Peace Be To You

With the Christmas season coming I was compelled to write about peace on the CASTTEAM blog. I thought I'd share it on my blog too.

Ephesians 1:2

"I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ."

We as Christians celebrate Christmas because it is the time God the son left his perfect place in heaven and came to live with us, to die on the cross so we may be saved from the wrath of God who gives us peace on earth.

So in this busy hectic time of preparing for Christmas, how is your peace?

I put up the tree, earlier than normal this year, because the family flies in for holidays early. It took almost all day because I also decorate the house and clean as I go too. About half way through, I thought maybe I won't bother putting it up in future years, if we don’t have the kids here to enjoy it. Then I thought. It takes one day to put it up, one day to take it down. That is 2 days out of 365 days. I can do this, especially for the beauty it brings to our home. It has been up for two weeks. The family has enjoyed, especially the old electric train of my husbands running around it. I enjoy looking at and every evening hubby turns on the lights.

Buying all those Christmas gifts can be another stress factor. I start in October and little by little I get the gifts from my list. It spreads out the money and the time. Then there is the baking and cooking of many foods we only eat once a year.  And sending out cards. Many people now use the email for this. I like cards as decorating and the pictures get used as next year’s tags or for my art. I used to write and annual letter and last year I stopped that. I got a few complaints, oh well. 

We do lots for Christmas to make it special, but how many of our friends and family would complain if every decoration wasn’t in place, every traditional baking wasn’t done, only a few, and tones of present weren’t under the tree? Maybe the last one they might complain.

 Less than one week left before Christmas and two days before we go to our daughters to meet up with the family. As usual the house got decorated, cards were sent, presents bought and wrapped and today the baking will be done. The peace is still here. Our grandson's and my father's birthday stuff is done too as they both fall in the holiday. 

 One reason for my peace is I have cut down on what I used to do. I don't get hung up on the small stuff either.  

We have a choice in life. We can make our lives stressful or stress free. It depends on how much we do and our attitude. I always say things go better in my life if I want to do something instead of have to.

In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul is taking about marriage but verse 7 can apply to anything.  ‘God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can.’

So I’ll ask you again. Is their peace in your heart this year?  Do you fret and worry or have contentment like these birds. 3 John 14  ‘Peace be to you’