![\"Taste31breakfasts\"](\"https:\/\/oshetablogs.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/01\/taste31breakfasts2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI just got in from a last-minute, emergency supply run to the grocery store before the big blizzard hits the Northeast! As I sent the kiddos off to school today, I decided to make a huge pot of beef stew for dinner to keep us warm and comfortable while we hunker down and wait for the snow to pile up.\u00a0 Tomorrow when they\u2019re out of school for a snow day, we\u2019re probably going to make a snow \u2013man.\u00a0 Scratch that, my hubby from Illinois can take those babies out to make a snow-man.\u00a0 I\u2019ll sit in my warm house and manage the kettle for hot cocoa.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong, I love the idea of snow\u2026just not the implications<\/em> of it.\u00a0 Like right now, my cozy socks are slightly wet from stepping too close to the corner where I kicked off my\u00a0 snow-covered boots.\u00a0 Boo!\u00a0 Socks should be warm and comforting.\u00a0 Therefore, I made one of my favorite comforting breakfasts today\u2014cream of wheat in the style of \u201cThe Neighborhood Restaurant\u201d<\/a> in Somerville, MA.\u00a0 We live maybe ten minutes from this gem of a spot.\u00a0 Their prices are amazing for the portions and everything tastes delicious.\u00a0 Even their hot cereal which is usually what I\u2019m happy to order just a bowl of when we go for brunch.\u00a0 So, to mitigate my cold feet, I\u2019m going to warm my belly.<\/p>\n Behold and click the picture to go to the best copy-cat recipe I\u2019ve found.\u00a0 I doctor it a bit depending on my mood, sometimes I use pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon.\u00a0 You an also use your Trader Joes coffee\/chocolate grinder too.\u00a0 That would be delish.<\/p>\n \n<\/p> \u00a0Oh and yeah, peep the French press.\u00a0 That\u2019s what\u2019s up. I bought flowers while at the story because Hoda and Kathie Lee<\/a> said a lady always have flowers and I am nothing if not a lady \ud83d\ude42 and I lit the candle for ambiance.\u00a0 I figure, when you invite the Savior of all humankind, the Light of the World, mind you,\u00a0 to your quiet time a lit candle adds gravitas and\u00a0 \u201cumph\u201d.\u00a0 It was my way of saying, \u201cSee Lord, I\u2019m for real about this devo time, I even lit a candle.\u201d Boom.\u00a0 Plus\u2026it\u2019s pretty.<\/p>\n So, onto today\u2019s time with Jesus.\u00a0 Who I\u2019m pretty sure was impressed with my candle.\u00a0 I mean, it does have our family\u2019s monogram. Right?<\/p>\n Ok, to the sermon I listened to while making breakfast:\u00a0 Pastor Brian called it,\u00a0 \u201cThe Mystery of Mary\u201d <\/a>and I read Luke 1:26-38, the Annunciation, or more commonly called, \u201cMary\u2019s Angelic Visitation\u201d (emphasis mine).<\/p>\n 26\u00a0<\/sup>Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27\u00a0<\/sup>to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin\u2019s name was<\/i> Mary. 28\u00a0<\/sup>And having come in, the angel said to her, \u201cRejoice, highly favored one,<\/i> the Lord is<\/i> with you;<\/strong> blessed are<\/i> you among women!\u201d[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/p>\n 29\u00a0<\/sup>But when she saw him,<\/i>[b<\/a>]<\/sup> she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30\u00a0<\/sup>Then the angel said to her, \u201cDo not be afraid,<\/strong> Mary, for you have found favor with God<\/strong>. 31\u00a0<\/sup>And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32\u00a0<\/sup>He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33\u00a0<\/sup>And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,<\/strong> and of His kingdom there will be no end.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n 34\u00a0<\/sup>Then Mary said to the angel, \u201cHow can this be, since I do not know a man?\u201d<\/p>\n 35\u00a0<\/sup>And the angel answered and said to her, \u201cThe<\/i> Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36\u00a0<\/sup>Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37\u00a0<\/sup>For with God nothing will be impossible.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n 38\u00a0<\/sup>Then Mary said, \u201cBehold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.\u201d And the angel departed from her.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n There was so much good in the sermon, but my biggest take-away was the difference between the world\u2019s perception and pursuit of peace from the Jesus way.\u00a0 So I\u2019m going to spend five-minutes reflecting on that.<\/p>\n Are you ready?