A Promise For Peace

"Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise." (Isaiah 60:18) 

Our prayers go out to the families of the victims who lost their lives in this senseless shooting at the Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, (9/4/2024) 

I am not going to spend time talking about the school shootings in other parts of the country, but I do want to address the problem of violence in our land.

The verse of our text is taken from a passage of Scripture that prophesies of a future time when God will set up a kingdom on earth, and it's capital will be Jerusalem. Because of the captivities the nation of Israel went through, there would be much despair. But the people are told in Isaiah 60:4 to "Lift up their eyes, and look around them." and see that the former things, such as violence in the land will be gone." (v.18)

This should be our prayer, and our priority pursuit, that we strive to treat one another with love and respect. Why are we treating one another with such anger, and violence? Is this the will of God for us in this nation? If we truly submit our lives to the Word and Will of God, this violence, and senseless loss of life, will not dominate our society.

It is a choice we must make, and one that we must determine to keep with all of our hearts! GP

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Rest In Our Distress

"For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart is appalled within me."(Psalm 143:3-4)

 As I write this post, I know that there are many who feel like David, who was very overwhelmed in his spirit. Dealing with those who were oppressing him. It became more than he could handle by himself. And He pleas with the Lord to answer his prayer quickly, because his spirit is failing.

I don't know what you are dealing with today. There are so many challenges in this life, that we face on a daily basis. But I like the last line of words in (v.9) David says: "I take refuge in Thee." 
David knew that He had someone to hold on to, until the storm passed, and he could see the clouds of his trial, break up, and go away. The best person to hold on to, is the Lord.

Have you accepted the Lord as Savior of your sins? Have you determined that as you journey through this life, that you want the Good Shepherd to care for your every need? The Lord promises to be both to you. Having peace with God, we can enjoy the peace He gives, in those times when our spirit is overwhelmed within us. It's great to know that, as Christians, we have someone who will provide rest, in our distress (Matthew 11:28-30) GP

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Calling Us To Be Calm

"...and say to him: "Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah." (Isaiah 7:4) 

This was a message to King Ahaz who was facing a plot against his kingdom of Judah, by King Rezin of Aram, and Pekah, king of Israel.

 King Ahaz refused the sign God would give Him that He would be faithful to rescue him and Judah from these invading forces. Ahaz refused the sign, but God gave it anyway: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (v.14) 

We should never be like King Ahaz, and refuse a promise of encouragement and help. When we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place, calm is what we should be. Submissive to the Word of God is what we should be. Instead we become like king Ahaz, self-centered, and self-sufficient.

But in the midst of great trials, where do we find our peace, our feeling of security. If we think we will find it within us, we are only fooling ourselves. God is the only one who can provide peace for us, in the midst of trial.

The sign that Ahaz was to receive, should have been a great comfort to Him.
It should be the greatest comfort to us. In all the darkness and despair, there is light, there is hope, because we have a Savior, Jesus Christ. Now we can be calm, and embrace that hope. GP

Photo by Vitolef. Published on 27 January 2016 Stock photo - Image ID: 100392162
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