Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 32

"Yes, you will go out with joy, you will be led forth in peace. As you come, the mountains and hills will burst out into song, and all the trees in the countryside will clap their hands. Cypresses will grow in place of thorns, myrtles will grow instead of briars. This will bring fame to Adonai as an eternal, imperishable sign" (Yesha 'yahu (Isa) 55:12‭-‬13 CJB). Grace and Shalom. I say it a lot. I think it a lot. I live it out as much as possible because sometimes I fail. Go out in joy and be led by shalom.

I came back to the church of my youth and found it a lot smaller than I remembered. The sanctuary was not quite as impressive as when I was a child. The building was not as huge. But the joy and peace were still there. It was still a sanctuary. In the midst of the chaos that has been our life over the past months, it was shelter and sanctuary for us yesterday. And that wasn't because of the building. It was all because of the people. Go out in joy and be led by shalom.

Folks were sad but they went out with His joy and peace to give hugs, to cry, to encourage, and to love. And there is power in His joy and His peace. He restores. He encourages. He strengthens. He empowers. He makes the broken whole. He makes the mountains and hills burst with song. The trees clap and beauty replaces danger. That is God. Go out in joy and be led by shalom.

Shalom is wholeness. When we are not whole, we cannot be in right relationship with God. So, I pray for wholeness today for so many that are broken and in need of restoration. He can bring that joy and peace to us all if we only ask him. Go out in joy and be led by shalom.

Take that wholeness He has gifted and allow it to lead your way. Be happy that He has a plan and a way for each of us. Go forward optimistically with a song in your heart that will echo throughout creation. Go out in joy and be led by shalom.

Seek first the Kingdom of God.

Grace and Shalom to your home.

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