Get the appWiser and Happier: Special Military Edition from Time of GraceSample
Talking and Listening: Make peace
Here’s a riddle for you: why are newspapers and playground bullies similar? Answer: because they both love a fight. Television and print editors gravitate to covering violence (“if it bleeds, it leads”). Voyeuristic spectators get a thrill out of others in combat: “fight! Fight!” Why did you think there were journalists imbedded with many of our troops? Because they sincerely care about our soldiers’ welfare? Yeah, right. Now that’s not to belittle the reporters themselves. They’re not much different than you--sent overseas to do a job they might not be thrilled about.
But the point remains: anyone can start a fight. Anyone can continue a fight long after it should have been over. It is a trademark of jesus’ followers to make peace. “better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife” (proverbs 17:1).
Our hero is the prince of peace, who turned god’s withering judgment upon himself so that he could turn god’s forgiveness and mercy upon us. Are you willing to trust god that there is far greater satisfaction in ending a quarrel than in starting or continuing one?
I wish there were peace right now where you are. But i hope and pray that god will work through our leaders--and through you--to bring peace to the area. Besides, when we talk about peacemaking, we’re not always talking about peace on a national level.
Are there two people in conflict in your life whom you could bring together today?
Here’s a riddle for you: why are newspapers and playground bullies similar? Answer: because they both love a fight. Television and print editors gravitate to covering violence (“if it bleeds, it leads”). Voyeuristic spectators get a thrill out of others in combat: “fight! Fight!” Why did you think there were journalists imbedded with many of our troops? Because they sincerely care about our soldiers’ welfare? Yeah, right. Now that’s not to belittle the reporters themselves. They’re not much different than you--sent overseas to do a job they might not be thrilled about.
But the point remains: anyone can start a fight. Anyone can continue a fight long after it should have been over. It is a trademark of jesus’ followers to make peace. “better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife” (proverbs 17:1).
Our hero is the prince of peace, who turned god’s withering judgment upon himself so that he could turn god’s forgiveness and mercy upon us. Are you willing to trust god that there is far greater satisfaction in ending a quarrel than in starting or continuing one?
I wish there were peace right now where you are. But i hope and pray that god will work through our leaders--and through you--to bring peace to the area. Besides, when we talk about peacemaking, we’re not always talking about peace on a national level.
Are there two people in conflict in your life whom you could bring together today?
Scripture
About this Plan
The experience of serving your country overseas--and sometimes seeing firsthand man’s inhumanity to man--may teach you important lessons about life while turning your stomach at the same time. But recognize that God has an even better way for us to learn life wisdom, a way that continually draws us closer to him no matter how far from family or church we might be. Because of his great love for us, he would much rather make us wiser through words. In this way we wouldn’t be sadder but wiser; we would be wiser and happier. The Bible’s book of Proverbs is an absolute gold mine of wisdom for the daily decisions you must make. It will help you develop your personal values and tune your life’s agenda more closely to resemble God’s.
More
We would like to thank Time of Grace Ministry for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.timeofgrace.org
