Lifestyles Ideas Management - Let the peace of Christ.....

An old story which comes from the Salvation Army in the last century tells of a strong-willed woman who has been named “Warrior Brown” because of her fiery temper. She was often belligerent and became enraged whenever she got drunk.
Then one day she was converted.
Her entire life was wonderfully changed by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. At an open air meeting a week later, she told everyone what Jesus had done for her. Suddenly a scoffer threw a potato at her, causing a stinging bruise.
Had she not been converted, she would have lashed out at the man furiously. God’s grace, however, had made such a profound change in her conduct that she quickly picked up the potato and put it in her pocket without saying a word.
No more was heard of the incident until the time of the “harvest festival” months later. Then the dear lady who had been known as “Warrior Brown” brought as her offering a sack of potatoes. She explained that after the open-air meeting she had cup up and planted the “insulting potato” and what she was now presenting to the Lord was “the incense”. Warrior Brown has allowed “the peace of Christ” to govern her life.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had this to say about those who pursue peace: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matt 5:9) Colossians reminds us that “as members of one body we are called to peace.” Helping people find peace whether by bringing people into a relationship with God or by bringing people together marks us out as a “son of God” or a “daughter of God”. We can do nothing more God-like than to bring peace to those separated from God and from each other. May the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi inspire us as we seek to live out our divine calling and splendor:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where
There is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
From Bethany EFC Focus 27 July 2008