Shalom

This morning we heard a beautiful description at church about the Hebrew word, "Shalom". Although I knew that this word translates to our English word, "peace", I had no idea how much more in depth it actually goes.

Not only does Shalom mean "absence of war", but it also applies to situations in our life when God is in the place that He needs to be, and we are in the place that we need to be WITH Him -- living out our purpose hand in hand with God. Being fully aligned.

Although people search the whole world over to find deep peace, this special peace can ONLY be found with God.

The pastor gave a beautiful example of the intimate emotion shared with his newborn baby and his wife, as she was nursing one night. At that moment, they were living out the purpose that they were called for. Shalom.

He then shared of the emotion he felt in a phone call with his mom. Sadly, she was dying in the hospital with a blood clot in her lungs that prevented her from being able to talk. He was as far across the country as one could be, but while talking to her in a one-sided conversation, he shared about how deeply he loved her. Then, he gave her permission to let go so that she could go home to be with Jesus.

She then took her last breath...at that moment, while unbelievably heartbroken, he was filled Shalom, knowing that his mom was now living out her purpose that she was called for, and so was he. That's Shalom.

As we enter into this Advent season, the prayer on my heart is that this Shalom, this indescribable and beautiful attribute of God, would be what we experience as we go through each day being bombarded with all the commercialism, stress, spending, etc.

We CAN experience Shalom this time of year WHEN we stop, reflect and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas -- the birth of Jesus, God's own Son. May we truly be living out God's purpose is during this time and always. Shalom.