Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
I have returned to this verse several times over the past year out of great need. They are words of hope for a weary soul.
Jesus said these words to his disciples while his cross waited around the next corner. He was also preparing his disciples for his soon departure and for the unknown difficulties that waited for them around their next corner.
Jesus knew that his followers most needed peace in their hearts despite their many troubles. He also knows that’s what you and I need.
I’m writing to you today because, despite our many troubles, I long for you to have that peace from Jesus, too.
What in the World Is Going On?
A few weeks back, I sat on my couch and watched footage of the protests, riots, and insurrection in Washington, D.C., and wept. The civil unrest, political pettiness, and self-righteous violence are a burden that is too heavy to bear.
Then, we all heard the news of our imminent return to Square One in our fight against a year-long pandemic, the burden grew heavier still.
As I digested the announcement of the stay-at-home order, it hit me like a fresh wave that there are some people in our church family I haven’t seen in person for almost a full year. Some who I haven’t seen at all. There is no judgement in that statement; if anything, there’s much grace. It’s simply an observation that (speaking transparently) breaks my heart and makes me sad.
Life is hard these days for everyone. Perhaps it’s helpful for you to know that it’s hard for pastors, too. I see the weariness every week in our staff and our elders who are trying their best to shepherd and lead when we can’t even be in the same room as you. Most people don’t see how they walk with a limp because they’ve listened to another opinion or complaint about the pandemic that was spoken with more political zeal than Christian love. Not to mention the embarrassing in-fighting and name-calling among Christians across the wider Church.
As Jesus would say, my heart has been troubled. A lot. At times, my heart has even been afraid. Afraid not only of our future but also of the growing instability of our present.
Thankfully, Jesus had more to say.
Real Peace
What strikes me most about Jesus’ statement in John 14:27 is that his greatest concern—knowing his horrific death was literally only hours away—was that the people he loved would have peace.
Not just any peace. Real peace. His peace. The kind of lasting and perfect peace that you and I crave.
Jesus says that it’s not a peace the world can give to you. Pay close attention to that. The end of a pandemic will not give you peace. A vaccine will not give you peace. Being released from a lockdown will not give you peace. A politician of any persuasion will not give you peace. Winning a debate will not give you peace. The latest report or theory will not give you peace. And maybe most importantly, being “right” will not give you peace.
Jesus gives peace.
We need to hear this again during these days because we often worry and fear and think and speak like peace depends on us, not on Jesus. Even still, in all the unhinged craziness of our world—knowing that, maybe, your heart has been troubled and afraid like few other times in your life—he wants you to have his peace.
Jesus’ peace is unshakeable, unflappable, immoveable. He is the author of peace, and he wants to give you his peace.
He wants you to know his peace.
He wants your heart to be softened and your life to be changed by his peace even when the cracks in this broken world grow wider and deeper.
He wants his peace to reign in our hearts. What a loving Saviour.
A Word of Encouragement
Loved ones, my heart longs for you to have this peace. But implied in Jesus’ statement is that to have this peace, we must take our eyes off a world that guarantees nothing and fix our gaze on him. The only remedy for a heart troubled by this world is for this benevolent, compassionate, peace-providing Jesus to be worth more to you than anything this troubling world can offer.
This pandemic and all its adjoining unrest have rightly awakened in us a longing for a new world, a better world where the Ultimate Peace-Giver will wipe away every tear from our eyes, a world where death will be no more, a world noticeably absent of mourning or crying or pain or viruses or pandemics or protests or riots or pettiness or in-fighting or isolation or loneliness or distancing because all the former things have passed away and he has finally made everything new (Revelation 21:4).
Friends, let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Jesus stands ready to calm your fear and steady your troubled heart.
Are you searching for peace? One lucky commenter will receive a FREE PDF of Kevin’s book, Anxiety Attack. The winner will be randomly drawn on March 11, 2021. To enter, leave a comment and share what Scripture verse or verses have most encouraged you during this time.
There is an epidemic plaguing our culture. Sadly, Christians are not immune to it. In fact, as followers of Christ, we may be more susceptible to the outbreak than we realize. And if we’re not careful, it can incapacitate us before we even understand what’s happening.
Some of you might remember my friend, Erin. I dedicated Mistletoe Movie Star to her, and she inspired the main character, Char. Erin is passionate about compassion ministry, and that did not stop when Char’s story ended. Erin is still raising awareness for those in our community who need our help. She wrote the post below.
