Peace and Praise

Some time ago when I was doing a 'word' study - I have been keeping my eye open to what a word means instead of simply what I think (or thought) it means (sure can change what I perceive someone is saying at times) - someone brought to my attention that one Hebrew word for praise is 'yada' or similar to that. The symbol of that word in Hebrew is lifting up open hands toward God. My present understanding of that symbol is that when I praise God I am opening myself to God. So when I say "Praise the Lord" I am now saying 'I open myself to You, Father'. Jesus is called the "Prince of Peace" so when I open my heart, myself, to God I am opening myself to God's kind of peace.

I just got a report from someone who I believe sends me as accurate information as they possibly can that this past weekend we almost became involved in a military 'exchange' with Russia (to put it in mild language) on a VERY large scale level. Are those kinds of reports calculated to bring 'peace'? Not really - point blank, NO!

Yesterday morning I got another message from the "Prince of Peace" as His 'response', or perhaps I should say, 'preparation', to the above report that I had not even received yet.

For anyone who might be interested here is what I received from Jesus.

"As the mind dwells upon Christ, the character is molded after the divine similitude. The thoughts are pervated with a sense of His goodness, His love. We contemplate His character, and thus He is in all our thoughts. His love incloses us. If we gaze even a moment upon the sun in its meridian glory, when we turn away our eyes the image of the sun will appear in everything upon which we look.

Thus it is when we behold Jesus; everything we look upon reflects His image, the Sun of Righteousness. We cannot see anything else, or talk of anything else. His image is imprinted upon the eye of the soul, and affects every portion of our daily life, softening and subduing our whole nature. By beholding we are conformed to the divine similitude, even the likeness of Christ. To all with whom we associate we reflect the bright beans of His righteousness. We have become transformed in character; for heart, soul, mind are irradiated by the reflection of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. Here again there is the realization of a personal, living influence dwelling in our hearts by faith.

When His words of instruction have been received, and have taken possession of us, Jesus is to us an abiding presence, controlling our thoughts and ideas and actions. We are imbued with the instruction of the greatest teacher the world ever knew. A sense of human accountability and of human influence, gives character to our views of life and of daily duties. Jesus Christ is everything to us, -- the first, the last, the best in everything."

The above was written originally to ministers. I think because it was such very good advice it was later included in a book called 'Messages to young people'. (p. 161)

Wow! Just think of it!. I choose to open my heart to the 'Prince of Peace' and He in turn fills me with His awesome, calming peace that passes all understanding. I think I am beginning to understand just a little bit better what Jesus meant in His promise 'Great peace (trustful confidence in, accepting God's will for me, etc.) will a person have who loves God's law of love and nothing shall offend (make them fearful, angry, lose of control, etc.) them.

Keep your thoughts upon Jesus, remember that Jesus loves you and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His great love for you.

In just a few hours from the time I am writing this blog a worldwide celebration of God's love will begin. I hope you will choose to join me in it. As the sun sets this Friday the Creator God of the universe has made an appointment with me - and anyone else who wishes to experience real, genuine, joy and peace - to spend 24 hours in a super, special, time together. Some folks - me included - call that celebration time the seventh day Sabbath. According to the express command of my heavenly King, I have full authority and right to lay aside my everyday activities in order to have extra time with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords as well as with others who are also loyal to Him. What earthly head of government comes once a week to spend a whole day with me. About the closest I have been to a 'very important person' was when I shook hands with Bobby Kennedy. But he didn't even know my name or anything else about me, other than that he was campaigning for something or another.

Every seventh-day Sabbath, however, I am invited to reveal my loyalty to the Creator God of the Universe by not only ceasing my every day 'activities' but in coming to worship Him and experience more 'love' from Him with others who love Him here on this earth. Another wonderful aspect of this time together with God is that as I behold Him, think about Him, share with others about Him, He changes me even more into looking more like Him, talking more like Him, thinking more about Him and like Him and acting more like Him.

I don't want to keep this wonderful peace producing activity to myself, though, so if you are not already involved in it, may I invite you to join me, beginning this evening, for a Sabbath - a rest, blessing, peace time with Jesus.

