My friend Jeff Bernstein, founder of Gates of Zion, taught me that the word “Shalom” means much more than peace. It means complete peace and wellness — body, mind, soul, and spirit. According to Wikipedia, “Shalom is a Hebrew word meaning peace, completeness, and welfare [i.e. complete peace and wholeness] and can be used idiomatically to mean both hello and goodbye.”

“Join me in my efforts to support the Lymphoma Research Ride!” – Julia Peck
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” (Mark 1:41)
What need do you have to ask your friends for help?
Last night before going to bed, I asked the LORD to let me know what He wanted me to write about this morning. That’s not my norm. Oh, I have plenty of things I could write about and several things on the docket ready to …

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” -  Mother Teresa
 
‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food’ (Matthew 25:35)
Do you know what it feels like to be hungry?
Have you ever gone 3 days without eating any food?
If it was one of your kids going hungry, what would you do and when?
What role is God asking you to play in stopping hunger NOW?
In my devotionals on January 1 and 2, 2008, I mentioned that 2008 will be a year of convergences. Today’s story is a wonderful …

“Teach me to feel another’s woe, to hide the fault I see, that mercy I to others show, that mercy show to me.” – Alexander Pope
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. – (Matthew 5:7)
What would the Good Samaritan do?
We continue today with this week’s theme of the Good Samaritan – a message of mercy and compassion.
Yesterday when I was riding my bicycle home, I came across a significant two car accident. As I passed by, I asked if anyone was seriously hurt and was told “No.” About …

“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” – Abraham Lincoln
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25)
What must I do to inherit eternal life?
As mentioned in yesterday’s devotional, God worked out the circumstances such that I listened to Pastor Randy Orndorff’s sermon about the Good Samaritan three different times on my 7th spiritual birthday (Sunday Jan 6). It became very clear to me that God wants to drill home the message …

Faith makes things possible, not easy.
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29)
Who is my neighbor? How should I respond?
Yesterday I attended all three morning worship services at the Culpeper United Methodist Church. Pastor Randy Orndorff allowed David Bean and me to support Sam Reeves and Operation Rescue Liberia during each service by sharing short testimonies of how God moved in our lives to get us involved. The Holy Spirit moved in power to inspire other people to get involved.
Around 7 AM …

“It is change, not time, that turns fools into wise men, and sinners into saints.” – A.W. Tozer
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
Do you have a heart for your suffering brothers and sisters in the world?
Sunday November 12, 2006 was the annual International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. About 150 nations of the world held some type of prayer service.
In Culpeper Virginia, the Persecution Project Foundation hosted this event at the Culpeper United …

Our God is a giving God, a blessing God, a loving God!
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1)
Do you know that God wants you to pray for Him to bless you?
God doesn’t want to hear about my little problems. God would think I was selfish if I prayed for my own needs. God’s not in the business of taking care of me and I won’t ask him to do it. Have you ever made statements like these. If …