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Shalom is a word hard to translate.  The total meaning is very hard to express in English.

 
Shalom means total well being.


Shalom is not possible if we are hiding anger, wrath, hurt, disappointment.

Shalom, total -- complete -- well being, comes in attitudes that align with the Word of God.  Let go of the bitterness and disappointments; set yourself free!

[Forgiveness]

Forgiveness

 

2Ch:30:9: For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.

 

Psalms:32:1: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Psalms:32:2: Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

 

Psalms:32:5: I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

 

Isa:33:24: And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

 

Isa:44:22: I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

 

Mic:7:18: Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

Mic:7:19: He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

 

M't:6:12: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

 

M't:6:14: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

M't:6:15: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

Eph:1:7: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

 

Heb:8:12: For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

 

Heb:10:12: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

 

Heb:10:17: And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb:10:18: Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

 

1Jo:1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

1Jo:2:1: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1Jo:2:2: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

Le:19:18: Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

 

M't:5:23: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

M't:5:24: Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

 

M't:5:44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

 

M't:18:21: Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

M't:18:22: Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

 

Lu:6:37: Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

 

Joh:20:23: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

 

2Co:2:10: To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

2Co:2:11: Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

Eph:4:31: Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Eph:4:32: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 

Jas:5:9: Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

 

1Pe:4:9: Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

 

Col:3:13: Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

 

* Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

[Anticipation]

a cup of... Anticipation

Living Water

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. - Psalm 95:1

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise:  be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.  For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. - Psalm 100:4-5

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. - Psalm 122:1

 

Thirst-quenching thought for the day

Some call it "the Sabbath blues."  After a late Saturday night, Sunday morning comes too early, and the prospect of getting up, dressing up, and showing up for church seems very unappealing.  Yet we often drag ourselves (and our families) there and force ourselves to go through the motions of worship.

According to these psalms, however, church services should be occasions of joy where we fill the air with thankful praise.  We should have a sense of anticipation as we prepare to gather in God's presence.

This positive, joyful attitude comes from realizing that God is good, that His love is deep, strong, and personal, and that He is faithful and true. 

Understanding that God loves us, remembering what He has done for us, and knowing that we are His people should make us want to shout and sing with joy.  What a great God we have!

 

Sip to take away

Next Sunday, approach worship with thanksgiving and praise.  Take time on Saturday to anticipate meeting with other believers.

[Healing]

Healing

 

Isa:53:5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

1Pe:2:24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

 

Ex:15:26: And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

 

De:7:11: Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.

De:7:12: Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

De:7:13: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

De:7:14: Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.

De:7:15: And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.

 

Proverb:3:5: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverb:3:6: In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverb:3:7: Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Proverb:3:8: It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

 

Ex:23:25: And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

 

Job:4:3: Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

Job:4:4: Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

 

Psalms:30:2: O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

 

Psalms:34:19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

 

Psalms:41:3: The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

 

Psalms:42:11: Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

 

Psalms:91:3: Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

 

Psalms:91:10: There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

 

Psalms:103:3: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Psalms:103:4: Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Psalms:103:5: Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 

Psalms:107:20: He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

 

Psalms:145:14: The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

 

Psalms:146:8: The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

 

Psalms:147:3: He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

 

Proverb:4:20: My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Proverb:4:21: Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

Proverb:4:22: For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

 

Proverb:9:11: For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

 

Proverb:14:30: A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

 

Proverb:16:24: Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

 

Isa:35:3: Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

 

Isa:40:29: He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

 

Isa:58:11: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

 

Jer:17:14: Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

 

Jer:30:17: For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

 

Jer:33:6: Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

 

Joel:3:21: For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

 

Lu:6:18: And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

Lu:6:19: And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

 

Heb:12:12: Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

Heb:12:13: And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

 

3Jo:1:2: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

 

Ge:20:17: So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

 

Ex:23:26: There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.

 

Psalms:113:9: He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

 

Psalms:127:3: Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Psalms:127:4: As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Psalms:127:5: Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

 

Psalms:128:3: Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

 

Psalms:115:14: The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

 

James:5:13: Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

James:5:14: Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

James:5:15: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

James:5:16: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

* Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

[Adoption by God]

a cup of... Adoption by God

Living Water

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. - Romans 8:16

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. - I John 3:1-2

 

Thirst-quenching thought for the day

We can call ourselves children of God!  Through the work of Christ and our faith in Him, we have been born again and adopted into God's family.  No wonder the world does not know us---we've changed!

 If God has chosen to make us His children now, just think of what He will do for us in the future!  Through John, God says that we will be like Christ, fully bearing the family likeness.

What love!
What a life!
What a plan!
What a future!

 

Sip to take away

Regardless of what the world thinks, you are special.  Regardless of your status in society, you are a member of God's family.  Regardless of pessimistic predictions, your future is bright.  Christ has made you a child of God.

Sacrificial Love

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING, BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING. IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.

WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.

"A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST," HE BEGAN, "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."

THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY. THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE:

TO WHICH BOY HE WOULD THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE. HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION. THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT. THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES. "AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!' HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.

BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT. HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED."

BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.

"THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."

WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.

THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL. WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.

"THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THE BOYS, "BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN."

"WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED, GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE.

A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE, HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.

YOU SEE --- I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."

 

- author unknown

www.OnMyWayToHeaven.org

Here's a great site you can use to upload and host your images so that you can use them in your posts or siggies: http://www.freeimagehosting.net/

Have a blessed day! 

Praise the Lord saints!  I truly love the Lord.  He is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.  Yes saints, I'm blessed.  I'm blessed because the blood is still running warm in my veins.  Because he woke me up this morning clothed in my right mind.  I'm blessed because I still have the use and activities of my limbs.  I'm blessed because I have food on my table, I have clothes on my back.  I'm blessed because when it seem like I'm stuck in a rut with no way out, Jesus comes along and makes a way out of no way.  He's a doctor when I need him and yes He IS a WONDERFUL COUNSELOR.  When I have no one to turn or talk to, when I feel like I'm all alone in this world.  Here comes Jesus to my rescue and comforts me when I need to be comforted.  He answers all of my questions...he talks to me...He truly loves me.  I found out that I didn't know what love was until I met Jesus.  He's just so beautiful and just truly amazing.  My soul truly loves the Lord.  I'm blessed most of all because Jesus loved me enough to come into my life and saved me from the fiery pits of hell.  He SAVED ME, SANCTIFIED ME, BAPTIZED AND FILLED ME WITH HIS PRECIOUS HOLY GHOST.  Pray for me that I grow stronger in the Lord!

I just want to point out that most of the time while we're admiring and coveting what someone else has, we miss out on our own blessing and what God has for US.  We see someone else get blessed and start to want what they have or get jealous over another sister or brother's blessing!  That should not be.  We should rejoice with our brothers and sisters.
 
My sisters and brothers, God has something unique and special for YOU!   What He has for YOU is for no one else but YOU!  However, you won't be able to walk in your blessing and receive what He has for you, until you began to seek His face...  Before the foundation of the world, God knew you and He has a plan for your life.  Only He can give you the answers you need...
 
Let's start to get the mind that says "I want what God has for me!"
 
Love in Christ,
I Luv Jesus