“Shalom has been one of my favorite words for a long while. It’s more than a greeting, encompassing wholeness, health, well-being, integrity, healing” — Jan Bishop (Australia)

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;” (John 14:27)

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.”

The Meaning of Shalom | Imparting Wholeness to Others

 
Salaam Shalom – The spirit and Meaning of Shalom

 
Today you have a choice, a very important one. This message could just be another one that wastes 5 minutes of your time or it could profoundly alter the rest of your life and the lives of those closest to you.

According to Jim Cornish of Canada, “It is estimated that the average human adult body contains about 10 trillion cells. Placed end to end, they would stretch around the earth 47 times… Cells work to keep us healthy and alive.” Each cell can be compared to a home and family with its own set of roles and responsibilities.

“So what? Now what?” you may ask. When it comes to your health, an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. Rest assured that unless you are proactive with biointerventions, you have a civil war going on within your body among your 10 trillion cells and your heading much more rapidly toward the disability zone.

How important is your health and wellness?
Who do you trust to instruct and guide you to a healthier life?

On Wed April 1, 2009 Jerry Graham (Ph.D.), Sharon Graham (R.N.), and I (M.D.) hosted our first public Wellness webinar to announce our new “7 Steps to Wellness” coaching program. That was a huge breakthrough, at least two years in the making.

Because it was my responsibility to edit and publish the Camtasia videos for our 7 recorded Wellness webinars, I listened to each of the 7 webinars (audio files) about 2-3 times. Without a doubt, this is by far the best and most comprehensive teaching on Wellness I have ever heard in my entire medical career. And among physicians I had a much greater passion for Wellness than most of them.

We guarantee this book will change your life (wellness) if you read and apply what is taught or we will refund your money. And by sharing with others, you will impact the wellness of your family and friends as well. In my opinion as a physician, this book is the best preventive resource I have ever come across.

You’ve heard it said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. According to the National Coalition on Health Care, “The annual premium for an employer health plan covering a family of four averaged nearly $12,700. The annual premium for single coverage averaged over $4,700.” And none or almost none of this money spent is focused on prevention.

Today you have a choice. What will it be?
Transformation requires action.
What are you doing to be proactive to maintain your wellness?

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, we praise you as the God of shalom, the God of health and wholeness. Help me to understand, apply, and appropriate the true meaning of Shalom. Thank You Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

Blessing of the Day
7 Steps To Wellness coaching program

 
Blessings to understand the true meaning of Shalom!

Joseph

Joseph Peck, M.D.
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Join the conversation. Share your thoughts below about the true meaning of Shalom!

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 be launched. But I sensed God wanted me to write about something special that was on His heart.

This morning when I came to my desk to journal, I found a web page open titled “Welcome to the Donation Page of Julia Peck.” Obviously my wife had used my computer after I went to bed last night. As I read Julia’s note on that website for the very first time, I was struck to the core of my very being, knowing with absolute certainty that her message was the one I was to share with you today.

Julia and I have been married for 27 years now. She is one of the kindest people I have ever known. Like me, she grew up in a family of 4 kids and traveled a lot when young. She has two sisters and one brother – Patty (Pea), Issi, and Kirby. Issi is Julia’s identical twin. Here is what Julia wrote about her sister Pea:

“Hello Family and Friends! Thank you for visiting my page. I hope you will consider supporting me in my first Lymphoma Research Ride. I plan to ride 50 miles on the 21st. Many of you are aware that my sister, Pea, went through 12 weeks of Chemo treatment this summer for lymphoma (non-Hodgkins)- until she was diagnosed I didn’t have a clue what Non-Hodgkins lymphoma was – and I didn’t know how tough my sister Pea really is -tough in the “Spiritual” sense. Her Faith is very strong and that is great to see – It really hits home when family or close friends are diagnosed.

As some of you may know I am an amateur Triathlete, and have competed for over 23 years – I am going to pass up competing at Nationals this year to ride for Lymphoma Research. I believe I need to use my gifts elsewhere – I was really excited to find out about this ride- It is also comforting to support a worthy cause – I would love for you to join me on this ride Sunday the 21st of Sept. But if you can’t maybe you will consider a small donation – I need to raise $1,000 – I know I can do this but I don’t have much time seeing that it is days away – Thank you, ahead, from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and any contribution – it can be as little as $5 -”

You are invited to visit today’s Link of the Day to learn more about “Friends Asking Friends.” Thank you.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for the precious gift of family. This day I”d like to say a special thanks for Pea, my wonderful sister-in-law. I ask You to bless her health and recovery. In Jesus’ name, I pray and give You glory. Amen.

Link of the Day
Welcome to the Donation Page of Julia Peck

Blessings to feel comfortable asking your friends for help when the need arises!

