Thursday, July 2, 2015

Shalom, Shalom


Last night Joel and I watched a teaching by Havilah Cunnington who is a preacher, teacher, and prophetess out at Bethel Church in CA.  She is a powerful speaker who is open and honest with her words.  Her sense of humor and way of teaching reminds us both a great deal of our oldest daughter Bethany, who herself, teaches Old Testament at her church.

Her teaching was based on Isaiah 26:3:

"You will keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on You
 because he trusts in You."
  
Perfect peace is translated, shalom...shalom.  Double peace.  Having peace that is so powerful that it is peace and then peace again.  Don't we all want that? 

Our world is in chaos.  ISIS is planning attacks on our country during this celebration weekend, and our cities, government, and law enforcement agencies are on high alert. That includes our son.  We could let ourselves be filled with fear, or we can let ourselves reside in peace. Perfect peace.  Shalom, shalom.

The murders of those faithful prayer warriors in Charleston shook our world.  How can this be?  How can people still hate others because they are of a different race?  How it must anger God to see His creations struck down as they were talking to Him in a house of God.  The response of other church members to this young man, has been amazing.  They are keeping their focus on God in the midst of such tragedy.  We are all a blended family of God.  That is where peace resides.  Our immediate family is multiracial.  Our children, in-loves, and grands bring together histories of African American, Puerto Rican Black, Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Hispanic, Caucasian, and Native American ancestries created by God.  Shalom, shalom. 

Our friends Deb and Dave are still struggling with a fungal infection that has attacked Deb's body.  Weeks in the hospital, drugs that went after her kidneys and caused high fevers and heart issues were tried and thrown out.  Pneumonia set in from the mucra.   There was one more newly approved drug to try and the doctors did.  She is now home, getting stronger, and tolerating the new medication.  Hundreds of people who have been praying are feeling a sense of joy and peace restored.  Added to that peace is a long fought for appointment with Mayo for next week.  Peace in the storm.  God is at work.  Shalom, shalom.

Here at home, a return of a nasty old symptom has caused me anxiety the past two weeks.  We have been praying, fighting for release, and listening to God's voice on how to procede.  What we have been hearing is "I've got this.  Rest in me.  Trust.  Focus on Me."   It is a small storm, but has attempted to take our peace.  Where do we turn to?  Jesus.  Shalom, shalom.

Storms will come to us in life.  The Bible tells us where to find the peace we need during these times.  Jesus is the answer.  When we bring everything to the foot of the cross, when we remember where our help comes from, when we trust in the Lord with all our heart, we can be at peace in the midst of it all.  We can have that perfect peace.  Shalom, shalom. 


"I will trust you with all my heart and not try to figure it all out". 
 
"Peace is the battleground for trust,
and trust begins in our mind.
Make a decision to not be in fear. 
A decision to trust"
 
"Perfect peace is translated, shalom shalom."
 
Peace, Peace from the Prince of Peace"
 
Havilah Cunnington
 

2 comments:

Sharon said...

Oh, Renee, this was such a comfort to my heart today. There is turmoil without, and turmoil within. And sometimes my fears threaten to overwhelm me. But, then I remember the words of our Lord Jesus:

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]" (John 16:33, AMP)

Shalom, shalom.

GOD BLESS!

Anonymous said...

Shalom is one of the most beautiful words. May God grant us His peace...