A Peace Unfettered

Birds of a Feather

When I was 26 years old I came to the truth that I could no longer rely on the faith of my parents, or the doctrines of my church, to claim salvation for me. It was a personal choice I had to make for myself. So, during a very difficult year emotionally, physically and spiritually, I began following hard after God, and I made a personal profession of my faith in Christ. One of the first things I did on my journey of faith was to enroll in a Bible class I heard about through a local church. The class was on Saturday mornings at 6:00 a.m. at a pastor's home.

My three children were very young, and I couldn't take them with me. My husband worked on Saturdays, so for me to attend this Bible study was a really big deal. I had to find a babysitter that would come to my home while my children were still (hopefully) asleep. I had to pay a sitter with money we didn't have and as I soon discovered after I paid the fee for the Bible study, the class was made up of only pastors and their spouses. I was way out of my league and didn't have a clue! All I knew for certain was that I had a brand new Bible and I had absolutely no idea how to read it. However, my desire to learn was bigger than my intimidation, and I wasn't going to let anything stop me from going to this study!

One Saturday, I was running late in getting to the class. My house had to be clean, and breakfast ready before I was comfortable in having a babysitter over. This was a huge task for me! But I came flying into Bible study on the seat of my pants, apologizing for being late, with my Bible, books, and purse spilling into the room with me. Oh, I was just sure that those pastors would rather I stayed home.

But, L.D. Sowder, one of my favorite pastors of all time, greeted me with this, "Oh, Qené! We are so delighted you are here! We were afraid you'd given up on us. It's such a pleasure to see you flying through the door with your feathers all aflutter after taking care of your little chicks so you could be here to study with us. You add a lot of excitement and fun to this room of old, sour pastors." What a blessing their welcoming spirit was to me!

All these years later, I am so thankful for the investment those pastors made in my life! And, it wasn't long after that little event happened that I came across this verse:

“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful” (1 Peter 3:3-5 NLT).

I determined that if it was precious to God, then that's what I wanted my life to be. I didn't want my feathers fluttering and flying about, causing a stir everywhere I went. I wanted a spirit that was gentle and quiet. I wanted to be a holy woman of old!

Now, the fact that I'm still studying that Word in 1 Peter should tell you that I haven't yet acquired that gentleness, and quietness of spirit. I have a long, long way to go before I am a holy woman of old. Oh goodness, my feathers flutter about enough that no one would ever doubt that! But, my heart is set on it. And, even though I still flutter and sputter, I am learning to keep my peace and walk with a gentle and quiet spirit which is so pleasing to God.

At the end of the day when all is said and done, I close my eyes in quiet rest, gently whispering the name of our Savior "Yeshua,” because I know that He is the One who brings me true peace. He will ever be my Prince of Peace, the One who calms my heart, and the One who smooths my feathers.

Searching for Truth

I open the cover and turn the pages in your Word, searching for a bit of truth this morning, Lord. Where will I find that which speaks to my life, if not but in the whole of it? I need your truth to fill all those broken places in my heart; filling those spaces that harbor sin and ugliness. Spaces that I have long forgotten or perhaps have intentionally deserted and ignored.

What truth will I find in your Word today, Lord, which you prepared to change me even before the foundations of the world were created? My eyes cannot but look therein without the conviction of your Spirit and your truth speaking to my darkness, commanding it to flee.

What transgressions will your blood have to cover today, O Savior? What inadequacies will your strong Spirit have to heal and bind up as a buckler of truth and grace? What lie will you have to cast out in the name of truth and holiness?

I dread the pain of your Word piercing my flesh, dividing asunder my spirit and soul; cutting through bone to separate joint and marrow, and even discerning my thoughts and the intents of my heart. It is a surgery that must be done, and my dread turns to hope and hope to joy as I experience the life-changing power of your Word in me.

“Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth” (Psalm 119:151).

“For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 AMPC)