometimes difficult! What a blessing you are to me! Keep allowing Him to use you to speak to others. He has great plans for you! Keep growing in Him! Keep trusting in Him! Keep listening to Him!Peace also with you!
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