For To Us - Advent Reading 2 - Peace

This is the second advent reading that went along with the For Unto Us 2016 Christmas Prayer Loft at the Gathering House Covenant Church in Spokane Washington. 

Peace

by Margot Cioccio 

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace.

In the prayer loft in front of the Peace banner there is a hand out that has 50 names of Jesus and some other items to help you be more connected.  

In the Bible a persons name told you about their character and destiny. In this verse we are given just four names. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Let’s look briefly at each of them. 

Wonderful Counselor: We think of wonderful as meaning really good, nice, kind or likable but it is really more like incomprehensible and full of wonder. His name is so far beyond our understanding that we have to break it down into little bites to understand and even then without the help of Holy Spirit we don’t get very far. Jesus as wonderful counselor brings answers to problems that make a watching world scratch their heads in astonishment. Our lives as believers should never be dull or boring. Jesus wants to fill your life with wonder. In the early church you wouldn’t even be considered as a potential leader if signs, wonders and miracles were not evident in your life. Somewhere along the journey we opted for predictable tradition and religion when Jesus want to be our living God who does amazing things in and through us. Cool stuff beyond our own skills, ability and strength. Colossians 2:3 tells us In Christ is “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” this includes the knowledge of all human nature  and what makes us tick. He always knows what we are going through, and He always knows what needs to happen. In Hebrews 4 he is our great High Priest with grace and mercy for us in our time of need.

Mighty God: In Hebrew this is El Gibbor that means strong and mighty. A mighty warrior who demonstrates courage, bravery and action. In 2nd Corinthians 10 we are reminded that though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every high thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” In Ephesians 6 we are given armor. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” God’s war is not against confused and damaged humanity but against the spiritual forces that continue lie, manipulate, kill, steal and destroy the people that God created and loves.

Everlasting Father: I like to think about what it is that Fathers are supposed to do and be for us. They are to protect, provide and give us a sense of our identity. Many of us have a messed up view of Father because our human fathers have not always been those things to us. As such it is often hard for us to relate to God in one or more of these areas. In our trinitarian ideas we don’t usually think of Jesus as Father, but they are all one. If we put on our Hebrew translation hats for a moment this phrase literally translated means “Father of Eternity.” He is the father over time and eternity, the amazing architect of the ages. 

Prince of Peace: We think of peace as being the end of conflict between peoples and nations. If everyone would just get along we could have peace, but perhaps political and cultural harmony is not what he is talking about. Shalom is the Hebrew word for “peace.” a calm and tranquility for individuals, groups, and nations. In Greek it is about unity and being in one accord or purpose. In Galatians 5:22–23 peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit. It is one of the evidences that the Holy Spirit is working in your life.

Still there is a much deeper meaning of peace in the spiritual harmony that comes when our relationship with God is restored. 

Today we light the Peace candle and are reminded that to truly have Peace we need our broken relationship with God restored. Jesus came to provide the way to accomplish that restoration. The lie we must over come is that we must work hard and be good to know God. The truth is that we need a redeemer in order to know God. That redeemer is Jesus. He has paid the price for you and simply waits for you to believe and call upon his name.

The Fork in The Road

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the LORD says: 

“Stand at the crossroads and look; 

ask for the ancient paths, 

ask where the good way is, 

and walk in it, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Yesterday opportunity came knocking. I had just accepted a volunteer position at my church and was in the organizational meeting when I received a call from my regular job. It seems they have doubled in business and are needing to restructure. They wanted to offer me a full time supervisors position with a bit of pay raise. I would still do much of the same work that I have been doing but I would become the direct supervisor to a group of people. At that time I said that the job would not work for me with out continuing to be flexible. So my boss had to go back to his meeting with my need for flexibility in my daily schedule. I had to go back to my organizational meeting. It seemed like a no brainer - take the job. I have suddenly come to a fork in the road where a decision to go one directior or another must be made. My spirit was not at peace - thinking about that prospect made me sad not no excited. It is important to listen to your heart - this prospect was troubling my heart beyond the ordinary anxiety one feels about a looming change.  I try to be aware of and sort out what is lack of faith kind of fear vrs. what is a red flag or a check in the spirit this is not for you kind of thing.
I make decisions based upon where the peace of God is found. So I look ahead at the crossroads to try and see which one is the way Jesus would have me go. When I am wearing a decision I will try and look at where I am able to find Gods peace. That does not mean a decision does not require faith and courage.  The other thing I look at is how does this new thing fit into the vision and direction of my life as I understand it.  I am thankful that I have wonderful people around me that will pray with me and help and support me as I encounter big life changing decisions like the one I was presented yesterday.

