This is post #31, and the final one in a series entitled Peacemakers for the Cause of Christ – Facilitators of God’s Peace in a World Looking for Peace. We hope you’ll enjoy these 31 podcasts and blogs that focus on our great need in today’s society for peacemakers; men, women, and children who are willing to step away from all the contempt, division, and hatred, and step in toward the blessed call of being Christ-centered peacemakers for the greater glory of God. Here you’ll find very practical and biblically-sound advice on building bridges instead of walls, offering hope instead of despair. Here’s the homepage for the entire series.

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Click on the link below to listen to the podcast version of this blog!

Truth #10:       Peacemakers Keep Going Despite the Resistance.

Today’s Lectio Divina: So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Hebrews 12: 12-15 (MsgB)

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So, are you ready? Are you set?

Do you feel better prepared in your calling to be a Peacemaker for the Cause of Christ: A Facilitator of God’s Peace in a World Looking for Peace?

Over the last 30 blog/podcast sessions, we’ve done our best to equip your mind, your heart, your body, and your soul for this journey in front of us.

You might want to bookmark our series webpage to go back to any sessions you might have missed. Plus you might want to visit our Putting on Your Peacemaker Toolbelt page for a list of on-going resources and helps.

So, before we give you our final thoughts, allow me to remind you of where we’ve been, and what truths we’ve uncovered…

Truth #1:         Peacemakers Understand the Times in Which We Live.

Truth #2:         Peacemakers Find Themselves in Christ.

Truth #3:         Peacemakers Take an Honest Inventory of Themselves.

Truth #4:         Peacemakers Embrace the Biblical Power of Peace.

Truth #5:         Peacemakers Practice the Presence of God’s Peace.

Truth #6:         Peacemakers Read/Pray/Converse & Learn.

Truth #7:         Peacemakers Discern Where God Is Working and Join Him There.

Truth #8:         Peacemakers Work From God’s Circle of Peace.

Truth #9:         Peacemakers Embrace Our Role as Facilitators in God’s Circle of Peace.

Truth #10:       Peacemakers Keep Going Despite the Resistance.

Plus, in these last six blogs/podcasts, we’ve included what we call our Ten Commandments for Facilitators in God’s Circle of Peace…

I. Know who you are, what you believe & where you are called.

II. Keep your circle of non-negotiables small.

III. Ask for God’s gift of holy indifference.

IV. Build bridges while respecting walls.

V. Focus on the power of one.

VI. Stop-Look-Listen.

VII. Prefer relationship over rules.

VIII. Go slow in order to go fast.

IX. Be content with small, quiet fire.

X. Keep showing up.

That’s a lot of material. Yet, in truth, what we’ve given you here is just the beginning. Going forward, it’s my desire to assemble a support network, a team of helpers who can come alongside one another as we, together, venture out into our broken world, bringing the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding, to people, one soul at a time.

Which brings me to my final point.

Going forward, I’m looking for helpers.

Fred Rogers, Mr. Rogers, as most people know him from the ever-popular PBS TV series, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, has become one of my favorite theologians. I’ve devoured most of his books and biographies, and have seen the recent movies, Won’t You Be My Neighbor and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

As I see it, Mr. Rogers was a peacemaker for the cause of Christ. I’d highly recommend getting your hands on any and all of Fred’s resources. But for me, reading the wonderful biographical book, The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers by Amy Hollingsworth, was the cornerstone in my deep appreciation for Fred and the work of peace he put his hand to.

It’s here, I’ve found so much encouragement, comfort, and vision from one man, called of God, to reach out to a generation, bringing a message of peace in a very unpeaceful world.

One of my favorite Mr. Rogers’ quotes is so important for us going forward. It’s all about surrounding ourselves with co-workers in this peacemaking effort; fellow helpers we can network with along the way…

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster”, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.

So, are you surrounding yourself today with helpers?

People who will be praying for you and with you, as you step into this important work of facilitating the peace of Christ in a world seemingly gone mad?

I hope so. I pray so.

As it says in Romans 14: 19 (ESV)

So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

And, as we do just that, look at this amazing promise from 2^nd Corinthians 13: 11 (ESV)

Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.  

Or, as Jesus of Nazareth said it…

You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. Matthew 5: 9 (MsgB)

Thank you for being with us on this journey, now allow me to close with this ancient prayer of St. Francis…

My Prayer: Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

For Your Name’s sake. Amen.

A Few Questions to Ponder: So what’s next? Who around me might I invite into the peacemaking work of Christ? Where is Jesus working around me today? Who is hurting? Who is struggling with broken relationships? Who is looking for help? Am I willing to step into the needs of this world, knowing it’s not me who can fix things, but as a facilitator in God’s circle of peace, I can begin building bridges of His peace?

So, how are you experiencing God’s presence as you are becoming a peacemaker for the cause of Christ?

We’d love to hear from you as you continue your journey. Contact us here.

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*This is the eighteenth, and final tool in a variety of practical suggestions/resources we have offered you throughout this blog/podcast series. We call these exercises:

PUTTING ON YOUR PEACEMAKER TOOLBELT.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 9 (NIV)

Tool #18: Scriptures, Prayers & Songs for the Journey.

Click here for a growing collection of scriptures, prayers and songs for all of us peacemakers to use along the way.

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Peacemakers for the Cause of Christ – Facilitators of God’s Peace in a World Looking for Peace.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these 31 podcasts and blogs that focus on our great need in today’s society for peacemakers; men, women, and children who are willing to step away from all the contempt, division, and hatred, and step in toward the blessed call of being Christ-centered peacemakers for the greater glory of God. For future reference, here’s the homepage for the entire series.

If you like what you’re reading, might we suggest you share this page with others!