Peace
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Knowing Shalom: A Devotional Series
I have always understood shalom to mean peace. But that definition is as limited as comparing a child’s drawing of a flower to a rose in full bloom, its fragrance lingering in the air. Shalom is a way of life, one that weaves the power, grace, and truth of who God is into the very fabric of love. But, unfortunately, our interactions with peace are rare in these noisy times. But to participate in shalom is to surrender oneself wholly to the presence of God. Such surrender can happen during a fight with a spouse or dealing with a demanding boss as well as when sitting in a patch of…
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Four Uncomfortable Truths about Peace
Peace is an essential component of a fulfilling life. Constant conflict spends our energies, wastes our strength, and distracts us from the really good things in life. But we often settle for an imitation of peace rather than the real thing. I often settled for a harmony that was not real because instinctively I knew that real peace would require me to make some real sacrifices. In fact, I have faced quite a few situations in which a genuine accord seemed impossible so I accepted something far less in order to avoid a reality that I did not want to admit to. The real deception, of course, was that I…
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Courting Miracles: Instructions for Walking on Water
The problem with miracles, I have found, is that they are easy to forget. Already I hear dissent. Unbelievers like to claim that if they were to truly witness a miracle, then and only then would they lay down their unbelief. But in my experience, miracles don’t even make believers believe. Consider the Hebrews. The Red Sea parted for them, and they were led by a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. Bread rained down on them. Tangible corporate miracles and yet, no heart change was evident, and only two of the original generation set foot in the Promised Land. I first noticed this tendency for…