It’s cold out there.
Frigid. Almost unbearable. Last night at the centre where I work, I was once again reminded of the severity of homelessness in our community. Two old friends from “Welcome Love” (our former tent city) came by. Their circumstances are complicated and sad. For various reasons that most of us could never comprehend, they “choose” to sleep in the rough. To them, it is the only option. Last night, they came by Why Not Youth Centre with frostbitten faces and ash-covered hands. They were invited in for a moment of reprieve from the harsh reality of their everyday lives. They experienced a moment of warmth, food, acceptance and kindness.
Last year, the issue of homelessness in our community was front and centre. All over social media, in the news, in the papers, top of the to-do list for council, “tent lit on fire!”…you could not ignore it. Many good things came out of those days, but last night I was reminded that just because we cannot SEE tent city does not mean that those beautiful God-created people are not still out there living in tents when it is -15 outside.
IN. A. TENT.
Hunger, a lack of viable resources, and safe, affordable housing are a daily battle for many of our youth and those experiencing homelessness in our city. It is literally a moment-to-moment game of survival. Last night, God freshly reminded me that there is still much work to be done. We hope and pray our youth will never experience this as their “normal.” We have some amazing supports in our community; Why NotYouth Centre is one of those places, but there are some massive gaps in services to the marginalized.
I see these gaps every time we advocate for youth or try to connect those deemed “hard to serve” with supports that could change the direction of their current life course. This is not a new problem. Still, we press on, show up and advocate for change because, despite the dire circumstances, we SEE God at work and these lives matter. When I said goodbye to our visitors last night, I truly wondered if they would survive the night. I prayed for them. I wept at our broken world. Then I decided to do something about it.
Be part of the solution
On February 20, together with thousands of Canadians across the country, I am walking and fundraising to support and serve people and families experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger in our community. Why Not Youth Centres is supported solely by generous community supporters and initiatives like this. We need support to keep our doors open. I have named the team the “WayMaker Walkers” because only God can fix this problem. I am praying He uses our team to affect change in our community in practical ways. Would you join me? Walk with me & pray with me as we call out to the LORD to do what only He can! If you cannot participate in the walk, you can still pray at home and donate to our team!
With a new year upon us it can be a a good idea to find your “word of the year.” For 2021, my word is “yet.”
I was reminded last year to focus on what we have and not on what we’ve lost. It was a hard year for so many. Today, with the sinful world continuing to exhibit its need for a savior we should always contemplate the incredible gift of Jesus and the salvation He has brought to us. If you will indulge me, I’d like to do a little Bible word study with you.
I began looking at the word “yet” in Scripture (used about 400 times) and found it to be apropos to our discussion. (Too bad it wouldn’t work in a book title because one would think I was writing about Bigfoot [Yeti].)
Look at the following passages for a moment (emphasis mine).
Lamentations 3:20-22 (NLT) “I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.”
Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV) “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV) “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”
Psalm 42:11 (KJV) Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NASB) “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.”
In every sense Jesus is our “yet.” Everything before Him pales when compared to the after.
John 1: 11-12 (NIV) “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 11:25 (KJV) “Jesus said unto her, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.’”
He is our hope. He is our sustenance. He is our redeemer. He is the reason for all we do.
If all seems overwhelming… If all seems impossible…. Remember, God is not finished….yet.
He is our “Yet.”
Soli Deo Gloria.
This post first appeared on the Steve Laube Agency blog on January 11, 2021. Used with permission.
When I was young, I eagerly awaited summer break because it played the introductory notes to a new school year melody. I spent the warm months of July and August dreaming about the song I might sing. Yet, over and over, a familiar refrain played.
This desire for newness followed me into adulthood. I resolved that when I began post-secondary school, when I entered the workforce, and when I switched jobs the chorus and tempo would change. A move across the country provided blank sheet-music. I could be anyone I desired with no historical off-key renditions echoing every movement. Yet, my score built to a disappointing crescendo. Snatching the baton and directing each measure reverberated my wretchedness. I’m not the conductor; I’m an instrument in the Maestro’s orchestra. Anything composed apart from Him will be a deafening disaster of screeching notes.
Now, a new calendar year provides another new beginning filled with lyrics I don’t want to sing. We are in quarantine again. The sorrowful melody resounds. This isn’t the triumphant victory I prayed for, but maybe there is room for a reflective and lonely score in this opera.
