Where Does My Mind Stay?

Well, Up North Wisdom is up and running again after a lengthy sabbatical. My wife Jeanne, and I entered a new phase of our lives that we prefer to call "refirement" instead of "retirement", a term used by one of her cousins. We love that word. Since Fall, we have adjusted to new rolls in our lives and well as new freedoms. We just returned from spending two months in Arizona and Florida. Both are beautiful in different ways but both offered much warmer temperatures than what the people in the north experienced.  It was good to go and it is good to be back in our own home. And we found that God is moving all across this country. I love being a part of His family, don't you?

Every night of the month of February that we spent in Florida, a verse from the Bible entered my mind and in my mind I repeated it over and over. I didn't even know what the scripture reference was until I looked it up to make sure it was accurate and it was. Isaiah 26:3 which reads like this:  "God will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on Him because he trusts in Him".

Great verse and great truth. I am going to preach on this on April 19th at Living Hope Church. An advance warning.  :)  Let me just reflect on two words in this post -- perfect peace! Wow! If there was ever a time in our world where those words don't apply in our secular culture it's now. The world looks for political answers to peace and can't find them. And then we have God's Word that promises Perfect Peace. What is that?

Well, we know it's not what we are going to get in our world. Jesus said in the Gospel of John: "Peace I leave with you; MY peace I give to you. Not the peace that the world is looking for and can't find but the kind I give (Perfect Peace). So don't be troubled in your hearts and don't be afraid." How awesome is that! No one can grasp this until they experience it. One more verse from Philippians chapter 4: "Don't worry or be anxious about things. Instead pray with a thankful heart and give all those worries over to Him.  When you do that, God's peace, which is way beyond human understanding will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ." Hmmm, that is so good!

So friends, Up North Wisdom says start looking to the One who alone can bring real peace in the midst of troubling circumstances. Quit thinking that the right politics will bring answers to the problems that our world is dealing with. History has shown they can't.  Focus or refocus on your relationship with Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, and ask the Holy Spirit to reignite the fire of passion for God's Word and God's work. Pray instead of criticizing and complaining.  Friends, believe me when I tell you that The Best Is Yet To Come no matter what is happening at the moment if we will keep our minds stayed (focused) on God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the precious and powerful Holy Spirit. It's true.

Oh, one more thing:  Pray for our law enforcement officers. God bless them! They are being attacked in the press as well as by the law breakers in our world. They need our prayer and our support. The next time you see a police officer, thank him or her for serving our community and bless them! They really need our encouragement!

It's good to be back!!