Title: *PEACE WITHIN AND WITHOUT* - Part 2

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      Title: *PEACE* Light Orb 4/ Mm - Visual Prayer Art by Rev.Bola
 
Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, towards creating a world that supports everyone. The strongest passions, and most dangerous weaknesses of the human breast; ambition, avarice, vanity, the honorable or venial love of fame, are all in conspiracy against the desire and duty of peace. There never was a good war, or a bad peace.

Our work for peace must begin within the private world of each one of us. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want, and that they grow up in peace. 

Only in true surrender to the interest of all can we reach that strength and independence, that unity of purpose, that equity of judgment which are necessary if we are, to measure up to our duty to the future, as men of a generation to whom the chance, was given to build in time a world of peace.

The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people, when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells.This is the real peace, and the others are but reflections of this.

The second peace is that which is made between two individuals, and the third is that which is made between two nations. But above all you should understand that there can never be peace between nations, until there is first known, that true peace which is within the souls of men. Peace is a practical positive policy, which must be attained by, friendly co-operation between the nations, putting the good of all before the interests of each.

Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of. 
Think peace, live peace, and breathe peace and you'll get it as soon as you like. Imagine all the people living life in peace. One definition is that peace is a state of balance and understanding in yourself and between others, where respect is gained by the acceptance of differences, tolerance persists, conflicts are resolved through dialog, people's rights are respected and their voices are heard, and everyone is at their highest point of serenity. But peace does not rest in charters and covenants alone.The definition of "peace" can vary with religion, culture, or subject of study.

Inner peace or peace of mind refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. Peace of mind, serenity, and calmness are descriptions of a disposition free from the effects of stress. Peace of mind is generally associated with bliss and happiness. Many spiritual practices refer to this peace as an experience of knowing oneself.

Being "at peace" is considered by many to be healthy homeostasis, and the opposite of being stressed or anxious. Therefore, it is contradictory to try to use violence to obtain peace. A J Muste , sums it up: 
'There is no way to peace; peace is the way '.Violence begets violence. If you want to get peace, you can get it as soon as you like if we all pull together.
 
Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed, interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare,
the establishment of equality, and a working political order.

Peace is a sign of harmony characterized by the lack of violence, conflict behaviors and the freedom from fear of violence. Somehow we must transform the dynamics of the world power struggle, from the negative nuclear arms race, which no one can win to a positive contest to harness man's creative genius for the purpose, of making peace and prosperity a reality for all of the nations of the world.

Religious beliefs often seek to identify and address the basic problems of human life, including the conflicts between, among, and within persons and societies. Many Christians call Jesus of Nazareth the "Prince of Peace", and see him as messiah Saviour or deliverer."
 
For persons to enter this Kingdom and experience peace, Christians believe that one must develop a personal relationship with Christ. 'Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls.'

If you are in Christ, you have the greatest power in the world through the Holy Spirit.
Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, 
love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life’s devastating trials and tragedies.  “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.”
 
I firmly believe that World Peace will become a natural by product of people around the world finding Inner Peace in their lives.I am certain that God is able to complete the good work He started in me,
in every area of my life and I am willing to continue to partner with him, to see the results He has for me.
 
Remember, the only hope for any of us is peace; God's Kingdom of Peace, wherein persons, societies,
and all of Creation are to be completely healed of evil. For those who reject God, there is no peace. 
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Posted by Rev.Bola

Title: *PEACE - WITHIN AND WITHOUT* - Part 1

                       Title:*PEACE* Orb of Light 5/Mm - Visual Prayer Art by Rev.Bola

Peace is calmness and tranquillity;
a time when there are no wars going on or the state of having no war or conflict.
An example of peace, is a feeling you have on a quiet Sunday morning,
as you sit on a deck in the woods and watch the birds.

Synonyms - Quiet, hush , peace , peacefulness , placidity , quiet , quietness,
calm, heartsease , placidity, compatibility , concord , quietude , repose ,
restfulness , serenity , still , stillness.

Antonyms - conflict , contention , discord , dissidence , strife , trouble ; tumult , turmoil ,
unrest , upheaval ; fighting , warfare ; action , battle , combat. strain , stress , tenseness ,
tension ; consternation , desperateness , desperation , discomfort , discomposure ,
dismay, distraction , distress , disturbance , edginess , jitters ,
Peace is one of those things everyone says they want, but can't seem to find.
Related Words: content , contentment , ease ; comfort , consolation , relief , solace , quiet , quietude , repose.

Peace within and among states is a goal of many people and organizations.
In some cultures, inner peace is considered a state of consciousness or enlightenment that may be cultivated by various forms of training, such as prayer, meditation, inner contentment;
serenity: peace of mind interjection.

Peace is a time without any fights or wars.
In a larger sense, peace or peacefulness can mean a state of harmony,
quiet or calm that is not disturbed by anything at all, like a still pond with no ripples.
Pragmatic pacifism holds that the costs of war and inter-personal violence are so substantial,
l that better ways of resolving disputes must be found.

Principled pacifism holds that violence of any form
is an inappropriate response to conflict, and is morally wrong.
Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention
There are only two powers in this world, the sword and the spirit,
 in the long run the sword is always beaten by the spirit.

Peace and love are ever in us, being and working;
but we be not always in peace and in love.
Jews and Christians believe that true peace comes
from a personal relationship with God.
 
The Book of Isaiah says: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
Being "at peace" is considered by many to be healthy and the opposite
of being stressed or anxious.

Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations:
Room-mates living in peace with each other.
Real peace is the presence of something beautiful.
Both peace and the thirst for it have been in the heart of
every human being in every century and every civilization.
 
Martin Luther King Jr wrote in a letter he sent from the Birmingham jail that,
"True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice "
In other words, real peace is more than just problems being gone:
there must be fairness to have peace.

Let us examine our attitude toward peace itself.
Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions,
slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.
However non-dramatic the pursuit of peace, that pursuit must go on.
 
We must see that peace represents a sweeter music,
a cosmic melody that is far superior to the discords of war.
If we have the will and determination to mount such a peace offensive,
we will unlock hitherto tightly sealed doors of hope and transform,
our imminent cosmic elegy into a psalm of creative fulfilment.

True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.
Somehow we must transform the dynamics of the world power struggle
from the negative nuclear arms race, which no one can win to
a positive contest to harness man's creative genius for the purpose,
of making peace and prosperity a reality for all of the nations of the world.
So let us not rest all our hopes on parchment and on paper;
let us strive to build peace, a desire for peace,
a willingness to work for peace, in the hearts and minds of all our people.

We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war,
but on the positive affirmation of peace.
We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path.
It is not enough to say "We must not wage war "
It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it.
If we all can persevere, if we can in every land and office look beyond
our own shores and ambitions, then surely the age will dawn in which
the strong are just the weak secure and the peace preserved.

Save the Earth we can-and save it we must-and then shall we earn the eternal thanks of mankind and,
as peacemakers, the eternal blessing of God. You are what you are. Get out there and get peace.
Defeatism about the feasibility of plans for disarmament and ordered peace has been,
the most calamitous of all the errors made by democratic governments in modern times.
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Posted by Rev.Bola A. - 17.Nov.13

Title: *Using Affirmations*

                      Title: *PEACE* Orb of Light - Visual Prayer Art from Collection by Rev.Bola

Every thought you think every word you say is an affirmation. All of our self-talk or inner dialogue is a stream of affirmations. We are continually affirming subconsciously with our words and thoughts and this flow of affirmations is creating our life experience in every moment. Our beliefs are just learned thought patterns that we have developed since childhood, many of these work well for us, but others may now be working against us, they are dysfunctional and may be sabotaging us from achieving what we believe we want. 

Every affirmation we think or say is a reflection of our inner truth or beliefs. It is important to realize that many of these "inner truths" may not actually be true for us now or may be based on invalid or inappropriate impressions we constructed as children, which if examined as an adult can be exposed as inappropriate.

Because affirmations actually reprogram your thought patterns, they change the way you think and feel about things, and because you have replaced dysfunctional beliefs with your own new positive beliefs, positive change comes easily and naturally. This will start to reflect in your external life, you will start to experience seismic changes for the better in many aspects of your life.

No matter what aspect of life you're dealing with or who you are, affirmations will not only make you feel better about yourself and your life. But if used correctly, they can manifest real change in your life. Changing the way you think, reprogramming your mind and removing the old negative beliefs that have been sabotaging you again and again throughout your life. They can enable you to achieve the life you've always wanted for yourself!.

Positive affirmations are designed to challenge those negative beliefs and start to stem the flow of negative thoughts and words that seek to validate them. Affirmations are more than just repeating words. It is a whole process of becoming aware of your thoughts and words in everyday life, choosing to think and project happy positive thoughts. The more you can consciously inject the spirit of you affirmations into your daily thoughts and words, the quicker they will work for you.

Many of us have negative thoughts like these, sometimes on a regular basis. When we have these thoughts, our confidence, mood and outlook become negative too.The problem with these negative thoughts is that they can be self-fulfilling. Inside our heads, we talk ourselves into believing that we're not good enough. And, because of this, these thoughts drag down our personal lives, our relationships, and our careers.

Affirmations are positive, specific statements that help you to overcome self-sabotaging, negative thoughts. They help you visualize, and believe in, what you're affirming to yourself, helping you to make positive changes to your life and career.

So try looking at positive affirmations this way – many of us do repetitive exercises to improve our body's physical health and condition. Affirmations are like exercises for our mind and outlook; these positive mental repetitions can reprogram our thinking patterns so that, over time, we begin to think, and act, in a new way.

Remember – affirmations are positive statements that help you challenge and overcome negative thinking and self-sabotaging behaviors . They're usually short, positive statements that target a specific area, behavior, or belief that you're struggling with.

Write down several areas or behaviors you'd like to work on. Then, for each of these, come up with a positive, present-tense statement you can repeat to yourself several times a day. Affirmations should be formed in the present tense, as if they're already happening. This helps you believe that the statement is true right now. For instance, "I am well-prepared and well-rehearsed, and I can give a great presentation" would be a great affirmation to use if you often feel nervous speaking in front of a group.

Next, come up with positive, credible, present tense statements that are the opposite of these thoughts. Repeat your affirmations several times a day, especially when you find yourself slipping into a negative thinking pattern, or engaging in a negative behavior.

Key Points 
Affirmations are positive statements that can help you overcome self-sabotaging, negative thoughts. To use affirmations, first analyze the thoughts or behaviors you'd like to change in your own life and career. Next, come up with positive, credible, present tense statements that are the opposite of these thoughts. Repeat your affirmations several times a day, especially when you find yourself slipping into a negative thinking pattern, or engaging in a negative behavior. Remember that affirmations are most effective when used alongside other strategies, such as visualization and goal setting.
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Posted by Rev.Bola