Later in the day I called back and said I am interested but still have some concerns - the main one being the flexibility. So at that time I got a better idea of the structure they would need for me to have the job. I would need to be able to have six hours of available time between the hours of 7 and 3 my time because they are located in central time and those are the main hours. So I left it with let me go back and look at my schedule and see if I can re-organize it to work in those parameters. So I looked at the things I am doing during that block of time each day. I thought about how I would feel having to give up most of the things that were important to me to do a job that I am good at but don't particularly love doing.  I talked though the things I was struggling with and allowed some of the trusted people in my life to be my sounding boards. Sometimes it is easier to hear yourself as you bounce ideas off of other trusted people.  My pastor at one point said "Margot lets stop and pray and you listen to what Jesus is saying about this." So we prayed and the words in my head was that this would be a straitjacket.  You need to know in turning this position down that my present job will go to the person that they do hire to do the job.  So here is where courage and faith must step in - I have maybe 30 -90 days to replace that income with something else.  While that is kind of scary particularly when seemingly behind door #1 taking the job, lies security and money.  The question for me becomes can I trust God to put together a package that works for me along with the things he has already called and given me to do. The door #1 choice would mean stopping or severely limiting my ability to do those things.  Will I give up walking by faith and having the ability and time to do the things I believe God has called me to do in order to have security and a steady pay check. For me the answer is no.

Some things that have weighed in my decision were that I have been praying for less of this job not more. I have believed that at some point I would step out of it into doing more ministry, coaching, teaching, art. In all those things I have been working to be bringing in a more steady income. At this point to replace the income from my job I need to add each week 10 hours of coaching, music or art students to replace 20 hours of my present job. The prospect of doing that energizes me and excites me. Yes it is a challenge but I believe that God is able to help me find those people for whom my particular skill set will be of value.

Anyway I would appreciate your prayers as I continue to work through these changes.

Prayer
Dear Lord,
I know my readers have their own life decisions to make. I pray that my sharing today will help and encourage them to trust you more in their own choices and decisions. I thank you for the wise and life giving people in my life and I pray that you would raise up wise and life giving people around those reading.

Looking for Peace in the wrong places

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

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Luke 2


 ¹⁴ “Glory to God 
in the highest, 
and on earth peace 
to men on whom 
his favor rests.” 





This is the message that the angels proclaimed to the shepherds at the time of Jesus' birth. As I sat down to write today I was asking the Lord what to write about and His peace was the thought that in that moment stirred my heart.  We hear a lot about peace during the holidays and I think it is easy to get caught up in some of the holiday white wash. I think there is a mistaken notion that a life at peace in Christ is a life at ease without trouble.

Jesus says to his disciples in Matthew 10:34  ³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 

I read these two verses and they seem to to bring a conflicted message. The angels say at Christs birth a message of peace on earth to those upon whom Gods favor rests. So to those that believe and follow there is peace given or promised. Then in Matthew 10 Jesus say he did not come to bring peace but a sword. What Jesus the prince of peace bring a sword?


Look at Isaiah 9: Where He is called the prince of peace. 
 ⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,^[a] Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it  with justice and righteousness
   from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

So we hear all these verses and see them on Christmas cards and even in the letters of the apostles they often pray for the people to have peace.  I think we can find the peace of God in our hearts and minds as we live in a very troubled world. I think we often get the mistaken notion that when we become a Christian that everything will be wonderful. God has a wonderful plan for you. It is wonderful but it is rarely easy. Every day we are told to pick up our cross - (an instrument of death to our flesh) and to follow Jesus.  I think we have our focus a bit off in thinking that our Christian walk should be easy, filled with blessings. Many of Gods blessing are the hard things we must face and overcome. He helps us walk through them and that build in us His character and His likeness.

