The reason I chose Jehovah-Shalom today is because of the news and commemoration of a great man of peace, Martin Luther King, Jr. Though his, "I Have a Dream" speech is on freedom and Civil Rights against many injustices and inequalities in the United States of America (and in the world, I might add), I see his words and his character reflecting PEACE and JESUS! I'm sure that is why he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. So as I read his words in his speech and weep, I could not help but think of the Lord, Our Peace, the Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6) "For unto us, a child is born, unto us a child is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE."
And later I changed my header to this so my blog button would look like this I guess (to include HIM as my focus)
[this is a way to maintain my progress and changes on this blog 2]
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I would like to say that daily I am awakening to being conformed into His likeness and image, but I can only pray that because of this blessing, I may better become that as I reflect Him through reflecting on Him in His Word and be aware of Who I am in Christ Jesus:a new creature.
When I was in my sixth grade class, I vowed to Jesus that I wanted this more than anything: to know, love and serve Him in this world! I have finally come to that place after a long, wayward yet guided journey of pursuing this purpose...to find out, I'm not quite there. (Actually, I'm not even close to attaining that PURPOSE, but closer than ever before, because my feet are on a Solid Foundation and my path is towards that goal). To some, and for me, I use this as my point of salvation. Since I was not in a church that prays a prayer of salvation, this was as close as it came. Later, in various church life and services rather than masses, I learned about the "salvation prayer" and prayed it. In fact, I was even baptized again; once in a river and then by the Holy Spirit! Hallelujah! I do believe God received my first prayer as my initial "salvation" and He has held on to me ever since, whether I was walking with Him or away from Him (He never left me). I do not think that God (or even the Bible) has a set salvation prayer that you must pray or say to receive Him as Your personal Lord and Savior!
Almighty God chose to reveal His Name and thus His Character through His Word. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Shalom, Hebrew for peace, completeness, prosperity, safety, contentment, health, blessing, and rest, is used as a salutation and farewell, which makes it a powerful word that bestows all these blessings upon the other person.
By greeting or leaving someone with the word "shalom", you are speaking the ULTIMATE peace over them, found in JESUS Himself.
In Spanish, when you bid someone goodbye, you say "Adios" which actually is quite the blessing also, because you are actually saying "a"(meaning "to") and "Dios" meaning "God". What an excellent way of entrusting somebody into the hands of God each farewell!
The final blessing of the weekday Amidah is called Sim Shalom which means "create peace". I like that. I would like to create more peace around me. I enjoy observing God's peace that He creates around me in nature or within. If I truly am a new creature, then that seed of PEACE is created in me, and I must water and nurture this fruit of the Spirit.
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, you and me 2-
"Peace, I leave with you. My peace, I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."(John 14:27)
"Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called sons(and daughters) of God."
(Matthew 5:9)
"Daughter (Son), your faith has healed you! Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
(Mark 5:34)
I believe our nation, our world, is suffering for lack of faith and freedom from suffering. I think that's how Martin Luther King, Jr. saw our lack of freedom, social justices, and peace.
"Salt is good, but if it looses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at PEACE with each other" (Mark 9:50)
WE MUST BE SALT AND LIGHT IN THE WORLD!(song by Israel Houghton, and Lakewood CC)
"LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO:...RISE UP..."
Luke 1:79 says "...to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of PEACE..."
Look around you! Look around this world we share! Show you care!
"Blessed is the king who comes in the Name of the Lord!""Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Luke 19:38
"GLORY TO GOD in the highest and on earth PEACE to people on whom His favor rests."
Luke 2:14
May his peace rest within you and upon you and be yours!
May His favor rest on you!
There is a song that is my prayer for each of us today:Make me a channel of Your PEACE where there is hatred; let me sow LOVE!
I, too, like all the profound statements of Martin Luther King, Jr. "Have a Dream" and "hold these TRUTHS to be self-evident that all men are created equal" by Our Creator and every nation shall bow to the Prince of PEACE, Jesus Christ, and live in a world where we are not "judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our CHARACTER."
May our character, more and more, each day, reflect the character and image of our Lord Jesus Christ! May we be at peace with our selves and each other! If you don't have that PEACE or know the PRINCE of Peace, in a personal relationship, may I ask you, "what are you waiting for?...that emptiness and longing within you, needs to be filled and not by the things of this world or the ways of this world ...
Do you know what on earth you are here for?
There is a Purpose for your journey and God holds the plan and the KEYS! May I have the privilege to lead you in a prayer to start or restart your life journey with Jesus and following His Purpose for you?
If you were to die, in the next few minutes, without a prewarning, are you willing to take the risk, that there is no eternity and/or where you might spend it?
Nothing else has worked or been filling that void or lack of PEACE! Why not give God a try: just surrender and accept Jesus and the Truths of His Word! He offers a free gift and brings freedom! I strongly suggest reading Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life and discovering all God has for You!
Prayer:
Jehovah - Shalom, Oh God, Be my peace. Bring me into that peaceful place with You! Help me know my need for You and believing in You and Your Word: the Bible. I believe in You I surrender all my misconceptions, all my trials, all the lies I've believed, all my problems into Your Hands. Show me how to follow you! I know that I am weak, I know that I have done wrong. I realize that there must be something more to this life! I feel so empty at times. I feel so lost and lonely! Guide me in ways of peacefulness. Restore my life! Reveal Your Self to me in a real way! Give me peace and a path that leads to you. Without You, my destiny is death. Come into my life. Thank You for taking the weight of my failures and wrongdoings and thinking to the cross, where you paid the price for me! Where you suffered in my place! Forgive me! I receive all that You purpose in my life. I want to know You in a greater way through studying Your Word, growing in character and fulfilling my life with purpose! Bring peace to all those I love and me! Make me an instrument of Your Peace! I ask this in Jesus' Name Amen.
SHALOM and ADIOS!
It was so lovely to read what you wrote, what was in your heart, over 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteYour heart of love for Him was still evident back then, as it is now, but I sense the flame has grown stronger and bigger... after all, He is an all-consuming fire.
You bless me, Peggy. Much love and hugs.