Peacemakers

“Blessed are the Peacemakers…”

We are not immune to an unjust and unrighteous society. We must endure the effects of a broken humanity that is consumed by a narcissistic personality with an insatiable appetite for more. Endurance comes from the field of battle and from the furnace of human connectedness, not from the seat of the cynic.

Our battle and the friction that we encounter is not necessarily with people, but the result of confrontations between principles, ideologies, and perceptions fought within the spirit of mankind.

We criticize because we do not understand; we do not understand because we listen to the wrong voice. We listen to the voice of anger, bitterness, hurt and pain. We listen searching for a reason to find fault and to place blame, rather than to bring healing and understanding. We listen to replace responsibility with abdication and dereliction of our human duty.

Our greatest problem is a lack of trust in the ultimate reality of a sovereign God. This is a trust that opens and closes doors of opportunity. It is a trust that brings conquered territory at the expense of obedience in the present reality.

“…for they shall be called sons of God.”

Blessings,

Elton O. Brooke, EdD

Be Still

Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalms 46:10 - NASB)

Many versions use the phrase “be still” rather than “cease striving” but I’m not sure that they have different meanings. I fell prey to one of those finger puzzles when I was a kid. You know, the little tube made of straw woven together – you stick a finger from each hand into opposite ends. Pull as hard as you like, it’s almost impossible to pull your fingers out. If you relax and gently push your fingers together the puzzle slips off. So, “be still” or “cease striving,” they both mean the same thing.

Have you ever tried desperately to take control of a situation or solve a problem only to have a friend or mentor tell you to be still? It happens during prayer when we are really wrestling with something and we hear that quiet voice say “stop striving, be still, be quiet – I’ve got this.”

We tend to struggle with the sovereignty of God when we do not understand our circumstances, or we feel out of control. The message of these words brings us into a place of conflict because scripture indicates that we are to be people of action. But in certain circumstances we are to take no action other than to trust God.

So, how do we know the difference? If I can be still long enough to listen for God’s voice I imagine I will know…

During the upcoming holiday season, may we find ourselves in such a place where we must be quiet and listen. Only there will we find the meaning and purpose in life we so desperately long for.

Blessings, my human friends,

Elton O. Brooke, Ed. D.