I was reading in a commentary by Matthew Henry about Matthew 10 verse. He writes: "Think not that I am come to send peace, temporal peace and outward prosperity; they thought Christ came to give all his followers wealth and power in the world; “no,” says Christ, “I did not come with a view to give them peace; peace in heaven they may be sure of, but not peace on earth.” Christ came to give us peace with God, peace in our consciences, peace with our brethren, but in the world ye shall have tribulation. Note, They mistake the design of the gospel, who think their profession of it will secure them from, for it will certainly expose them to, trouble in this world. If all the world would receive Christ, there would then follow a universal peace, but while there are and will be so many that reject him (and those not only the children of this world, but the seed of the serpent), the children of God, that are called out of the world, must expect to feel the fruits of their enmity."

This line in the above passage was helpful to me. "Christ came to give us peace with God, peace in our consciences, peace with our brethren, but in the world ye shall have tribulation."

I was reading John 14 of Jesus talking to His disciples. He says  ²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

He gives us His peace and tells us not to be troubled and afraid. In Him we have peace. In the world we should not expect to find a life of ease or a life of problem free tranquility. Certainly we should try as it says in Romans 12: ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

I'm not saying to go looking for trouble. Trust me there is trouble enough out there. We live in a fallen world, it is a place of hostility towards the things of God. The enemy would love to have us lulled to sleep and for us to continue in our complacency. We are told to love our enemies, to do good to those who wrongly use an persecute us. (Matthew 5)  We need to take off our rose colored glasses of the bless me, and entertain me mind set that has crept into the church. We must realize that God is preparing a bride with out spot or wrinkle. Now is not the time to sit on your duff. Each of us has only so many years of life allotted to us. Today is the day of salvation, don't put off till tomorrow what you could do today.

At New Years you hear people wishing each other peace and prosperity in the coming year. I guess my challenge is will you follow Jesus if nothing seems to go right, if life is hard, if you don't see prosperity and so called blessings?  I don't think this is a time for fair weather friends. It is a time to decide are you committed to follow Christ no matter what?  I ask you that because the people I read about in my New Testament were willing to be beaten, and called names, to be shunned, to be cast out, to be persecuted, to be killed for their faith.  In many parts of the world to follow Christ is to face all of those things. In America we have had it very easy we can worship when, where and how we like. But I often find myself wondering if all our easy bless me Christianity were taken away would you still choose to follow Him. If your life and the life of your family was at stake because of your decision to follow Christ, would you be willing to suffer even to the point of death for his sake and to not deny him?

Stephen while He was being stoned for proclaiming Christ looks up to heaven in Acts 7
 ⁵⁴ When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  ⁵⁷ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
 ⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.


I think it is interesting to note as we enter another year, the brutal deaths of the apostles. These are the guys that walked with Jesus and knew him. Jesus was willing to give His life for us and they were willing to give their lives for him. It speaks to me in a powerful way about how much Jesus meant to them. How much does Jesus mean to you?


Matthew martyred in Ethopia, killed by a sword.
 
Mark died in Egypt, dragged by horses through the streets till dead.
 
Luke was hanged in Greece for preaching.
 
John was boiled oil in Rome. But he does not die and so gets sent to the island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation. He was later freed and returned to serve as a bishop in modern Turkey. He died an old man, seems he is the only Apostle to die peacefully.
 
Peter, is crucified upside down because he is said to have felt unworthy to die the same way as Christ.
 
James  brother of Jesus, was thrown down more than a hundred feet off the southeast pinnacle of the Temple because he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When it was discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a club. 

James  a son of Zebedee, was beheaded at Jerusalem. His Roman guard hearing James defend his faith chooses execution with him and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian. 

Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael,  a missionary to Asia was whipped to death for his preaching in Armenia. 

Thomas was speared and died on a missionary trip to establish the Church in India. 

Jude,  brother of Jesus, was killed by arrows after refusing to deny his faith. 

Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot, was stoned and beheaded. 

