If we took a survey of 10,000 people in the US across all locations and all economic classes and ask them what are the top 3 things you want in life, I believe the word “peace” would be on that list.

If you think you would have peace if you had money, fame and power, all you have to do is read the newspaper about Hollywood stars and pro athletes to know that peace doesn’t come because of money.

I believe peace is a choice. Philippians chapter 4: 4-7 say the following.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In the King James Version, the last part of that verse reads that he will “keep” your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus. The word “keep” means he will hold fast to your heart and mind and keep your mind in control. See, peace eludes us when we let our minds and thoughts ramble and begin to imagine all manner of things; we worry about our lives, families, health, jobs, money, etc.

For me to get peace in my life, I have to lay the issues at God’s feet and trust him to take care of me. Worry has never changed one thing except the amount of sleep you get. In my opinion, trust, faith, and knowing can only come from me choosing to speak to God and lay out my petitions; I thank him in advance for handling it.

The book of Proverbs says that peace is a gift like gold and silver to be cherished and never taken for granted. So, today as you head into the holiday season, choose peace because joy always comes when peace is present. KT

Two years ago, we were having a high school class reunion at the Marriott in Stone Mountain, Georgia. I graduated in 1976 when you wore red, white and blue and everyone had a flag on the porch. It was the American Bicentennial year.

So, we got to the Marriott and we were going through the conference center space; there were other conferences going on beside our reunion. The first group we came to had a sign out about a class reunion, so Elaine and I went over to the desk to sign up. They couldn’t find our name. Come to find out, it was different high school reunion from 1966. Ha. So walking up to that check in desk, I was thinking man these people really look old. Once I found out we were in the wrong place, I was actually relieved to move on to a group 10 years younger. We continued down the hallway to our reunion, and I looked at all of our people and thought good grief, we look as old as the other reunion.

Keep in mind that I still have not aged much (so I thought) but all of my graduation class members have. They were all gray headed, bald and carrying many more pounds; they were still trying to look younger, and it wasn’t working for them. We were, however, age appropriately dressed with no tight pants or short skirts.

So, I wondered how did all my friends get so old and then I realized I was right there with them.

If you are in your early 30s, the last 10 years went by in a blink of an eye. If you are in your early 40s, the last 15 years went by in a blink of an eye. If you are in your mid to late 50s like me, 20 years went by in a blink of an eye. To me, 1994 seems like yesterday, and I can remember everything about that period in my life. Then, I realized that in the same 20-year blink of an eye from 1994, I will be in my 70s.

The conclusion for me is that life is moving on at a very rapid pace, and no one has enough influence, power or money to stop it. We had better make the most of the time. One day, we will all be on the one-yard line of life wondering how it went by so fast.

My advice is to make a decision on who you want to be, what you want to be, and then start the process of becoming that person. KT

I read one of the most inspirational stories this week. It was in the USA Today. A couple just celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary, and they have never seen each other. They are both blind. They met through a sight impaired school when they were young. They have been married 50 years, and they have 5 children and 17 grandchildren. They have lived a wonderful life together.

You might want to read that again.

They figured out life, work, and family while being blind in a seeing world. All of their children and grandchildren have good sight, but the husband and wife remain blind.

Think about all the millions of things you do in life to raise a family, teach them, provide for them, read to them, take them to school, council them, love them, lead them, and protect them.

Now, think about your life and ask yourself if you are using your gifts and doing what you should be doing. Are you choosing to live life full of joy? That couple has never seen the fall color in the leaves, faces of their babies, or each other’s smile, yet they made a decision to live life full of joy and to live it to its fullest.

Choose life and choose joy. That is all I need to say here. KT

I have a friend of mine who was going to buy a car for his son, and they found the perfect car six hours away. They spoke with the seller who owned the car and were emailed pictures of the car; it looked perfect for the son. They got the cash together and left early on a Sunday morning to drive six hours. They pulled up to the address and rather than a person’s private home, it was a used car lot. The car had a busted window, rust, and was basically a dog of a car. They had been lied to. My friend looked at the guy that had lied about the car and almost hit him because they had just driven six hours. He didn’t hit the man; rather, minutes later they just left and headed back home.

After their anger subsided, the father told the son to get on his phone and see if there were any other cars between where they were and Atlanta. He found a car on Craig’s List in South Georgia, called, and the seller met them at the interstate with the car. While the car needed washing, it was perfect. They bought the car on site, and they bought the car for five thousand dollars below market value. The car was perfect in every way for my friend’s son.

Here is the point– had they not gone to see the other car, which turned out to be terrible, they would not have seen the car they actually bought. The friend of mine told me it was just a God thing and you know what, I believe him.

If I look hard at my own life regarding jobs, investments, and career, I can see with clarity God’s hand in various moves I have made. Many times, like my friend with the car, I was frustrated and didn’t understand why things had happened. It is only when you look back over the scope of your life that many times you can see God’s hand in all the moves and decisions, even though you couldn’t see it at the time.

Just because a door has closed that you thought should and would be opened, it doesn’t mean God isn’t at work to move you into the position he wants you to be. So, the advice of the Bible is always real and always timely and that word says “be still and know that I am God.” KT