searching

I've been blogging since Dec '06, and it's been more rewarding than I'd ever expected. When I started, I thought I'd write a few things and my family and close friends might read it, but I never thought anyone from another country would read what I'd typed. That is, until I put the Sitemeter on my page and found out they were reading what I'd written!

I am curious enough, or vain enough, to want to know where my readers are located. Sitemeter gives me lots of information, but no names, etc. It just lets me know where in the world my readers are. I love that those close to me are reading, but I have been constantly amazed that people all over the world are reading my blog.

Granted, there aren't a bunch of them, but over the last four years I have had readers in England, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, and Thailand, as well as, Africa, Canada, Poland and New Zealand. Just in the last four WEEKS I have had readers in New Dehli, India, Phillipines, Turkey, Netherlands, Australia and New York City!

As far as I can tell, I don't personally know these readers, but EVERY ONE of them has one thing in common, and it's not that they love reading my blog because I'm famous the world over for my wit and wisdom. The common thread is that each one of them has searched Google for "peace of mind and heart, " or "how to find peace of mind and heart."

People the world over are shaken by the events of the day. There are floods, earthquakes, riots, financial ruin, catastrophic disease, and private emotional wars raging every moment of the day. Women and men are searching for what is lacking in their lives--stability, a firm foundation--protection in the midst of turmoil. Of course, we all want the storm, whichever one it is, to end, but we crave peace in the middle of what's raging, even more! We all do.

What did they find when they checked out my blog? Well, I have one post entitled "peace of mind and heart," dated January 16, 2008, and the first paragraph is,

John 14:27 "I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. "

How like our loving Lord to send one troubled person here, another devastated person there, to the website of a small town, southern woman, where the first words of her post are His words of true comfort and security. Only He knows what that person is struggling with or going through. Only He can DO anything about her, or his, life struggles and troubles. The Lord promises us that when we seek Him we will find Him.

Peace of mind and heart. Peace--of mind. Peace--of heart. The Lord longs to give us what we so desperately need, so much so, that he directs a young Thai student, a Swedish mom of three kids, a middle-aged Phillipino teacher, or a Turkish shopkeeper to His Word of life typed in a blog from thousands of miles away. Now, that's a loving God, and it shows us all that He can even use seemingly insignificant resources to accomplish His desires!

We are to be salt and light and know that they will give the glory to God. Our savor will show His love for us and the world. His light in us will show Him to the world! Even if it seems so to you, what you do as a child of God is not minor. He will use it for His glory. He will make it more than we can ever dream or imagine.

Father, thank you so much for your attention to our cries for peace in a turbulent world. Thank you for loving us so much that you will stop at nothing to show us your love in practical ways. I pray that anyone who reads my simple words will see You in them. I pray for deep, abiding peace for us all, in You. Thank you. I love you so very much, Lord.

Suz