Barnabas, was stoned to death. 

Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. 

My point today is that you may be looking for peace in your world and you are unlikely to find it if you are following Jesus.  He leads us by His peace and the peace between us and God has been restored. We can have perfect peace if our minds and thoughts and trust is in Him. (Isaiah 26:3)
None of that means that your life here is guaranteed to be easy. There are always choices to take the easy road or the harder road. Matthew 7 calls it a narrow road that few will find. 


Prayer:
Dear Lord, 
It is my prayer that those reading today would recommit their lives to you. That their choice to follow you would not be based upon easy blessings and an easy life in this world. I do pray that you would give them your peace but I pray they would not be confused an think that having your peace means a peaceful, trouble free life in this world.  Help us to each be willing to faithfully follow you - no matter what we may have to face in the years ahead.







 

Hold Me Jesus

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

That me in the middle taking notes during Navigate

This is our Pacific North West Navigate team of 3 churches

James 3:17 - 18  

“ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, 
then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, 
full of mercy and good fruits, with out variance, 
without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness 
is sown in peace for them that make peace.







I am running way behind today in getting something posted.  Last night tired caught up with me and I just had to say I'm done and go to bed. So for those of you who look forward to this early in the morning I apologize. I have a couple of things that I have been working on that are in the process of being ready to post. This is one I wrote while in route to Minnesota for the Navigate conference. Finding Gods peace in the midst of a busy day seems to be something I need today as well.


I am on the plane in route to Denver where we will have a quick layover on the way to Minnesota. I’m currently listening to Rich Mullins song Hold Me Jesus which seems a good spring board from which to write. So Hold me Jesus - cause I’m shaking like a leaf  - you have been King of my glory, won’t you be my prince of peace.



Seems the Lord is speaking to me a lot about peace lately. I was struck the other day by how many salutations and greeting in the New Testament letters are about peace. The writers seem to think is an important thing with which to open a letter and to pray over their readers. So I will follow that example and pray that God would bless you with a greater understanding of Him as your Prince of Peace.

James 3:17 - 18  Says “ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, with out variance, without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

Peace often requires standing up for what is right. It is often walking into a difficult situation and rather than escalating the situation helping to diffuse the anger of those present. We have ample opportunities to practice this in our work in the inner city with the homeless and poor. There are days when people come in very agitated. On those days our job as believers in the room is to help settle and calm the the tension in the room.

You may have opportunities to bring God’s peace into the situations that you find yourself in today. There may be very traumatized people that you encounter today that need not only your prayers but for you to bring peace, to remind them that they will be ok, that they need to breathe and trust and accept the help that is being afforded to them by your very presence.

I think we often wrongly think that peace is all about floating in our own personal peace bubble. Quite often it is more the ability to walk into a stress filled situation and bring peace to others. It is the mercy of God working through you to bring grace and peace into a situation in which little or none existed until you came on the scene to bring the fruit of peace that you have gained from the wisdom of spending time in the presence of the Lord. 

Prayer:
So Hold Me Jesus  - walk near me in difficult situations as I am dealing with troubled and difficult people. Help us to be a living bible - the only one they may read today. Help us to demonstrate the your peace in the midst of the storms we are personally facing and those of others whose lives we touch.  Lord I think of the line in Rich Mullin's sings that says “I’d rather fight you for what I don’t really want than take what you give that I need”. Help me to accept those things I need and to stop fighting you for those things that I don't need. Help me to have the wisdom to know the difference.
Help me to accept it when you say no, or not now, to maintain trust and hope that you are working and you know better than I what I truly need.

Salutations and Greetings of Peace

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

2 Timothy 1:2 

To Timothy, my dearly 
beloved son: 

Grace, mercy and peace, 

from God the Father and Christ 
Jesus our Lord.





Have you ever notice the greetings the beginning of the many letters in the New Testiment. It seems to be quite common to start a letter with an opening like the one in the verse above. Perhaps you just breeze past the greeting and move on to the meat of the letter. I have found that how people open, and end letters is often very important. What is the first thing you would say to a friend you had not seen in a very long time. How would you end a letter to that friend. I don't think these bible guys just tossed out these salutaions in a light manner. 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." I think it must be significant that all these letters the opening is about Grace, Mercy and Peace from God.
Here are a few other examples, there are probably more if you go hunting.