Sabbath is to be a special time for peace and praise. But I am also learning how to experience it to some extent every day. For that I am grateful to God as well.

Bringer of Peace

An 'I love you'

We had bought a digital camera before camp meeting and I just figured out how to put pictures here so I decided to share a few.

Above is a flowerbed near our house earlier this spring. We bought new water containers after that picture. The second picture is of the wave petunias and minature roses near the water 'pool' .
There are also petunias and pansies.

My friend Jesus has asked that you think of every flower as an "I love you" note from Him. I'm forwarding a few of them on to you from His collection.

Bringer of peace

Long time 'no see'

It seems that so much has been happening that the time to think and write has almost been 'crowded out'. Towards the end of April our son left for the army. For most of the month of May our local church was involved in a tent based revival series. I helped a lot with the children's programs. During this time I was also attempting to write to our son words of encouragement in his 'new' lifestyle. Add to the above the challenge of getting our gardens in 'order', working to get the farm in order and continuing to help a friend move and resettle. Then this past week we just finished attending the yearly church camp meeting. That was a wonderful spiritual retreat and time to rejuvenate. During this whole time we have been praying for some supernatural battles. I have also been learning some new spiritual concepts that have been, frankly, life changing.

Having said all of the above, I hope to be able to share some of the last mentioned - new (to me anyway) spiritual concepts.

1. The Hebrew word for 'praise' (in English) is 'yadda' or something very similar to that. My present understanding of the meaning of that word from 'hebrew' seems to be very symbolic - uplifting open hands - with the concept of opening one's heart, soul and mind to the Creator God for Him to fill with His peace and JOY.

When I heard that the first time I thought of a phrase I have used - ' yadda, yadda, yadda'. I was using it usually when I didn't want to repeat everything someone else had said but still indicate that quite a bit had been said. Now I believe that it is one of those phrases that has been misconstrued to mean something else. I really do like, however, the idea of saying, "I open my mind to God and His thoughts, I open my emotions to God and His emotions, I open my heart for God to fill me with His spirit." Wow!

I used to think that I could say 'praise the Lord' when something would happen that was 'good'. This 'new' to me concept has really been changing my thinking. Whenever anything happens I can say 'Lord, I open my mind, heart, emotions - all of myself - to You. Even when what I consider 'bad' happens I can still say 'praise the Lord!' for it is not dependent on outside circumstances but rather an inward desire to have the Lord have His way inside of me.

I saw many folks who recognized me at camp meeting even though most of them I can't seem to remember. There was also 'Messiah's Mansion' - a lifesize model of the mosiac sanctuary. Tours were given about 15 minutes most of every day including Sabbath afternoon. I was very much blessed the two times I went through the exhibit. Anyone who knows or has studied about Bible temples I believe could have been blessed. Even those who haven't could learn a lot. They talked about the 'earthly' temples, the heavenly temples and the 'personal applications. Praise the Lord.

I got to the place many times at campmeeting - and more and more other times as well - of saying to my heavenly Father something like 'What is on your agenda for me, Lord?'. Sometimes I would talk to someone, other times someone would talk with me. I was thankful for both kinds of experiences as well as the fellowship and learning in other ways.

There are a number of folks who are in very trying circumstances recently and I, along with others, have been claiming promises for them. God's word does not return unto Him void but it accomplishes what He has sent it out to do. We have claimed that army's of God's angels would be sent to do supernatural battle with the forces of God's enemy. Things are getting tougher and circumstances seem to be getting harder. I am now claiming that those involved most intimately will increase their 'praise the Lord' with the understanding that God is filling them with His Spirit and as such they are representing God in whatever circumstance they are in.

Some of the situations are definitely 'learning' and some are rather steep 'learning curves'. Our son has been having some very difficult challenges and I am 'praising the Lord' - not for the hard times, but I firmly believe God is teaching him and mentoring him to fill a very unique place in God's army wherever he may be.