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 example of that. In previous devotionals, I’ve mentioned Virginia Morton, Erick Kalenga, Rize Up, Sam Reeves, Liberia, Ron Davidson, and Gleaning for the World. Recognizing convergence experiences is valuable to get involved in big things God is doing.

Wednesday May 7 at 9:30 AM, Rev. Lee Warren from South Hill, VA will be speaking at the Stop Hunger Now assembly at Culpeper High School. Lee is a United Methodist minister and oversees Stop Hunger Now in Virginia. This program has mushroomed since Lee took it over. There are some good videos posted on YouTube and GodTube. Today’s Link of the Day is one of those.

Lee’s husband went to judge’s school with Roger Morton, Virginia’s husband. God called Lee into pastoral ministry after her kids left home and she commuted to Duke to get her degree. That took energy and determination. According to Virginia, Lee is a very vivacious lady.

This Stop Hunger Now [www.stophungernow.org] assembly is important because Culpeper High School has given Rize Up responsibility for organizing it. Rize Up will challenge the high school students to raise $4,000 which will pack 20,000 meals. The packing will be done at a future date, probably in the Fall.

Frequently Lee actually accompanies the food shipments and helps distribute meals in the schools where hunger is rampant. Some of the meals are going to Liberia, and we’re praying ours will be directed by God to Liberia and Sam Reeves will be there to supervise. It also happens that Lee warehouses her supplies, dry ingredients in Lynchburg and Ron Davidson with Gleaning for the World oversees it.

Each highly nutritional meal  costs only 20 cents. 25 people can package 5,000 meals in just 2 hours. That’s enough to feed an orphanage with 32 children for 7 months. Children as young as 5 years old can get involved and help. 

The youth of today are having a much greater impact than ever before in shaping the culture of the world. Stop Hunger Now is a great hands-on way for young people to assist with world hunger. One goal of Stop Hunger Now is to target apathy. When Erick Kalenga, the leader of Rize Up, heard about the idea, he loved it and ran with it.

According to its official website, “Stop Hunger Now is a non-profit, international relief organization committed to ending hunger worldwide. Stop Hunger Now leads ongoing efforts to feed the hungry around the world by providing direct emergency food and other life-saving aid in crisis areas. Established in 1998 and headquartered in Raleigh, NC, Stop Hunger Now has provided over $100 million of aid in more than 55 countries.”

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for using Virginia Morton, Erick Kalenga, and Rize Up to open the door for Lee Warren to share about Stop Hunger Now at the school assembly on May 7. Bless all those who participate to ignite an epidemic of people following in Jesus’ steps to feed the hungry. Use the web to magnify the impact of Stop Hunger Now 100 fold in 2008. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
Stop Hunger Now – Operation Sharehouse @ NCSU 2007

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Blessings to play your appropriate role to stop hunger NOW!

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 100 yards later, I turned around and came back. This time, I asked “Is there anything I can do to help?” While I was told “No, thank you,” I knew I had done the right thing. Then I thought about asking myself the question “What would the Good Samaritan do?” anytime God crosses my path with someone in need.

It’s easy to pass by people in need with excuses – “I don’t have time to help” or “I can’t help everyone.” However, it is possible to help one person at a time as God puts them in our paths. Sometimes, just listening to someone or praying with them provides the encouragement they desperately need at just the right time.

By reaching out and showing mercy to Sam Reeves, God connected me to Rev. Ron Davidson, president and founder of Gleaning For The World (GFTW). Ron sent a lengthy reply of gratitude within 2 hours of sending my devotional on January 4 titled “Life is an Adventure.” I had just spoken to Brucie Quick, the Mission Coordinator for Gleaning for the World, the day before and she told me she would add herself to my devotional list. I don’t think Ron was on my email list on Jan 4.

Ron has an incredible story of what’s possible when someone develops an attitude of mercy and sees the downtrodden from God’s perspective. Here is part of what Ron shares on the GFTW website:

“In 1992, I met the homeless for the first time. I had seen the ghostly figures walking the streets, but had not taken the time to meet them personally. One night, I sat and talked with a group of homeless people who had lost their jobs, their homes, and their futures. As we talked, I realized they had the same dreams for their lives and their children as I did for mine. As I delved deeper into the challenge of poverty and homelessness, I saw that, while local organizations were doing all they could to help these individuals, they lacked many simple, essential supplies. After that encounter, my heart was burdened to help and my life was changed forever.

By 1998, my desire to help the poor was so great that I stepped down from my position as pastor of a 1,200-member church. My wife and I moved from a four-bedroom parsonage to a basement apartment and used my mother’s basement to start Gleaning For The World. We were determined to make a difference in people’s lives by providing charitable organizations with the supplies they needed to help the poor.