No matter how tuneless and chaotic the first notes sound, God is composing new morning mercies. All creation sings of His glory. Lonely notes build urgency, and hearts bang out victory as He puts a new song in the mouths of His people. He pulls from each instrument in perfect time and harmony. The melodic line moves His people, and we sing our praises to Him and tell of His wondrous works.
This New Year of new closures and new disappointments also contains new sheet music penned by the Maestro’s hand. Tune your ears to the song this concerto proclaims. A new heaven and new earth await. Today’s lonely melody preludes tomorrow’s victory. The longing in our hearts reveals that earth was never meant to be our victory song. One day, those who believe will join the angels in heaven and sing for all eternity of God’s great faithfulness. We will sing our songs of repentance and dependence on Christ. We will sing with endless joy the song of the redeemed.
Until then, I choose to sing a new song of new mercies for this new year. I sing to my God, who is worthy to be praised.
Authors are often asked what books they are reading. Considering it is December, I’ve been deep into holiday romances AND I JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH. Below are just a few titles that I’ve enjoyed when I needed an hour or two to escape the realities of the world. I’d love to hear what titles you are reading and how you “escape” when you need a break.
If you decide to download one of these books, consider leaving the author a review on Goodreads or Amazon or Pelican Book Group or wherever you purchased the book. As an author, I promise you that is a wonderful gift that will be greatly appreciated!
After her boyfriend’s betrayal and overall disillusionment with life, a simple flight changes everything for Mandy Brockman – and just in time for the holidays. Discover how seatmate CJ helps her find healing she never knew existed in this sweet Christmas romance.
My Thoughts: This sweet story had me laughing from the very beginning. It’s perfectly sweet, short, and ideal for an easy afternoon read!
Novelist Olivia St. Madeleine is intrigued by a handsome and mysterious stranger she sees when Christmas shopping, and she wonders who exactly he is and what is his story.
My thoughts: There is so much to love in this holiday novella. It’s perfect for that night you want to curl up with a hot chocolate near the fire and start and finish a story in about the time it takes to watch a holiday movie. Carol James is one of my favourite contemporary authors because she writes characters that are easy to fall in love with and her stories honour the Lord. If you’re looking for a holiday read that makes you smile, laugh, and have all those wonderfully warm and fuzzy feelings—this is it.
This Christmas, two lost and broken families need restoration. Two chance meetings spark a friendship and a glimmer of hope.
My thoughts: If you’re the type of reader who loves a good, therapeutic cry, then grab your box of tissues and a copy of A New Hope for Christmas. I was unprepared for the emotions this story stirred inside of me and I found myself dripping with tears several times.
My thoughts: Isabel and Boaz solved the crime in Dark Streets Shineth before I did, which made it a very satisfying mystery. I uncovered the clues alongside them but still didn’t understand the criminal’s motive until the end, making it the perfect mystery!
My thoughts: One of my favourite things about the holiday season is the abundance of new Christmas stories to read! After a while, they can all start to sound the same. So, when I find one that approaches the familiar trope with a twist, I’m hooked. In Everything Noel, a passionate fish farmer/reluctant actor, a secret baby, a childhood illness, and a Hollywood businesswoman come together to tell a story about sacrifice, love, and the importance of family.
It’s always exciting to visit the blogs of readers and writers to talk about books. It’s a great way to learn about new authors! Ten blogs hosting me and/or posting their thoughts about my latest release. You can follow the blog tour at the all stops listed below and learn more about Mistletoe Movie Star.
Nov 20th: Looking Out the Windowteaser: As winter temperatures dipped to life-threatening lows, concern for those without warm and safe beds grew. Several people from different churches banded together to combine their energy and resources into serving this community that had been surviving in tents. Their passion for the least among us inspired my heroine, Charlene. Char’s drive for those less fortunate in Mistletoe Movie Star shines in her speech to the town council. Her line about the transient community being made in God’s image and deserving of dignity and stability come right from my friend’s speech to our city council.