We have gotten some help at the farm off and on for which we have been grateful. The main kitchen in the big house has finally gotten to the point of ready for paint and painted. There are a few more cabinets that hopefully will get installed in the next few days. I'm not sure what the next project will be but we have been looking at getting some more of the trash picked up and taken away as one project for the very near future.

I mentioned earlier the gardens here. Some items have done well and others not so well. I haven't checked the plants after the hail storm about a half hour ago but I hope it wasn't too bad. There were hailstones the size of marbles for a few minutes. I finally managed to add a picture I took during the storm. Glad that doesn't happen every day. We are thankful for the rain that came with the hail though. P.S. The gardens look alright.


There is much to do and I am thankful for a God that is not caught off guard or by surprise. He actually sings for joy when anyone comes to Him and chooses to accept God's will for their life.

I am glad I can help God sing.

Hopefully it won't take me so long to write again but until then may the God of peace be with you.
Bringer of Peace

Below is part of our flower bed. A friend gave us 'Duke' the alligator
who is getting 'buried' in flowers. I finally have a small water feature'
as well as 'Butterfly weed', 'Carnations', 'Celosia' and 'Roses'.

Peace in Believing

I have been involved in a number of situations recently. It seems that not only are events speeding up in a sense but, in my life anyway, I seem to be perceiving supernatural involvement. God is working in many lives that are in some way interwoven with us. Since our son just recently went into the army I have spent a lot more time working on writing letters. I had almost 'forgot' how to write snail mail (U.S. Postal service) due to the advent of email. But since our son can only get letters for the time being I am making an all out effort to supply a need. This has not been an easy experience for him. We have been claiming God's Holy Spirit and the ministry of angels with, for and in him. Some 'ex-marine' told him that what he is attempting at present is harder than what the 'ex-marine' had already been through. I could believe that with just the few 'reports' I have already received. Since most of my letters are encouraging mainly I decided to copy them and send them to a number of other folk who I believe would also be encouraged with mail. Some of them are presently within the bounds of confinement where they can only receive letters as well. Others are folks who just need more love. It has brought joy to my heart as I hear that these letters have brought encouragement where they have been sent.

Another 'situation' is dealing with some travel plans. I believe God has something in store of us in that area but at present our plans have been in a state of 'change' rather than 'solid'. I am rejoicing in that 'lack' of set dates now though, for our son's dates when we are invited to go for a 'family day' and for his graduation have just been changed due to circumstances beyond our control. I can see God's hand in those situations and I am claiming His peace in my heart.

Where we live has been having some interesting 'interactions' as well. At present there is a young man here and at times he comes and helps me with 'farm' jobs. Today we worked on our driveway. Over the years some of the gravel has gotten mounded and in other places it has gotten quite low. Yesterday and today we worked at rearranging the gravel along with some added 'larger stones' to level out the drive. I am not all that strong but by working on it a little at a time it is looking better and easier to drive on as well. So how does working on the 'road' relate to peace. At present I believe that God is in the business of preparing this property to be a special type of ministry to reveal to others what He is really like. The nicer the place looks the more we will be enabled to share God's love, Joy and Peace with others around us.

Another situation has been bringing me both joy and peace. The lady we helped move (for the second time) has been 'blossoming' in ways I had never seen in her before. When I first met her going on two years ago she was in a bitter legal 'mess'. She was finally extracated from the 'material' part of the 'mess' and in my mind I saw her in a healing process. When she found out that in a sense she had been 'betrayed' again in relation to the house she had moved in to, at first she seemed very frustrated, but then she began to changed. The Lord led to another house, even better, and over a period of about 3 weeks we packed, moved and unpacked (some unpacking is still going on but she is getting along very well, thank you). Due to some other activities that has pulled me away from helping her so much I haven't been to her place much for the past couple of weeks. This afternoon I was able to slip over and help her get her garden planted (we had bought plants earlier but just now got them into her garden area). I really believe that God has been healing her wounds. When a friend took her into town to get some items they needed to go near where the former antagonist 'worked'. My friend made the comment something like "so what". That was a real blessing to hear that from her. Yes, I believe that God is giving both her and myself peace in believing that He is still in control in our lives.

