Are You A Peacemaker? (Hix)

Matthew 5:9-Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed-Happy are the poor in spirit, Happy are those who mourn, Happy are the meek, Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, Happy are the merciful, Happy are the pure in heart, Happy are the peacemakers.

Happiness is from the inside not from the outside.

You don't get joy by getting back at people, or getting revenge on people, you get joy by getting along with people.

Roman 12:18-If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Some of the misery that comes into peoples lives is because they don't know how to get along with people.

If there is always drama, if there is always a tiff with someone, if there is always a feud in your life! The reason may be you!

Hebrews 12:14-Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

Pursue peace-Seeking to live in peace.

We would much rather be troublemakers, we are much more prone to be troublemakers!

In October, 1983, Psychology Today posed this intriguing question, “If you could push a button and thereby eliminate any person with no repercussions to yourself, would you do it?” Sixty percent of those responding answered yes.

One man posed an even better question, “If such a device were invented, would anyone live to tell about it?”

We might not like being involved in drama but we like seeing drama or fights, if that were not so, shows like orange county choppers, hard core pawn, soap operas, Jerry Springer (Years ago) and the list goes on, wouldn’t be so popular.

Some people like starting fights, they thrive on conflicts!! There are some people who would walk three miles to start fight but wouldn't walk across the street and tell someone about Jesus.

Peace and holiness, if have to choose between the two choose holiness, don't give up holiness just to have peace with someone.

Isaiah-9:6-7-For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

The truth is…Jesus provides ever lasting peace!!

If you want to be a peacemaker, then you have to offer (Witness, Tell, Testify) to others about the one who can give real peace!!

Longfellow wrote ‘Christmas Bells’ on Christmas Day, 1864. The American Civil War still raged, though hope loomed on the horizon with Union advances and the re-election of Abraham Lincoln.

On July 9th, 1861, just three months after the bombardment of Fort Sumter opened the Civil War, the Longfellow family suffered a very personal tragedy. An oppressive heat wave in Massachusetts prompted Longfellow’s wife, Fanny, to trim the heavy locks of their seven year old daughter, Edith. Fanny decided to preserve little Edie’s curls. As she heated wax to seal the envelop, hot drops fell unseen onto her dress. A sudden breeze set the smoldering dress afire. In an effort to protect her young daughters from the flames, Fanny rushed into Longfellow’s study. Longfellow first tried to extinguish the flames with a rug, and when that failed he threw his body onto his wife, severely burning his face, arms and hands. Fanny Longfellow died the next morning.

Longfellow’s grief and injuries were so great he was unable to attend her funeral.

In his journal that first Christmas after his wife’s death Longfellow wrote: "How inexpressibly sad are all holidays." His journal states: "I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace.", on the anniversary of Fanny’s death. For Christmas, 1862, Longfellow writes: "'A merry Christmas' say the children, but that is no more for me."

In late 1863 Longfellow received word that his eldest son, Lieutenant Charles Longfellow, had been severely wounded and crippled in battle. Longfellow made no journal entry for Christmas, 1863.

On Christmas Day, 1864, Longfellow wrote ‘Christmas Bells’. The sound of the pealing bells penetrates the despair Longfellow has been experiencing, filling him with a sense of hope that is expressed in the last stanza of the song!

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!