Peace In Your Life - Have you Found It?

It’s a yes or no question.
Either you have or have not found peace.

Only you know and there is no way you can fool yourself forever. The sooner you get settled on what you are looking for in your life, the sooner you can begin to really live - at peace and energized.

It's been said there’s a God-shaped hole inside everyone.
You can try to fill it with many things to satisfy yourself and bring you happiness and peace. 

Some try MATERIAL THINGS
They race around collecting cars, houses, boats, clothes and that old faithful—good old cash. They keep a close eye on their stocks. They always know how the market is doing. They love showing their things off to others. You can tell from their conversation that they never stop thinking about what they just bought or are getting ready to buy.

Others go in the direction of RELATIONSHIPS
They put their focus on family and friends - the more the merrier! They have their entire lives built around doing things for and with their family and friends. They can even get self-righteous about it, telling others over and over that nothing is more important than family with the emphasis on how great their’s is.

Another approach is ACTIVITIES
They love going places, doing things - chasing their “bucket list.” The idea being that the more things they have done, the wider the variety, the more unique they are the greater the enjoyment and satisfaction they will have in life. It’s easy to feel like you have never been anywhere or done anything in your life when you talk to them. Anything you mention, they have been there or done that. Super Bowl, World Series, Hawaii, Europe, cruises, skydiving, bungee jumping…there’s no end.

Another widely popular approach is SELF-DEVELOPMENT.
People furiously chase physical fitness. They pursue education. They are always seeking new knowledge, new levels of personal achievement and new challenges. If you get one degree, then go get another. The idea behind this is that the more you develop yourself the more you will be at peace with yourself. Education is the answer to everything.

I’m not criticizing at all! All of these things are valid activities.
They all can add qualities to your life you would not have any other way. They all add value and enjoyment. They keep you active, stimulated and involved with other people in positive ways. In fact, if you have the interest and ability, these are all things you should do. They’ll expand your life and give you a lot enjoyment and satisfaction.

But many realize the satisfaction from these things is only temporary
If you have pursued  many of these and are still unsettled inside, still looking for real peace, maybe its time to look in another direction. Maybe it’s that God shaped vacuum that hasn’t been filled yet. 

There is another long standing choice.
It's one you should not ignore. Its one you need to evaluate for yourself because this is one area that’s too important to trust to other’s judgement. If you do you’ll understand why for over 2000 years millions of people from all over the world have found that their answer for peace has been found in the Prince of Peace. He’s the one who said…

I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught. (John 14:27)

If you haven’t found peace yet, find out about the Lord Jesus Christ.  When you do you’ll learn why only he offers the “peace that passes all understanding."

JoePa Faces God

Ugly

The recent situation has been the drop of poison that ruined the soup of 60 years of great works and donations by Joe Paterno at Penn State. All of the fabulous efforts spent inspiring and challenging young people and excelling in coaching is now stained.

The situation is so bad that they have already taken his name off of the Big 10 championship trophy and there have been rumors about plans to remove the statue of him from outside Beaver Stadium. The shame is overwhelming—plus he realizes he did it to himself.

Ever create a nightmare of your own?

Although there’s little chance you’ve ever done something on this scale, it’s unusual that any of us go through life without creating some kind of excruciating, embarrassing nightmare scenario of our own. The kind of thing that once it’s done cannot be undone and cannot be denied.

So at the point that it’s too big of a mess for you to fix what do you do to get back on track and living a energized productive life?

What should Joe do?

First—admit it! You confess and accept blame. That’s the first thing God wants out of you.

Then you pray and ask His help, after all, it’s way past the point that Joe can do much about it. This has fallen to the level that only God can create a healing solution and bring peace.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

Joe did that. 

He said we need to pray for "those kids." He wanted those concerned to help him ask for God's intervention.

Sandusky? No praying there. No asking God's help, so he won't get any. He is more interested in protecting himself than helping those who were reported to be harmed and abused so he continues to live in denial.

Joe said “I should have done more. I regret it more than anything in my life.”

On the other hand, the alleged perpetrator, Sandusky, got on TV and denied it. Wrong Move. Nothing good is going to happen until you make the first step.

So what do you do after that?

When the first step in recovering from any self inflicted disaster is to repent, the next step is to ask God's help. Joe is doing that. 

No one is surprised because that has been the overwhelming pattern to his life. To accept responsibility. To take a stand for what’s right and encourage and insist that those around them do the same.

Cast your cares upon the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)

Joe made mistakes, bad ones. But we are all capable of creating nightmares. Thank goodness when we do, we have someone to turn to who can bring peace.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you. (I Peter 5:7)