<\/p>\n Let\u2019s do this:<\/p>\n At the time of Jesus\u2019 birth,\u00a0 he was born under the Roman rule.\u00a0 Rome was at her strongest.\u00a0 Her economy was booming and her military undefeated.\u00a0 This time that lasted roughly 240 years is known as the, Pax Romana<\/em>, the peace of Rome.\u00a0 Since yesterday\u2019s reading about John the Baptist and the way of peace that Jesus, our Dayspring will guide us,<\/a> I\u2019ve been intrigued.\u00a0 Of all the teachings of Jesus, I gravitate towards his peace teachings.\u00a0 I love the symbolism of the dove <\/a>and obviously, I want to seek Shalom of God in my everyday life.\u00a0 I want to be a Shalom Sister, a woman who seeks the peace of Christ in every moment, in every relationship, in every circumstance that God guides me into, but I\u2019m intrigued by the phrase, Pax Romana,<\/em> peace of Rome.\u00a0 When I talk about peace to an unbeliever are we talking about the same thing or more specifically, are we imagining the achievement of peace the same way.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know.\u00a0 According to the Bible and history, Rome used force and money and power over their enemies to make peace.\u00a0 Jesus was born and lived during the Pax Romana<\/em>, but still the people cried out for peace, they cried out for wholeness, they cried out for a better way.\u00a0 A peace that some may say surpasses understanding.\u00a0 And so I get it.\u00a0 I get how on paper this thirteen year old, poor, Jewish girl was not the ideal candidate to nurture the Christ in her very own body.\u00a0 What resources did she have to care for him?\u00a0 What power could she throw around to protect him?\u00a0 What status did she have to make a way for him?\u00a0 Nothing.\u00a0 Yet, God chose her.\u00a0 A foolish choice you might say.\u00a0 I mean, I totally think so.\u00a0 I\u2019d rather be born to Michelle Obama right now than to some tween living the projects.\u00a0 For real. But, if God was seeking to prolong or produce Pax Romana<\/em>, then I think he would have made an obvious choice of a noble, rich, well-connected woman.\u00a0 But, he\u2019s not interested in sustaining a failing empire, he\u2019s interested in setting up his Kingdom.\u00a0 And his Kingdom looks nothing like the empire.<\/p>\n I see the differences between Pax Romana<\/em> and Pax Chrisi<\/em>, the peace of Christ, \u00a0in the angel Gabriel\u2019s address to Mary:<\/p>\n Where Pax Romana<\/em> says, \u201cIf you don\u2019t take care of yourself, no on will.\u201d<\/p>\n Pax Christi<\/em> says, \u201cRejoice, for the Lord is with you\u201d.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Where Pax Romana<\/em> says, \u201cYou have every reason to be afraid.\u00a0 Everyone is out to get you.\u201d<\/p>\n Pax Christi<\/em> says, \u201cDo not be afraid\u2026you have found favor with God.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Where Pax Romana<\/em> says, \u201cNo one is trustworthy, everyone breaks their promises, so be cunning and conniving to get your way.\u201d<\/p>\n Pax Chrisi<\/em> reminds us of the details of the prophecies that he will come and proves that God not only remembers his promises to us, he makes good on them.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Where Pax Romana<\/em> says, \u201cWithout force or finances peace is impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n Pax Christi<\/em>, \u00a0\u201cFor with God, nothing will be impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n So I\u2019m wondering now, what man-made, human,\u00a0 fallible ways do I try to make peace in my life?\u00a0 In what ways am I living under Pax Romana<\/em> in my life?\u00a0 Do I say with my mouth I trust God for all our finances, but secretly worry because my sense of peace is tied up in jingling coins and ripped cornered bills?\u00a0 Do I say I want to be a peacemaker but use manipulation to get what I want, even if it\u2019s from the customer service rep at Kohls? I don\u2019t know\u2026it\u2019s a lot to think about.\u00a0 But I do know this\u2026I want the peace of the Everlasting Kingdom more than the peace of a temporary kingdom.\u00a0 I want to say yes to the Pax Christi<\/em>, the peace of Christ, even if it\u2019s going to be hard and even if I don\u2019t understand it.\u00a0 I know God is with me, for me, trustworthy, and with him nothing is impossible.\u00a0 This is what I\u2019ll remember this week when I pass the peace of Christ at church.<\/p>\n (Confession:\u00a0 I went over.\u00a0 But I\u2019ve had two cups of coffee and I could write on peace for days, y\u2019all. )<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Seeking and passing to you the Pax Christi,<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n