In just six years, GFTW moved from its basement office to an 18,000-square-foot office and warehouse facility in Concord, Virginia. By 2006, we had shipped more than $300 million in supplies to people in desperate need — both here in the U.S. and around the world. For every $1 in donations, Gleaning For The World can provide $100 worth of critical, life-saving supplies where they are needed most. We are committed to this mission.

While the average organization does well to show a financial model of 30 percent administration and 70 percent programs, GFTW consistently exceeds this benchmark, with the total cost of operations being less than one percent of the value of the service. This is one of the lowest in the non-profit world.”

Amazing! That’s God!!! He does exceedingly abundantly above and beyond what we can imagine or think. One man’s uncommon obedience to the call of the LORD has resulted in more than $300 million of supplies being delivered to desperate people. Now God has placed a desire in my heart to magnify the impact of GFTW 30-60-100 fold through LIFE coaching, Internet marketing, and POWER networking.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for Ron Davidson and his uncommon obedience to You. Thank You for crossing my path with his. May You allow and empower me to magnify the impact of Gleaning for the World many fold. Bless those who read this message to take the message of mercy and compassion to heart. Bless them to slow down and think BIG! Thank You Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

Links of the Day
History of Gleaning For the World
Stewardship – Gleaning For The Word

Blessings to be merciful to those in need!

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 of the Good Samaritan deep down into my heart and your hearts as well. The scripture reading on Jan 6 was Luke 10:25-37.

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He (Jesus) said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said,” ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. (Luke 10:25-30)

Why didn’t the priest and the Levite stop to help the man beaten up alongside the road. Perhaps they were in rush needing to be somewhere on time. Perhaps they were fearful. Perhaps religious laws prevented them from helping someone unclean. Then a good, but despised Samaritan came along and responded in a way we know is right and good.

When we are in a position of being needed to help another, many attitudes arise within us. Jesus expects us to slow down, bend down, reach out, and lift up – to show mercy to those in need. Often these opportunities are unplanned and inconvenient. However, the greatest satisfaction and greatest blessings come when we serve others.

The Jericho Road is always with us. The Jericho Road is any place where people are robbed; where people are robbed of their dignity, robbed of their love, robbed of their food and clothing, robbed of their value as human beings.  It is any place where there is suffering and oppression. The Jericho Road is a symbol of suffering in the world.

This parable of the Good Samaritan is essentially about people not wanting to get involved with people who are suffering because of safety, because of money, because of time, because of inconvenience, because of busyness with churchy activities. While this parable is a condemnation of non-involvement, it also is an invitation for us to be merciful and kind to those in need.

It is much easier to take the “wide road” like the priest and the Levite than the narrow road like the Samaritan. Life is a highway. How much time do you spend reflecting on where you’re going and what you’re doing? How many times do you say, “Here I am LORD. What is the question?”

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for Pastor Randy and the generous and caring congregation at Culpeper United Methodist Church. Bless them Lord. Water the good seeds that were sown this past weekend with Your miracle grow. Continue to multiply the number of people and organizations supporting Sam Reeves and Operation Rescue Liberia. Thank You Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

Link of the Day
Jericho Road (The Good Samaritan) – by Sermons from Seattle

Blessings to choose to walk the narrow road and be a Good Samaritan!

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 yesterday while preparing my three minute testimony, I remembered it was my 7th spiritual birthday. Seven is my favorite number. Exactly seven years ago, on January 6, 2001, I stepped over line for Jesus. By quietly saying something as simple as “Jesus, I commit my life to you” and meaning it, the Holy Spirit took up permanent residence in me. That was the most important day of my life.

Appropriately, the scripture reading yesterday was Luke 10:25-37 which tells the story of the Good Samaritan, one of the best known and well-loved stories of the Bible. That story took place on the road leading from Jerusalem to Jericho.

While Pastor Randy was preaching his message during the first worship service, the Holy Spirit told me, “Sam is your neighbor.” When I first heard Sam’s story on December 18, I felt compelled to stop and help him. Now God is inviting others into what He is doing in Liberia. I envision God using Rim of Grace Ministries to bless thousands and tens of thousands of people in Liberia, who in turn will bless hundreds of thousands and even millions in Africa.

On my way home yesterday afternoon, I stopped at Food Lion to buy groceries. There God crossed my path with Jeanne Nixon. We had a long spiritually-centered conversation which Jeanne said greatly encouraged her. For the first time, I saw Jeanne as “my neighbor.”

When Jeanne learned it was my 7th spiritual birthday, she recommended I buy a birthday cake along with the number 7 and 7 candles to celebrate at home. So I did that. That opened the door to celebrate this momentous occasion with my wife, son, and one of his friends in the evening.

