Grace and Peace.
These are often the last words I speak from the platform on Sunday morning. I started using the phrase because, honestly, I was looking for a replacement for "you're dismissed," which sounded so un-worshipful and anti-climatic. But it has become so much more than a way to let people know it was time to leave. It has become a weekly reminder of our deepest desire. Entering 2017, I am certainly aware of my need for both grace and peace, but today I am keenly attentive of my need for peace. My pursuit of peace brought me to two Psalms: Psalm 34:12-14 "Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 85:10: "Love and faithfulness meet together righteousness and peace kiss each other." Can you see the passionate embrace of the two--righteousness and peace? Beautiful! Inseparable! I want to know the peace of Christ in my life. Calm. Fearless. Confident. In our first worship service of the new year we watched a video called Hands, produced by Journey Box Media, featuring the song Two Hands by Jars of Clay that I think can creatively inspire you to launch into a new area of trust in your own life. What words will you write on your hands this year? If I want to know the peace of God on the one hand, I will need to hate evil and pursue righteousness on the other. Grace and Peace.
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