Perfect Peace

My dear buddy Margo just called. When schedules allow, we pray together at 7:30 am on Friday mornings. Margo is a mentor in my life, and was one of my Bible study leaders when I was a young mom. Margo and I have history.

She asked if she could recite her "piece" to me over the phone. She has been asked to be Elizabeth on Sunday, to recite some of what Elizabeth may have been thinking, based on Luke 1, and then light the second advent candle. Margo wrote the recitation herself.

Tears ran down my face as I listened to what Margo had written. The story of Elizabeth and Zechariah gives me such hope, as I've written before, and Margo's way with words and her passion for the Truth touched my heart.

Margo's (Elizabeth's) introduction included, "I'm here to tell you that you can have peace in the midst of heartache and pain. You can have peace when your world is turned upside down. And you can have peace when you're waiting with anticipation and hope for what God will do in the future."

THAT is exactly what God has been teaching me through Luke 1.

Yesterday I landed on the verse in Isaiah

Is 26:3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.

This verse so encouraged me, and I tentatively chose it as the theme verse for the fall 2009 retreat I've been asked to lead for our church. How to experience God's peace in fallen world. And today Margo, as Elizabeth, recited that verse to me - the only verse cited in the 3 minute narrative prepared for this coming Sunday.

And so, first thing on a cold and crisp Friday morning in December, God has warmed my heart and whispered in my ear, "Grace, you're on the right track." When God brings thoughts to me as I study His word and talk to Him, and then they are reinforced from another direction, it is a very personal "hug" experience for me. I LOVE it when that happens. God shows me that He orchestrates details right down to what verse I am reading to prove that He is indeed the artist designing the tapestry of my life. Generally I see the underside - a seemingly unrelated mish mash of colored thread. But once in a while, a pocket of joy, He allows me to see the pattern.

At this moment in time I am in perfect peace, because I trust in Him.

Thank you Lord.