Philippians 4:8-9...and the God of Peace...

Scripture:
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.  
The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
 Philippians 4:8-9, NASB

Observation:
-Believers are given some latitude here, dwell on things that are true, pure, lovely, etc.  Paul does not lay out specifically what those things are.
-Paul is our example as well as the teacher who brought the Good News.  We are not to just read this letter but to put into practice what he has shared about living the Christian life.
-With our minds set on these true, pure, lovely, etc. things we will find that we are not alone... the "God of peace is with us."

Along the Rogue River in Oregon. Photo by Deb Davis copyrighted 2013

Application:
I have hiked by this spot on the Rogue River many times.  There are places where the river rushes by: filling the air with its roar as it make its way to the ocean.

Photo by Deb Davis copyrighted 2013

Here it tumbles through a narrow gorge with a force that is hard to describe.  

Photo by Deb Davis copyrighted 2013

I have hiked this 3.5 mile section of the Rogue River Trail many times in my life.  At one end is this gorge and that other it disappears completely into a lava tube and in between it shows of both its mighty strength and serene beauty.

All photos by Deb Davis copyrighted 2013

Just beyond the bend in the river is the Natural Bridge.  When we were kids it was not fenced off and you could stand on top of the lava flow as the water flowed through the lava tubes beneath your feet.  You could feel the power of it course though your body.  Photos here do not justice to just how much water is there, how big this river truly is.  It looks like you could just jump across--it would have to be a mighty jump. 

I found a video that someone posted on you tube where you can see the river go underground and listen to the rushing waters.  

This is the river I grew up with and it holds a special place in my heart.

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Even though we hit this in the morning the sun was already making it difficult to get a good shot, but this is one of the tubes that part of the river goes into.

Off all the wonderful places to see along the Rogue River there has always been one special place for me.  Since I was a girl I have walked down the trail from our campsite to just sit and experience the quiet.  It still draws me every time I am at Union Creek.  

The river is slow and still here.  I can think and pray.  I have come here when I needed to cry, when I needed to just be alone with God; to cry out to Him and to share my joys with Him.  I have watched deer and osprey and herons and ducks and woodpeckers and beaver and otter all from this very spot.  It is tranquil.  It is peaceful.  Here the river is quiet.  Here the river slows so one can think.

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On our last morning of camping in this area I walked out to this spot to sit in the quiet and watch the sun come up.  There is something about being away from all the noise.  The rambunctious parts of the river are like the things in my life that threaten my peace.  My peace has been threatened this week.  I need my quiet spot. I need my mind to dwell on whatever is true and honorable, on whatever is right and pure, on whatever is lovely and of good repute.

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I need to see the Light that shatters the darkness.  All of those things in Paul's list can be found in this world.  But it is not the company of the river that I seek.  As lovely as it is, it is not the river that brings me peace.  It is the very presence of God.  Those things in Paul's list make me think of Christ.  Have you found a totally trustworthy person in your journey?  One who has never let you down?  I have not, but I know of someone by the testimony of others who is completely trustworthy.  Everything He said is true and honorable, right and pure...He is the embodiment of what is lovely and of good repute.  That which is excellent.  Paul set his mind on Christ while he was imprisoned and the God of peace was with him.  It is my intent this morning to follow Paul's example.

Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Deb

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