In Acceptance Lieth Peace

Today is the first day (or the last) of the rest of your life.

We arrived to Alan's parents just in time to hear his mom had been given a sober diagnosis that her 'days were numbered'. 

We sat in their LIVING room, as she talked of dying and the end of her days.

There was a grace and glow as peace and acceptance met each other with a kiss.

This grace can't help but effect all that are around it. 

It is a powerful presence, 

this aroma of Christ.

“Thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ (which exhales) unto God, (discernible alike) among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: To the latter it is an aroma (wafted)from death to death (the smell of doom); to the former it is an aroma from life to life (a vital fragrance, living and fresh). 2 Cor. 2:14 Ampl.

When we embrace the daily dying of SELF, and accept our own death sentence...

His grace and glow can not help but be manifested.

Acceptance allows Peace's Presence to Rule and the grace filled 

aroma of Christ

to envelope those close enough to 

watch us rest in Him.

Where Lieth Peace?

by Amy Carmichael

He said, "I will forget the dying faces; 

The empty places—

They shall be filled again;

O voices mourning deep within me, cease." Vain, vain the word; vain, vain:

Not in forgetting lieth peace.

He said, "I will crowd action upon action,
The strife of faction
Shall stir my spirit to flame;
O tears that drown the 

fire of manhood, cease." Vain, vain the word; vain, vain:

Not in endeavour lieth peace.

He said, "I will withdraw me and be quiet,
Why meddle in life's riot?
Shut be my door to pain.
Desire, thou dost befool me, 

thou shalt cease." Vain, vain the word; vain, vain: Not in aloofness lieth peace.

He said, "I will submit; I am defeated;
God hath depleted
My life of its rich gain.
O futile murmurings; 

why will ye not cease?" Vain, vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in submission lieth peace.

He said, "I will accept the breaking sorrow
Which God to-morrow
Will to His son explain."
Then did the turmoil deep within him cease. Not vain the word, not vain;
For in acceptance lieth peace.