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In "Purse-suit" of Peace - March 24, 2006
Finding the right outfit for an occasion is vital. We can spend hours staring into the closet, searching for just the right look for just the right event. Then it's another hour for choosing the perfect accessories. After all, what's a great outfit without the right purse?
Have you ever seen someone sporting a classy suit with one of those big brown purses that looks like a work boot? Even with feathers, it's still a fashion no-no in my book.
While we're in hot "purse-suit" of the perfect purse/suit combo, let's not neglect a more noble pursuit. It's not a pursuit for a purse or a suit, but a pursuit for peace.
I don't mean to get too "purse-sonal," but it can be easy to give in to negative words about difficult people. It's easy to slip into patterns of gossip, to exaggerate one "truth" while minimizing another and to let the unkind remarks fly. Very easy to do.
But 1 Peter 3:10-11 reminds us, "For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it." (NIV) Using our words in hurtful or deceitful ways is evil use of our tongues- and it tears down our churches, our families and our own personal lives. It brings the exact opposite of peace.
That's not what we're to be about. We're told to seek peace. Pursue it. Chase it down with more fervor than we would the best ever purse match. Pursuing peace is a good way to "love life and see good days." There's love and goodness at the end of a peace pursuit- no matter how you accessorize.
Rhonda Rhea is the author of "Who Put the Cat in the Fridge" and other insanely fun books, including "Amusing Grace" and "Turkey Soup for the Soul--Tastes Just Like Chicken." She is a radio personality and humor columnist and speaks at conferences and events nationwide. Rhonda lives in the St. Louis area with her pastor/husband and their five children. Find out more at www.RhondaRhea.net.
Finding the right outfit for an occasion is vital. We can spend hours staring into the closet, searching for just the right look for just the right event. Then it's another hour for choosing the perfect accessories. After all, what's a great outfit without the right purse?
Have you ever seen someone sporting a classy suit with one of those big brown purses that looks like a work boot? Even with feathers, it's still a fashion no-no in my book.
While we're in hot "purse-suit" of the perfect purse/suit combo, let's not neglect a more noble pursuit. It's not a pursuit for a purse or a suit, but a pursuit for peace.
I don't mean to get too "purse-sonal," but it can be easy to give in to negative words about difficult people. It's easy to slip into patterns of gossip, to exaggerate one "truth" while minimizing another and to let the unkind remarks fly. Very easy to do.
But 1 Peter 3:10-11 reminds us, "For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it." (NIV) Using our words in hurtful or deceitful ways is evil use of our tongues- and it tears down our churches, our families and our own personal lives. It brings the exact opposite of peace.
That's not what we're to be about. We're told to seek peace. Pursue it. Chase it down with more fervor than we would the best ever purse match. Pursuing peace is a good way to "love life and see good days." There's love and goodness at the end of a peace pursuit- no matter how you accessorize.
Rhonda Rhea is the author of "Who Put the Cat in the Fridge" and other insanely fun books, including "Amusing Grace" and "Turkey Soup for the Soul--Tastes Just Like Chicken." She is a radio personality and humor columnist and speaks at conferences and events nationwide. Rhonda lives in the St. Louis area with her pastor/husband and their five children. Find out more at www.RhondaRhea.net.
