Connecting in Healthy Ways

Friday afternoon's message from speaker Sheila Walsh was no less powerful than her morning talk.  The theme for the afternoon--for the day, really--was about having healthy relationships, healthy connections.  Connecting with others is vital, but we have to learn to do so in healthy ways.

Sheila began by telling us, "Guilt says, 'I've done something wrong.'  Shame says, 'I am something wrong.'"

Peace, at least the peace of God that passses understanding, comes from a Greek word, eirene.  Peace is the total security and well being because God's presence is with us.

Circumstances can remain the same and God's peace still works, "because the peace comes not from the absence of trouble but from the presence of Christ."

Illuminating the Bible story, in which Jesus, after his peaceful sleep during a storm was interrupted by fearful disciples, Sheila went on to say, "Whether Christ speaks to the storm outside your life or inside your life, it doesn't matter.  They both have to obey."

Finally, Sheila talked about unforgiveness.  Unforgiveness is a prison that will bottle you up worse than any guilt or shame.  But sometimes, in the midst of really difficult circumstances, we may feel as though we have nothing left to give, not even forgiveness.

"Fair doesn't live here, but Jesus does...Forgiveness is God's gift to us as we live in a life that's unfair."

Do you struggle with unforgiveness?  Have you found God's peace?

Peace & Blessings,

Patricia