Philemon 1:3 (NIV1984)

 ³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Titus1:4 (NIV1984)

 ⁴ To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
   Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

1Thessalonians 1:1 Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

2 Corinthians1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus  Christ.
The Hebrew word associated with peace is Shalom. I thought this definition was interesting. "One meaning is "Whole", another could be the actual verb "Pay" usually in command form. The conjugated verb has other spins that are worth noting, such as: "Hishtalem" meaning "it was worth it" or "Shulam" as "it was paid for" or "Meshulam" as in "paid in advance." Hence one can jokingly say that, "when it's paid-for then there is peace," as in PEACE HAS A PRICE." 

So what jumps out at me in the quote above found at Wikipedai is we become whole when we accept that Jesus has paid the price, that He is worth it, that He paid in advance. We we come to that realization of what He has done for us it takes us to a whole new understanding of peace.

It strikes me that it not just the writers aim to just lightly wish Grace, Mercy and Peace upon the reader. It reads to me more like they are imparting some sort of blessing. Genesis 12:3 says "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Jesus when he first sent out the disciples told them not to take any thing with them and to go into a town and find a place to stay. If they were treated well they were to cause peace to remain upon the house. If they were treated poorly they were to shake the dust from there feet as they were leaving.  This blessing of peace seems to be a bigger deal that perhaps we have understood.

I generally walk in a pretty high level of peace and when I am disturbed it is a sign to me that something is out of order. The other night I was troubled about a number of things it was late and I needed to go to bed. I realized I was just laying there worrying - which I have found to not be a very fruitful activity. So I got up and went to the other room to pray for a while. I one by one, talked to the Lord about the things that were troubling me. I admitted that I really did'nt know what He was wanting me to do but that my heart was to do things His way. When I don't know how to pray, I often pray in my prayer language. Nothing in my circumstances changed - what did change was my troubled spirit found rest and peace in God the Father. The following day I was pretty sure what things I needed to adjust. I took care of those things and God's peace returned. I think peace is a great indicatior of the Holy Spirits leading. In Isaiah 55:12 it says "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;"
It is one of the indicators that I look for in deciding the direction to proceed. Quite often I will wear and idea for a while to determine the level of peace within it. Granted you can't always tell everything - many things do require a step of faith to be taken at some point. When I wear an idea its kind of like trying on clothes to find one that is the right fit for me. It could be a lovely out fit on someone else but it may look hiddious on me. Which is why we try on clothes before we buy them.  The mirror or the opinion of a friend is often helpful at such time.

When I hold up my spiritual mirror is the what is reflecing back to me the peace of the Lord? Do the people around me measure and feel my peace or are they having to deal with me being all stressed out.  I have learned make myself sensitive to shifts in my level of peace and to quickly take what is concerning me directly to the Lord.

I think the writers of these letters are letting us know up front some things that are very important that should become more and more evident in the lives of believers. Over and over they list three things Grace, Mercy and Peace.  They are I think deserving of a little deeper digging to descover if they might contain some deeper insight that has gotten lost in translation or due to the changes of culture.

"The Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice." (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

I would have to agree with Martin Luther King Jr.  I think we can fall in to the decieving peace of complacency when we should be moved to action. To be at peace does not imply that one must be a door mat and let everyone walk all over you. Roosevelt was famous for saying "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far," Which reminds me of the movie Sahara when the enemy looks like they have won but then the battle turns and the heros think it is their own puny efforts that have somehow changed the tide. They come out cheering the victory until they turn around to see they have been backed up by a massive army lined up on the ridge above them.  God is like that for us. The enemy would love to have us be continually harried and harrassed. We can think that we have won the battle on our own until we turn around and realized it is God who has had our back in the spritual battle.

I would love to hear some of your insights on this subject. You can e-mail me directly at princessmargot@hotmail.com or post a coment below. Thanks for reading and following along.

