A Meditation to End Our Year in Peace

You are invited. So come with me and experience a moment of peace. Find a quiet place, far away from the noise of the world, in the early morning before the sun is up. Find a place where you can sit and breathe and see the stars. Or sit with your Christmas tree and look at the lights and imagine they are stars. Breathe deeply Breathe slowly The stars are those who have passed on from this world. Centuries ago. Or just this past year. Or some other time in between. They are the great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1-3) They encouraged you as you ran with perseverance, the race that was this past year. They encouraged you as you grew weary at times and as you replenished yourself in the joy of the Lord, which is our strength. But now is not the time for running. Now is the time for rest. Still, they are there, encouraging you as you rest. Rest. Which is often more difficult than the running. Isn't that true? Breathe deeply Breathe slowly

Imagine a guard. He is a soldier whose name is --The Peace of God. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 Your request is for a moment of peace. God will grant it. He has been wanting to. For such a long time . . . Breathe deeply Breathe slowly That soldier is clearing out your heart and mind now, of all the worries and anxieties and sorrows, from this past year and from all the other years. It is time for rest, The Peace of God tells them, you have to leave now. The worries and anxieties and sad thoughts are gone now, as you continue to breathe. Deeply and slowly. You are watching that guard --The Peace of God. You can trust him. He won't let the anxiety back in. Your heart is safe. Your mind is at peace. And as you open your eyes slowly, you release the year, that has passed, giving it back to God. You watch the sun rise. And welcome in a new day. A new year. A new beginning . . . Love and peace and many blessings to you all, RoseDQ (Brenda C) Revised for December 2011