Guest Blogger--Cristina Paredes

Cristina is our intern at the Community College of Allegheny County. She is an amazing young lady who passionately loves the Lord. And something cool about her--she is a missionary kid from Ecuador to the United States!!! Her parents serve in Arkansas, and now Cristina is serving here in Pittsburgh with us for a year.

Let me share with you what I'm learning...it soooo exciting and I bet it will be refreshing for you as well!!

We always have difficult circumstances in our lives and we want peace but never really claim it and make it ours...Father DESIRES us to ALWAYS have and dwell in His peace like a river.

" If you only had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea" Isaiah 48:18

So, is a river calm? not really...When was the last time you saw white-water rapids? ha!! fun and scary!!! and beautiful.

1. A river is a moving stream of water. God's Word doesn't not say we'll have peace like a pond. In Isaiah 48:18 He describes a peace that can be retained while life twists and turns and rolls over boulders. To have peace like a river is to have security and tranquility of heart and mind while meeting many bumps and unexpected turns on life's journey through change. Peace is a submission to a trustworthy Authority, not resignation from all activity. Any activity that cannot be brought under the umbrella of God's authority will prove to be a source of turmoil and exhaustion.

2. A river a body of fresh water fed by springs. Peace comes from an active, ongoing, and obedient relationship with the Prince of Peace. He wants to feed us with the Living Water of His Spirit and a steady stream of His Word until we have peace like a river. Studying His Word is one of many ways God desires to feed a peaceful river in your soul.

3. A river begins and ends witha body of water. Every river has an upland source and an ultimate outlet or mouth. Likewise, peace like a river flows frin a continuous connection with the upland Source, Jesus Christ, and a timely reminder that this life will ultimately spill out into a glorious eternal life. US chicas, His princesses, His children, we who know Christ personally are continually moving over rocks and sometimes cliffs, through narrow palces and wide valleys to a heavenly destination. Until then, ABIDING in Christ is the key to staying deliberately connected with our upland Source.

I want that peace like a river in my life...I want to make believe Him in this promise and make it experience Him constantly as peace like a river!!!

I know some of us are going through hard times...you are not alone...He desires you and i to have peace...Allow HIM...

"This is what the Lord says -- your REDEEMER, the Holy One of Israel, 'I am the lord your GOd, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go" Isaiah 48:17

That is all...it has been so refreshing for me today...so hopefully you can enjoy it as much as I have!!!