Posts with the tag “anxiety”

Let's confronts one of our deepest longings during the Advent season - the longing for peace. We sing beautiful carols about silent nights and heavenly peace, yet many of us carry hearts heavy with chaos, anxiety, and unrest. The profound truth revealed here is that the Prince of Peace doesn't wait for our circumstances to calm down before entering our lives. Instead, He steps directly into our mess. Drawing from Isaiah's prophecy and the birth narrative in Luke, we discover that Jesus was born into political oppression, violence, and a dirty stable - not into tranquility. The armies of heaven didn't whisper their announcement; they proclaimed with authority that peace had arrived. This peace isn't something we manufacture through perfect performance or peacekeeping - it's something we receive through His presence. The distinction between peacekeeping and peacemaking is transformative: peacekeeping exhausts us as we try to manage chaos, while peacemaking invites Jesus into the center of our storm. When we look at Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4, we see that His peace doesn't just soothe - it confronts and commands chaos to bow. The biblical words for peace - shalom (wholeness, nothing missing, nothing broken) and eirene (reconciliation, restoration) - reveal that peace isn't a feeling but a Person. Jesus doesn't hand us peace as a gift separate from Himself; He says, 'I am your peace.' This Advent season, we're invited to stop striving to create calm and instead behold Emmanuel, God with us, who brings wholeness to our brokenness and stands with us in the fire.  Read More

In our exploration of 'Crossroads at the Movies,' we discover how God speaks to us through unexpected mediums, even animated films like 'The Wild Robot.' This story beautifully illustrates the challenges we face when answering God's call. Just as Roz and Brightbill had to overcome their programming and negative beliefs, we too must confront our own limitations and the world's discouraging voices. The key message reminds us that fulfilling God's purpose often requires us to push beyond our comfort zones and natural instincts. Philippians 4:8 encourages us to focus our thoughts on what is true, honorable, and praiseworthy - a powerful strategy for overcoming obstacles. By surrounding ourselves with supportive community and filling our minds with God's truth, we can, like the characters in the film, not only fulfill our calling but also become a blessing to others. This story challenges us to identify what God is calling us to and to courageously step into that purpose, knowing that our obedience can unlock blessings for ourselves and our community.  Read More