Hungry for Shalom

newsfeed.com greiving Sandy Hook tragedy

In Revelation 7:9-17 we see a glimpse of life as it is intended to be. Every kind of person is there. Everyone is on the same page. All are worshiping the Lord. There are no conflicts, no worries. How our hearts long for living in this peace, love and joy! Our national and international turmoil and grief are at such a high level. We hear more commentary and speculation on our condition and how we got there than on a clear solution. But here is our clue into achieving the state of being we seek: salvation comes from the blood of the Lamb. Salvation, honor, and glory come from no other. This state of being does not come easily, but by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, we can start to live into it. ‘These are the ones who have come out of the great ordeal’ John’s revelation tells us, these who have complete joy in that place-a life of perpetual worship of their Savior. We face the great ordeal of a world with little peace. But as we humble ourselves before the Lamb, we can be put in process to have our limitations on how to live increasingly overridden by the surpassing power of Christ to transform us. Even now we can begin learning how to live in Shalom, at peace with God, and at peace with our brothers and sisters. Heaven is a paradise and state of being that we begin to live into here and now. And whether it’s Boston in the wake of the Marathon tragedy, Texas and the terrible explosion, or any where across our war-torn globe, or the parents of children taken before thier time, oh how hungry we are in this world to taste and see how good it is to live at peace! 

As Easy as A, B, C, 1, 2, 3!!!

eatingwell.com

John 21:1-19

Several years ago, I was listening to our Missionary, Ken Vance. He showed us the picture of a Congolese girl, Grace. She appeared to be about 9 years old when the picture was taken.  Grace fell ill while the nation was in the middle of a military conflict, which kept her from receiving the simple medical care which would have easily cured her. She had fallen ill, by a disease common there and here, preventable with a pair of shoes.  Grace died. I asked myself, whey should she and others die on account of an illness preventable with a pair of shoes, when we on this side of the ocean have shoes to spare?! The message was clear to me: they need shoes; we have shoes; SEND SHOES!!! Many of us did.  

The solution was simple. The answer was in front of us. We just had to put 2 and 2 together.  We just had to take the simple solution and put a bunch of sweat into it! Jesus spoke to his disciples three times after his death and resurrection, pointing them to their purpose. The message: 1) I Live 2) You believe 3) Follow Me

The ‘Follow Me’ he illustrated simply. He fed them bread. He said feed my sheep; do with them like I do to you! How much clearer so we need to hear ‘You’re all HUNGRY? I’m the bread! Let’s all Eat!’

It’s so simple! We may see life as very complicated, but thank God, our purpose is simple, and clear! So let’s put some sweat into it! Let’s take the message of the Bread of Life, Christ, to this hungry world!