Groundhogs Day, Shalom Shalom & Random Updates

Happy Wednesday to you!! I hope you've had a fun Groundhog's Day! :) I have to tell you, my girlfriend Chellie shared some GREAT Groundhog's Day treats on her blog here! We will TOTALLY be making these next year!

And now for this week, in the midst of hockey, and ballet, and gymnastics, and hot lunch and recess duty ~ I am getting ready for a couple of HUGE HIGHLIGHTS for me! I can hardly wait!!

This Friday and Saturday (February 5th & 6th), I'll be teaching at a Women's Retreat on the topic of 'Cultivating Contentment'. I'm so fired up! I have been studying Contentment for months and the insights I've been learning have been AMAZING!! I'll share more after the retreat!! Woo Hoo!!!

And next week on Monday, Febraury 8th, our Magnificent Monday Bible Study starts again!! I LOVE Monday nights! Talk about an amazing group of women ~ and this season we'll be focusing on the 'renewing of our mind'! Yippee!!

But for today...can I just share something with you that has blessed me?!

A friend of mine was telling me about a teaching from Beth Moore :) on Isaiah 26:3. I was really encouraged just by reading the scripture, but when I looked up the meaning of 2 of the words ~ well I just can't keep it to myself!!! I pray that it blesses you too!

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."

Both the words "perfect" and "peace" translate into "Shalom".

So you could read it "You will keep in Shalom Shalom him (or her) whose mind is steadfast..."

That sounds great, but wait until you hear what definitions I found for Shalom!!! (This is good!)

Shalom: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, well-being, healing, integrity, the absence of agitation or discord.

Who does not want that? Amazing!!!

So, if you are like me, you don't completely know the meaning of steadfast ~ so I looked that up to. :)

Steadfast: firmly fixed in place, not subject to change, firm in belief, determination or adherence, loyal.

So, if we firmly fix our focus on God, His goodness, His love and everything that HE IS, rather than focusing on our circumstances (or our thighs) :), than we will experience Shalom Shalom!!

Isn't that just like the heart of our God ~ He promises not just Shalom ~ but Shalom Shalom!!!

I hope this blesses you as much as it has me!!! I could use some Shalom Shalom. Anyone else?? :)

Let's pray shall we....Oh Lord, we acknowledge that we need You in our lives. Our lives are full, people are hurting, wounds need healing, marriages need restoring, and we all are desperate for a Savior. Lord, would You help us to fix our focus firmly on You? Not on our circumstances, not on our weaknesses, not on our hurts and our brokenness...but please Lord, may we look only to You. May we release all of our cares and burdens and worries and hurts to You, and receive Your shalom shalom in abundance! For Your purpose. For Your Glory. In Jesus' Strong and Powerful Name we pray. Amen!!

May God bless you in a special and significant way today!! :)

In Him,