I also believe that the Lord would have me grow in the peace in my heart that God is more interested in restoring more love in families than I even understand. I have been blessed by getting back into contact with some family members that I had actually thought didn't want to communicate (lie). Other members have also been calling with questions, comments and prayer requests. It seems that the more I share what God has been doing in my life, the more folks I have to share with. I am humbly grateful that God seems to be wanting to use me in this way.

Our church has been having a revival during the month of May. May 31st 18 people are either being baptized the first time to signify that they are accepting God's offer to become part of His family here on earth or getting rebaptized in renew their committment to God. There is a great peace that God is wanting to give not only to those who are receiving this awesome experience but also for those of us who will be there to welcome the 'new babes' into our family. This is one of those times when there will be both joy and peace in believing.

Yes, even when outward circumstances don't always seem to lend to peace as the world calls peace, God's kind of peace, beginning with His love in our hearts, can continue to grow as we keep choosing for His will to be our will and we believe that He has our best interests in His heart.

May You have that kind of peace in believing experience in your life as well.

Bringer of Peace

Sabbath Peace 2

The plan God made involving the Sabbath was unique as well as divine. And because the concept of Sabbath Peace and rest was so effective you can be sure that the enemy will do all in his power to produce counterfeit(s). Why produce a counterfeit if something doesn't work in the first place?

The seventh day Sabbath is the outside sign that I am loving God most, and I love God because He first loved me. I speak good to God, for God and about God because He is already doing the same thing. I am awed as I see more clearly who the God of Peace is and what He is really like.

As I am filled with love from God that capacity allows God's love to flow out to others so that they too can see more of what God is like.

After church I was eating with our church family and a call came to the church from a lady who said she needed a couple of days food. She had just gotten out of the hospital and hadn't really had opportunity to get much yet. I told her I would be happy to bring something over. After everyone had what they wanted we were able to take two dishes made with rice, some desert, a half of a watermelon and some bread. I picked up a few cans of food from our place on our way to the lady's house. After we got there we were able to visit for a little while. I was very thankful for the opportunity to share God's love with another person.

After getting home we read counsel that to let another person suffer for lack of daily 'needs' on the Sabbath is to be guilty of not loving as God intended. I am thankful for the privilege of sharing God's love.

This morning some of my little students got a little bit talkative in the class. At the end another teacher reprimended them. They all said they were sorry. But one of the mothers really 'jumped' on her son and made him come back and apologize again. I told the boy I accepted what he said but I also told the mother that the boy had also said it with the others in class. We spent a few minutes talking together and by the time we parted I believe the boy knew that I loved him just as much as the others in the class.

This evening we have a revival meeting and I am praising the Lord that His love is being revealed to more and more people.

Bringer of Peace

Peace I leave with you

This past week has seemed to be moving 'faster' then the week before, and faster than the week before that, and . . . . So , I wonder what is coming next.
What is has become interesting to me, though, is that real Peace is not related to 'speed'. Peace is something that, at least according to what Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you", is something God gives us. The way Jesus is saying the above sounds like His kind of peace is a Divine gift given to humans when they accept it. He goes on to say, "My peace I give unto you." The folks who were listening to Jesus at that point in time were people He called friends. We sometimes refer to them as 'disciples'. I think we could even go so far as to call them His earthly family. It almost sounds like, by the way He said these words that Jesus was wanting to make sure they understood the gift He was offering. Might it also be that He could tell that they were not really comprehending what He was offering them? He didn't stop, though, but rather added more. "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." His kind of peace is obviously not related to 'speed' - how fast life seems to be going. Jesus' kind of peace is something He gives to those who will receive it as a gift. He is called the "Prince of Peace". He is the source of His kind of peace. Some time ago I learned that science had 'discovered' that in order for a mind to increase its capacity to cope with stress, with life, that the human mind must experience not only real peace but also genuine joy in sort of a 'cycle', or better yet in synergy. But science also 'discovered' that real peace, and genuine joy cannot be experienced by a single mind alone. A person can 'feel' happy by themselves, and can be content by themselves, but it is only when two minds 'synchronize'; come into a harmonious unity, that real peace and genuine joy can be experienced. Every time that a human mind experiences a combination of both peace and joy while in sync with another mind their capacity to cope properly with life increases. I wonder if that is one reason Jesus was offering peace. When we accept and experience His kind of peace (a deep, confiding, trusting experience that with Jesus we are 'safe' and we can 'rest in His arms', so to speak, knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us) with His mind along with the 'joy of the Lord' (accepting that Jesus loves to be with us, we are special to Him, like the apple of His eye - that kind of exciting experience), which is called our strength, Jesus knew we would 'grow up', 'mature'. But evidently everything called peace in this world is not the kind of peace that will produce growth and maturity. As quoted above, Jesus said that the kind of experience the world professes of have isn't real. When we truly accept the peace Jesus gives us we no longer are afraid. Jesus noted that what the world labels peace really ends or results in fear. He goes on to warn of that by saying 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' With the peace of God in our hearts we need no longer be afraid of people, places, experiences or things. We no longer need to be afraid of not having 'enough' of whatever has caused us worry and concern in the past. And as we imbibe of Jesus' kind of peace, and joy, which enables us to grow up like Jesus, other people began to see what God is like through us. That is awesome. And that is the fulfilling of God's law of love.