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for your peace. Let it rest upon us now. Help us to gain a greater understanding of what the concept of Shalom or Peace is in your mind. Your ways are so much higher than ours. So lead us Lord to discover some treasure in regards to this idea of peace as we go through our day.

My Gift For You

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A Gift For You
A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

Romans 1:11 Romans 1:11-12 (NIV1984)
 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift
 to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually
encouraged by each other’s faith.


I read this verse this morning and I wondered what spiritual gift I might impart if I were to see you or if you were to see this post. It was pretty simple as I thought about what I would impart. It would be the gift of joy and the gift of peace.  Joy and Peace are funny gifts you might think them unnecessary, but I have noticed that they have nothing to do with the circumstances you are facing and they have seen me through many difficult seasons. They don’t have to be worked up.  Why joy? - it seems so frivilous. If I were to impart a gift that would make you strong it would be the gift of joy. Nehemiah 8:10b Nehemiah said, "for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  Also Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.  I love the line my heart trust him and I am helped. Joy is a gift of grace, may it flow over you even as you read like oil poured over your head that drips all the way down to your feet. Oh and speaking of feet - don’t forget to put on your spiritual shoes today. What? you may ask, you go from joy to shoes?  Don’t forget your Ephesians 6 armor and be sure to put oun your shoes. Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  You stand there thinking but how? - Look at this mess or trial I’m dealing with.  It is pretty simple and you want to make it hard. Peace and joy walk hand in hand look at Romans 5:1-3 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;. I’ll end with James 1 Your desire is to be mature in Christ it is joy and peace that help get you there.  2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Joy and peace are gift of God’s grace and they will help you to walk through the difficult things you face. Lift up your hands before the Lord and recieve them now in Jesus name.
 Prayer: 
Dear Lord,
 By faith I come to you on behalf of those who are reading this and I pray that in this instant you would annoint them with your joy and that you would dress them in your robes of righteousness and put fresh armor for the battle they are facing. Let their feet be fitted with the shoes of peace that comes from believing the good news of what Jesus has done on thier behalf. Since they have been justified through faith let them now recieve your peace and your joy. While you are at it Lord send your Holy Spirit to so saturate them that where ever they go they would splash others with your joy and peace as they grow strong in you.

Bless Me Lord and I will bless others

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Bless me Lord and I will bless others.
A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

Numbers 6:26
The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

I love it when my pastor or any speaker gives a benediction or speaks a blessing over a group of people. I know most people hardly notice it and probably don’t realize what is happening in that moment. For many people it is just part of the form of the service. Its just how we end things.
I challenge you to see it as much more than a poetic ending.

For me the benediction is a gift of a blessing being spoken over my life. Words are powerful. God spoke and created all that is. We read in Proverbs 18:21a that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The benediction is a time where life is being spoken over us.

It reminds me that my God loves to bless me. I stand and I always raise my hands to receive the gift of that moment in time. I need the Lord to turn His face to me, I need peace. This is one of many wonderful blessings one can receive.  My challenge to you is to really receive the blessing spoken over you in such moments. So often we leave the gifts God has for us sitting on the shelf not realizing that a gift was even given.  It is like the woman who reached out to touch the hem of the Lords garment and received her healing.  Reach out and receive the blessing and watch and see what God does with it during the week.  A week filled with peace is an awesome thing.   There are days when peace seems very far away. If you are at that place of needing a blessing start with this one. Lord turn your face upon me, I need your peace. Help me in this moment to receive the blessing you have for me. You know the things that I will need to bring you glory in the up coming hours and days. Fill me up, let your peace over flow from my life on to the folks around me.  Bless me Lord and I will bless others.

Things to Ponder:
Have you experienced the peace of God? Are you walking in that peace now?______
Clearly God gives us peace  - are you willing to receive the gift or will you continue in the old familiar patterns of worry and doubt?______________________________________
Are you speaking life or death in to your circumstances and over the people in your life?
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Prayer:
Dear Lord, Turn your face towards me and give me your peace. Help me realize the power of the words spoken over and into my life. Help me to be one who blesses and brings peace with the words of my mouth into the lives of others. Let your thoughts flow from my tongue