I have been fortunate to be teaching the young teen girls. During a recent class, we discussed growing with God's people. The girls were quite insightful; they realized that, even in the church, disagreements arise and that, girls being girls, they can allow their emotions to cause divisions even among best friends. They were even wise enough to know that this does not stop after the teen years but can affect women of any age. Euodia and Syntyche are an example of women in the Bible who apparently had a "falling-out." (Philippians 4:2)

Even though this is a reality, the Bible urges us to pursue peace. Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God." Psalms 34:14 "Seek peace and pursue it." Romans 14:19 "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace, the things by which one may edify another." Hebrews 12:14 "Pursue peace with all people and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." As we can read in these verses, pursuing peace is an action we must participate in; and, if we do not, we will miss the blessing of heaven. We must pursue peace in all our relationships with our husbands, between mothers and daughters, between physical family and especially between sisters in faith (Galatians 6:10)

An article in the May/June 2006 Christian Woman magazine entitled, "Daughters of Peace" by Kimberly Mauck, has prompted me to study peace a bit more. The author made a statement, which is so very true. "Making peace can be uncomfortable, painful and humbling but necessary." Yes, it is all of those things, but especially necessary. Making peace has eternal consequences. Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." As much as it depends on me. That means that I must keep on pursuing peace, keep on chasing after peace, keep on looking for peace. Many of us have heard the saying to pray as if it all depended on God but to work as if it all depended on you. That proverb applies here as well. As much as it depends on me, I must be a pursuer of peace. No matter what someone has done to me or how she may act, I must be seeking peace.

In Ephesians 4 1-3, Paul encourages us to walk worthy of the calling, being gentle and longsuffering, bearing with one another in love and "endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." Paul writes these things in the verses before he reminds us that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. If we are to be a part of that one, we must have peace.

Ladies, I urge you to be a pursuer of peace. Make it your mission, and, in doing so, you will bless the lives of those with whom you come in contact - in the church and out of the church. -105 Blanche Circle, Winchester, VA 22602. tsmdjm@verizon.net

(Editor's note: We are thankful for this good article on peace. It must also be remembered that, in our pursuit of peace, we must never compromise truth in order to achieve it. We are reminded of our Lord's words in Matthew 10:34-38, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.")

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