A few weeks ago we were invited to go to Africa. I mentioned it in previous blog. Not long ago our son went into boot camp in the Army. Just a few weeks ago a friend that we have grown to love found out that the house she was living in was being reposessed and she was being evicted. That isn't all that is going on but does give a little idea of life in this part of the world. The 'excitement' and 'stress' of seeing our son go off to the army was pretty intense at times. Trying to help our friend find another place to live and going to house after house with many a 'no' involved also had it's challenges. And then when, through what I consider a series of miracles, she found a place and we were able to get her moved out of the 'old house' in about one day or so before she would have been evicted from the previous place, that added plenty of 'excitement' (if that is the correct term). The Africa project has had a number of twists and turns and we are not sure yet of the final agenda but it seems certain that God is interested in us going in that direction. During all of this it seems I have spent quite a bit of time encouraging others to put their confidence in the Creator God of the Universe, the Prince of Peace, and to let Him guide them in their lives. Even when things don't go as we wish or hope they would, God's gift of peace in our hearts can enable us to choose to say, "The Lord is with me (us), praise the Lord. I made up a new word this past week. "Phraise the Lord". Sometimes we use the word 'praise' ,which to me means telling what the Lord is really like and what He has done". But often praising the Lord takes more than one word. That is when I started saying "Phraise the Lord". The more I have been 'Phraising' the Lord, using whole phrases to describe what God is like, the more of His kind of peace I have been sensing. When we were looking for houses and a house didn't 'make it', I would tell my friend 'Praise the Lord'. She got to the point where she started to agree with me. I would remind her that she didn't really want it if God didn't want her to have it.
Another friend told me 'God is never late, seldom early and always on time.' God's kind of peace, I believe, also involves trusting God, having confidence that He is doing what is best for me and to His glory - to reveal to the whole universe what love really means.
When I have chosen to 'behold the Lamb of God' and focus on what He is like, God has been giving me more of His kind of peace.
The Sabbath is an outward symbol of God's kind of peace. I am writing this as another seventh-day Sabbath has just begun. Somehow, even though the weeks seem so busy, the Prince of Peace never fails to meet His part of the 'peace' appointment every seventh day Sabbath. Whether we understand Him and His command for us to meet Him every seventh day Sabbath, which He began in Eden, or not, when we come to meet Him for this weekly appointment with the Prince of Peace, He graciously offers a new supply of His kind of peace - a quiet, confiding, restful experience with the Creator God of the universe, and learning that He really does love me.

And as His family join together as a 'body' of Christ in 'rest related activities', the synergistic effect is multiplied. What a wonderful plan begun by the Creator God of the universe.

I pray that you will experience at least a double portion of God's kind of peace this seventh day Sabbath.

Shalom my friend

Bringer of Peace.

God's kind of Peace - 2

"Great Peace have they which love Thy Law and nothing shall offend them."

