What is Peace?  We have all seen the hand gesture making the peace sign – or the symbol for peace that is globally accepted.  But what does it really mean? 

I personally believe it’s easier to explain what peace isn’t than it is to accurately define what it is.  COVID-19 - that’s not peace. A war breaking out or riots, that’s also not peace.  The past year-and-a-half have proved to be one of the most challenging times in my lifetime and probably yours.  Because of the global pandemic there has been a war on your peace and on mine.  Virus outbreak, illness, wars, and riots are great conditional descriptions of things that don’t give us peace. 

What does God’s word say Peace is and how can we receive it regardless of the challenges we are facing? The answer is in today's podcast.

Scripture references:

Judges 6:1-24, Isaiah 9:6-7, John 14:27, Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:4-7

Have you ever lost someone you really cared about and felt alone and unsure about how to go on with your life? Maybe you wonder if God really sees you, thinks about you or cares at all about what you are going through. If so, this story is for you…. 

Psalms 139:17-18 NIV says, “How precious to me are your thoughts, God. How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand…” 

Have you ever been to the beach and scooped up a handful of sand? Can you count the grains of sand in your hand? It’s impossible – and I’m only talking about what is in your hand! Look around on that same seashore and imagine being able to count every grain of sand as far as your eyes can see. That’s how often God is thinking about you and He wants you to believe it and experience it today.

God may be sending you an angel with a message - or He may use you as His messenger to encourage another. Don't underestimate who you are and the impact you can have on a stranger, friend or family member.

1st Corinthians 1:27 NIV - “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong”.

Psalms‬ ‭34:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ - “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

Psalms‬ ‭56:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ - “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”

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Each of us carry a yoke in this life and for many of us it's heavy, oppressive and restrictive. Jesus came to bring freedom to us, to destroy the yoke of slavery and to replace the yoke we carry alone today with His yoke, that He has promised to wear with us. Mathew 11:28-30 is an invitation for us to find rest, hope and power as we walk with Jesus through all of the challenges of life.

Don't miss the secret of the yoke!

Galatians 5:1

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Mathew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jeremiah 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Luke 4:18-19

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."