Shalom!

You shall not go out with haste the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12

The Church in Northern Indiana where I spent 4 ½ years as an Assistant Pastor had as our vision statement (if you will) Taking the Past, Changing the Future; we knew that God was the God of our past, present and future so we never wanted to forget Him in any stage of our lives. Take the past (not forgetting what we had come from or through) and making a positive, Godly progression into the future as we followed Him in our present.

This past year for us (and undoubtedly most of you) has had good, bad, unrest and the calm of peace at different times. Peace however is not the absence of conflict, it is the place where we find completeness in the God who cares for us wherever we find ourselves; peace is trusting Him and His ways as the waves come crashing down on top of us.

Peace (Shalom) means: completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. This word is used in Israel still today as a greeting and a farewell upon leaving a conversation or someone’s home. Shalom: peace in trusting the God who created the world still cares about what happens in it and to it, peace in knowing He has greater plans for our lives, than we could ever imagine or come up with ourselves. Shalom signifies harmony, health, well being, fullness and rest no matter what may be going on. If you have a broken relationship and you find it hard to bless them SHALOM, if you have been hurt and you just can’t forgive SHALOM, if you wonder where the next meal will come and how the bills will be paid SHALOM; God speaks the Peace of Shalom into our hearts. The problems don’t always disappear, but when we accept His peace (SHALOM) they certainly take on a different perspective in our lives.

Are we living in harmony with God in our everyday lives or do you (Like I have seen in myself recently) find yourself restless, unsettled etc because you can’t see past the end of your nose not to mention what is coming tomorrow. This is where Jesus say’s “don’t worry about tomorrow; for today has enough problems of it’s on”. Today is enough for all of us to walk in, yet I often struggle with what is to come; Jesus knowing the nature of man speaks to us in advance saying “the kingdom of God is more than food, drink or clothes just trust in your father because He knows you have need of these things as well”.

We have seen major things taking place in our world this past year (economy problems, job losses, bankruptcies) yet as believer’s and follower’s of a God who cares we do not live under this world’s economy though we operate on a daily basis within it. God’s economy is different as seen when Jesus declares “the meek will inherit the earth, the weak will be strong, those who show mercy will find mercy shown towards them and when you give your life away, you will then be able to find it” these are not just words but teachings from the heart of Christ on how I am to live each day. Trusting that though the day brings hard times and sometimes I don’t feel I even know where to start; I have a father who knows, cares, understands, guides and gives hope when there is none to be found anywhere else I turn. This is my GOD!

Isaiah 52:12 says many things in just a few short words but for times sake look at the fact that though God goes before us, He still guards us from the rear. Seems amazing but what I see is that God surrounds us; He leads us through the valley of the shadow of death and guards us from the backside so when the attack comes our vulnerable side is taken care of as well. We have no protective shield of armor on the back but God has our backs. As we turn with hope and anticipation towards the New Year if we are honest many times we are quick to allow the thoughts, decisions and hurts of yesterday take us away from the truth of God’s grace in today; He is the God of our yesterday’s and He allows the memory of those blunders, sins and times of disobedience or hurts taken by us to shape our future as we walk with Him.

He is also the God of our now and He desires for us to trust Him in the now and not just looking at the past or gearing up for the future. He said to Moses in Exodus “come up to the mountain top and stay here”. Moses I am about to give you something from myself for the whole world for now, the present and the future; so when you get to the top don’t start planning your trip back down stay with me. As I look back over this year in my life, I am keenly aware of the many times I have not sat with Him there either on the mountain or in the valley to discover His heart for me. Unfortunately I have been looking for the next steps or exit route in order to get back or on with it, yet God has been patiently saying “STAY HERE” just sit at my feet and I will take care of you. When the rain comes and the storm clouds grow dark I will take care of you and by the way “I love you buddy” and I have plans for you that you can’t yet see but hang on “It’s coming”.

This year has been mixed with sadness, pain, excitement, doubt, wondering, happiness, hurt, confusion, joy, obedience and disobedience yet through all “His goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life and I will rest in His house forever”. These are not merely the words of a Psalmist (Psalm 23) but a promise for me and everyone else that chooses to receive it. His goodness and mercy will follow and I would like to add, they will also be our guide and leader.

As 2009 comes to an end, I pray you are able to look back over the year seeing both good and bad knowing God’s goodness and righteousness have been there through it all. My desire is to never live in regret, though I certainly have some which have come due to my own decisions I don’t want to dwell there, I want to “Take the Past and Change the Future”. I will choose to worship my God in the midst of all these things and more. Nothing can separate me from the love of God; not heights, death, hard times, sin, doubt or even worry yet when I trust Him and follow His lead I will experience greater joy than ever imagined. This is my prayer for 2010~ to be so enamored with my God, that though all of these things and more are taking place, “I will trust you” because I know you are in control and have overcome this world.