That is practically a sermon in itself. Think of it. This is not referring to just any old peace, or peace once in a while, but 'great peace'. Not just a little bit here and there, but 'great' peace.

Who gets that kind of peace? Those who love God's law.

What kind of love is this speaking about? There is a love between a baby and a caregiver. There is a love between husband and wife. There is a love that is based on hormones - sex. There is a love between friends. Do any and all of those kinds of emotions we often label as love qualify as the kind of love that produces 'great peace'?

This brings up the question of what is God's law? Jesus said in Matthew 22: 37-39 that the first and great commandment was to love God most. The second was similar, which was to love others as we love ourselves. That brings us back to pondering what kind of love are this is talking about.

For one thing, we love because we are loved. We love God because He first loved us. A baby loves mommy because mommy first loved baby. Only by love is love awakened.

Sounds to me like that the kind of peace talked about here is based first on receiving love and secondly on allowing the love received to 'flow through us' and on to another 'mind'.

Could that be one reason why a person who is choosing to accept God's love and then allow that love to flow through them to all they come in contact with, experiences 'great peace'?

God's kind of peace in this context is not dependent on what others 'do' or how they respond, so much, as on how 'open' we are to taking in God's love and sharing it with others.

Looking at the last part of that sentence adds another very interesting component to this 'great peace' experience. When I feel offended by another's action, might it be that the offence is not so much what the other person is 'doing' or how they are 'behaving', but rather that I may be attempting to 'hord' rather than 'share'?

Think of the consequences of this kind of peace based on love. "NOTHING shall offend them". That is really somthing. That is the kind of God we serve. First God loves us. Then the more we accept His love and allow it to 'flow through us' and continue on both to God as supreme and to others as we love ourselves (God's law), the less and less we will perceive offence, until 'nothing will offend us' WOW! That is awesome.

God is love. God loves me. God loves you. The more love we accept and share God's love the less offence we will experience and the greater peace we will enjoy in Jesus.

I believe I have been learning a little bit about that. We chose to help a friend move this week. We have attempted to execute this 'move' in less than one week. (Sometimes I feel I don't want to move for a while right now.) So many small and big experiences have been used by God to show me the reality that He is more interested in people learning to know who He really is rather than in 'material' things during this move.

Monday, with the help of a young man we finally got a 17 ft U-Haul loaded and taken to the new 'home' and unloaded. Tuesday it seemed that anything that could go wrong did - and then some. But by Tuesday p.m. I began to get this strong feeling that this was more than 'just a move', but rather a supernatural 'war zone' if you please. My hubby came over after work and it was a real encouragement to me, but we still seemed to be in 'granny' gear with many a stone in the way.
Folks had promised to help but were mostly 'no show'. Finally my hubby and I just stopped and talked to the Lord for a little while as we rested. We wanted to know what God wanted to happen. My beloved made a statement that I believe was from the Lord and we decided to work at least a little longer. Shortly after that prayer time a couple more folks joined us and as a team we got the truck packed (by about 2 a.m.) The next morning I found out that somewhere around the time we had prayed, other prayers were joining ours. I now firmly believe that a spiritual battle was raging, but God won. God is in the business of winning. He has already declared victory, and as we praise Him it beats back the enemy and gives us the Victory of Jesus.

Wednesday another young man was able to help us get another load and get it unloaded as well (this time by about 10 or 11 p.m.).

I will admit that today I have been a bit slower. A crew came today and moved all the big furniture and our friend is in her new place tonight. We still have a lot to do to get her settled in her new place but I rejoice in the peace God has been giving me through this experience.

It may not sound like a lot - to move in one week - but the last time she had moved it seemed like the whole experience had been dragged out over perhaps two months or so. I learned a lot of lessons but not what I would want to repeat for a 'move'.

According to the above statement, the kind of Peace I am looking for is based on love - God's kind of love. It is also based on our choice to 'receive' love and 'give' love. Might it be that peace gets lost if we try to 'hord' love? or if we 'reject' love? Definitely something to think about.

May God's kind of peace by yours

Bringer of Peace