31 Days to Fruitful Living — Day 18

One thing about fruit — sometimes you have to work to find it.  Take the pomegranate for instance — its exterior surface is hard and inedible.  You have to crack the hard shell and go searching for the juicy, yummy stuff.

This world is a hard place to live sometimes.  You have to work to find peace — it will require constant effort on your part.  But, the fruit of peace is well worth the battle.

Today, I experienced the strangest moment.  I feel that God wants me to share it — He must want someone to read this.  That’s the only reason I can imagine for what happened.

You see, in order to prepare these posts, I begin by going to Bible Gateway.  I perform a key word search and read up on all the Scriptures on my topic until the bloggy inspiration comes.  Except this morning, when I did the key word search for “peace,” the web site kept telling that there were “no results.”  Friends, I tell you, I tried to search several times in different translations, and I even switched browsers on my computer.

This world was telling me that there was no peace, but I knew better.  So, I dug deep and tried to remember a verse that would work for my post, and I searched for it using a key phrase in Google.    Sure enough, I found my verse.

Is this world trying to tell you that there is no peace?  Keep searching, my friends.  You may need to crack through the hard exterior shell and go digging, but the yummy, juicy fruit of peace is there for you.

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“Whoever wants to embrace life

and see the day fill up with good,

Here’s what you do:

Say nothing evil or hurtful;

Snub evil and cultivate good;

run after peace for all you’re worth.”

I Peter 3:10-11, MSG

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Q4U:  Has this world ever tried to tell you that there is no peace?  How do you “run after” peace in your daily life?

Come back tomorrow for Day 19 of “31 Days to Fruitful Living.” We will chat about sowing patience (Please note that I am highly unqualified to write a post on patience, so your prayers are appreciated!).  I may have a black thumb, but I am determined to learn how to cultivate my spiritual life.

Thanks for stopping by! I would love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

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I am linking up with like-minded sisters at Women Living Well, Thriving Thursdays, Tell His Story,  Wednesdays in the Word, A Little R and R, Soli Deo Gloria, Rich-Faith Rising, Playdates with God, Hear it on Sunday: Use it on Monday, The Weekend Brew, Still Saturday, Spiritual Sundays and Faith-Filled Friday. I am joining The Nester for this crazy challenge:

31 Days to Fruitful Living — Day 17

Sow peace.  This fruit is characterized by an inner harmony that promotes accord and tranquility.  Peace planted in the soul and cultivated by the Holy Spirit will prosper even if faced with the rages and havoc of war.   This blessed fruit produces contentment with one’s earthly lot.  God, the Master Gardener, rewards those who plant peace and strew its seed.

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“And those who are peacemakers

will plant seeds of peace

and reap a harvest of righteousness.”

James 3:18, NLT

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Q4U;  What can you do today to plant seeds of peace in your family?  in your workplace?  in your church?  in your community?  in your soul?

Come back tomorrow for Day 18 of “31 Days to Fruitful Living.” We will chat about the characteristics of the fruit of peace. I may have a black thumb, but I am determined to learn how to cultivate my spiritual life.

Thanks for stopping by! I would love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

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I am joining The Nester and like-minded sisters for this crazy challenge:

Photo Credit:  Michaela Kobyakov

Jehovah Shalom

“…The Lord is Peace…”

Judges 6:24, ESV

Joining like-minded sisters at

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Verse 10: Hiding 20 in 2012 Scripture Memory Challenge

During my recent hospital stay, I did not have a private room.  Sharing a room with a complete stranger is not an easy task — especially when your neighbor is not a peaceful person.  I was thankful when my neighbor was discharged so that I could rest.  Peace is a wonderful thing.

In his book Scripture by Heart: Devotional Practices for Memorizing God’s Word, Joshua Choonmin Kang explains how daily Scripture memorization brings a special blessing:

Memorizing Scripture invites

the blessings of peace into your life  (p.51).

How about you?  Will you invite the blessing of peace into your heart?  Let’s hold each other accountable by Hiding 20 in 2012.  In the comment section below, write out the verse you will be working on for the next two weeks. Make sure to include your first name, your home state, the verse’s address/location, and the Bible translation:

Lyli from Florida:

“Heaven is My throne,

and earth is My footstool!

what sort of house

will you build for Me?”

says the Lord, “or

What is my resting place?”

Acts 7:49  (HCSB)

Here’s a little play on words for all you Pinterest Fans. Rather than ‘Pin it,” let’s purpose to “Hide it.” I will end each post with a “Hide it” Suggested Verse.

“Hide it”:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

    to which indeed you were called in the one body.  And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15, NRSV

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