Let the Simple Things Bring You Peace...
by Pastor Laura Koke
Oh how I love to get out doors and enjoy a beautiful walk basking in the beauty of God's creation. Especially when I am feeling a little stressed with the busyness of life we all seem to face. I can't think of a better way to calm my emotions than to take a walk and connect with God through the enjoyment and beauty of His creation.
It is so easy for stress to invade our lives through daily tasks and pressures, along with heartache, disappointments, failed relationships and the loss of loved ones who relocate to Heaven. So many things happen that are out of our control, but we always have a choice on how to respond to circumstances. Sometimes we just need to pause, take a deep breath or go for a short walk to re-focus on the Prince of Peace.
We don't want negative stress to set in and take its toll on our bodies, causing irritability, depression, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, headaches, or even worse, high blood pressure, ulcers, cancers and more. Check the source of your stress environment, poor diet, attitude that needs adjusting, lack of exercise, or the people in your life. Then work on making some healthy changes to simplify your life and focus on the important stuff, like loving your self, others and most importantly loving God!
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
© 2011 by Laura Koke. All rights reserved.
 Laura and her husband, Rob, are the Senior Pastors of Shoreline Church in Austin, Texas. For 20 years they have raised up the next generation of leaders and created a life giving church that is making a significant impact locally and globally. Laura is a leading voice and advocate for this generation, as well as an accomplished doctor and author. Laura is an authentic, engaging, and compassionate communicator, whose passion to destroy injustice is helping to rescue countless lives and is bringing hope to many. She will inspire you to receive the beautiful love and grace of God that will equip and compel you to share it with everyone around you.
Life of a Lifeless Rose Bush
I remember Mom visiting my new home for the first time. As she looked out my patio door she told me, "Don't cut that rose bush even though it's dead." About 8 months later she unexpectedly passed away. I decided to never remove the eye sore of the lifeless rose bush.
Beauty Without My Effort….
Two years later, roses bloomed for the first time, a wonderful reminder of Mom's words. This past spring even more roses bloomed. Keep in mind, we have never watered or pruned or whatever's required to make roses blossom. As I sent a picture to my family, I realized how such beauty was born without my efforts - how something once dead had been revived into something beautiful that I never knew could exist.
In my adult life I've experienced confusion and fear, but in darkness a greater understanding of God's light has been discovered. In my darkest moments I've learned to understand the need to trust God. As I stumbled around for months at a time overwhelmed and lonely, I was determined that once my circumstances changed all would be well. Don't get me wrong, I was always full of hope and confidence that in due time, my family would be strong, faithful and confident.
Joyfully Waiting….
Going back to the analogy of the lifeless rose bush – I was excited that one day beautiful roses would bloom - but the lifeless bush continued to be a threat - full of thorns that could pierce me with pain. As I would look at the bush I would remember the beautiful words of hope from my mother, the bush would bring a smile to my face and I couldn't part with its beauty. So in the same way I was able to associate the beauty of my mother's words with this once lifeless bush - I can now accept the challenges of my family life. I now trust that God will protect my heart and my family each day. God is the one that prunes and nourishes my family. There's beauty in each person that I must focus on and just simply enjoy; there's nothing for me to do, just enjoy who they are and know I am better for knowing them.
"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm62:8 (NIV)
© 2011 by Christina Valdez. All rights reserved.
 Christina Valdez has a heart for sharing her passion of God's love with anyone that will listen. As she has experienced an amazing journey full of challenges, growth, strength, and joy, her world has been opened to a future without limits, beyond her original dreams. Please visit Christina's blog at www.atleastilikeme.blogspot.com where she openly shares the lessons that God has placed upon her heart.
Monthly Devotional
Summer Skies
"The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known." Psalm 19:1-2 (New Living Translation)
We moved a couple years ago, which opened up a whole new world to me. The only trees in this former farmland are tiny things the builder planted. I've never had such an unobstructed view of the sky.
I didn't pay much attention to astronomy in school. It sounded too much like astrology and I knew that was bad news – so I learned what I had to get by. Now I'm checking out books from the library, printing sky maps and having so much fun discovering the stars and constellations.
Right above us this time of year is the Lion. Look for a backwards question mark that forms the lion's mane and one of the brightest stars in the night sky, Regulus, at the heart of the Lion. Some say this constellation speaks of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, our triumphant Savior in Revelation 5:5. Next month, watch the north-eastern sky for the Swan, also known as the Northern Cross.
If the heavens are speaking and the skies are making our God known, let's spend some time outside this summer listening to what they have to say! Imagine what it was like for Abraham viewing the great expanse beyond our earth. God promised his legacy would out-number the stars. You and I are part of the truly countless number Abraham dreamed about.
Earth is wrapped in the beautiful, breath-taking blanket of the universe. Even though we have mapped the stars, and charted the phases of the moon, this blanket is ever-changing. I see a portrait of God up there - constant and steady, yet surprisingly NEW every morning.
Reflection
Plan a star-gazing night this summer! Get away from city lights and enjoy!
Print a free evening sky map at skymaps.com
How do you see our great God made known when you look up at the sky?
Additional Scriptures
Psalm 8:3-5; Isaiah 40:26; Lamentations 3:22-23
© 2011 by Lynn Cherry. All rights reserved.
Click here to read Shoreline's statement of faith
 Lynn Marie Cherry is a ministry assistant at Shoreline Church, where she is also part of the worship team. Lynn and her husband David have been married for almost 20 years and have two amazing boys. Lynn has a heart to encourage people toward freedom and to plant seeds of hope. She enjoys sharing insight from God's Word and the world around her. Visit Lynn's blog where you can read more and sign up for a free weekly email subscription.
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