Hi everyone, a very happy and blessed Easter to you all. Jesus is risen, risen indeed!! Yesterday we celebrated Easter and our family had a great day. We started by going to church and there is an older gentleman who sang “I’ve just seen Jesus” Oh was it wonderful. Then we visited another church and saw a dear friend of ours little girl get baptized by emersion. I can’t tell you the joy I even now feel as we watched that and saw that sweet and happy face!! And on the personal side the men at boot camp in Georgia were able to call home so as you can imagine there were many happy, happy families around this country starting with ours  :]  I do want to say that I know that there are many of you out  there who didn’t have a good day or felt lonely and lost. It could be your loved one is over seas, or Life circumstances are real hard now and sometimes even when were in a crowd and were supposed to be happy we don’t. Internal struggles make us feel alone isolated and like we don’t fit in any where. I know I have had those thoughts and feelings. This month I have been thinking about those words Peace & serenity. Everyone around this world who knows any thing about any kind of recovery group will always start the serenity prayer with” God grant me the serenity” What do you think of when you think of that word? I think peace. Hear are some words that go hand in hand with that, Peace,  heartsease, peace of mind, peacefulness, repose, placidity, quiet, tranquility, ataraxis {which means- the absence of mental stress and anxiety}, I had to look that one up! When I think of peace though I don’t t think I would say happiness. So what are the times when I could honestly say I did not have a sense of peace of heart and mind? What disrupts mine and your peace? Were agitated, uneasy, fearful, worried. We can’t or have a hard time concentrating or at times thinking clearly or rationally about things or decision or basics life. So the serenity prayer say’s God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Everyone wants that “serenity” and that longed for “peace “even if your not involved in any kind of recovery group. So where we start is by getting into the word and let’s look at a few verses that we can think, meditate on and make part of our lives to call on. Scripture does say to hide His word in our hearts. First of all that The holy Spirit can bring to our minds when were tempted to make wrong choices but If it in our heart we can  remember and it comforts us, gives us hope and yes that peace. I have been using the amplified edition for these notes lately because it really expands on the verse 2Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you. So Christ is the author [originator] and promoter of peace! That reminds me of Hebrews 12:2 (King James Version),         ²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. A 1 Peter 1:2,²Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance [that spiritual peace to be realized in and through Christ freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflict. We hear a lot from Jeremiah 29:11 that He has a purpose and plan; well here it says we were chosen, yes us that’s how special we are to Him. Also that it is in and through Him; Christ. Not our power or willpower but His! Some may have heard the saying from a recovery meeting” I can’t; God can: I turn my will over to God” That His power working in His way to gives us that serenity and peace. Philippians 4:7say’s And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I especially love this verse; we can have that peace despite what goes on in our lives. It’s not that giddy happiness that everything is “good” and all the people and circumstances in our life are good or behaving in our perceived right way. We have to remember that it’s not our measuring stick or plumb line of what we think may be right for us but His!!!  He is good and we can rest there. He will guard our hearts and mind. He will protect them and it’s in that resting, trusting that as the prayer says that He will make all things right. I know for myself that my life has really changed and believe me and not all of it has not been my idea of what I wanted, but I trust Him! That’s where the peace is; no matter what, we can be tranquil resting in the knowledge He will be with us, never leave us or forsake us , were chosen, and He loves us. May the lord bless you and keep you Love Mary        Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is; not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next.  Amen.