In retrospect, God blessed me with an amazing 7th spiritual birthday. One key milestone was listening to Pastor Randy’s message about the Good Samaritan three times in a single day and videotaping that. Another was the opportunity to sow sees to bless Sam and Liberia. Therefore, this week’s series of messages will focus on stories of the Good Samaritan.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful ways You blessed me on my 7th spiritual birthday. Help me to understand the significance of each milestone. Thank You for Pastor Randy and his timely message about the Good Samaritan. Guide me to apply that message each day of my life as I meet and learn about people in need. Bless me with a healthy balance of mercy and truth. Thank You Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

Link of the Day
Photos from my 7th spiritual birthday – you now can rate each photo and post comments

Blessings to recognize your neighbors in need and respond in Jesus fashion!
 

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 Methodist Church. The outstanding keynote speaker was Court Wood, co-founder of “In Jesus’ Name Ministries.” Only about 50 people showed up, which was quite disappointing. In my opinion the church should have been full. The good news is that 5 teenagers came from our local Rize Up club.

My initial impression regarding this poor turnout was that the vast majority of American Christians are apathetic about their suffering brothers and sisters abroad. The next morning, however, the Holy Spirit convicted me for not inviting anyone personally myself. God has really been working on me recently to bring my heart in alignment with what matters most to him.

In the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), Jesus gives apt teaching on what people live for in the year 2006. He says there are three very different choices and that every human being has taken on as his moral world view.

The first world view is the robber’s. He lives according to ‘what is yours is mine.’ The second is the priest’s and the temple assistant’s. They live according to the view that ‘what is mine is mine.’ It’s not my problem. Why should I care about Christians in North Korea or Sudan? I’m OK here! This is a religious and not a Christian attitude.

However, God is the founder of the ‘give it away movement’. He gave away Jesus! And Jesus gave away forgiveness for sin, hope, peace, life and an eternal future. Jesus lived his life on earth demonstrating ‘what is mine is yours.’ As followers of Jesus Christ we are now called to give away the blessing there is in prayer and again take part in the world’s largest prayer group in November.

Prayer Power
Forgive me LORD for my past apathy about my suffering brothers and sisters around the world. I finally realize that when they are being persecuted, so are You. I’m so sorry. Now I feel Your pain and suffering. Thank You for using the Persecution Project Foundation as an instrument to bring hope and relief to so many people in Sudan. Thank You for the Voice of the Martyrs. Thank You for In Jesus’ Name Ministries. Thank You for all the people around the world who are loving Your children in deed and truth. Bless them. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church [http://www.idop.org]

Blessings to have a heart of compassion for children of God around the world!

Your Daily Blessing News
Why not forward this email to your friends and church? Why not give that wonderful vision that we are one in Christ and that we care for each other?
 

“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 so, you’re not alone, but you’re tragically mistaken. Those statements are all based on a lie straight from hell – the lie that God doesn’t care about his children.

Jesus told his disciples a story to help them understand how God feels about our prayers. The story is recorded in Luke 18:2-5. A widow keeps pestering an unjust and uncaring judge until he finally gives in to her pleading. Jesus told this story to let us know we should always pray and never give up.

According to Jesus, this parable is a study in opposites. Unlike the widow, we are not poor, powerless, forgotten, and abandoned. Rather, we are God’s adopted sons and daughters. Unlike the judge in the story, our heavenly Father is righteous, just, holy, tender, responsive, and sympathetic. Psalm 34:8a says “taste and see that the LORD is good.”

God loves to bestow His blessings on His children. It’s who He is – a giving God, a blessing God, a loving God. It gives God great joy to bestow blessings and power on His children. This theme shows up over and over in the Bible (Leviticus 26:3-6, Deuteronomy 28:2-6, Romans 8:16-17, Matthew 7:9-11).

Jesus taught us to call God “Father”. The most repeated prayer in churches, the LORD’s prayer, begins with “Our Father.” Good fathers want to give good gifts to their children and so does our heavenly Father (Matthew 7:9-11). It pleases Him when we ask for those gifts.

Prayer Power
Abba, thank You that I am a child of God and can call You Father. Thank You for promising to make my life and my family a testimony of Your goodness and Your greatness as I put You first in all areas of my life. Bless me financially to be completely debt free soon. Use me as Your catalyst to make Carilion a model healthcare system for the world. Use me as Your catalyst to make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation. Use Jack Serra as your catalyst to bless marriages throughout Virginia. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
Too Busy Not To Pray – Read the customer reviews [http://www.amazon.com/Too-Busy-Not-Pray-Discussion/dp/0830819711]

Blessings to pray knowing God is willing!

Your Daily Blessing News
Most of the content today and this week comes from Bill Hybel’s audio book “Too Busy Not to Pray.”