Peace

Peace – Before the Change

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Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites. Judges 6:24 ESV

Before God had helped him defeat the Midianites, and while he and his family were still being attacked and robbed, Gideon built an altar to the Lord. While some of his family and nearly everyone in his town were still worshiping Baal, Gideon named his altar, “The Lord is Peace.” Gideon had peace in the middle of those circumstances, because he had heard from God. Though how Gideon heard was different than us, God has given us an even better way of listening to Him. Everything God wants us to hear is written in between the front and back covers of our Bibles. He has provided for us promises of forgiveness, eternal life and grace, which Gideon could not have known. Of course, in our twenty-first century world we don’t have Midianites raiding our homes and farms, but we do face the same spiritual forces of destruction, false prophets and fear. The good news for us is that just as Gideon discovered God’s peace, in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul writes almost those same words for us:

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful." 
Colossians 3:15 ESV

So, today, before any change in your situation, even if those closest to you don’t’ believe it, remember – Jesus is our Peace – and just as He was with Gideon, He will be with you. Jesus has promised to never leave or forsake us; He has promised to be with us right here as well as in Heaven. So, no matter how things look around you right now, do not fear, because the Lord is our Peace!

A Time to Pray

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Back in 1968 the must-see movie in my circle of friends, was, “Romeo and Juliet”. Everybody I knew, whether they loved or hated that “Sorta-Shakespearean” version, could instantly recall its theme-song, “A Time for Us”. Maybe we liked it because that title pretty summed up our feeling that whatever happening of significance in the world, was all about us. But as I am getting to be nearly ancient by my own standards, I am learning that what happens around our neighborhood, our region or our nation has little to do with my plans or opinions. What matters is best summed up in how Jesus taught us to pray:

"Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
In earth as it is in Heaven"
Matthew 6:10 KJV

So, I say all this, to urge that with tomorrow’s meeting between our president and Vladimir Putin looming on the horizon, that we each make this, not a time for us, but “A Time to Pray. Rather than discussing, our brilliant political points, or our opinions about Zelensky, Trump or Putin, let’s urgently pray for peace for the hundreds of thousands of young Russians and Ukrainians facing one another on the frontlines of this war.

When the Apostle Paul made this appeal for prayer to Timothy, there were few of the “Kings and all those in authority,” that were any good. From Nero in Rome on down through Herod Agrippa II in Judea, these were not a morally stellar bunch. But the reason we are commanded to pray is not because we like our leaders, but because we are supporting the only king whose kingdom matters: King Jesus!

Be Still

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments 
"Be still and know that I am God"
I heard my Savior say
But instead
Just like a child 
I chose to run away

Then ran as fast as I could race
Till I felt my aching side
Then out of breath
With failing legs
I sat and simply cried

Then His voice called once again,
"Find peace in what I've done
Come learn My way
And take My yoke
Then rest in Me alone!"

Be  Still by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2023
All rights reserved

Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” 
Psalm 46:10 ESV