Nov 26th: Andrea Thom Faith in Fearteaser: … Regardless of why or how fear has come, its presence will either move us to focus on the circumstances that we can see, or move us to trust in the One who controls the circumstances. When our minds fill up with worry, let’s meditate on Jesus’ sovereignty. When our emotions fear rejection, let’s lean into His acceptance. Like Char, let’s step out in faith whenever we fear by calling on God’s power and presence to overcome the worry that we cannot. The very fear that distresses us can be the means God uses to grow our faith and testify to the One who ushers in peace …
Nov 28th: Faith, Encouragement, and Happily-Ever-Aftersteaser: Often, the things I am studying in the Bible, or life events that rock my world, make their way into my novels. At the time of writing Mistletoe Movie Star, I attended a local city council meeting regarding our growing homeless crisis. As my friend gave a speech that championed the transient community made in God’s image and deserving of dignity and stability, I found my heroine Charlene.
Dec 1st: Christian Bookaholicteaser: … The reader becomes cocooned in the friendly welcome from the town of Mistletoe. It is a town with a social conscience and a heart for the homeless … Everyone wants a place to call home. We have physical homes and spiritual homes but sometimes ‘home’ is wrapped up in the ones we love. No matter what we do or where we go, we all long for a home.
Dec 3rd:Penelope Marzec Bookish Thoughtsexcerpt: Char forgot all her volunteer training about keeping a safe distance and respecting the personal space of others. She wrapped her arms around Natalie, careful not to squeeze Cinnamon, and let the girl cry. She stroked Natalie’s hair as quiet sobs shook her body. When only the occasional sniffle remained, Char pulled back to look Nat square in the eyes. “Thank you for trusting me with the truth.”
Dec 5th:Where Faith and Romance Meetexcerpt: Jonas held up a hand and ignored the questions until the crowd settled. It was like watching a kindergarten teacher reign in a room of four-year-olds.
Jonas spoke softly, and the crowd hushed, leaning in to hear his instructions. “If you let the children through without bothering them, I’ll give you a few minutes before going into the house. If one person says anything to the girls, snaps any photos of the girls, or reaches out to touch the girls, the interview is over, and charges will be laid.”
With surprising respect, the reporters lowered their cameras.
Jonas nodded at Char.
“OK, girls,” Char said, “go right into the house or directly to the barn. Keep your heads down and don’t talk to anybody.”
They nodded.
Char looked at Suzy. “You good?”
Suzy lifted her chin. “I’ve dealt with worse.”
I’ll bet you have.
Dec 10th:Writing to Foster Faith that Flourishes, Needs, Humanity, and Baby Skunks teaser: I love it when fiction does more than tell an entertaining narrative. I love fiction that forces me to think deeply about my faith and consider how God might be prompting me to respond. There are a lot of loveable characters in Mistletoe Movie Star who might stir this response in your soul, and my favorite is Charlene Kelley, the town veterinarian. Charlene not only sees a great need in Mistletoe Movie Star, but she strives to be part of the solution. She observes the growing homeless crisis and steps in to help, but this crisis becomes deeply personal when three young girls land in her care. As a woman of faith, she worries about not only helping them physically but also introducing them to a Father who loves them.
Dec 12th: Pam’s Wild Rose Saturday Spotlight, Excerpt: “Kittens sound like fun.” Jonas winked at her.
Beth yanked off the lid. “Look how little they are.”
Small gasps and yelps rolled through the press. They collectively leapt back.
A quick bark of laughter escaped Char as she reached in and pulled out a baby skunk. Its folds of skin layered over the petite frame, and one tiny eye slit wiggled as if it wanted to open and see who dared to disturb its rest.
Dec 14th:Fear Warrior Blog. Escaping Anxiety and Fear teaser: In many ways, we are approaching a Christmas like no other. We battle a global pandemic and an uncertain future. The ever-changing circumstances tempt us to shift our eyes from God and fix them on the brewing storm, the evolving virus, or the angry headlines. As our attention diverts, anxiety rises. Stomachs churn. Hearts pound. Palms sweat. Uncertainty and fear birth physical symptoms that cause real, physical pain. I suspect that Christmas isn’t playing out exactly as many of us had hoped or planned. One of my coping strategies, when anxiety rises, is to temporarily escape into a fictional world where I am confident that despite the obstacles in the story, the ending is happy.
Dec 16th:Giveaway series on ReadingIsMySuperPower, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas teaser: … You see, the miracle isn’t on 34th Street; it’s found in a manger that led to a cross. The miracle is how God made it possible for every weary soul to rejoice. He accepts Christ’s death as payment for my sins and then raises Jesus to life again with a promise to raise also all who believe in Him. When we embrace that gift, this becomes the most wonderful time of the year …
