This may seem lengthy, but please bear with me. This is my Christmas message to my family in Yeshua.
The first recorded blessing in Scripture is Yahweh blessing the birds and the fish and then mankind to "be fruitful and multiply." That extends to allowing His Word to perform the same in our lives as it bears much fruit in season and multiplies exponentially in perpetuity, thus making our way prosperous. Our relationships with our family, our neighbors, and even casual contacts all become intertwined with our meditation upon the Torah, and they are "blessed of the Lord."
When I consider and meditate upon the word "shalom," the English equivalent, "peace," does not do it complete justice. Similarly are words such as perfect, holy, and a host of others. That is why, oftentimes, it takes more than a single word to convey the meaning and the intent of Scripture in order to receive the revelation contained within.
So, when I meditate upon what it means to be at peace, to dwell within shalom, I picture a wedding band. First, it is made from a precious metal, gold, which, in human terms, has earthly value. Shalom/Peace has an intrinsic value as well, although not necessarily a monetary one. Secondly, the wedding band was crafted by the hands of a skilled laborer. Shalom/Peace is crafted, it is formed, by the hand of Yahweh. It cannot come through any other way. It only comes through the creation of the Creator. Lastly, the wedding band is an unending circle. Likewise, shalom/peace is unbroken; nothing broken, nothing missing. It is not a thing that we, humanity, can bring about nor can we break it. Real shalom/peace is righteousness; living right with our Creator, our neighbor, and with creation. Shalom/Peace will only come about when we allow Yahweh to have His perfect/complete way in us, allowing His "blessings/barak," be fruitful and multiply, to manifest in us and for forth to others so that His Kingdom comes, as it is in the sky, so also shall it be on the land.
So, this Christmas Season, I pray that you find yourself surrounded by the barak (blessings) and the shalom (peace, completeness, fullness) of Yahweh's presence.
Blessings, Shalom, and Merry Christmas to you, my family, in Christ Jesus our LORD!
God Bless you and yours.
May God bless you and yours as well Rebecca. Thank you.
This may seem lengthy, but please bear with me. This is my Christmas message to my family in Yeshua.
The first recorded blessing in Scripture is Yahweh blessing the birds and the fish and then mankind to "be fruitful and multiply." That extends to allowing His Word to perform the same in our lives as it bears much fruit in season and multiplies exponentially in perpetuity, thus making our way prosperous. Our relationships with our family, our neighbors, and even casual contacts all become intertwined with our meditation upon the Torah, and they are "blessed of the Lord."
When I consider and meditate upon the word "shalom," the English equivalent, "peace," does not do it complete justice. Similarly are words such as perfect, holy, and a host of others. That is why, oftentimes, it takes more than a single word to convey the meaning and the intent of Scripture in order to receive the revelation contained within.
So, when I meditate upon what it means to be at peace, to dwell within shalom, I picture a wedding band. First, it is made from a precious metal, gold, which, in human terms, has earthly value. Shalom/Peace has an intrinsic value as well, although not necessarily a monetary one. Secondly, the wedding band was crafted by the hands of a skilled laborer. Shalom/Peace is crafted, it is formed, by the hand of Yahweh. It cannot come through any other way. It only comes through the creation of the Creator. Lastly, the wedding band is an unending circle. Likewise, shalom/peace is unbroken; nothing broken, nothing missing. It is not a thing that we, humanity, can bring about nor can we break it. Real shalom/peace is righteousness; living right with our Creator, our neighbor, and with creation. Shalom/Peace will only come about when we allow Yahweh to have His perfect/complete way in us, allowing His "blessings/barak," be fruitful and multiply, to manifest in us and for forth to others so that His Kingdom comes, as it is in the sky, so also shall it be on the land.
So, this Christmas Season, I pray that you find yourself surrounded by the barak (blessings) and the shalom (peace, completeness, fullness) of Yahweh's presence.
Blessings, Shalom, and Merry Christmas to you, my family, in Christ Jesus our LORD!
Very Merry Christmas to you and yours, Chad. God bless and keep you!!!!!!