I’m in my office which is unusual for Sunday afternoons.  I’m headed to a picnic for one of our local fire departments in just a few minutes.  I skipped lunch so I am ready to throw down on some food right now.  Most of our staff was on vacation today.  Ryan got to speak at Elk Creek today for Mike Silliman (you deserved the break Mike!)  Thanks to Jeff, Shari, and our incredible Fellowship volunteers for making it happen today.

I loved how God brought things together today.  We talked about the “side effect” of peace and how peace comes from knowing that God is in control.  An absence of peace is actually an absence of belief.  I love how the Father of the demon possessed boy in Matt 9:24 says to Jesus, “I do believe…help my unbelief!” ( I could hang out with this dude) No flip-flop here just the human reality of our struggle with faith.  It is true for all of us.  We believe yet we struggle with unbelief.  I’m so glad God included these kind of truths in the Bible.

People traded in their pain for God’s peace today.  It was cool to see God work and many people respond to the Prince of Peace as they accepted Him as their leader and forgiver.  Jeff’s song “Peace Be Still” (Rush of Fools) was awesome.  You should pick it up on Itunes this week and add it to your music collection.  What an awesome reminder of the gift that Jesus promised us shortly before his death in John 14:27…Let these words resonate today and throughout this week…

Jesus - “I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don’t be troubled or afraid”.